Oh, look. More characters I didn't intend to be in the story making an appearance. What a surprise.

I don't own the thirteen worlds. This a disclaimer.

Chapter 27

Outside of the Arena

Ten watched the other mentors talk.

He was the newest mentor, and completely unfamiliar with everything. The place they were at - said the be the Hunger Games Center - was new. The drink he was drinking was new.

And the whole idea of polite conversation while two teenagers were depending on him for survival was new.

Ten took his eyes off of the crowd and onto the subject they were talking about - the heist last night. Another spectacular, show-stopping event that neither Tris nor Peter (who was still his responsibility, as much as Ten hated to admit it) would benefit from.

Neither Ten nor Eric had been having any luck gathering up sponsors, and now everyone was surround Eve, Jenkins, Tony, and Steve.

Ten sighed and took another drink.

"Sister," Morgana greeted, surprised to find Morguase at her house. "What is it?"

"We need to talk," Morguase said, coming inside the house. "Someone here is messing with magic, and we need to find out if they're friend or foe."

"You're tribute is doing great," Gwaine said as Tony took his seat at the bar.

Tony couldn't help but grin. "I told you he could hold his own. And I have sponsors lining up at the door."

"Those pliers were a good idea," Gwaine replied.

"And it's just getting him more and more sponsors," Tony added. "Not that he needs them anymore."

Gwaine smiled. "That's the good thing about tributes like Peter and Arthur - we don't have to do as much."

Dionysus took a nice, long sip of the wine. Zeus couldn't stop him here.

"I don't know what you mean, we're not getting enough sponsors," he replied. "They don't need sponsors."

Hylla, the mentor who had graced his presence, sighed. "You're the escort, Mr. D. You're supposed to be getting the sponsors whether they need them or not."

Dionysus yawned. "Sounds like such effort though."

Hylla groaned and walked away.

"Besides, I have other problems," Dionysus muttered to his drink.

Minerva and Olana had always ended up talking during the Hunger Games, so striking up an agreement about sponsors was no problem.

"I'm glad we could reach a mutually beneficial agreement, Minerva," Olana said as she stood up.

"So am I."

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this!" Jacob hissed, following right behind Flynn.

"Listen, we already agreed that whatever was causing this is in the capitol, right?" Flynn replied. "So if we want to help Cassandra and Ezekiel, we need to be in the capitol. Besides, this way we can get help from Eve and Jenkins as well."

"And if we get caught?" Jacob asked.

"Then we probably die," Flynn admitted. "But if we don't find a way to stop this, the best thing that can happen is only that either Cassandra or Ezekiel will die. Worst case, they both do."

"You're right," Jacob admitted. "I just hope this works."

"So do I."

"Has anyone seen Bast?" Zia asked. Everyone shook their heads

Zia groaned. She was about five seconds away from pulling her hair out. Where was her escort?

"No luck," Cody said, when Abraham found him at the bar. "They're not doing anything interesting. If they kissed or something..."

"They're also surviving on their own," Abraham pointed out. "David wasn't kidding when he said he knew what he was doing. Just trust them."

"You're tributes are doing well," Mulan said.

Eve beamed. "Thank you. I wish I could take credit, but-"

"But you're doing an amazing job," Mulan finished. "It's a team effort."

Mulan and Eve had always melded well. And now, with Eve looking worn out from taking with sponsors, Mulan thought she needed someone to talk to.

"So, how's Flynn?" Mulan asked.

Eve chuckled. "Being Flynn. It's hard, knowing where I'm at with him, but I just... couldn't imagine being with anyone else. What about you and Shang?"

Mulan grinned. "I've heard rumors he's going to propose, but he has such a good poker face I can't tell."

"I don't know where I am with Flynn because he's so all over the place, and you don't know where you are with Shang because he's so controlled. Sounds about right."

Mulan chuckled. "That's about right."

Talone was fine with the attention being off his tributes. It gave them some breathing room.

And neither seemed to have much need for sponsors at the moment.

"That ointment is getting more and more expensive," Hercules noted to his district's sponsors. "And I'm not getting any more sponsors."

The escort just pursed her lips, but another voice replied.

"I could help with that."

Peder was not prepared to be interviewed.

"No, I hadn't intended for that hawk to be used as a weapon. It was just a gift. Am I... am I crushing on Miri?" His cheeks went red as he read the prompt of the screen. "Um, well, it's... it's... yes, I suppose I am."

Would someone please remind the characters not in the arena that they are not the focus of the story?

(Though, having written the rest of the story, I must say, it's a bit too late.)