The Jolly sailor bold , an old district song telling the tale of a maiden who defied her father and his fortune in pursuit of her sailor love , was often sung at weddings but on this day it had a more ominous edge, a song of losing love to the games. The words graced my lips, but the song was being drowned out by the chattering of seagulls and the sound of water lapping at my feet.

'My heart is pierced by Cupid

I disdain all glittering gold

There is nothing can console me

But my jolly sailor bold.'

The main verse sounded bitter from my lips, my jolly sailor bold , couldn't console me, he was the other side of Panem, a forbidden love doomed to end , resulting in stolen kisses in deserted corridors and romances behind locked doors. It wasn't always that way, I had my own sailor before the games, one that wasn't forbidden , but the old naïve me, one that hadn't killed their way to get a train ticket home , believed he would wait for me after the games. But who would want a killer as a wife, someone who killed to the top because if anything , victors were and always be the apex predators. I came back changed in many ways but the only familiar arms to greet me when I got home was my family, not the man I thought loved me.

I continued humming the rest of the song while I walked towards town, knowing that I was due in front of the justice building in half an hour. But i was in no hurry, the smell of saltwater comforted me , so with shoes in hand I chose to walk with the water lapping at my feet.

' RINN!'

The chorus of noises found along the coast was interrupted as Finnick shouted at me from the distance. I looked up , seeing him and Annie in the distance, gesturing for me to join them. Sighing, I left the comfort and the rare sense of protection the water gave. Finnick was another provider for the sense of protection , in a country where protection was a rare thing, even in our own homes, moments in their presence were important, especially in the upcoming few weeks. Matching their stride, Finnick's jokes lifted my spirits, giving me a better mood despite the circumstances. The 3 of us had personal encounters with the games, often of which we encountered some reminder most days. Arguably, Finnick and I were the most unaffected in comparison to Annie , anyone that survived the games was going to be affected mentally , but in Annie's case it left her mind fragile, often resulting in nervous outbreaks and a heavy sense of anxiety. I understood her mindset , I really do but with my short temper , her ramblings can rub me the wrong way, often causing me to snap. Despite the damper atmosphere , the three of us sat up on the stage with as much of a pleasant mood you could have on reaping day.

Unfortunately, it didn't last as the mayor walked onto the stage , signalling the starting of the reapings , he nodded a greeting to us before district 4s escort came onto the stage. Despite the outlandish appearance of bright sea blue hair and pearl embellishment on his skin , Maxrill has become a pleasant sight over the years. My first encounter with him was when I was reaped, 5 years ago, it was his first year so he hadn't quite got the ropes with the whole escorting thing, but regardless of his lack of experience he helped Mags and Finnick with sponsors, leading to me winning the 69th hunger games at 17 . My win meant his first years was a success ensuring his position of escort for district four, since then he's been as constant as the games and even when I had to take trips to the capitol. So in the weird capitol way he dubbed us each other's lucky charm.

After the anthem , the mayor started the speech about the dark days , Maxrill sat next to my hand and giving it a kiss he told me ' Corinne darling, chin up or you'll get wrinkles! ' rolling my eyes at him I could help but giving a little chuckle. Whilst keeping a relatively straight face I slyly remarked back about his own wrinkles before he got up to pick the tributes.

'Hello Darlings and welcome to the 74th Hunger Games! May the odds be in your favour. As I am such a gentleman , its ladies first'

In light of Maxrills words and how it never seems to be true, Finnick and I always mockingly joked about the odds never being in our favour, always loud enough for Maxrill to hear us he always tries to catch us out but for now only us really knew we did it, heavens only knows what the president would do if he knew we mocked his other district wouldn't be lapping up Maxrill's words but the majority of four always did.

'Marina Brontay'

Peering into the crowd I saw the young girl make her way to the stage, she looked strong, with dark hair and eyes. I recognised her from my last visit to the academy when I'd been asked to help train potential tributes.

'Looks a fighter' Finnick muttered to me, I nodded. The first appearance is always what makes a tribute, and Finnick and I were no different , good looks was one of the reasons why we had survived . Maxrill asked for volunteers, and strangely there wasn't any so he stood rummaging in the male tribute bowl. ' I'd take a guess she made sure no one volunteered for her' I commented to Finnick

' And now District 4 our male tribute of the 74th hunger games is … Kai Lydom '

Watching him step onto the stage, my heart sunk. Kai had a mop of curly hair and paired with his freckles and height he looked younger than he was. I sighed , ' Barely 12, a shame really'.

With the picking of the male tribute, the reaping's were over. And all what was left was the goodbyes, the farewells between family and the farewells between victors, the atmosphere heavy with the possibility of only 2 people returning from the train.

This is my take on an oc in the hunger games. Corrine Aquino is my oc , the winner of the 69th hunger games. If this concept works, the story will be set in 74th hunger games with flashbacks to her games. I don't know if its obvious but this is my first story so reviews are welcomed with constructive criticism and advice , I've struggled with ways to naturally add in the speech so any tips on that would help.

Thank you for reading