So, there I was, walking up the stairs to the garden at the Presidential Palace. I was flanked by Mags, Jade, and my prep team. Amethyst is leading the group, rambling on about the new trends, and hottest fashion in the Capitol. My prep team was all giddy about coming to the party at the palace. Jade seemed pleased to be here, and Mags was, as usual, indifferent. No surprise there. Mags has done this at least fifteen times, or more. As we're approaching the gates to the garden, I clock the man on the left wearing a black tuxedo, with watermelon trim. He was with Doc when they came to the village.
"Mr. Odair." the man called out to me.
Mags stared incredulously at the man, but I waved her off. "Be cool. Doc has a plan in motion." I said.
"I thought Snow said that you wouldn't be able to get at any of the people until after the tour." She whispered.
"I wouldn't be able to, but that's not stopping Doc. Why don't you go mingle? Doc won't let anything happen to me." I said.
Mags glared at the man but rolled her eyes at me and then walked away. I noticed that Mags found some old friends of hers, but they were being guided by another man that was also at my home in the village.
Is Doc going to use both me and Mags to get to the financier? I thought.
"What's the play?" I asked, as I approached the man.
"Both you and your mentor are going to be used to get at the financier." he said.
"Yeah, I saw another man from when you visited the village few months ago." I said.
"That's good, but our plan is complicated. That's why we need the both of you." he said.
"How do we proceed?" I asked.
"The financier is in the center of the garden, but there are too many civilians and people who sympathize with her." he said.
"The moment you start singing books, a lot of the crowd will flock to you. Those who don't will flock to Mags." he said.
The financier is a woman. I thought.
"When will I know you got take her down?" I asked.
"One of the attendants will deliver a handwritten message to you. Now go get into position." he said.
I found Caesar, and we started working the crowd, getting them all fired up. After Caesar and I started goofing around, part of the crowd came over to us; while the rest had started to flock towards Mags who was near the entrance to the palace. I look into the garden and see minimal crowd, but it was slowly starting to fill up with the men and women that Doc brought along.
As I sit down and start signing books, I saw the crowd become so thick that it blocked my view of the garden. I spent the better part of an hour signing books and taking pictures with the citizens. I even wooed a few of the women there. I could see all the stares, a lot of them filled with lust and desire.
"To bad he's too young. I would so take him back to my place and have my way with him." One woman said, after I signed her book and started to walk away.
I didn't hear much of the conversation as the women were walking away, but I did hear on of her friends say that I was only three years from being legal.
Oh, so exciting. That's something to look forward too. I thought as I continue to sign the book in front of me.
I don't say anything, but as I'm looking up to get the name of the owner of the book, I can see the longing in the woman's eyes. If I was eighteen, Snow would let any one of these women to take me back to their homes and fulfill all of their lustful desires. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.
"Look at him girls! He's getting turned on by all the talk of us performing sex acts on him." one of the women said.
"I'm not so certain that he's—"
"No, don't say it. Just let these ladies have their fantasies." I said. That was the first time I used that word, and I have a feeling it's going to be used a lot more in my future.
I had signed another three books when I received a note, and if I had to guess it was from Doc. I took the note and laid it on the table. There was a quick pause and read the note. No surprise, the financier is down. I folded the note up and continued signing the books.
An hour later, still no close to finish signing all of the books, President Snow cut the book signing short.
Great! My hand is killing me! I thought.
As I'm walking to up to the podium, Snow is giving his speech to commemorate my victory six months ago. I can see Mags standing there, and she has a look of boredom on her face. To most people it seemed like a blank expression, but I've been around Mags enough to notice the difference. I guess I understand her reason for being bored. Lord knows how many times she had to sit through all of this pomp and circumstance. Heck, I know I'd be bored after about fifty plus years of this mess.
"And now, I give the floor to the victor." Snow said, as I approached.
Mags gave me a look, and then I stepped up to the microphone. As I gave empty platitudes, cracked a few jokes, and waxed poetry, in the back of my mind I begin to wonder what it would take for the districts to overthrow Capitol rule.
When I felt that I had said enough I looked towards Mags, and I saw Caesar who was making his towards the microphone.
I stepped out into the crowd as Caesar ran his mouth. I moved from conversation to conversation. Sometimes I stay for a while, other times I move on as quickly I arrive, and then there are some conversations I don't even join. And the reason is always the same: women looking at me like I was a plaything. An object to be used until they get bored with me, and then thrown away.
I look for Mags with the intention of asking her how much longer we have to stay here. My attention is else, so I didn't see that Scarlet was talking to Mags.
"Have you seen Finnick." Scarlet asked.
"Are your ears burning, Finnick?" Mags asked.
"No, why? Never mind. Before we talk, how much longer are we going to be here?" I asked Mags.
"After she's done with you." Mags said.
"Don't say it like that. I've gotten enough of it from the ladies in the crowd." I said.
"Let's take a walk." Scarlet said.
Except this walk isn't into the crowds, it's into a more secluded part of the garden.
"What exactly did you want to ask me that couldn't wait until I came back next week?" I asked.
"Coming back? So soon?" she asked.
"Take up with Snow. It's his call." I said.
"You've been around the man for only six months, and already showing such disdain for the man." she said.
"I didn't ask to be in my current situation." I said.
"Still, try to show a little respect." she said.
"You wanted to talk to me." I said, changing the subject.
"I couldn't help but notice that there was a poem in your book about a very beautiful woman. You wouldn't mind telling me who inspirational for the poem is would you?" she asked.
"Why, is Snow going to come after the person?" I asked.
"Do I have to answer that?" she asked, the fear was in her eyes.
"Worry not, because Snow won't touch anybody if I have anything to say about it." I said.
"You think you can sway that maniac?" she asked.
"There are too many targets for Snow to go after. The inspiration for a poem is going to be the least of his problems. And if it does become a problem, let me worry about that." I said.
"How will you fix it?" she asked.
"I won't always be hunting down targets for the Snow forever." I said.
"I fear that day may come all to soon." she said.
"Not yet." I said.
"Oh." Scarlet said.
"I'm not old enough." I said, and then walked back to Mags.
Scarlet watch me say a few goodbyes, and then watched as Mags and I disappeared into the night.
"What did he say?" a male voice asked from behind Scarlet.
Scarlet turn to see Rantipol standing behind her.
"Finnick is taking after you." she said.
"I would expect that." he said.
"Why?" she asked.
"You know that answer." he said.
"That I do." Scarlet said.
Scarlet and Rantipol walked away into the night, hand in hand, and discussed the coming future involving the three of us.
S.D.D.
District 5-
I was preparing to head to the door when Mags let herself into my room.
"Yes." I said.
"How friendly were you with Indigo?" she asked.
"Nothing compared to the likes of Orna." I said.
"But you know the rule from District 3 still stands." she said.
"I know." I said, and then the train started to slow down.
"Show time." Mags said.
"Let's get this done and go home." I said.
We exit my room and head for the door. The moment the train stops the doors open, and the seven of us step off the train and head for the car. The car we had here was a normal car, so if I had to guess Districts 11, and 3 had a problem with their citizens. And if that's true that would explain the need for the armored vehicle. As usual, Amethyst is running off at the mouth. I wonder if it's a nervous habit of hers that she can't control.
Why did she have to be my escort? All of the other districts have someone who is bearable. Amethyst is a boy lover, and it shocks me that the Capitol is letting her roam free without a leash. I thought, as we pile into the car.
Time to dance this dance one last time before I get spirited away to the Capitol for awhile. Some people love the Victory Tour, others hate, but I can't be bothered to deal with all of these shenanigans. Personally, I'd rather be home relaxing, or swimming in the ocean. This Victory Tour mess is for the birds, and I can't be bothered to care for the pageantry of the whole mess.
The moment I step out of the car, I'm on autopilot. We gather in the Justice Building for a few minutes, and then we head out onto the verandah. Amethyst and the mayor deliver their speeches, and then it's my turn. I get up to give more pointless platitudes, but I acknowledge Indigo for a moment.
"The first time I meet Indigo was the end of day on the second day of training. She was a hard person to read, but she wanted to me teach her knot tying. She was very astute at the skill." I said
I wanted to tell them that she like Orna, but that would not help anyone. So, I keep my silence. I say a few more pointless platitudes, and then Amethyst and the mayor take the podium.
The party in the Justice Building wasn't as gaudy as the party's in Districts 1 and 2, but it's reasonable and honest. My type of party. If I'm being honest the parties here and now were more my style given that I'm going to have a lot of frequent flyer miles going back and forth to the Capitol.
Somewhere during the festivities, Mags pulls me aside and asks questions.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm want this whole shindig to be over with." I said.
"Well, we're almost there." she said.
"I don't want almost there. I want to be done. I can almost imagine what Doc and Scarlet have been up to since I got those dossiers from Snow." I said.
"Enjoy it while it last. It's only going to get worse from here." Mags said.
S.D.D.
I wake with a start, gasping for air. I suck in as much air as possible. I have no idea what cause the explosion, but I need to get ready to move and fast. If I had to guess company should be arriving shortly, and I have to be ready to make a quick exit.
