I'm surprised the mirror doesn't crack as i stand and look at myself in it. The scars on my face make me a terrible sight, unfortunately I wasn't allowed to grow my hair out to at least make them less noticable. I did gow out my beard though, not to the length of some other guys in Thirteen though, so if there is a rule againt it nobody has told me about it. As for the scars on my body, Hansen noted how they bothered me and he offered to cover them up with tattoo's similar to his own. He used to be a stylist back in the Capitol and designed all of his own bodywork, so i agreed. The scars on my arms aren't so noticeable anymore.
When i asked him how he got the resources to do it he simply laughed and said he has his ways of producing the ink himself. So it's entirely possible that what he did as a favour is one hundred percent against the rules. But seeing as its helped me, i won't be complaining. Other then those notable differences to my appearance over the years, the only thing worth mentioning is the dark rings under my eyes. The sleepless nights are finally catching up with me. Worst thing is i don't know how to stop it. It's hardly like i can control my nightmares of killing people and families being murdered and torture.
I look as terrible as i feel right now and with whats coming in the next few days i'd imagine i'm just going to get worse.
After Katniss' victory tour, Plutarch informed us that Snow had agreed on the idea of sending previous victors back into the arena for the Quarter Quell. Snow announced it officially to Panem and today the Reaping's would take place. This whole event is pretty pointless really. Aside from Districts One, Two and Four there really isn't much of choice of victors. Like i said Blight and Johanna already know they're going back, as much as that kills me to say it.
I don't want to, but Coin wants me and Boggs in her office to watch the Reaping's. Looking for other signs of rebellion in the victors that we can exploit, she says. I just want to get this Quarter Quell over with, get Johanna and Katniss and all the victors on our side out safe and then take the fight to the Capitol. Luckily if Plutarch is good on his word the games will be over in a matter of days.
I put on my grey sweatshirt and leave my room, heading straight for President Coin's office where both she and Boggs are waiting. There's the formal greeting off of Coin as always before we sit down and begin watching the Reaping's for the Quell.
The four careers picked were the ones you just wished weren't in the draw at all. Not because you liked them, but because they're the most famous and most powerful. Cashmere and Gloss from District One. Brother and sister, won back to back games and are immensely popular within the Capitol. So much so Snow sells both of them to allies and enemies alike - power for sexual favours by the stars of Panem. Brutus and Enobaria are chosen from District Two. Brutus is the most colossal sized man in Panem and Enobaria is just out right crazy. Going as far as to file her teeth into fangs so she could rip out her opponents throats.
District Three was interesting but not surprising. Beetee Latier, the genius behind all modern Capitol technology, the one who won by killing six tributes with a single wire. Wiress, the crazy, yet by no means stupid women who outsmarted her opponents in her games. District Four was even better. Finnick Odair. That name in itself is really all i need to say, the guy is deadly with a trident and hopefully an ally. His counterpart would have been Annie, but Mags volunteered in place of the hysterical young woman. She's eighty years old.
District Seven was more interesting because of my attachment to them. Blight simply looked on at the crowds as his name was drawn and he lost interest completely after that. Johanna spent the whole time stood on the stage rolling her eyes, smirking, laughing loudly as the new District escort read out all the usual shit and occasionally glancing over to Blight and cursing about the situation they were in. I think i heard "fucking" leave her lips quite a few times. Caesars reaction to it was quite honestly brilliant, he was making noises like a dying dog and stuttering like a fool as he expressed his disgust at the vulgar language she was using.
I wish i was there, being picked with her. I'd make a point of standing with her and swearing to the cameras, telling Snow he can kiss my damn ass. Though Johanna is doing a fine job of that all on her own. The last thing we see before the camera cuts to Eight is Johanna pushing the peacekeepers who tried to grab her away, swearing as she did so.
"I'm not so sure about her, she's too unpredictable." Coin mutters.
I'm on the defensive instantly, even getting riled up about it. "She will. Nobody has more of a reason to hate the Capitol than Johanna."
"It's been four years since you last saw her, she's changed a lot since then." Coin tries it again.
"Look i watched as Snow's henchman pulled the trigger on her own family." It was the only point i had to make to put this to bed. "If she see's a chance to get revenge and get rid of Snow she'll take it and stick it out to the bitter end."
"I agree with the kid." Boggs sits forward in his chair. "Her kind of anger is the type of thing that makes good fighters simply because they have nothing left to lose."
That shuts Coin up and my brain starts telling me to thank Boggs for that later. It annoyed me something terrible that Coin would say that, it's almost like she said it just to see how far I could be pushed. Yes Johanna will be hard to work with, but there's no one else out there who'll remain as loyal to a leader of a rebellion than her. Even if she'll show it in her own weird way.
The Reaping's continue and we all sit in silence. That is until District Twelve. Katniss was obviously going back, yet she remained strong in front of the cameras. Now Haymitch was originally picked to go back, but Peeta volunteered. Honestly it would have worked better for us if he hadn't. At the party in Snows mansion, Haymitch told Plutarch of Katniss' need to protect Peeta. From Snow and the games. If anything were to happen to him then we might lose the chance at winning Katniss over. We can't have that.
Anyway the main thing to mention about Twelves Reaping was when the cameras cut out. Both Peeta and Katniss, hell all of District Twelve, gave the three fingered salute. An action that had been branded as a sign of the rebellion by the Capitol. This act only confirmed it that this is our moment. If they were to know of what we've planned they'd be on board and i know it. They don't care anymore, hence why they so openly show their defiance now. Haymitch vowed not to tell either of them of our intentions, claiming Snow is watching them both and it's too risky for them to know anything.
"Has Plutarch called at all today?" Coin asks Boggs.
Usually she'd have been there to take the call herself, but today she took time out for a personal matter that took her up onto the surface. I'd been shocked when she asked me to go with her instead of Boggs as she mourned her lost husband and daughter. Both had perished when a deadly case of smallpox hit District Thirteen about six years ago. Her husband was the first to contract the virus. According to Coin his death was slow, it took days for it to claim him. Her daughters death was much faster. Coin told me she was fifteen years old at the time and was volunteering in the hospitals to help battle the virus which led to her also contracting it. The outing this morning led me to see another, softer side of Coin, one that i'll likely not see again. It was upsetting to watch, as she asked a higher power why the virus didn't effect her as it did her family. I wasn't supposed to hear that though, so mentioning it, or trying to console the President in anyway, is completely out of the question.
"Yes ma'am." Boggs produces a tablet and hands it to Coin. "He gave these names, said that these were the ones who'd likely unite under the Mockingjay."
Coin sits and looks over the names on the tablet and from what i can see there is quite a lot of them.
"This is over half of the victors." She says a little dumbstruck.
When she see's i'm curious, Coin passes the tablet onto me and allows me to look over the names. The careers were not on there, but all from Four, Seven, Eleven and Six were on board. Even Woof and Cecilia from Eight had been listed.
"Plutarch did say his plan would work." I mutter.
"Seeing that, i'm inclined to believe he is right." She nods.
Of course he's right. This plan is going to work and we'll finally be able to take Snow down. I just get the feeling it's not going to happen without us losing people, both to the games and otherwise.
"Boggs, i want you to get Plutarch on the line we have things to discuss." She turns and faces me. "Ethan, i'm putting you in charge of watching the progress of our newcomers from the Capitol. They claim to be a camera crew and could be useful in future."
I'm assuming she means Cressida and the guys so i get up out of my seat and nod.
"You'll find them waiting in the mess hall for you." She explains.
"Is there anything specific you wish of them?" I ask.
"Teach them to handle themselves." Coin glances to Boggs. "With everything we're about to endure, they'll need to be able to fight."
I too glance at Boggs, who then nods his head and smiles slightly. I know it's a big deal to be put in charge of training them, after all their lives may come down to whatever i show them when we finally cut the tape and declare rebellion.
I nod respectfully to Coin - seeing as it's been drilled into me by now - then leave her office and head for the mess hall. Once there, it's empty aside from myself, Cressida, Pollux, Castor and Messalla. Cressida seems to be discussing something silently with Messalla, whilst Pollux and Castor are playing catch with a serving tray. When they see me both Cressida and Messalla sit up straight and end whatever conversation they were having before i could catch wind of it.
"Everything been okay for you guys?" I ask sitting down at their table.
As always, Cressida is the one to answer. "Not what we're used too, but it's not bad down here."
"Is it the clothes that feel wrong?" I ask with a chuckle, pulling at my grey sweatshirt.
Both laugh, but Messalla says. "They're better. Not every guy likes growing up wearing pink."
"Or girls for that matter." Cressida chuckles.
"Suddenly i'm glad i grew up wearing overalls and flannel shirts." I joke.
Both of them look at me strangely.
"Flannel shirts?" Messalla asks.
Shit, i forgot they were from the Capitol. "It's a thin shirt with checks on it, lumberjacks wear them in District Seven."
They both seem to know what i'm talking about then and the smile at each other before laughing slightly. I laugh with them for some unknown reason, probably so not to feel awkward. When the laughing stops though i bring up the reason i came here.
"So Coin wants you guys to learn how to handle yourselves in a fight." I say. "She put me in charge of it."
"Filming is our strong point. But i see where the self defence comes in." Messalla nods.
Cressida remains silent for a moment before sitting forward slightly and asking. "So Coin is going to give us a frontline role?"
"We won't really know anything until we get started properly, for now our focus is Katniss and getting her out of the arena." I explain. "But it's possible."
I make sure to add that in. I've heard Coin and Boggs talk, they think we'll need more then just Katniss to convince the nation to fight, we'll need propaganda campaigns, recruitment vids and things to hurt the Capitol with. Cressida and the guys are a camera crew, they might be exactly what Coin was hoping for and that's why Plutarch helped them out.
"That's good news." Cressida smiles.
She then stands up, followed by Messalla, and waves over Castor and Pollux. She explains to them that they'll be taking up training and so forth, ending in me being asked the frontline question again, this time by Castor. My answer is the same as before. That dealt with, the four of them sit down with me and arrange a schedule. I remember how Boggs did this with me and i know i should use the same method with these guys. Not only does it allow us to use up time wisely, but it means we could get the training and other stuff out of the way quickly.
Three hours later - with only one session down - i quickly realised that the four of them wouldn't take long to teach. They already knew the basics in self defence, their only downfall was the weapons. Firing, handling and evaluating. Given they lived in the Capitol they won't have handled a gun. Just like i hadn't until i arrived here. But thanks to Boggs, i can show them how to do that and other useful skills that he taught me. My job had been made easier by all of this, but also meant i'd be back to sitting around waiting all day for news from Plutarch in the Capitol. That was only tolerable when he had something to tell us.
Here's to hoping he can convince the Victors to go along with the plan.