Author's Note: The victors start the work of making alliances and figuring out where Twelve's newest victors fall into place.

….

Likeable

"Any final thoughts before we go through the formalities of requesting alliances? You have had two days of training, what do we need to know?" Luxor asked.

"Make the obvious alliance," Gloss replied.

"Nothing more, nothing less," Cashmere echoed. "Then we'll know for sure which way the Fours are going."

"I will make the approach with Petran and Cleo and test the waters with Chloe and Coral, to coin a District Four phrase."

"Be clear with the Twos, we do not want Twelve. We both saw the look on Brutus' face when we saw the girl shoot."

"She's that good then?" Topaz cut in.

"Unfortunately," Cashmere replied. "Awkward and uptight. I can't work with her. She is a victor through and through though."

"I was not even going to mention the Twelves, but I will be sure to ward off any such suggestion. What about the boy, out of interest?" Luxor asked.

"Oh, I like him," Gloss replied. "He's smart, good to talk to, very observant. Not bad with a spear, competent enough with a sword. But the girl is his priority, so that will not work for us."

"He's a sweetheart," Cashmere confirmed. "But that makes him a liability in an arena. Beyond the arena, I am sure we would have got along. It's a shame really, but we are where we are."

….

"I just don't understand. What are the Fours playing at?" Enobaria asked. "Finnick has been making approaches to the Twelves, making friends with Cecelia and making a lot of noise with Johanna Mason."

"Finnick is working the room. Keeping us guessing as to what his plans really are. But we will know for sure soon enough," Lyme replied. "Besides, Finnick has always been friends with Cecelia, he has a soft spot for the children. And we have all heard about his antics with Mason, that should be no surprise."

"If I find he is cosying up to the Twelves in the arena."

"Then we take them on at the right time like we discussed," Brutus interjected. "But the Twelve girl is good. Very good. I still maintain that she could be of use."

"Not this again."

"Yes, this again Enobaria. Think about it. Do you really want to be questioning where she is the entire time when we could have her in sight? You can't hear her approach. Her arrows are long range and she's the best I've ever seen. She's too dangerous. We wouldn't know she's nearby until we've taken an arrow to the chest, and that will be that."

"I can't put up with her," Enobaria replied.

Brutus sighed, "Just think about it. Petran, approach Haymitch. Even if she says no, it will give her something to think about, the boy too. He's the brains out of the pair of them. Baria, you don't have to like her, I'm not sure I do. But it could work to our advantage. We target them first, as soon as the alliance splits."

"Too predictable."

"Maybe. But the audience will want an exciting end to the career pack, and with Mellark's involvement last year, it could be quite a nice end to that story from our point of view."

"I thought you liked the boy?" Enobaria asked.

"I do. But we are where we are. If we were mentors instead, I'd be getting to know him. But we're tributes and we're District Two. And how often does District Two put an end to District Twelve's chances?"

Enobaria smirked, "If you're taking down the boy, leave the girl to me."

….

"You've done brilliantly, as I knew you would," Halley said as she brought Wiress in close for the reassurance she knew would be needed.

"Very well played, both of you," Pluto echoed.

"I think it has been a job well done," Beetee said. "Besides, I think Wire and I like the pair of them."

"The girl," Wiress started, "She's good, kind. I think she understands too."

"Far more than Haymitch would have us believe," Beetee finished. "But I don't think the boy is too keen on the idea of us as allies. He's spent a lot of time with Johanna."

"Well, luckily for him, he will be with Finnick."

"And we'll have to work with Johanna," Beetee laughed.

"She knows what she's doing and will get the job done. Chloe said that Johanna and Finnick have been talking it over, she understands what she needs to do," Pluto replied.

"Good. Then we will be on the same page."

….

Mags and Finnick arrived back on Four's floor to find the others waiting for them.

"Any progress?" Chloe started.

Finnick laughed whilst Mags replied, "Job done. Leave the girl to me."

"She continued to reject my advances and was more interested in Mags' fishhooks!"

"Well, she clearly has good taste, Finn," Chloe replied as she brought Mags into a hug, "I knew you'd sort it, you're always brilliant."

"Yes, we all know Mags is brilliant. But what does that say about me!"

"Oh look, Finnick getting his first taste of rejection!" Noah laughed. "Welcome to the real world, where not everybody falls at your feet!"

"There's only one of me!"

"Maybe you're losing your charm?"

"With the reaction I've received so far? I don't think so. The girl is simply awkward, a prude like Johanna says."

"Or she has something better at home?"

"She hasn't even touched the boy."

"How about the boy? What's he like?" Coral interjected.

"We like him, don't we Mags," Finnick replied, and Mags nodded, indicating her agreement before going back to her conversation with Chloe.

"I've made far more progress with him than her. If he's on side, it should help at the start. He has his head switched on and is serious about allies."

"Good. We can work with that."

….

"You want me to approach Haymitch to request an alliance with Peeta?" Poppy asked.

"Yes, we like him, don't we Levi," Claudia replied. Levi simply shrugged and walked away.

"What about the girl?"

"Her too. I think she will stay with the boy."

"What if Katniss and Peeta have other choices? I think a lot of us are going to be approaching Haymitch."

"I understand. Finnick and Johanna can fight. The girl likes Beetee and Wiress too. But I can just follow them. Maybe I can help."

"I'll see what I can do," Poppy said, trying to reassure Claudia. She knew what Haymitch's reaction would be and frankly, it would be a reaction shared by every other mentor. Claudia and Levi were hardly ideal allies. But if the Twelves had been speaking to Finnick and Johanna, and if Katniss liked the Threes, that meant things were going well for the core alliances.

Claudia continued, "He likes painting. He decorates cakes. He bakes too when he's at home. His favourite colour is orange, like the sunset. He helped us paint, he painted me. Poppy, he was so kind to me. I think you would like him too."

"I'm sure I would. He sounds lovely. Haymitch will be pleased to know that you got on well with each other," Poppy replied.

She was so relieved that Claudia's time in the gym was not making her any more stressed or upset than she needed to be and that Peeta was showing her kindness. Poppy resolved to thank Haymitch on Claudia's behalf. A lot had happened to the boy in a year and to see someone retain their kindness when they were in such an awful position took a strength of character that Poppy knew not everyone had.

If Claudia's plan for the arena was to help Peeta and contribute to their plans in her own way, Poppy would not get in her former mentor's way. She would help her do right by Peeta.

….

"Uptight, sensitive, stubborn, difficult. I don't want to be spending time with her," Johanna said as she returned from training.

"I see that making friends is going well!" Sawyer laughed.

"Dare I ask who?" Liev said.

"Haymitch's new girl. Why did everyone decide she was our saviour? She's seventeen, can't make friends but is weirdly sincere. I don't like it."

"Is Finnick faring any better?" Sawyer asked.

"Finn hasn't got a chance. She seems totally repulsed by him. It's funny. She likes Mags though. And Nuts and Volts for some strange reason."

"Well, that's of some help. Hopefully, Haymitch will talk some sense into her."

"How much time have you spent with her? If you gave it another try, it might be different."

"Enough. Chatted here and there, a bit at the stations, a bit at lunch. She's not into axes and she didn't want to wrestle."

"Were your clothes on, Johanna?" Sawyer asked.

"No. But I don't see how that makes a difference. Didn't stop the boy from looking. Finn was amused too," she laughed.

"Well of course they didn't mind. You said the boy wouldn't be getting any at home and you know what Finn's like."

"She might be finding you intimidating," Liev suggested.

"Good!" Johanna retorted.

"That's not exactly what we were aiming for."

"I don't see any of you aiming for anything when I'm the only one in there being forced to make friends."

"Johanna, have you thought about changing your approach to the girl?" Blight asked.

"Change my approach! That's rich coming from you when you've been sat in here signing albums all day!"

"I'll tell those sponsors to change their minds about you!"

"No, you wouldn't."

Liev stepped in to put an end to that line of bickering, "Dare I ask what you make of the boy?"

"Oh, I like him! He's no trouble at all. Ask Haymitch for an alliance, why don't you," Johanna said as she left in the direction of her room leaving the other victors sat in silence.

"That's…not what I was expecting. But we'll take it. Our Johanna is making friends."

….

"Cotton, all I'm going to ask in terms of alliances is that you approach Haymitch," Cecelia said.

"Haymitch?"

"Yes, I like the Twelves. Both of them. I think the girl likes me too. Make sure Haymitch knows that. Tell him I want to help them both."

"I can do that," Cotton replied.

"Good. I'm not asking anything else of you. Do what you can with the sponsors, and I will do the rest from the arena."

"Poppy, Halley and Maria have helped too. Helped me to help you, and Woof."

"I knew they would. They'll help you too, and not just for me. I need you to trust them and do whatever they ask of you. They'll do the right thing."

….

"Tell me," Orchard started, "Are Haymitch's problems living up to expectations?"

"The girl's frosty. But I like the boy. Peeta is a good one. Wise for such a young age, more than Haymitch gives him credit for," Chaff replied.

"Katniss is slowly warming up to us. She's trying. She's nice in her own way," Seeder said.

"Slowly being the key word, Seeder. She doesn't think all that much of me. She likes you more."

"Well, I didn't kiss her on the lips whilst stinking of liquor, did I?"

"Boring," Chaff retorted.

"We'll soon see what's worked. But I think she realises she can trust some of us, at least for the time being. Which is the most we're going to get."

"It's her first year. How many of us a year out from our own arenas were particularly trusting?" Orchard asked.

"We're asking too much of her," Seeder replied.

"She doesn't know what she's being asked to do."

"Haymitch says she needs to be left to figure it out in her own way."

"And what if she doesn't?" Chaff asked.

"Then one of us is going to have to push her. But for now, we try to make it so she trusts some of us."

"Boy, it would help Haymitch if his pair could trust you," Orchard said.

Chaff sighed, "I've got the boy on side. I genuinely like him too. But that girl isn't making it easy. Peeta will have to convince her. When it comes down to it, he's the only one she'll trust."