Author's Note: We're creeping closer to the arena. It's a pretty slow pace but there's so much behind-the-scenes action to explore and time needed to get to the depths of the relationships between the victors across the districts.

….

Alliances

Pluto and Halley made their way to District Seven's floor where Liev and Sawyer promptly greeted them. Linden was spending time with Blight to keep him outside of the arrangements being made between the mentors. Blight was writing a series of letters which Linden would try to deliver over the coming days to distract himself from what was about to happen. There were no more albums to sign, and Blight was at a loss.

"I suppose this is where we formally request an alliance?" Pluto began.

"I guess so," Liev replied.

"We can talk freely," Pluto continued, pointing to the device he had set down on the table in Seven's living quarters. "The arrangements have been confirmed. Twelve with Four and Three with Seven."

"We must follow our instructions then," Sawyer cut in.

"You don't sound too happy with this?"

"I've got Johanna to contain. This is not a natural alliance. Might raise questions we don't want to answer. People will expect her to be at Finnick's side."

"The plan is for the groups to meet. They must before too long."

"How do we guarantee that will happen?"

"We've got the inside covered. He will make it happen."

"I don't like having to trust a Capitol."

"Blight trusts him, Sawyer," Liev replied.

"He hasn't steered me wrong. I've worked with him for years. If he wanted to set me up, he could have by now. We're hardly going to be close friends, but we need to work with what we have and there is nobody better placed," Halley said.

"Still, how do we explain the origins of this alliance? Beetee and Wiress are not known to be friends with Blight and Johanna."

"Beetee's friendship and enduring affection for Leah even after her passing," Pluto started. "Sentimental crap the Capitol will eat up. He made a commitment to look out for Johanna or something, and out of loyalty he is keeping his promise. The two districts have bonded over their "shared experiences", in the words of our esteemed previous Head Gamemaker."

"It's tenuous," Liev said. "But with all the talk of the Capitol's "heightened emotions" over this Quell, it could work. It fits with Blight's angle too. We are making it clear that he plans to survive as long as possible to safeguard Johanna."

"We can work with that," Halley confirmed. "Wiress will follow wherever Beetee goes."

"One thing you need to know, that Blight and Johanna need to know. There will be a coil of wire at the Cornucopia. It won't work as a sponsorship gift so it must be there. It is imperative that Beetee leaves the Cornucopia with that wire in hand. He plans to make the run for it, but in case there is a problem-"

"We'll need to get it. We understand. There's no way Blight or Johanna aren't planning on making the run for it, they'll be there."

"Thank you, Liev. Beetee is keen for you all to know he's not planning on making this even more difficult for them than it needs to be."

"As long as Johanna gets to meet up with Finnick," Sawyer replied.

"They'll have to. It's going to work."

….

"Cecelia, I have news you're going to love," Haymitch announced as he entered Eight's floor.

"Do tell," Cecelia replied.

"How do you feel about an alliance with my two?"

"I was going to get Cotton to ask you about the same. I like them. I think your girl trusts me."

"She does," Haymitch started. "I just thought it would be easier to approach you directly. Wouldn't want to put pressure on Cotton. Besides, you're gonna love this next bit."

"Oh no," Cecelia replied. "Why are you smirking like that? That usually means trouble."

"How do you feel about shepherding my two, Mags and Nuts and Volts around an arena?"

Cecelia laughed in response, "That's who your pair want as allies!"

"Well, they're the girl's choices. You should be flattered! You'll be in excellent company!"

"She's got a funny way of playing this game. Not that I don't love the three of them, but no Finnick or Johanna?"

"She doesn't like either of them. The boy does. He told me to request them. Along with you, Chaff and Seeder."

"That's quite the alliance."

"That's why I'm making the decisions. Ultimately, the girl will decide she doesn't want any allies and the boy will follow her wishes."

"But you're still approaching me?"

"Knew you'd catch on. Four has already been decided. But Katniss trusts you and with you and Mags alongside Finn, it would help keep things together. But Finn can't wait. They get to the Cornucopia, and they leave. Quick."

"So, I can join them if I can get to them quick enough?"

"That's the idea. I'm sorry I can't give you anything definite. And I'm sorry about-"

"No, Haymitch. It's more than I was hoping. It gives me a chance. Thank you. As for Woof, I've made a deal with Brutus."

"Oh hell, Cecelia. That's terrible."

"But it guarantees a quick, painless end for him, and he can't cope now, never mind in there. Brutus doesn't want anything in return either."

"Then you've done the best you can for him. That's all you can do," Haymitch said.

"It's all I can do. Then I do what I need to do, for me."

"Just try to get to them. Or do what you need to do to give yourself the best chance."

"I'm not going down easily, Haymitch."

"Good. There are too many of us who still want you around, you know that."

….

"Chloe, Coral," Petran started. "You know what we've come to discuss."

"I think we can guess," Coral replied.

"We have secured the alliance with District One as per tradition. The question is whether Four will stand with us this year."

"It's different this year. The choice has been made with a great deal of thought and respect for the traditional alliance and we don't intend for this to be a permanent arrangement. But with Mags volunteering, and Finnick's love for her, it has to be different this year."

"Mags is eighty. We honestly were not sure what you would make of her being a career tribute. It would alter the entire alliance," Chloe continued.

"We hold Mags in the highest regard. If she wants to join, I know that Brutus and Enobaria would have no objections," Petran replied. "She is a career mentor, the pair of you are career mentors, career victors. Our alliance is what you understand."

"Mags is who we understand most. She would not want to hold you back."

Cleo cut in, "I don't consider that to be the case. Mags has never let age hold her back before. I'm in my seventies and trust me if I were returning to the arena, I would be doing so as part of the traditional alliance."

"We respect that, Cleo. But this is different. It's another arena with twenty-three other victors and we have made the decision we think best. We're sorry if we are going against the tide, but we hope that you respect our choice," Coral said.

"Your minds are made up? Even Finnick?"

"Yes. Finnick loves Mags and will stand by her."

"So, they're going it alone?" Petran asked.

"No final decisions have been made as to an alternative alliance."

"So, this is how it's going to be?"

"You know as well as we do that no matter the alliance, we will put our tributes' interests first. Even more so this year. But no hostilities. Mags would not want that. And remember, this is for one year only."

With that, Petran began to make his excuses and leave the company of Four's victors. He wanted to make a prompt arrival at the upcoming sponsors' reception. But Chloe reached for Cleo and whispered, "We're sorry. Let's not make this more difficult than it needs to be. Tell Baria she doesn't have to worry about the cold."

"Where did you find that out?" Cleo asked.

Chloe shrugged and replied, "The clues are there for them, if they look."

As Two's victors left, Coral took hold of Chloe's hands, "We did okay. No real damage done. Excuses made with nothing revealed that we ought to have held back. They'll get over it."

"They really don't know, do they?" Chloe said as they went to tell the others where they now stood with Districts One and Two.

….

Poppy had left the champagne reception with the sponsors and found herself in the Training Centre's gym, where she usually ventured when she had anxious or angry energy to expend.

It had been a lot to handle. The same event yet different in so many ways. She usually attended as Six's sole victor. But this time Max was at her side to dance the traditional opening dance with the escort, leaving Poppy with one of the stylists who simply would not stop talking.

She and Max danced with an older couple, keen to sponsor Claudia and Levi so Poppy put up with the man's wandering hands for as long as was polite before promising to agree a deal and moving on. She danced with Halley, then the three victors from Seven who were all in attendance. But she would usually dance with Blight. It would make the evening more bearable.

It was part of their ruse, to avoid people finding out about Poppy and Linden. Blight would provide cover and his friendship with Poppy made it an easy sell. But now Blight was a Tribute and Poppy and Linden were concerned that they would give themselves away.

In the gym, away from the crowds, Poppy did not think they had given up their secret. But they never knew exactly who was watching them and for how long, and whether any onlookers would pick up on anything that revealed the truth.

They had managed for so long and Poppy did not want to fall at the final hurdle. She felt nervous at the thought, but years of hiding had made her angry. So, she threw the knives into the dummy at speed and with the power she had developed from years of training of her own accord after her Games.

Then the lift sounded, signalling someone else's arrival. By now, Poppy could recognise the heavy, even footsteps that moved closer to her, "Knew I'd find you here," Lyme said.

"Thought you'd still be drinking," Poppy replied.

"Champagne is boring. Besides, Petran and Cleo are too busy to notice my absence."

"Can't say I've ever had that problem, being too busy with the sponsors."

"Keep your arm up. Maintain your stance. Your form drops when you start talking."

Poppy sighed, grabbed more knives, corrected her stance and resumed throwing.

"Good. You've always been a natural. Just needed that bit of technique and some proper practice. You've improved," Lyme continued.

"It's been almost two decades. I sure hope I've improved."

"Some people simply never get it or find their peak too early. You've never been satisfied with that, so you kept on going."

"And you've kept on with this arrangement."

"Because you had potential," Lyme said. "Now, aim for the neck."

"The neck?"

"Tougher, isn't it?" Lyme said as Poppy missed her first few attempts.

"But why the neck?"

Lyme moved in closer, under the pretence of adjusting Poppy's stance once more and whispered, "Weakest point in the armour."

"If I hit the chest?"

"The knife might not go all the way through the chest plate. But the neck, well, you have to move properly so it's relatively unprotected compared to the rest. You could go for the hands or wrists too, to disarm, but probably too much of a moving target. Any hit will be a distraction at least, but you need more than that."

"I'll have a gun," Poppy whispered.

"And you might run out of bullets. And they might run out of armour. In which case, go for it."

Their conversation was interrupted by Halley emerging from the lift, picking out the knives Poppy had thrown from the dummies and starting her own practice, "Thought I'd find you both here."

"You'll do," Lyme replied as she watched Halley's attempts. "Some second-hand teaching from Six over here hasn't steered you wrong. Pretty impressive, both of you."

"We do what we can."

"Now, what about if someone gets in close and you've got no weapons?" Lyme started as she moved into some hand-to-hand techniques she had taught Poppy previously.

This new proximity allowed more space for the conversation Lyme really wanted to have, "You ready?"

"It's about time," Poppy replied.

"It's been planned for years," Halley echoed. "Three is ready."

"You're under pressure, the two of you."

"Makes three of us."

"And don't I know it. But seriously, you're both good, aren't you? Ready to do whatever it takes?"

"Whatever it takes," Poppy replied.

"Good. Because we need you to be. If it's going to be your last moments of brilliance, and you've both had plenty, make them extra special."

"We're not planning on dying."

"I'd bet on the pair of you being alive at the end."

"You wouldn't bet on yourself? Not very Two of you."

"When Two finally goes, I'll be an enemy to half my people."

"But you're Lyme."

"And Lyme hates what they've made Two. But plenty of people love it or won't risk change."

"Why are you telling us this?"

"Because you need to know Two to win in Two. Because I know you two won't falter. Your hands won't shake when you grab hold of a gun and aim it at a peacekeeper's head. You'll grab a knife or whatever you get your hands on to get to the end of this."

"So, you want us to what exactly? Go to Two?" Halley asked.

"Not necessarily. But fight for the right side to win in Two. Fight for Two's interests. A fair deal at the end of it all. We're in an odd position, but you two have always seen the bigger picture. Keep on doing that."

Poppy and Halley simply nodded and turned their attention back to the techniques Lyme was running through with them. It would not be a difficult ask, no more than what they were already doing. They were determined to win with all the districts on their side and knew Two needed to be part of that. They understood that Lyme had given them her implicit permission to kill her people but to act to make it right in the end.

For the victors, their alliance had been years in the making. They would just have to convince the most reluctant, and not only in Two, that this wider alliance was something worth fighting a war for.