Okay, first off: I got a very interesting question in the comments, namely if there would be Madge POV chapters in the arena. I actually hadn't considered doing that but now I thought: hey, why not? So would that be something you guys would want? Yea or nay?
)o(
Soon after Katniss and Madge had to leave, Effie makes sure Haymitch and I get ready for the day. During breakfast the elevator chimes and we all freeze. It's too early for the stylists to be back yet. Surprise visitors are rarely a good thing when you're a victor. Even less so when you're singled out as the cause of rebellion. Haymitch's knife is in his hand almost instantly and we all wait, barely even daring to breathe.
It's Finnick who wanders into the room."Melody's annoying me to no end. 'Is she with the alliance or not? What is your cousin up to?' Couldn't take it anymore so here I -"
He trails off as he catches sight of us – Haymitch with a knife in hand, Effie clutching onto me so hard it hurts, my own hands clasped around the table edge to keep them from shaking.
"Oh! Finnick!" Of course, it's Effie who remembers her manners again first."We weren't expecting you. Come, sit down. Do you want some coffee?"
We eat in silence for a bit, then Finnick breaks it."We're making Twelve's mentor room headquarters, yeah? Because I think Baria is hosting the Careers, so we could technically use ours but you never know who comes in, really."
"Ours is fine,"Haymitch replies. So Amphitrite must definitely be allying with Katniss and Madge, otherwise Finnick wouldn't be planning on joining us in our mentor room. I really would prefer if we could handle things from the penthouse, but sadly, it isn't possible. Probably because they want us available for the cameras and all. And this year, there's likely security reasons on top of that.
And then it's already time to leave. Chaff gets on the elevator as we ride down and so does Johanna Mason. Effie is fussing with our outfits, making some last minute adjustments. A pin in my hair move a few millimetres to the left, Haymitch's collar straighten out, her own skirt smoothed of imaginary wrinkles.
And then we're out of the elevator and surrounded by cameras. I stick to telling them only what Effie and Haymitch told me to. Yes, I did know Madge is pregnant. No, I didn't know before the reaping. Yes, I believe my sister intends to keep her safe. Yes, there will be an alliance involving them both.
When I run out of scripted replies, I'm not sure what to do. Luckily, Effie politely yet firmly declares my interview to be over and steers me towards the mentor rooms.
She gives me a quick tour – there's a dining hall, beds, even showers so you don't have to leave the proximity of the mentor rooms while the Games are in session – and then we go to the end of the hallway to the door marked with a twelve.
Johanna Mason, for some reason, is still tagging along. I'm certain there is no alliance with her tributes. Haymitch raises his eyebrows at her, too.
"I'll get bored to death in Seven's room,"Johanna whines,"I'm not even officially mentoring this year, they're Blight and Ash's problem. Can't I just stay?"
Effie looks like she wants to argue but falls silent as the screens flicker to life. There's three, one with the national broadcast, one with Katniss and one with Madge. Just then, Finnick joins us, lugging along what must be Amphitrite's screen.
"What's wrong with Katniss?"I ask immediately. My sister looks like she saw a ghost, panic is written clear on her face and she's visibly shaking. Haymitch frowns."Whatever it is, she better get a grip and fast."
Luckily, she does just that, surveying the arena and locking eyes with Olive Kentwell. And there's the pin.
The minute seems to be over faster than possible. I swear I was on my metal plate much longer last year... As Katniss jumps into the water without a second thought – my heart almost stops until Caesar Flickerman informs us that there is nothing dangerous in it – the door opens again.
"Sorry I'm late,"Terra Hayden says, placing a fifth screen next to Madge's. On it, Olive seems frozen. Terra rubs her temples and sighs."It had to be water. It just had to be freaking water."
"Katniss'll get her,"I say without thinking about it. I can only hope she will. The person with the pin is the most vital ally...
We watch in silence as the Games begin to unfold infront of us. Amphitrite killing that girl from Eight, Katniss shooting at Diana and Glamour, Amphitrite going for Olive, Madge killing the girl from Five, Olive killing one of the girls from Eleven.
Claudius Templesmith is jabbering on excitedly – the first three kills within the same alliance and that alliance not being the traditional Career alliance on top of that...
"Finnick?"Terra gets up and, with a nod, so does the victor from Four. Haymitch moves to do the same but Finnick stops him."They'll want to see the kid. Sorry. You keep an eye on the girls, yeah?"
Only now do I understand. More interviews. Flanked by Terra and Finnick, I go face the cameras once more. I put on my most dazzling smile."I told you there'd be a fun alliance!"
By the time we finally make it back to the mentor room, my cheeks hurt from smiling. Finnick plops down next to Johanna."What did we miss?"
"Basically just a lot of running,"Johanna replies,"They showed the bloodbath a lot."
On screen, Katniss's alliance is walking through what seems to be a jungle, lightly chatting, even though they all still have their weapons in hand; my sister in particular looks awfully tense. Nevertheless, Haymitch sighs heavily."Do they realise they are not on a school field trip?"
"Career behaviour,"Finnick and Terra reply at the same time. And it's true, you always see the Career pack acting as if they're just hanging out with friends. The gamemakers must want to give our alliance that image, because the national broadcast switches to them now.
"Didn't peck you for an axe girl,"Amphitrite says,"No offense, but I thought you'd have something smaller, knives or maybe darts."
"Yeah, I had knives for a long time, until -"Olive breaks off and changes tracks,"I changed weapons a few years back."
Amphitrite grins at her ally's blush."Like four years back?"
"What happened four years ago?"my sister demands, obviously annoyed not to be getting it. I have a slight idea where this is going and I'm not sure I like it. Madge chimes in with a smile,"More like who happened."
Olive, giving up on pretending, glares at the rest of the alliance in turn."One, axes are awesome. Two, Johanna Mason is amazing. Three, just cause we're allies doesn't mean I can't kick your sorry asses."
Madge just laughs and Amphitrite puts on a sing-song voice."Olive's in love, Olive's in love!"
"Okay, is this third grade?"Finnick says, unable to hide his smirk. Terra turns to Johanna."Oi, she's sixteen!"
"What did I do?"the victor from Seven demands. Terra shrugs, sizing up the younger victor."Nothing, yet. But you better wipe that smile of your face before I do it for you."
Yeah, I knew I didn't like this. Half an hour into the Games and everyone is already at everyone's throats.
Not that our tributes are making any effort to make it any better.
"That's stupid,"Katniss says,"How could she fall for someone fighting to the death on a TV screen?"
I think it was meant to support Olive, but the other girl doesn't take it that way."Well, look who's talking, Mrs Mellark!"
Katniss lunges for her and Amphitrite just about pulls her back. Madge quickly places herself between them."Enough. Everyone apologise. No one meant to hurt anyone's feelings. Right?"
The other three mumble incoherently in response. Madge sighs."So are we good?"
Everyone nods and Olive buries her face in her hands."Our responsible voice of reason is Miss Teen Pregnancy. How screwed are we?"
Pretty screwed, I want to say. But then Seven's escort burst in to drag Johanna out for interviews and a bleeping alerts us to incoming sponsor money. There's some for Two, Four and Twelve each, the total added underneath as we are all working together. I stare at the numbers in surprise. Finnick leans over my shoulder and lets out a low whistle."Not screwed at all. They're loving it."
)o(
because you cannot put a bunch of alpha teenage girls together without a hitch