Mentor Profile
Raphael Bryan
Age: 54
District: 2
Hunger Games: 39th, aged 18
Mentored By: Amadeus Hadrianus Cato
Kills in the Arena: 8
Preferred Weapons: Sword
Tribute: Enobaria Blake
Mentoring Record: 5 Games/0 Victors
If you were to imagine a tribute from District 2, you would most likely imagine a tall, broad-framed brute of a man, a powerful force armed with natural athleticism and a flair for weaponry. Over the years, the Hunger Games have shown us countless images of dominating performances from the tributes of District 2, inevitably ending with their swords held high in victory. Augustus and Amadeus may have been the prototypes, but this is an archetype that runs deep through Two's history in the Games. The names almost roll of the tongue. Lucas. Cassius. Cicero. Amadeus. Brutus. Draco. Augustus.
Raphael Bryan is certainly another that can be added to that list.
In a Hunger Games fondly remembered for the first use of a late-game feast to spice up the action, Raphael tore through a third of the field on his route to victory. For an event that often offers so much unpredictability, Raphael's Games were, for him at least, as by-the-numbers for him as they could have been. In his own words during the post-victory interview with Caesar Flickerman, everything went to plan in the arena. No matter what chaos unfolded around him, it always felt like Raphael knew what he was doing.
For a variety of reasons, Raphael has never really had the chance to show this same level-headedness translating across to life as a mentor, largely due to a relative lack of experience, especially compared to many of the victors from the outer districts. As one of sixteen past victors from District 2, it is obvious that opportunities to mentor come less frequently than for other victors, but a large part of this rests of the fallout from the Bryan-James scandal, which has already been covered in some detail earlier in this programme.
Following the collapse of Raphael's long-distance relationship with fellow victor Indiana James and his notorious fight with her cousin Fernando (of which, Raphael could definitely be considered the victor), there was a long stretch of time where Raphael remained away from the prying eyes of the Capitol media, refusing to return each year for the Games. By the time he returned to our screens on a more regular basis, the charismatic man in his twenties had been replaced by a sullen figure in his forties. Even then, he has remained a nightmare to communicate with, and a real challenge for interviewers - we've all seen the recent clips of Raphael leading up to this year's Games, begrudgingly offering one-word answers, or remaining stoically silent.
In the years since the Second Quarter Quell, Raphael has only mentored for one Hunger Games, and that was still over fifteen years ago.
Many older fans will remember the energetic victor with the world at his feet when he emerged from the 39th Annual Hunger Games almost unscathed. Many older fans will also remember his struggles through one of the most dramatic moments the Games have produced away from the arena. But for the younger generations, this is a chance for them to see what this Raphael Bryan their parents have talked about so much is actually capable of.
We all know he's got it in him to have the mentoring performance of a lifetime.
The question is, will he?
A/N: Like many, I feel this chapter was a little different - it still seems strange to try and write about everything in such an upbeat manner...
Anyway, if you enjoyed this chapter, please review! Constructive criticism is always welcomed.
I'll be back with another chapter very soon :)