Annie's POV

"Ceaser!" He exclaimed brightly, and swept his arms open in greeting before grasping the host's hand and shaking it.

"That's quite the handshake you have there young man!" Ceaser laughed, hanging his hand in mock hurt. Finnick chuckled, and I sat quietly, bemused at his ease on stage.

"I have to confess Ceaser, sometimes I don't know my own strength," Finnick winked at the audience, and the front row swooned openly.

His hair had been cut and combed back, slathered with a healthy supply of capitol strength gel. If possible, his skin gleamed more golden than it had when he left the sunny beaches of district four, and his teeth shone back as a brilliant white in the fluorescent lighting of the theatre.

I had to admit, he was looking rather dapper.

Canly fidgeted beside me, openly gawking at the made up Finnick that sat so comfortably on the blue couch (rather ironically colored for a hot seat).

"My my, I think we may have a charmer on our hands," Ceaser joked, and was soon rewarded by a throaty chuckle from Finnick. The girls in the vision line of the camera played with their hair, pulling strands out nervously and twiddling them between their fingers in a flirtatious fashion.

"So tell us Finnick, what has been the best part of your journey so far?" Ceaser asked, leaning forward until his elbows rested heavily on his knees.

"That's an easy one," Finnick said mysteriously, resting forward until his figure matched that of Ceaser's.

"The lovely woman I've had the luck of meeting here in the Capitol."

Ceaser threw his head back in an exaggerated laugh and I felt Canly stiffen beside me.

This certainly wasn't the Finnick I knew.

"Indeed, they are quite lovely if I have the pleasure of saying so myself. Now Finnick, with the opening day of the games coming closer, I assume you have chosen a strategy for your play yes?"

Finnick balked for only the slightest of moments before leaning back, and crossing his legs non-chalantly.

"You could call it a strategy yes," he purred, "but if I told you now, what you have to look forward to?"

Ceaser let out another belly laugh, and looked at the hysterical crowd.

"And he has a sense of humor!"

I was looking at the television darkly, unable to recognize my friend amidst the artificial creature they had put in the spotlight. He answered every question smoothly, with wit and sometimes even a hidden sexual innuendo. The Finnick I knew would have choked on his words and looked down in humility.

"Everyone, your male tribute from district four!"

The crowd leapt to their feet and cheered harder then they had for any other tribute thus far, and through my sulking haze I felt my mother rub my upper back and whisper in my ear, "he did well Annie."

Finnick's POV

"You did it kid," Mags said joyfully as she slapped me surprisingly hard on the back when I stumbled off the stage.

"They love yuh."

I couldn't argue with the thunderous applause and screams that followed me off, and all I could do was smile stupidly at my mentor.

"Don't let it get to your head though. One time isn't going to keep you alive. As long as you're here, you're the tribute from district four. Nothing else."

I nodded in compliance, knowing that the advice she was giving me right now was what was going to keep my alive. The adrenaline that was pumping through my veins only moments before had already begun to wear off as Mags and I started the trek back to the district four section of the massive capitol building.

"Mags-" I started, genuinely curious as I watched the tail end of Henry disappear into Amalia's room, not bothering to follow us to the screening room to watch the re-run of our interviews.

"It's not against the rules. It's not our business either." She interrupted, dousing the topic before I had even had the chance to bring it up.

"But… she's going into the arena…" I said ominously, not acknowledging the frustrated wave of Mags' hand in front of me.

"So are you, doesn't mean we should all lose hope or ability to live our lives beforehand."

Her words struck me slightly, a small lump crawling its way back into my throat.

Thought I got rid of that…

We settled side-by-side on the fancy couch and flicked on the television, me crawling out of my suit jacket and unbuttoning the stiff shirt underneath.

"No need to impress me Odair, I'm not the one you need to worry about," Mags smirked, gesturing to my discarded clothing. I chuckled a little, and made myself comfortable before pulling a bowl of deep-fried carrots onto my lap.

I hardly recognized myself when I walked on stage, all charm and no nerves, smooth and subtle with a hint of sarcasm and humor. Ceaser seemed to like me, playing off the audience and my meager attempts at flirting, helping me out more than I had noticed at first.

"You're lucky he took to you," Mags said, reading my thoughts. I nodded, silently munching.

In all, the other tributes were what I had expected from years of watching the district representatives. Districts 1 through 3 held the most dangerous looking kids, all dark eyed and menacing with lean bodies and trained minds. I knew that in the past they usually formed packs, the strong teaming together to slowly pluck off the weak in cruel and unusual ways.

I thought about the friend I had made during my first day of training, wondering if I should speak to her about forming an alliance in contrast to the careers. The other tributes had been average; coming from the poorer districts had led them to the solution of having little to no volunteers available. Whoever was chosen was chosen, and that was that.

Brit was surely not someone I would keep around for the soul purpose of brute strength, but she was light and smart and couldn't be a horrible ally to have.

"Best be getting to bed," Mags suggested "second day of training tomorrow and the skills show to follow."

I yawned in spite of myself and snatched up my clothing from the floor.

"Mags?" I asked quietly as she turned around from her departure. I bent down swiftly, and planted a small kiss to her withered cheek.

"Thank you."

Woah man! Two updates in one day. This one is a filler though, muh bad if ya'll were expecting something deep and dramatic :P Anywho, in response to one of the reviews i received on my last chapter, i have many plans for this story so i believe i will be continuing it for some time. Or until someone begs me to stop :P Thanks for reading! Please review with compliments criticism and ideas, always love that stuff. Until next time! adios.