Author's Note: The arena looms ever closer. I promise we will get there soon enough!
….
Farewells
The chaos continued in the auditorium, whilst the victors had been ushered back to their floors. But once they were left alone, many of them gravitated to District Four's floor, ignoring the firm command to stay put and not leave the confines of their own quarters.
Maria, along with Charo and Adan, was the first to arrive. They wanted to wish Finnick well and bid goodbye to the rest of their friends in Four before going to Eleven's floor for a final meeting. They were a popular trio, and everyone was saddened at the fate that awaited Charo and Adan, so much so, that they all advised them to find either Finnick or Johanna and stay nearby to give them the best chance possible.
Mags had always doted on the pair, so she took both of them into her arms and mumbled her goodbyes, clasping their hands, and kissing them on the cheek. She was upset for the youngest victors who shared her fate and was particularly so for the pair from Ten. Abraham had stifled their efforts for years and they had recently found their stride, only for it to be taken from them. She knew that if she could help either, or both of them, assuming they found each other after the Cornucopia, she would.
After they all left, the Ones and Twos arrived together. Cashmere and Gloss briefly hugged Mags and headed straight for Finnick.
"This is it. You definitely aren't joining us?" Cashmere started.
"You know my answer. I don't want to spend this time talking about why either."
"Of course not. But we wanted to let you know that you are our friend, regardless. You do what you have to do. We will be doing the same," Gloss said.
"But," Cashmere cut in before Finnick could reply, "We wanted to tell you that we support you. Whatever it is that you are doing, whatever game you're playing or that Mags has you playing, we support you."
Finnick looked taken aback. Gloss and Cashmere were not as oblivious as they had been making out. He would have to let Mags know when he could.
"What Cashmere is saying, is that it must be worth it. For all this to be happening. So, make sure you win. We want you, or whatever it is that you are wanting, to win."
"But what about you two? Surely you have plans?"
"Cashmere and I, we're not making it out of that arena. We're done."
"We're not going back alone, without the other. We cannot do it anymore. So, we will take an out as it presents itself. So, if that means facing you," Cashmere said.
"I have your permission," Finnick acknowledged.
"Exactly. You know us, you will know when."
Cashmere moved into a hug and whispered, "We want you to win, not just survive. Get out of there alive, Finn."
Gloss slapped him on the shoulder and the pair shook hands. A decade of friendship was coming to an end, and they would likely find themselves on opposing sides when Gloss and Cashmere met their fates. It was a strange act of friendship, of trust, knowing that your friends, lethal in themselves, have given you permission to kill them. It would not be a decision Finnick took lightly.
But Gloss and Cashmere were soon replaced at Finnick's side by Lyme and Four's man had no time to dwell on the pairs' words.
"You look after her in there," Lyme started. There were no platitudes or kind goodbyes in her words. This was not the time.
"You know I will, she's Mags, she's-" Finnick replied.
"Too damn important to be set aside at the first sign of trouble. Don't let her sacrifice herself at the very first emergency."
"I won't. She doesn't deserve this."
"But we have to live with the choice she's made. So don't let it go to waste. Get her out of there if you can."
Lyme grabbed Finnick's hand, holding on firmly as she continued, "You know what that means too. Don't go dying in there. Get out alive. Do what you have to do."
Finnick watched as Lyme left him and headed straight to Mags. Theirs was an odd friendship. The leader from Four with the secret rebel from Two. But they were both leaders, so Finnick guessed it made sense. Two's woman held Mags in such a reverence that he had not seen replicated across even the most loyal of their allies. Perhaps it was because of Lyme's position that she understood. She knew exactly how much Mags had sacrificed, what she had prioritised and the work she had put in to get them to this point, to the precipice of victory.
So, he watched as Lyme clasped Mags' hands, praised her bravery and told her to do all she could to get out of the arena alive. But Mags shook her head and pointed in his direction to which Lyme could only laugh and mutter about "strange District Four ways" under her breath. She took hold of Mags, pulling her in close and Finnick turned away, feeling like he was intruding on a moment that belonged to them. When he turned around, Lyme had left and he stood staring at Mags, realising what a responsibility he had. She was so much to so many people, but she was his family, in a way that she was not to anybody beyond Four. She had helped his grandmother raise him and Finnick felt as if he owed her, to do his best to help save her.
….
Poppy arrived on Four's floor to find the living room full of victors from across the districts. In the corner, Chloe was taking discrete photos of the groups as they had their final conversations. Poppy didn't know what Four's woman would do with them, but she resolved to ask if there would be any images she could take with her.
She made her way to Eleven's victors, hugged them and thanked them for their years of support and offered to help in looking out for Orchard as she could see herself not having to do a great deal of mentoring. She saw Cecelia talking to Finnick and overheard them making tentative plans to meet at the Cornucopia. Poppy felt a huge sense of relief that this could be a chance for her friend.
Whilst the pair were in their own conversation, Poppy took the opportunity to speak to Mags. Like most victors, Poppy had befriended Mags on her Victory Tour and was taken under her wing as a junior member of their rebel ranks. They understood each other, they both had an endless desire to keep busy and both held the weight of responsibilities in their districts on their shoulders.
"We love you, Mags," Poppy started, knowing how upset Claudia had been upon their arrival moments ago. Mags had to comfort the woman from Six despite sharing her fate, for which Poppy felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Thank you. For everything. How you've looked out for Claudia, Levi, their children. Kept tabs on Max and helped me too. We've all needed you and you've been there."
Mags shook her head as if her years of commitment to the victors had been of no effort to her despite the level of responsibility she had carried.
"You too," Mags replied, acknowledging Poppy's efforts with her fellow victors.
"None of us like this. But we can't change it. Just don't sacrifice yourself for nothing. Only go if you know it's the right time."
Poppy did not pretend that she thought Mags intended to make it to District Thirteen. Six's woman had always remained realistic. Mags put her hand to Poppy's heart and Poppy took told of it. The two stayed like that for a few moments before Mags encouraged Poppy to go towards Halley and Cecelia who were now together, both of them in tears.
After joining her friends, it was not long before Poppy started crying too. The three women, friends from the moment they were introduced after Halley's Games, had formed a bond closer than most. They trusted each other implicitly, loved spending time in each other's company and had driven a shared energy between their three urban districts through sharing information and resources.
They loved each other. Poppy and Halley had met Cecelia's children and were considered part of the family that Cecelia was losing. The three of them stood close, holding hands as the rest of the room moved around them.
….
Knowing that most of the victors were distracted, Haymitch managed to pull Finnick away from Noah and into a quieter corner.
"The girl won't trust me," Finnick started.
"I know," Haymitch replied. "She's difficult and damn stupid, I'm so sorry."
"That's some help, Haymitch!"
"I try Finn, you know I do. But look, take this," he said, handing Finnick the gold bracelet Effie Trinket had given him moments ago. She would kill him tomorrow morning, but it was necessary.
"What's this?" Finnick laughed.
"Your token. I'm sure you can hide whatever Annie gave you somewhere. But you need this."
"And why do I need a gold bracelet from Haymitch Abernathy?"
"Because the girl has seen it. She knows where it's come from. Trinket has got us all matching gold tokens, "because we're a team", Haymitch chuckled.
"You might want to do something about that, Haymitch. That could be dangerous for Effie."
"I'm speaking to Plutarch. He says he's got it covered."
"He better do. She's a good one is Effie. Wish she'd replaced Dora."
"They'd have found a way to move Effie out sooner rather than later, away from us and not to District Four."
"True. But is this going to work? The girl is going to trust me because of a bracelet?"
"Make sure she sees it. She knows it's a message from me."
"I thought she didn't listen to you."
"She has her moments; I hope this is one of them."
"Great, Haymitch, really. Hope and a bracelet. That's what I've got before she shoots me on sight."
"It's better than nothing!" Haymitch laughed before pulling Finnick into a hug and sharing words he didn't want anyone else to hear. Haymitch had always tried to help Finnick, in his own way, and the pair shared a love for Mags. They were both hers and as with everything revolving around Mags, she had brought them together.
The pair were soon interrupted by Johanna who wanted her time with Finnick before they could next meet in the arena. Haymitch bid Finnick farewell, promised to see them both later and went to find Mags.
….
They had left Four's floor and returned to District Seven's quarters, Seven's victors bringing Poppy with them.
As soon as the door closed, Poppy caught Johanna's arm, so the younger woman did not walk away.
"We've got you, Johanna. You know that right?"
"I don't need-" Johanna started.
"I know what you're going to say. You don't need our help. You don't necessarily want to win. I mean, who does, given the circumstances? But everyone is asking a lot of you. So, you should know that we're going to do what we can to help."
"Don't you have your victors?"
"How long do you think they're going to last? I love them but they're not cut out for this and they're looking for an out. I'm not asking you to give them one, I'd never ask that. But I'm going to do what I can. Whatever you need, I'll help."
Johanna appeared taken aback at this. She knew Six's victor had supported her before, but she hadn't realised that her feelings still continued, and she wasn't sure why anybody from Six would support her so keenly.
Poppy pulled Johanna in closer, "You don't have to say anything. Just know that we want you alive. I want you alive. So do what you have to do. We've got your back. If it all turns to shit, it's your choice, but don't give up."
Johanna stepped back, nodded and turned away towards where the others were waiting. She was replaced at Poppy's side by Blight who pulled his long-time friend into a tight hug.
"Don't forget me," he laughed.
"As if I ever could. You've been the best."
"I know!"
Poppy laughed and swiped at his arm, "Stay you, don't change for them, ever."
"You know I'd never do that."
"I don't want you to die," Poppy said, holding back tears.
"I don't want to die either. I don't know if I'm ready."
"Who is? I don't know whether I'm ready to do this without you."
"You're going to have to. We both are."
"I know. I know you'll take care of Johanna. Just don't do anything stupid."
"I can't promise that."
"And I've just told you not to change," Poppy sighed, and the pair laughed softly.
"It's all a mess, Poppy."
"Don't I know it?"
"But you can put things right. Stay alive, don't you dare die. He won't be able to cope," Blight said looking towards Linden who was watching the pair.
"You know I'm going to try. But thank you. You've never had to do what you've done for us."
"It's nothing, really. You love each other and you're my friends, more than that really. He needs you."
"I need him," Poppy whispered.
"So win. Stay alive. I'm going to tell him the same. And to take the best care of you, to make you happier than you ever thought you could be, because you both deserve it. But I know you'll take care of him, and he needs it. He's a fool sometimes. But you bring out the best in each other," Blight continued as he began to cry.
"Stay you. Be the invincible man you believe yourself to be, this isn't going to phase you. You can get out of there."
"Aren't you supposed to be the realistic one? Johanna comes first, you've said that, just now."
"I know. But you have a chance. You're a fighter and you're prepared to do what you need to do. You can make it out of there. But I know the odds, I know."
"You're the best, Poppy. Don't ever stop believing that. I love you."
"I love you, Blight, never forget that."
….
The same conversations were being held on Eleven's floor as Haymitch had joined Chaff, Seeder and Orchard for a final drink.
"This is it," Seeder said. "This is what it's come to."
"I hate it. Hate every single one of them," Haymitch spat.
"So, use your rage boy," Orchard replied. "Properly, this time."
"The old man's right," Chaff laughed. "You've got to get this right."
"And don't I know it."
"We believe in you. We always have," Seeder said.
"Just don't go dying for nothing, the pair of you."
"I'm not going easily, you know that," Chaff said.
"Good. Because you don't deserve any of this, none of you do. Too damn good for the lot of them."
"Look after yourself Haymitch. Don't blame yourself, none of this, none of whatever happens in there is your fault. Just because I'm not there, doesn't mean you can start that again," Seeder said.
"She'll haunt you," Chaff laughed, and Seeder pulled Haymitch in close before leaving him with Chaff.
"What we're trying to say Haymitch, is that we need to win. You need to win. For your own sake too. Live your life, brother. Make something good out of this. We've got it from the inside. Do what you need to do."
"Don't know about my chances, but it's worth it. It's the right time, and I've got to do it without you both. It's not right."
Chaff slapped Haymitch on the back, "It's time for you to be the one in control. You can do this, brother. Now, time for one more drink."
