This chapter is part of the original story. For the updated (and hopefully improved) version, please go to 'Chapter Nine'.
I have had this idea rolling around in my head ever since I finished the series. I had countless starts to it that I ultimately trashed. However, after finally getting to go see 'Catching Fire' last night and seeing Sam bring our lovely Finnick to life so beautifully, I was truly inspired to post this since there aren't nearly enough Finnick stories.
The ambience of the Capitol was particularly jovial this night. The anticipation of the forthcoming jest on everyone's minds.
This was truly the best time of the year. Though customarily only focused on their personal agendas, during the course of the games all the citizens of the Capitol seemed to come together to partake in the festivities of the season.
Throughout the city streets music and announcements of the upcoming events played jubilantly from every loudspeaker. The City Circle was ablaze; the architecture planned so meticulously in the same manner. Amidst the mass of lit up structures was the Presidential Palace. It stood more grandeur than any of it's surrounding carbon copy structures.
While the entire circle was glowing in appearance, the xerox light fixtures amongst the buildings served merely as a cheap derivative to that of the decadent home of President Snow.
The intricate display was made to outshine the surrounding framework and it did exactly that. The Palace was the focal point of the Capitol, and on this night it was serving as the location of a pre-game party for the aristocracy.
"Maivis..."
After being jabbed in her side, Maive winced, retracting from her solemn state. With a flashed look of annoyance she glanced around the group of girls surrounding her confused as to why they felt the need to pull her from her waking slumber. Her eyes settled on her closest confidant, Charis.
"You've been gone the entire evening." She didn't mean literally but in a sense Maive had been gone. Off on a Glöm high. "How much emdid/em you take anyway?"
The group of girls laughed knowing the hallucinogenic tablet was the only way any of them managed to get through functions like these, or even every day menial task, not that they'd ever dare admit that.
No, they all loved this life and even if they didn't they knew they could have it so much worse. At least they weren't part of those slummy districts; even their embest/em were nothing worthy of the Capitol's standards of living.
"Maivis," another friend, Amara, called to her, "do you want to go refill our prescriptions together?"
Doing quick math in her head Maive realized that she had begun popping the pill much more frequently as of late and she only had enough to last her through the next day or so. A refill was direly needed, "That's fine."
"Oh, would you look at that."
The posse followed Amara's coy stare towards the grand entrance. Standing at the head of the room, looking admirable as ever was Finnick Odair.
The delighted chatter at the arrival of the Capitols sensual, smooth talking, golden boy, quickly filled the room.
As her friends joined in and gossiped amongst one another over the illustrious 'celebrity' guest, Maive couldn't help but stare.
What was it about this guy?
He must've had golden fingers and a velvet tongue with the way women flocked to him. She, however, did not see the appeal. He did nothing for her, in fact everyone's obsession with him was growing on her last nerve. Seeing him here, and hearing her friends begin their divulgence into Finnick Odair talk, Maive could feel her high start to dissipate.
She watched him with disdain; how his bronze hair bounced lightly with every overconfident stride, and the way his dark stare never seemed to match the light smile he wore. He was obviously faking it. Every exchange she had ever seen him take part in seemed nothing but mechanical and forced. She was willing to bet he only bothered coming to events like this to schmooze naive Capitolians into sponsoring for him in exchange for…who knows. And everyone ate up his words happily like the malnourished for attention degenerates they were. Everyone except her.
She loathed Finnick Odair. She didn't know him, but she didn't need to know him to know she hated him and what he represented.
'Damn..' She scolded herself as she realized thinking of him had killed the remainder of her high completely. "I need another Glöm, I'll be back ." She explained herself even though she knew her friends didn't hear her, nor did they care too.
After she had made her way through the crowded party Maive reached for the entry door just as her name was once again called.
"Maivis, come over here for a moment dear."
She instantly recognized the familiar, soothing, tone of her father. Why couldn't she of just kept walking? The exit was within reach, she could keep going really… However, the sudden halt in her motion gave away that she had heard him.
'One…two…three, smile.'
Closing her eyes, she allowed her body the moment to relax and fixated an inviting smile upon her otherwise devoid of emotion face before turning towards the awaiting group.
Her mother would be simply horrified if she approached a group of their family's colleagues looking anything less than ideal.
'One…two…three, deep breath.'
"Father," She kept her tone cool and collected despite the fact she was mildly irritated. It's not as though she didn't want to be bothered by her father, in fact Mavis adored him. At this moment however she was crashing from her Glöm holiday and was more irritable than usual.
Agoston extended a hand to his youngest daughter, taking it he pulls her in; greeting her with a chaste kiss to the cheek. "Everyone's inquiring about your plans for these upcoming games." He turns to look her in the eye, giving her a look that said she best answer this in courteous form.
Despite his larger than life persona her father was a man of short stature, so Maive was able to meet him eye to eye when they spoke. "Yes…" she trails off slowly, as her eyes move away from her father to face the others, "Well I do have the best seats in the house. I suppose it is pretty beneficial to know the right people." She jokes, placing a delicate hand on Agoston's forearm.
At this, the group of elite surrounding them laugh as if on cue.
"Yes, well Maivis, maybe you can put in a good word for me? What good does it do me to associate with the Head Gamemaker if he won't even get me some bloody VIP seats."One of the men in the group snickers, causing the others to titter off as well.
Agoston smirks, "Well if he doesn't want the likes of you too close to his work then he's obviously a smart man."
That 'smart man' was in fact her father. He had been the Head Gamemaker for over two decades now; the longest running thus far. He was a close associate of the President and that had given Agoston and his family a lot of benefits others weren't as fortunate to receive. But, where there is good, there is also always bad. Their connections and benefits had also pressed the family into the spotlight, leaving Maive and her sisters open for constant scrutiny. Feeling as though all eyes were on her, she lived in a state of persistent paranoia and anxiety. Until her physician began prescribing her Glöm.
At the reminder Maive finds herself craving the escape the tiny capsule brought her.
"Will you be taking in the games with Seneca?"
'One…two…three, smile.'
At the mention of the man that had been courting her for the past several months she puts on the sincerest smile she can muster, "He's rather busy working with my father, but if he finds a moment to spare, I will gladly accept his company."
Her tongue felt swollen and numb as she spoke. She could no longer feel the overly practiced words she spouted off.
The Crane family had been a prominent family in the Capitol for generations and the heir to the fortune, Seneca, was training directly under Agoston to take the reigns as Head Gamemaker once he retired. It was only a given that Seneca be paired off with one of Agoston's girls.
Callista, the eldest of the daughters, was everyone's first choice. She was the same age as Seneca, they'd grown up together, and she fancied him quite a lot. But the debonair looking man took a greater interest in Maive, much to her sister's chagrin. And so began the whirlwind romance of Seneca and Maive, they were a fixation for the Capitol people and the idea of living the rest of her life in the act made her skin crawl.
But for the moment all she could do was keep it going with a smile. That's how these sorts of situations went here in the Capitol. It didn't matter what you did or who you were behind closed doors if the facade you showed the world was picture perfect; and the Furthers family certainly was.
"Mr. Furthers,"
Tilting her head to the side Maive observes the face to the voice as he approaches them.
"Finnick, enjoying yourself?" Extending a hand to the victor, Agoston looks him over with a look in his dark eyes that Maive couldn't quite decipher. It wasn't the look of pity or indifference that she had expected. That was exclusively how he looked at anyone that was district – Victors included – but not Finnick.
Shaking his hand, Finnick flashes a smile without teeth. "Always do. Thank you for extending an invite to me." Turning his attention away from the stocky man, Finnicks eyes scan over Maive. His verdant eyes being met by her own.
A chill shot down her spine as she looked at him dead on for the first time. From a distance he always looked so sure of himself. Yes, everything he did seemed forced but everything Maive had ever known was – that was expected. What wasn't was the despairing look that flashed behind his cold eyes. It was as if he were there physically, but his mind was a far distance away. There was something in his bitterness that she could recognize in herself. Wanting to avoid the discomfort this little discovery brought her she quickly turned away from him.
focuses on her breathing, inhaling deeply to allow as much air into her lungs as possible, 'One…two…three, suck in…hold it, hold it.'
"This must be one of your lovely daughters." Finnick takes her hand in his, bringing it to his lips, "Finnick Odair."
Pulling her hand out of his grasp before it reaches his mouth she sighs, exhaling her previously held breath, "Yes, I know who you are."
'One…two…three, deep breath'
Despite being caught off guard by her reaction he was a master at the social game by now and played it off exceptionally, "Yes, of course." clearing his throat he takes a hard drink from his Collins glass, "Well, then it seems only fair I know your name?"
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: "Shouldn't you people know by now that life isn't fair?" She quips, looking away bored and unbothered. She had zero desire in consorting with the likes of Finnick Odair.
'One…two…three, smile.'
As a couple she recognizes as friends of her parents pass by, she throws a kind face their way.
Not saying a word, out of the corner of his eye Finnick begins to pick up on a hint of a routine this girl before him kept practicing. That's all these damn Capitol robots were. Hard wired to meet what this society deems 'perfection' only to fall lieu into pointless routines just as everyone else.
Maive could feel the watchful eye of that district boy on her and on top of everyone else, it felt a little too much like a show today. "If you'll all excuse me, I'm feeling dreadfully tired and should probably attend to my beauty sleep."
Her father and his colleagues all nod along in understanding and wished her a fair night.
As she turned to leave she came face to face with Finnick once more. Before she can say anything he smiled to her, "The pleasure is all yours I'm sure."
She can't refrain from rolling her eyes at his pompous attitude, maneuvering around him she kept her focus locked dead ahead; determined to not turn and scoff at him. Getting a reaction out of her would probably give him some sick satisfaction.
He was ridiculous and he didn't deserve one single moment more of her time.
No, she certainly did not see the appeal.
So, there's chapter one. They say getting the first one posted is the hardest, we'll see… I'm sure I'll disagree when it comes time to write the others. (Update: I do disagree)
Thank you so much for giving my first Hunger Games Fanfic a chance.