District Four. Not my first choice of port of call, but I did agree to help Peeta with his trip, and thus I'll bear it. Besides, it's not like we're going alone. I called ahead, purely in the interests of telling Annie we were coming, and she spoke something about telling the others before setting down the phone.

Which, I presume, is why when we arrive at the station, Annie's waiting in the cafe by the platform (renovated after a shell obliterated during the inside in the war), sitting at a table and chatting with a few others. Still, as we walk in, she stands up, brown hair tied back and with that smile written all over her face. Don't know why that's there, considering the situation she's in. Sure, she's well taken care of, but that doesn't mean I'd be happy, especially given I lost my love, too, during the war. At least for a time.

Thank god not everywhere had the same dry laws as 13.

As it was, however, I'd been expressly told to stay off alcohol for the duration of this trip. Something Anne had clearly expressly been told, two extra mugs of something visible on the table. Clearly in a good mood, she wraps her arms around Peeta, turning to me and stepping forward before simply offering a hand, voice light and smiling at me. "Well, Haymitch. I'm glad you both were able to make it! Katniss couldn't, but that's fair enough!"

Cheerful as she was maybe half the time, she bounced us over to the table she'd been sitting at, indicating chairs with a nod. "Yours. Peeta, here, Haymitch. you're next to him. Oh, and if you want to get on with introductions and reintroductions, Peeta has a couple of new faces and some old ones."

I nod, not entirely disappointed with the prospect of introducing former colleagues to Peeta. It'll give him a chance to make some connections out of the few of us he already knows, and means that he can be left to his own accord. He's a great guy, but sometimes I need a break. Thus, without theatrics, I sit next to him, starting at the woman on my right, offering her a quick nod and a more genuine smile than I would have liked.

"Johanna, Peeta, Peeta, Johanna. You both recognize each other, I don't need to go into any of the theatrics here. Feel free to get reacquainted. Beetee and Annie, likewise, and I believe Enobaria will be joining us?"

The nod would not be without concern, even as Annie steps forward and sits opposite me, hands on the table. "She's... had a rough time of it. Some people aren't the happiest that she was left without any retribution, regardless of what Katniss agreed to. She said she'd be here, but I'd assume late."

I wait for a second. Considering a reaction, before just shaking my head. "We all had issues. Even if she was a Capitol mutt, no reason for her to receive any different punishment to the rest of us. Now, Peeta, we do have some new faces, so if you two wouldn't mind..."

The young man sitting on my left would offer a friendly smile, shaking Peeta's hand before returning to nursing his mug of coffee. "Audie Johnson, District Six. Victor of the 66th. And may I say, Peeta, may I call you Peeta? It's a pleasure to meet you, properly. I was indisposed at the time of Coin's... proposal, so I..."

Johanna's interjection would be with a chuckle on her lips, while she rocks forward in her chair. "He'd taken a bullet for some kid. Not worth it, if you ask me." Angry glares shot at her from around the table, before she throws both hands in the air in a gesture of surrender. "But I guess I can admire it. A little. Got to participate more in the war than I did."

"If I can finish?" A return to Audie, giving a wink to Johanna. "Regardless. Peeta, I would like to say thank you for staying with Penny, she really did like you. Well, more your art, but given her habits that was the most she could focus on."

Peeta would stay silent for a second, before nodding. "I know. I just wish I could have done more, saved her. I just.."

"She was dead. Either to the monkeys or the Capitol when they came, Heavensbee's a good man but he wouldn't have tried to grab her over you or Jo. At least this way, she helped. Troy would have done the same, but."

He tails off, blonde next to him patting him on the shoulder before picking up where he'd left off. "Citrine Furrier. 61st Games, and in case it wasn't obvious District One. Unlike him, I was actually being useful, and what Coin didn't know wouldn't hurt her. After what happened to Ruby, well. It was best to lay low until I was sure she wouldn't disappear anyone else."

Shaking her head, a knife possibly overly sharp slipping through the slice of cake in front of her as she continues. "Regardless. I'm glad you were able to make it. I was indisposed during your Tour, and there wasn't a lot of time in the runup to the 75th to say hello. Now, what was it you wanted to do?"

He nods, considering the room. "To tell a story, as I'm sure you've all heard from someone else. I never knew most of you. The Quell was in those cases my first meeting. But you all did know each other. Laughed, drunk, did things I think in polite company it would be best not to mention."

Citrine frowns, watching as he continues. "So I need help. Help in knowing how to write about the Victors. Their lives, their games, and all the rest. We memorialised the tributes, wrote so they wouldn't be forgotten. But that's not the full story, and I think it's only fair to tell the rest of it. When I told Annie, she said I should get going and learn about each of the districts for the authenticity. And given we're on the fifth chapter, Four seemed as good a place as any to start."

An interjection at this point, from Annie. "I never met him. Not him, at least. I spoke to the man a few times, but he was on the downturn. I'm not sure he really knew who I was. Citrine, Haymitch, Beetee. You're all old, any tales for Peeta?"

I put my hand up, shaking my head. "I'm insulted. 43 years isn't old, Annie. As for stories, I am sorry I can't provide you with any. Four never really allied with Twelve, and by the time I got really into mentoring, he'd mostly retired.

A volley of shaking heads echoes my sentiment, Peeta pulling out a box. Slim, transparent save for the number 6 and smaller 1 emblazoned on the front. Disc inside pristine, even as he sets it down, and I glance at the offering.

"Library kept their copies? I know they were popular at a sleepover, but really? That feels a bit off."

"For education. Schools want it for their student projects and history lessons, universities. Maybe one will be screened as a memorial, edited. Better than trying to censor what the Capitol did."

Johanna inclines her head. "Fair enough. Well then, put it on."

The television in the corner would be appropriated, disc inserted and screen flickering to life, showing the logo of the Capitol, before a reminder by the staff was given that this was a place of business, and that while they respect our need for this for... whatever we need it for. Well, it's not conducive to good coffee sales.

One quick relocation to Annie's house later, and I glance around at the room of Victors with some hint of a smile. After all, the fact it wasn't just the seven Coin locked in a room and got to vote on killing more kids. Well, it was nice. The return of the Capitol Emblem together with a small notice warning that the image was produced during 11 ADD (After Dark Days), and as such is not a 1 for 1 recreation of the entire event, and everyone settles in to watch it.

There's no buildup, like there would be for a game after the 9th. Instead, it launches straight into a montage of the 24 tributes, giving the camera a second to linger on each face. On Bas from Two, handsome and not looking panicked like a majority of these tributes do, especially this early into the history of the games. On Larch from Seven, muscled and even if he is panicking hiding it beneath a set jaw and steely eye. On Abundance from Eleven, tall and well built for her sixteen years, dark skin beaded with sweat as her eyes flick from tribute to tribute.

After the run around the circle, however, the camera lavishes attention on Oceanus. And it's easy to see why. Skin the colour of honey, with rippling muscles that are nothing if not attractive. Dark hair and eyes, glimmering with the promise of a good fight, and a cocky smile. Viewers can almost smell the testosterone, the man eyeing the fishing spear atop a nest of weapons. The sand, like that from home, waits at the bottom of his pedestal, and as the pistol fires he lunges for it, Peeta leaning over to me and taking his eyes off the screen.

"Eager, isn't he?"

"Of course. A few of them were, even before the promise of rewards. Montmartre may have started the idea of getting kids to survive, but Oceanus wanted his kids to win, regardless of how."

Citrine clears her throat, smiling at us. "Peeta, I'll help you with Ruby. I'm probably the best source, after all. We can chat more after this. For now, I'd appreciate watching."

The games starts with the usual brutality. These are children, not yet trained killers, and it shows in the clumsy handling of weapons. In the sword, slashed in a way that shows none of the involved parties understand how to use it properly. It does the job, though, and half the room turns away as blood splashes onto the camera. Annie yelps, whimpering something about her baby and covering her ears before standing to leave.

The end result of the initial skirmish, as expected, was lacklustre. It wasn't a proper bloodbath, even if twelve bodies on the floor had shown the toll the early games could take. Three of them down by spear, even as the fisher boy stepped backwards to his corner, eyeing his adversaries with a cool pair of eyes.

He has a spear in each hand. Enough to the job, as he cocks his head slightly, and then throws one with an almost casual movement, letting it impale the Girl from One, Citrine rushing out of the room and the door slamming behind her. The rest of us give that a moment of attention, before returning our attention to the fighting occurring. It's not quite as vicious as what comes later down the line, but there is at least hints. Oceanus, using his spear and a net grabbed from the pile to trap and impale boys and girls, children who only wanted to go home.

He was, in fact, the first Victor who won by being aggressive the whole time. There was no regrets, no stopping. Goal set, and while I take a drink, the door opening, he's used that spear to climb over four more bodies and cement a place as the Victor of the 5th Annual Hunger Games. The camera lingers for a second, before cutting to Lucky Flickerman and Oceanus, the Victor visibly several years older as he winks at the cameras. After several minutes of idle chatter, though, Lucky does ask one pertinent question.

"And Oceanus, why would you say you won? I'm sure everyone's very interested as to how you triumphed."

"Well, Lucky, I'm here because I wanted to be here. Deserved to be here, and even if others did as well. I'm the one who made it back."

"Well said! And Mags? How do you feel about her chances this year, given Coral's strong performance last time?"

"I think she's a strong young woman, and I agree with the public. She has what it takes. However, I'm not going to jinx it."

A toothy smile from both parties, before Flickerman stands, holding Oceanus' hand with one of his own and raising it.

"Oceanus Ler, everyone! Thank you for your time, Oceanus."

The screen flickers, Peeta pressing the pause on the remote before standing. "Well, he seemed. Like a middle ground. Career, without being properly career."

Nods from around the table, and I interject, ignoring the pair at the corner having their own conversation. "Yeah. He definitely went more career, though. He was in charge 'round here until about the 55th, that was when Mags came in. He probably brought more back, but not the best of them. They were all pleasant enough in their own ways, but it wasn't the nice ones who survived when it was his kids who came back. Mags made changes, less back, but. They were nicer."

Annie nods, having reentered the room at some point, baby in a sling as she smiles at us in general. "Haymitch, they were perfectly fine. So was he, when I knew him. Old, maybe, but lovely!"

Johanna's sole response is a shaking of her head, Annie continuing gamely. "He was slipping a bit by the end, but he never was an issue. Always up for a chat, even if he always confused me with Leah."

A circle of knowing nods, Peeta interjecting. "Leah? I'd assume a victor."

Beetee nods, choosing this moment to interject. "You would be correct. Lovely woman, won the year before me. But we'll get to her, in due time. Such a shame. Now, Oceanus. I don't remember much, he retired and I. Well, couldn't. But he was always hard. Always pushed his kids hard, I don't think one of them got a single kind word off him without good reason until they'd won. With the next generation, when his Victors had their own mentees, he was better. Nicer. Not sure if he mellowed with age, or if there was some other reason."

Annie picks up, rocking her son even as she sits back in an armchair. "He was always kind. After I won. Helped me pick out some nice furniture, when Finnick was busy. Came round for tea, every Monday at 10:15, on the dot. Dementia wasn't kind, though. It happened after the 71st, he started forgetting. Sometimes he knew, but that became rarer and rarer. He passed just before the 75th, and there wasn't much time to mourn. He had a good life."

Nods around the table, agreeing. I raise my glass, and the various people around acquiesce, even Johanna after a moment. She even speaks without coming across too badly, a rarity. "Well. That was enlightening. Thank you."