CHAPTER FOUR;
any last words?

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( warning: graphic gore/injury detail, violence )

     "Looks like your etiquette lessons with Hermia went well."

Avia's scowl only deepens at this, evoking a frustrated sigh from Vesper. She gets deja vu to when Irma tried to smooth out her rough edges in preparation for her first interview. Please, she thinks, tell me I wasn't this stubborn as a teenager.

She has four hours to spend with the girl, working on the contents of her interview. Irma talked to Jason earlier today, her calmer approach working better for him. They figured that by putting Vesper with Avia, they could "fight fire with fire" — she is starting to see what Hermia meant by that.

They are sat opposite each other in the living room, the chair structures completely unnatural to the human body. It hardly helps Avia in attempting to sit up properly. Vesper sits forward in hers after years of adapting to the odd shape. "You have to work with me here," she tells the girl frankly. "My job is to figure out what you say in your interview. Find talking points, something that will help the sponsors notice you. And we need to decide an angle for you."

"An angle?"

"How you'll be presented to the Capitol."

"Why can't I be presented as me?" Avia rebuffs. "I don't know how to put on a show. I– I can't... be something I'm not."

This girl really is me, Vesper thinks chillingly.

So, says the other voice in your head, tell that girl what you know she would respond to.

Vesper tucks her chair in closer. "Avia, I know this is hard. But it's for your own survival. Just remember that this is an image. If you want, you can leave it at the door the moment the cameras turn away from you. I mean, look at me." She moves her hands about, gesticulating to herself. "I know I'm not exactly how the Capitol sees me. I'll bet you only know me on the surface. Still, there are parts of it that are real and true to myself, for my own sanity. I figure you should do the same."

Avia seems to let her guard down slightly. She seems to understand, now, that this is a necessity, and far more than a fluff piece for television.

"Okay..." she says carefully. "What angle were you thinking of?"

"Well, you're feisty, and you shouldn't hide that," Vesper says; it makes Avia grin slightly, which is a hopeful sign that this is working in her favour. "You could really stand out tonight if you leaned into that. But be careful too, 'cause you don't want the Capitol to think you're ungrateful or obnoxious, no matter how you actually feel."

"How do I do that?"

"For starters, you could smile a little more."

Out of spite, Avia almost scowls again, before she remembers her etiquette. She lets it ease back into a resting smile instead. Baby steps...

They go over talking points at first. Avia remembers the decent training score she got, suggesting that she brings it up. Thinking back to what she did in District Six, her job driving delivery trucks, a story arises about how Avia's brother helped her learn how to drive in an empty parking lot, with plenty of trial and error. Licensed drivers aren't a given in District Six, all things considered — public transport is plentiful and frankly, Vesper thinks Snow would see it as a step of independence if too many had this... either way, listening to Avia animatedly how long it took her to find the biting point, she finds herself becoming more invested in Avia's life. It always happens like this. The more you hear about them, you can't help yourself.

     Their interview chat is going well, until they hit a dead end.

     "What about your family?" Vesper asks. "Do you think there's anything you could mention there?"

     Swallowing thickly, Avia suddenly goes pale. Nauseated with homesickness, no doubt. "Um... I live with my parents and my siblings, in the Epicentre. I have four brothers and three sisters." One of eight children. "And, uh, I don't know what else I can really say. Nothing about our life is that glamorous."

     "That's okay. The Capitol like a sentimental family message, though, so maybe throw something out there. Being one of eight children could stick out to them."

     Avia shakes her head. "No, I am– was one of nine children. I had another brother. He used to deliver morphling like the rest of us, until... 'till he got into trouble one day. Made a deal he shouldn't have, and– and it went really wrong."

     Vesper feels her blood turn cold. Oh God. She'd been so insensitive, poking around at her life, numbed by this yearly process. It is one of those tribute anecdotes that can drag her straight back to District Six — she can picture the cold winters, the harsh winds from Lake Mercury, the floods of workers coming off the trains in the Epicentre, where Avia lives. Vesper is well-aware of the morphling addiction running rife in their district. The way it lulls their citizens into hollow-eyed numbness, sleepwalking through the pain of living. Sometimes they deal in dark corners, other times it's as plain to see as a prescription slid over a counter at an overworked clinic.

     "I'm sorry," says Vesper.

     Avia shrugs her shoulders sharply, determined to look stoic. Vesper isn't buying that. She recognises that too well. In her, she sees so much pent-up anger at the way life has been unkind.

     "I know what it's like to... feel like the world has something against you. Especially now," Vesper looks at their surroundings bitterly. "I'm sorry I can't do more to fix this situation for you. But, I'm telling you, if you work with me here, you can hold onto something for yourself in this interviews. Hold your head high."

     "Maybe if I win," Avia murmurs, "I could buy my parents and my siblings a big house. Then they wouldn't have to do that work anymore."

     Her heart breaking slowly, Vesper nods. "That sounds like a good plan. So... you with me?"

     The girl straightens her back, crossing her legs just like Hermia taught her. "I'm ready," she says, determined.

▬▬▬▬▬▬

"Welcome, welcome, welcome... to the seventy-fourth annual Hunger Games!"

Rapturous applause abounds from the studio audience, their bright colours visible even in the shadows. Caesar Flickerman's pearly white, veneered teeth flash back out at them — it appears the second the cameras start rolling, and only considers fading when they have stopped and they are off the air.

Vesper watches the sight backstage on a screen, her stomach churning. This is always a long night. Right now, all the tributes will be lined up by the stage door, waiting their turn in front of that red light. Meanwhile, in the lounge room, the teams for different districts sit and mingle as they will watch each interview. For District Six, this consists of Vesper herself, Irma and Hermia. Benedict has found himself a place in the audience so he can see his stylish handiwork up close.

"Seventy-four years, can you believe it's been that long? How long have I been here– don't answer that question. I don't look that old, do I?" Caesar taps the skin under his chin, and when the crowd replies "Nooo!", he laughs. "Good answer!"

     She looks around the lounge for familiar faces. Haymitch and Effie Trinket, the escort for District Twelve, have the longest wait tonight as Katniss and Peeta will go on last. Also sitting with them must be the new stylist, Cinna. He looks rather less artificial than the rest of the Capitol, simply sporting a golden flourish around his eye lines. His fiery entrance with the tribute parade caught everyone's eye, so no doubt sponsors will be waiting for another spectacle tonight. Vesper already has a feeling that Cinna will be looking to deliver.

     Up first is Glimmer, the female from District One. She bounces onto the stage in a short, puffy dress in light pink. Her blonde curls sit perfectly on her shoulders as she smiles dazzlingly at the crowd. Caesar makes a double entendre about her dress, which Glimmer plays along with, teasingly slapping his hand away. It's a whole show that has the audience in stitches.

     "Ugh," says a disgusted voice, "I think I just threw up in my mouth a little."

Vesper turns to her new companion, newly seated beside her. She swears she heard Johanna's eyes roll before she spoke. If Vesper comes off as somewhat grumpy or ungraceful to the Capitol, this District Seven victor is all that, but cranked up to 100. Nothing stops her from voicing her disdain at any given moment. All her thorns are extra sharp so that no one can hurt the traumatised interior beneath.

     "But it's working, look," Vesper admits begrudgingly. In the corner of the screen, a small counter for sponsors starts ticking upwards for Glimmer.

Johanna narrows her eyes at the screen, scoffing bitterly. She seems to be predicting this girl's future, to be desirable to the Capitol and have her body sold to the highest bidder. Johanna, Finnick, possibly even Irma — there are countless victors who have gone through the same treatment.

By some miracle, Vesper has managed to avoid being a Desirable. She has been many things to the Capitol, but a sex object was never one of them.

"My tributes mentioned yours in training," Johanna says to Vesper. "They said they were thinking about being allies, but your girl ignored them."

"Avia. Yeah, I talked to her about that. I think she'll come around. If they survive the Bloodbath, I was thinking we could pool our sponsors a little."

"If they survive."

A little annoyed, Vesper says, "I know that. I'm just saying, it could help us both."

As much as she would consider Johanna a friend, even for Vesper, she can be terribly impatient to make a deal with. But she sees her considering it, the thought flickering across her eyes. "I'll talk to Blight," Johanna finally says. She uses Vesper's shoulder to lean on when she stands up. "I'm getting a drink. This is exhausting."

"Get me one too?"

"Sure," she shrugs.

Next up is Marvel, who leaves a bad taste in Vesper's mouth as he excitedly tells Caesar about a childhood memory of his; how he'd watched someone kill another person in the arena, and knew he wanted to do the same thing. Marvel bounces in his seat as he tells the story, hands waving through the air and a huge grin on his face. He has no idea what he's going into tomorrow. The same thing haunts her as Clove and Cato from District Two also show their brainwashed bloodlust.

With districts Three and Four out of the way, District Five is up next. Vesper looks across the room and sees her two mentors sat watching carefully — Porter and Emrys have their eyes fixated on the screen, leaning forward slightly. The redheaded girl, Finch, is maybe not the typical crowd-pleaser at first glance. She is very quiet, with an undercurrent of anxious energy tethered down (much like someone else from Five that Vesper knows). But the words that Finch does get out make a splash. She says she's very smart, and nervously says that "no weapon can match a brain."

Emrys and Porter look pleased enough. As Finch walks off the stage and he talks to Porter, he catches Vesper's eye from across the room. Emrys shoots her a familiar look, not quite a smile, but something that reminds her of their previous rooftop conversations. After their second tribute finishes up his interview, the pair from District Five walk over to them.

"Looks like you're up next," says Porter. "Good luck."

"Thanks, Porter," Irma smiles nervously.

"Wanna sit with us?" Vesper asks, looking at Emrys.

He nods in surprise. "Uh, yeah, sure."

Emrys takes Porter's arm and helps her sit down — with her permanent neck brace, getting up and down sometimes requires a stable hand at her side. But in her words, "once I'm off, I'm fit as a horse." There is no stopping her.

Hermia is just returning from grabbing some refreshments when she stops in her tracks. Seeing the mentors from Five injects dread into her veins. "Oh heavens," she whispers, "Romilly isn't coming over, is she?"

"Thankfully, she's been talking to the escort from Two for the last fifteen minutes," Porter replies slyly.

Heaving the biggest sigh of relief ever, Hermia sinks into the couch, passing drinks to Irma and Vesper.

"Here we are, half-way through the night. And what a spectacular night it has been so far!" Caesar says to the audience, being met with a chorus of cheers. "Now, let's move on to District Six. We'll be talking to a young lady named Avia. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together and give a warm welcome to Avia Vettel!"

Come on, Avia, Vesper thinks.

The spotlight focuses on Avia walking out onto stage — her head is held high, and she oozes confidence. Good. Benedict did a wonderful job with her outfit, a tea-length dress with teal ruffles that flutter by her jaw-line when she moves. Her blonde hair has been styled into a spiky up-do on her head. Avia smiles at Caesar and gives him a strong handshake before lowering herself into the chair.

"That's quite a handshake you've got there, Avia," Caesar says to her once, they're settled down.

"I was going to say the same thing about yours, Caesar," Avia fires back. "Even my little sister has stronger wrists than you do."

His eyes light up in surprise, raucous laughter booming through the studio. Perfect. Right out of the gate, Avia is trying to balance her feistiness with likeableness.

"Ah, I'm afraid it's the Flickerman curse," he quips, waving his wrists through the air, "these hands were made for holding little more than a microphone! Ha-ha!"

Having a strong start, the rest of the interview flows decently. Avia tells the story about learning to drive with her brother, which leads into a wider discussion about her wider family. The fact she has so many siblings seems to have the Capitol audience dabbing their eyes with handkerchiefs. Even Hermia's lip is trembling as she watches. Vesper glances at the sponsor ticker. It's a fair number, but she would have preferred a few more by the time Avia walks off-stage.

One down, one to go.

"What a brilliant girl!" Caesar remarks to the crowd. "But the show must go on, so we now say hello to her district partner. Let's see if this young man is kinder to my poor, frail wrists... from District Six, here is Jason Cappitani!"

Irma sits forward, watching with bated breath as Jason walks out. His glasses have been swapped for contact lenses by Benedict — perhaps a counter-intuitive choice, because they made the boy's eyes itch, leaving him blinking uncomfortably all the time. But if you forgot the unforgettable, Jason looks rather smart. His teal shirt matches the colour of Avia's dress, while over it he wears a pinstripe suit in avocado green. Somehow, Benedict has made the colours work on him. His hair has been slicked back with some gel, suddenly making the audience lean forward with intrigue.

The elephant in the room is the cast on his wrist, which Caesar soon hones in on.

"Well, I think my handshake is at least better than yours right now," Caesar says, the audience chuckling. The host takes on a calmer tone in his voice as he points at the cast. "What happened there?"

Jason sighs at his injury. "Oh, a little accident in training. I bit off more than I could chew."

"You've got to be careful with that equipment, Jason. We're not all as strong as your district partner."

"I know. I almost fractured my other wrist in an arm-wrestle with her."

"You and me both! Ha-ha!"

Irma nods slowly, relieved at the angle Jason seems to be taking. Earlier on, she told Vesper that they were trying to get some sympathy sponsors — when talking about the injury, he had to sell the underdog story, without seeming incompetent for getting an injury days before the Hunger Games. Of course, no one could mention Cato...

Then Caesar squints at some scribbles on the cast. "What's this? I can't quite read it... can we get a camera on this?"

On the television screen, the camera zooms in as Jason holds up his cast. Vesper swears that writing wasn't there before he walked out to the interview. She realises there are various named written on there. The names of tributes — Avia, Rue, Peeta, Katniss, Thresh, and both tributes from Seven and Ten.

"Oh, um, while we were waiting backstage just now, Avia wanted to sign my cast," Jason says bashfully. "Then it kinda... became a thing."

It's not often that Vesper finds a tribute interview genuinely heart-warming. But knowing Jason, she can envision the pure and innocent exchange backstage, the other tributes curiously scribbling their names onto his cast like he's an old friend. Inevitably, with it comes the crushing feeling that such solidarity could all be gone by tomorrow morning...

"How sweet... isn't that sweet, everyone?" Caesar turns to the audience, who seem all warm and fuzzy from the sight.

Then, with perfect timing, Jason retrieves a pen from his breast pocket. "Do you wanna sign it, Caesar?"

"Can I? Shall I sign it, folks?"

The audience eggs Caesar on, and soon enough, he's leaning over and leaving his very large signature on Jason's cast. It might be something pure on Jason's part, but it is also a very smart move. The Capitol audience could find it endearing enough to sponsor him. "There you go," Caesar says, handing the pen back to him, "that cast could be priceless, now it has my autograph. Ha-ha! Oh, I'm only joking!"

It is the perfect ending to the interview, leaving the room in good spirits when Jason walks off. Hermia rises from her chair and raises her glass.

"Well! I think we can call that a success," she toasts to the air, taking a sip.

Vesper expels a large sigh and sinks back into the couch. Now the wait is over, and all the Career districts out of the way, the second half of the night is a little easier.

Emrys is still staring at the screen as Jason's image lingers on the projected backdrop behind Caesar. "That must have sucked," he says, "getting an injury like that so close to the Hunger Games."

"It did," Vesper mutters. For a moment, she wonders whether to tell him the truth, but then he's paying attention to the female tribute from Seven. He clearly wants to do the mentoring right in his first year back.

They meander through the other interviews with fair ease, until next up is District Eleven. Rue walks onto the stage shyly, and her legs don't even touch the ground when she sits on the chair. Vesper immediately feels her heart plummet into the pit of her stomach. Watching interviewees this young always makes her break out into a cold sweat. Caesar changes his tone with her, more gentle as he speaks to the little girl. He gets Rue to talk about her skills, from using a slingshot to being able to go swiftly and unnoticed.

"How old are you?" Caesar then asks her.

"Twelve," says Rue.

The room full of mentors goes quiet. Vesper then notices a couple of them looking the same way, towards Emrys. He visibly shrinks into himself when Rue says how old she is — twelve, just like he was. Perhaps the other mentors are all thinking the same thing. More often than not, entering the Hunger Games that young is an automatic death sentence. No one would usually expect a kid like Rue to win the whole thing.

Emrys Hertz was the one exception to this rule. And Dale once told Vesper that in his eyes, since then, their chances increased ever so slightly afterwards. People started to be more willing to root for a little kid.

But as Vesper remembers Icarus, Polo and countless others, she also knows that increase in faith is almost minuscule.

"You had a little catchphrase that you told me backstage, I was very impressed with you," says Caesar. "Could you repeat it for the audience?"

Rue's voice shakes slightly as she says it: "Well, if they can't catch me, they can't kill me. So don't count me out."

Taking her hand lightly, Caesar replies, "I wouldn't in a million years."

As Thresh's interview concludes, it occurs to Vesper that they still have one more spectacle to go, in the form of both tributes from District Twelve. So much for getting the Career districts out of the way. The Girl on Fire is sticking to her image tonight — Katniss Everdeen walks out in a dress encrusted with jewels, making it look like she's covered in flames whenever she walks. The crowd are also feverish like they were with no other tribute tonight. She walks out to chants of "Katniss!" being thrown at her, audience members whistling.

But the girl inside the dress seems like a deer caught in headlights at first. Her grey eyes stare out widely at the audience. Vesper remembers that stage fright all too well, and she finds herself rooting for Katniss, even though she isn't her own. This girl was not made to perform.

"That was quite an entrance you made at the tributes parade the other day," Caesar starts off.

There is no response from Katniss at first, still staring out at the audience. Vesper notices Haymitch lean forward in his chair, muttering "Come on, sweetheart..." under his breath. Suddenly, Katniss realises she was asked a question.

"What?" she blurts out.

The audience laughs their heads off at that. "I think someone's a little nervous," Caesar smiles. "I said, that was quite an entrance you made at the tributes parade the other day. Do you wanna tell us about it?"

Katniss blinks at him. "Well, I was just... hoping that I wouldn't burn to death." This gains even more laughter from the audience, which both unsettles and relaxes her at the same time. Caesar works his magic of making her feel comfortable, temporarily easing into a conversation about the lamb stew in the Capitol. Simple, fluffy small talk that can help Katniss get used to everything. She has a dry sort of humour (either that, or she isn't joking at all) that the Capitol eat up.

Soon enough, though, Caesar circles back to the tribute parade once she's more comfortable. "Katniss, I have to say, when you came out on that chariot... my heart stopped. Did any of you experience this as well?" he asks the audience, to which they clap and whistle. "My heart stopped."

"So did mine," Katniss says. More laughter.

"Now, tell me about the flames. Are they real?"

"Yes..." Her grey eyes stare out at the audience; at who, Vesper can't tell. "In fact, I'm wearing them today. Would you like to see?"

"Wait, wait, wait... it is safe?"

"Yes," Katniss smiles.

She rises to her feet, and starts twirling on the spot. The ruffles on her dress become engulfed in flame — it looks so real — as Katniss spins and spins, glittering and burning all at once. And the crowd? They go absolutely wild. The Girl on Fire is even giggling as she steadies herself on Caesar's arm, dizzy with nerves. On the television screen, sponsors start pouring in rapidly.

They get back to the interview, Caesar touching on her incredible training score, but soon growing solemn as he comes to the closing minutes. He takes Katniss's hands gently in his to comfort her, signalling some emotional territory for the viewers. "It's about your sister," he says, almost seeming to choke up. "We were all very moved, I think, when you volunteered for her at the Reaping. Did she come and say goodbye to you?"

"Yes, she did," Katniss barely whispers.

"And what did you say to her in the end?"

You could hear a pin drop in the room, as she seems to reminisce. "I told her that I would try to win. I would try to win for her."

There isn't a dry eye in the audience at this. "Of course you did. And try, you will." Caesar plants a sympathetic kiss on her hand. Then, in an abrupt tone change, he booms, "Ladies and gentlemen, from District Twelve... Katniss Everdeen! The Girl on Fire!" And just like that, the crowd forgets their woes and stamps their feet cheering for her.

Vesper looks around at her fellow mentors. Most of them seemed to be as fixated as she was. Nice job, Haymitch, she thinks. The energy from that interview was something else.

And it still persists when Peeta Mellark walks out. He has good conversational skills and a likeable charm in his favour, creating a rapport with Caesar about the Capitol showers. The audience is in stitches when Peeta asks Caesar if he smells like roses from the luxurious shampoo, leading them to sniff each other.

"So, Peeta," Caesar then asks him, "is there a special girl back home?"

Peeta pauses. It's the first time he has looked truly nervous in his interview. He gives an unconvincing shake of his head.

"I don't believe it for a second. Look at that face! Handsome man like you. Peeta, tell me..."

"Well..." Peeta sighs. "There is this one girl that I've had a crush on forever. But I don't think she actually recognised me until the reaping."

Caesar puffs his cheeks out, appearing to feel bad for the boy. "I'll tell you what, Peeta. You go out there, and you win this thing, and when you go home she'll have to go out with you. Right, folks! Ha-ha-ha!"

Once the audience cheers die down, Peeta shakes his head. "Thanks, but, uh... I don't think winning's gonna help me at all."

"Why ever not?"

The cameras zoom in on Peeta's face, which is now blushing bright beetroot red.

"Because– because– she came here with me."

Gasps ripple through the studio. It takes a second for Vesper to make the connection, though. Came here with him? Then she realises there is only one person who that could be — Katniss. This certainly puts things in a different light.

"Star-crossed lovers..." says Finnick, raising his eyebrows in curiosity. "That's one act the Capitol can salivate over."

"What makes you think it's an act?" Irma asks softly. "Did you see his face? I think it explains a lot, actually."

Vesper doesn't know either way. All she knows right now, is that what Peeta said is getting them even more support. District Twelve ends the night on an absolute high. Caesar Flickerman closes out the show, and it's time for the tributes to reunite with their mentors. Vesper and Irma walk out to see Avia and Jason sat together, still feeling jitters from the adrenaline of being on stage.

"How did we do?" Avia braces herself for critique.

"You were both stars!" Hermia assures them. "Although Avia, you were slouching slightly."

Vesper taps Jason on the shoulder and nods to his cast. "Aren't you gonna let me sign it, too?" she asks, smiling a little.

Jason lights up and hands her a pen. Vesper writes her name down just above Thresh's. Then Irma offers to sign it too, then Hermia, and even Benedict and Lysander. He admires it happily afterwards, carrying all those names on his cast. It makes the atmosphere feel weightless and almost happy for a while.

The District Six team are in good spirits, until they walk to the elevator, and Benedict doesn't join them.

"Aren't you coming up?" Avia asks.

"No, I'm afraid not," Benedict replies. "I'll be seeing you at the launch tomorrow morning. Save your farewells until then, you too. You both dazzled tonight."

The doors slide shut, sealing the remaining quartet inside the elevator. Sealed in that glass silence seems to remind Avia and Jason of what lies ahead tomorrow. The interview was that final milestone before the arena. Vesper and Irma shoot each other a look, both just as pained. What do we do now? In a few minutes, they will have to say goodbye as well.

The girl and boy who entered the elevator are very different from the ones who walk out now. On the sixth floor, their tributes walk slowly, paling with the remembrance that tomorrow could be their last.

Hermia mercifully breaks the silence. "It's getting late. You two should be getting off to bed. All that excitement... you shall be needing your beauty sleep. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."

Jason swallows thickly, blinking through his contact lenses. "I don't think I can sleep yet," he mumbles.

Suddenly, Avia bursts into tears. The tears come gushing out of her like she's being wrung out, faster than she can keep up with. Irma glides over and scoops the girl into her embrace. She lowers herself down to sit on the couch, rocking her gently and letting her cry. What Avia can't see is Irma's own lips trembling desperately over her shoulder. It is like this for her every time, Vesper has realised, no matter the tribute.

Finally, Avia hiccups through breaths, managing to talk. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be sorry," Irma says, once her voice is steady enough and she's blinked back the tears. "Everything you are feeling right now is valid."

"I'm not scared of them, I promise. I'm not gonna be scared of them!"

Them. The Careers? The Gamemakers? Maybe both. "We know you're not," Vesper assures her. Avia manages a weak smile towards her mentor.

"What happens tomorrow morning? Before, um..." Jason can't finish his sentence, the nerves strangling him.

"Your mentors and I won't be here in the morning," Hermia explains. With the atmosphere right now, even she can't be too cheery right now. "You will have some Capitol staff come up to the sixth floor, and they will guide you through the steps before the arena."

"What about the Bloodbath?" he asks fearfully.

Vesper and Irma exchange a glance. The latter is still holding Avia's hand, the other arm around her shoulders. So, Vesper takes it upon her to dispense the practical advice, gesturing for Jason to sit down for a minute. "The supplies and weapons can vary year-to-year. But it's never a good idea to spend too long in the Cornucopia. Your best bet is just to get out of there. Grab a pack on the ground, if you can. Find food and water. That can be the fastest killer if you neglect it at the start."

Wavering in confidence, Jason stares down at the ground; Vesper grabs his shoulder. "Hey," she says, making him meet her eyes. "You can do this. Both of you."

Irma adds, "Vesper and I—"

"Ahem," Hermia clears her throat.

"— and Hermia, we're all going to do our best to look after you from here. That's all we will be focusing on, trust me."

"We're rooting for you!" the escort adds.

Jason and Avia both rise now, fidgeting anxiously. "Thanks," Avia says. Her cheeks are still red and blotchy from the crying. Her district partner nods in agreement.

"Run along now, get some sleep. You'll need it!" Hermia says. She stands with Vesper and Irma, watching as their tributes turn away from them, walking towards their bedrooms.

Once they disappear from their sight, Hermia's smile fades. "Lord knows we'll need it, too..."

▬▬▬▬▬▬

In the middle of the night, Vesper hears footsteps. Is it that time already? Then her brain realises it can't be. Eyes straining tiredly, though hardly asleep in the first place, she walks to her door and opens it just a crack. Avia is stood outside Jason's room with a pillow in her hands.

Avia knocks on his door, poking her head inside. "Jason? You awake?" she hears the girl whisper. After a moment, she asks, "Can I... stay in here tonight? I'll sleep on the floor."

     "Sure," she hears Jason murmur back.

     There are muffled noises as Avia walks in. It sounds like she is arranging her pillow on the floor. Then silence falls upon the hallway again. Vesper gently shuts her own door, feeling sick to the stomach.

     Avia and Jason aren't the only ones who don't feel ready for tomorrow.

▬▬▬▬▬▬

The mentors wake up early, to rise with the excitement of the Capitol. Hermia is going to meet them later on in the day, for she'll start by meeting other escorts and Capitolites as they gamble on the chances of tributes. Vesper and Irma, however, are going somewhere else.

     The Control Room is in a completely different part of the building. There is the separate one where the Gamemakers reside, designing the arena and sending in their manmade horrors along the way. Where the mentors are headed is specifically for keeping an eye on their tributes. Twelve different stations are set up in a semi-circle, around a giant screen projected from the ceiling — this is the main broadcast of the Hunger Games, what people at home are seeing, and mixed with commentary from Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith.

When Vesper arrives at the District Six station with Irma, positioned precisely in the middle, there are two screens for each tribute as always. Each screen can focus on their single tribute, and it is through one of those screens they type in a sponsor gift to send, if it should be needed. Alternatively, when a tribute dies, the screen will let them know and blank out. The only exception is during the Bloodbath, where bodies fall so fast it takes a few minutes to figure out who didn't make it.

They can come and go to their stations during the Hunger Games. Often one mentor will watch and remain, while another might talk to some sponsors. It is a long few days and weeks as a mentor, so the room is constantly stocked with refreshments — although Vesper always finds it tone-deaf to tuck into a sandwich, while her tribute could be starving.

Vesper familiarises herself with the equipment, logging in to the system after Irma does. She looks to her fellow mentor. These days are going to be the worst for Irma, especially today. The grief and horror of it all always re-surfaces during the Bloodbath for her. Irma has to sit down now, her face drained of any colour.

"You okay?" Vesper asks.

Irma nods weakly, her head in her hands. In these moments, Vesper tries to take it upon herself to be the one who sees everything. She can numb herself to it more adeptly than Irma can... even if it still hurts.

To her left, she sees Emrys and Porter step up to the District Five station. Emrys seems to be taking in the Control Room again, reminding himself of how it works since he last mentored. There seem to have been some technological updates that Porter quickly fills him in on.

Vesper checks the ticking watch on her wrist. It could be any minute now. Caesar and Claudius can only talk in circles for so long. Her hearts pounds like a drum in her chest, warning her.

The big screen transitions to the Panem flag, then dissolving into an aerial view of the arena. The mentors see the arena the same time that their tributes do. Vesper can't sit down anymore — she rises from her seat, making notes in her head. It looks like a forest of some kind, pine trees filling sparse woods that surround them. In the clearing sits the Cornucopia, weapons scattered on the grass. If Avia and Jason can disappear into the trees, that would give them good coverage. Perhaps a forest like this has some sort of lake where they could find water.

She glances down at the dual screens. Avia and Jason's faces are framed perfectly in the rectangles, pictures of fear and shakiness as they observe their surroundings. Stay calm, Vesper tries to tell them telepathically, you only get one shot at this.

Standing up like this, Vesper feels her own knees shaking, like she's back on the podium in the swamp. Desperately looking for Icarus. Calculating her next move. Wondering if those would be her last moments. Of course, she couldn't have anticipating the explosion that had followed...

"Hey," Vesper hears a voice next to her. She turns to see Emrys looking at her. "Good luck..."

She swallows thickly. "You too."

They both look back to their dual screens. Fifteen seconds to go. Avia and Jason seem to be focusing now, having spotted packs or weapons they can get to if they run fast enough.

Ten... nine... eight...

"Let me take these last moments to say," the voice of Claudius interjects, audible only to the viewers, "a very happy seventy-fourth Hunger Games to you all—"

The tributes start bending their knees, arm raised and ready to leap into a sprint.

"— and may the odds be ever in your favour!"

Five... four...

Irma hides her face further, slumping her body. Vesper holds her breath and watches Avia and Jason unblinkingly. This is it.

Three... two... one...

The gong rings. All the tributes run off their pedestals, some splitting off, but most heading for the Cornucopia. Vesper has tunnel vision to just focus on the dual screens for District Six. Avia speeds off in a flurry to seize a pack from the grass. She flings it over her shoulder, but she is caught in the middle of the chaos — once people start grabbing weapons, it's deadlier than ever.

Avia gets knocked over by the District Four female heading for weapons. They tumble to the ground, then find themselves wrestling for the pack that Avia already has. The Career escapes, leaving her empty-handed. She seems to panic and look around in the bloodshed for something else to leave with. Run, run, run! Vesper wants to scream at her. Just go! Forget the pack!

While the District Ten boy is being attacked, Avia tries to steal his sleeping bag from him. But Glimmer is waiting for her; she yanks her back by her ponytail. Avia thrashes ferociously in her grip and drags Glimmer down to the ground with her.

Jason actually managed to get in and out unscathed. But it is Avia's screams that stop him from running. He freezes at the forest's edge, the large backpack on his back sagging with the weight of a choice to be made.

"What is he doing?!" Vesper actually says out loud.

To her horror, Jason starts running back to the Cornucopia. Blinded with the need to save his friend, his mouth falls open when he sees Glimmer smash Avia's head twice into a crate — blood trickles from the huge gash opened on her head, and she sinks limply to the ground like a rag-doll. Nothing moves.

He spies a sword lying in the crimson-stained grass and lunges for it. Jason runs at Glimmer from behind, getting ready to swing it weakly at her, when Cato sticks his foot out. He goes flying forwards and so do his glasses. Trying to get up, Jason fumbles around for his spectacles.

Precious time has been lost. Cato kicks Jason to roll over his body, slashing his stomach twice with a serrated sword. One final blow ends his cries of pain that make tears spring to Vesper's eyes.

The rest of the Bloodbath feels like a blur to Vesper. She feels herself growing lightheaded, all the noise fading in front of her. The chair meets her tailbone with a hard thump, landing next to Irma. Is that really it? Both of them gone so soon? She grips onto the armrests of her chair, unable to reconcile herself with how rapidly it all happened.

"... And it looks like that's the end of the Bloodbath. My, what a show, Caesar. We should start hearing the cannons any moment now."

Right on cue, the cannons counting those already dead start firing. Vesper counts about nine or ten of them. Her eyes flit across the bodies lying around the Cornucopia on the big screen. There are eleven of those. The broadcasters seem to be wondering the same thing: who's still alive?

"Hold on, Claudius, are you seeing this? I think... I think Avia is still breathing..."

Hope rears its head violently in her heart. Vesper looks down at her own screen and gasps. On Avia's side, the faintest rise-and-fall of her chest can be seen. She is alive, albeit barely. Avia seems to know that the Career pack is still there, standing dangerously close to her on the other side of the crate. Her eyes lull around in their sockets, fading but packed with her same ferocity as always. They fall upon Jason lying a few feet away. The huge screen magnifies the tears that dribble angrily down her cheeks.

The Careers are so busy showing their weapons and deciding their next move, that they don't notice Avia shifting slightly. Her fingers twitching to reach out. Finding the knife discarded by another dead tribute. Pinching the blade carefully, bringing it closer until she can grip the handle. Avia rolls over agonisingly slowly, so that they won't hear her in the grass.

Her target locks on Glimmer, stood just on the other side of the crate. With one big swing, Avia sinks the knife straight into her calf.

Glimmer screams in shock and agony, startling a flock of birds to fly from the surrounding trees. The Careers suddenly wake up, seeing Avia daring to catch them out. She scrambles back on her back and elbows, staring them down. The District One girl is fuming when she sees who did it.

"You little b—"

Avia spits in Glimmer's face, her last act of defiance. Then Marvel's machete comes swooping in, delivering the death blow. Her cannon fires with her fists still curled in the grass.

And just like that, it's all over.

▬▬▬▬▬▬

A/N;

well... THAT sucked to write (on top of the obvious, the odds were not in my favour as i had so many technical problems writing this)

RIP avia vettel and jason cappitani 💔 we didn't have them for many chapters, but i got wayyy too attached to them. jason died trying to protect his district partner, and then avia refused go out without a fight.

it broke my heart to lose avia and jason so soon, but at the same time, i wanted to show how fleeting the time mentors have with their tributes can be. and just as we see vesper growing fonder of them and learning about their lives back home, they're gone. this is definitely going to take its toll on vesper, as it is the first time she has lost BOTH tributes in the bloodbath.

i do want to briefly mention the interview scene though, because i had so much fun writing that part. i hope i represented the interviews canon characters well! it was really interesting to write them through vesper's eyes. i mixed it with parts from the movies and books, as well as my own interpretation of some things (like the mentors being separate from tributes until all interviews are done). the part with jason's cast having signatures did make my heart multiply in size though. bless that boy.

so with that, we go into another phase of the 74th hunger games (vesper's version), and get some more behind-the-scenes as a mentor... although the girls obviously can't do that now, but we can still see their reactions to the rest of the 74th games 👀

[ published: 19th april, 2025 ]