Jaded ||| Johanna Mason

nineteen

Jade and Johanna took a shortcut to Victor's village so they could get back to the Justice Building on time. The moment they arrived at Jade's house, she threw the door open and sprinted up her stairs.

"Towels are in the bathroom, I'll grab you a dress," Jade called out quickly, taking a towel for herself and walking into her bedroom.

She wrapped the towel around herself and opened her closet. There were hundreds of items inside of it, most of the clothing items from Capitol designers.

After a few minutes of browsing, Jade tossed Johanna out a golden sequenced dress that had been in her closet since she won. Jade chose a pale purple dress for herself, quickly slipping it on and doing her hair back up before reconvening with Johanna.

Jade looked her up and down. "Good. You look hot." She said matter of factly, walking down the steps to get back to the Justice Building.

Without another option, Johanna followed Jade out of the house and down the path. Together, they made it back to the building just before the feast was to begin.

"Oh, my days! Where were you?! We have a schedule! And where's your dress?!" The escort chastised the moment Jade and Johanna walked through the door.

Jade rolled her eyes and walked past the escort without saying anything. She had no time for the flamboyant woman.

"I don't have to explain myself to you. We were on the tour and I'm here. Relax." Johanna followed Jade and walked past the escort to take her seat at the feast table.

All things considered, the feast wasn't too bad. There were free drinks, good food, and some decent conversation. The mayor asked Johanna about her life back in 7, about her previous experience.

She said she had a big family with 3 older brothers. She was the youngest of them all. And she had started working with lumber which is why she was so good with an axe.

Only the victors in that room knew why having a big family was something Johanna was to be pitied for. It meant there were so many people Johanna could lose. In that moment, Jade was reminded why she was glad Bulla was dead.

After the feast, there was the party. And 2 had one of the biggest parties of all the districts. They celebrated strength above all else, even if the victor wasn't from their own district.

With music, dancing, and more drinks, Johanna seemed to have a relatively good time. Mostly because she ignored the victors from 2 and focused on the citizens who came to celebrate her. Johanna was enjoying being a victor, regardless of what awaited her at the Capitol.

At the end of the night, when the 7's were leaving for district 1, Jade felt something she couldn't describe. It was almost... sadness.

She was sure it was the alcohol talking.

***

"Why is Jade allowed to say all of those things about the Capitol? I know she's a bit of a bitch but Snow was very clear when he threatened me." Johanna was sitting with Blight in the lounge car. She couldn't get the less-than-optimistic victor out of her head.

"He used her as an example. No one really knows what she did. But she... "violated" the agreement. President Snow killed her last remaining family. She isn't under his control anymore. And since there's no one else he can kill, Jade is allowed to do and say whatever she wants." Blight spoke quietly. He wanted to warn his Victor but didn't want to get in trouble himself. She was binge used as Snow intended, an example.