Fluid || Finnick Odair

3

The next day felt surreal for the most part, yet it never blurred into another. Rio wasn't used to real beds and all of the comforts which came with them, or the technology he'd been introduced to briefly. Even the ways that the showers worked was foreign to him. Who knew that there were types of gel that could remove body hair?

     After entering the the main carriage of the train, things began to move extremely quickly. Everyone else was already there at the table, eating in a complete silence. He and Ondine were still dressed in their reaping clothes. These were the shackles which confirmed that they were not free, and for the rest of their lives, they never would be.

     Eventually, Calliope began to mutter. Of course, it was something as mundane as the new colouring of Caesar Flickerman's hair. Rio hadn't watched any of the show this year, but he remembered the shock of seeing lime green on him a few years back. This was the man who would be announcing his death in the coming week.

     Soon enough, they would have an interview together. How could he ever be civil in conversation with him. Rio just wasn't the type.

     He ate a small amount of food, but nothing that could make him sick. It was an extremely likely result, because the majority of tributes were malnourished, and hadn't seen food this rich their entire lives. Thankfully, he had enough at home before now.

    After their meal, as solemn and quiet as it was, Finnick gathered them around the large tv screen. It was only second in size to the one used to spread the propaganda-filled message on reaping days. The entire thing didn't seem worth it, but he would have to wait and see.

     The programme replayed each of the reapings from every district. This was when they got to scope out their competition for the first time; an introduction to their peers. The first ideas of a plan would form in the next fifteen minutes or so.

     "District One. Adelite and Varnish."

     Finnick clicked the button in his hand, revealing the first set of clips. Two blonde, fairly tall, and attractive tributes came into view, shaking hands. Perhaps that would be their play. Their beauty could carry them further with the sponsors. It was how their mentors, Gloss and Cashmere, won both of their games.

     Then, it flickered to a second set of teens. The boy was a giant with brunette hair and bulging muscles. He could've been mistaken for both a titan and a god. The girl, not so far off in height, was lean, and stern-looking. 

     "Martia and Hero. District Two. These are your classic careers."

     Rio knew as much as out the Career pack as someone from District 4 could. Usually, they were apart of it. Districts 1, 2 and 4 would all collaborate, and for the most part, they would do so much better until they were turned on by each other. Two's usually won after that.

     In the year that Finnick won, he killed of the Careers in only a few days. Wielding his triton, he looked like some sort of hero. If he could be anyone from the games, before meeting him, Rio might've said he would like to be like Finnick.

     Alliances were tricky, and they eventually had to be broken. Someone would have to die in the end, and if he wanted to go home, than Rio couldn't let it be him.

     "Now, your first decision is one of the most important." Finnick looked them in the eye. "You need to decided if you're going to be apart of the Careers or not. It's your choice, either way. We just need to know who you're going to be making alliances with."

     Mags tapped the side of her head. It took them by surprise.

     "See how they are in training." He added. "That's when you make bonds."