FAILURE TO COMPLY ┃ f. odair

3.3 revolutionaries

In the District Twelve lounge within the tribute centre, Katniss and Peeta were growing bored of Haymitch's lecturing. He was drinking, and yet his mind seemed clearer than ever before as he spoke of strategy and strength like they hadn't done it before. Then again, last year they were facing fellow amateurs. This year, they were fresh blood in a pool of past victors. It was at least a little daunting.

"Ok, let's get started," the older man mused, emptying his ongoing glass and striding towards the large screen. Pressing a button on the remote in his hand, two faces came up, beautiful and strong, but with affectionate eyes and bright smiles that neither of the District Twelve tributes would associate with killers, especially not the Careers. "Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister. District One. They won back-to-back games. Capitol favourites, lots of sponsors... they will be lethal."

The screen switched again to a pair much more intimidating: a burly man built like a bear and a woman with teeth sharper than the ends of Katniss' arrows. With hands clasped together and raised in the air, they cheered and goaded their District Two crowd.

"And the other half of the Career pack, Brutus and Enobaria."

"What's with her teeth?" Katniss questioned.

"She had them filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out," he explained. If anyone else were listening to him, anyone that wasn't familiar with his sarcastic nature, they'd think he was amused by the fact. Maybe he was.

"She's committed, I'll give her that," Peeta chipped in. Haymitch hardly acknowledged the comment as he switched the screen once more, this time to a more timid pair. No smiles, no speeches or cheers or dramatics.

"Wiress and Beetee," he continued. "Not fighters, but brilliant. And... weird. Real tech savvy. He won his games by electrocuting six tributes at once."

"Isn't that what that legacy girl did a few years back?" Peeta asked. "The one from Five?"

"Well, actually, she blew her ones up, but we'll get to her," Haymitch replied. Next on the screen were two tributes from District Six, skinny and pale with dark circles around their eyes. Before either of the youngsters had time to comment on the two skipped Districts, he was lecturing once more. "The Morphlings. Basically won their games by hiding until everyone else was dead. Self-medicating ever since, which I applaud. Not a threat."

He pressed the remote once more, and a rather well-known face popped up on the screen. A blonde man with a brilliant smile and muscular physique. He was the talk in all the districts around this time of year when victors became the most relevant. Then again, his relevancy lasted all year round.

"Finnick Odair, right?" Katniss spoke up.

"Yes, he won his games at fourteen, youngest ever," Haymitch said. "Extremely humble."

"You're kidding."

"Yes, I'm kidding," he mused, fancifully flicking his hair back as he switched sides. God, the man wanted another drink. While he hid it well, going through a list of many of his friends who were about to come face to face with death was not an easy task. "He's a peacock. A total preener. But he's the Capitol darling, they love him here. Charming, smart, and very skilled at combat, especially in water."

"What about weaknesses?" Peeta asked.

"One," Haymitch said. The image on the television changed to two women at the reaping, one young and one old, the latter raising her hand and silently volunteering for the other. And then there was Finnick in the midst. Tears, hugs, nothing but love. A weakness indeed. "Mags. She volunteered for Annie. Mags was his mentor and basically raised him. If he's trying to protect her in any way, it exposes him."