THE SIREN'S SONG 𓇼 F. ODAIR

13 ~ the heir of snow

"Remember, eyes up, shoulders back," Lotus said as she walked with Carolina backstage, "and if your lips aren't hurting, you're not smiling big enough."

Affron had leaned into the Siren look that night. She was wearing a dark blue mermaid-cut dress. Her hair was styled to look as if she had just taken a dip in the ocean, with pearls floating down from her roots to her ends.

Lotus had met Carolina in her dressing room and escorted her backstage along with a group of Peacekeepers. Carolina kept her head down the entire time, trying to prepare herself for her interview.

Lotus, probably noticing Carolina's anxiety, stopped Carolina before she walked on stage and took her hands. 

"You will do amazing."

"Thank you," Carolina whispered.

"Ladies and gentleman, introducing the winner of the 68th Annual Hunger Games," Caesar Flickerman announced. "Carolina Seymour!"

Carolina turned to the stage before giving Lotus one last look. Lotus squeezed her hands and gave her a reassuring look. The girl took one last deep breath and put on her Capitol smile.

Carolina walked on stage, and the crowd went wild, whistling and throwing flowers onto the stage.

"Look at her!" Caesar shouted, holding out his hand to spin Carolina around. The crowd clapped louder at the action. "Just like a beautiful Siren!"

"Thank you! Thank you!" Carolina blew kisses at the crowd and Caesar.

"Sit! Sit!" he said, motioning to the chair beside him. "Now, let's start with the beginning of the games! When you protected little Marsh, I think I speak for all of the Capitol when I say my heart swelled."

Carolina froze from the mention of Marsh's name. The lights suddenly became too hot, her dress too tight. She could feel her breaths becoming shallower and shallower. She frantically looked at the people sitting in the front row and met eyes with Finnick. He nodded at her, his gaze softening, and she felt as though she was able to breathe again. 

"Thank you, Caesar," she smiled.

"What were you thinking at that moment?"

"I just wanted to do everything I could to protect him," Carolina answered honestly. "And I was willing to do anything to do so."

"And that you did," Caesar said, placing his hand on top of hers. "The two of you shared some of the most heartfelt moments of this year's games. Let's watch some of them back"

The screen above them started to play every interaction between the two District 4 tributes. Carolina felt like her throat was closing up again, but she kept glancing at Finnick, letting his stare calm her.

"The next person to touch Marsh will meet the same fate!"

"I want to be a giraffe. They're so tall. I've always wanted to be tall."

"You saved me." "You would have done the same for me."

"You were the best partner I could have asked for in this."

"Could you... could you sing?"

When the video ended, the silence was filled with the sounds of crying audience members. Carolina kept her eyes on the screen, even after it went black. She flinched as Caesar jumped out of his seat to yell.

"Who here wants to listen to this Siren sing again?" he shouted. 

The crowd roared at his question, clapping their hands together and rising to their feet.