THE SIREN'S SONG 𓇼 F. ODAIR

16 ~ the victory tour

The next six months passed by in the blink of an eye. 

Whenever her family stayed at her childhood home, Carolina would often end up at Finnick's house. They had become closer since Snow's visit on her birthday. 

And somehow, Finnick managed to become one of Carolina's closest friends.

Since then, whenever she received a phone call or letter from Cyrus Snow, she would go to Finnick's house afterward to talk to him about it. Those nights would end with the two of them staying up late into the night, and Carolina would often end up sleeping on his couch. 

That day was no different. 

Carolina woke up on Finnick's couch at dawn and immediately left for her house to get ready for the day. Normally, she would have waited for Finnick to wake up before leaving and eat breakfast with him, but since it was the first day of her victory tour, Carolina had to make sure everything at her house was perfect. 

The last thing she wanted was to get reprimanded by Lotus when she arrived. 

Around noon, she heard a knock at the front door.

"Oh, it is so good to see you, my dear!" Lotus Lockflake rushed to hug Carolina the second the door opened. "How have you been?"

"I've been amazing!" Carolina lied, hugging her escort back.

"Good! Good!" Lotus clapped her hands. "Now, let's get to work!"

Two stylists followed Lotus into her house, making themselves at home. Soon after, Affron walked in with a clothing rack, and Carolina greeted him with a fake smile. 

They started with her makeup, doing a simple look that showed off her natural features which was very different to what they had done during her interviews in the Capitol. The dress she wore was dark blue and made of silk, which cinched in at her waist. 

Carolina could barely breathe, but whenever she expressed her distaste, she would only be met with Affron smiling at her widely and telling her that beauty is pain. 

"You look delightful, dear," Lotus put a hand to her heart when she saw the stylists' final product. "I am just so proud of you."

For killing people. 

Carolina didn't reply. She just smiled.

She was then led to her music room, which had been reorganized for a slew of cameras. 

Mags was there. The older woman had helped Carolina prepare her victor talent. When Mags won, she took up the piano as her talent, and the woman had continued to play in the years since. 

When Lotus realized that the two women had bonded over their love for the arts, she insisted that Mags joined her for her interview as a pleasant surprise for the Capitol.

Carolina's makeup was touched up one last time before Lotus began the countdown.

"3, 2, 1..." 

"Carolina Seymour, everyone!" Caesar Flickerman's voice came through the camera. Carolina thought it was odd. The man and the entire Capitol could see her, while she was only staring at a wall. "How is District 4?"

"It is wonderful here, Caesar," Carolina smiled. "Especially thanks to the kindness of President Snow and the Capitol. I have been happier than ever!"

"Of course! Our president is generous, isn't he!" Caesar's laugh came out of the camera. "Now, I think I speak for the entire Capitol when I say how excited I am to learn what your talent is!"

"Well, Caesar, I believe our last conversation ended with you telling me you'd wish to hear me sing again one day," Carolina winked at the camera. She could hear 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from the Capitol's end. "So today, I've decided to grant your wish."