unforgivable ➸ finnick odair

T H I R T Y T W O

filler-y chapter to just finish off the victory tour, i just really wanna get into catching fire cause it's my favourite book hehe

One of the only good things to come out of her victory in the 68th Hunger Games was the dinner to end the Victory Tour, celebrating the end of the Harvest Festival. Everyone in the District had to come, and therefore everyone was fed. Electra watched with a small smile on her face as citizens of District Five slowly streamed into the central square. For some people, the people who wouldn't have been able to eat anything that night, it was a blessing, a miracle. Men and women dressed in tattered rags and bones stark against their skin thanked her profusely and shook her hand with vigour. It made her heart hurt, but it also filled her with warmth. It was reassuring to see that the things she had done in that arena to survive had not been pointless, had not been wasted.

At the end of the night, when the event was over and she was able to return to her large, empty home in the Victor's Village, she instead opted to first see Desiree and Sean. The three of them sat together in Desiree's living room, the fire casting shadows over the faces of her mentors.

"I don't think I've properly thanked you guys," Electra murmured, tracing the swirly patterns on the armchair. "For helping me. The only reason I'm here is because of you."

"Oh, don't get all sappy on us, Electra," Desiree snorted, but the older woman was smiling. She laughed and shook her head.

"Never," she deadpanned, leaning her cheek against her left palm. For a while, they lapsed into a comfortable silence, the only noise being the low hissing and crackling of the fire. 

"So... what now?" 

"What do you mean?" Sean asked. Electra swallowed.

"The Games are over, the Victory Tour is over. What now?"

"Survival," Desiree answered, a bitter twist to her pursed lips. "You wake up, you make it through the day, you fall asleep. Rinse and repeat. With the occasional, you know, waking up screaming from nightmares. And I guess you'll be making semi-regular trips to the Capitol." the red-haired woman added, voice tight. "For your arrangements."

Electra nodded, lips pressed together. "Sounds like a fun life." Her laugh was strained and humourless.

"You can still live a life, El," Sean said quietly. "You can fall in love, get married, have kids. It's not always as bleak as Des made it out to be." She turned to look at him, lips stretched in a tremulous smile. She knew he had a wife and two children - they lived with him in the village, near her own house. 

"I can't see myself having kids," she admitted. "I don't think I'd be a very good mother. And I don't want to risk them getting Reaped."

"Cheers to that," Desiree muttered, raising her glass and downing a gulp of amber liquid. Sean nodded.

"What about the fall in love part?" Electra shot him a look, but he just chuckled and held firm. Eventually, she sighed.

"Love's a bit, uh..." she trailed off and frowned. "It's not exactly my strong point. Love, friendship, that stuff. Plus, I can't see me finding many people with shared life experiences."

"What about another Victor?" Desiree suggested, eyes glittering. Electra giggled.

"Now, you're a lovely woman Des," Electra started, and the two shared a genuine laugh. Biting her lip, she glanced down at her watch and quickly rose from her comfortable seat.

"Sorry to leave so soon, but I promised Finnick I'd call him as soon as possible when I got back to Five," she said, grabbing her discarded coat and bundling it in her arms. Desiree and Sean exchanged a glance.