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[silknshadows]

“And what better show to put on than past victors in the arena again?” He laughed, a sharp humourless sound. He knew the Capitol were about to have the time of the their lives seeing them all back on their screens again.

“You do realise that by getting me home you won’t be going home yourself, right?” He asked Nora, his tone being far more serious. “I don’t expect that from you. We’ll get as far as we can together and then… I guess we’ll spit up and hope for the best.” He wanted to be the one to win but he also didn’t want to see Nora killed or be the one to kill her.

Nora could understand the quiet on the train, she could only imagine that it was similar across the different carriages. She was good with silence, it was when people began to talk that they got unpredictable.

"I knew he'd do something for his birthday. He likes a show after all," The words hung in the air. All of this was a show, just one that ended in a lot of deaths. "I'll get you home."

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Finnick held her like she would slip away from him if he let go, it was ironic considering he was the one who would likely be pulled away from her.

“I won’t just make it to the end I’ll make it out, I promise. There is no way in hell you’re losing me.” He was trying to convince himself just as much as her. Some of the confidence he’d had at the age of 14 had left him but he was still somewhat confident in his skills. Many victors had relaxed and let themselves go after winning their games, not Finnick. He knew he still had a chance and now, unlike his first games, he had someone to fight for.

ANNIE HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE REAPING EVER SINCE HER NAME WAS CALLED YEARS AGO, BUT THIS TIME, HER HAUNTING CAME TO LIFE. Hearing her name called shattered her, but it was Finnick's reaping that broke her altogether. She spent years trying to pull herself out of the void she fell into due to her games, and she only managed to see the light thanks to him. Now, she could potentially see him succumb to the same fate as her old district partner, and it was almost worse than if she had gone in herself.

"I can't do this, Finn..." She murmured, burying her face into his chest as he held her. The tears flowed freely from her eyes as she looked at her lover, scared that this may be one of the last times she'd see him. "I can't lose you and Nora both." She listened to his reassurance and longed for it to take hold, but the fear of the arena still wrapped itself around the victor. The games were unpredictable-- she knew that better than most. Still, there was a hope that he was telling the truth. "Promise me you'll make it to the end?"

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“Does anything really matter?” He answered, a rhetorical question in response to a rhetorical question. At this point, he was going back into the games and the only thing he cared about was getting back out of them alive. Nothing else mattered to him besides making it back to Annie.

“I can always count you on to provide light and levity to every situation Haymitch.” It wasn’t that Finnick was trying to be happy and cheery, but it was sure as hell better than moping around being miserable about the current circumstances. Plus he had a faced to put on in front of the Capitol and pretending was much easier when he just pretended all the time. Until he was put into the arena he’d be the charming, roguish Finnick the Capitol expected him to be.

once a victor now a mentor, always a mentor. this time his mentees were people that he didn't know how to live without. it would shatter him if they died. that first time he didn't think he could make it through but was able to survive years after until katniss and peeta. he feels something inside him breaking. his clear minded today, not a drop of anything but he hates it. he needed to be sharp. his birthday had just passed and he was another year older, another year of losing people. a constant reminder of how his games were rigged, and the fact that he was the only survivor. none of it was fair. he walks to the training center and when he enters he sees finnick. he was a boy then during his games, he remembers watching them, mentoring his own kids at the same time. his kids didn't make it but finnick did. and he knows what happened after. he recognizes that practiced smile, but he doesn't give one himself. they will never use haymitch again. he was going to always be himself when it came to the capitol. his arms are crossed as he watches people train, he looks at the victor now reaped again. "does it matter?" haymitch says with a monotone. everyone is going to suffer anyway. coriolanus snow was never fair, but he was honest. that's what made it scary. "you're here now." he says, his eyes try and find katniss and peeta. it's hard standing next to finnick, he didn't want him to die either. they were promised a life of victory, but he knew that could never be true because of what they took away from all of them. he wants to say something kinder, to let finnick know that he cares for him but he can't.

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He knew it was likely true, even though there was no proof of any foul play he was sure the tributes of these games hadn’t been left completely to chance. Finnick knew better than anyone how much the Capitol could favour certain victors, he wouldn’t have been surprised if he was always supposed to end up back inside the area. He’d already heard the whispers about him, the giggles and excitement that the people of the Capitol would once again get to see Finnick Odair on their screens.

“I agree. I didn’t have anybody I cared about there with me the first time.” He’s already promised Annie he’d be back safe so be knew that likely meant having to kill people he’d become close with; but he wouldn’t leave her. If it was the rest of the world or Annie he’d pick his girl every single time. “It certainly makes things more complicated but still only one of us can win. It’ll be harder but besides that nothing changes.” He sighs inwardly a lot. There were so many people he didn’t want to kill but at the end of the day he couldn’t change the situation he’d been put in. “I won’t let you hesitate, because I won’t either. I have people outside the arena I need to get home to.”

Gloss rolled his eyes before Finnick even finished talking. He wasn’t in the mood for shared misery, but it was Finnick and if anyone understood the ridiculousness of it all, it was him. He leaned his shoulder against the cool wall, arms folded tight across his chest, jaw working like he was chewing on the world’s worst thought.

“Of course my name got drawn,” he said flatly. “I’m pretty, I sell well, and I look good bleeding. That’s all they ever needed.”

He glanced over at Finnick, brow raised. “You think it’s luck? The odds? Come on. We both know Snow’s too theatrical for that. Half the tributes are people the Capitol still talks about at dinner parties.”

There was a brief pause, long enough to breathe, long enough to feel the pressure of the Games pulling at both of them again.

“I didn’t have friends the first time,” Gloss said, more matter-of-fact than anything else. “It made things easier. Brutal, but simple. Now? I’ve got people I actually like in there, which is… incredibly inconvenient.”

He looked at Finnick again. “So if I start hesitating, remind me we’re all just audience bait. Kindly. Preferably with a punch to the ribs.”

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MELISA ASLI PAMUK ERKEGE GÜVEN OLMAZ, EPISODE 1

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“Your death in my presence would also likely lead to my own under mysterious circumstances so I think I’ll pass.” She knew that the president had the ability to be rid of those who betrayed him or did anything he didn’t like, and Miray wasn’t about to end up on the chopping block. She had worked too hard and come too far to die now.

“How interesting. A proposal for what elements of the games? You can always hand it to be and I’ll be sure Plutarch gets it as soon as possible.” And she would be sure he got it, after taking a look herself of course. “I’m just running errands, ensuring everything is perfect before game time.”

tobias was tired. but that wasn't exactly anything new when it came to this time of year. they were to create a new arena and despite his roots underground tobias had to show for it, so he had spent many nights in his own apartment with meticulous plans with the new arena, the ways that it could be broken, but of course they would be thoroughly be executed by people higher up. he has his graphs with him running through the center when he bumps into someone. he smiles at miray for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "well i hope the next time you give into your wrath get a camera on it." he says with a smirk. "my death would be worth more than gold." his smile broadens. he was also another person with plutarch in his ear, he had hoped that the other would trust him enough to know that being in the underground for so long, but perhaps his last name wasn't enough. "i have a proposal for the games in my hands. i'm hoping to run it by plutarch," he says pausing for a moment, "and other gamemakers to see if it's good." he gives them some distance. "what about you?"

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"Its been far too long." A throwaway comment to hide that she actually had no idea how long it had been since the last time they saw each other. It wasn't like it mattered anyway, she was sure he also had no idea how long it had been.

"So panicked kids are easier? Interesting I never would have guessed that." She also wouldn't have guessed that some of the victors would have given up so quickly, but she keeps that to herself. Miray couldn't even imagine having to fight to the death after already fighting to the death once before and winning. They likely thought they were safe. "I suppose it's harder. Mostly because so much is expected this time around; bigger, better, bloodier.... you know how these people are."

"how long has it been, love?" he asked. it was rhetorical, not more worthy of note than her calling his face handsome ( which it was, thank you very much ). simply expected pleasantries if it wasn't for the fact that he genuinely cared to be kind to her. he was distracted, though -- every so slightly, this thought in the back of his mind. that she must've been overwhelmed. that she was dealing with it the same way he tended to; smiling like it wasn't even happening.

he hummed over her question, only caught it a moment after she'd actually asked. "it's harder," he decided, "they're not all panicked kids that are desperate to learn what might keep them alive. hell, some of them have decided they're not coming out of this alive, anyway." that sat bitterly on his tongue, he mulled over his thoughts. "what about you, though?" he tried to push, ever so slightly, "surely your job's harder too, this time round?"

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Valeria Snow swirled the clear liquid in her glass, watching it shine pink from the light of the bar overhead. She looked into the glass like it might hold the answers to everything she was questioning. Of course, it did. Nothing in her life seemed to make much sense anymore, everything had been so much simpler when she was a child and believed everything her grandfather told her. The Capitol was a buzz with the excitement of getting to see all of their favourites back on tv once again but she didn’t feel like celebrating. Not really. On the outside, she smiled. She gave the occasional quip about how these games would be spectacular viewing but she didn’t mean any of it.

She felt a presence sit on the stool next to her. “Come on,” she said without turning her head, her voice bubbly and upbeat. “If you’re going to sit there at least have a drink with me. We’re celebrating, a games never to be forgotten.”

[silknshadows]

Katherine McNamara as Chloe SUGAR (2022) dir. Vic Sarin

[silknshadows]

(   kat mcnamara  ,   cis woman   ,   she/her   )   that’s  VALERIA SNOW, the THIRTY year old SOCIALITE from THE CAPITOL.  they’re so lucky to be in the capitol for such a special hunger games.  they’ve been here for long enough to gain a reputation for being so STRATEGIC, and simultaneously VENGEFUL.  they remind me of flowing locks that always look perfect, champagne with as many bubbles as possible and a tiara dripping in blood, which makes sense since they’re always listening to BEATING HEART by ellie goulding. let’s hope they’re up for all this work ahead of them this year .

- BASICS

NAME: valeria snow AGE: 30 HOME: the capitol OCCUPATION: socialite GENDER: cis woman SEXUALITY: pansexual prominent features: a hidden tattoo of her lover's initial behind her right ear

- PERSONALITY

THEME SONG: queen of kings by alessandra and primmadonna by marina POSITIVE TRAITS: effervescent, strategic, poised, intelligent, protective NEGATIVE TRAITS: selfish, demanding, spoilt, vengeful, cruel MORAL ALIGNMENT: lawful evil MBTI: ESFJ DEADLY SIN: envy HEAVENLY VIRTUE: temperance

- BIO

Valeria Snow was born into the highest tier of Panem society: the bloodline of President Coriolanus Snow himself. From the age of five, she was groomed to be seen exactly how snow wanted her to be seen. By 16, she was the Capitol's darling, known for being elegant, opinionated, and terrifyingly brilliant. Her life was curated to perfection: littered with exclusive interviews, beautiful gowns, and diplomatic appearances moulded to compliment her grandfather’s legacy. However, nobody knew that young Valeria had a secret.

She had fallen in love with a boy named Mason from District 7. He was the love of her life, the son of a pervious victor he often followed his mother to the Capitol and whenever she could she would also sneak out to 7. Their love was strong and passionate and defied the odds but it was over far too quickly. After 6 beautiful years together, Snow found out and had Mason killed and Valeria was heartbroken. At the age of 22 her perfect world had come crumbling down.

Her life had been nothing but sunshine and roses, she had the world at her fingertips and never had a single reason to complain about a thing. The second her lover was killing Valeria started to change, at least on the outside. On the inside she remained the perfect, poised Capitol girl she had always been but on the inside rebellious thoughts had started to appear, thoughts of dethroning her grandfather. She started digging quietly into Capitol politics, asking questions she'd never even considered. Over time her discontent only grows and her fury with the man she once loved more than anything simmers under the surface of a perfectly curated mask.

[silknshadows]

THEO JAMES For Dolce & Gabbana Campaign (May 15, 2025)

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the gamemakers stations - @likeallfires

She's running around like a headless chicken as she always did when it came to time for the games. Every other gamemaker knew it was best to stay out of her way when she got like this from fear of her snapping their head off. Part of her always hated being such a big part of the games but she did what she had to do. They would continue with or without her, it was best she had Plutarch's ear and got to pull some of the strings. Not looking where she was walking Miray managed to walk directly into someone. She's getting ready to yell when she sees who she bumped into. She sighed. "Your last name has saved you from my wrath this time Snow. What are you working on?"

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@tetheredgod

"Always nice to see a familiar face. And a handsome one." She said with an easy, practised smile on her face like she wasn't currently juggling fifty things at once. Trying to keep her cover at the busier time of year for a gamemaker while also helping with the rebellion wasn't exactly a walk in the park but somebody had to do it, why not her? "Does it make your job as a trainer easier or harder that they've all been into the arena before? They wont need to be handled with the kiddy gloves at the very least, they all have some kind of idea what they're doing."

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the tribute centre - @metaltourniquet

"Same shit different year." Finnick mutter sounding amused. It wasn't funny in any way of course but he couldn't help himself, the whole thing was just so ridiculous that he had to laugh. It was better than the alternative. He looked at Gloss, the man who had became a friend and mentor to him over the years. "Sucks that your name was drawn too. It seems the odds are never in our favour." There really were too many good people going back into this thing, too many people he had prior attachment to. How was he supposed to kill these people? How was he supposed to kill his friends and remain the same person afterwards?

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on the tribute train on the way to the captiol - @forsurviving

Finnick was not one to break down, even now. He refused for any Capitol citizen to see him break down. He turned to Nora, hated that he was going into this with someone he liked that just made it more difficult. "So, you and I going back in. I almost expecting this but I thought it might be for the 100th, the quarter quell. I didn't think Snow would choose to celebrate his birthday by sending all of us back in there.

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after the reaping @burntgcds

the second his name was reaped he felt heartbroken but not for himself, for her. The idea of leaving Annie was too much for him to even think about. The second the reaping was over and they were in private he wraps his arms around her, holding her like he might never see her again; like she'd slip away is he loosened his grip. "I'm so glad you're not going back in. I'd rather it be me any day of the week." He couldn't even think about himself he was just so relieved that she wouldn't have to relive that. "Don't you worry, okay? I'll come home to you. I'm not going anywhere, I'm going home to you." Finnick pulled away from the hug to look into her eyes. He wanted her to believe the words he was saying just like he was trying to believe them himself. "I'm coming back."

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in the tribute centre - @likeallfires

Finnick found him once again in the tribute centre and this time it wasn't to mentor two new kids to their likely deaths, it was as a tribute himself. He'd been foolish enough to believe that if he played by the Captiol's rules that he'd be safe but he should have known better. It was almost comical but in a sick, horrific kind of way and for one of the first times in his life Finnick O’dair was at a loss for words. There was something bubbling inside him that he fought to keep down; rage, maybe? Or grief. Grief for himself, for Annie, for his friends that were also going back into the arena.

He turned to Haymitch with a practised smile. “You think it was random? Or do you think Snow already knew exactly who he was sending back in?”