#trackerjackered

[whenthewallfell]

After the success of their EP last year, "Evening Out with Your Mentor", Fall Out Victor are back with debut album "Take This to Your Arena" Known for "Calm before the Cornucopia", "Hey Mitch", and "Homesick on the Victory Tour", FOV have grown a small but loyal following thanks to Mellark's devilishly witty, bleeding-heart lyrics brought to life through Everdeen's soaring vocals (though one wonders if it may also have something to do with lead guitarist Odair and his scandalous outfits). Newly joined by the legendary Mason - pint-sized maniac on the drums and outspoken critic of Capitol Charts - this band is surely one to watch. Be sure to check out "Take This to Your Arena", available in your local record store today! --- Exclusive interview with Peeta Mellark! Who is the Mockingjay? What is his favourite colour?? Did he and Finnick really kiss outside Quarter Quell?????? Turn to page 12 to find out!

[nebulablakemurphy]

The Star-Crossed Lovers Of District 12 (Part 3)

Haymitch Abernathy x Wife!reader

Summary: Y/N continues trying to find balance in her ‘new life’ while grappling with the loss of her memories. Implied sexual content and past sexual trauma. SoTR Spoilers!

Prologue | Part 1 | Part 2

Y/N spends her days going through the motions and her nights running from dreams of loved ones past.

“I can’t do this anymore, Haymitch.” She wails, pressed tightly to his chest. “I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

“You’re ok,” Haymitch whispers, worry seeping into his own voice. “Shh.”

“Please help me.”

“I’m right here. I’ve got you.” Haymitch brushes his lips against her forehead. “I’ll help you, I’ll help you.”

Y/N paws at him, clinging to something that is real.

“You need to sleep, angel.” Haymitch gentles her back beneath the covers.

“I can’t, I can’t.” Y/N’s sobs are muffled in the fabric of his shirt.

“Shhh,” he hushes her. “In the morning we’ll go down to see Dr. Aurelius and get something to help you sleep.”

Her head pounds, pain radiating down her neck as she cries herself to sleep.

There’s nothing Haymitch can do but hold her. Whispering that she is safe and loved. They’ll figure this out. Massaging the back of her aching skull and wishing the pain away.

————————————————————————

Dr. Aurelius is not expecting to find Y/N in the hospital wing, Haymitch in tow, before first meal. “Good morning.”

“We need just a minute,” Haymitch says. Shooting Katniss a smile, to ease her concerned eyes, through the doorway of her room.

“Y/N.” She croaks out, anyway.

Y/N gives Haymitch’s back a pat before excusing herself. “Hi, honey. How are you feeling?”

“Good.” The neck brace is long gone. “They’re releasing me tomorrow.”

Has it been that long? “Just in time for the wedding.”

“I think it was intentional, they’re gonna broadcast it and they want Snow to see us there.”

“I’m sure we can manage that.” Y/N grins.

“Are you here to see Peeta?”

“I’m actually here to see Dr. Aurelius. I’m still having some issues.” Y/N lifts a shoulder, “I won’t be much good to anyone in a state of psychosis so-”

“Good call.” Katniss deadpans.

“I can come tomorrow though, what time do you get released?”

The corner of the girl’s mouth twitches, “they said in the morning.”

“I’ll be here tomorrow morning,” Y/N nods.

“And when you see Peeta, can you tell him that I…” Katniss breaks off, defeated.

“We’re working hard to get Peeta back to his old self. He’s responding really well to our sessions together. But it’s going to take time.” Y/N reminds her, “there’s layers to it, because of the fear conditioning.”

“Did they- do you remember if-” Katniss forces the words past her lips. “Did they torture you?”

“Once.” Y/N admits, softly. “I haven’t told Haymitch, he’s suffered enough.”

Katniss lowers her gaze, bobbing her head once in understanding.

“I realized what they were doing, how they wanted to twist and play with my mind. I knew I’d be better off dead.”

Katniss blanches.

“That was one time with trackerjacker venom. Peeta was there for months.” That poor, sweet, tortured soul. “He’s come a long way.”

————————————————————————-

Haymitch settles Y/N in Aurelius’ office, prepared to leave but she’s got a death grip on his hand. He stands beside her chair somewhat awkwardly.

“Please, sit.” The doctor motions to a second chair, a few feet away.

“I’ll stand.”

“As you wish.” Aurelius sighs, “what brings you in today?” It’s not their weekly session.

“It’s getting worse.” Y/N tells him, “I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. My head hurts all the time. Nothing works.”

“We’re more than willing to prescribe a higher dose of morphling, but you’ve always been adamant about keeping all medications to the bare minimum.” Dr. Aurelius flips through the notes on her chart.

Y/N scrubs a hand across her forehead, “I’m still adamant. Is there nothing else we could try?”

“If I may be so bold, according to both of your accounts, prior to Y/N’s injury, physical intimacy was often used as a form of comfort and co-regulation. I would go as far as to call it psychological pain management.”

“You think sex’ll do it?” Haymitch chortles.

“Well we have to try something,” Y/N blinks up at him.

Haymitch shakes his head.

“But if that’s off the table for you, I understand.”

“I would do more for you and worse,” Haymitch grumbles. “I just don’t want to cross a line that screws up your head worse than it already is. That’s my only concern.”

“I worry about that too.” Y/N nods. “Not my head, but yours. I can’t imagine being on your side of things.” Are you in more pain than Katniss?

“Don’t worry about me, angel.”

“All I do is worry about you, because I care about you. I don’t want to lose you or hurt you in someway I don’t understand, because I tried to bash my own skull in.”

Haymitch kneels, meeting her at eye level. “You never have to worry about that. What we have, is something I never thought I could have with anyone.” Not after Lenore Dove. “You couldn’t mess it up anymore than I could, and lord knows we both did our damndest.”

Y/N rests her hand against his cheek.

“There is nothing you could say or do to change the way I feel about you. I won’t leave you alone in this.”

“Because you’ll be mine and I’ll be yours.”

Haymitch nods, “you remember that?”

“I want to remember more.” Y/N’s glossy eyes search his.

“You will,” Haymitch turns his face into her hand, kissing her palm. “You will. We have time.”

————————————————————————

When Haymitch wakes it is not to Y/N screaming, but to a hissing in his ear. “Haymitch.”

“Shhh, she’s finally sleeping.”

“Why do you think I’m yelling directly into your ear?” Madge barks.

“Madge?” Haymitch pulls the top sheet up higher around Y/N’s shoulder.

“You asked me to watch the baby so you could do this?!?” She scolds, in a whisper, “I thought you were taking her to see the doctor.”

“I did take her to the doctor and he suggested it.” Haymitch informs her.

Madge gags.

“It’s called ‘co-regulating.’”

“That’s worse somehow.”

“Listen, if it works; it works.”

Silence as Madge contemplates her next move, “I’m going to pick your children up from school in an hour, they can hang out with me for the night so she can get some rest.”

“Thank you, Madge. Best sister-in-law ever.”

“You’re welcome.” Madge storms out of the room.

————————————————————————

By the next morning Madge is in a much better mood.

Y/N looks like herself again, coming to collect the children early. “We’re going to meet Katniss, they’re discharging her from the hospital.”

“Where’s Haymitch?” Madge wonders.

“He went down to see Peeta. He told me you got into it yesterday, by the way.”

“I just want to make sure you’re ok. That’s all I care about.”

“I am,” Y/N nods. “If I’d known it was such an easy fix I would’ve-”

Madge holds a hand over her sister’s mouth, “do not finish that sentence. Ever. I’m begging you.”

Y/N laughs, moving her hand away. “Ok, ok. We’ve gotta run, but I’ll see you at the wedding, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Madge shifts between feet. “Pollux asked me to go with him.”

Y/N smiles and nods. Pollux? “I should know who that is.”

“I can reintroduce you later, but you used to work together shooting propos, before the accident.”

“I’d like that,” Y/N taps her younger sister’s chin. “See you later, Madge Pie.”

“I’m really glad to see you’re feeling better.”

“Thank you for all your help, couldn’t do this without you.”

“You’re welcome,” Madge waves her off, “and I know.”

————————————————————————-

Annie is a vision in her white gown. Finnick cleans up nice too.

Y/N and Haymitch have a perfect view of the ceremony. Everest and Arista are a few rows up with Prim and the other kids.

Daisy prefers Y/N over anyone, and at almost six months old, she doesn’t really give a shit about the wedding. Content to be in her mother’s arms.

Annie’s dress is beautiful.

Annie’s dress is…

Annie’s dress…

Annie’s dress is different than mine.

She wants to be in it.

My dress is a prison.

‘I’m going to unzip your dress.’

Her mind is warping it, twisting it into something awful. She tightens her hold on Daisy as the floor falls away beneath her, with only Haymitch keeping her upright. “They put Katniss in my dress.”

“You’re ok,” he murmurs.

Her breath comes in short, unsteady bursts. “You know what happens in that dress.”

Of all the things to remember… Why this? “You’re not there anymore.” Not in that dress, not in that room. “You’re not there. Katniss is fine. The dress is gone.”

‘Just a little pinch.’

The scene plays out before her, in its entirety. She’s trembling; all but panting. Haymitch doesn’t move, doesn’t draw any unnecessary attention, he just holds her. He’s always holding her. Making sure it doesn’t hurt. Kissing it better when it does.

“Can’t take me anywhere, huh?” Y/N attempts a jest.

“Just breathe.” Haymitch sighs, “you don’t need to laugh it off. Not with me.”

“I don’t wanna hurt you anymore, Haymitch.”

“You won’t.” Haymitch whispers.

“I made your life hell. Snow was always punishing us; hurting me to hurt you.”

“That was not your fault.” Haymitch insists, “he had it out for me long before you.”

“Because you…” I want to break the board. “You tried to break the board.”

[antigerrymanderingspiderman]

i think one of the things that makes the hunger games as good at it is is the amount of consistency. it’s not just that there aren’t plot holes; the whole series feels so thought out that it’s real, like someone is telling it start to finish after it’s all happened.

the specific thing i noticed is how katniss describes her interaction with peeta on trackerjacker venom as him sparkling and in book three after his hijacking he says the hijacked memories where shiny

[howlsofbloodhounds]

What if hijacked Peeta asked Katniss how she knows the old Peeta well enough to tell his pre hijacking self apart from whatever he is now?

I don’t know about you, but I’d personally be very paranoid and afraid if someone I believed was a muttation made by the Capitol—sent to kill and destroy me and everyone I knew, everyone around me—started claiming to know who I am, or that I am not who I am now.

In fact, I’d suspect her of being the one trying to change and hurt me. (Hurt him again, as hijacked Peeta’s memories had been altered and that is the reason he was scared of Katniss.

He hides his fear and terror of her underneath anger and violence. Even his violence is driven by the desperate belief he has to kill her, or she will kill him.)

So his reaction and response to this probably depends on where exactly he is in recovery, if he’s gotten to the point where his body and mind can recognize that Katniss is not a danger to him. Even if just for a moment.

Without causing him distress and confusion to the point he starts “arguing with himself as if he’s two different people” again, and likely has to be removed from whoever or whatever is distressing him—taken somewhere quiet and hopefully safe.

(If he feels like anywhere is safe, actually. Torture has a tendency to undermine victims’ and survivors’ ability to feel safe anywhere, even their own mind and body.

And in Peeta’s case, especially his mind, as his memories had been altered and recoded via trackerjacker venom, and now he does not know what he truly thinks and feels and remembers, and what is what the Capitol put inside him. This is his real and not real.)

My memories of the books are a little spotty, though. If i remember correctly, hijacked Peeta was often very confused about the person he was before—when told about him by others, and whenever he remembered something he probably feels doesn’t belong to him.

Especially in regard to Katniss. A lot of his confusion often tended to come out as very rude and he comes off as an asshole, especially towards Katniss—as i remember him wondering something along the lines of what he saw Katniss, or why he thought she was so pretty when he doesn’t think that way now.

If i recall correctly, Katniss big thing between peeta and the person in front of her with Peeta’s face is that the former was kind. Katniss always seemed to not like it whenever Peeta wasn’t kind, even if she often didn’t trust his kindness.

[aurlworthfightingfor]

Does anybody else think they made book Effie watch as they trackerjacked Peeta?

[noodlecarrot50states]

Is this a Yellowjackets AU or something?

I don't even know I've never watched it 😭😭😭

but I got a lot of posts about in on my fyp yesterday and I guessed it caused me to have a dream last night (that's how it always starts right)

In the dream everyone is human and Mr. Strickler takes the kids on like a trip in a plane for whatever reason. Plane crashes just like in the Yellowjackets show from what I picked up. Mr. Strickler? Missing. Kids now have to go find teacher.

This is where things get a bit... different? so I know in the Yellowjackets show, "Yellowjackets" refers to their soccer team. For this, the Yellowjackets are actually very mutated wasps. Think of them as the trackerjackers in Hunger Games. Anyway they're like extremely venomous and dangerous and similar to the trackerjackers they cause horrible hallucinations.

By the time the class finds Strickler he done drop dead after being attacked by the evil wasps. The kids are freaked. The wasps eventually come back and kill off one of the kids (probably Shannon's girlfriend methinks) as everyone else flees, which shows them that they need to watch out for those insects.

The rest of the story would be like Hunger Games x Survivor x Yellowjackets a little bit where they kind of split off into different groups (Claire, Mary, Shannon, Darci as one group; Aja and Krel as a duo; and Steve, Seamus, Logan, Jim, Toby, and Eli all in one group) because they know they wont be able to tolerate each other. Jim I guess is like the Jackie or something trying to keep the peace and encourage everyone to at least try to find a way out of the endless woods.

They find weapons and shit in a cabin at some point. Don't know how but they do.

Steve and Jim get into an argument over Steve complaining about Toby not pulling his weight in the group. They bicker for a long while until Steve kicks Jim out. Instead of Jim freezing to death like Jackie he does in fact "fluck around and find out". Steve threatens to kill Jim, but he wasn't actually gonna do it. He was simply trying to scare him. Jim thinks it was literal though and shoot Steve in the arm with an arrow. Steve, as a reflex, shoot Jim in the head with a gun. Jim dies.

Toby, in a fit of rage, runs to Steve with a knife in his hand, barely misses Steve's eye, and instead stabs Seamus who had been holding him back. Seamus dies too. Then Toby flees, only to get knocked out by Aja, since he had crossed into their "territory."

After determining that he's not a treat, Toby joins Aja and Krel.

I already know at some point the yellowjackets attack again. I'm gonna have Claire die from the stings, but not before having her kill Darci mid hallucination. Toby will get stung too but not enough to kill him, just enough to make him get a little loopy. He'll build some sort of Ellie from The Last of Us style immunity.

A helicopter came to save them in the end, but by then only four were still alive: Toby, Eli, Mary, and Logan

Toby's the main character of this AU if you couldn't tell. Because I LOVE TOBY!!

Uh Yellowjackets fans please don't come for me I have no idea what I'm doing. It isn't even an AU of the show I just felt the need to mention it since it clearly had some sort of impact on the dream.

[batcavescolony]

Re-watching the movies, now that I watched the books: The Hunger Games

•also if Katniss is such a good hunter why does she need Gale to tell her to let the deer go cus it's reaping day? Why not make them seem like a the team they are, have them be equally competent.

•why isn't Gale actually hunting or gathering? Like he came out just to give her bread? They could have gave him a weapon to carry or a dead squirrel to show he's out there to hunt as well.

•again what is Gale doing here? Also no game bags how are they gonna carry their food?

•talking bout them hunting again, what did they get? Katniss got a bird but we never saw her retrieve it, why are either of them in the woods? Neither took food home! That's the whole reason they go hunting! The only thing we saw Katniss have was a hand full of berries? Maybe? For some yarn and the pin. Why did they go hunting if they didn't get anything!

•we can have an extended getting ready scene but they could let Gale or Katniss gather or hunt anything?

•kinda miss the other people visiting Katniss before she goes. that really showed that she was important to the community.

•Peeta & Katniss: *worse day of their life*. Effie: oh the capital is grand you'll love it! So much luxury-

•the cuts back to when he gave her bread everytime Katniss looks at Peeta 😭

•"where's the ice?" "I.. don't know?"

•Peeta has already decided to fight, Haymitch be damned

•“THAT! is MAHOGANY"

•he never seen that much water before

•the way the tributes are being prepped on morgue type tables (hard, metal)

•Tresh 😭 Rue 😭

• Thresh's face when Rue takes Cato's knife in training 😭

•Peeta&Katniss: *fighting by hyping each other up*. Haymitch: *eats soup*

•Peeta's camouflage in the movie is insane, like what? How tf is he gonna do that? Then in the arena he does is. In the books he like buried himself in mud, which makes more sense.

•Effie: I HOPE YOU KNOW YOUR ACTIONS REFLECT BADLY ON ALL OF US! Haymitch: 👍sweetheart! You did amazing.

•i wish Portia got to talk more she's right there, let her speak.

•i love this little speech between Seneca and Snow, cus I think some people still don't get why the hunger games happen. It's bread and circuses, it's controlling hope.

•i love Cinna

•young Derrick Hale is here, better watch out.

•i love the camera and audio work in the movie. Katniss comes our on stage and the audio muffels or the camera like slides around or goes toppsy turvy at moments the characters are stressed.

•i love how Peeta works the crowd, he kicked his leg up, he chatts up Ceaser, he gives people enough time to react before drops some lore.

•'i just don't want them to change me' AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭

•You know what they haven't brought up? Peeta having brothers as well? We haven't seen Peeta's dad either, no one else gets family ig?

•Jennifer is LITERALLY shaking

•oh shit, Gale is sticking to his plan of not watching the games.

• I think about their parents watching the games all the time, if anyone has and good fics tell me.

•book Katniss is fuming, movie Katniss found water hours into the game, poor book Katniss was looking for days.

•Seneca telling the other gamemaker to 'make a tree right there' it makes me think that all the arenas are the same bace with virtual terrain that changes each year and when capitalites 'go visit' the arena it's just virtual reality.

•'Maybe you should throw the sword!' I love snarky Katniss 💚

•i love getting shots of Haymitch getting them sponsors, we don't get to see that in the books.

• pull your hood up girlie! Less surface area to get stung

• Glimmer is sleeping on Cato

• rip glimmer even though Katniss thinks you have a stupid name.

• the trackerjacker sting effects being shown with the camera and audio work 💜💚💜

• Rue is adorable but I'd love to hear more about d11 from her, show more outside Katniss. Ik show don't tell but at least make her in awe of getting a good portion of food to show food scarcity in other districts even in the agriculture district.

•cut back to d11, I get the need to change things cus movies are a different format but that bread moment is iconic.

•i do like seeing Katniss track Peeta but again kinda hate his camouflage like how tf did he do that?

•all the flash backs to Gale, again I would be interested in what their families were thinking during their games.

•they took out Peeta's teeth, where are his witty remarks, his stubborn streak. Where's my boy that needed to be drugged while Katniss went to the Cornucopia? Book Peeta was gonna drag his half dying ass across the arena if Katniss left.

•I like Clove, she's so cocky 'we killed her 🔪 and now well kill her 🔪'

• if I was here I'd be grabbing all the weapons from people I killed. A weapon you don't know how to use is still a weapon.

• it's funny that the game makers in the movies are always messing with the time of day, making it night or day at their will. In the books it's just night and day cus it goes on for over a week.

• are they implying Thresh got killed by Mutts?

• how do the game makers spawn them in? Again I think this has to be virtual reality they just make the Mutts appear, they weren't released from somewhere.

• come on Peeta supposedly you have brother that you wrestle even though they're never mentioned.

• I feel bad for Cato in this

[tiredandoptimistic]

There's a lot of ways in which the Hunger Games movies take the teeth out of the political commentary of the novels, but one example that stands out to me is how Katniss's narration of her experiences is replaced by Caesar Flickerman's commentary. They couldn't have Katniss delivering exposition through her thoughts anymore, so things like trackerjackers are instead explained by a quick cut to Caesar at his fancy newscaster desk. This is honestly a pretty clever solution for how to get information across in the new medium, but it also subtly aligns viewers with the in-universe Capitol audience and presents facts about the situation as entertainment. We're learning from their propaganda, rather than the lived experiences of the oppressed.

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

that dress you reblogged is soooo summer!Virgil coded <3

SO TRUE SO TRUE. when i think of various swaplaofts i usually make seelie!virgil a bee. he's so sweet and loves to share honey and honey comb <3 dressed in flowery pastels in yellow and lavender and pink <3 sometimes he stings and the target hallucinates for 12 hours in the vein of trackerjacker venom from hunger games <3 <3 <3

[threewaywithdelusion]

You know how tragedies are inevitable because the characters are who they are and could never have made another choice?

That’s what I was thinking about when reading A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Not when it comes to Snow, who could have chosen so many times to be good, yet always prioritised himself over everyone and everything. But with Lucy Gray.

Lucy Gray saved Coriolanus in the arena when she could have run instead. She had a chance at freedom, but she went back for the Capitol boy begging for help because that’s who she is. That’s Lucy Gray.

But what would have happened if she hadn’t gone back? Maybe Snow would have died under a burning bit of rubble that day. Lucy Gray would almost certainly have died in the games then, without his interference with the snakes or the compact for the rat poison. Or maybe she would have been gunned down with the other tributes who ran and her body would have been dragged through the streets.

But maybe the Hunger Games would have been a failure and would have been cancelled after their tenth year. And even if they continued, Snow would never have been alive to turn it into a horrific game show. There would be no tesserae, no quarter quells, no career districts where tributes volunteer to murder other kids in exchange for food and money.

And in that world, what becomes of Katniss? Of Peeta, who is never trackerjacked? Of Annie Cresta? Of little Rue? Of Finnick Odair and all the other victors who were forced to sell their bodies? Of Mags and Wiress and Beetee and Johanna and Enobaria and Glimmer and Cato?

Without the Hunger Games, it’s possible that the Capitol’s control over the districts falters way sooner. It’s possible that hundreds of lives are saved.

And maybe that’s dramatic. Maybe one Capitol boy dying early wouldn’t so drastically change the course of Panem history. Maybe others would dream up some of the same horrors Snow used to control the districts and the people would suffer in other, creative ways.

But isn’t it terrible to think that all that pain and all that suffering was doomed to happen because a girl, sentenced to death by the Capitol, was kind enough to go back for a Capitol boy who was in pain?

Lucy Gray didn’t have a cruel bone in her body. She never could have done anything else. If she hadn’t saved Coriolanus Snow, she wouldn’t be Lucy Gray. And if she hadn’t saved Coriolanus Snow, so many people would have been spared the torment of the Hunger Games.

And thus the tragedy begins.

[whousestypewritersanyways]

Honestly what Katniss experiences when shes stung by the trackerjackers is exactly what it feels like when u go to the bathroom and realise how drunk you are

[xtabithanala]

director’s commentary on through a mentors view? 👀

Of course <3

Sooo... when I started working on TAMV, Crassus' fate was clear from the start. Similarly to whaz Suzanne Collins once said about Prim, Crassus' fate was clear the moment he first appeared in the fic. Livia's only wish when she was a First Lady was to have a bond with her children and - although Crassus' death wasn't even entirely Coriolanus' fault - it was this event that managed to snap Livia out of the hijacking and out of the thick fog of trackerjackers' venom. It was the final straw to make her realise who the real enemy is and always has been.

Another thing that was more or less clear from the start was that Livia would eventually find out Facet's surname. First I also though that she gets the chance to watch District 1's reaping again but then I felt that visiting D1 and Facet's grave would be a better option, also for her to thank him and say goodbye <3

Also, Coriolanus would never have killed Livia in my AU. I have this hc that this was one thing he wouldn't due to the fear that someone could find out. The Capitol loved Livia because she seemed more real and closer to them (despite all of Coriolanus' attempts) and that any kind of harm on her would fall back on Coriolanus. Which was why he always made sure to cover up her bruises (bruises = attack = president can't even protect his wife). This is why he eventually decided on h*jacking her. He couldn't kill her as such but he could kill her spirit 💔

Another hc that was clear from the start was the things Coriolanus did to Arachne. They hated each other deeply and he always knew, similarly to Livia, that he couldn't harm Arachne herself as she's Livia's closest friend. So he decided to go a different path, train Seneca into the highest position and then kill him after the tiniest mistake. He basically had it planned the moment Seneca was born.

I also knew that I want several mentors to survive. I don't know how realistic it was/is with them all being in their 80s but I could see Capitol citizens reaching an old age very easily and well.

This was all for now <3

[andthingsleftover]

Actual footage of me surviving the trackerjacker attack in @elmhat 's Hunger Games event.

[ivymirrorball768]

Hey, Little Songbird

Chapter 5: I wanna lie down forever

series summary: sejanus plinth’s great grandchild (you) gets reaped for the 69th hunger games.

warnings/notes: tribute parade

pairing: finnick odair x reader

wc: 2.3k ao3 link

i recommend the combined read for chapters 1-5 rather than individual

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

Strange is the call of this strange man I wanna fly down and feed at his hand I want a nice soft place to land I wanna lie down forever

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

In completion, the train ride was around 6 hours long. District 4 was closer to the Capitol than most of the other districts, requiring less of a journey.

Once off the train, the 6 of you had a short walk through a barricaded crowd up to an astoundingly tall building. Pandora Lovegood had rejoined the group, waving and basking in the glory of her fresh new tributes. She was practically shining, overjoyed to be back for another year.

Mags walked on without much of a show, a polite acknowledgment of the crowd, but she’d done this so many times that they were almost bored of her. Victor of the 11th hunger games still kicking for the 69th? She wasn’t in high demand.

Petunia had wiped her eyes and was offering small smiles to the people around. Their energy was infectious, but not in a good way. Your heart was buzzing like a swarm of trackerjacker bees which was accompanied by a dizzy feeling.

The change in Finnick was the real kicker. It was like a switch. He was doing more than even Pandora, a charming smile, flirty words, expected to get up close with the barricades, taking citizens hands as they grabbed and pulled at him. By the end of the walk, his outfit was a bit tattered.

Thoughts trailed back to last year’s games… his games… hadn’t he been the youngest ever victor? 14, was it? Meaning he was 15. Your age. 15. You wanted to throw up the rich capitol food from earlier right then and there. It was a sickening sight. You were all an interactive zoo and he was the star of the show.

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

Once inside the building you were whisked off individually. All pushed in different directions and nobody familiar was left in sight.

You were taken into a room full of medical equipment? or something fairly reminiscent of it. It was barely a room with the privacy held up by some makeshift curtains.

Two people ambushed you with chemicals, they observed your form and then whispered to ideas to each other. Then they’d tug at your hair, strip off your clothes and begin waxing as much as they possibly could. This must’ve been what Mags was talking about - sterilisation. It was an awfully uncomfortable matter.

Never had you felt so vulnerable and exposed, as though surrounded by vultures ready to prick and preen until you met their vision.

Suddenly there was an emptiness without the girls. You hadn’t realised it before, but the shared experience had brought a kind of comfort combatting any loneliness and now you were in separate spaces divided just as you would be in the arena. You’d better get used to it then.

Gently, the blue curtain was tugged aside, as another unfamiliar woman invaded your space. She was composed, elegant even. Her dress was fairly reserved for the Capitol style, an emerald green matching the patterned green eyeliner covering most of the top half of her face. Complimenting this was jewellery unlike any you’d ever seen before. Luxury. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces: all like the pearl Petunia cherished, but much less rare. They shone beautifully against her dark skin, gleaming in the harsh lighting.

She stood over the clinical bed, removing her satin gloves before stopping the prep-team momentarily to move your head from side to side. Observing you.

Then she introduced herself, with a handshake, politely,

“Hello lovely, my name is Dorcas and I’m your stylist for the games.”

You took her hand, she didn’t treat you like vermin, so you offered your name too.

“Beautiful name. Now, your prep-team will definitely need to finish up on your hair before I can work my magic here.” She pursed her lips in thought. “What length would you like it for the games? I have enough to work with here, so you may have that choice.”

Oh. A choice. Finally! Somewhere where your fate wasn’t wrote for you. The decision needed to be practical, good for fighting but also not too unfamiliar. You settled on just above shoulder length, pointing.

“Up to here, please Ma’am?”

It was very much a request rather than a demand. You felt rather timid in your exposed state.

“Of course, of course.”

She began to direct the team on what to do, observing the rest of the process with an eager eye.

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

Dorcas looked over at you before back at her clothing options. She’d prepared two outfits, both well themed to fishing with a focus on the ocean and sea life. One was a suit, the other a dress. Both were exquisite with ruffles, swirls, textured sequins, netting and all sorts of homely reminders. Thank goodness it wasn’t one of those years where District 4 were assigned swimwear level coverage. You were clothed and thankful for it.

You chose what you felt most comfortable in.

She fluttered around you, perfecting every aspect of your being. Makeup was splattered onto your face in a colourful array and a sunshine charm added into your hair. You almost didn’t recognise yourself at the end of it.

“You look beautiful, sweet. Sure to be an absolute stunner.”

She smiled, pleased with herself.

“Thank you! It’s all you, Ma’am. I could never look so naturally…” The words couldn’t find you, it was all too much. You admired her work in a euphoric daze, so truly grateful. “You’ve worked wonders!”

Just then, Dorcas leaned in as if to tell you a secret.

“I hear my fellow stylist has a magnificent ocean in store for your chariot. You’ll have their attention so try your best to keep it.”

Then she distanced herself, gloves on, dress smoothed and held a certainty that she’d worked to perfection.

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

At long last you were reunited with your other tributes. Petunia was adorning all sorts of tokens braided into her hair in a sea themed array alongside her dress which was fairly reminiscent of tears. How fitting. Tulip was much smaller and her dress reflected that. It seemed her stylist hadn’t quite understood her choosing the innocent look, while her demeanour said deadly and dangerous. It was quite the juxtaposition.

You could only hope you didn’t look like a complete fool with your awkward stature ready to be hauled onto a chariot.

The three of you were directed on in height order, you and Tulip at the front with Petunia in the back. Her dress was designed to trail far off the chariot like the waves of the sea. That must’ve been what your stylist meant. It had never been done before, so it was sure to draw a crowd.

District 1,2 and 3 entranced you momentarily before you were snapped back to reality by the shuddering movement of the tugging horses. You were run through the streets with crowds worth of people. It was long journey with a high turnout. District 4 was getting enough attention, already a favourite choice for many. However, this year they couldn’t rely on ‘career districts’ so much for betting, given the whole no volunteering thing. It put all the tributes much more level, with room for anyone to shine.

As the chariot approached the bigger crowds, stadium seats filled by high paying wealthy citizens you up your smiles and enthusiasm. An awestruck look overtook your face, gawking like the child you were. It was all so much. So magical if it wasn’t so tragic.

Your image was greatly helped by Tulip serving as your stark opposite. She stared directly ahead, no wonderment just fierce blankness. You appeared all the more joyous, epitomising the sun clipped into your hair. Finnick was right. You could sell this.

The City Circle was a sight to behold, even in the buildings every eye was locked on to the display. The national anthem rung a cacophony of united voices, shared in their superiority. And President Snow’s mansion was our momentary stop. He observed the tribute as he did each year but you could have sworn his gaze lingered on you a second too long. Well, you were a little delirious so it could’ve been nothing.

Once the parade had finished and the thrill had all worn off, you were rejoined by your mentors. They’d been watching in the crowd.

“Nice show, Sunshine. Keep up the smiles and you’ll earn that harmonica in no time.” Finnick shone, teasing but pleased with the outcome of the display.

“And you! Petunia, stunning the crowds with those waves rippling behind you, a true ocean. We’ve got the story of your tears sorted now!” Finnick beamed. She really was the starfish of the show.

He seemed so enthusiastic about Petunia you almost wanted to cry too. It was unreasonable - you knew that - though the feeling of always being second best weighed heavy. She was enthralled by the attention. The Finnick Odair, pride of District 4, was focused on her. No wonder she’d be so joyous.

It had been a long, tiresome day. Your legs were just about ready to give way after that rocky ride before Mags noticed your increasingly dazed look and put her arm around you. You had an awful habit of forgetting to drink water, causing episodes of dehydration, which, of course, had to happen now in the midst of celebration.

“Are you feeling okay?” Mags asked kindly. It was barely perceptible if you weren’t directly beside her.

“Mhm- I’m just a little tired I think.” You smiled as though nothing was wrong, but the swirling of your mind was enough to know it wasn’t quite true.

“You can rest soon. It must’ve been a tough day.” Her hand on your back offered soothing circles. Like family, you thought again.

How you missed your Ma.

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

Inside the Tribute Center the walls were anything but homely, rich but uncomfortable. You noticed the falter in Finnick’s steps as he went to leave the elevator. The first time coming back here, you supposed.

“Is this the same place they brought you?” You asked Finnick inquisitively. You wanted to know about him and deeper into his games, nobody else had asked him questions like this. Ones that weren’t meant to make light of the experience, but to recognise the potential haunting.

He tensed before up-keeping his forced charm. The words came out fairly emotionless despite his efforts. “Yeah… they’ve had this building for years now.”

You offered him a look of acknowledgement at his stress and a hand through the elevator doorway. It was an attempt at comfort.

He took it, grip hesitant, then firm as though it was grounding him.

Once he’d made it far enough into the room, he broke his hand away rather abruptly with a murmured “Thanks”, moved on, and didn’t speak to you for the rest of the night. It was odd.

Oh well. You thought.

You’ll be dead soon enough anyway.

Dinner was quiet. Everyone was exhausted and feeling an emotional weight in some form or another.

Each tribute had an individual room, which made you realise just how big the floor was. 6 Bedrooms, 7 Bathrooms, and a wide variety of living space. The view wouldn’t have been all bad if it was real. There was probably a setting for it among the array of options the Capitol provided.

Your room was identical to the other tribute's conveying the lack of individuality the Capitol believed you to have. All district scum. The mentors rooms were a little different in design, but you didn’t get much of a look through the hallways.

Exhausted, you crashed onto the bed. It swallowed your form whole, too puffy, too silky, too suffocating. It was so painfully Capitol. Despite your tiredness, your mind wouldn’t rest. Plagued with thoughts of your lonesome siblings, the way sponsors had perceived you and if there was any chance of making it out alive.

Time passed, enough that you assumed an hour or so had gone by? Still nothing. And so you crept out of your room seeking some alternative to the upsetting mattress. Duvet in hand like a small child, you settled on the sturdier couch, finding sleep there.

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

Lying restless in his bed, Finnick recalled the day. The reaping, the train ride, the walk, the chariots. It was only just beginning.

And then, this Tribute Center. That damned elevator.

He had closed himself off the moment he saw your genuine concern for him. Because it was all too real. And you were all too dead.

The odds of you making it out of that arena were heaps worse than previous years 1/36. He couldn’t care for any of you! Petunia’s ocean waves were temporary and dirtied, probably sold to the highest bidder already. Your sunlight would dim as he’d seen it at the reaping. And Tulip, gods Tulip, well she’d just be forgotten as another uncooperative, defiant tribute.

You were all his little lambs for slaughter.

And this little lamb was trying to be nice to him. To care. To see him for more than the show he was forced to portray.

A few tears fell at the acknowledgment of what was beginning. This year was the first of many where he’d be mentoring other children for slaughter and he hadn’t quite figured out the whole emotional distancing yet. Sleep eventually overtook him.

The following morning, Finnick woke up early having barely slept, stumbling to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Across the room he spotted something; lying on the sofa was a bundle of duvet covering a small softly snoring form. He gave a soft sigh.

This was going to be a difficult mentoring.

Chapter 6: Hey, little songbird, you got something fine

[clemensiadovecotes]

I’m surprised people haven’t drawn the connection of Peeta and Clemensia’s character similarities, as well as the behavioral change after the snakebite is similar to the one Peeta experiences after being hijacked. Based on what happened to Clemensia I feel like Dr Gaul and Snow invent hijacking and the venom from the snake mutts is what inspires the trackerjackers venom. They’re also both cute beans that deserve the world and are very kind. Really wish they didn’t cut the hospital scenes with Clemensia bc it wouldn’t make ppl think she died, besides the fact that her role is bigger than what the movie made it out to be, I personally feel like they could’ve at least fit a scene where Coryo sees her in the hospital or the other way around, even if we ddnt see her again in the games.. snake clemensia was very impactful in the book, would’ve been cool to see that reflected on screen

[mega-aulover]

Katniss is so confusing she both genuinely believes hijacked Peeta is lost to her and she dosent. Hijacked Peeta is both a stranger and isn't a stranger. What is Katniss’s relationship to hijacked Peeta exactly

dear NONY, you forget we're talking about Katniss who is

1#16-YEAR-OLD GIRL

As someone who was a 16 Year Old Girl, you have conflicting emotions about everything. She's still growing up, and thrust into extraordinary situations. She was being used by the Adutls in the room. Adults who should shelter children, but instead she's being used as the MOCKINGJAY.

2#Katniss didn't ask to be the face of a revolution

Katniss was thrust into this role- the face of the revolution. Think about all of the people around her. They're acting like she understands what is expected of her and doesn't. Or that she was in on this plot. Most of the time she's reacting to things but she's clueless. Katniss didn't know what the rebellion was planning.

#3Peeta is Important

When Katniss found out Peeta was left behind she knew that Peeta was going to be tortured and would rather him be dead than fall into the hands of President Snow. She Loves Him, even though she hasn't recognized the emotion. She didn't want anything bad to happen to him. Seeing him Hijacked is like when someone you love is diagnosed with an illness that is considered incurable. You want them to live but she doesn't want him to suffer. And remember at the height of his Hijacking Peeta hurt Katniss and this action under the Trackerjacker syndrome, was a hard thing to get over. The boy who saved her, the boy she called her hope, hurt her. And as a confused teenager, suffering from PTSD, being forced to act like an ADULT when she was still a kid is understandable.

#4Katniss Loves PEETA

Despite Katniss being confused about her growing feelings - she loved Peeta. And during MJ when Peeta wants them to shoot him - SHE DID NOT LIKE IT. She fights for him, the reason he made it out of the tunnels and through the end of the War is because Katniss took care of Peeta. She didn't watch out for anyone else on SQUAD 415 👀👀👀