No song for this chapter but feel free to drop a comment with a song that you think would pair well with the chapter! However, there is a song/musical reference in this chapter so see if you can spot it!

Octavia's POV

Three days out and the morning line odds are looking to start to sway into our favour. Cato is sitting as a nice 3-1 while Clove is at 7-1, meaning if Cato wins anyone who bet on him will triple their money and anyone on Clove will septuple it. While it doesn't always reflect who will actually win it can show something more important, which tributes people are willing to spend money on and how the money is flowing. Both Katniss and Peeta dropped to 23-1 meaning they're now considered long shots. Hopefully, this means that the hype around them is finally dead.

Naturally, Thresh said no to Cato's offer, but that wasn't much of a surprise to me because Chaff was right; people in District 11 don't see it the same way as we do in the career districts. I often wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn't been raised in a career district. With my luck, I probably would have been reaped anyways. However, Cato couldn't seem to comprehend why Thresh said no fully.  In other games, he'd seen how the outer districts didn't want to pair with the careers, but I don't think he realizes that it's because they think we're crazy. And nine times out of ten, I would have to agree with them. But I can say, at least I'm alive and crazy instead of sane and dead.

The hype around the girl from 12 has also started to die down, at least within the facility, because she seemed to be mediocre with nearly every weapon. But there's something that just doesn't sit right with me about her. I can tell that there's a lot going on inside her head but she doesn't talk much except to the trainers or her district partner. She watches everyone with little subtly, I wouldn't be surprised if she's figured out quite a few weaknesses of the other tributes. I hope she didn't pay attention to Cato too long, but with how loud he is I highly doubt that.

On the other hand, her district partner Peeta has proven to be quite strong. But I doubt he would ever turn against Katniss unless they had some sort of falling out.

So that all leaves me going over all my notes to present to Cato and Clove. As a collective, the mentors and Victors from two all wait for them to get back from their private sessions. Luckily, District 2 goes second, therefore they get back pretty early in the day. Cato must've waited for Clove because they both walk in at the same time.  Everyone stands to greet them. "So? How'd it go?" asks Enobaria.

Clove begins to enthuse about how well her knife-throwing went, she hit some moving targets from a pretty far distance in the dead centre. Cato, on the other hand, apparently did some real damage to the dummies with his sword and now they were likely cleaning up dummy heads from the assessment room's floor. We have to wait until tomorrow night to get the scores, so, as District 2, we usually take the day to go over observations from training.

I get right down to business and pull out my notebook and the other Victors also pull out whatever they've written their observations on. I don't question when Enobaria pulls out a napkin with writing scrawled on it because I don't know where to start. But when it comes to the tributes I do.  "Hopefully, District 1 will be gone before you have to even consider taking them out, but unfortunately, we do have to talk about this." Both Cato and Clove's eyes go wide. They've gotten to know Marvel and Glimmer over the course of the past few days. "I don't think Glimmer can hit anything with her bow unless it's within a short distance. However, and this goes for both of you, I think you'd both easily beat her if it came to grappling. Marvel is the bigger threat between the two of them, but with him, you should take the opposite approach; I think he's better at throwing than he is at a close range. Cato, you could likely take him out with your sword as long as you use the correct blocking, and Clove, I would try to avoid engaging with him unless it's a surprise." Neither Cato nor Clove say anything.

The other Victors and I take turns with our observations, going through every tribute until we reach 11 where the sensitive subject of Thresh comes up. "Thresh is my number one target. I want him gone first," voices my brother.

I roll my eyes. "I thought the boy from 6 was your first target."

"Nuh-uh, he's my first target, not my number one target. There's a difference. Besides, I can probably get that guy within the first minute, then I can move onto Thresh."

I don't know how I didn't realize it before, but my brother has to be one of the biggest idiots I've ever seen in my life. Besides Finnick of course. I rub my palm against my face. "No, here's what you're gonna do. If he enters the bloodbath you make sure there are multiple of you against him. Don't risk taking him one on one and make things harder for yourself for no reason. If you get injured on day one, you're screwed. If he just runs, he should be your priority to find. Make sure you watch which direction he goes. Track him down while there's still enough of you."

Next, we move onto Peeta, and Enobaria pulls out her napkin. "I think that he might be a good fit. He looks scared half the time and the other half of the time he throws heavy stuff. He could be useful fighting against someone like Thresh."

Clove raises her eyebrows. "Or helping us find Miss Girl on Fire. I want to be the one to sink my knife into her. Cato and I have trained our whole lives for this and some girl comes along with a dress that lights up and suddenly she's going to win a competition of strength and grit. What does playing dress-up even have to do anything? I swear people are so dumb."

Everyone is left a little flabbergasted by Cloves rant. She's not wrong. But it feels like she's almost getting the point of these games but narrowly misses it. It's a show.

I move onto my final concerns with Katniss. The other mentors agree that she seemed to be always checking out the competition. I ask my brother if he noticed anything weird about her and he shakes his head.  All left to do now is let the tributes relax.

There's still much I have to do to prepare so I begin to putter around the apartment.

~~~
The scores are only moments away from being delivered. I think I'm more nervous now than I was when I was waiting for my own scores. All of us got dressed up, as it's customary for the Victors to go down to discuss final alliances and compare score notes after the announcement. For luck, I asked Fallon to pull a gold dress that I wore while waiting for my games scores. Since it isn't a televised thing the dress wasn't sent to the museum like the rest of them. I'm sure Fallon was a bit confused by my request since she doesn't know Cato is my brother, but she didn't seem to want to question my newfound interest in fashion.

Sadly for me, Finnick isn't able to join our viewing party since he has to take care of his kids, which is unfortunate because right now all I want to do is hide behind him. Instead, I choose to sit next to my brother. I can tell he is nervous too but he won't show it. All of us are piled into the room with the television, waiting for things to get started. They have to be careful as to what they broadcast into the tower while the tributes are still in here so our screens only show the Panem logo until the actual scores start.

Luckily we don't have to wait long because the song "Horn of Plenty" begins to play, letting us know that they're about to start. The loud chatter in the room quickly dies off with a series of hushes. Caesar starts his usual schpeel. " As you know, the Tributes were rated on a scale of 1 to 12 after three careful days of evaluation. The Gamekeepers would like to acknowledge that it was an exceptional year this year."

Marvel gets a nine and Glimmer gets an eight, no surprises there. And then the real moment of truth starts. "From District 2, Cato, with a score of...10." I look over to see my brother's face and he seems elated. I know that he was hoping for an 11, but a 10 is still bound to tie him for the highest. I can't see anyone getting above that if Cato has a 10. I clap him on the back to let him know that I'm proud, but we have to save our celebrations so that we can hear them announce Clove's score. "Also from District 2, Clove, with a score of...10."

Finally, we are able to erupt into cheers. Both Cato and Clove shoot up from the couch and hug one another. Handshakes and hugs go all around the room, except for Brutus who remains watching the scores. I go up to hug Clove. "Not bad for a girl who wasn't supposed to be here," I say cheekily.

She grins. "I like to think I've proved that I deserve to be here."

I smile back at her. She reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger. Though I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing. "I never doubted that for a second." And I mean it. I never thought she didn't deserve to be here. She's talented enough. I just didn't want her to be here. But that's not something she would understand.

The Victors break out a bottle of champagne and we all make a toast to Cato and Clove.

We all finally settle back down into our seats by the time they reach District 6. I have to ask Brutus what Finnick's kids got because I wasn't paying attention and their boy got a 7 while their girl got a 9. Not too bad.

I can't help but let a smug grin cross my face when I see that Thresh only got a 9, which means Cato and Clove will finish with a tie for the highest score. I can see it on Cato's face too that he's relieved. It means that Cato can take him. The little Rue gets a score of 7 which is quite impressive for someone her size.

Finally, Caesar reaches the last district. When Peeta receives a score of 8, many faces in the room make a 'not bad' face. He could really prove to be useful, but I doubt after my spat earlier in the games with Haymitch will allow for any alliance to happen. Besides, he absolutely loathes the other Victors from 2 so I don' think anyone else stands a chance at negotiating.

"And finally, from District 12, Katniss, with a score of...11."

Crunch.

I look down to see that my champagne flute has broken into a million little pieces into my lap as rage fills my body. I stare down the image of her on the television as if somehow doing so would kill her. I wish I could get my hands on her. Whatever stunt she pulled, I want to know. Because there's no way a girl from District 12 just got an 11 on a whim.

I'm not the only one who's lost their cool, because Cato gets up from beside me and flips over the coffee table in front of us. Usually, I would reprimand him, but I'm too angry. I wish I had done that. Clove gets up and starts to pace around the room and Brutus is trying to talk Cato down even though I can tell Brutus is just as angry himself. "What the hell! This isn't fair! I watched her--we all watched her! She didn't do anything!"

"She's hiding something," I sneer.

I storm towards the front door and throw on my shoes.

"Where are you going?" Enobaria calls over to me.

I throw my keycard into a black leather purse and toss it roughly and inelegantly over my shoulder. "I'm going to find out what the hell is going on."

Finnick's POV

Watching the scores come in is hard, especially considering I want to be with Octavia for support. It also doesn't help that I feel immensely guilty about the two children sitting with me, considering I would really rather they don't win. Pair that with Annie and Brook being mildly irritating the whole trip, the room was more uncomfortable than a lot of things I've experienced in life. And that's saying something. Like really saying something.

I immediately feel some relief when Cato gets a score of 10. A solid score. I got an 11, and so did Octavia, but I'm sure he'll still be happy with it. I just now have to hold in my urge to cheer until my kid's scores are called out.

Our boy gets a 7, which is pretty solid for 14. Of course, I try not to say anything to him about the score itself because he's well aware of the score I got at his age. Our girl gets a 9, which is fantastic because she beats out the girl and ties with the boy from 1, meaning that there's no way 4 will be cut from the careers.

As we near the end, everyone but the tributes start to prepare to go downstairs to meet with the other careers and, hopefully, meet with some sponsors at an informal event. When Thresh gets a 9, I do another little cheer in my head, knowing that Cato will tie for the highest score with his district partner. The competitive side of my brain tells me I should talk to Cato about what might have to happen in order for him to win, but I think that is something best left for a sibling's touch unless I'm asked otherwise.

I straighten my tie as I sit, waiting for 12's scores to come in. I don't want Octavia to make fun of me again for it not being perfectly centre. "... Katniss, with a score of...11."

Everyone's eyes jump out of their sockets. This is unexpected. My first thought is, what the hell did she do to get that score. I can't help but wonder if she flashed them or something, but then I get serious with myself and come to a more logical conclusion: she's hiding something. If it weren't for the love of my life's brother competing against her in a battle to the death, I might have been rooting for her.

Our room breaks out into chatter, though I can hardly imagine it's anything compared to what's going on in the District 1 and 2 apartments.

Oh, shit.

I quickly run to the door and throw on my shoes without saying anything to anyone else. Octavia will consider this a personal attack. I've got to stop a homicide.

I rush to the elevator and push the down button multiple times, hoping that I can get to floor 12 before Octavia does. The last thing she needs is to get into a fistfight with Haymitch. However entertaining and possibly attractive it would be to see her beat the crap out of someone, I know it's not a good idea. It feels like it takes forever, but eventually, the elevator comes and I push the floor 2 button.

I tap my foot against the floor, waiting for the doors to open. Luckily, when they do open, the most beautiful person I've ever seen is standing there waiting in a ball of rage. And no, it's not Brutus, although I think he would look good in a dress. I hear her let out a curse at my name upon seeing me.

I press the 8 button and the close button in one fellow swoop as I step out of the elevator. Leaving me out of the elevator now going up. "Going somewhere?"

Octavia glares up at me and smiles through gritted teeth as she watches the elevator ascended. "Yes, I was actually. I was going to go and give Haymitch a piece of my mind. So if you'll excuse me--" She tries to push past me with surprising force towards the button to call the elevator, but luckily I'm much bigger than her and block her. Her voice turns dark. "Get out of my way Finnick."

The use of my full name while no one else is around does not escape me. But I stand my ground and lean down to her. "Or what?" She begins to stare me down with one of the most frightening looks I've ever seen her give, but I hold her gaze. Neither of us budges, each trying to win the staredown. After about a minute or so, Octavia averts her gaze. This is my chance. "Octavia, listen to me, okay? I know you're angry right now, but we need to focus on figuring out the whole Katniss situation."

"How 'bout I just keep whacking Haymitch until he gives me the answer."

"That's...not quite the direction I was hoping for." She buries her head in her hands and lets out a loud strangled sigh. "Look, why don't we head downstairs and see if any of the sponsors have heard any rumours. You know they all have big mouths anyways, they aren't good at keeping secrets to themselves."

Finally, Octavia agrees and I turn to press the down button so we can head towards the area of the building where sponsors and such were allowed to intermingle.

To my greatest displeasure, when the doors open up, Haymitch is standing there with 12's escort and designer. Haymitch really does himself a disservice because the smuggest grin sits on his face. Does he even appreciate I'm trying to save his nose from being broken? Octavia is usually pretty good at acting. But...not today. Her face is twisted into a scowl so unsettling that it would scare a muttation away. Of course, this only causes Haymitch's grin to grow wider.

Octavia and I step into the elevator, and I make sure to put myself between Octavia and Haymitch, praying the space created by me and the presence of the two others will deter her from trying anything. The elevator is so tense that I almost feel like abandoning ship and jumping out before the doors close. Alas, since I am a good person and an amazing boyfriend, I stay.

The scowl remains on Octavia's face and the grin remains on Haymitch's for the rest of the silent ride down. Luckily, it's only two floors down that we need to go. The doors open and Octavia shoves herself out before Haymitch and them. I give them a small smile, hoping that they'll see I'm trying to apologize for her behaviour, and I shoot the escort a wink for good measure.

Octavia's POV

I am absolutely fuming. Finnick has tried to calm me down multiple times and so have the other Victors once they arrived at the sponsor's courtyard. Usually, we would be planning and celebrating at the bar we'd been to a few nights ago, but this year we've had to go and do some damage control at the courtyard where a greater number of sponsors and watchers will be. At nighttime, the courtyard becomes a great place to do deals, especially since a small bar sets up once the sun goes down and it features one of the largest screens in the Tribute Tower area. Jo hasn't bothered to show up here, but I'm guessing that's because she went to the main bar instead. But I don't blame her; I'd be there right now too if I didn't need to do so much.

All of us career Victors are spread out across the court, trying to save face with sponsors who had also just witnessed a girl from 12 beat out every single career tribute's score. The place was buzzing. I'm only glad that betting stopped in the evenings until morning so that the odds board wasn't fluctuating like crazy. If it was open, I'm sure Katniss would be going through the roof, and others would start to panic about their bets on tributes with Cato.

And then, suddenly, I see someone I think I may hate just as much as Katniss right now. Seneca Crane. He's come to see the crowd gathered in the courtyard because of the Katniss twist.  I grab a flute of champagne and set off towards him.

As I approach, he finishes talking to a few other people who I know to be part of the Gamemaking team. "Octavia," he greets.

Immediately I hate it. Although I played him like a fiddle not too long ago, I'm too upset to put on a nice face. "That was a surprise, wasn't it."

The crazed moustache man looks too proud of himself. "It certainly was."

I give him a fake smile, though I can tell it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "Look, Seneca, let's cut the chit-chat for a second. The girl from 12 just got an 11, and I'm not too happy about it. I have a secret that I plan on announcing in a few days in exchange for a little....insight as to how that one happened."

"Are you propositioning that I break the rules of my own games?" He seems insulted that I asked, and I begin to panic. I could get suspended or worse for asking about that.

So I have no choice but to pull out all the stops. I put a hand on his chest and look up at him, trying to picture in my mind that I'm looking up at Finnick and not him. "You're the Head Gamemaker, aren't you? The rules are whatever you want them to be."

He stares down at me for a moment and I can tell I've gotten through to him. Thank goodness. But he pulls away after a moment and turns to wag his finger at me, making my eyes widen in surprise. "I like what this has brought out in you, Octavia. But no, I think I'm going to keep things a secret, it'll be more entertaining that way for the audiences...and me."

Disgusting.

Seneca leaves to go and talk to some bankers leaving me feeling some type of way. Somehow I manage to feel violated and violent all in one night.

But then I set my sights on my next target. I storm over to Plutarch, needing to keep up with the farce that we're fighting with one another. "I am still pretending to be angry with you, so act like I'm being angry with you."

"I don't have to act much. I'm surprised a personal stormcloud hasn't formed over your head."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Listen, I need you to get a message to Snow and repeat it exactly how I say it to him, no one else. Got it?" I give him a stare letting him know I'm serious and he nods. "The white-rose brooch wants to know how the pretty rose got so many thorns."

Although confused and perhaps alarmed that I'm sending a coded message to Snow, he repeats it back to me exactly. "Good," I say, confirming he said it right. "Now I'm going to throw this glass of champagne onto you and walk away."

"You know, I'm proud of you for thinking of th--"

"Shut up," I say to him monotonously as I toss the drink.

Everyone around gasps but I don't care. I'm not playing games anymore.

That's all for this chapter folks! I was going to include the interviews in this as well but I wanted to A) get it out faster, and B) it felt like a good place to end it. The next chapter will be the interviews! Leave any suggestions you have in the comments or DMs, and let me know what you liked or disliked in the chapter (i.e. more or less alternate POVs, and ideas) so I have that in mind when writing the coming chapters.

This chapter was an insight into how blind Octavia can be when it comes to her brother as things start to get darker in her world. If you read carefully, you can also see hints for Catching Fire as well as where the lines are starting to be drawn in the sand for the rebellion. 

Stay tuned for the next chapter where we'll get to hear about what Finnick thinks of Octavia's display with Seneca and interviews!

As always, thank you to my beta grayjoys!

Onto the only reason for my existence, the chapterly memes: