SAGE LED PEETA DOWN THE LONG HALLWAY, AWAY FROM HAYMITCH AND KATNISS. As they made their way to where Sage would leave Peeta with his prep team, and where Peeta would be prepared for the tribute parade that evening by his stylist, Portia. They walked in silence, however Sage knew that although it wasn't ideal for him not to be Katniss' mentor– Katniss had been right to ask him if he would actually help Peeta. He knew he had to do what he could to make Peeta feel as ready as he could be for the arena, even if in the long run he wanted Katniss to win. And just being a mentor wouldn't cut it, Sage had seen what happened to tributes who just had a mentor who didn't truly put in any real effort. He also saw the guilt those same victor's had once the games had ended for the year.

"You did good at the train station." Sage confessed, "Making it seem like you're happy to be here, it'll go a long way."

Peeta was quiet for a moment, "What if I actually am? A little?"

Sage smirked a bit, "I felt that way too when I first came here." he confessed. Sage remembered how easily the act came to him, he didn't have trouble smiling and waving. He also remembered how much he enjoyed the luxury of life in the Capitol at first. Even now the fine foods, drinks, the nightlife– it was enjoyable at times. "I think it's more normal than we think. The food, the city itself..."

Peeta seemed a bit relieved to know that he wasn't crazy for falling into the act of happy tribute. "So you think they'll like me?"

"I think you're on a few peoples' radars." Sage replied, "After I leave here, I'll be going with Haymitch to get my communicuff. As soon as it's on, I'll be able to see how you're doing already. After the parade and dinner, we can go over it a bit if you'd like."

Peeta nodded, "That'd be great," he paused, "wait you don't stay here?" he questioned quickly as the approached the doors that would lead Peeta to the room he'd be practically trapped in for a few hours.

Sage scoffed a bit, "Oh no," he chuckled, "I did my time in here. It's your turn."

Peeta looked at the doors, suddenly not in awe by the marble floors or the tall ceilings that had crystal light fixtures that lined the hall. "Wonderful," he said, a bit less enthusiastic.

"Your prep team is fantastic," Sage assured him, "besides me, your prep team, and your stylist will be your biggest supporters."

"You?" he echoed turning towards Sage.

Sage sighed heavily, "Peeta, listen," he paused, "yes, Katniss is here. But she isn't my tribute. You are. I'm on your team." Sage assured him, offering him a small pat on his shoulder. "I'll see you at the chariot line-up, alright?"

Peeta nodded, reluctantly turning back towards the doors.

"Have fun." Sage offered, chuckling a bit as Peeta entered the room. Leaving Sage in the hall on his own.

          Sage turned to go back down the hall, to the elevators' that they had entered the hall from. As usual, Sage would meet Haymitch there and together they'd go retrieve their communicuffs. Then usually from there, they'd see who the mentor's for the year. Usually the only two districts he paid much mind to were Districts Four and Three. He hadn't put forth much effort to befriend many of the other Victor's, his association with most of them was limited to just knowing they were all a part of this club. The tributes who just happened to make it out of the arena. There were a few others that he had come to know a bit better, thanks to the dinner parties that President Snow included them in. He was dreading them this year, he had no idea how he would manage to actually hold any conversations' with anyone come the dinner this year that President Snow held every year following the first day in the arena. This year the small talk that included asking Sage how his family was in Twelve wouldn't be happening. This year it would be about Katniss, and regardless of how the first day in the arena went, he'd have to have those conversations. Possibly even with Snow himself.

How exactly was he supposed to face him this year? Or ever again for that matter?

            Sage had expected to have to entertain people at the Capitol for years, if not the rest of his life just to ensure that Katniss and Prim could stay in District Twelve and live normal lives. But now what would be the point? Snow had already gone against his word, he had already went above and beyond simply breaking the promise he had made Sage after his Victory tour. Prim was reaped, and Katniss was here in the Capitol. That was exactly what he had been avoiding for six years. But it was all for nothing...

"Is she always so pleasant?" Haymitch questioned sarcastically as he approached Sage who had made himself comfortable leaning against the wall beside the elevator.

Sage scoffed, "You would have had better luck with Prim to be honest." Sage stated, "I think you and Katniss will get along great though, you both can be insufferable to be around."

Haymitch rolled his eyes, "I forgot you were practically perfect to be stuck with."

        Sage smirked as he turned and pressed the proper button to bring them down stairs. Downstairs there were peacekeepers lining the glass front of the building, keeping a small but growing crowd from entering inside while this year's mentors gathered their communicuff's from the few peacekeepers that had been tasked with giving them out. As Sage and Haymitch entered the room, Sage immediately began seeking out District Three and Four. He had been hoping to see both Finnick Odair and Kai Marsh there for District Four. But instead it was Finnick and Mags Flanagan. Neither of which would be able to advise Sage in how to mentor someone who wasn't his sister. Then again, Kai didn't only have to hope Finnick would be a good mentor. She also ended up losing her sister, and now Sage was practically in the exact same position that Kai had been in.

        However, as usual, Sage and Haymitch kept their distance from the other mentors. Like the tributes, being seen already being friendly with another district before anything really begins, it wouldn't make alliances come easy. For all Sage knew, Peeta or Katniss could find an ally in District Two, or Seven– which would lead both Sage and Haymitch to hopefully work with those mentors. Of course once the games began, that was all out the window for most of the mentors. Once their tributes were in the arena, it was a waiting game to see who kept hold of their communicuffs, and who didn't.

"Too bad Marsh isn't here this year," Haymitch stated, "would have probably had a few pointers for you."

"It didn't exactly work in her favor then either," Sage stated as the two of them turned to go to the lounge area behind Gloss and Augustus from District One who were joined by Brutus from Two. Their friendship wasn't all that surprising. For two years after Sage won the sixty-eighth games, people like Caesar Flickerman had tried to pair Sage with the three of them– they had won the sixty-third, sixty-fifth, and sixty-sixth games and had each been paired as Capitol favorites that outlasted their own games. But Sage never saw them as anything else but other Victor's. They didn't exactly see their victory as something to lose sleep over like Sage had.

         The lounge that the mentor's usually made their way into was along the back of the same large room where the chariots would be. There were tables set up for them to sit around, mingling with one another although that rarely happened. There were avoxxes there to serve them or fetch something that they requested. Sage saw it as just a place to keep all of the victors' who were in the Capitol in one place. There were a handful of victors like Johanna Mason who couldn't even force herself to look pleased in the Capitol. So to keep up appearances, containing all of the Victors was a must.

"Happy Hunger Games, you two." the familiar voice of Seeder, a victor from District Eleven came from behind Sage where he sat at a table. "Looking miserable as ever." she told them as she stepped around Sage and took a set between Sage and Haymitch at the round table they had claimed for themselves.

"Really? I thought it looked like we were having a blast." Haymitch stated as he rose his glass a bit before setting it back down on the table.

"I would at least look a bit relieved if I had a tribute like yours, Haymitch." she confessed, before turning to Sage. "Unfortunately," she added, "but it must be a bit of a relief to know that people will like her just by default."

"She's not nearly as much of a people person as our dear Sage was." Haymitch stated, "But she's right."

"I just feel bad for Peeta." Sage muttered, "He knows as well as anyone that I'd rather be helping Katniss win."

"If you call this winning," Seeder stated, motioning around to the other victors who sat around waiting for their tributes. "It's too bad that Kai Marsh isn't here, but I'm sure Gloss would have a fair few pointers for your...situation."

"Cashmere didn't need to worry about help from any mentors," Sage pointed out, "she could have gone into the arena with no mentor and still won."

Seeder shrugged a bit. She was about the same age as Haymitch, and her dark skin still had a fair amount of indented scars on her hand thanks to a mutt she faced in her arena. "He still had to mentor the other tribute that year."

AUTHORS NOTE;
Happy Friday you lovely people!! This chapter was a weee bit shorter, I know. But it's going to be picking up soon. Promise!

Stay classy!

*unedited*