“oh you most definitely are. You have got so many memories. You could never get boring. Plus I actually like you so-” she trailed off with a bright smirk tipping a little higher on the balls of her feet than her heels usually would have: “how are the kids? The same thunderstorms as always?”

“Marina.” her face lit up softly at the sight of the older women: “you won’t believe how glad I am to find you everyone else is being such a bore this evening.” she straightened a little at the compliment nodding gracefully: “thank you very much.”

The victorian styled gown lay heavy on her waist as she moved through the room trying to find someone she would actually enjoy to talk to. She couldn’t remember that last time a circle of games had left her so cold and bored before. “well–what a lovely evening indeed.”

“Maybe. Every victor won for a reason, though. You can win a fight as long as you can take a hit better than the other guy.”

“I suppose that’s true.”  It really depended, but she wasn’t going to argue with her.  Marina knew there were plenty of people that discounted her because of her demeanor and age, but that wasn’t necessarily reality.  “People can surprise you.”

Surya giggled and nodded. “That is true. I imagine some stylists might actually be able to hold their own, though.”

Marina nodded.  “Or at least be on par with some of the victors.  I mean...I’d take a mean stylist over Harper in a fight anyday.”

Surya chuckled and shrugged. “You never know. They’re awfully equipped with pointy needles and glitter should never be underestimated as a weapon.”

“That only works as a weapon if the person you’re attacking dislikes sparkles.  Or if you’re talking about the career and not the sparkles,” she laughed.

“Perhaps not, but I think the stylists might riot,” she mused fondly. She did adore the balls and the marvelous, often ridiculous, outfits that always came with them. 

Marina shrugged one shoulder.  “I’m fairly certain we could handle the stylists if they tried something like that.”

Surya was oddly on edge in a way she wasn’t quite used to when it came to the Games, and she found herself for once trying to actively avoid discussing the launch and bloodbath. “We may not even need to go to a ball these Games,” she joked lightly, wanting to focus on better things and not the nooses and mobs of the arena.

“I wouldn’t be upset about that,” Marina told her.  The older she got the more she hated spending time in the Capitol.  The chance to go home early was exactly what she wanted.

“Overestimation. It happens,” Lysander mumbled, still annoyed that all statistics failed. Every Games, they calculated potential during the training days and the skill presentation grades. This time, it was clear that somebody either slipped or the tributes appeared to be better than they actually were when in front of actual dangers. “We’re probably going to go home early this year. Sad. Good arena, bad batch.”

“They are still children,” Marina reminded him with a shake of her head.  She could never understand the gamemakers mentality when it came to the kids.  The looked at them like they weren’t even human.  “I will be glad to go home.”

Charity suddenly felt much warmer and sweatier as she considered what the Gamemakers might find out or know. Is it possible they’d know about the gruesome, terrible events that happened years before she’d been Reaped? Did they interview people? How could she be certain they wouldn’t find out she was pregnant and use it against her? Taking a deep breath, she nodded shakily. “It’s all very scary to think about, you know? Of course you know, of course you know, but I’m so new to this. I don’t think I ever could’ve imagined this…”

“I understand,” Marina told her.  It was scary and she knew it would only get scarier for the young woman.  There was only so much she could do to help her.  “Well...let me tell you the secret I used to get myself home.  I found that one thing I wanted to live for so I could keep pushing towards that goal.”

“I would love to show you,” he agreed, face breaking out into a grin. “What day works best for you? I’m sure I can get an evening off or something if it’s to spend time with a beloved victor.” He wondered what Winter would think, just in the back of his mind. Would she find out? Would she care? Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. He could do whatever he liked now. “I’ll probably be starting with Eleven or Twelve or somewhere, won’t I? I don’t expect you to jeopardise your own district helping a newbie out. I’ll get the hang of it, I’m sure.”

“Thursday?” Marina asked with a smile.  “I’m sure I have that evening free.”  Truthfully most of her sponsor meetings were during the day, so she had plenty of time.  Nodding then, Marina offered him a smile.  “You’ll definitely start low on the totem pole.  Though I’m sure you could handle District Four if Zephyr ever decides to retire.”  She knew he wouldn’t change districts, not that she wanted him to.  He was family at this point.

Charity nodded appreciatively as she listened, eager for any insights, even if they were just comparisons between the old and the new. “They invade their minds and their pasts, don’t they?” Charity muttered, remembering some of the more recent Games. Was there a chance they knew… “How do they get so much information about tributes in so little time?”

“I wish I knew how they got their information,” Marina told her.  “But they have.  They have managed to craft some unimaginable things to torment the tributes with.”  She felt bad saying it to the girl, but she also knew she needed to understand.  “I think that it depends on what information they’re trying to gather though.  They probably have different ways of doing things.”

“they haven’t done that- have they?” She trailed off softly as if just having realised that fact herself: “Huh- wonder why they give it to them to train with though.” Shrugging she let go of the gun at last placing it back on the shelf after having secured it. “I am glad they do though- gives one a really great way to get rid of any bad energy.”

“My guess?  Give the tributes a false sense of security.  If they get good at aiming with a gun they’ll assume that ability will transfer to a bow or throwing knives when it doesn’t work that way.”  She sighed softly, shaking her head.  “If that’s something you enjoy then I’m glad you have the option.”