strings that snap | larry

five

"i've fucked my way up to the top, this is my show."

"It's show time ladies!" Haymitch struts in his suit, keeping a poker face. Louis was right behind him. They were definitely no Capitol models.

victors were styled and all dolled up before going out together. The party is starting soon. The speeches, painful interactions, and loneliness were all put on hold. A real family reunion.

Louis and Haymitch break into fits of laughter.

"Nothin' but trouble." Mags is grinning at them from her seat.

Louis wraps an arm around her. "We're just trying to have some fun."

"Not too much fun I hope!" Jeanine hollers while she ruffles through the tiny clutch she's been given.

"Of course not Jean Bean." Jeanine rolls her eyes because Haymitch is obviously joking.  They banter for a few more minutes but Louis doesn't join in.

Wiress, the most recent District 3 Victor, is in the corner whispering to her previous mentor Beetee. Louis has talked to the pair enough to know that Wiress is very, very shy. 

He scans the room and is filled with the feeling of insignificance. All these people were big business. He could say that he was part of the group, but it wasn't the same. He always felt like they were looking down on him.

"Sorry that Porter couldn't make it." It's Carlen. He's built heavy with bright red hair and hazel eyes. It reminded him of an animal Haymitch had told him about. A fox maybe. "I tried to get her out but she wasn't up for it."

He knocked on the door, wringing his hands. "Hello." Louis' voice is small and weak.

"Come in!" The voice is obviously struggling to project.

When he opens up the room, he notices that the walls are bland and nothing stands out to much. The king sized bed is in the center of the room which was a weird placement, but everything else seemed standard.

"I finally get to meet you." The girl laying on the bed is smiling, but can't turn her neck to look at him.

Louis doesn't go to shake his hand like he's been trained to, instead they fidget at his side."It's a pleasure."

"Why're you so nervous?" She asks. "Pull up a chair so I can talk to my new neighbor."

Jeanine brought him here because he had to meet her apparently. He wasn't exactly sure why though. He'd only been home for a few days.

"I'm Louis." He has felt awkward in many situations before, but not as one awkward this.

"I knew that." It looks as if she was trying to catch a glimpse of him but winced when she turned to far. "And I know that you know who I am," She laughs. "Everyone does. Laughing Stock of the Capitol."

He doesn't say anything. He just sits in his chair, ankles crossed and fingers fidgeting in his lap. It takes him a while to think of something.

"At least you embrace it."  It was true. She didn't apologize for being an inconvenience. Not on television, no in real life.

"You're a smart boy." She shifts in her bed. "Smart enough to know that when you can't change things, you have to live with them."