No amount of wealth or glittering jewels can erase the repugnant sensation etched into your skin. Your mouth feels like coarse sandpaper, and the lingering scent of the one who coveted you still clings to your senses, a haunting reminder of their unwanted desire.

Just another day as a Capitol favourite Victor.

Your best friend, Finnick, who’s in the same boat as you, hasn’t laid eyes on you for hours amidst the madness of this absurd party, prompting him to search for you. And here you are, slumped in the dim hallway, leaning against the wall, your puffy eyes betraying the turmoil within and your clothes in a disheveled state that echoes your disarray.

In an instant, Finnick senses the weight of your distress. He settles beside you, careful not to touch you incase that’s not what you want, his mere presence a balm of comfort and reassurance. “You alright?” he murmurs softly, fully aware that it’s a foolish question, yet it’s likely the only way to coax you out of the labyrinth of your thoughts and into the light of conversation.