In the seventeenth chapter of Catching Fire, TEAM PEETA and then TEAM CINNA. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Catching Fire.
I am still reeling from this. Katniss just reminded the Gamemakers who they work for and reminded them what can happen to them for doing what they do. JESUS CHRIST THIS IS AMAZING.
The effect on the Gamemakers is immediate and satisfying. Several let out small shrieks. Others lose their grips on their wineglases, which shatter musically against the ground. Two seem to be considering fainting. The look of shock is unanimous.
Now I have Plutarch Heavensbee’s attention. He stares steadily at me as the juice from the peach he crushed in his hand runs through his fingers. Finally he clears his throat and says, “You may go now, Miss Everdeen.â€
I expressed concern that after all of the events of the first third of the book, it seemed disappointing that everyone just flat-out gave up on the concept of rebellion. They’d spent so much time considering the reality of an uprising that it was jarring to see them abandon it so quickly. The truth is that the opportunity to do something that had real, genuine meaning had to present itself. Katniss just took that opportunity to make a statement to the Gamemakers. Even if no one will ever see it, what she just did is HUGE.
Katniss is a bit worried that what she did was too impulsive, since it might actually harm Peeta in the arena, but I’m glad she allows herself to live in the moment and be excited for what she did.
She doesn’t get to say anything about her private session until dinner, when Haymitch is the first to finally ask how their sessions were. Katpee’s reluctance to share what happened is kind of funny to me, as if they’d done something mischievous and they don’t want to tell their parents.
I think of how ruffled the Gamemakers were when I entered the gym for my session. The smell of cleaners. The mat pulled over that spot in the center of the gym. Was it to conceal something they were unable to wash away? “You painted something, didn’t you? A picture.â€
You know, I thought this was silly when I first read it, because how could a painting upset people so much? Especially one created in 40 minutes.
“Actually, I painted a picture of Rue,†Peeta says. “How she looked after Katniss had covered her in flowers.â€
OH MY FUCKING GOD TEAM PEETA FOREVER
I can’t. I just cannot.
“And what exactly were you trying to accomplish?†Haymitch asks in a very measured voice.
“I’m not sure. I just wanted to hold them accountable, if only for a moment,†says Peeta. “For killing that little girl.â€
Just unbelievable. My heart has swelled. Just…wow. WOW. Unsurprisingly, Haymitch and Effie are shocked into silence before lecturing Peeta about what a terrible, terrible idea this is.
“I guess this is a bad time to mention I hung a dummy and painted Seneca Crane’s name on it,†I say. This has the desired effect. After a moment of disbelief, all the disapproval in the room hits me like a ton of bricks.
I am seriously so happy right now. I know that they are going to have to face the negative affects of this, but I am so proud of Katpee. (That is the best sentence I have ever written.)
“Oh Katniss,†says Effie in a hushed voice. “How did you even know about that?â€
“Is it a secret? President Snow didn’t act like it was. In fact, he seemed eager for me to now,†I say. Effie leaves the table with her napkin pressed to her face. “Now I’ve upset Effie. I should have lied and said I shot some arrows.â€
Yikes, I forgot how this is going to affect Effie and Haymitch. I feel bad for the fallout that will surely come for them. Maybe even their families. Still…is it bad that I am still very happy they did this? (Also….why was this a secret????)
To further drill home the point that what they did is incredibly dangerous, when they gather to see their training scores, they become the first two tributes from the same district to earn perfect twelves.
“Why did they do that?†I ask.
“So that the others will have no choice but to target you,†says Haymitch flatly. “Go to bed. I can’t stand to look at either of you.â€
Ok, I do feel bad about this. Haymitch has been trying his hardest to help them up until this point and, while I love what they did, it did basically erase everything he’s done.
Damn. :/
I came to really enjoy the scenes that Collins created between Katniss and Peeta. For the first time, their relationship doesn’t feel restrained by outside factors, namely the Capitol. Katniss realizes that her plan to keep Peeta alive rather than herself is subversive in and of itself, since it goes against the nature of the Games. Her little bit about making herself a martyr for the cause is a bit much, but this all feels much more believable than the scenes of Katniss and Peeta before.
They sleep together for the first time that night and while it is cheesy that it’s the first time they both don’t have nightmares, I think it’s also entirely possible because they’ve stopped worrying about the Games. They did something powerful and transformative for this system and they’ve expected the absolute worse: they’ll die and their families will die. It’s kind of a neat way for them to confront their fears.
When Haymitch and Effie cancel their coaching of Katpee the next day, they spend even more time together. I can’t deny that their scenes on the roof are kind of soothing. It’s nice not to see them fighting, bickering, or pretending to care for each other for cameras. No one bothers them and it makes me feel that there’s actually something genuine and real between the two of them.
Of course, this can’t last long. The next day is when they’ll appear for their final interviews with Caesar Flickerman before the Games start. Having taken Cinna’s advice, Katniss’s trio prep team doesn’t speak to her during their work to prepare her for the appearance.
It’s nearly lunch when I feel something dripping on my shoulder and turn to find Flavius, who’s snipping away at my hair with silent tears running down my face. Venia gives him a look, and he gently sets the scissors on the table and leaves.
This begins a sharp decline in my general happiness while reading this chapter, not because it’s poorly written or anything, but because it is so goddamn depressing.
We learn that President Snow has ordered that Katniss wear the wedding dress that was voted on in the Capitol, which is the most fucked up reminder that he still has power over her.
I suppose since I was the greatest offender, my pain and loss and humiliation should be in the brightest spotlight. This, he thinks, will make that clear. It’s so barbaric, the president turning my bridal gown into my shroud, that the blow strikes home, leaving me with a dull ache inside.
Prepare for all of your hope and joy to be sucked right out of you. Cinna alters the dress a bit, making it a bit heavier, and they discuss the right time to twirl, reminding me of the first time Cinna did this to Katniss. Man, that seems forever ago, doesn’t it?
Katniss talks about how fucked up all of this is by comparing it to the relatively simple process of a marriage back in the district. In a way, even though she doesn’t say it, it’s not hard to think that President Snow is purposely aiming to disrupt the idea of marriage itself, not because he hates it, but because it’s a way to use that imagery to further oppress and harm.
Of course, the other victors aren’t too happy to see Katniss in a wedding dress, whether they are angry at her or because they feel sad. This was pretty cool:
I’m confused because, while they are all angry, some are giving us sympathetic pats on the shoulder, and Johanna Mason actually stops to straighten my pearl necklace.
“Make him pay for it, okay?†she says.
It’s the first sign that this process is not going to go as planned, that turning all of the victors into victims again is not a great idea. I think that there’s been nothing in this series as heartbreaking or depressing as the following paragraph:
Cashmere starts the ball rolling with a speech about how she just can’t stop crying when she thinks of how much the people in the Capitol must be suffering because they will lose us. Gloss recalls the kindness show here to him and his sister. Beetee questions the legality of the Quell in his nervous, twitchy way, wondering if it’s been full examined by experts of late. Finnick recites a poem he wrote to his one true love in the Capitol, and about a hundred people faint because they’re sure he means them. By the time Johanna Mason gets up, she’s asking if something can’t be done about the situation. Surely the creators of the Quarter Quell never anticipated such love forming between the victors and the Capitol. No one could be so cruel as to sever such a deep bond. Seeder quietly ruminates about how, back in District 11, everyone assumes President Snow is all-powerful, why doesn’t he change the Quell? And Chaff, who comes right on her hells, insists the president could change the Quell if he wanted to, but he must not think it matters much to anyone.
What’s so amazing about this is how unplanned it is. The interviews given during this time are generally about as inauthentic and posturing as you can imagine and for the first time, most of the tributes are now able to speak freely, about their lives and the oppressive government they live under.
It’s backfiring. It’s starting right now.
When Katniss finally gets her turn, the audience in the room has lost it. If this wasn’t planned, it doesn’t matter. It’s working.
Finally there’s a lull and he gets out, “So, Katniss, obviously this is a very emotional night for everyone. Is there anything you’d like to say?â€
My voice trembles as I speak. “Only that I’m so sorry you won’t get to be at my wedding…but I’m glad you at least get to see me in my dress. Isn’t it just…the most beautiful thing?†I don’t have to look at Cinna for a signal. I know this is the right time. I begin to twirl slowly, raising the sleeves of my heavy gown above my head.
And it’s really the best thing that Katniss could have said, to play on the tragedy of her recent victory and the complete violent absurdity of all of this. She begins to twirl, but realizes that she is LITERALLY ON FIRE. LITERALLY ON FIRE. But her skin doesn’t burn, only her dress, and she knows it’s something Cinna has done. When the flames suddenly disappear, she stops spinning.
But I’m not naked. I’m in a dress of the exact design of my wedding dress, only it’s the color of coal and made of tiny feathers. Wonderingly, I lift my long, flowing sleeves into the air, and that’s when I see myself on the television screen. Clothed in black except for white patches on my sleeves. Or should I say my wings.
Because Cinna has turned me into a mockingjay.
LKA;SDFHAF;HJASDF
ASDFK;LASDFKJASDHF;KLASHDFJALKSJDF
A;ISDHF;LKASDHFADJSFGHA;LSDFJA;SLDKFJADSL;KFJASDFLKJ
TEAM CINNA UNTIL EVERYTHING ENDS FOREVER.
I can’t breathe, I just drooled on myself typing this. FUCKING FLAWLESS. Oh my god oh my god OH MY GOD.
CINNA FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER.
CINNA IS AMAZING!
Sad Doctor Who gif is sad *sniff*
HAHAHAHA Ohhh Mark you make me laugh. I have been waiting forever for you to read this chapter just to see how you would react to the dress. My reaction was just like yours the first time I read it!
Keeping this short here because re-reading all that just took everything out of me!!
But..I think this is by far my most anticipated scene to see on screen..all the past victors, the emotions, and the transformation. Heart-wrenching.
OH HOW I LOVE FINNICK AND CINNA AND PETTA AND HAYMITCH AND EFFIE AND KATNISS NOT GALE THO
So I really wanted to dislike Finnick because he just reminds me of this guy I know who does not understand the concept of personal space, but I just can't do it. Finnick makes me laugh, especially with this scene of reading his love poem.
Prepare for all your hope and joy to be sucked right out of you.
Is President Snow a dementor now? Vampire? Demenpire?
OMG OMG YES TEAM CINNA FOREVER UNTIL THE WORLD ENDS AND STILL PAST THAT.
While Katpee slept together, they didn't actually have sex. Just clearing that up.