24 Arrival at the Capitol

The train finally begins to slow down, and a bright light fills the compartment. Jacob remained silent, jotting down a few things on a small piece of paper as he watched Katniss rush to the window to catch a glimpse of the Capitol. But to be honest, Jacob was more concerned about many other important matters than satisfying his curiosity.

The Capitol, the city that rules over Panem. The cameras do not lie about its grandeur; if anything, they fail to capture the splendor of the gleaming buildings that project a rainbow of colors in the air, the shiny cars racing along the wide paved streets, the people dressed and styled in strange ways, their faces painted, and an appearance as if they have never missed a meal.

All the colors seem artificial: the pinks are too intense, the greens too bright, and the yellows hurt the eyes, like the flat disc-shaped candies we can never afford at the District Twelve candy store.

As people began to gather, Jacob stopped writing and walked alongside Katniss with a wide smile on his face.

"Here, this is what you should do from now on." As Jacob approached, he handed the paper to Katniss and started greeting everyone outside the window.

People started pointing at them with excitement, recognizing the tribute train entering the city. Katniss was about to turn away from the window, disgusted by the enthusiasm of these people, but when she read the contents of the note she received, she stopped.

The message was simple: Ignore any foolish thoughts and always display a much closer relationship than mere tributes. We must give people a sense of security, unity, affection, and sacrifice. We have to convey through our looks, smiles, physical connection, and deep gazes that we are excellent partners.

When Katniss read this short message, she looked at Jacob, who was watching her with a smile and a fixed gaze in his eyes, seeking her approval. It is at this moment that Katniss would realize if she is willing to be his ally and if they can survive together at the end of the games or if it would be a completely different outcome.

"Give me your hand and greet these little magical beasts..." As he said this, Jacob extended his hand toward Katniss, and when she, very perplexed by these requests, extended her hand, she felt Jacob's excited pull.

"Yes, we will be the best tributes this year!"

"Well, you hideous boy with carrot-colored hair, we will win, little demons."

"Yes, we are the ones who will survive in the arena."

Katniss unconsciously smiled at Jacob's words. She knew those words couldn't be heard by the people running outside the window, but believing that Jacob had a plan, she began to greet the people outside until the train entered the station and the view was completely obscured.

"What the hell is your purpose in doing this?" Katniss immediately pulled away from Jacob and asked with a furious expression.

"It's just practice..." Jacob coldly looked at the window, seeing Katniss's reflection staring back at him.

"What are you talking about?" 

Jacob didn't give Katniss a chance to get angry, leaving her increasingly confused.

"You should know, but on a much smaller scale, a tiny victory that you barely notice." Jacob adjusted his jacket and said, "The hidden value that the most beloved tributes gain within the games lies in their ability to generate a powerful emotional connection with the audience. These tributes, often portrayed as brave, intelligent, and compassionate characters, capture the hearts and attention of the viewers. As a result, fans feel emotionally connected to these characters and develop a strong attachment to them."

Snapping his fingers twice, Jacob got Katniss's attention and explained, "We need to establish a bond to attract sponsors' attention. We are already special enough by volunteering as tributes, so what we need to do is create a false story filled with love and sacrifice."

"I have no intention of being a spectacle waiting for death..." Katniss remained stubborn in her principles and her utter disgust for the Capitol.

"It's not about what you like or don't like. You have to be smart and use all these tools to survive... Even if we don't manage to meet in the arena, or if I die before that, these benefits will bring you closer to a sure victory."

This is Jacob's Plan A, fighting alongside Katniss and using their genuine spark to complete their own missions to return to their original world. With this, not only would he fulfill both the main and secondary missions assigned to him, but he would also accomplish all of this work in less than two years from now.

Thinking about this, Jacob didn't want to make any mistakes, and if things go well, both of them could survive as they did in the original story. Of course, this is based on the premise that they both survive at the end of the games and manage to capture the attention of the audience.

As Jacob thought about this, he spoke before the little time they had ran out: "This emotional connection translates into a series of economic benefits for businesses related to 'The Hunger Games.' On one hand, products and merchandise associated with the most beloved tributes, such as toys, clothing, accessories, and additional books, experience significant demand from avid fans. Fans want to carry objects that represent their favorite tributes and show their affinity towards them."

"Furthermore, the appeal of the most beloved tributes extends to promotion and marketing. It's not surprising to see former winners who captured the hearts of the public become ambassadors for fashion brands or grooming products, as their popularity and the loyalty of their followers generate greater visibility and attract a wider audience."

Looking away from Katniss, Jacob pointed out something important that perhaps many are aware of but not everyone has the ability to use it to their advantage. "The show that the Capitol sells to the viewers is based on violence and extreme competition."

"The games are broadcast live across the country, and viewers enjoy watching the tributes fight each other to the death. The Capitol manipulates and controls the content of the games to maintain the audience's attention and satisfy their desires."

"But the Capitol also understands that viewers want strong emotions, adrenaline, and an element of surprise in the games. Therefore, they ensure that the games are filled with danger, deadly traps, challenging scenarios, and violent confrontations. All of this is done to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats and ensure that they continue to tune in and consume the spectacle."

"But there is something within the stronger social bond inside the Capitol, and they are also aware that the viewers have their favorite tributes, those with whom they feel more emotionally involved."

"These popular tributes, often portrayed as brave and compassionate heroes, generate a deeper connection with the audience. The Capitol makes sure to give viewers what they want by providing moments of heroism and sacrifice featuring the most beloved tributes. This further intensifies the excitement of the show and increases the loyalty of the followers towards the Capitol."

"Do you want to pretend to be something that isn't true just to gain fame and sponsors?" Katniss had imagined this and everything Jacob knew about the games. At first, she had believed that Jacob volunteered as a tribute on a whim, but in reality, he was prepared enough to win the games.

Jacob wasn't a fool; he had knowledge and an intelligent strategy to slowly capture the public's attention, as demonstrated when he applauded in a silent District Twelve audience.

If she thought about it carefully, she could try to do whatever Jacob had planned just to survive and hopefully return to her sister. Because of this, she looked at Jacob and said, "What do we do next?"

Jacob was surprised to see Katniss accepting to continue with the plan, just like in the movies and books. Initially, this girl distances herself from Peeta and stops having a friendly relationship because she only thinks about winning the games.

That was smart, but not so much when there are two districts training their tributes from childhood to win the games. Being from districts that are practically forced to play in the games, the chances of winning are halved if they're lucky.

But Jacob had a year to think about the advantages and disadvantages of being a tribute; he knew perfectly well what he needed to do to be closer to victory. If he gains sponsors, any complications that may arise in the arena will be resolved.

However, this is all based on numbers and possibilities. Keeping all this in mind, Jacob was honest with Katniss and said, "We just acted, you looked all stiff, but due to the initial excitement, it was a good start."

After hearing this, Katniss replied, "Yes, it was a big surprise, and if you had told me earlier, maybe I could have done better."

"Once the stylists make us look presentable, we have to smile, whether it's a fake or genuine smile doesn't matter. We have to show the audience that you and I are united; we must avoid being rigid and dismiss all thoughts that hinder our survival."

In response, Jacob began explaining to Katniss how to fake a smile that wouldn't look too rigid to the public. After teaching her a few things to focus on, both of them were called to be sent to the stylists.