Dinner

Jacob's room in the luxurious District Twelve floor is an oasis of opulence and comfort amidst the austerity that surrounds the district. Allow me to immerse you in the description of this elegant space:

Upon entering the room, you are greeted by a warm and gleaming polished wooden floor, which contrasts with the rough and worn surfaces of the district. The walls are adorned with silk tapestries in rich and deep tones, creating a cozy and sophisticated ambiance.

In the center of the room, there is a luxurious canopy bed, covered with soft silk sheets and plush pillows. The headboard is finely carved with intricate golden details, adding a touch of royal elegance.

A spacious noble wood desk is positioned by the window, offering a tranquil and elegant space for Jacob to work or prepare for the challenges that await him. The desk is equipped with a softly lit lamp, providing perfect illumination for his tasks.

In one corner of the room, there is a resting area with a sofa upholstered in smooth velvet, where Jacob can relax and receive visitors. A glass side table holds a selection of high-quality books and art objects, adding a cultural touch to the room.

A carved wooden wardrobe houses Jacob's wardrobe, filled with elegant and meticulously tailored outfits. The suits are arranged on silver hangers, and the shoes rest on velvet-lined shelves, showcasing attention to detail and refined taste.

The ensuite bathroom is an absolute space of luxury. Bright white marble tiles contrast with gold and silver fixtures. A generously sized whirlpool bathtub invites one to immerse and relax after a day of intense training.

"I'm really too confident in what I want to achieve. My calculations are accurate and cannot fail, but I must be prepared for anomalies." Murmured Jacob as he looked out at the outside area from his window.

Shaking his head, he walked towards the door as he really needed to fill his stomach with plenty of calories to be ready for training tomorrow.

When Jacob entered the dining room, Katniss, Cina, and Portia were standing on one side of a balcony overlooking the Capitol. Jacob didn't dislike seeing the stylists, especially when the joke about shaving his dragon balls kept appearing in his mind, and that request was denied by Portia for obvious reasons.

A meal presided over by Effie and Haymitch. However, the purpose of the dinner is not to eat but to plan our strategies, and Cinna and Portia have already demonstrated how valuable they are.

But Jacob needed little from these people, as his strategy is much more technical and better than what they could offer as suggestions.

A silent man dressed in a white robe offered some glasses of wine. This was declined by Jacob, as consuming alcohol to his body, which is about to undergo intense training, is not the best option. Instead, he ordered two milkshakes.

Katniss was curious about his choice and whispered to him about calories and how it was good to gain some weight, something she also understood, but she couldn't resist trying the wine like Jacob.

Haymitch appears just as dinner is being served. It seems he has also undergone a stylist because he looks clean, groomed, and more sober than ever, at least since I've known him. Of course, refusing wine is not one of the things he won't do for the rest of his life.

Cinna and Portia seem to have a civilizing effect on Haymitch and Effie. At least, they address each other politely, and both continuously praise the opening act of these stylists.

While they talk, Jacob savors his meal, which consists of mushroom soup, bitter greens with pea-sized tomatoes, thinly sliced roast beef as thin as paper, noodles in green sauce, and cheese that melts on the tongue with sweet black grapes.

The servants, young boys dressed in white robes like the one who brought the wine, move silently back and forth, ensuring that plates and glasses are always filled.

"I want more meat..." Jacob said, looking directly at one of the servers, and without saying a word, they approached and filled Jacob's plate.

Unlike Katniss, Jacob paid no attention to this food service. After all, they were about to be sent to a war zone, even a man sentenced to death receives his favorite meal before dying.

Jacob was not interested in the conversation of these people. Associating with individuals who could potentially be his future enemies is something he is not eager to see. It is true that he knows all these people, but he has no interest in being trusting after receiving such betrayal from his brother.

"Thank you, beautiful, this looks good." Jacob admired the pie that a girl served him. The pie looked incredible on the table, and he skillfully lit it. The pie lit up, and the flames flickered at the edges for a while before finally extinguishing.

As Jacob quickly ate his treat, his thoughts focused on the reports he heard from his intelligent assistant.

"[Master, both District Two and District One have mentioned District Twelve on multiple occasions, and they both agree on one thing: they will eliminate the District Twelve tributes at all costs, meaning you and Katniss.]"

It was expected, not surprising, but Jacob didn't like hearing reports about people who wanted to kill him. After that, Jacob pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and spread it out in front of his eyes.

"[Memorize all the structures of this building, and create a profile with all the workers who were labeled as traitors!]"

"[...Understood, mission closed!]"

Jacob did this often. All the information stored in his intelligent assistant would serve him at some point in the future, perhaps not now but later on.

"Oh... I know you!" This sudden exclamation snapped Jacob out of his thoughts, and he looked at Katniss, who was staring at the girl with the pie.

The girl shook her head in terror and quickly walked away from the table.

"Don't be ridiculous, Katniss. How could you know an Avox?" Effie Trinket immediately responded, "That's absurd!"

"What's an Avox?" Katniss asked.

"Someone who has committed a crime; they cut out their tongue so they can't speak," Haymitch replied. "She's probably a traitor. You're unlikely to know her."

"Who cares who she is?" Jacob asked Katniss, silencing her.

"Oh, well, if it's true..." Cinna didn't know what to do, so he responded to Katniss's question, which Jacob didn't hear. "And yes, the pie has alcohol, although it's already burned off. I ordered it specifically in honor of your beautiful debut."

After finishing their meal, everyone walked into a room to watch the replay of the opening ceremony being broadcast on TV. Other couples made a good impression, but none matched their presentation.

Even the group that had seen it once before couldn't help but exclaim when they saw the exit of the Reaping Center again.

"Whose idea was it to hold hands?" Haymitch asked.

"Jacob, it was his idea."

"The right touch of rebellion. Very nice."

That was when Katniss realized what Jacob had explained to her in detail earlier. To be close, to show that they were more than just friends or tributes from a district. The other couples, distant and tense, not touching or paying attention to each other, as if their partner didn't exist, as if the Games had already begun, had demonstrated their mistakes. But they, by presenting themselves not as adversaries but as friends, conveyed different meanings, and they stood out as much as their flaming costumes.

Katniss looked at Jacob in surprise. She hadn't thought that his choices carried such profound meaning. From the start, Jacob had won over the audience, and every one of his moves was meant to entertain.

"Tomorrow morning is the first training session. We'll meet at breakfast, and I'll tell you how I want you to behave," Haymitch told Jacob and Katniss. "Alright, now go to sleep while the grown-ups talk."

"See you tomorrow."

Haymitch glanced at Jacob's back and then at the thing he held in his hands. He thought about something and smiled subtly.

Jacob didn't utter a single relevant word in the presence of these people. When they both reached their door, Jacob turned around to get Katniss's attention.

"I'm sure you've already realized the significance of my plans. I want you to understand that nothing matters to me more than our victory. If we look beyond the first few days, we won't get anywhere in the early stages."

"How do you come up with all of this?" Katniss asked as she looked at Jacob.

"I'm quite observant. We need to adjust our plan based on Haymitch's requests. If I think they're good, they'll be considered." Jacob turned to Katniss and said, "At the end of the pages, I wrote something about what you should focus on in your training, considering your weaknesses. It's the best way to complement them."

Without waiting for a response from Katniss, Jacob quietly entered his room and, after a cold shower, tried to fall asleep to regain energy.