Finnick Odair

A warm spell had made it so that Finnick was adamant about spending the afternoon down by the water -- not that he hadn't been there almost constantly since arriving back from Annie's Tour, but now it was a temperature where it was actually comfortable to be on the sand, and it felt good to lounge in the sunshine. His tan was working its way back, hair in a permanent state of disarray once more.

He had snagged a few things from the house and he and Annie had had the nearest thing to a picnic he could pull off. He'd gone swimming for a bit as well even though the water was still frigidly cold. He'd come back to her chattering and grinning.

In the early evening, they'd retreated back to the secondary house they'd claimed as their own, a vast assortment of blankets and odd and ends filling out the living room of the otherwise empty house. If any of their family members had figured out where they took often ended up retreating, Finnick didn't know and didn't care much.

He was almost asleep now, curled lazily in the sunlight that was still streaming through one window as the sun began to set. He was cocooned in the blankets they had brought here, his body pressed flush against Annie's. He could just hear her heart beating and the steady inhale-exhale of every one of her breaths. It was always easier to relax when he was next to her and he found that, at night, when he was in his own bed now, it was almost difficult to fall asleep because of the pervasive silence.

The Capitol party, as expected, was the most exhausting. Melia had coordinated all of the outfits for the evening, so he, Mags, and Annie were all dressed in matching colors -- sea-foam green with white trim, and just trace touches of gold. The fabric of suit was thin with no shirt underneath, giving a generous view of his chest and a peek of his stomach underneath the buttons. Finnick swore that she would have sent him barefoot into the night if she thought she could get away with it.

He'd been swept away almost the minute the party started. He'd been away from the Capitol ever since the Games, and that was much longer than normal. Because he'd brought home a Victor, he'd mentored the whole time, gone home right away, and hadn't attended scarcely any parties in the interim. So, he was in high demand now. He was brought from one corner of the room to the next, taken to the back gardens and the art gallery on the third floor. Down into the basement, where the best of the wines were stored -- and some new designer drug, just half of a pill, was pressed into his hand and went down smoothly before he could think about it.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed when he found himself back in the main room, which was more crowded now that the dancing was beginning.

It wasn't hard to find Annie again. His gaze just seemed to gravitate toward her. There were too many people near her, he thought. Mags was there -- but there were too many men, not touching, but too close. Finnick's stomach went tight. Snow had promised there wouldn't be any auction, but --

Finnick started across the room without much thought, breaking through to Annie with easy smiles and the slide of his body until he was able to take her hand and pull her gently toward the dance floor. There were only a few couples there already, but it was okay, he thought. This was fitting; everyone would have wanted to see this, right?

He hurt. Being given to someone from One or Two was rare, but it was usually worse than being given to someone in the Capitol. The Capitol, even when they liked to hurt him, also usually loved him. One and Two didn't have any particular fondness for him. In fact, they might have hated him more than the outlying districts. They at least were used to losing tributes. But Finnick had stolen something from them. He'd taken the 65th games from them, personally killing three out of four of the tributes from One and Two when he'd betrayed the Career pack he'd been with. And then, of course, he'd brought Annie home months ago.

He was degraded every time he was sent to someone from One or Two.

And his schedule was flush with appointments, barely leaving him a night to himself.

His stylist had gotten him back to the train, a silent presence whom Finnick had come to appreciate over the years. She always cleaned Finnick up without comment, getting him back to his usual shining standard while giving short commands that he could mindlessly follow. She just got him to his room tonight, leaving clean clothes folded and two sleeping pills besides his bed. (She'd obviously and, unfortunately for Finnick, correctly put together that he was startlingly sober.)

The rest of the train was silent around them, which was a relief. He supposed that they would leave shortly after he got on board, heading toward their next destination.

He went into the bathroom, messily pushing at the handles until the hot water started. He shed the clothes without concern for them. His shirt was ripped and missing buttons anyway. It was definitely going to be thrown away. He stepped into the shower and pressed both of his hands against the tiles to support his weight, head dipping down toward his chest as he let the water stream down his back. He stayed like for as long as he could, wishing that he could just fall asleep here. Washing his body was a chore, one that he had to do as mindlessly as possible, because he couldn't catalog all the places that ached too deeply. Nothing had been broken, so he was fine, he tried to remind himself.

He barely bothered toweling himself off before he walked back into the bedroom, pulling on the clothes that had been left for him. He hated the feel of the fabric, but he didn't want to sleep naked. Sleeping in his own bed without anything on in the middle of a too-warm summer night seemed like a lifetime ago now.

Finnick sank down onto the bed in a daze, able to feel the train just kicking to life underneath him.

CHARACTER NAME: Finnick Odair
CHARACTER CANON: The Hunger Games Trilogy

[OOC]
This is the permissions list for OOC (out of character) activity.
Answer the following questions with "yes" or "no", as well as additional information if desired.

Slowtagging: Yes
Canon-puncturing: No
Offensive subjects (elaborate): Yes; Finnick has pretty much seen the worst of most things - sex, drugs, violence, so even if it does bother him, he's incredibly good at pretending that it doesn't.

[IC]
This is the permissions list for IC (in-character) activity.
Answer the following questions with "yes" or "no", as well as additional information if desired. With IC permissions, it's a good idea to elaborate on what other players can expect from your character if they choose to do any of the following:

Hugging this character: Yes
Kissing this character: Yes; he will probably think that whoever is kissing him is trying to manipulate him, though -- And he's incredibly accustomed to manipulating people through his own sexuality, so be prepared for that.
Flirting with this character: Yes; he's very likely to flirt back
Fighting with this character: Yes; he's a trained fighter and killer. He has a good range on weapons, particularly a trident. Very skilled when it comes to swimming, and has great stamina.
Injuring this character (include limits and severity): Yes. I'd prefer to discuss just how severe, but chances are, I will have few limitations.
Using telepathy/mind reading abilities on this character: Yes. He'll never have dealt with anything like that before, so he'll have probably no chance of fending it off; however, his mind is probably a bit convoluted if only because he's so accustomed to pretending to be someone he's not.

General Warnings: Finnick has killed before, and he certainly is well trained enough that he could do it again. However, he's also incredibly good at making people forget just how lethal he is. He's a charmer -- and that's half his danger. He's a trained liar. He's grown accustomed to people desiring him, and to not having control over his own body and using him. Sex is usually a means to an end for him.

[GODMODDING]
No one for the time being.

Are you over age 18?: Yes
Characters you currently play at All Inclusive: N/A

Character Name: Finnick Odair
Canon Name: The Hunger Games
Canon Type: Book Series
Tag Formatting: Finnick Odair

Tell us about your character's history: Finnick Odair was born in District Four, the fishing district of Panem. District Four is also one of the Career Districts (a more well-off District that prepares its children to compete in the games). Canonically, it's unknown whether Finnick received training (although based on how young he won and the fact that he's close with Mags, a former Victor, it is likely). In addition, it is unknown whether he was reaped or volunteered for his games.

What is known is that Finnick enters the arena for the 65th Annual Hunger Games at the age of 14. While in the arena he receives a trident as a sponsored gift, which is reportedly the most expensive gift to ever be given during the games. It shows just how popular Finnick is even then -- and his popularity certainly grows as soon as he wins his games, becoming one of the youngest Hunger Games Victors.

After his own games, Finnick becomes a mentor for District Four. He ends up mentoring Annie Cresta during the 70th Annual Hunger Games, who wins when a dam breaks and the rest of the remaining tributes drown. However, that's not before Annie sees her district partner murdered in front of her eyes and has a severe mental breakdown. Despite the unlikelihood, Finnick and Annie become romantically involved. (Though it's not canonically known whether they're together before she goes into the arena.) Finnick takes great care to hide their relationship in order to protect her from the Capitol, which also means maintaining his status as a consummate flirt.

In addition to his responsibilities as a mentor, Finnick is also forced to work for President Snow. He discovers that it's not uncommon for Snow to sell the Victors' bodies to residents of the Capitol -- which is what happens to Finnick with great demand because of his popularity. In order to protect Annie, Mags, and the rest of his loved ones in District Four, Finnick complies. While working for Snow and meeting with the upper elite of the Capitol, Finnick begins to collect secrets, which is what he calls payment for the enjoyment of his company.

At 24, Finnick is reaped again for the 75th Annual Hunger Games when all the tributes are Victors of former Hunger Games. What's even more difficult is that Annie is reaped as the female tribute -- until Mags volunteers in her place. While Finnick is a part of the rebellion, and knows that going back into the Games is the best way to save Katniss Everdeen, it's still difficult for him because he knows that Mags has virtually no chance of surviving the arena a second time. Her volunteering for Annie is a debt he can't repay.

Finnick continues playing the facade of the Capitol darling once he returns for the games. At the same time, Finnick is part of a group of Victors who are aiding the rebellion that is coming; their mission during the Hunger Games is to help get Katniss Everdeen out of the arena because she is the mockingjay and considered pivotal to the rebellion.

Finnick meets Katniss for the first time just before the Tribute Parade (where he is scantily clad in just a "net covering his crotch"). While offering her a sugar cube, Finnick mostly teases her, playing the character he's supposed to be instead of revealing much of who he is. It doesn't do anything to help him win Katniss over.

During the interviews the night before the Hunger Games, Finnick and the other Victors work to upset the crowd at the Capitol with the hope of having the Hunger Games called off. When it's Finnick's turn, he recites a love poem, which he knows will be interpreted to belong to any number of people, but is written for Annie. At the end of the interviews, Finnick joins the other Victors in holding hands in a show of unity. Afterward, in order to convince Katniss to trust him once they're in the arena together, Katniss' mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, gives him a golden bangle.

The next morning, Finnick returns to the arena.

Tell us about your character's personality: Finnick Odair has several layers to him. The most prominent and obvious one is the persona he exudes at the Capitol -- the lover, the playboy, the charismatic golden boy. Finnick came out of the Hunger Games and the entire Capitol fell in love with him; largely, he's built himself based on that expectation. He can be incredibly persuasive and charming. He's unerringly good at reading people, knowing what they want, and is especially good at giving it to them. In that regard, he's certainly manipulative, but hides it behind a dimpled grin. He's become accustomed to playing people easily.

He's got a somewhat dry and teasing sense of humor, which can often be self-effacing. There's almost always a kernel of truth in the jokes he makes, but he's found that you can say almost anything if it's said in a certain way with a well-timed grin.

Another obvious layer, but one that is usually well hidden, is the fact that, at his core, Finnick is a survivor. Sure, he had a lot of help and support in winning his Hunger Games, but he also knew what had to be done and he did it. He won the crowd, got his sponsors, but also killed when he needed to. The boy has a dangerous edge to him, a certain aura of darkness that he takes great care to obscure. He's an excellent strategist and incredibly talented when it come to making people forget that he could kill them if he really needed to. He's convinced people that he's been tamed by his years as a pet of the Capitol -- and that isn't entirely true. However, he downplays his intelligence, and while he never comes across as completely defenseless, he certainly plays it up more than is true.

Being in the Capitol so often has definitely skewed his view of normalcy. Finnick is smart and deadly, but what that Capitol reveres him most for is his beauty -- and he's aware of that. Sexuality is most often a weapon to him. Touches, smiles, glimpses -- there are few things that are still innocent to Finnick. He knows how to use them all in spades. However, it does make it difficult for him to differentiate between when someone is being truly genuinely and when they're not. He's certainly not paranoid, but he is a wary individual. Yet, when he finds someone who is genuine, those are the people whom Finnick tends to hold most dear; he really enjoys people who are at ease with themselves and don't have to present a mask to the world. For him, he partially envies them and partially admires them.

The last layer that Finnick has, and the one he hides the most, is how vulnerable he is. Really, Finnick Odair is a sensitive guy -- but not in the sort of way he's been built up to be. He's still a true romantic, and loves only one girl, but it's completely. He does anything to protect her, and gives up any and every part of himself in order to do that. He does have something of a low opinion of himself, if only because there's so little of himself that still belongs to him. He's sacrificed almost everything -- any power over his life, his body, his future, and he can often loathe himself because of that. While he may not describe himself this way, he is an optimist. He believes -- believed enough to make it through the Hunger Games, believed enough to survive what the Capitol has done to him, and believes enough to be involved in the rebellion, working toward a better future. He's a mess of contradictions, which is partially why he often comes off so enigmatic and is therefore so alluring to others.

Tell us about your chosen exit point, why you chose it, and why you want to play the character at All Inclusive: Finnick's exit point is just as he's about to enter the arena for the second time. Obviously, for any Victor who is returning to the arena, this is an emotionally charged time, because there's great uncertainty in what lies ahead with a strong chance of death. It's returning to the place of their nightmares. For Finnick in specific, this is even more challenging, because what happens in the arena will greatly affect the rebellion; personally, he also doesn't know if he'll ever see Annie again, and doesn't know if he'll be able to save Mags. So, for him to be mentally and emotionally preparing for all of these things, it will be disorienting to find himself somewhere else. He'll probably be incredibly paranoid at first. I'd like to play him at All Inclusive though, because I think it will be interesting to take him out of his normal setting and have him interact with people and in events where he doesn't need to put on such a masquerade all the time. It will be an interesting juxtaposition to give him the opportunity to be true to himself -- but while most of his loved ones are not present.

If your character is an alternate version of someone already in the game, explain how they are markedly different: N/A

Prose example post: He didn't want to think back to the first time he had gone into the Games, but it was inevitable. It was harder this time, which was utterly ridiculous. It was nearly impossibly for him to stay still. He had wanted to pace when he had woken up this morning, but had gone through the motions with a pretended ease. Wake up. Smile. Eat breakfast. Smile. Let them do his hair. Smile. Let them dress him. He was wearing a wet suit, which was promising. Very promising. ("Oh Finnick," his stylist had trilled as she had slid him into it. "The odds certainly are in your favor.")

She had no idea.

He stepped off the hovercraft and kept moving his hands, wishing for the solid weight of a trident in between his fingers. Anything to stave off the feeling of vulnerability that kept growing in the pit of his stomach. He didn't remember feeling scared when he went into the arena this time -- Well, that was a lie. Of course, he had been scared. But he had been 14 at the time. He had been scared of death in a distant sort of way, not something he expected to confront. But 10 years later and too many of those years spent in the Capitol had aged Finnick fast, and he knew what was waiting for him this time. It was worse. It was worse, even though, if he died this time, it would at least be for something.

Each of his steps felt ungainly as he trekked toward the building that would take him into the arena. The land felt strange beneath his feet, and he quietly prayed for water, for the reassurance that if he died, the sea would take him home.

He steeled himself as he reached the door, but didn't force himself to smile for once. Resting his hand on the knob, he twisted it. And blinked.

This wasn't the utilitarian room that had stolen him away last time. There was no launch tube. No, this was a -- hotel? A hotel, but not one of the posh and overly bright ones he was used to seeing in the Capitol.

He set one foot warily down on the carpet. He didn't really think this was the arena, but then, he didn't know what to expect here. His eyes scanned the corners of the room, running along the edges as he looked for cameras. He had been around the technology enough to know what to search for even when they were hidden. But there wasn't anything here -- so, not the arena. What then? What was this? He edged his foot forward, kept waiting for something to spike its way out of the walls. No, he thought, I'm not dying in a room that looks like this.