Deja Vu Battle | Hunger Game 3 (Part 1)

4.

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ℍ𝔸𝕍𝔼ℕ𝕊𝔹𝔼𝔼 and President Alma remained in silence once Katniss and Aries exited the room. The President's disappointment was palpable, as she had a strong preference for Peete over the Mockingjay. Havensbee, on the other hand, attempted to convince her otherwise. Boggs observed the conversation between his superiors, realizing that things were not going as planned after rescuing the two victors, particularly Aries.

As President Alma finally made up her mind on the next step to earn Katniss's trust (revealing the devastated District 12 to her), a new challenge emerged in the form of Aries White. Even Havensbee, who was usually adept at persuasion, had no clue how to win over someone like Aries, who only respected and listened to Estella Perez. Unfortunately for them, President Snow had already declared Estella as his first priority, leaving them with an unruly beast to deal with.

Dennis, the closest person to Aries at that moment, caught a glimpse of the expectant eyes on him. He let out a weary sigh, knowing all too well what they were thinking. Ever since he arrived in District 13, Havensbee and Haymitch had been relentless in their pursuit of strategies to bring Aries on board. But this was Aries we were talking about, and even Dennis himself struggled to convince the stubborn young man.

"You're not going to get him to do anything without Estella." / "There must be something else other than the girl to get him to obey." President Alma interrupted Dennis's speech, even though they were in the presence of the President of District 13 and her top commanders. Dennis couldn't hide his irritation and disdain towards her, evident in the way he responded to her comments about Aries.

"You speak of Aries as if he's a mere beast," The words hung in the air, charged with tension, as Dennis engaged in a fierce stare-down with the President. His eyes bore into hers, unyielding and unafraid, as he silently challenged her perception and demanded the respect that he felt was deserved for Aries. The room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of Dennis's words and the intensity of his gaze lingering in the air.

"This is a 20-year-old male we are talking about! He barely survived those games! And you're already shoving him into a cell like a caged animal for weeks! How exactly would you expect him to react?!" Dennis slammed his fist on the table, his concern for Aries evident despite their conflicting personalities. "Let me reiterate. Without Estella, you won't stand a chance of getting him to even acknowledge you." Dennis spat, his tone unwavering as he expressed his disgust towards President Alma.

Boggs glanced at Havenbees, realizing that things were not going well for either of them. It was clear that the ex-Gamemaker had no idea how to salvage the situation. Boggs decided to intervene. "You're absolutely right. Regardless of what he may have done, we're dealing with a young boy here. His emotions are all over the place." With his calm voice, Boggs managed to ease the tension in the room, piquing President Alma's curiosity about how this would be resolved.

"Is there someone else who could have a conversation with him? We simply need him to take this into consideration, Dennis." Dennis glanced at Boggs, even though he didn't appreciate his intervention, his words were more favorable and kinder towards Aries compared to President Alma's. "We just need to ensure that he doesn't pose a threat to District 13. To those who have survived this far for freedom."

Dennis let out a sigh, he couldn't deny it. Boggs had a way with words that resonated with him. And he understood where Boggs was coming from. In everyone's eyes, Aries was seen as a monster, a weapon of destruction. That's how the Capitol's media portrayed him, and now it's how people in reality perceive him as well. They just need evidence that Aries isn't that, he's just a young boy searching for the same things everyone else desires.

The mentor from District 5 was well aware that convincing others of Aries' true nature would be a daunting task. The scars of war had left a deep impact on the people of District 13, and the fear of another devastating conflict lingered in their hearts. He let out a sigh and leaned back against his seat, closing his eyes as a frown appeared on his forehead.

He knew of someone who could possibly help soften Aries' demeanor, and he even knew where to find them. Dennis had done extensive research on his tribute, especially after the first conflict with Aries. Aries had a ghost of a profile, nothing was there. This person had no family or friends and has relied solely on Estella Perez since he could.

Dennis was torn between protecting Aries' privacy and vulnerability or seeking understanding and patience from others for his tribute. It was a difficult decision, and whichever path he chose would likely result in Aries resenting him.

"Take him to the high mountains," Dennis said with a defeated sigh as he stood up. "What mountain-" / "The graveyard one." He left the room not wanting to continue more or the questioning eyes off those in the room. Burdened by guilt but aware that it was the right course of action.

Havensbee looked perplexed as President Alma and Boggs exchanged a knowing glance. "What's going on?" he asked cautiously, sensing the tension in the room had escalated to a somber and dull level. President Alma quickly glanced at Boggs, who promptly stood up from his seat, preparing to embark on the mission. Once the commander had left, President Alma shifted her focus to the former Gamemaker.

"Bodies. Bodies of the passed allies from the previous rebellion."

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