no such thing as winning
Series Metadata
Listing Series
-
Tags
Summary
“Is there someone like that for you?” Haymitch tries, dropping his voice lower even though Lou Lou and Wyatt are still sleeping. “Someone you’re thinking about back home?”
He sees the line of Maysilee’s shoulders tense under her blankets. “No.”
“Maysilee, we’re going into an arena to kill each other tomorrow. What’s the point in lying? It’s not like there’s anyone I can tell.”
“What’s the point in telling the truth?” Maysilee counters.
or, Haymitch and Maysilee have a quiet conversation the night before the Games.
Series
- Part 1 of no such thing as winning
-
Tags
Summary
“She’s still your daughter, Asterid,” Haymitch points out, frowning now.
“She hates me,” Asterid insists. “She’s never forgiven me for what I did, and I don’t blame her for it. I haven’t forgiven myself either.”
Haymitch isn’t sure when this conversation became an impromptu therapy session, and he’s not sure why Asterid chose him of all people to place these feelings on. He’s not a nice person to talk to and they’re both well-aware of that. He hasn’t been the type to pull his punches since he cut open Asterid’s forehead with a rock all those years ago.
But then again, maybe that’s why Asterid is out here, in the snow, talking to him instead of someone else. Because Haymitch isn’t nice, but he understands in a way few others do.
or, in the evening hours after the new Head Peacekeeper made an example out of Gale, Asterid and Haymitch share a drink.
Series
- Part 2 of no such thing as winning
-
Tags
Summary
“Burdock,” Haymitch says, still unsure if this is real or not. It’s been decades since they last spoke. Their final interaction had few words, with Burdock saying as little to him as possible after showing Haymitch where Lenore Dove had been buried.
“I thought you were supposed to be visiting her,” is the first thing Haymitch thinks to say.
Burdock, who is still catching his breath, scowls. “We just finished. I told Asterid to take Prim back to the house.”
Haymitch frowns. “How was it?”
Burdock glares at him. “Like I’m sending my baby girl off to be slaughtered on live TV.”
Haymitch, unsure of what to say to that, only coughs.
or, in an alternate world where Burdock survived the mine explosion, he and Haymitch have a talk after Katniss' Reaping.
Series
- Part 3 of no such thing as winning
-
leave it all up in the air by bonesandcacti
Fandoms: Sunrise On The Reaping - Suzanne Collins
21 Apr 2026
Tags
Summary
“T-Trust Plutarch,” Haymitch had whispered in her ear, blood spilling from his lips with every exhale, “trust Beetee.”
Of all the last words Haymitch could’ve given her, those had confused Maysilee to no end. But after Haymitch’s death, she hadn’t had time to go over what he could’ve meant by them. Then, once the Games were over, Maysilee did all she could to avoid thinking about her time in the arena. She’d almost buried the memory in her mind, but now that she’s face to face with Plutarch again, she knows she has to trust the words of a dead boy.
“Why did Haymitch trust you?” She asks.
In the dark, Maysilee can barely make out Plutarch’s raised eyebrows. “What did he tell you?”
“I asked you first.”
Plutarch huffs out something that almost could be a laugh. “That’s fair. I’ll give it to you in a nutshell then: there was a lot more going on in your Games than you might’ve realized, and Haymitch played a big role in that.”
or, Maysilee and Plutarch have a conversation during the Victory Tour.
Series
- Part 4 of no such thing as winning