THG fic: "Spin Control" [15/23]

[trovia]

Title: Spin Control
Pairings: Finnick/Haymitch, Kat/Peeta
Characters: Finnick, Haymitch, Chaff, Peeta, Gale, Kat; plus appearances by Mags, Johanna, Caesar Flickerman, President Snow, Effie, Claudius Templesmith, Beetee, Prim, Thresh, Rue, District Twelve ensemble and various OC
Rating: adult
Warnings: forced prostitution & non-con; people dealing

Comments

[roguedemon]

I went back and reread the Caramel scene, after reading the comments from the latest chapter and being amused (and a little irritated) at some of the reactions. (Like, I had to sit on my hands at the commenter that called Finnick and Haymitch cowards. I just can't with these idiots.) I knew when I read this scene that it was incredibly important. There is this expectation in our society that everyone must be selfless. But when you come down to it, I don't think people understand what that actually means. People think that there is one right answer, when there usually isn't. And they always assume that they themselves would act more nobly than the characters in the story they are sitting on their ass reading. It's a classic psychological phenomenon.

And well, I tend to think the whole idea that trying to take care of yourself instead of just sacrificing everything until you're a burned out husk is selfish is a load of crap. But you know that. :)

I finally went and googled Coinneach (because I wondered where you got that name from) and found out that it actually means handsome: very nice. :) Also, it's the name of a seer who was said to live in the 17th century. Given how prescient Caramel turned out to be, I think that's pretty damn cool.

[trovia]

That person... uh, yeah. I actually have a suspicion that he (I have a hunch it's a he) only read the most recent chapters, as I put in a thing at the opening author's note that basically said, "If you're just here for the Everlark, start reading at chapter x." (because sometimes I come looking for a particular character in a fic and then I'd appreciate such a pointer) Anyway! If he only read the little 74th Hunger Games bubble of SC, that might account for how he just doesn't at all seem to be aware of the themes of the fic. Or else, he just didn't like the ending and tried to argue that logically in some way, although his logic doesn't exactly work out. :p

But really though, should we really be surprised that some readers might call Haymitch and Finnick a coward? Because I'm kind of not. ;)

That is awesome about the name Coinneach, and believe it or not, I actually didn't know that. (or possibly I forgot after I picked it - the "handsome" thing sounds vaguely familiar) The seer thing also leaves me feeling very pleased. Hah. I have so many positive feelings about Caramel, and it pleases me inordinately that you and millari both like him so much!

[trovia]

I'm kind of sad that nobody ever commented on this paragraph:

The Capitol liked watching the human interest stories in carefully administered, small doses; they digested them with the same ease and enthusiasm that Finnick’s starved, thirteen-year-old Seam tribute devoured his eight protein shakes a day. Spending two hours caring about an alcoholic made people feel selfless, more justified in going back to cheering for the dying district kids.

It's all of both Finnick and my cynicism and bitterness about society's uselessness condensed in two sentences. I feel that it goes to the core of what the HG trilogy is all about, and what Collins wanted it to be about. (after all, she said she came up with the idea when she was zapping through TV stations and seeing war reports and talent shows next to each other. My belief that she hates what was done to her story by fandom (and editing and the movies) but decided to shut up and take the money was cemented when she gave that rare commentary about how THG isn't a love story at all, but a war story, confusing all the shippers ;))

[trovia]

I'm having a strange urge to podcast that scene.

(I've never done that, but if I dare say so, I'm really good at the reading thing -- apart from how my accent might be alienating to people who expect futuristic American drawls :D)