watching [rosemary 89th oneshots]

Sinead had survived so far, and that was what mattered. Her training score didn't matter. Her tripping on her way onto the stage for her interview didn't matter. Her survival was what actually mattered. Sure, sponsors mattered, and those other things could spawn sponsors, but so could how well she did in the arena. People in the Capitol— potential sponsors in particular— liked those who were impressive in the bloodbath and came out practically unscathed, and that's what happened to Sinead.

She didn't take all that much damage in the bloodbath at the Cornucopia. Only one tribute managed to lay a hand on her, and that ended up being the first tribute to die, although, not at Sinead's hands. Sinead still hadn't killed, which was something that relieved Rosemary a little bit. Perhaps she could make it through the arena while killing as few people as possible. That would make the trauma a little less heavy, she hoped.

Regardless, going through the arena and coming out alive would surely cause a huge amount of trauma. Rosemary could tell, based on watching the way victors acted most times that she saw them.

Sinead was with three other tributes: allies, Rosemary assumed. That was a good thing. She could definitely use some support in the arena. No, not because Rosemary thought Sinead was weak or anything, but rather because it's good for her to have others on her side. With support like that, she'd be more likely to come out on top if other tributes ganged up on her. She'd have people to help protect her.

Rosemary tried not to think about what happened to Sage and Affron in that arena. Sure, they had people to protect them, but they weren't all together. Sage would have protected Affron had they been on the same side of that damn arena, and had all four members of their alliance been together, perhaps all four of them would've lasted longer. Maybe one of them would've won.

Unfortunately, that's just not how it played out.

Maybe it would for Sinead, though. Only time would tell. She had a full alliance, and they'd all survived the bloodbath. Whiskey, the boy from Seven that she was teamed up with, seemed a little more aloof than the rest of the alliance, and perhaps reluctant to team up with them, so Rosemary just hoped that Sinead would keep an eye out for him. Just in case. One never knows when someone will decide to turn their back on them.

Then again, maybe Whiskey will warm up to the others. That's always quite possible. Rosemary hoped so. Sinead could use someone to connect with more. After all, it seemed that her allies Tsara and Nixie had started to bond more with each other, rather than Sinead and Whiskey. Things could always change, though. Maybe they'd all have that strong bond by the end of things.

One could only hope.

Now, all Rosemary could do was hope, too. She had to watch and wait during Sinead's trek around the arena, and see what was to happen. She had to see who or what she'd fight, how she'd fight, and if she would survive and win those fights. That, and she had to see how long Sinead would be able to keep it up for. Rosemary just prayed that she'd make it to the end and come back alive. It was like Sinead was a piece of Rosemary's life, even if they barely knew each other. It was that connection to Affron, which was a connection to Sage and therefore a connection to her, that truly made Rosemary want so desperately for Sinead to come home.

They were hardly acquainted with one another, but it was as if Sinead was someone she was close with. That was how badly she wanted her to come home alive. To come home as a victor, even if it meant coming home as a killer.

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