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  • The simple fact that (although they both suffer some mental scars and a hard time in the arena) two Victors (Seeder and Mitt) manage to win without killing a single other tribute.
  • The reveal at the beginning that Connor is still alive, followed by the reveal that there are more surviving Victors than the seven who voted on the Capitol Games.
  • Luxe's mother's attempts to help her son move past the games.
  • The description of the old man who may have been Orchus being a Friend to All Children.
  • Wheaton volunteering to try and win a pardon for his rebel father, although it ends badly.
    • The line about the boy he volunteered for running back to his mother is still powerful though.
  • The Loved by All status Jules has among the Victors talking about him.
  • How much Luxe (and to a lesser extent Platinum) look after and try to cheer up a shell-shocked Gleam.
  • Jules greeting Gleam, Luxe and Platinum in bear hugs and then helping carry a drugged up Gleam out of the club.
  • Ahenobarbus complimenting Gleam's skills and his performance, before declaring the knife-throwing contest.
  • How good Gleam feels for a moment after the knife throwing act (soaking in how no one got hurt as a result of his skills) before Ahenobarbus tries to kill the Avox. Which just provides another heartwarming moment when Orchus stops him.
  • Camden's goodbye with his siblings.
  • Bovina being brought out of her depression and feeling like a pariah by her mentor showing her the effect that the food parcels she won for the district are having (a woman whose sick grandson got better from parcel milk, a girl taking tesserae for her family of eleven who now doesn't have to take more before her last reaping etc.).
  • The Odd Friendship between Raoul and two peacekeepers, and one of those peacekeepers hushing her friend when he's Innocently Insensitive about the Games and telling Bovina she did what she had to do.
  • It's only touched on briefly, but Woof trying to take care of his sisters on the street.
  • Woof going more than fifty years without ever losing his temper in honor/guilt for the boy he killed in the arena.
  • Luxe mentoring Silk.
  • Silk, in her capacity as District 1's first volunteer, being hugged by the thirteen-year-old whose life she just saved.
  • The determination Martius feels about saving Vera through sponsorship (even if it turns out to be a just a passing interest in the end) and the support he eventually gets from people like his best friend and stepmother.
  • The sheer number of people who come to say goodbye to Gates when he's reaped, and the description of how Gates was taking tesserae for eleven people, and being prepared in survival strategies by his father.
  • Manannan keeping pictures of his dead tributes, especially after Johanna's internal monologue painted him as just another arrogant tribute.
  • The friendship between Wren and Rem even after he finds out she's gay.
  • A lot of the time Wren thinks about her girl back in 11.
  • The bond between the three cousins as shown in Honorius' chapter.
  • The welcomes Evelyn gets from the Victors (and in some cases the people) during the better stops in her victory tour.
    • In District 11, she's awestruck by the fruit orchids that Wren shows her, after having initially been cowed by the District.
    • In District 10, she gets to ride a horse.
    • In District 7, both the victors and the District itself show her comfort and encouragement her when she's vulnerable out of gratitude for avenging their tributes. Evelyn notes they've given her a gift "she can never quite name and will never be able to repay".
    • The visit to District 6 gets a nice moment, not because of anything about the District or its people, but because Evelyn's normally bossy escort shows a softer side when sitting down and hugging her after seeing how scared she is of the place.
    • In District 4, she has fun on the beach and is befriended by Mags and her family while being assured by everyone that they don't hold a grudge against her over the Games. Evelyn considers it the best night of her life.
  • Evelyn's acts of kindness to the people who were kind to her and her family.
    • She buys a new roof for the babysitter of her younger brother.
    • She regularly buys (and overpays for) pies from a young mother who gave Evelyn's mother a shoulder to cry on while Evelyn was in the arena.
    • She buys new clothes and shoes for the daughter of a man whipped for helping her trouble-making older brother escape from the peacekeepers.
  • The friendship that comes between former enemies Rick McNulty and Eli Parsons once Eli's son is reaped.
    • Rick summoning up the courage to see his wife and daughter again once his son is reaped.
  • The description of Chevy managing to have a happy family, although the events of Arrow sour this some.
  • Seeder's reunion with Chaff, the first and only tribute she saves.
  • Seeder's getting married in the aftermath of saving Chaff.
  • Seeder's reaction to the Katniss-Peeta love saga.
  • Ahenobarbus' friendship with Gates.
  • Elena and Danny's whole relationship and story. The first half of it, anyway.
  • Mags' determination to see justice done for Wheaton.
  • Mags comforting Cerulea through the pre-games pageantry even after she transfers mentorship of her.
  • Ahenobarbus making Boudicca warn Mags and the other 4's in time to save their lives during the Capitol power struggle.
  • While it earned him the first of several beatings, Barty questioning the purpose of the Hunger Games and asking why the careers have to kill people.
  • Barty being taken in by the family of a girl he saved from a wild dog, and later the goodbye he gives them after being selected as Tribute.
  • Granyte trusting Barty and giving him a chance.
  • Dido is a thief before being sent to the Institute, but most of her thefts are done to benefit her poorer friends and acquaintances.
  • The Christmas party the District 2 Victors throw to get Ares out of his PTSD, with plenty of Hidden Depths all around.
  • Ermine being willing to volunteer for the Games to save Esther's family from retaliation by Luster.
  • Justinian's family being saved from poverty by betting on Chevy.
  • Justinian deciding to bet on Maeve to honor his family, even if it becomes Harsher in Hindsight.
  • Mags bringing inner-district rebels together after Brilliance wins.
  • The description of Brutus' happy family life.
  • The acts of kindness Beetee and Cerulea show Brutus on their victory tours.
  • Brutus's trainer telling him he did good after he beats up a bully and the feelings of elation it gives him.
  • Brutus helping Blight through his fight with Jason.
  • Brutus's brief moment of bonding with Peeta in training.
  • Honorius declaring that if anyone insults Brutus for his decision to volunteer he'll kill them with his bare hands.
  • Jade's Friend-or-Idol Decision where she chooses a chance at saving the life of her fellow prisoner rather than taking revenge on Coin.
  • Lots of stuff about Haymitch's fellow second quarter Quell Tributes: Athena Costa feeding the sparrows outside her window; Titania Briss imagining she's a circus performer; Aeria Whitaker being allowed to do a dance recital in the place of an interview and dying without regrets; Watts Jarofsky volunteering to save his younger brother; Jenna Dunne's mother staying clean of drugs for sixteen years to try and give her a better life; Petrum Steele being allowed to fly the hovercraft to the arena and live out his dreams of being a pilot; Cameron O'Neil promising his cousin he can live with him in the Victors Village; the pubs of District 9 having a collection to sponsor local darts champion Amaranth Copeland; Adam Stone's stylist letting him wear a dress for the interviews.
    • The revelation that Cameron kept his promise to his cousin, even posthumously.
  • Boudicca was once approached by a girl who wanted to take the Tribute Trials without any prior training in order to get away from her abusive father. The girl made it to the final trial, the Trial of Blood, (something less than half of the kids who spend a full eight years of Training from Hell accomplish) before being unable to kill her assigned victim. An impressed Boudicca gives her a job working at the Institute. Doubles as an awesome moment.
  • Lyme being consoled by her fellow rebels over the If You're So Evil, Eat This Kitten! test she had to do.
  • Halibut poising his ally Copper isn't exactly an admirable act, but he makes sure to give him a quick death for the sake of his watching girlfriend, and it's implied that the reason he killed the boy from District 7 himself before turning on Copper was so that the last thing Copper's girlfriend saw him do wasn't killing a helpless kid.
  • It's a small moment, but despite the Inevitable Mutual Betrayal tensions going through the rest of Halibut's alliance, Rarity from 1 does compliment their leader Priam, recognizing that because of him their time in the arena has been a "vacation" compared to some.
  • While more preoccupied with Halibut turning on them, Rarity does seem to feel a brief moment of sadness for her dead district partner referring to the faces in the sky as "two young boys" in her inner monologue rather than dehumanizing them like many tributes do.
  • Liane reflecting about happier memories with Priam in the arena, moments of affection even when the camera wasn't watching them, before admitting That Man Is Dead.
  • Liane feeling enough District loyalty not to tell Priam about the rebel actions that got Halibut's parents killed.
  • Blight becoming Fire-Forged Friends with Connor and working so hard to save him despite hating his brother.
  • A lot of Cecelia and Brutus's date, and her naming their son after Brutus's dead favorite brother.
  • The Odd Friendship between Circe and District 5's escort, Carpathia.
  • The amount of trust and loyalty between Gloss and Cashmere (especially as kids).
  • As much as Gloss falls victim to Murder Makes You Crazy, it is somewhat moving that he manages to fight it. The first time he loses control and stabs a woman, he's horrified and races his victim to the hospital even though she might have been able to identify him (fortunately for Gloss, it turns out she was too drunk) and afterwards, however much he might hurt people, takes pains to never kill anyone again.
  • Evelyn trusting Beetee enough to ask for his help in her standoff with Gloss and Cashmere over knowing their secret.
  • The brief, but strong bond Beetee and Cashmere form when she offers her support to the Rebellion.
  • The reveal that Cashmere tried to drop out of The DAEYD and not fight in the Hunger Games after Gloss's games.
  • Beetee and Wiress Finishing Each Other's Sentences as he leaves the apartment to meet Cashmere.
  • Beetee writing a couple extra zeroes on the tip for the waiter at the restaurant, figuring he might as well give him the means for some enjoyment in the few days before things go badly.
    • And Mercutio the waiter saying it's been an honor to serve him for so many years.
  • As Katniss's rebel proponents airs in the Capitol, as most of the citizens feel hate or confusion, others simply try to hide relief and happiness that the girl they watched through two Games isn't dead.
  • What Song goes through for Quintus to by the medical treatments to save his life.
  • Song letting her erstwhile ally die with dignity, ableit through a Murder by Suicide.
  • Song receiving an urn containing the ashes of Quintus's contract of duty, allowing him to leave the peacekeepers and marry her. This is especially notable as one of the few times where Snow does throw a Victor a bone when he could have kept on just dangling that promise over Song without delivering on it.
  • Cashmere defying the rest of the District 1 Victors and befriending Song the outsider.
  • Song managing to save her sons life during the riots of District 1.
  • While one of them does lynch Song in the end, it's oddly touching seeing multiple members of the mob arguing on Song's behalf first.
  • Professor Tybalt finding Song and Quintus' grave. Also doubles as a Tear Jerker in that the last time he saw them, he was shoved into a closet.
  • Blight's advice to Johanna.
  • Johanna being the first to volunteer to protect Peeta, Jason's cousin.
  • Johanna's deal with Cashmere to get her tributes mercy killed.
  • Ares and Berenice's bond, specifically Berenice's performance of a song that indicates that she views Ares as a Parental Substitute and Ares defending her from Cecilia's contempt (Cecelia's anger is justified, but that isn't Berenice's fault).
  • Halibut and Crystal befriending Berenice, notably offering her a swig of whiskey and a caramel cube to clear the taste of that whiskey respectively.
  • A lot of the camaraderie at the Victor talent show (and Matty getting a rare chance to be in the spotlight with his juggling act).
  • Ben doing everything he can to save Abram, especially with the later reveal it's because he suspects Abram is his son.
  • Cotton reflecting on how Virtus and Abram sent her chocolates.
  • Honorius leading the Heel–Face Turn of several career mentors.
  • Brutus comforting Lupus after the trauma of his Games and then volunteering to save him from having to repeat it.
  • Finnick complimenting the cake Peeta made.
  • Madge offering to introduce Peeta and Katniss.
  • Peeta and his father making a last cake together.
  • Katniss telling Peeta she's pregnant as he presents her a birthday cake.
  • Katniss and Boudicca finding out they're Not So Different.
    • Katniss defending Boudicca for starting the training academy and convincing Haymitch that as a whole Victors are just pawns overall.
  • Johanna and Gale's Maybe Ever After moment and Johanna presenting him the finished book memorializing the Victors.

    The Lumberjack and the Tree-Elf 
  • Johanna and her brother thanking Blight after he volunteers (albeit unwilling) and a two year old Johanna telling Blight to win.
  • The way Vera offers to be Charlie's mentor after being asked by her father.
  • Blight's training friendship with Devon.
  • Blight meeting his Avox mother in the Capitol.
  • The horses show signs of missing Blight while he's gone, something which causes some of the lumberjacks to miss Blight as well. It also causes Jason to boldly declare that Blight will make it home, even though most people still don't want him to.
  • After Blight comes out of the closet on stage during his pre-Games interview, the support he gets, for the first time in his life, from the Capitol crowd and Jason's feelings watching.
  • Johanna, her brother and their friends cleaning the stables for Blight while he's gone.
  • Charlie's overall sense of friendship and loyalty to her allies.
  • The District going from wanting Blight dead to doing what they can to save him.
  • Jules stepping in as mentor to send Blight sponsor gifts (including some useful ones) and then being honored as the official mentor at the end.
  • The reunion between Mrs. Lourdes and her husband and surviving daughters.
  • Blight and Jason letting Johanna live in their house as a Loophole Abuse of a promise Snow made in order to keep her safe.
  • Blight's goodbye letters.

    Fall into the River 
  • Cecelia's relationship with her little half-sister Kerry, especially the story she tells her during their goodbyes after the reaping.
  • Woof doing what he can with Loomer, a disabled tribute. It's probably obvious to Woof that it's unlikely that he'd make it out of the arena, but it doesn't stop him from helping Loomer have a good time before entering the arena.
  • Cecelia's escort is for the most part a smarmy figure implied to take joy in the Games, but she does get a Pet the Dog telling Cecelia that not everyone Madame Lucia styles for (she's styling for careers that year) automatically becomes a Victor after Cecelia worries about that.
  • Loomer saving Cecelia's life, considering that he's not obligated to save his district partner.
  • Cecelia and Andromache telling each other what they'd do with a Victor's salary. Cecelia wants to buy enough toys to fill her baby nephew's room, plus a shawl for her stepmother and new shoes for Kerry. Andromache wants to buy a sailboat and travel the sea in it. She also intends to buy her mother a fresh peach every Sunday and pay for her best friend's upcoming wedding and the repairs to her brother's fishing boat.
  • Jason telling Cecelia to imagine parcel day.
  • The Odd Friendship between Spindella and Cora.

    The Bonds of Blood 
  • Enobaria's appeal to Boudicca to let Declan take the trials.
  • The description of Enobaria and Maura's childhood friendship.
  • Enobaria being encouraging of Rob as he deals with the stress of being a career ally.
  • A lot of Enobaria and Matthos' scenes.

    Secrets 
  • Ahenobarbus being buried with his mother's shawl.
  • Luxe sending money to the families of the tributes he killed to keep them clothed and fed.
  • Seaward finding solace playing classical music.
  • Gleam's dream of seeing his parents' circus re-open.
  • Camden giving his brother the money to get out of the coal mines.
  • Cerulea leaving flowers on the tribute graves.
  • Lupus finding comfort in jazz music, which goes against his image of being a "tough" career.

    Quell 
  • While it doesn't do any good in the long run, the fact that the supervisor of the girl District 5 voted into the Quell was willing to take the blame for the industrial accident rather than blame her.
  • Bovina seeing Jon Parsons honored after his death.
  • The District 11 Inspirational Martyr Quell volunteers inspire some strong feelings, both for the individual feelings and motives for their sacrifice and the way that they inspire the district and the nation. The girl volunteers to replace a stranger because she has nothing left to live for, but wants her death to be meaningful. The boy volunteers even though he has a personal grudge against the father of the boy voted into the Quell and partially wants to see him die in the Games. He reminds himself that The Capitol wants him to feel that way, and he won't give them that victory.
    So he calls out and volunteers and his district partner looks at him in disbelief, then understanding, then pride, and the emotions are mirrored in the faces of their district, and for the first time in a quarter century the cheers are real.
  • The District 12 girl feeling some comfort in knowing that at least her cat will miss her.

    Arrow 
  • The reveal that the original District 1 Rebellion (Cashmere's brothers, Jade, Whisper, Shilling, etc.) intended to spare the lives of Song and Gleam before the Gambit Pileup with the other rebels.
  • The sense of gratitude Lyme feels at seeing Abram's shadow next to hers as she goes to try and find survivors of Redfern, having told him it was okay to go back to the trains.
  • Lyme and Abram finding almost fifty surviving Redfern residents, mostly women and children, after it looking like everyone was dead.
  • The fact that the head of District 4's community home saved her charges.
  • District 4 finally getting to honor their dead Victors, and so many others, the way they want to.
  • The description of how peacekeeper Tiberias Lockwood assimilated to life in the district and defected out of anger at what was done to Finnick and Annie.
  • The Heel–Face Turn of the District 5 peacekeepers, and the acquittal of their leader after the war.
  • The memorials District 6 makes for their three Victors, each something appropriately honorable.
  • The reveal that Chevy painted portraits of all the tributes he lost.
  • The salvation of the District 7 rebels by a cavalry charge and the feelings that Blight and Jason's romance might have been reincarnated in a sense through Blight's nephew and his boyfriend.
  • The reveal that several Mauve Shirt District 7 residents previously listed as dead in the Deadly Distant Finale of The Lumberjack and the Tree Elf (including at least one member of Blight's district partner Charlie's family) were only Faking the Dead.
  • Hector, the egotistical stylist, crying and apologizing as he gives Cecelia her final prep.
  • Cecelia reflecting on how she and Cashmere have cried on each other's shoulders about the Victors trade and Cashmere shouting something half encouraging to her from her pedestal.
  • Cecelia acknowledging that even the careers didn't want this.
  • Right before the gong is about to sound for the Third Quarter Quell to start, Cecelia whispers a prayer to some of her loved ones. One of those loved ones is Loomer, her district partner during her original Games who saved her life; even though it's been well over a decade since his death, she's never forgotten him or what he did for her.
  • Cecelia furiously attacking Gloss to save the life of Blight, remembering all he's done for her.
  • It's revealed that the Victors, Rebels and Careers and others, made a pact to give Elena a painless death.
  • Cecelia's alternate persona telling her their children will be safe and being right.
  • Evelyn's niece recalling how her aunt bought her an apartment after her parents died and personally came by with groceries every week.
  • One of District 9's schoolteachers talks about how, despite all the sacrifice endured, their new students haven't lost siblings to the Games. They don't fear their next birthdays. And they don't use tesserae to learn multiplication tables anymore.
  • During the second rebellion, every single Settler turns on the Capitol, and it's made clear that they've never forgotten what the Capitol did to Danny and Elena's children.
  • After the final battle of District 10, there's a simple yet stirring comment that the Settlers and Anasazi of District 10 go home "Together". It's also notable that the title of the chapter is "District 10 Unites".
  • The people of District Eleven finally having the freedoms they barely had since the Dark Days.
  • The District Eleven children getting the chance to eat food that are usually out of their financial reach.


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