Darien Filum

> Growing up, people expected me to be an arrogant boy. Makes me laugh at times. Son of the mayor, barely knows how to stitch. I can sew.
>
> Darien Filum to Caesar Flickerman, eve of the 72nd Hunger Games

**Darien Filum** is the son of Mayor Filum, deuteragonist of Tribute, and protagonist of Reaped. He is the younger brother of Araceli Filum and was friends with Harlan Fowler who later died in the 68th Hunger Games. He was best friends with Mavis Vervain, although his feelings for her change throughout her journey, and he ends up falling in love with her. Prior to telling her how he felt, Darien gets reaped as the male tribute for the 72nd Hunger Games. However, he manages to survive, becoming the fourth and final victor of District 8 to win before the Second Rebellion.

## Biography

### Early life

Darien’s father was the mayor of District 8, making Darien live more of a lavish life than anyone else in the district. His mother was Head Worker of the Peacekeeper uniform factory, keeping watch of all the others. Darien had only one sibling, Araceli Filum, who was older than him by a year.

Darien’s childhood was rather a quiet one, with his only sister for company, as his parents were out working and running District 8. At the end of the 62nd Hunger Games, Mayor Filum sent his two children to deliver condolences to the families of that year’s tributes. Darien and Araceli visited the male tribute’s family only to be greeted by the slamming of the door. Darien didn’t like the job so far until they went to the female tribute’s family. The door opened to a girl about their age. It was strange, but Darien found the girl rather pretty. Araceli asked if her parents were home, but the girl shook her head. It was only until a flicker of conversation that they all decided to be friends, and the girl’s name was Mavis Vervain.

Mavis took Darien and Araceli to meet Harlan Fowler, her friend. Darien and Araceli later find out that he was the younger brother of the male tribute of the 62nd Hunger Games. Eventually, the four all became friends together.

Overtime, Darien developed small feelings for Mavis. Harlan always teased him but his feelings were very sweet, considered by Mavis when she found out. One day, he headed towards the abandoned tenements, a place they all hanged out and was Mavis’s favorite spot, and wrote his and her initials on a wall.

Eventually, Darien got over those feelings. A few years later, Darien hears of Harlan going out with his sister, which grossed him out but he supported it anyways. Only a couple months later did the couple break up and Darien found out from Mavis about everything that had happened. Darien himself then confronted Harlan, asking him questions like why. Harlan had given him the truth since he wasn’t one of the girls and Darien didn’t believe it. Darien, Mavis, and Araceli never talked to him again.

### 68th Hunger Games

During the 68th Hunger Games, Darien watched Mavis's sister, Beatrice, get reaped for the Games, then watched herself volunteer for her. Darien was even more distraught when his ex-best friend, Harlan Fowler, volunteered as the male tribute alongside Mavis. Darien went to visit Mavis first with his sister, convincing Mavis that she could win and come back. Before he could say anything else, he promises her that they’ll watch over Beatrice and that they’ll be waiting when the door shuts. Darien makes the decision to visit Harlan, although his sister is reluctant to. Darien sees Harlan one last time, this time asking why he volunteered himself. Just like Mavis, Darien thinks he’s out to kill her. But Harlan says the opposite and says he didn’t know at first, but now it’s to protect her. Darien almost laughed until Harlan looked dead-serious at him. At that moment, Darien knew what Harlan said to him six months ago was true before he was led out again.

Darien watched with his sister the Games, looking over Mavis to see how she’s doing and at Harlan, making sure he’s keeping true to his own promise. Darien only sees the two of them for a few short clips, like the opening ceremonies and the interviews, before the Games begin. According to Darien, he found himself rather staring at Mavis in awe with all the costumes she had been dressed in and noted how beautiful she looked. Before Mavis and Harlan entered the Games, Darien went to check up on Beatrice three times a week. He’d usually see her when the door would open, only the eve of the Games is when Mr. Vervain opened the door instead of Beatrice. He called for her and she explained to Darien that her mother had died to be with Elisabet and Mavis in case she died. Darien felt great sorrow for the Vervain family and Mavis, seeing that he told her that they’d all be waiting for her. So, more anxious than ever, Darien watched the Hunger Games, always weary of Mavis and Harlan as well.

A few times she scared him, when she was being mutilated by frogs. Darien was even more terrified when a boy came along and found her unconscious body. But made Darien question as to why he was carrying Mavis somewhere. Harlan always kept to himself, almost getting caught a few times, but managed to stay hidden. Darien was relieved when the boy only wanted to become allies with Mavis. He even made the connection that the boy from District 12 was there for her rather than Harlan, so Darien felt bad when he had died, leaving Mavis alone but close to winning. Then, as Darien was expecting it, Mavis heard and found Harlan yelling for her in the snow. It was strange, as Darien knew they hadn’t talked in a while, especially there in the Games. At this point, it was only them and the pair from District 2. It could have gone either way. And then Mavis had left Harlan in the middle of the night after killing the boy from District 2. Darien got more anxious by that. Then came the point where Darien didn’t think he’d have remorse: Harlan placing himself in front of an unaware Mavis and the girl from District 2 who was thrusting her sword in his side, killing Harlan. Darien was devastated, but glad that he kept his promise in which it was Mavis and the girl who killed Harlan left.

So Darien watched, as cautious as ever, for Mavis. She was so close and he remembered her sister’s death. But he was very certain Mavis wouldn’t die. She couldn’t. And she didn’t. Mavis killed the girl from 2 with a throw of her dagger, and then and there that District 8 gained another victor and Darien was relieved to have her return.

Mavis returned, with a new look as well, and Darien embraced her, glad to have her return. But he could tell she was saddened by Harlan’s death, as he was her first friend before him and Araceli. He didn’t mind, but was sad to see her this way.

Overtime, the two would get even closer to the point where Darien’s feelings for Mavis returned. He would be there for Mavis when she didn’t want to be around her family. Darien knew it wasn’t right for him to declare his own feelings for her since he knew what happened with Harlan. So he waited for the right time, falling for her more and more.

This would lead to a point where Darien one day knew it was finally time to let Mavis know of his feelings. He met with her before the reaping of the 71st Hunger Games and tells her that he’s in love with her. Immediately he regrets what he said when Mavis looks at him, saddened. But she reassures him by telling him that his feelings are mutual, except she’s not ready. Darien, slightly disappointed, understands. Mavis tells him that he could check back next year and Darien agrees to wait for her.

## Physical description

When first introduced, Darien is described as having the same brown eyes and brunette hair as his sister, Araceli, noting by Mavis that they could be twins. Mavis also mentions multiple times the way Darien smiles brightly, with crinkles that appear at the end of his lips. Just like with his sister, Mavis has commented that Darien is quite handsome. She becomes aware that other people would agree with this during the opening ceremonies and interviews for the 72nd Hunger Games when multiple Capitol girls kept giggling over the appearance of Darien.

## Relationships

### Araceli Filum

When they were younger, Darien and Araceli didn't get along very much yet they were each other's company as their parents were always working to keep District 8 under control. Still, Darien loved and admired his older sister even if they had been a year apart. When Darien was eight, their father sent him and his sister to deliver messages of condolences to the families of the tributes that had been in the Hunger Games that year. Darien didn't really understand why at the time Araceli was mad at their father for not only sending Araceli but Darien to do the job, but he would later realize it wasn't a good idea to have the mayor send his own children to do part of his job.

### Mavis Vervain

The first time Darien met Mavis, he had fallen for her at a young age. He met Mavis while delivering condolences to the families of the tributes that had been in the Hunger Games that year. She opened the door to him and his sister, and was said to have been googli