Mavis Vervain

> It's something she does. Her loyalties stand with the ones she loves. That's the exact reason she volunteered in the first place
>
> Darien Filum on Mavis Vervain

**Mavis Vervain** is the main protagonist and narrator of Tribute by sillypersonwholovesreading. The story beings after her younger sister, Beatrice, gets reaped to participate in the 68th Hunger Games, Mavis volunteers in her place which begins her story origins.

## Biography

### Early life

Mavis's father worked at a factory in District 8 where they produced Peacekeeper uniforms while her mother worked her living as a seamstress before her death. Mavis had two sisters, her older sister named Edith and her younger sister Beatrice, who Mr. and Mrs. Vervain adopted when she was an infant.

When Mavis was younger, Edith would take her exploring the demolished tenements in District 8. She would help Mavis climb and traverse the different buildings, developing her skill to move with agility and swiftly. This would eventually become useful later in Mavis’s life. They were described as having an eerie appearance, however the two of them enjoyed it.

Mavis was close with both her sisters. Edith helped her mother teach Mavis how to sew, kindling her passion for it. Her first project was a patchy blanket she made, with the help of Edith, for Beatrice's first birthday. Once Edith was eligible for the reaping, she made herself a bracelet from fabric thread they used to sew clothing with. She then wore that bracelet to her reaping, and when she wasn't chosen to participate in the Games, she would give that bracelet to Mavis, insisting it was good luck. It would be a tradition that Mavis would later continue with Beatrice when she was eligible for the reaping.

When Mavis was nine years old, Edith was reaped for the 62nd Hunger Games at eighteen years old. This brought great devastation to their family. When they visited her before she left for the Capitol, Edith promised to Mavis that she would return to them. As a final gift from her, Edith entrusted Mavis the seventh bracelet she made despite it not having the luck it usually did. It would be her final reminder of her older sister. Mavis would then be glued to the screen to see her, wearing all the bracelets Edith made for her on both wrists. Edith eventually made it to the final two, though she died. When it was announced that the victory belonged to the District 2 female tribute, Mavis and her family were overwhelmed with shock.

Mavis, after hearing the news, ran from their tenement flat to the destroyed part of District 8 to grieve. She then met Harlan Fowler, who she would find out to be the younger brother of Peter Aike, the male tribute from District 8 for that year and who Elisabet killed. The two become friends, inseparable for the longest time.

After the games ended, the mayor of District 8 decided to send his two children to deliver his messages of condolences to the families of the tributes. Mavis opened the door to be greeted by Araceli and Darien Filum. It was there when they all befriended one another. Later on, Mavis would introduce them to Harlan, all becoming a group together.

Six years later, the friendship between Mavis and Harlan. One day, Harlan tells Mavis of his "true feelings" at the time. Mavis doesn’t believe it, seeming as she's always seen him as an older brother, so she thought he felt the same way about her. But when she does, she politely rejects him. There becomes an awkward drift between the two for a couple of weeks. Later, she comes to find that Araceli is now seeing Harlan, which surprised her. But after more than a month, Mavis found out from a heartbroken Araceli that Harlan had ended their relationship with no particular. Furious, Mavis confronts him about the situation but he dismisses it, ultimately not caring. They end up in an argument until Mavis ends their friendship.

After the death of her mother, her father became the only income for the family of three. Even at a young age, Mavis knew that wasn't a lot. So, at the age of 12, she signed up for Tesserae, having her name entered four times during her first reaping. Despite this, Mavis was never chosen.

### 68th Hunger Games

“I volunteer! I volunteer!” —Mavis at the reaping

#### The Reaping

When she was 15 years old, Mavis volunteered to take her sister’s place as the female tribute in the 68th Hunger Games when Beatrice was originally chosen at 12 years old. Mavis is heavily reminded of the events leading up to Edith's death in the games, so Mavis is intent on protecting her sister from the same fate. Before the male tribute was announced, Harlan Fowler volunteers himself after Mavis, who she hadn’t talked to in five months.

Before leaving for the Capitol, Mavis says her final goodbyes to Beatrice, her father, Araceli and Darien. When saying goodbye to Beatrice, Mavis gives her bracelet that she made for her that year, apologizing that she couldn't continue to make them. Beatrice tells Mavis to try to win, though this hurts Mavis. In attempt to comfort her sister, Mavis says that she will try, even though she does not think she can. Mavis then tells her father to continue to look after Beatrice, seeing as he was there when their mother passed. Araceli and Darien Filum come in to say their goodbyes, telling Mavis again to try everything she can and to not refer to the past. Darien notes he will also make sure that Beatrice has food in her stomach before consulting Mavis of how she could return before he and Araceli are escorted out. The district escort, Nelle Sequor, takes Mavis and Harlan to the train where they meet their mentors, Cecelia Nebute and Woof Casino.

#### The Tribute Parade

Once at the Capitol, Mavis gets prepared for the opening ceremonies that happen every year. Her prep team, Joi, Fleck, and Quin, prep her before she meets her stylist for the Games, Larayne, who comes up with an idea to dazzle Panem. She dresses Mavis in a black one piece before placing a poncho cape that has designs all over it with small rhinestone gems, while the trick is how the designs switch to new ones. After the parade, Mavis and Harlan are escorted to their floor in the Training Center where they will reside until the Games.

#### Training Sessions

The next morning, Mavis, along with Harlan, go to the Training Center to prepare themselves for the Games. Cecelia advises the both of them to try anything they get their hands on, but make sure not to show off too much. During the sessions, Mavis and Harlan meet Evyn, the male tribute from District 12.

During the private session, Mavis shows off her skill of knife throwing to the Gamemakers while demonstrating her climbing skills at the same time. Once finished, Mavis believes the Gamemakers paid little to no attention to her and worries she will achieve a low score due to her lack of impression. However her belief was wrong in the end, as Mavis manage to score a 10.

#### Interviews

Larayne dresses Mavis in a dress that changes its color schemes, the skirt going from light blues, pinks, yellows, and whites, giving another effect on how she’s switching the fabrics. Mavis is interviewed by Caesar Flickerman and talks of her stay in the Capitol. She becomes well known among the tributes that year, along with Harlan, after he stated he volunteered for Mavis since they were close like siblings. Mavis, not very comfortable with what he said, tries to uphold her act of being friendly towards him, as they go into the arena the next day.

#### Into the arena

The night before the Games, Mavis can’t sleep, thinking about the terrors that await her the next morning. Unexpectedly, Harlan comes to Mavis’s room to explain to her the truth of him volunteering for her and tries to apologize for all he's done. Mavis doesn’t believe it and shuts the door in his face.

On the morning of the Games, Larayne accompanies and dresses Mavis in her uniform. They then talk for a while. Larayne then gives Mavis a few words of reassurance, making Mavis’s nerves a little calmer. The speaker announces the tributes into launch.

#### Cornucopia Bloodbath

When the Games begin, Mavis attempts to secure a vest full of daggers, which she ends up getting successfully. She then attempts to grab a dark green backpack, but has a tassel with the District 7 boy. Quickly, Mavis grabs a dagger from her vest and injures the boy by the calf. The backpack contains a black tarp, a flashlight, a small first-aid kit, climbing rope, a small pot, a pack of small slices of bread, and a ten-ounce water bottle.

#### First days

For the rest of the day, Mavis spends her time walking around in the woods until she stumbles upon a small hole in the ground, digging it up to find a decently sized cave, making a note to herself to begin the search for water in the morning. When the next day comes, Mavis searches all day for any sight of water, but none has come. As it begins to get dark, she climbs up in a tree, not used to climbing them. Once settled, she hears a faint pleading, then silence. It isn’t until the person speaks that Mavis realizes it’s Harlan himself.

In the morning, Mavis sees eggs from a bird's nest and is able to cook them. Though as she tries to find water, she begins to have high thirst for water. Multiple times does she run into trees. Eventually Mavis finds a frozen pond and is able to jab at it. She collects water before being encountered by frog mutts. One bites her on her ankle and she kills it. More frogs come from the pond and begin to bite and trample Mavis. She gets away before they can do anymore damage until she collapses down a hill. She blacks out from both the fall and the venom from the bites.

#### Alliance with Evyn and Viviane

Mavis begins to have images of her deceased mother and sister, all while feeling someone carrying her. When she wakes she finds herself alone and away from where she fell. Mavis notices the bite marks on her ankle has been bandaged and begins to wonder if it was Harlan who carried her. She hears footsteps and when Evyn enters Mavis almost kills him.

Later in the night, all three of them agree to a three-way alliance. Mavis notices how estranged Viviane is towards her, in contrast to Evyn who is the opposite.

### The Aftermath

#### Victory Tour

Six months after her victory, Mavis climbs the tenements with Darien the morning of her departure for her Victory Tour. She reaches the top of the building before getting a flashback of Sela hanging on the cliff, seeing Mavis' dagger enter her forehead, as how she died in the Games. This causes major distress for Mavis, causing Darien to attempt to calm her down, which she eventually does. Darien asks furthermore what she saw, but Mavis dismisses it, suggesting they return.

## Relationships

### Beatrice Vervain

Beatrice Vervain was Mavis's younger sister who Mavis loves wholeheartedly. Mavis is very protective of her after their older sister, Elisabet, gets reaped for the 62nd Hunger Games. When Beatrice was old enough, Mavis taught her how to embroider by hand, as Beatrice wanted to learn how to after their mother described it to her once. Unlike Mavis, who favored sewing over embroidery, Beatrice loved the concept. When Beatrice was reaped, Mavis volunteered in her place, although Beatrice didn't want her to. Beatrice came to say goodbye to Mavis, telling her words of encouragement. Mavis told Beatrice that she would try to win, even though Mavis didn't believe it herself.

While in the arena, Beatrice was Mavis's reason to keep on going during the Games, rather than to wander into the hands of death. Multiple times Mavis reminded herself why she volunteered in the first place, always holding her matching bracelet she made for Beatrice the morning of the reaping.

Beatrice was one of the few people that kept Mavis sane prior to her return from the Hunger Games. Mavis never wanted to show any emotion in front of her sister for a long time, often taking it out on her sewing and accidentally puncturing herself by the needles multiple times. As Beatrice grew older, she noticed Mavis's bandaged fingers and asked her about them, though Mavis would dismiss her question. Beatrice was just as worried about Mavis like vice versa. After Darien is reaped for the 72nd Hunger Games, Beatrice comforts Mavis before she has to leave, knowing how important Darien is to Mavis.

When their father died, both Mavis and Beatrice grieved over him, now only having each other for comfort. When President Snow announced the Third Quarter Quell and what the twist was going to be, Mavis ran out from the house, again not wanting Beatrice to see her state. Mavis says to Darien that if Cecelia is reaped, Mavis would volunteer in her place, telling him to keep an eye on Beatrice in case she doesn't return.

### Darien Filum

Mavis and Darien have been childhood friends since they were young. When Darien was 11, he developed small feelings for Mavis, which he was always teased about by Harlan. Mavis knew, although she didn't think much of it as she suspected Darien would get over those feelings as they were younger kids. She always saw him as Araceli's younger brother, but still considered him as one of her closest friends.

When Mavis volunteered for her sister in the reaping, Darien came to say goodbye to her. They both hugged, Mavis noticing how tall he's been getting for his age when Darien gave her words of advice on coming back home. Mavis, distraught, listened as Darien said this. As the peacekeepers were escorting him and his sister out, Darien quickly said how they'd keep watch over Beatrice, which was the last thing Mavis had heard from him what she thought was the last time. Mavis dwelt on his words, how he thought she could come home when she didn't.

Throughout the Games every once in a while, Mavis thought of Darien along with Araceli and her family as her reason to survive the Games. She even compared Darien to her District 12 ally, Evyn, on how withdraw they were when they lost a friend; the same body language and pale face.

After winning the Games, Darien was one of the two people that kept Mavis sane. She never showed emotion to her family and the only one who saw it was Darien. Mavis began finding comfort him when she would breakdown, as he noticed her punctured fingers which were caused by Mavis accidentally poking herself while sewing. He would always be there for her whenever she needed him, which Mavis was grateful for. As she started becoming the person she used to be, she also was closer to Darien than ever. Because of this, she started to feel romantic feelings towards him though she kept them to herself. What pulled her back was the fact that Darien was still eligible for the reaping. She made a promise to herself that she wouldn't say anything to him until he went through his last reaping at 18.

Yet this was never the case, as the year before Darien's last reaping he confessed his true feelings for her, which shocked Mavis. She resisted the urge to say the feeling was mutual and said she would accept his feelings in a year, leaving Darien confused. Though, during what would be his last reaping, Darien was selected as the male tribute of District 8 for the 72nd Hunger Games. This deeply devestated Mavis, as she was his mentor this year. She goes out her way trying to help gain sponsors for Darien while he's in the arena. At some point, she felt jealous of Capitol girls who gushed over Darien but was reminded how they would help him survive.

For a while, as they lived in peace, Mavis felt glad to have Darien by her side. When the Second Quarter Quell is announced, Mavis runs to be by herself in the abandoned tenements. After a while, Darien comes by to comfort her. She tells him to take care of Beatrice in case anything happens to her in the Games. Darien, not liking the idea of Mavis returning to the arena, simply agrees for her. Though, when Mavis and Woof are reaped as the tributes for that year, Darien volunteers in Woof's place. On the train ride to the Capitol, Mavis is angered by his acts though she later forgives him as she realizes what little time they have left, not wanting to waste it with her being mad at him.

During the Quarter Quell, Mavis is separated from Darien as she goes off with Katniss, Finnick, and Mags. She worries for his safety and seeing his picture in the sky, and to her relief, she doesn't. Once they reunite with each other, Mavis mentions that she too loves Darien as she didn't get a chance to tell him before on the train ride. Though at the end of the Games, they are separated as Darien is captured by the Capitol and Mavis is rescued by the rebels.

### Araceli Filum

Mavis and Araceli were close friends, almost like sisters. Before and after winning the Games, Mavis sewed Araceli reaping dresses to which Araceli would buy them from Mavis. This was how Mavis got her income to help her family. Araceli always added extra to Mavis's usual pay, as Araceli has a lavish life than Mavis. She was grateful for Araceli's help, and when they say their goodbyes before Mavis leaves for the Capitol, Araceli reassures Mavis that she will be able to come home.

While in the arena, Mavis thinks of Araceli along with Darien and Beatrice, being reminded of who waits for her back in District 8. This lets her to carry on and fight during the Games.

Once she returns, Araceli continues to ask Mavis to sew her dresses even though income is no longer a problem. Araceli also knew Mavis needed something to take her mind off from her time in the arena, which Mavis was, again, grateful for. When Darien is reaped for the 72nd Hunger Games, Mavis manages to comfort Araceli before she leaves to the Capitol, reassuring to her that she will bring her brother back. Once Darien wins and returns to District 8, Araceli is grateful for Mavis's assistance.

In Part 3, Mavis worries for the safety of Araceli as she is still in District 8.

### Edith Vervain

Mavis was very close to her sisters, especially with Edith before she died. Edith taught her many things that she would carry on in her life, such as helping her mother teach Mavis how to sew. She also set up Mavis to have agility while climbing, something that would help save Mavis's life while in the Hunger Games. Mavis also got her skill in throwing daggers in the game she and Edith played. It is suspected that Edith mainly played this game with Mavis to help them become skilled in weapon throwing in case they were reaped, though it was never confirmed.

### Harlan Fowler

When Edith died, Harlan was the first person to comfort her in the least expected way. He also practically saved her life. Mavis met Harlan after Edith was killed in the Games. She ran into him on accident and continued to run, though he followed her and asked her what had happened. It was when Harlan mentioned his brother was also in the Games that year did Mavis felt bad, and the two bonded over this within time. Mavis would eventually learned that this was false and Harlan did it so she wouldn't feel too sad about the death of her sister. He was her first best friend, even after she met Araceli and Darien.

The two became inseparable for years. Mavis viewed Harlan as a brother figure for the longest time before he admitted his, at the time, true feelings for her. Mavis felt this came from out of nowhere and thought Harlan was joking with her. But when she realized it wasn't, it was awkward for her because she didn't feel this way. So when Harlan and Araceli revealed that they were together, Mavis felt as if Harlan was getting back at her. Yet she continued to be happy for the both of them, until Harlan unexpectedly called off their relationship. This infuriated Mavis due to the fact that she cared a lot for Araceli, and it didn't help with Harlan's side. She confronted him but he brushed it off as it were no big deal. Mavis was the one to call of their longtime friendship and they never talked to each other for months.

Mavis no longer bothered with Harlan in her life as she moved on. She had Araceli and Darien, and that was enough. Though a part of her felt empty without Harlan, yet she never acknowledged it. When Harlan volunteered as the male tribute, Mavis was stunned and confused. She thought it was to get revenge for calling off their friendship months ago, thought she would find out how wrong she was about Harlan during the Games.

During their preparation, Mavis viewed Harlan as an enemy, thinking she was his number one target. Even more so she thought his acts of trying to get the audience to notice her were acts to popularize himself instead. She never trusted him, not believing when Harlan said he volunteered for her. In the Games, she distanced herself from him. It was only towards the end did she ally with him for a short time.

## Abilities

* **Expert Seamstress**: Mavis is a skilled seamstress and handy with a needle and thread, which she learned from both her mother and older sister, Edith. She began sewing dresses and selling them to Araceli to help out her family considering her father had poor income with his job to support the family of four. Mavis then took on as her hobby after she won the 68th Hunger Games, making the Capitol impress with her skills. She also uses her expertise in sewing as a coping mechanism, especially after her time in the Games.
* **Knife proficiency**: Mavis is very skilled in knife combat and favors using daggers. This was usually due to her good hand at throwing needles and other sharp objects in a game she played with her sister at a target, then moving on to real knives and targets in training when she volunteered for the 68th Hunger Games. She uses her good aiming throughout the stories: having a vest full of them during the Games and used them to hunt and kill others, and being able to kill Sela at the end of the Games to be declared victor.
* **Expert in climbing**: Mostly used for fun, Mavis is an excellent climber, having fast reflexes and is quite strong. Her older sister, Edith, in a way taught Mavis her climbing skills by simply climbing along the buildings of run-down tenements. This would be very useful in Mavis's life later on as she would have to endure her agility and quickness in climbing in the 68th Hunger Games

## Etymology

The name "Mavis" comes from old French origins meaning "song thrush" or "songbird".

Vervain comes from the plant name verbena, which belongs to the Verbenaceae family.

## Trivia

* Mavis is the youngest victor to win in District 8 at age 15, previously held by Woof Casino who won his games at age 17.
* Mavis is also the first victor to volunteer and win in District 8.
* Her favorite delicacy is toast with strawberry jam.
* Mavis's birthday is the 21st of August.
* She is left-handed.
* Mavis and her sisters all take up a different interest in the textile industry, Mavis being a seamstress who sews clothing with fabric, Edith was a tailor who helped alter clothing as a job before her death, and Beatrice being an embroiderer who works with needle and threads.
* It has been said by Mavis that she has sprained her ankles three times, broken an arm once, and dislocated her shoulders multiple times from falling while climbing.
* She is similar to Harlan in several ways:
	+ Both had a parent take their own life over their child dying.
	+ Both had an older sibling who participated in the Games and die.
	+ Had an absent mother figure in their life.
	+ Both volunteered for their loved one, showing their loyalty to them.
	+ Both were oblivious of their feelings for a long time (Harlan when realizing his feelings for Mavis were always platonic and Mavis when realizing her feelings towards Darien was something more).
	+ Dated one of the mayor's children.
* INTJ-T