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"Let’s show a little district pride for a change, Miss Everdeen. Hm?"
—Darius to Katniss Everdeen [src]

Darius was one of the youngest known Peacekeepers in District 12, and a frequent customer at the Hob.[1] He was later enslaved in the Capitol as an Avox.[2]

Biography[]

Early life[]

Little is known of Darius's early life. He was presumably born and raised in the Capitol or District 2, as most Peacekeepers were,[3] before he eventually enlisted.

Peacekeeping[]

Darius was stationed in District 12, where he regularly frequented the Hob.[1] Six months before the 74th Hunger Games, right after New Year's, Darius teased Katniss Everdeen about trading a rabbit for one of his kisses. He leaned up against the post of Greasy Sae's stall, tickled Katniss's cheek with the end of her braid, and pointed out other women around who serve as "references", making Katniss and Greasy Sae laugh.[4]

When Katniss stopped by the Hob on the morning of the Victory Tour, Darius bought a bowl of soup from Greasy Sae and joked with Katniss about her appearance, lack of "district pride", and impending departure.[1]

Gale's whipping[]

After the Victory Tour, Gale Hawthorne was whipped by Romulus Thread, and Darius was knocked unconscious for trying to intervene after "about twenty lashings". He'd grabbed Thread's arm, then he was struck in the head with the butt of the whip. Haymitch Abernathy nearly tripped over Darius on the ground when he arrived on the scene. Once Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta Mellark got Thread to stop, a small group of Peacekeepers stuck behind and lifted Darius by his arms and legs,[5] presumably to carry him back to the base.

Enslavement[]

Katniss was later horrified to discover that the Capitol made Darius into an Avox.[2] Alongside Lavinia, he was forced to serve the District 12 tributes at the Training Center during the 75th Hunger Games. Katniss believed it was no coincidence that Darius was placed in their apartment, and that President Snow had ordered him to serve there to frighten her.[6]

Death[]

While imprisoned in the Capitol, Peeta witnessed the electrocution death of Lavinia and the torture of Darius. The guards beat him, cut off body parts, and questioned him, but as an Avox, he was unable to answer; he only made "horrible animal sounds" as they tortured him. Peeta believed that the goal had just been to force him to watch. It took days of beatings and mutilations until Darius died,[7] presumably having succumbed to his injuries.

Physical description[]

Katniss described Darius as probably being in his twenties, but that he didn't seem much older than she did. His messy red hair and his smile gave him a boyish charm and makes him stand out from most of the people living in District 12.[1] Upon his enslavement as an Avox, the Capitol mutilated his tongue so he could no longer speak.[6]

Personality[]

"As law enforcers go, he's one of my favorites. Never really throwing his weight around, usually good for a joke."
—Katniss Everdeen[src]

Darius was easygoing, often joking around with Katniss and Greasy Sae at the Hob.[1][4] He was also willing to intervene against a fellow Peacekeeper when he saw Gale getting punished so brutally,[5] so he seemed to have a strong moral compass.

Etymology[]

Darius is derived from the Persian name Dariush, meaning "holding firm the good"— where good is understood to mean truth and righteousness.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Catching Fire, Chapter 1
  2. 2.0 2.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 15
  3. Mockingjay, Chapter 13
  4. 4.0 4.1 Mockingjay, Chapter 14
  5. 5.0 5.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 8
  6. 6.0 6.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 16
  7. Mockingjay, Chapter 19
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