i never knew daylight could be so violent ;; [ CLOSED ]

[empowers]

WHO ;; Katniss Everdeen (empowers) & Peeta Mellark (unfalteringly).
WHAT ;; General bonding.
WHEN ;; Day 105.
WHERE ;; Gefion Park.
RATING ;; PG / max PG13.

[ They hadn't really had much time to talk, one on one, since they'd both gotten here. There were moments of lightheartedness because compared to Panem, this was like heaven. It was a peaceful place, it was safe... No one was going to be put through a Reaping, no more Hunger Games... But something about Peeta was different. Off. And she hadn't really been ready to delve deeper into just what. But she knew she still cared for him, and she still wanted to protect him... And here, she could do that without a complete risk of both of their lives. Spending time with him would be the first step to recovery from the things they'd been through in the 74th and 75th games. A walk in the park could help. She looks over at him and gives him a smile, no matter how weak. It's what she can muster unless your name is Rue or Prim. Or if she's hunting. ]

It almost reminds me of the way things looked outside the perimeter fence.

Comments

[unfalteringly]

[ Peeta looks at Katniss out of the corner of his eye. Here, they were safe to lead somewhat normal lives, far more normal than they'd ever have back in Panem. And far safer. This is the first real chance he'd getting to see her though, but to see that she was more than just an image being projected by some silly bracelet was a comfort. He can get over the fact that it took until now to see her in person.

Somewhat tentatively, Peeta slips his hand into Katniss's, though he's ready to pull his hand back at a moment's notice ]

I don't think I've ever seen outside of the fence up close.

[empowers]

You should some-- [ She stops, then realizing what she's about to say. If they ever go back, they still may never see home again. ] - You would've liked it, I think. It's open. Free. And the air's so much fresher, out away from all the mining... [ It's an odd conversation to have with someone who isn't Gale, that's for certain, but... She needs to have some sort of conversation. This is something to start with, at least. ] I would've taken you out there, but after we got back, things just -- [ Yeah. Awkward. ] Maybe if we ever go back home and there's a chance.

[unfalteringly]

[ Peeta's quiet as she speaks. He doesn't want to interrupt her, doesn't want to risk not getting to hear what she has to say about the woods around District 12. It's something that she only shared with Gale. It's something he never really expected to get to be a part of and it's not something he wants to give up just yet. Just listening to her talk about the woods back home, it's like this whole new Katniss that he's never met before. This is a Katniss who didn't participate in the Games and one who isn't being dragged down by the Capitol. Maybe this is the kind of Katniss he'll get to see more of here in Asgard ] Free and open. Spoken like a true mockingjay. [ There's something of a smile in his voice when he speaks. It's not some sort of jab at her, a reminder of the symbol people are pushing her to be, he's simply comparing her to a bird. That's all ]

I'd like that, to see it with you. I'd like to see you in a place where you can just be Katniss back home. [ He doesn't have the heart to tell her just yet that he may never see her again back home. His current living arrangements back in Panem make it seem as though he won't be leaving the Capitol ]

[empowers]

[ She looks over at him and manages a somewhat actually sort of genuine smile, but it doesn't last long, and she shakes her head. ] I'm no mockingjay. [ But somewhere deep down, she knows she kind of is. Freedom. She wants nothing more than freedom. Open air. ]

Even if we did go home, I don't think we'd ever make it back to Twelve, Peeta. But it's nice to think about. [ She doesn't mean to be so morbid and doomsayish but... ] I'm sure the Capitol wants me dead. Even more than I was before.

[unfalteringly]

But you are, Katniss. I don't mean that you're some symbol that people want you to be, and are trying to make you into. You're like a real mockingjay. Open air, freedom, it's what everyone wants, but it's what you had. [ Even if it was only short periods of time, and never true freedom ] Before we went to the Capitol the first time, I'd never been outside the fence around 12. Most people haven't and probably never will be. I still technically haven't been outside of the fence. But you have been. Birds aren't restricted by fences and neither are you. [ Yes, he can see how that's just as much a symbol of hope and freedom and- and rebellion, but she's always been so much more than that to him ]

I don't know what the Capitol wants, but I don't think they want you dead. That'll just make you into a martyr and give people more to fight for.

[empowers]

[ Oh, Peeta. Why do you have to touch her heart sometimes. She's supposed to like. IDK. Not have one. 8( rude. And yet... It kind of makes her want to hold his hand, but she refrains. Weakness. She can't show that kind of weakness right now. ] The trick is to learn how to listen for the hum of the electricity, and to find weak spots in the fence. I learned quickly. [ She really is like a bird, when he puts it that way. ] Gale and I talked about running, that first year. The year we won. The day of the reaping. [ She can't remember if she's talked to him about this, told him this. It's a private thought, one she only reflects on in her darkest moments... Or times like now. ] Talked about taking our families, and running. Living in the woods. We could've -- [ This must be painful for him. ] - But we didn't. I've never really been sure why.

[ Oh. Um - ] Did they talk to you? Tell you something like that?

[unfalteringly]

[ Katniss will have to learn sometime that there's little she could do to appear weak to Peeta. And it is just the two of them ] I guess I never really- [ But that's where the thought ends. He grows quiet when she mentions Gale, looks down when she talks about their idea to run. The silence is short-lived, though and he looks over at her again. If she'd left with Gale that day, Peeta's sure it wouldn't have changed the fact that he was reaped. If she'd left with Gale that day, Peeta wouldn't have made it out of the arena alive ] You should have gone. You both should have taken your families and disappeared into the woods.

[ Oh Katniss. How did the two of you get on this topic? Peeta doesn't want to talk about the Capitol ] It's nothing that they said to me directly. More like a feeling I got while I was there. [ Sounds totally legit right? ]

[empowers]

[ One day, she will. But for now, she's strong. A pillar. And she'll stay that way, until he tears a few more walls down. ] Never really what? [ She didn't really think about the fact that she'd just mentioned Gale. Talking about going beyond the fence called for Gale being naturally tied into a story, as far as she felt it. He was a part of that world for her. He always had been.

Her face contorts into confusion, and she looks over at him quickly, shaking her head. She frowns. ] I never would have -- We never would have gotten close, Peeta. I never would have realized just what sort of person you really were... I never would have met Rue. And, besides... I don't think Prim or my mother could have survived. Some days, my mother couldn't even get herself out of -- [ She stops. It's painful. Very, very painful. ] And Prim... She's so young. And Gale has so many brothers and sisters... Too many mouths to feed, and we'd be too easily found. They take the crafts out there. Gale and I saw one, once. [ She won't go into that story now. ] It was a close call. We were lucky.

[ omg their lives are perpetually horrifying what are you talking about this is SMALL TALK ok :| ] ... You got a feeling, about me?

[unfalteringly]

[ He already feel like he's making process with this tearing down walls thing. Maybe it's not much, but it's something ] I never really had a reason to spend much time near the fence. [ Never long enough to listen for that hum of electricity. The idea of going outside the fence just never really crossed his mind ]

Maybe you wouldn't have known me or Rue but you would have been safe. [ Even if only for a little while. Of course, there's also the fact that a lot of the things that are happening just wouldn't be if she'd run off into the woods that day ] Katniss, you're smart about the woods. You know how to survive there, you and Gale, both. Even with your whole families, you could have made it.

[ THIS IS NOT SMALL TALK. It's at least medium talk ok ] It just seems like it wouldn't work out for them if they killed you. [ Not yet. Which means there's still a chance for Katniss. Unless he's completely wrong ]

[empowers]

[ Of course he didn't. Baker's son. They were better off. Her mother was -- she wasn't really anything, anymore. ] No, I guess you didn't. [ You're lucky, Peeta. ]

For how long? You know the time would come when they counted for the Reaping, they'd be after us. We wouldn't have gotten far. And then, what? What would they do to us? Kill us? Worse? [ :( :( :( ]

A spark. [ That's all the more she says. Sometimes, she still worries about eyes, eyes everywhere, ears everywhere, watching her, listening... ] More than what could be contained.

[unfalteringly]

[ Better off, but not as well off as a lot of people assumed. He knows a lot of people assumed that the Mellarks ate well simply because of their profession. They ate a little better than some of the others mostly because there was Gale and Katniss to trade with. Not that he would ever complain. He knew what others had and didn't. Or at least he liked to think he did ]

I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit, Katniss. The two of you could have made it work. [ If Katniss would have been happier that way, Peeta would have given her up to the woods.

Not like she even knew who he was then, anyway ] You wouldn't have had to say good bye to your family twice and you wouldn't have risked never seeing them again. [ And now, who knows what's going to happen ]

Maybe there's just more kindling than anyone ever thought there was.