Finally letting him out. Journal is complete work in progress, not even sure if this PB is staying.

[soldbythecapitol]

What's this, you let me sit around up here for a few weeks and now all of a sudden you just have to let me talk?


As if I haven't been talking your ear off since we started this little thing of ours. Okay, so I've mainly argued that you need to rethink the series point but come now dear, don't tell me you can't see why. With everything that comes after bringing me a little later is the best...

Yes of course, because then I'd have some sliver of happiness no matter how fleeting and we wouldn't want that, now would we?


That journal name is not sticking, it's not as if it's something I'm proud of and I'd rather not have it known by every person I speak to.....


Why don't you finish reading again like you wanted to, get the icons you wanted when the site is back up and leave me alone a little longer. If you're taking it all away from me at least let me enjoy it while I can.

Comments

[asafire]

They don't listen. It's just another Game--there's no use reasoning with them, not any of them. Yours won't be any different.

[soldbythecapitol]

Trouble in mun-land Katniss? How about a kiss to make it all better.


(Eyes are watching after all, do not want to drop the charming flirt persona too quickly.)

[vainqueurdeluxe]

I've long since given up trying to argue with the mundane...

That journal name is certainly not an ideal one, is it?

[asafire]

[It ought to say something about the power of Finnick that the comment still makes the tips of ears tingle, as if threatening to flush It's a joke and a defense and she knows it and she narrows her eyes, and that does not make it any better.]

No. Take this seriously, because it's real.

[soldbythecapitol]

That seems to be the popular vote.


That's putting it nicely. After all, who wants to advertise what they did to us. Unless there's good reason.

[soldbythecapitol]

(Sure it does. Okay well a kiss would cause guilt and probably a slap but the insinuation can at least give a second of 'amusement'.)

I know. But, we're good at Games. More practice than either of them have.

[asafire]

[Amusement for someone--not for Katniss. Life is already too confusing, okay, she does not need any extra kissing. Nor does she need to feel a slight twinge of amused agreement at his point. It's a good point. But--]

It doesn't matter. It's all worse than the Games--they can change everything, even things the Gamemakers could never have hoped to change--and they know everything.

[soldbythecapitol]

(It must be bad. He nearly regrets he is not in a position to strip to his underwear and at least cause her one moment of annoyed amusement. But he can not, what he can do is relate to that edge of fear there and feel a slice of it himself. He reaches out, takes Katniss by the hand offering one reassuring squeeze a grounding factor if you will before releasing it. Sea-green eyes soften and that facade seems to slip into the background, eyes watching be damned.)


Okay, I hear you, problem being you have to slow down and be a little more specific, I get it they know everything, that is kind of hard to deny but not much we can do about what they already know but I don't get what you're saying by changing things.

[vainqueurdeluxe]

Unless it's going to actually make something change? Yeah, no.

Muns are almost as sick and twisted as Game Makers.

[asafire]

[She meets his eyes, lets him take her hand, and--carefully--squeezes back, drawing strength from that gesture. It might be small, but means more than anything else.

She takes a breath.]

If they put you in these Games, they can change things. They have complete control--it's like the Quell, they can change the weather, they can--make you hear things-- [And as she's saying it, she realizes how crazy it sounds.] We have to be careful.

[soldbythecapitol]

(That is the real Finnick showing through, the one who views her as more than an ally or Mockingjay. His mun can force him to be earlier in the series in a game, but here he is taking a stand and keeping those memories of what they have all been through together. Thing being, he is nodding his head as she says it all. Clearly believing every word, after all it is not as if Finnick has some fantasy of people in power being "good" or "caring")


No way out? From one war to another, I mean, we can't just take it lying down, right. (Because if he lies down or gives in, Finnick is going to need the length of rope he is craving right now.)

Someone has to look after Annie and Peeta.

[soldbythecapitol]

I'm starting to think Katniss is right, they're right on par. Seems they frequent the same places, mine just saw what they call an "interesting meme". I'm taking it this is code speak to fit in with these games they talk about?

[vainqueurdeluxe]

Pretty much. Those "memes" can be worse, sometimes...

Good luck, Finnick... You're going to need it.

[asafire]

[The sensibility of what he says is a surprising help. Not that his sensibility is a surprise, of course--there have always been depths to Finnick--more surprised at the fact that it's a help. It's just words, it shouldn't mean very much, but Katniss should know better. In the Games, words can sway so much. Outside of the Games, it's no different, not even to her.]

I know. [But there's a modicum of extra strength and stubbornness to her tone now, far less of the tenseness.] You're right. We won't--

[And she raises her chin, with a sarcastic little smile.] We beat it once. We can beat it again.

[soldbythecapitol]

Technically, we've beat it twice (Now he just grins, it is a relief to let the "public persona" go, even if it is because once again he finds himself and someone he cares for facing dangers. Many of them unknown but not unfamiliar. Finnick knew how to motivate Katniss because after surviving the arena and returning to your life as it is all victors have to find "reason" to go on or succumb to addictions that dull the torment. Katniss was like him, she found "reason" not addiction.)


Third time is a charm or some crap from the mun over here. Way I figure, just means we've got an edge.

[soldbythecapitol]

It's always one Game or another.

You too Cashmere, not like we both won't need it.

[asafire]

[If someone had told Katniss that she would ever think of herself as anything like Finnick Odair, she would have outright laughed. But it's true. They're both victors, after all. That comes at a similar price--and a similar way of thinking, both in the arena and outside of it, in this new arena.

And it means, too, that their cynicism is well-earned. That's what allows her to calm a bit more, and give him a sarcastic little lift of her eyebrow.]

Are you saying this is going to be easy?

[soldbythecapitol]

(It may be wise for Katniss to never let him know this, after all, he has to tease sometimes and if comparing her to him allows him to do so, he just might.

But her comment causes a snort of laughter and the slightest cocking of his head as he pretends to hang himself with an invisible noose.)

Not as easy as hanging myself out to dry. (Shakes his head, seriousness seeping into sea-green eyes.)

It's never easy, it's never going to be easy.

[asafire]

[His grim bit of miming gets another bitter smile out of her, though it fades rather quickly. That's always an option open to them, no matter what Game they're in--but she wouldn't do it, and as she thinks that, she realizes that Finnick probably wouldn't either. They're racking up similarities at this point.]

You can't remove yourself from the Game. You're supposed to be my ally. [It's weirdly sentimental, when phrased that way, and she twists her mouth a bit to take some of the sincerity out of it.] It won't be easy, but it can be done. You're right.

[A beat, and she shifts, looking down, suddenly self-conscious.] Thanks.

[soldbythecapitol]

(He slips just an inch closer, an arm going around her shoulders Finnick with just the barest hint of a squeeze given. Well Katniss, similarities may keep coming, after all both of them are survivors and protectors above all else.)

I've never been good at taking the easy way out, don't worry. Now, to get prepared for whatever it is they can find to throw at us.

(Lightly bumps her hip with his, giving a bit more of a playful smile this time when she goes self conscious.)

Don't have to thank me, the mentally disoriented have to stick together.

[asafire]

[She should really be more irritated by his closeness--she should really be more irritated at that familiar hip bump--but she knows Finnick by now. She can't be irritated.

Instead, she just wrinkles her nose at him.]

Sorry. Guess I'm so disoriented, I forgot. [But her attempt at a deadpan expression failing utterly in the face of that old joke.] From what I've heard, there's no training in all of Panem that could really prepare us for what they could send us. Maybe being mentally disoriented will actually help us this time.

[soldbythecapitol]

(He just smiles at the nose wrinkle. Seeming relaxed even though he is anything but. When she says that there is a flicker of how true that joke is at times as his fingers for just a second fashion invisible knots in the air. Not nearly as therapeutic as the real thing but it is enough to let him wink once at Katniss.)


Looks like we're winging it again.

[asafire]

[Katniss just barely catches the shiver of his fingers moving, and reaches to take his hand again, even though he's already smiling once more.]

That's not so bad--we have good allies. The odds are still ever in our favor.

[soldbythecapitol]

(That soft touch of hands brings Finnick to squeeze hers. The contact makes him feel stronger and he raises their joined hands in the air with a wider grin at her choice of words.)

Let the 77th Hunger Games Begin!