Voice testing for an event at betenoire_rp.

[neverdeen]

If I'm in Hell, maybe that's where I should be.

But you -- you do not let me convince my daughter that she belongs there too. No matter how much I want to see her again.

Comments

[tributed]

[ Someone's unable to process her thoughts into words right now really. ]

Daddy...

[neverdeen]

[ It's a long moment before he recognizes her, before he understands. ]

Oh, Katniss. My little Katniss -- Look at you.

[tributed]

[ She swallows hard to try to compose herself. ]

I...

[ Ah, screw it. Everything hurts so much lately she just wants to wrap her arms around her daddy and hold him tight and pretend she's a kid again and nothing ever went wrong. So she does just that. ]

[neverdeen]

[ He gets it.

Or, rather, he doesn't get it, but he thinks he does. He knows she's had a rough time.

His arms wrap right around her, and he strokes between her shoulderblades. ]

Brave girl.

[ Doesn't say everything's going to be okay: it won't. Doesn't say that he's here, because, really, he isn't. ]

[tributed]

[ She doesn't need that.

Or maybe she does. It's hard to tell anymore. She doesn't know what she needs or wants. She's wanted the decision taken out of her hands for ages now and then it was and she panicked and now she's lost.

It doesn't matter. He's present. That's all that matters. ]

I'm not.

I'm scared.

[neverdeen]

You're brave just to be alive.

Look at you. It's been years.

[ Hell of an accomplishment: staying alive that long. ]

[tributed]

[ There were so many times she almost didn't. She almost gave up. ]

Prim needed me.

[ Prim... ]

I... couldn't even do that...

[haveasugarcube]

So you're Daddy Everdeen?

[neverdeen]

[ And now: no you did the best you could.

He pulls her back, and lifts her chin and looks into her eyes. ]

You can tell me.

[neverdeen]

I guess I am.

[tributed]

[ Because she knows she didn't. ]

She's dead. I didn't protect her.

[haveasugarcube]

I'm sorry, then.

[neverdeen]

The whole story, Katniss.

[neverdeen]

She not living up to the family name? Because I can't think of any other reason to be sorry.

[haveasugarcube]

I was supposed to take care of her.

I didn't.

[tributed]

That's.... a long story, Dad.

[accidentalspark]

[Katniss just. Stares. Trying to process if this is real.]

[neverdeen]

Then tell me what I need to know.

[neverdeen]

Finnick Odair, isn't it?

How about you tell me how you ended up protecting my daughter in the first place.

[neverdeen]

Surprised to see me?

Come here.

[tributed]

...

She got picked for the Hunger Games, so I went in for her. I won, but I helped start a revolution. I didn't mean to. She died during it... trying to provide help to people in need.

[accidentalspark]

[She doesn't care if it's an illusion. She just runs straight into his arms and buries her face against his chest.]

[neverdeen]

Good girl... brave girl.

[ Arms wrapped around her tight. ]

[neverdeen]

So you got used. By a whole lot of people who had no business doing that.

[accidentalspark]

[She hugs him with a death-grip, trying not to start crying; it doesn't work, and her eyes start to well]

Only because I have to be.

[neverdeen]

Best kind of bravery.

[ Oh, he's hugging so tight -- he knows his time is short, and that he's only a shadow of what he was. ]

[accidentalspark]

Maybe. Maybe.

[She pulls herself closer, not knowing it was possible, but she needs to. She needs to let herself feel small in his arms right now]

It's so hard sometimes.

[tributed]

I thought if I let it happen then I could protect everyone.

[neverdeen]

I know. I know it is.

[ He hushes her, thinking it doesn't matter, the details don't matter.

They'll both die eventually anyhow. ]

I'd give you some advice, but we both know you'd damn well do what was best... you're so big, look how much you've grown.

[neverdeen]

And you couldn't?

Because you can't. You can't protect everyone. No one can.

[accidentalspark]

I'm finding I'm pretty bad at listening to people lately, anyway.

[She slowly pulls her face back enough so she can look up at his.]

It's been years. [Since she's seen him. Years to grow, to change. She's trying to hold back her tears.]

another Katniss muse....? can't have too many of those hitting him up!

[dandelionsinspring]

[Excuse her a minute while she just... stares. And... stares.

Her voice sounds quiet to her ears when she finally speaks.]

Daddy...?