dear_mun | (no subject)

Just tasteless, actually.

'Peculiar' or 'deceitful' are also definitions of 'funny'.

Hello Katniss.

( the wordsmith himself. he would know that. )

Hi, Peeta.

[He wouldn't call himself a wordsmith. Then again, Katniss wouldn't describe herself as charismatic either.]

How are you doing?

... Fine.

( we all know what that means. )

[He reaches out - slowly so she can easily see the movement and avoid it if she wants - to touch her shoulder.] ... And ... your family?

( she doesn't shy away from that; it's something of an indulgence because where she's going, she doesn't want him to have to follow, and the people pulling their strings are always listening. )

Alive. Yours too. ( the look on her face says "at least for now." )

[The hand stays gently resting on her shoulder, then. Not holding, just a continuation of contact and human presence there.] You'll protect them, that's what you do. [Wry smile.]

( she tries for one too though ultimately it will never look as effortless as peeta's. )

Only you could make getting thrown to the wolves sound like a second chance.

( one she's terrified to screw up. at least she won't remember -- finnick, prim -- but doesn't that just make her more docile? )

That's what it is though, isn't it? And not that I saw what you brought to the Hob, but I'm pretty sure you could take out wolves without any problems.

With the right weapon. ( and the right partner. speaking of except not really: ) Haymitch is going to be there, too. I'll have someone watching my back at least. Or throwing up on it. ( you're not funny, katniss. )

He won't let anything happen to you, make sure you have the right weapons. [Or at least he will if he ever wants Peeta to keep him from choking on his own vomit ever again] ... And he throws up less if you slip him some water between the white liquor.

( she nods, and it's just hitting her now, she's going to be responsible for keeping haymitch sober and looking out for him when he's not. so that's going to go horribly. like she needs to be mentoring him while she's trying to keep a total stranger alive in the arena. probably have to make sure his stays alive too so he doesn't spiral into drunken uselessness; but then again only one of their tributes can survive. maybe it's best to keep her distance if she won't be able to save him from that pain he knows so well. a pain she might soon get to call her own. )

Do you wonder what it would have been like? If the Games continued and we took over for Haymitch? ( would they have wound up crushed, dispirited, clinging to an addictive escape? the morphlings... they'll be there too. maybe that's for the best: stark reminders of what she must not become. )

Sometimes. [Honest question, honest answer] I'd probably have been useless and ended up like Haymitch -- or just compulsively taking care of him or the tributes to prove that I wasn't just as bad. I think you would have done well, though. You know how to survive, and how to take care of people... and if you saw them as family, you'd stop at nothing to protect them. District 12 would suddenly have a winning streak and there wouldn't be enough houses for all of us.

( now that's a lovely picture, even if it's not the most realistic. she smiles in earnest, though it's nothing broad or dazzling. peeta's conviction almost makes it sound possible. )

I hope you're right.

[It's Katniss, a real earnest smile from her is better than all that. ~~Yes, she dazzles him~~.] Oh, it wouldn't be that much fun. We'd have probably had to move in together, or someone would have to bunk up with Haymitch. [Joking, he's joking.]

( eyebrows, because now you're being tasteless. and definitely not making it sound any more appealing! )

The worst Games yet.

Can you just imagine? They'd be career tributes by then, all dazzling. And interview after interview with Caesar. You would never stop twirling. They might make your prep team live with you too so you could be ready at a moment's notice. [See how he's taking horrific turns of events and turning them into a joke? This is why he's the camera-ready guy.]

( he just had to mention the twirling. that was a lifetime ago, okay? except that last part could really happen. )

No, impossible. How could they tell me every single aspect of their day of I've already been there for it?

( not that it would probably stop them. to have octavia, flavius and venia twittering in her ear again, colourful and carefree -- as vain as they are, that she might actually look forward to. )

Why would she want to fawn over me?

Maybe she can see you the way I see you.

[Confusing words. Pretty and confusing words. She hasn't heard anything like them for a while. Not since the 75th Hunger Games and before... before everything.

She ducks her head, hoping he doesn't see the heat flush her cheeks. Because there are far more important things to discuss.]

She's just using you, Peeta. Whatever excuse she's given you -- you can't trust her.

[Before things got complicated. Before the games. Because you never really leave the games. Once you're in the arena, you're there for life, even if you get back out.

He notices, but knows better than to speak of it. It's some small private treasure just for his own enjoyment, a memory to keep close to his heart. How does that go? Keep it secret, keep it safe.]

Can't trust anyone now a days, can we?

[She gives a curt nod. Because even if it's not quite true, even if maybe, just maybe, she'll trust Peeta and trust Haymitch, it's mostly true. Even Gale... She couldn't even trust Gale. Not in the end.

They were supposed to have each others backs.]

Could we ever?

You couldn't. [It thankfully doesn't come out as harsh as it could have, though how Katniss will take the words themselves, no matter how fond the tone, is entirely out of Peeta's control and never was in it to begin with.]

[No matter the tone, the words still sound harsh to Katniss' ears. But maybe he's right. No, she knows he's right.

Katniss Everdeen, the girl for whom trust is almost an impossibility.]

I'm trying to help you. [A glower.] Warn you about this new kind of Gamemaker.

[A good opposite for Peeta Mellark, the boy who can talk to everyone except the girl he really wants to talk to. He is cringing so much on the inside.] I'm listening, I just... think this one is about as dangerous as your beauticians.

[She can't help it. She laughs at the idea of her prep team as a danger to anybody. They really are about as dangers as a pack of pecking hens.

But she sobers up rather quickly.]

It's what they do that's dangerous. There are more games out there. And they find them and they make us play. Peeta, they really are Gamemakers.

I don't think this one is really up to more than playing dress up and nice-nice for the occasional cameras. But I'll be careful, alright? Are you... okay? [As okay as anyone can get.]

I am. [As okay as she can be, waiting to see if she'll be placed in a game again. Knowing Rue's already going to be there.]

Peeta. [It's hesitant.] Peeta, you better be careful.

[Gives Katniss that wry, just a little self-depreciating smile that the cameras love.] What's that saying, 'can't fall off the floor.'

[It doesn't sit well with her.] I think you [And she means Peeta here, not the general 'you'.] can.