eswareinmal | first arrow. ➳ voice. ( orb )

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first arrow. ➳ voice. ( orb )

[ She practically threatened the old man out of her sight. ] Of course I have questions -- [ Desperate, horrifying ones. ] Prim! [ The voice rings out loudly over the orb's range of networking, the desperate shriek of a seventeen year old girl. The jabberjays have stopped. She's removed her hands from her ears, and she's discovered herself in a strange place with strange clothing. Everything is unfamiliar. And that can only mean one thing.

The Capitol has finally gotten to her. And probably her loved ones. ]

Peeta! [ She breathes raggedly. Like a scared animal. ] Where am I? What happened to them? [ The memory of the arena is fresh in her mind. Peeta, on the other side of the glass separating she and Finnick from the others as the jabberjays wreaked their havoc. The sounds of Prim and Gale screaming in voices that could only be brought on by torture. Surely they were dead. ]

I was in the arena! I was playing your damned Games! I did everything you asked me -- what did you do?! [ She has no idea to whom she is speaking. She's furious. She's terrified. She's yelling, and she's not going to stop yelling until she gets some answers. She wants them, now, and until she hears something soothing or receives a reasonable explanation for her whereabouts, she'll remain desperate.

And dangerous. ]

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I'm not close to any windows. I'll see if I can find one, get a look out... [ She's feeling trapped. Trapped like a rat in a cage or some cruel maze where every ending certainly ends in death. Or worse. ] There isn't any sun spilling in anywhere. It's like I'm underground. Does the castle have a basement?

[ She's going to wind up busting out of here by way of claustrophobic insanity, if nothing else. If he doesn't get to her soon, that's pretty much what's going to happen. ]

I can't believe she's alive, Peeta.

I was a couple floors up when I came in, but I don't know if everyone arrives in the same room. [He wants to hold her hand, to stroke her skin and tell her everything's going to be okay. He settles for comforting her with his voice.] If you can find a window, the market quarter is south of the castle.

[He wouldn't believe it either, if he hadn't seen her in his bakery, guided her small, delicate hands with his; heard her laughter and seen the joy on her face.]

I know. But it's real.

I think I'm close to a way out. The sounds in the hall are echoing differently. [ She's just that good. Or maybe it's just her Enhanced Capitol Ear. ] Stairs, probably.

[ She's so relieved to know, though. But the nightmares.. They'll come back for sure. ]

I have to keep her safe here.

Good. [He's relieved to hear that, enough that his shoulders relax a little. She'll be okay. He'll make sure of it.]

I've been keeping an eye on her. She'll be thrilled to see you.

Thank you. [ What else can she say? Peeta may as well be telling her he's been keeping an eye on Prim. It means the world to her.

She'll have to kiss him. ]

I found the stairs.

It's no trouble.

[He may not have little siblings, but he thinks that Rue is what having a sister would be like. He remembers the sound of Katniss' voice as she volunteered to take Prim's place, sinking a deep chill into his bones.]

Do you want me to direct you here, or try to find you? I'll stay with you either way. [On the orb for now, but as long as she'll have him, too.]

[ Haymitch is right. A million lifetimes, and she wouldn't deserve him. ]

I think I can find my way from here, just tell me which way. [ She's climbed the stairs, taking them two at a time. She needs out of here. The walls are too close. There's no air. She feels like she's suffocating. ]

There's only one road from the castle. Go straight until you come to the bridge facing south-west, cross it, and take the first left.

[She might not be very pleased to see the sign, but--] You won't be able to miss me.

[ it's strange, that he seems to know this place as well as he does. as she walks, she continues to speak to him, though she knows the way now. ]

How long have you been here, Peeta?

Just since yesterday, but I've gone back and forth a lot. I slept in a room in the castle last night, but--[with all the fussing and preening and bowing, he felt like he was back in the Games, and that was distinctly uncomfortable.] I opened a bakery, and I think I might try to set up an apartment above it, or in back.

[He pauses, not wanting to send her running. How to word this.] There's enough room for you, if you want to stay here. Rue, too.

You've only been here a day, and you already have a bakery? [ She's incredulous at first, but then she laughs. Actually laughs. If he could see the smile on her face... It's fleeting, of course, but the idea that he has already charmed his way into establishing his own business here is only too like him. ]

And a place of your own to live. Do we all have to stay in the ca-- [ Oh. It would make sense, though. The only way she gets any decent sleep is when he's holding her. ] I don't want to stay here. I'd rather stay with you and Rue.

[He laughs a little, too--more in response to finally seeing her smile, a thing that unclenches his stomach and floods him with warmth, than because of the humor in the statement. Although, he supposes it is a little weird that he established so quickly, but the townspeople had been incredibly helpful; all he'd had to do was clean a little and then get to baking.]

I don't have a bed yet, but we can talk about decorating once you've gotten here and had something to eat.

I'm from the Seam, Peeta. Decorating isn't that important. [ She remembers her tiny home. The huge thing in the Victors' Village was never home. It never held a candle. ]

I found a door. [ She sounds relieved, maybe even excited. Outside. She needs to be outside. But, before she exits, someone stops her. ] -- Hold on, Peeta.

[ She tucks her orb away for awhile. The while turns into longer. Off-Orb, Katniss is being told she owns a horse. She's receiving said horse, being saddled up, and sent off on that horse. She never contacts him again. But she rides to the bakery.

When she sees the name, her heart stops for a moment. He didn't. She dismounts, tethering to a post she finds nearby. She gives the great beast a stroke or two. It seems strange, not killing it here, using it for her dinner. Keeping it as a pet, a companion, instead. She walks inside, surveying the innermost parts of the structure.

The smell is overwhelming, and her mouth waters. ]

Peeta?

[His heart goes into his throat when he hears her, not over the orb, but really her. His head jerks up from where he's kneading dough and he's halfway across the room, arms out, before he thinks to pause and ask her permission.]

Katniss.

small>[She looks okay--shaken, but not hurt anywhere. Still, he wants to hear it from her.]

You're okay?

Edited 2012-09-09 09:46 (UTC)

[ She doesn't hesitate to allow him. Her arms are outstretched before long, too, and when they collide she wraps them around him and holds on tight. Security. This is security. This is what makes sense to her right now. This place doesn't make sense. But Peeta does. He always does. ]

I'm okay. We're okay.

[It's only been a few days, but he'd already forgotten how much better he feels when he has her in his arms, can feel her breathing and warm and safe. He squeezes his eyes shut, and for a moment just presses his nose against her hair and holds her.]

Are you hungry?

[ She doesn't let go just yet, either. He's solid. He's always been so solid. She tightens her grip a little. ]

A little. But I'm alright.

[She's not any thinner than the last time. Good. He knows she isn't anything close to well-fed, but she's not in danger of dying. Still--]

You need to eat. I've baked some pastry, but if you want something more substantial, we can go down to the market.

[...He'll let her pull away first, though.]

[ She perks up a little and manages a smile. ]

Do you have any cheese buns? [ She wants cheese buns!!! ]

[That draws a laugh from him. Not only is it cute, or as close as Katniss gets, but it's something he can do to make her happy.]

Of course I have cheese buns.

I'd love to have some. [ She wonders if they have lamb stew here. She hopes they do. Or something like it. But cheese buns will sate her for now because DELICIOUS. ]

[He can't let go of her. Not completely. Not yet.

So he pulls back just enough to slip his fingers through hers and leads her to the counter, where a pile of cheese buns are sitting on a plate. They've been popular--he tries to have a batch in the oven as often as possible, to keep up with the demand.]

Do you want anything else? I can go to the market for you.

No, Peeta. [ She smiles, and reaches for one, taking a bite immediately. And because Effie never got manners through her head, she speaks between bites. Sometimes while chewing. ] I'm fine. This is fine. [ And god these are good. ] -- Still as good as I remember.

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first arrow. ➳ voice. ( orb )

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suddenly action.

Whee!

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lskdjhf html fail ;-;

it's okay i love you forever anyway. SPEED FAIL 8(

I'm glad ;-;

licks face

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