you'll be alright ; no one can hurt you now. ( OPEN )

[empowers]

Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and you!
Where: The Mockingjay Bakery ( and above apartment )
When: 19th of Rebirth's Decline
What: Moving! Mattress acquired, the Knight and the Princess make themselves a home. Scandalous.

For a girl from the Seam who grew up with nothing and had to fight just to live, the overwhelming welcome and riches and praise showered on her for the happenstance of her occupation has been a little overwhelming for Katniss. She isn't surprised that Peeta has many people who enjoy him, who find his company pleasant... He's had that from the beginning. A warm smile, a kind word... A hearty laugh. It's like he can't help making friends, no matter where he goes. But Katniss isn't accustomed to people regarding her highly. She was met with appreciation in District Eleven, thunderous applause in the Capitol, but it wasn't anything like this. She's respected - truly respected - here.

There were whispers all around them, of course, about the circumstances surrounding their new housing situation. Rumors flew like birds between the townspeople. The Knight who didn't lift the heavy things for her Princess. Unwed and planning to share a bed. Scandal. She couldn't bring herself to care. They were here. Peeta was safe. She was safe. Rue was safe. She would invite Rue to live with them, too. They could share a bed, the three of them. It wouldn't be the same with the young girl there as it was on the train, or in the Arena, but it would be warm and comfortable.

Peeta managed to find a mattress that would actually be soft and like a real bed. She wondered if it would be like the Capitol mattresses, or the ones they had in their District. Soft and pillowy, versus tolerable and a little harder. She hoped it was pillowy. Adjusting to a new place was difficult enough without being uncomfortable. Then again, she would have been find with flour sacks stuffed with soft pine needles if it meant Peeta could help quell the nightmares that plagued her and left her restless and tired. So, so tired.

Today, they were moving their things into the apartment above Peeta's bakery. The doors were, as always, left open, so that friends and acquaintances could come assist if they wanted. Or, if they simply wanted to visit, they could do that as well. They may find Peeta and Katniss hefting the mattress up the stairs, or if they arrive later, they might find them moving other furniture, or settled upstairs already, decorating. Later still and they may just be enjoying something to eat. While she doesn't necessarily trust it, their door remains open for the remainder of the day, regardless of what point in their moving and decorating they are experiencing.

Comments

[dailybread]

Peeta recognized that face from his first day. He was at the bottom end of the mattress, taking the bulk of the weight; his grip was secure, but he didn't want to risk any bruising of little feet or fingers.

"I think we've got it." He shoots a smile over his shoulder. "Katniss, you okay?"

[empowers]

Katniss, despite the fact that she was nowhere near as strong as Peeta, nor anywhere close to as muscular, gave a heft just to show she was fine. She offered a smile to the small boy. She assumed it was a friend of Peeta's, and made no qualms with his presence because of it. Besides... For all of her emotional blocks, she had somewhat of a soft spot for kids. Somehow, they all managed to remind her of Prim.

"I'm fine," she added, hoisting another few inches and dragging the mattress along.

[dailybread]

"There's some food in the kitchen, if you're hungry."

Peeta shifted to try and take more of the weight than Katniss, trusting her to keep them going in the right direction while he kept the bulky mattress from pitching them both down the stairs.

"That's Faolan. He likes sandwiches," he added, to her. He didn't think it would be an issue, but knowing the kid wasn't just a wanderer off the street couldn't hurt.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Oh! What a good idea! Faolan trotted away from the stairs, following his nose to the kitchen. He could make sandwiches so they would have them after.

Faolan was an amazing sandwich maker. He chose all of his favorite things in the kitchen, putting slices of beef, lettuce, and tomatoes on the nice smelling bread with mustard. There were even strawberries, and he filled a bowl with them.

Picking everything up, he carefully carried it all back to the stairs to watch the pair with the mattress. He climbed up a few steps behind Peeta, craning his neck to watch the progress.