third arrow fired. ➵ video. ➵ here it is safe, here it is warm.

[empowers]

[ Katniss doesn't mince words or waste time with ~*~*~manners~*~*~, as Effie would remind her. She has a relatively emotionless expression on her face, because she's just thinking business right now, and she's whittling away at a new arrow. ]

Would anyone here be interested in taking hunting lessons? I'd like to earn some extra money to help move out of the Gods' houses, for me and the rest of us from Panem, and I'm a good shot. I could teach you how to fire an arrow and how to make a bow, and string it... Skills we don't necessarily need here right now, but ones that we might. Especially if another camping trip happens like the last one.

If you're interested, you can just tell me here, or leave me a message later. I'll teach one on one.

[ After a slightly awkward pause, and thinking about it for a second, she speaks again. ]

Thanks.

Comments

[unfalteringly]

[ Sorry Katniss but someone's snickering at you right now ]

Your pitch is definitely straight to the point. Most people would have started out with some sort of pleasantries.

I think Effie would be proud. Well, horrified in that way she does by most of it but she would have forgotten all about that once you said thanks.

[empowers]

[ She almost gets mad and says 'I'm doing this for you' but then she remembers she's also doing it for Rue and also starting fights is bad because they need each other right? ]

Effie isn't here. It doesn't matter.

[unfalteringly]

[ Funny because Peeta thinks they're doing it for each other, as well as Rue ]

Effie isn't here, but it still matters. You're offering a service to people so you have to appeal to people. What's to stop them from going to someone else who offers the same sort of lessons, but whose company they're enjoy more?

[ Not saying that she's the worst company, of course, because he actually enjoys her company... but not everyone has the excuse of being in love with her ]

[empowers]

I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with, Peeta, but they won't find anyone that's as good at this as I am. Whether or not I coddle them has nothing to do with them wanting a lesson from me.

[ She frowns, though. Is she really that offputting? THAT offputting? ]

[unfalteringly]

Not everyone actually knows how good you are, Katniss. [ One of the best, by his standards ] This of this like all of those pre-Games events. I'm not saying to coddle them, just that you should try to make a good impression on them.

[ A good impression is part of the reason why Peeta's going to go to Lancelot for crossbow training and sword lessons ]

how did i miss this

[empowers]

[ For a moment there's a glimpse of laughter in her eyes and she cracks a small smile. ] Manners.

because there's some strange force trying to keep us apart X|

[unfalteringly]

[ Peeta smiles along with her. It's hard not to, with her smiles being as rare as they are. Then, in his best Capitol accent: ] Manners are important. We have to make a good impression.

i hate said force

[empowers]

And, of course, we must be ever sure that the Gamemakers won't take out unruly behavior on us! [ She mocks Effie's accent perfectly, and for the first time in a great while, the laughter from her eyes sneaks into her voice, up her throat, and out of her lips. ]

me too :c BUT TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT DEAD!

[unfalteringly]

Because it's already punishment enough to be stuck with such an inept District. [ Peeta's laughing now too and it's making it hard to keep up the Capitol accent that he's already not that great at ]

WE R KILLIN IT NAO.

[empowers]

[ Then, she mocks a different voice. The slur and roughness should be a dead giveaway. ] Least they're fighters for once.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT DEAD!

[unfalteringly]

[ Oh it's definitely unmistakable. That's Octavia, right? ] And if they win- [ Watch him make a fool of himself as he tries to mimic Effie ] -maybe I'll get transferred to a good District next year!

LMFAO I LOVE THIS.

[empowers]

[ NOPE. Haymitch. But close enough????
uh. ] One with manners.

[ For some reason, the smile still hasn't left my face. I feel light. Like I'm lacking some burden I've been carrying for days without rest. It's a good feeling, I think. Confusing. It's nothing that I'm used to. But it's nice. I'm relaxed. I enjoy making jokes with Peeta. It's not just because of the relief it gives me. That's nice. But his smile. It sends warm bubbles through my stomach and a flutter in my chest.

That's nice, too. ]

LMFAO Me too~

[unfalteringly]

[ Damn. Next guess was Flavius :c ]

One that won't embarrass me and make me look bad with their awful, terrible manners.

[ This is nice, light and airy, a good change from their usual topics of conversation about the bad going on at home and their own mortality. For the moment, at least, his life feels a little less... constricted? He feels like the weight of the world is off of his shoulders. For the moment.

They really need to laugh more ]

chinhands

[empowers]

Do you think she ever would have stopped talking about wanting a better District? [ She looks over at him, smile still on her face, but her tone more casual than purposefully humorous. ]

[heartfeltfancy]

...you know how to use a bow and arrow?

[empowers]

Since I was a girl. Do you want to learn?

[heartfeltfancy]

N-No, I actually know how to use one already! I was--am just happy to see someone else who can!

[empowers]

It's a weapon that's overlooked too much anymore.

[heartfeltfancy]

Mmm, well, I think people tend to want more...immediate kinds of weapons, like guns or bombs. Not long-distance ones that take a lot of time to practice, ehe.

[empowers]

We couldn't get guns or bombs where I lived. I made my own bow, my own arrows... It was a necessity, to survive. It's how I fed my family.

[heartfeltfancy]

[W-Woah! This girl is cool...]

Ah, really? Wow, that's really admirable.

[empowers]

[ Admirable. She would laugh, if she weren't in such good control of her emotions. ]

It wasn't a choice.

video;

[minifridge]

I'm interested. I don't have a lot of experience with hunting actual animals.

[Because that would never sound ominous to a Hunger Games survivor, Mary.]

video;

[empowers]

[ uh. ]

... Do you just shoot targets, then?

[minifridge]

We hunted monsters.

this must've been lost in the Great Computer Crash of 2012. feel free to drop.

[empowers]

What sort of monsters?