02 ✼ Video

[brokennotmad]

[Thankfully Annie's awaken back in her own body. She's still very much unnerved by the experience of being trapped in a man's body for a days on end. It's truly not an experience she wants to remember.

She hadn't even been able to function enough to contact Finnick and let him know what was going on. She hadn't wanted him to see her like that. Someone not herself.

She's wandered to the lake, and is pacing back and forth on the water's edge, her eyebrows drawn together as she shakes her head.]

You all said this place was better! They never turned me into a man at the Capitol! How's this place better? [She might be just a little angry on top of unnerved. She'd believed this place was better. Had truly believed it.] Lies. This is not better.

Comments

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[samantha_grey]

Nope. Never said that myself. This crap-hole's pretty much as bad as some of the other crap-holes I've been in. Just different crap being thrown at the fan. So you got gender reassigned for a day too, eh? Hope they were at least human, lady.

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[brokennotmad]

[Annie blinks, her eyebrows drawing together as she listens to the voice.] They told me this was a better place, that we were safe here.

[She exhales a shaky breath.] He- I, umm yes. A human. Hated it all. [Words, she has them.]

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[samantha_grey]

Hah! Wishful thinking, as far as I can tell. It really depends on how bad your life was before. Me? This place is just as shitty, but the torment's changed its tune and is more in my head.

But yeah... think of it this way. You're back in your body again for the time being. Have a drink to settle your nerves, stop trusting people's optimism without double checking, and just move on with your head up straight. No point letting one pack of bullshit turn you into a pile. That just lets the assholes win.

[For all of her almost rabid cynicism, Samantha was not really a weak-willed soul, and didn't have much tolerance for people being defeatist. She didn't think recognizing the difficulty of overcoming her problems was a defeatist attitude. It was just reality. She still planned to fight tooth and nail. She preferred it when others did the same.]

What's your name by the way? Mine's Samantha.

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[brokennotmad]

[Wishful thinking is really all that Annie has left. She had thought that things would be different there, that perhaps with Finnick's help, and the help of Peeta, Katniss and Rue, that maybe... Maybe she could start to truly actually heal.

She hadn't thought she'd be placed in another body.]

Life in Panem was hard, but I knew what to expect from them - which was nothing good. [She laughs and though she knows it's not an appropriate reaction, she truly cannot help it.] Settle my nerves? Nothing settles my nerves. Always dancing, always something, never settled.

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[bloodypocket]

Is it also not partly your fault for believing them? [People have honestly said this place was better?]

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[brokennotmad]

Why wouldn't I have believed them? They're my friends.

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[bloodypocket]

Friends of yours they may be, it would still be best to perceive for yourself if this world is 'better.'

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[whitechocolate]

[Sam's sitting by the lake when he sees this girl pacing and looking obviously distressed. The mention of the Capitol gets his attention because it's something he's heard Peeta talk about. She must be from his world...]

Are you okay? [Obviously not, but maybe he can calm her down somehow once they start talking.]

[action]

[brokennotmad]

[Annie jumps a little, she hasn't realized that someone else was there. Her eyes are wide as she turns to face the person speaking to her and she shakes her head.]

No- [Her head tilts a bit to the side, her hands lifting up so she's able to twist locks of her long hair between her fingers.] This place... It's not right. I-I... It's not right.

[action]

[whitechocolate]

[Sam looks at her apologetically.] Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.

There's definitely something odd about this place but from what Peeta's told me you're better off here. No one's gonna make you fight to the death here... [He hopes.]

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[argyria]

[There's a sharp, unpleasant sound from the feed. One may even mistake it for a laugh.]

Better?

I recall saying nothing of the sort.

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[brokennotmad]

[She just sighs.]

People from home said it was better.

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[argyria]

What a life you must have led.

[Contrary to the words, there's no sympathy in his voice.]

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[knifedances]

It's a little unprecedented, sure, but is it really the worst thing you could think of?

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[brokennotmad]

yes.

[Really? Suddenly being a man can traumatize a person.]

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[knifedances]

Ha ha, really? That shows a distinct lack of imagination in my opinion. How are you going to react when they decide to subject you to something really awful?

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[unfalteringly]

They toy with us sometimes for their own amusement, but that doesn't mean we aren't safe here, Annie. For as long as I've been here, they've never hurt us, or forced us to hurt each other.

This place is still much better than Panem.

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[brokennotmad]

[Her lips press together in something that is a mixture between a pout and a scowl.]

I knew what to expect in Panem.

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[unfalteringly]

Did you? Because I thought I did but it turns out that I was completely wrong. [ He never expected any of what happened after the announcement about the Quell ]

[formercheerio]

It's not better. It's... [ How to sum up Asgard without verbally keysmashing? ] weird.

[brokennotmad]

It's horrible.

[formercheerio]

Yeah, it's that too. [ Especially turning into a guy. No thank you ] At least you're back to you.

[tradingsecrets]

[His voice is soft soothing. He doesn't want to upset her, but he can hardly tell her the truth either. Instead he decided to come to where she is, to see if he can calm her down.]

Annie...

[brokennotmad]

[Annie's sitting by the edge of the lake, her arms wrapped around her drawn up legs. Hearing Finnick's voice, she shakes her head and then rests her forehead on her knees.]

You said this was a better place.

[tradingsecrets]

[He moves sitting behind her, one of his arms coming to slide around her shoulders. She can feel him, he's trembling. His voice wasn't as calm as he thought. He hadn't seen her in days. He'd been so worried.]

It really is. Especially for us Annie.