fourth arrow fired. ➵ voice. ➵ now every chair she sits upon is fashioned by the lord. (POST-DAY132)

[empowers]

Let's hope the one responsible for those monsters is gone for good.

[ There is a distinct amount of distance in her voice. She speaks quietly, as if she isn't entirely focused. What happened was traumatic for her. She was forced to do something she didn't want to do - again - and it's left her thinking far too much about the life from whence she came. ]

But if that isn't the case, how many of you know how to protect yourselves from monsters? Do you fight, or do you hide?

LOCKED ; AWAY FROM RUE.

How many of you had to look a loved one in the face and end their life, to save them from being Taken? [ Her tone wavers, and she has to stop for a moment before concluding her thought. ] What helps you sleep? Are you even able to?

END LOCK.

FURTHER LOCKED ; TO PEETA MELLARK ONLY.

I want us to get a house. For you, and me, and Rue, and Finnick and Annie if they want. As soon as possible. [ She doesn't know how much longer she can hold herself together, so she's trying to get her thoughts out quickly. ] And -- you should -- come see me. [ Then, quieter. ] Please.

END LOCK.

Comments

voice/private

[minifridge]

I have to fight, even when I'd rather hide.

[P a u s e. This is more delicate, but- oh, hell.]

I had to shoot my son in the face. I haven't been able to sleep at all.

voice/private

[empowers]

You too. [ It's not a question. It's a statement, flat as the rest of her speech has been. ]

I'm so sorry. [ God why is this happening to so many people? ]

voice/private

[minifridge]

Thanks.

[She's not as good at hiding her emotions, or keeping the hitch out of her voice.]

Who was it for you? Did they attack you?

voice/private

[empowers]

Rue. [ She swallows. ] I wasn't fast enough. She should never have gone anywhere without me. I shouldn't have let her.

perma video on his end

[tradingsecrets]

[He's not sure what he can say to make her feel better. After all, this was what he had hoped they could all avoid.]

Katniss.

ᴛᴇxᴛ / ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ.

[refute]

I have yet to end the life of someone I know and love. However, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t killed Takens in general.

[ at this point she stops her typing for a second, thinking of the times she couldn’t sleep and what helped her. ]

Unfortunately I can not tell you what will help you sleep considering that your lack of sleep stems from the guilt you feel for killing this loved one of yours.

permavid & permaprivate.

[empowers]

[ The lump in her throat is winning out, no matter how much she swallows. If anyone knows what she's feeling right now, it's going to be Finnick. They level with each other. ]

I can't -- [ She really can't. ] Rue's just a girl. She didn't deserve -- [ She stops and her eyes fall and she closes them tightly. Off screen, she's clutching the hem of her shirt and digging her nails in hard. ]

permavoice & permaprivate.

[empowers]

Anything you could offer would help. I'm willing to try a lot of things. I haven't slept in two days.

permavid & permaprivate.

[tradingsecrets]

[If there are two people he's constantly worrying about it's Annie and Katniss. He's seriously worrying himself sick about the others from their world.]

It's okay to cry Katniss.

[empowers]

No. I can't -- if I let myself... [ She may not be able to stop. ] No. I have to be strong.

[tradingsecrets]

You are strong. Crying isn't going to change that.

[He looks at her and just watches. She's fragile, maybe more so than him and Annie sometimes. It was hard after all to put back together something that was broken.]

Katniss, you're one of the strongest people I know. I'm here if you need me.

[refute]

What have you tried so far? If you tell me the things you have attempted, we can continue from there.

video & filter;

[unfalteringly]

[ There were other parts of this that he was going to comment on, other things he wanted to say but none of it matters by the end of it. It feels like there's a vice tightening around his chest the entire time she speaks and he wants to say something in an vain attempt at soothing her, at showing her that she truly had no choice, but by the end, he realizes that it can wait ]

Katniss where are you? I can come and see you right now.

video & filter;

[empowers]

In the park, by the lake. [ It's the only place she's been able to find peace. It's outdoors. ] Walk fast?

voice/private

[minifridge]

[Oh, the sweet little girl. Her stomach lurches a little.]

I'm sure it's not your fault. So many things can happen..

[empowers]

Chamomile tea... Alcohol...

video;

[showbizpanache]

I can't fight.

But I want to learn.

video & filter -> action;

[unfalteringly]

I'll be there soon. [ And with that, he ends the feed and immediately starts out toward the park. He probably could have guessed that that's where she'd be. Well, maybe not the park, exactly, but outside. He may not have been the one spending time with her in the woods back home, but even he knows that she favored it.

Peeta starts off walking quickly just as Katniss had asked, but he's only halfway there when he starts to run. Her asking to see him, the sound of her voice, it felt urgent and walking wasn't getting him there quick enough.

When he sees her not far off, there's that vice-like feeling around his chest again and he wants to say that it's simply from running ( he's out of breath and it's making his chest tight ), but he knows it isn't. This place was supposed to be better, it was supposed to be safer. If Asgard and its so-called gods are capable of what happened in the last few days ( was it even them? If it wasn't, then even they weren't capable of preventing it ), what else are they capable of? How much worse will it get? And the most pressing question is what can he do here to keep Katniss safe? ]

Katniss? [ He calls her name a few feet from her, where he slows to a brisk walk, coming to a stop next to her ] I'm here Katniss.

[ video || private ]

[pratentious]

[ Oh. It's you. He remembers you. Still so damned young, and so far jaded. It's incredibly difficult to be irate with you when he feels far too much sympathy to your plight. ]

I was raised a fighter. You do not hide, you do not run. You face your threats to defend yourself, or you die trying.

[ The exact words of his father from long ago. There's a disconnect there too, but it's not the for the same reasons - it's rather the opposite. He refused, and someone else did it for him. ]

It is never meant to be easy.

[empowers]

What can you do? What can anyone -- I had to look her right in the eye, Finnick. I had to kill her. Just like in the Arena, I had to watch her die again -- I couldn't do -- I couldn't do anything -- [ She dissolves into sobs slowly, trying to choke them back as best she can. But she can't for long. ] I can't -- I can't...

action;

[empowers]

[ Katniss' breath becomes short and panicked the second Peeta closes the connection. She looks from side to side, not knowing where he'll come from, but wanting to see him nevertheless. Her chest rises and falls and her shoulders follow suit. Her fears mirror his own; if the Gods did this, maybe being here isn't the respite they've been thinking it is. If they couldn't stop it... What else could happen to them here? How could she even begin to hope to protect Rue, to keep her safe. And Peeta, too.

The second she hears his voice, she turns to it, fast as a whip. He's next to her in a matter of moments, and her arms are around him even faster. She hugs tightly to him and buries her face against his shoulder, clinging to him like it's the only thing keeping her alive. ]

Peeta, I couldn't protect her, I couldn't save her, I couldn't -- [ She can't continue. She chokes. ]

[refute]

Have you tried lavender tea? Someone told me that it has natural soothing effects so one can rest easy. When I find myself unable to sleep, I drink that. It’s extremely effective, moreso than chamomile tea and alcohol.

voice/private

[empowers]

I should have been able to protect her. I don't even have a good excuse.

video;

[empowers]

I could teach you. If you wanted. I'm best with hunting - using a bow.

[ video || private ]

[empowers]

No, I guess it's not. That doesn't make it any less unfair, or unjust. [ She remembers him, too. The idiot who hunted for sport, acted like it was some game. Spoiled. Like a Capitol citizen. And now he's speaking like a career. ] Is that what your entire life has been like? Training to fight? To kill other human beings?