seventh arrow fired. ➵ video. ➵ into the open air.

[empowers]

[ Katniss has several strong, straight sticks in one pile sitting on the table, just across the from where her bracelet has been placed. She knows not to take it off and wander far, or to take it off for long, but if she stays close enough she can remove it from her wrist. It's easy to see her, though only up to her shoulders at this close a shot, as she picks up each stick and skillfully wields a small knife to sharpen each stick into an arrow. A small pile of feathers rests not far from the sticks, and upon finishing each stick to her satisfaction, she creates a stiff fletching for each, setting the nearly finished products aside. She'll give them arrowheads later. This is the busywork she does to keep herself distracted, and grounded, and sane. She is no longer given comfort by the smell of bread in the house, but she knows she's safe, so the footprints she hears approaching do not distract her from her work. ]

[Finnick hops. Yes, hops, not walks, runs or saunters into frame as he leans forward and chuckles.]

Keeping busy?

[ She doesn't even look up to acknowledge him, and her voice is soft and flat and sullen when she replies. ]

Trying to.

[He starts to hum, and he sways in the background hips twisting as he leans forward on the table next to her.]

Katniss? Hey Katniss.

[ She pauses only long enough to take a slow breath, so she doesn't get too irritated with him too quickly. Then she returns to her knifestrokes with fervor, stripping away the bark easily and whittling to the pliant, soft fibers beneath. ]

Yes, Finnick?

[He just starts to sing at her. Yes, his voice isn't all that amazing, no but it's a sea shanty that he was taught back in district four.]

Well a hundred years on the eastern shore
Oh yes, Oh
Oh, a hundred years on the eastern shore
A Hundred years ago

Well its Bully John from Baltimore
Well I knew him well on the eastern shore...

[ He's certainly not her father as far as singing goes, no, but... The fact that he's singing to her gives her reason to pause. She doesn't let the knife and stick out of her fingers yet, but her arms rest on the table. Though her face is not visible to those seeing this on the network, she looks at him with curiosity, eyebrows furrowed, and interrupts him. ]

Finnick, what are you doing?

[He doesn't stop singing as he reaches out and gently guides the tools from her hands as he grins. It's that full of life grin as he pauses making sure she can't stab him before suddenly she's yanked from the table.]

Well it's Bully John's the boy for me
He's a buckle on land and a bully at sea

Well its been a long time and a very long time
Well its been a long time since I made this rhyme

[ Katniss is too surprised by the sudden onslaught of song and random frivolity to struggle too much, but when she's yanked from the chair, she barks at him. Her bracelet is knocked farther back as her hip hits the table, giving a wider view of the two. ]

Finnick!

[He grins at her and starts spinning her about!]

Well my old mother she wrote to me
Me darling son come home from sea

Well I thought I heard the first mate cry
That bleeding top main sheave is dry

[ Katniss only just then connects that he's trying to get her to dance with him. She's not thrilled with it, but he's so persistent that she can't help but go along with him. She listens carefully to the tune until she picks it up, and though she doesn't know the words, she starts to hum the harmonies. There may be life left in her yet. ]

[As he continues to sing at her, and he hears her start to hum and he starts it over again, spinning her around, until the song is no longer that, but a lively laugh out of Finnick. He abruptly stops as he gets to dizzy holding onto her grinning like an idiot.]

[ She picks up on the words quickly and starts to sing along in harmony now, though she misses a few here and there. She stops when he starts laughing and just watches his face, and tries to register the own kind of joy within herself. It's hard to find, but when she lets herself enjoy the spinning, a smile breaks out on her face. She doesn't laugh like he does, but it's a real, genuine smile - a warm one, one so rare out of her that it's bright and beaming... But it lasts only a couple of seconds, and fades just as quickly as it appeared. There are traces of it left behind, a smile still on her face, but those moments of sunshine never do last with her. This is okay, though. This isn't bad. ]

There, now that's a smile!

[Finnick leans back against the table, bumping Katniss's bracelet again. With that the feed ends.]

(( OOC; BLUE is Finnick, RED is Katniss. Replies will come from both. Also, Katniss-mun is going to sleep shortly so replies may be delayed until morning. ))

Comments

action;

[empowers]

You didn't have to do that. [ But, deep down, she appreciates it. He seems to know when she needs pulled out of that dark place. Probably because he's been there. She's never really thought on that long. ]

action;

[tradingsecrets]

Didn't have to do what? I'm just dancing.

[He smiles and finally lets her go with a wink.]

Besides I enjoy hearing a laugh and seeing a smile. Don't you?

action;

[empowers]

[ She shakes her head; he's playing modest, and he knows it. ] It's nice. [ She cannot admit EMOTIONS. ]

action;

[tradingsecrets]

[He is always as modest! And of course he knows it, but he just grabs her around the waist and dips her back down again wiggling his eyebrows at her.]

I want more laughing from you, understand?

[Video]

[dreamsonwings]

[Hey, this bracelet thingie shows a TV in it! There is now a five year old clapping and giggling at the scene.]

[Video]

[empowers]

[ The giggling and clapping gives her reason to freeze, and she turns toward the sound. Her bracelet -- ] It's been on the whole time. [ She leans toward it, and sees the little girl's elation, though, and it reminds her of Prim. Pure and sweet. ] Did you enjoy the show?

[Video]

[dreamsonwings]

[She nods quite rapidly.]

It looks fun!

[Video]

[empowers]

[ ERHM. Fun. What is -- ] It's not too bad.

[Video]

[tradingsecrets]

Awwww look at how cute she is!

[Why is it that he is ALWAYS caught with Katniss or Annie on the network. Oh well, he just waves to the bitty.]

[Video]

[dreamsonwings]

That looks fun!

[Waves back at the nice man]

[Video]

[tradingsecrets]

It is fun, it's good to have fun.

[He winks at the young bitty and leans forward.]

What's your name?

tl;dr ation:

[brokennotmad]

[Annie's been sitting in the room she shares with Finnick, staring out the window, just as she has since all the fighting has died. Sometimes she'd rouse from her spot and move around, interact a little with those around her.

But mostly she's hidden, retreating into the safety of her mind.

Hearing the soft sound of Finnick singing from the other room, she blinks, her head turning toward the door. Slowly she rises to her feet and moves to the door and pulls it open. She can hear his voice better now and a smile begins to form on her lips.

Quietly she moves down the hallway and she pauses in the entryway and just watches as her husband spins Katniss around. Her smile grows, it's nice to see. Both of them smiling and Finnick laughing. Both things she knows have been missing in their house.]

[tradingsecrets]

[When he stops, he spies her and he reaches out grabbing her hand and tugging her into the living room. They need him to be strong, and even though he wants to curl up like they have been, he can't. So he does the same to Annie, spinning her around and just having a good time with the girls.]

There we all need smiles and laughs, right?

[brokennotmad]

Finnick, no - really! [Though she's spinning her around before she can protest anymore. She is smiling and even laughing as he continues to spin her around the room.]

Finnick, you're going to make me dizzy.

action; (this can break off from here but i thought it would be more likely for her to jump in here)

[empowers]

[ Katniss cannot help but laugh when she watches them, though she feels subtle pangs of jealousy. They're so happy, they glow. She wonders if she could ever have something like that. Not here, not anymore. That chance is gone. But maybe... No. Not the Mockingjay. Still, she enjoys seeing them like this. It's good for both of them. ]

He has a tendency to do that, doesn't he?

[video]

[extraordinarymuse]

[Just all the smiles.]

Those are some serious moves you guys have there.

[video]

[tradingsecrets]

Why thank you! I hope it was entertaining.

[video]

[extraordinarymuse]

Very! I didn't realize we had a dancer in the city.

[video]

[tradingsecrets]

I'm not that good at it, but if it can make someone smile then I don't mind dancing around.

[video]

[empowers]

I don't really... dance... I just followed Finnick.

[video]

[extraordinarymuse]

You looked like you were having fun, though.

[video]

[empowers]

It was relaxing.

video.

[airborn]

[They'll hear someone humming the melody a bit before a familiar voice starts singing part of the song quietly.]

Well it's Bully John's the boy for me
He's a buckle on land and a bully at sea

Well its been a long time and a very long time
Well its been a long time since I made this rhyme.

video

[tradingsecrets]

Do you want to dance around too?

[He wiggles his eyebrows at Rue.]

video.

[empowers]

[ And Rue's voice gives Katniss reason to stop and listen. She loves to hear her small friend sing. She smiles. ]

Come down to the kitchen, Rue, you can join in.