stillplaying | 7th Game [action/voice]

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7th Game [action/voice]

[Action]

[The bakery is a mess. She never meant for it to end up that way. It just sort of happened. Flour covering hair and body, the smell of something burning from the kitchen, flecks of pink frosting teasing her cheeks. Peeta's normally presentable window displays are less than ideal; a poor attempt at recreating the alluring cakes that always caught her attention back in District Twelve. The frosting's melted from the summer heat on one that's sat out since Friday. Another is poorly covered with a grey color -- an attempt at mixing food dyes gone horribly wrong.

Ingredients for various baked goods have somehow escaped the kitchen, piled up on the counters, half covering the note cards Peeta had left for her. Cookbooks borrowed from the library lie open elsewhere, pages now far from pristine. Half baked pretzels stock the shelves along with burnt chocolate chip cookies. Deformed cheese breads and crumbled brownie bites still in their trays sit nearby. Even Buttercup, easily pleased by any free food, ignores the easy pickings.

She tried. She had tried so hard. Peeta had left her recipes. Had tried to teach her how to bake on lazy days when she was more content to spend time with him in the bakery than go about her own thing. It seems that every lesson has been forgotten. Any skill she might have had in the kitchen, utterly gone.

The rain pours outside as she plucks at the rock hard shortbread cookies she's recently retrieved from the oven, trying her best to peel them from the tray. It's a halfhearted effort as she leans her head against her hand and stares out the window. She'd rather be hunting. But it's been raining ever since Peeta left for his mission, raining so hard, all she's been able to do is check a couple of the traps in the river behind their house. And she had promised, hadn't she? Promised she'd look after the bakery?

Look how miserably she failed, the worry making it hard to breathe, harder to concentrate. Shouldn't he be back by now? Shouldn't he?

Every few minutes, she checks the journal for signs of life. Ignores Buttercup begging for real food. Glances at the door to see if Peeta's finally return. No luck. No luck at all. He's supposed to be back today. Why isn't he back yet?]

[Voice]

Why do you bother? [The words aren't meant to be recorded in the journal, but they are, anyway. It barely processes to Katniss that she's left it laying open, close enough to pick up any mutterings.] Going on these missions? Being a piece in their games?

It's stupid. This is all stupid.

[ooc: timed to after mission is over, when people start arriving home. but if you want to tag during -- feel free to have katniss in the bakery making a mess from friday on!

also, edit for warning of sexual content in the Peeta thread.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He promises and she promises. She's not going to abandon him again. Not unless she has no other choice. Never, ever again.

Does that mean, though, that they're together? That this is real? Because it feels real. Rather than angry, she's frightened. Her heart's pounding again, now for an entirely different reason.]

What if I mess it up?

[Her voice is low, worried as she stares into his blue eyes. Strong eyes. She's never done this before. Been with him, for reasons more than anyone's game.]

[A soft, ironic laugh. She's asking the guy whose most prominent example of a relationship is his parents?]

I don't know. If one of us messes up, we just go on. Keep going. Together.

[He kisses her.]

[She's about to nod, to agree to his statement. Just go on. Keep going. Together. She can do that, she thinks. So long as she has him to remind her. Remind her that life does go on, that in the midst of being trapped in another game, there can still be some good.

But she can't nod. Can't even say anything aloud because her lips are suddenly busy again. And how can she object, do anything but kiss him back without hesitation? The hunger didn't leave. It might have grown quiet while they talked, but now that his mouth is on hers, it's come roaring back. As if she just can't get enough of him.]

[His hands move from her face so his arms can encircle her again. Together. They're together, aren't they? Or is she going to freak out about this, too?]

I love you. [A breathless whisper between kisses. Maybe if he says it enough, she'll stay.] Don't leave me.

I'm not. [It's the most she can promise right now. Because she can't bring herself to say the words back. To say that she loves him, too. She might - maybe? She doesn't know. How are you supposed to know?

She places her hands on his cheeks and moves in for another kiss. A light, quick one despite its promise.] I'm not going to leave you.

[He'll take it. His hands run gently up and down her waist, mapping the curves gently, hesitantly, as he kisses her again. The kissing, they've had more than enough practice with. But this buildup, what it's leading to, if in fact it's leading to it at all...

He breaks the kiss.]

Not here.

[Oh. Oh.

Of course all this kissing is supposed to lead to something. The hunger. The way his hands have started to roam, the way she keeps pressing herself against him... it is supposed to lead to more. She knows that. Paid enough attention to the appropriate lessons.

Her cheeks turn bright red, a flush reaching down her neck and up to her ears.]

Where?

[At that look, he can't help but smile and kiss her again, quickly.]

You're so cute when you're embarrassed. Why not at home?

[This is...oh wow, they're actually talking about this. Wow.]

[His response only makes her blush more. Cute. She can't remember the last time anyone told her she was cute. At least said it and meant it the way Peeta did.

Cute. Her. Katniss Everdeen.

But it's making him smile and kiss her again. She can survive being cute. She's survived so worse.]

Okay. [Then, a little awkwardly:] You're going to have to move so I can get down.

Oh. Um. [Now he's blushing, too. He steps away, rubbing his chin and feeling a little lightheaded. What else? Go home, finally have something like this with her...oh.]

Um. I can run to the store and get... [WHEN DID HE BECOME SELF-CONSCIOUS? What is wrong with him?

It's because it's Katniss. It's Katniss and everything has to be perfect.]

[Now she gets it. Why Peeta told her she looked cute when she blushes. Because when she tilts her head up just enough to catch his expression for a moment, it's unlike any she's ever seen on him.

And it makes her heart warm unexpectedly.

He's always been the lead in the star-crossed lovers charade. Declaring how he feels, proposing on camera, coming up with the secret marriage and pregnancy idea. It's always been him and she's just followed. Gone along because his ideas would save both their lives. Seeing him like this, just as self-conscious, it makes it all the more real.

And she finds herself just having to kiss him again, after she steps down from the counter. Then, awkwardly step away and ask:]

Can we get them from the store?

We'd better hope so. [Because no matter how badly he wants this, he's not risking Katniss' health. He takes her hand, warm in his.] Do you want to wait for me at home, or come with me? I promise it'll just be a few minutes.

[The thought of going inside the store to buy... them makes her cringe inside. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing but...]

I'll go with you. [She grips his hand tightly, as if letting go would mean losing him.] I promised.

[He grins, face aflame. Going to the store with his girlfriend to buy condoms.]

Well, at least we don't have to pay anyone.

[He sets off toward the back door.]

[That comment really doesn't make the thought any less awkward. But at least she's not alone in the redness of her face.

Funny, she would have thought Peeta Mellark to be more... at ease when it came to something like sex. Like he had been through out their entire pretend relationship.]

Yeah. [She ducks her head as she says it, following him out of the bakery.] You'll just go in and grab them?

[Modest he ain't. But for this moment to happen so unexpectedly when he'd barely hoped for it at all? His eagerness knows no bounds, but forgive him if he feels the pressure.]

Right. It'll take two seconds. [A beat, then a smile.] To get the condoms.

[Maybe he can get her to blush again.]

[It's probably impossible for her grey eyes to go an wider at the mention of that word. Or for her face to turn any redder.

She quickly looks up at him in shock and hisses,]

Don't say that aloud!

[With a sort of cackle, he leans in and gives her a quick smooch.] I was just making sure you knew.

[It's not exactly a far walk from the bakery to the grocery store, but it does involve crossing the middle of the main town square. Where there are a lot of people.

A lot of people who could be listening. Or watching.

Public displays of affection for the Games were one thing. But this? It turns out that it was possible for her cheeks to become further heated.]

I'm not stupid.

Didn't say you were. [Two teenagers walking quickly across town, looking somewhat flustered, headed for the store. What could possibly be going on?

When they reach the store entrance, he gives her hand a squeeze.] I'll be right back, okay?

[It's not like they're making the effort to be inconspicuous. He just got back from a mission. And she had practically ruined his bakery while keeping occupied.

At least the rain gives them an excuse to walk this close together, huddled under one umbrella. When they stop in front of the store, she squeezes his hand back before taking the umbrella in both.

And nods. She'll be right here waiting.]

[For a boy who's never bought condoms before, he does manage to find the right location fairly quickly. So does he get the big pack so he doesn't have to get them more often, or is that too hopeful? Will that come across as presumptive? He agonizes for about five seconds before grabbing a pack of five and swinging toward the door.]

[As fate would have it, someone else was was in the same isle as Peeta when he grabbed the condoms and went to bolt. The look on Cato's face might have been comical had Peeta not been trying to sneak out like that.

For a moment, the silence is heavy...but when was Cato ever known to resist an oppourtunity to jab at someone?]

In a hurry Lover boy?

[Oh god he can't hold a straight face as he says it and half way through the horribly apt nickname a loud bark of laughter escapes him. This is literally the best thing that has happened today.]

[...Right. Of course something like this happens. Today. Peeta's not so much embarrassed as he is irritated by the distraction. He's just going to keep walking and call back.]

Wouldn't you be?

[She catches that last bit of his question when she opens the door to see what was taking Peeta so long. It's just... well, it's just those things. How much of a selection can there be? Not that big, she imagines. Certainly not long enough to warrant the time he's taking.

The umbrella's folded up by her side and she tilts her head a little, confused.] Wouldn't I be what?

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