Katniss Everdeen (
stillplaying) wrote2012-10-03 01:47 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
8th Game [voice]
[It's been just about a week now. A week since she had returned home from her hunt to find him collapsed in front of his easel. A week since she had feared the worse, feared his death and had forgotten how to breathe. She had been loathe to leave him, surrounded by paints and canvas and so very, very still. But common sense had won out and she had run, run as fast as she possibly could, to the small clinic Maturin ran. She had barely begun to fulfill her side of the bargain, but he hadn't seemed to care.
Even if it turned out, there was little the doctor could do to assist her.
A coma, he had said. The whys and hows remained unknown. Peeta had fallen into a coma and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, she could do to wake him.
It's been a week. She's barely left the house in this time. The bakery's stood ignored, her compulsion to spend time in the woods forgotten. Only brief trips to the grocery have given her a chance for fresh air and even then, each of those trips had been for the bare minimum needed to keep them both alive. Almost all of her waking hours have been at his side, watching, waiting. Carefully tending the feeding tube or sponge-bathing his body as he lies there on their bed, so utterly, utterly still. Talking to him, singing whatever songs come to mind, pleading with him to wake up.
Her journal lies at the foot of the bed, mostly ignored. Every now and then, she looks through it. She looks for a message from Maturin or some sign that there's an explanation for this - even if it is all just another cruel game being played by the Malnosso. Right now, though, she could care less as to what goes on outside the four walls of the bedroom.
So when Buttercup knocks it onto the floor and the pages open, she doesn't notice. She's lost in watching him for some sign of life as she sings. Hadn't he always said how much he's liked her voice? That she, like her father, could make the birds stop to listen?]
--dreams from all terror and fear,
Sunlight has passed and the twilight has gone,
Slumber, my darling, the night's coming on.
Sweet visions attend your sleep,
Fondest, dearest to me,
While others keep their revels,
I will watch over you.
Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flowers are caressed,
Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap you up warm,
And will shield you from harm.
Slumber, my darling, till morning's blushing ray
Brings to the world the glad tidings of day;
Fill the dark void with your dreamy delight--
Slumber, your lover will guard you tonight,
Your pillow shall sacred be
From all outward alarms;
You, you are the world to me
In all your charms.
Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flowers are caressed,
Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap you up warm,
And will shield you from harm.
[But even songs don't seem to wake him. She wipes at the tears that fill her grey eyes and only then seems to notice how Buttercup's curled up next to Peeta and how her journal now lies open to the world, recording most of the song.]
Get out of here, you stupid cat! Get out! [Rather than reach for the journal, she lunges at the animal, shoving him angrily off the bed. He lands on the floor with a hiss. Maybe, at another point, she'll find comfort in him. But right now all she sees is a reminder of the sister she lost nearly a year ago.] Go!
[Unable to stop herself any longer, she falls back in her chair, buries her face in her hands, and begins to cry.]
Even if it turned out, there was little the doctor could do to assist her.
A coma, he had said. The whys and hows remained unknown. Peeta had fallen into a coma and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, she could do to wake him.
It's been a week. She's barely left the house in this time. The bakery's stood ignored, her compulsion to spend time in the woods forgotten. Only brief trips to the grocery have given her a chance for fresh air and even then, each of those trips had been for the bare minimum needed to keep them both alive. Almost all of her waking hours have been at his side, watching, waiting. Carefully tending the feeding tube or sponge-bathing his body as he lies there on their bed, so utterly, utterly still. Talking to him, singing whatever songs come to mind, pleading with him to wake up.
Her journal lies at the foot of the bed, mostly ignored. Every now and then, she looks through it. She looks for a message from Maturin or some sign that there's an explanation for this - even if it is all just another cruel game being played by the Malnosso. Right now, though, she could care less as to what goes on outside the four walls of the bedroom.
So when Buttercup knocks it onto the floor and the pages open, she doesn't notice. She's lost in watching him for some sign of life as she sings. Hadn't he always said how much he's liked her voice? That she, like her father, could make the birds stop to listen?]
--dreams from all terror and fear,
Sunlight has passed and the twilight has gone,
Slumber, my darling, the night's coming on.
Sweet visions attend your sleep,
Fondest, dearest to me,
While others keep their revels,
I will watch over you.
Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flowers are caressed,
Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap you up warm,
And will shield you from harm.
Slumber, my darling, till morning's blushing ray
Brings to the world the glad tidings of day;
Fill the dark void with your dreamy delight--
Slumber, your lover will guard you tonight,
Your pillow shall sacred be
From all outward alarms;
You, you are the world to me
In all your charms.
Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flowers are caressed,
Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap you up warm,
And will shield you from harm.
[But even songs don't seem to wake him. She wipes at the tears that fill her grey eyes and only then seems to notice how Buttercup's curled up next to Peeta and how her journal now lies open to the world, recording most of the song.]
Get out of here, you stupid cat! Get out! [Rather than reach for the journal, she lunges at the animal, shoving him angrily off the bed. He lands on the floor with a hiss. Maybe, at another point, she'll find comfort in him. But right now all she sees is a reminder of the sister she lost nearly a year ago.] Go!
[Unable to stop herself any longer, she falls back in her chair, buries her face in her hands, and begins to cry.]
[voice]
It's that obvious, isn't it? That something happened. Between yelling at that stupid cat and her own sobs. Especially her sobs. While most people might automatically accept the concern, she's wary at first. Wary and skeptical and doubtful of the girl's intentions.
But, slowly, eventually, she decides that maybe the girl just means well. Like so many people seem to here.] Thank you.
[voice] I am so sorry about my slow /o\
Who were you singing to?
[ She's not sure why she makes that assumption, there was just something about the whole thing that had seemed like the song was meant for someone. ]
If it's all right that I ask, that is.
[voice] completely okay <3
The people in this town, even after six or more months, are just too nice for Katniss to ever feel completely settled.]
Peeta. [The name is said with quiet reverence and, as she talks, she pushes the journal aside to reach for the boy's hand.] My... um, my boyfriend.
Re: [voice] <333
She knows she'll probably have to get rid of that notion now that she's been given a new and rather important role back home, but that has yet to fully settle in so change will have to wait a while before it can happen.
She's not really familiar with the expression "boyfriend" but it's easy enough to figure out the meaning. ]
I've never had one.
[ Because of course this girl cares about that. Damn it Lirael, where's your head at? ]
Have you been with him for a long time?
[voice]
[The words are quiet, uncertain. She's not exactly very good at this, either. Small talk with other people, trying to be friendly. A normal girl. Even before the 74th Hunger Games, she never exactly knew how to do this. She doesn't think she's gotten much better since arriving to Luceti. All these people wanting to talk with her and she still doesn't know how to handle it.
She glances at the book, at the image thoughtfully. The girl's looks could easily be that of someone from the Seam were it not for her brown eyes. But for a moment, it's easier to remember home than it is to continue to talk about Peeta.
And then she realizes what she said.] Not till Peeta. It's only been months.
[voice]
Is he from the same place as you?
[ She doesn't know why she keeps talking really, but in a twisted sort of way this place is a new chance. Nobody knows what a Clayr is or what they're supposed to be like and how very much she isn't like that at all.
Nobody knows any of the things that have held her back for so long, so she tries a little every now and again to see what it's like. To see if she can do it. ]
[voice]
Yes.
[Somehow, her voice keeps from cracking. She manages to keep herself calm and impassive as she would if talking to an enemy, to someone she can't show weakness to. Maybe she can with this girl, maybe she's like most of the others here. People who can be trusted and counted on. But it's easier to remain stoic, so much easier right now.]
We're from the same place.
[voice]
[ She feels like she's intruding, asking about personal things like this. She doesn't quite know where the line is drawn when it comes to such things, but she does know she herself isn't comfortable with talking about personal matters like that with random strangers.
That would be why she adds: ]
I'm sorry, it's none of my business. I just... know a little what it's like to lose someone.
[ Not that the other girl has lost her boyfriend, but Lirael imagines it must still feel a little like it. ]
[voice]
It took much later, took nearly losing him again and again, to realize that she did indeed love him. Maybe as much as he loved her.]
It was complicated. [That's putting it simply.] And I haven't lost him. Not yet.
[voice]
[ At least Lirael sincerely hopes so. ]
Just meant that I kind of know what it's like to want someone to come back, I suppose. And to feel alone.
[voice]
She's lucky to have Peeta. So, so lucky.]
Are you new?
[voice]
[ And here she's actually found more of a connection than she ever did at home. Apart from with the Dog, who she misses more and more every day. Talking is just never as easy as it used to be with her. ]
[voice]
But she still tries. Maybe it's Peeta's influence. No, definitely. Maybe if she were here alone, she'd ignore them. Be that unlikable girl without any friends. But there's something about Peeta that makes her want to be good, too. Liked by more than just him.
And it's a distraction. Right now, she needs all the distractions possible.]
How long?
[voice]
I'm not sure, something like a few weeks I think.
[voice]
Not very long.
[voice]
[ The scary part is that for all the scary parts about being here she... kind of fears going back home even more. ]
People stay here for very long sometimes, don't they?