15th Game [action/video]

[stillplaying]

[Action]

[She awoke that morning to find them gone. Those beautiful, amazing iridescent wings were gone. And in their place, the damn mockingjay wings had returned. Small, useless. Reminders of a life she would have happily left behind. She fit easily on the couch again, her bed of the last two months. But at the cost of her flight. At the cost of being grounded once more.

If it was not for the overwhelming guilt she felt shortly after - guilt for cancelling her sister's party under paranoia of too many people in their living quarters - she probably would have spent the day sulking. And it was tempting, so tempting to just disappear into the woods all day. But she couldn't afford that luxury. Not anymore. If her wings were gone, that meant that there was a good chance the spirit possession had ended. Life had returned to what passed for normal around here.

And she had a party to plan.

But first, she had a sister to seek out. And surprise with breakfast in bed: pancakes and maple syrup, with a mug of hot chocolate and glass of orange juice.



Later that day, Katniss could be found going about her regular daily schedule. Spending time hunting in the woods, guitar lessons at Cloud Nine, browsing the various shops. The recent event reminded her that Prim was relatively undefended here, a situation that needed to be corrected. Even a small knife, anything to give her sister the advantage if Katniss wasn't around to protect her. Food for the party was also a necessity. As well as any remaining decorations.

It wasn't until later that night that she finally opened up her journal. But rather than being at home, she's made herself comfortable in one of the newfeather watch towers, where she had been stashing most of the party supplies prior to the possessions. She opened the journal and made certain to key in a quick filter before recording:]

[Video - filtered away from Primrose Everdeen]

I wasn't exactly myself when I cancelled Prim's birthday last week. But I want to make it up to her. She deserves this party. More than anyone I know. She's fourteen now and... [She had to pause for a moment, force a smile on her face and block all memories of her sister burning to death from her mind.] She's never had a real party before.

So, this Saturday. At House 43. 5 P.M. You don't have to bring any kind of gift. It's not necessary. It's enough to have people there. To have the sort of celebration she never had back in District 12. If you know me, or you know Prim, I'd like you to come.

[She realized that she was taking a big risk saying that. And it did make her uncomfortable, the thought of so many people in her living space. But a party was supposed to have people in it, isn't it? A lot of people. And the more there, the more that want to celebrate the life Prim should have had, the better. Prim deserved the world.]

Rapunzel? Would you still be willing to make that cake? Teddy, will you still help with music? [Katniss paused, tilting her head thoughtfully and biting her lip. Was there anything else that she was missing? What else was necessary for planning a party? She already felt as if she owed so many people so much. She hated accumulating more debt. But for Prim, it was worth it/] And Aang, would you mind helping to decor-

I need someone to distract Prim that day, too.

Comments

[greenjacketed]

...I'll need spare arms to carry things, won't I? It's as much a boon to me as it is to you. [ he says this with a wry humour -- certainly only too pleased to help out. ] Besides, It'll free me from any and all madness surrounding the party preparations, won't it?

[stillplaying]

[His comment made her stop and realize that she never bothered asking Richard or Effie if they minded her throwing the party on Saturday. Even though she had lived with Richard in the house for months now, she still wasn't used to it. Wasn't used to having to ask permission to do things.

She blinked and frowned a little, peering at the screen thoughtfully.]

You don't mind, do you? That I'm having the party on Saturday?

[greenjacketed]

[ did he? sharpe loves katniss as one would love kin, but such a love doesn't blind a man to petty frustrations. honesty would compel him to confess some uncertainty -- but it isn't anything a good lock couldn't fix, allowing him to squirrel away his scant few belongings.

but that same love is an excellent balm, and it's impossible not to imagine the everdeen sisters happy with some measure of celebration. for each other, as much as for a birthday. so although his smile is slow, it's sincere. ]

It's fine by me. So long as you don't mind a humble soldier duckin' out when he must.

[stillplaying]

[An obvious look of relief crossed her face when he admitted that it was okay by him. More than what Effie, Richard's opinion mattered to her. It was only a matter of time before she eventually disappointed him or hurt him in some matter. But that was a day she wanted to put off as long as possible.]

I won't let anyone upstairs. [A promise. For him and Effie both.] You'll have your privacy there.

[greenjacketed]

[ he doesn't speak his gratitude; instead, he hopes katniss will simply intuit the fact that he must indeed be grateful. ]

...Will there be music? [ almost hopeful. ]

[stillplaying]

[She understood. Not that she even felt that gratitude was due. It was his house, too. The least she could do was provide him a safe haven to retreat to should the crowd get to be too much.

But at the mention of music, she smiled. And nodded. This was one thing anyone from District 12 would agree upon.]

It wouldn't be a party without music. Or dancing.

[greenjacketed]

[ with an amused lilt: ] I'll enjoy the music, but I still don't dance.

[stillplaying]

[She gave him her best smile, looking at him with earnest grey eyes. She hadn't had reason to dance since Peeta left. And now that Prim was here, now that they were going to celebrate her sister's birthday? She wanted to make up for all the dances she had missed.]

But you'll dance with me, won't you? And Prim?

[greenjacketed]

Eh? With people 'round? Watching?

[ he'll make a fool of himself, girl! ] Not bloody likely.

[stillplaying]

[She pressed her lips together in a doubtful sort of look. Of course there'd be people around. It's a party, right? And dancing was a big part of any sort of celebration. Especially a District 12 party. They might not have had much in the way of food or wealth, but they had their music. And dances passed down from generation to generation.]

Why not?

[greenjacketed]

...They'll laugh.

[stillplaying]

No they won't.

[Said with a scowl. She never pictured Richard shy. Not in this manner. Dancing was about expressing joy, not about being the best at it. No one would be watching. Not like that.

And if someone dared to laugh, she was the one throwing the party, wasn't she? She could kick out anyone she chose.]

[greenjacketed]

[ years ago -- before he he was a soldier -- he could recall rollicking tunes on pipes and drums in the slummiest pubs of london. and to accompany them, the ratta-tat-tats of dancers' feet on old wooden boards. but he'd been a boy, then, and as free in his affection as he used to be with his words. maggie-joyce had brought out the best in him.

but then there had been the army. even then, some men in the ranks would get together and give the camp wives a whirl when time and energy allowed it. however, after being promoted into the officer's class, such romp and fun had been ended for our tall rifleman. an officer -- a gentleman -- was meant to engage in only two dancehalls: great glittering estates or the bloody battlefield. and sharpe felt at home on the latter, but lost in the first.

once, a member of the dutch royalty had proclaimed he expected sharpe would dance like a heifer. thump thump thump, and all the time with that gloomy expression on his face. for he was a man out of his element, and years of it had killed his confidence for even the most casual merrymaking. ]

They would be well within their right to. I'd laugh, as well, to see myself.

[stillplaying]

[If she wasn't waiting for Sokka to join her in the watch tower, she'd leave for home now. Just to prove Richard otherwise. It was, in her opinion, impossible to be that bad a dancer. Despite all of her self-consciousness, dancing was one of those things that you were supposed to just enjoy. It was about having fun, not about being good at it.]

I don't believe you.

[greenjacketed]

[ if he had a choice between a battle and a dance, he'd take the battle every time. but now he's concerned that he may have disappointed the lass, so he tries to deflect the moment with humour: ] Harper doesn't either. Of course, he's a bone-headed paddy. So what does he know? Either way, the amount of drink I'd need in me...

Well, I wouldn't care to be that drunk at your Prim's celebration. [ ... ] But you make it look easy, lass. I remember you at the Christmas ball.

[stillplaying]

[No, he wouldn't be drunk. She hadn't intended on any liquor being available at Prim's party. Her sister was, in her opinion, too young to drink. And though others might be older, she didn't see the point. There'd be enough other food and drink to chose from.

Still, she continued to glower at him. She wouldn't let the compliment fool her. Or the memory of the party she didn't want all that much to go to.]

It is easy. I can show you a couple of dances tonight. When I get home?

[greenjacketed]

I'll step on your feet. [ time passes. he rolls the sentence around in his mind. ] Ah. That weren't a threat, lass. More like a concerned caution.

[stillplaying]

[She had figured already that it wasn't a threat. Richard wouldn't threaten her like that. Not now. Hopefully not ever. But that he felt the need to add that in made her smile.]

I've survived worse.

[greenjacketed]

You really think you can teach me? [ he doesn't feel teachable. he feels old and intractable. ]

[stillplaying]

[The last time she had a chance to dance with her sister had been at Finnick and Annie's wedding. Then, they had others from District 12 to help teach dances. But this party wouldn't be nearly as large. Surely, she and Prim could teach most of them.

So she nodded, looking self-assured.]

Yes.

[greenjacketed]

A step or two, then. But I make no promises about the party proper.

[stillplaying]

[Her eyes lit up and she smiled broadly. Really, she hadn't expected it to be this easy. But she's not going to complain. Not about something like this. And even if they didn't have the music to accompany them, she would make certain to do her best in teaching regardless.]

Really?

[greenjacketed]

A step or two. Aye. Ask me again, love, and I'll change my mind.

[stillplaying]

[She stuck her tongue out at him, good mood still evident despite her thread. She had no reason to feel otherwise. The party was coming together and maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to pull off the party she had wanted for Prim. And Sokka was on his way, promising a fun end to the evening.

Everything was, for once, going the way she wanted.]