stillplaying | 15th Game [action/video]

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[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.

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Comes with the job. And it could be worse. There are those that are on the other end of the spectrum, and that can get messy.

[especially when you wind up in danger for your life by the same people who'd hired you to solve their problem for them.]

[Whatever kind of job this is, she's not entirely certain she wants to know. Why anyone would want to do something that makes them like this, makes them doubtful of any sort of goodness they might posses, she doesn't know. The Hunger Games hadn't been her choice. And what choice, really, did she have in her participation in the uprising? It had been a way to protect Peeta, to end the tyranny of the Capitol.

There hadn't been much of a choice.]

Oh.

It happens. People don't always understand what's involved in the situation, even if you try to explain it to them ahead of time.

[Derek had had slightly more choice than her; either forget how he found out about vampires and go about his life, ignoring the fact that they were out there, or get involved because not only did he know, but he had the capability to take them on when others didn't.

He didn't have to choose to take the job; he just couldn't stand by knowing that other people were suffering from something he could fight against.

Better it was him than someone else.]

[And even when you think you might have understood, you didn't. Matters turn out to be different. No matter how hard you tried, you really couldn't control everything. Or everyone around you.

It was a hard lesson learned at an early age. A lesson learned again and again in the years since.]

Sometimes, they just don't want to.

Also very true, unfortunately.

Yeah.

[Very true. And not something she thought would ever change. Reasons why it was better to keep to yourself ultimately. Not to let other people in. And yet, she had stupidly gone and broken that rule since arriving here. For now, it seemed to be okay. People here seemed to be okay.]

So are you expecting a lot of people to show up?

I don't know.

[She had never thrown a party before. For anyone. Wouldn't have even bothered here if not for Prim. Prim, her sister that deserved absolutely everything Katniss could give her. Even if know one showed up, no one aside from herself and Richard, she knew her sister would be happy.]

I kept the invitation open.

I'll think about it, but no promises. Fair enough?

[It seemed fair to her. And, at the very least, even if he didn't show up, Katniss could tell Richard that she tried to invite people his age for company. People other than Effie, that is.]

Fair.

All right.

And if I don't, I hope it's enjoyable for all of you.

15th Game [action/video]

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