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[effective]

[There’s a girl staring down at the netbook in blank incomprehension. Observant people might notice the burn scars on her hands, crawling up her neck. Slowly, her gaze drags upwards to see the light that indicates the camera’s on, and recognition flickers in her eyes. She sets the netbook down and sits on a bed nearby, curling her feet under her. One hand is clenched around a bow, and the quiver is on her back already] You can see me, can’t you. [It’s not a question, and she doesn’t even appear to be addressing the camera.] Of course you can. They’re always watching.

It was supposed to be over. All of this. The fighting, the killing. It was supposed to be over. And don’t tell me there might not be killing. You don’t hand a victor a weapon and expect them not to use it.

[She stands, swiftly, drawing an arrow from the quiver and setting it on the string in one smooth movement. It’s aimed at the netbook. The expression on the girl’s face is almost too intense. A smile touches her lips, but there’s nothing positive in the expression] If you want me to fight for you, I’m going to need you to bring me Peeta.

[Her arms jerk up, aiming elsewhere, and the arrow is released. There’s a crash that indicates she hit something, and judging by the look of hard satisfaction in her eyes, it’s what she wanted to hit.] I could use Haymitch, too.

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[effective]

[Her eyes drag from the trident, noting his lack of grip on it before returning to his face. Don't mind her, she's just sort of drinking in the sight of him. Her hand shakes a little more, and she ultimately decides to replace the arrow in her quiver] I'm not saying please.

[She steps closer] Put the trident down. [She can't hug you if you're holding it gd]

[insecrets]

[Finnick, it's a serious wonder how you even won the Hunger Games, but at Katniss's command, the trident clatters to the floor with little worry. It's a simple weapon at the moment, anyhow.

Once it's gone, he watches her carefully. His fingers twitch. What Finnick wants is to reach out and hug her first, but he's not going to make the move.]

[effective]

[The trident hits the ground and for a moment everything is still. And then a low, choked cry escapes Katniss, a s ound that's harsh and ugly with emotion as she closes the gap between them. Her bow hits the ground next to his trident as she all but throws her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder.

There are no words right now. She's sobbing and doesn't care, all but clinging to him.]

[insecrets]

[He stumbles back a couple of steps, arms immediately closing around Katniss and holding her tightly against him. She clearly needs this more than him. She saw it. He's practically clinging back, doesn't care that she's crying or that he is again, or that they're pretty damn broken.

He dies. She sees it.]

[district7]

[And its now that Johanna shows up to ruin the moment, one arm leaning against the doorway as she surveys the two with a raised brow. Her bruised face isn't even a concern, she's too busy looking smugly on.]

If you two need some time to get it out of your system, I can leave.

[effective]

[She stiffens at the sound of another voice, but recognises it as Johanna immediately afterwards. She takes a moment to slow down her breathing, and makes use of Finnick's shirt to wipe her face before she picks up her bow and turns to the older woman.

And then blinks] What happened to your face? [Her hand at some point has tangled with Finnick's not that she's about to mention that any time]

[insecrets]

[I think you mean that Johanna arrives to make this moment better and join in on the hug. No? Weh.

His lips twist slightly in a smile when he becomes Katniss's own personal tissue, but doesn't say anything about it.] And leave you out, Johanna? I am not so cruel.

[He glances at Katniss before his gaze flickers back to the other woman.] The civilians rioted. We were caught up in it.

[district7]

[You already got your one allotted hug per breakdown that she is responsible for, bro. Deal with it.

If Johanna notices Katniss using Finnick's shirt as a hankie, she keeps mercifully silent on the matter. Instead, she shrugs off her question because it ain't no big thing, really.] Apparently anger gives people a powerful punch.

[effective]

[She addresses Johanna's comment first] I hadn't noticed. [:'|]

[Her hand squeezes Finnick's a little tighter as she frowns at the words 'riots'. It lodges a sliver of panic in her heart, uncertainty. She's spent so long trying to get out of the victor mindset, she doesn't know what to do when faced with that information]

Why...? [She swallows. Her voice is a little hoarse when she tries speaking again] Why was there rioting?

[insecrets]

[He squeezes her hand back, glancing down at their hands entwined before looking back up at her face.] The people... The civilians, they're unhappy with our presence and with the Initiative. [He glances back at Johanna. His symptoms have disappeared, and he hasn't seen her fainting lately.]

We were sick for a few weeks, and it somehow spread to the people who actually live here.

[district7]

[Johanna's gaze hardens at the mention of the rioters, not so forgiving.]

The people here are as great at placing the blame where it belongs as they were back home. [Still, Katniss' reaction is some cause for concern. She approaches the two slowly, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind the other girl's ear.] They won't be coming back.

[effective]

[Katniss watches Johanna approach, but there's nothing wary in her gaze. Johanna is safe. Or, as safe as Katniss can feel around anyone. She doesn't try to stop her when she brushes her hair back, although that might have something to do with her focus on the riots] Why, because they decided we're all good people at heart and don't have any problems with us any more?

[Her head turns, glancing between the two of them.] You're not sick now. [It's a statement, not a question. She's flat out telling them they aren't allowed to be sick :'D]

[insecrets]

I think it's more because those of us who were left behind put a stop to them. [It's not that Finnick is forgiving; he just doesn't hate them. Is what they did any different than their own actions, really? Besides. A few died by his own hand for their idiocy. That was enough.]

We're not. [He smiles at her, one eyebrow raising at the command. Hey, you're not the mockingjay anymore, remember?]

[district7]

Murder makes for an effective deterrent. [She notes with a snort, though it isn't meant to be pointing fingers. If Finnick hadn't done what he did, there was a real chance she could've died.

Johanna rolls her eyes.] In the head, maybe, but that's nothing new.

[effective]

[Her expression twists, because the killing never stops, and they're both killers but they're both her friends. And it's not like she isn't a killer too. the dead bodies don't just disappear because you decide you don't want to do it anymore.

She closes her eyes for a moment, and only a fellow victor can know what a sign of trust that is. Sickin the head. Her eyes open again, and they're still there] How likely is it that I'm just making this all up?

[insecrets]

[Finnick gives a small shrug. He highly doubts he was the only one to end a few lives over the last few days. The civilians were hellbent on harm, maybe even intending to kill people themselves. There's a sidelong glance sent Johanna's way.] Self-defense. They would have killed us if they could have.

[He glances back at Katniss.] About as likely as we are. [Which means incredibly likely.]

[district7]

Didn't stop them from trying. [Her fingers brush against the bruise on her face, smiling bitterly. She's not quite as forgiving for attempts on her life, even if it was her fault.]

Speak for yourself. I'm nowhere near as messed up as you two.