01. vid

[howherolls]

[ the video feed flickers on, and a young man sits at a desk. On it, there's a paintbrush, a small canvas and a set of watercolors. None of them have been touched, but the young man's fingers keep flexing around the brush. ]

I'm...not sure why I'm here. [ he slowly clears his throat, staring not at the feed but at the brush ] My only guess is they saw something they liked on the footage. [ a finger twitches against the brush ] But...I am pretty sure I have other ideas this time.

[ he looks up ]

That person you saw in the Games and the interviews wasn't me. Not the me that I remember, anyway. So if that's what you were expecting, I apologize. I'm not here to fight. You don't want me fighting.

[ there's the sound of a sharp crack as the paintbrush snaps in half. It begins to reform itself ]

My name's Peeta Mellark, and I'm going to sit this one out.

Comments

[insecrets]

Johanna said. [BUT NOT ABOUT A BABY.]

[howherolls]

[ he begins to fidget with his hands ]

Things aren't perfect back in Panem, but we're working on it. He's going to grow up in a completely different world than us.

[insecrets]

Good. [Does he mean it? Yeah, he thinks he does. A son. His fingers work at the rope again, tying and untying knots as he slips into silence.

Annie's alone, and she has his son. They have a child, and she's alone. No, Johanna said that she's taking care of Annie. Which means she's taking care of their son.

Unless that was a lie.]

I'm glad that... That he had a chance.

[howherolls]

Me too.


Something was worth it in the end.

[insecrets]

[Sorry, bro. He's gotta jet. Weh.]

[howherolls]

[ off to cry another ocean, eh ]