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

[howherolls]

It's always nice to have a back up plan.

[ he frowns LOOK HE'S SENSITIVE NOT PSYCHIC ]

He'd want to.

[district7]

Maybe invest in something a little more permanent, in that case.

[That is totally the same thing, okay.]

And now he's got one more thing to cry over.

[howherolls]

We'll see how long I need it.

Or something to live for.

[district7]

They're in short supply of shrinks around here. Morphling, on the other hand...

Did your memory of his head being ripped off suddenly change? Because I'm pretty sure he's still dead in my memory.

[howherolls]

He's not dead here.

[ he sighs, looks down at the ground ]

How would you feel? If you were trapped here, knowing if you can go back there's nothing but death. That you couldn't do anything. [ he looks up again ]

After a while, it's not worth it.

[ he swallows ]

Finnick should know his son grows up somewhere without the Games.

[district7]

That doesn't change anything.

[Her expression hardens into an angry glare.]

I wouldn't know, remember? He knew what he agreed to when he signed up.

[She takes a deep breath, lets it out in a sigh.]

He's already breaking here. This isn't going to help him.

[howherolls]

Maybe we all need to break.

[district7]

Are you going to fix him when he does?

[howherolls]

You have to be able to fix yourself. [ a small smile ] Dr. Aurelis mentioned something like that. Maybe she was just being lazy.

[district7]

Big words from the one not fighting. [saying she needs him functional isn't something she's willing to admit] Or incompetent.

[howherolls]

Words can make the difference between life and death.

[district7]

These people don't do reason.

[howherolls]

Eventually someone has to.

[district7]

And you're volunteering?