exsilium | First shot ; video

[There is the tell-tale sound of heaving in the background. The communicator is on its side, camera facing a cup of some clear alcohol on ice that's swirling in a tumbler. Where did this mysterious alcohol come from when Haymitch appears to be newly-arrived, you ask? We may never know.

His cheek is still stinging from where Katniss had gouged him, but it was a dull thrum that didn't seem so bad when he couldn't see straight. Eventually, he manages to get the camera upright and gives it a winning grin – or it would be winning, if there wasn't the telltale glisten of vomit on his lower lip. Some might not notice that.]

So, we're in for another Game. Different rules, sure, and a real 'battle', but – [and he waves his hand toward the camera,] – still. I should introduce myself, if that's the case.

[He makes a mostly-unsuccessful attempt to straighten himself up a little, leaning heavily on the outside wall of the nearest building before forcing himself to his feet and dipping himself in a sloppy bow.]

Haymitch Abernathy, victor of the second Quarter Quell. I come from District 12, home of coal and very little else.. This place is at least less of a violent assault on the senses than the Capitol – nobody's hair has made me shield my eyes yet. That's something.

[He produces a flask from his jacket pocket and places it to his lips, tipping it completely upside-down to suck the last few drops from it.]

Tell me, fellow captives -- how do you feel about the likelihood we'll be forced to kill people we know nearly nothing about in the name of this place's 'freedom'?

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[The look on her face says it all. She couldn't hurt Peeta.

Her head shakes again. That's not why they say it. She doesn't even think that they're wrong. She casts about for the right words to say, to make him understand everything that she is now, and can only think of one thing.]

They killed Prim.

[It hurts]

[Even with as much as he's had to drink, he grimaces. Prim, the little girl with the braids -- he knows she was important to Katniss.

The last vestiges of a family. He's familiar with losing that, not much younger than she was now.]

I'm sorry, sweetheart.

[Maybe he gives her a look back that suggests that if anyone has to tackle and attempt to restrain Peeta, he'll probably be fine with being that person.

They're more alike now than he wants to think about -- because if he thinks too hard, he'll worry she'll end up worse off than him. Maybe she's already worse off, for all that he made her go through.]

[She opens her mouth and tries to speak, but she can't. She doesn't know what to do with an 'I'm sorry', doesn't know how to deal with it. Even from Haymitch. Especially?]

She burned. The first bomb was for the children. The second one was for the rescuers. That's why Coin's dead. You helped. [She's clearly starting to lose the more stable grasp she had on reality before Prim came up]

[He's trying to piece information together without having any actual data past her word and Peeta's.]

I expect I would have.

[Time for a subject change!]

Should I ask whether you've been sleeping in a tree-mounted tent here?

[It takes her a few seconds to process that subject change, and she has to force herself to change tracks, switch away from obsessing over Prime to this new thing he's thrown her.]

No. Finnick. [For the moment she's unaware of the implication. Feel free to point them out to her :'D]

[Eyebrow.]

I think I owe him some money, in that case.

[Yes, okay, the ugly and gross humour is easier. Keep letting him use that.]

What?

[Wait. Wait. What???]

We're roommates. Johanna stays sometimes too. [a beat] And some other guy. Merlin. She kicks him out though.

You'd think he would've had the good sense to get out of there permanently, then.

[Okay, small amounts of amusement.]

Then he owes me some money. I told him he was a little too frou-frou for you.

[She opens her mouth, and then makes a face because she has no idea why Merlin doesn't move :'D]

I'm not talking about this with you. You're confusing Peeta. [Actually she's confusing Peeta but whatever. Blaming Haymitch is better]

[He knows the routine, Katniss -- blame him to make yourself feel better. He does it to Effie all the time.]

Am I, now. He seems confused enough as it is, so I'd better stop.

Yes. Exactly. [Also you're embarrassing her, god]

[But that's what parents do.]

I'll just go back to finishing my glass, then.

[ have a frowning peeta face ]

Not Gale?

What? [She's legitimately confused for a second before she realises what his issue is. For the first time since he arrived, she scowls. Sometimes his state of mind is hard to remember :'D]

Gale isn't here. I'm sharing with Finnick because I didn't want to sleep with strangers. And you know that answer to that, anyway. [It has nothing to do with her thinking that Peeta should know she'd choose him, and everything to with the fact that she thinks he should remember what happened to Prim. Because everyone should know that]

[ he shakes his head. it's not making sense again. Because they were in twelve, and Gale wasn't there. But she had hugged him, he had hugged her back. he had threatened to kill him for her. but then he wasn't there ]

No. I don't.

[ he sighs ]

I never know the answers with you.

[The expression on her face reads only as hurt. She comes super close to disconnecting, but remembers what Haymitch said once about what Peeta would do for her]

You're the one in Twelve with me. Not Gale.

I didn't even know where he was until you turned up.

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video. ALSO SORRY FOR YOUR INBOX LETTIE 8|