Katniss Everdeen (
stillplaying) wrote in
riverviewlogs2017-03-15 04:35 pm
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(no subject)
who: katniss everdeen + [OPEN]
what: general catch-all / out-and-about
when: mid-March and on
where: inhabited area + along the wall
warnings: n/a
She's traded one Game for another. A new arena in place of the one that had started to become familiar. It's been a few days now and she hasn't grown any more comfortable with that fact. Katniss hadn't liked the Alpha Complex. Far, far from. As arenas go, this one seems infinitely better. There's sun. Forest. Fresh air. That she can be above ground again makes up for all future dangers at the moment. But there's one thing the horrible Complex had that made life worth living again. Prim had been there. Her sister had been a part of the Computer's Games, but she had been alive and well.
Prim isn't here. It's enough to make her wonder if it had even been real. The Computer had claimed memories of their lives had been little more than glitches. Prim's arrival had helped to convince her otherwise. Now she's not sure. Had that been real? A hallucination? Had she still been in Panem that entire time, stuck in the hospital as her body slowly recovered from the skin grafts and burns? Those are back. The orange jumpsuit she still wears thankfully keeps most of them hidden.
Although she's been assigned to floor 2 in the community house, Katniss is rarely there. There are too many people, new and unfamiliar and therefore untrustworthy. She feels too disoriented to bother reaching out. She misses Prim far too much. Is her sister still in Alpha? Had she ever really been there? At least, without Katniss there to distract her, Prim might be safe. She had done an awful job protecting Prim there. Worse in Panem. That's another reason why it's better to keep to herself for now. She only gets people hurt, doesn't she?
So Katniss spends most of her time walking along the southern part of the inner wall, eyeing the deciduous forest with longing. That's something familiar. Something real and solid and all Katniss wants to do is lose herself within the foliage. She wants to hunt. Wants to bury the grief that eats at her every day within the area outside of the wall. When was the last time she could do that? Spend hours in the forest with her bow and quiver as she seeks out the night's dinner. If she's going to do that, she'll have to change her clothes. She's too conspicuous in the orange jumpsuit.
Although it's not nearly as comfortable a surrounding, she forces herself to explore the entertainment and shopping area. Supposedly she has a month's salary. A month until she has to find a job to support herself with. For now, she needs clothes and boots that will let her hike. And she needs a bow. Maybe then, she'll start to feel safe.
what: general catch-all / out-and-about
when: mid-March and on
where: inhabited area + along the wall
warnings: n/a
She's traded one Game for another. A new arena in place of the one that had started to become familiar. It's been a few days now and she hasn't grown any more comfortable with that fact. Katniss hadn't liked the Alpha Complex. Far, far from. As arenas go, this one seems infinitely better. There's sun. Forest. Fresh air. That she can be above ground again makes up for all future dangers at the moment. But there's one thing the horrible Complex had that made life worth living again. Prim had been there. Her sister had been a part of the Computer's Games, but she had been alive and well.
Prim isn't here. It's enough to make her wonder if it had even been real. The Computer had claimed memories of their lives had been little more than glitches. Prim's arrival had helped to convince her otherwise. Now she's not sure. Had that been real? A hallucination? Had she still been in Panem that entire time, stuck in the hospital as her body slowly recovered from the skin grafts and burns? Those are back. The orange jumpsuit she still wears thankfully keeps most of them hidden.
Although she's been assigned to floor 2 in the community house, Katniss is rarely there. There are too many people, new and unfamiliar and therefore untrustworthy. She feels too disoriented to bother reaching out. She misses Prim far too much. Is her sister still in Alpha? Had she ever really been there? At least, without Katniss there to distract her, Prim might be safe. She had done an awful job protecting Prim there. Worse in Panem. That's another reason why it's better to keep to herself for now. She only gets people hurt, doesn't she?
So Katniss spends most of her time walking along the southern part of the inner wall, eyeing the deciduous forest with longing. That's something familiar. Something real and solid and all Katniss wants to do is lose herself within the foliage. She wants to hunt. Wants to bury the grief that eats at her every day within the area outside of the wall. When was the last time she could do that? Spend hours in the forest with her bow and quiver as she seeks out the night's dinner. If she's going to do that, she'll have to change her clothes. She's too conspicuous in the orange jumpsuit.
Although it's not nearly as comfortable a surrounding, she forces herself to explore the entertainment and shopping area. Supposedly she has a month's salary. A month until she has to find a job to support herself with. For now, she needs clothes and boots that will let her hike. And she needs a bow. Maybe then, she'll start to feel safe.
inner wall
Clementine has been out briefly herself a couple times when the area looked calm. She isn't as well armed as she'd like to be, so she hasn't gone far, but it isn't hard at all just to get past the gate. They'll warn people, but ultimately everyone is allowed to make their own choices.
She isn't going out right now. At the moment she's carrying a couple two by fours over one shoulder, intending to dump them into a nearby wheel barrow with some other building supplies. There's still a lot of work to do on repairing her house, but the whole process has been surprisingly therapeutic.
no subject
Instead of her sister, a girl that appears to be roughly Prim's age approaches her. It's still habit to regard anyone with suspicion; a change of location has done nothing to change that. The fence in District 12 was meant not to be crossed. She had done so anyway. But breaking the rules have consequence. She had lost Prim because of Katniss' own recklessness.
"Why is there a wall?"
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"You know, the monsters? You might not have seen any yet. There's a second fence further out but it's kind of glitchy so a lot of them make it through. This one's stronger." She can't put all of her faith in it, of course. That's why she's trying to make sure she's always prepared in the event of an invasion.
The monsters here are different. She prefers them, in a strange way, because when she looks at one she isn't seeing something that used to be human. If she gets bitten by one and manages to live, she doesn't have to worry about becoming one herself.
no subject
"I haven't seen any monsters." But if the girl is telling the truth, it's all the more reason to look for a bow here. She looks out past the wall again and frowns. "Are there animals out there, too?"
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"But yeah, the fence is to keep things out. That's why there's a perimeter guard. Some of the people that were brought in like us work in it too. But they'll let you go out." Because like she's said, it's not their job to keep people in. The risk is theirs to take.
no subject
At the very least, she'll be prepared if food does run out. Clementine isn't the only one who thinks that way. Knowing that she has the option of hunting again makes her smile. Being taken from her sister hurts but at least she can hunt again. It's the small things, right? At least that's what she has to tell herself so she doesn't break down crying.
"Have you gone out there?"
no subject
It's not really theft if no one has any claim to it, right? She's used to living in a world that's become far more abandoned than occupied.
She's not stupid, though. She knows how small she is and how big some of the monsters are. As long as she doesn't get too far from the main city on her own she thinks she should be okay. She might be small and some of those monsters are quite large, but that just means it's easier for her to hide. And if she does manage to kill one? Some of those parts are useful too. Some people will pay well for a strange animal pelt - if she doesn't feel like using them herself, that is.
no subject
Katniss hadn't expected to feel any kind of kinship to anyone here. Especially not so soon. BAlready, she has half a mind to keep an eye out for the girl.
"I'll remember that," she says, offering a small smile of thanks. "I'm Katniss."
no subject
She's not from this world, no, but she'll take one moderately safe city over a world full of zombies any day. This place is more alive than any place she's been to in a long time, and it's refreshing. She's just waiting for something to go wrong but hoping it won't. It's about time something goes right for her for a change.
"Be careful if you do go out, though."
Shopping
"Solid but not enough draw weight," he muttered, half to himself, as he let the bow relax. Seeing the girl looking for her own weapon, he offered it over for her consideration.
no subject
That doesn't seem to be the case here. She should be relieved. Instead, she worried. Katniss frowned as she watched the man test one of the bows at this particular shop. Anyone could buy a weapon here, couldn't they? What kind of Game was this?
He offers the bow to her and Katniss shakes her head. "I prefer longbows."
Recurves remind her too much of the Hunger Games.
no subject
And don't even get him started on compound bows, which he appraised with the same skeptical confusion that any weapon with so many excessive moving parts deserved.
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"It doesn't matter if you know how to use it," she mutters, picking up a simple wooden longbow. There were fancier compounds, things that resembled the Mockingjay bow that Beetee had made for her. Katniss ignores all of that. Something simple. That's all she needs. "A bow's useless if you can't aim."
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One can't hit creatures with a greatsword from that position, after all. It makes perimeter guarding a bit difficult.
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"Pick one and try it," she suggests, her tone a little dismissive despite the advice she's offering. Following her own words, Katniss picks up a simple longbow that reminds her of her father's. She walks over to the small range set up beside the stand and takes the arrow offered to her. The string seems taut, and one she can replace if need be with sinew as it wears. Moreover, the bow seems to be a good size for someone her height. Although she'd prefer to have a tab or glove to use while shooting, she's not going to be picky.
She stands perpendicular to the target, her grip relaxed on the handle. Katniss noches the arrow on to the string and lets the shaft rest on the arrow rest. She exhales as she pulls back, eyeing the bullseye in the center. It's a lot easier than shooting a squirrel in the eye - and it's a lot closer. It's easy to pull back the string and a couple of seconds later, she lets it loose. The arrow lands in the target with a satisfying sound.
no subject
By the time she's launched her arrow, Roy had finally made it over to the range himself, holding a composite recurve bow that a few tentative pulls had convinced him would stand up. "That was a really nice shot," he said, as he nocked an arrow. "I'm guessing bows are your weapon of choice?"
Communal Housing
Which leads to now, and Lola spotting Katniss. "Hey, hey! Wait up! Are you the person who keeps avoiding your bed on Floor 2?" Lola was tiny, well dressed (even after being here), and kept her hair this perfectly brushed set of blue lockes. But the little signs of her hair growing were visble at her scalp, unfortunately.
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Five beds a room wasn't so bad. But there were ten overall between the two rooms. That meant nine strangers would be able to get to her while sleeping. Four of them might hear her screams at night. Peeta was in Panem. Derek was in Alpha Complex. Both boys had held her and helped her sleep through the night without having too many nightmares. No one was here.
Avoiding was easier, though Katniss intended to make use of the trunk assigned to her. It's there, leaving after placing a couple of provisions within said trunk, that the blue haired girl catches up with her. Immediately, Katniss scowls in response. "Why?"
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"I, just wanted to make sure everyone is okay. And if there was anyway we can all make this living together thing easier. You're like the third person who doesn't sleep in one of the beds and the only girl my age." Lola Pacini wanted everyone to at least not attack everyone. Which, sure, wasn't a thing that ever happened. But she also wanted her own reality show and that wasn't happening either. "I'm Lola. I kinda do most of the cooking because, I know how to cook things. If that might help you stick around long enough to say more than one word."
Lola's definitely intimidated, but she isn't actually letting it stop her like it used to. Grace was honestly way more intimidating than Katniss seems, and she turned out okay. And all the boys seemed to be sweethearts made of impossible levels of tall muscle. So... how bad can this go?
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"Why?" Katniss asks as soon as she can get word in. There had been a couple of people like this in Alpha, too. Clearly, Katniss hadn't been one of them. She looked out for herself and she looked out for Prim. It had taken a lot for her to let Derek in, let alone anyone else. She looks perplexed. She's seen what working together can do. It gets more people killed. Katniss shakes her head and clarifies: "You don't know me. You're better off caring about yourself."
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The idea of not caring about someone was easy, she understood it. She understood not getting attached, people leave. People leave and you never know why. But it was empty, and lonely, to just move around only caring about yourself. And Lola never wanted to feel that again. "I can get to know you. And aren't you caring about me, by telling me to care about myself?"
Lola can, on occasion, be clever.
no subject
Even though she tried, Katniss hadn't completely capable of isolating herself in Alpha. She's trying to be better at it here. Look out for herself and no one could possibly get hurt.
"No," she insists, even if she sees the logic in the girl's argument. It almost makes her scowl. "It's just advice."
no subject
This girl was definitely on the 'something else' spectrum of the world, no matter how normal she looked Lola was pretty sure 'normal' wasn't the word for this girl. "I can't force you to stick around, but if you want a meal I usually cook a lot of food here and just leave it for everyone else. But... will you at least tell me your name before you run off?"
The sorta pleading look in her eye says she really wants that proper introduction, or as close to proper as Lola got. She'd prefer to have an email address to send a friend request, but that felt like it wouldn't be a thing.
no subject
That hadn't seemed to be a problem in Alpha. No one seemed to know who she was there. It's similar here, if this girl's question is any indication. She doesn't necessarily have to be alone, although it's still tempting. It's easier to grieve when alone and there's a large part of her still doing that.
"Katniss. And I'll bring by meat," Katniss relinquishes as a peace offering. If she hunts enough, not everything she gets would need to be sold. She can provide for some of the others in this building as well, and not feel as if she owes anyone anything if she takes some food for herself.
It still doesn't mean she wants to live here though.
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People don't like grief, they don't like accepting these things. That bad things happen. Lola wasn't quite sure why, it was a part of them right? Bad things happen, you can't just ignore them when they happen to you. Right?
"Meat? Is that a cultural thing I don't get or... just you being weird?" She didn't get it, she didn't mind. New animals to cook were great. There were so many new flavors to mix and work with. "Anyway, I can do pretty well with anything. It'll be fun!"
inner wall;
He's got little else to do with his free time these days. So when he's not on guard, he's exploring the general vicinity in a way that allows him a bit more freedom than the shifts he works do. Derek has a need to learn his surroundings and enjoy what freedom he suddenly seems to have. Here, the wall doesn't bother him because it's there to protect the people who can't protect themselves; not to keep everyone contained. Three weeks underground was enough containment for Derek, thank you very much.
At the moment, he's prowling the woods not too far outside the fence in his wolf form, mostly because he can. Largely, the area has been quiet and void of human life, but catching the scent of a human on a breeze has him turning back toward the wall, curious. He knows the scent, now, of most of the people on the guard at least in passing, but this one isn't one of those. He stays behind the brush to look initially, but it's impossible to miss the ORANGE jumpsuit, identical to the one he'd been wearing until a few days ago. Seeing her face, Derek almost wouldn't believe it, but the jumpsuit tells him what he needs to know and relief, however probably selfish it is, floods through him as he takes in a deep breath to memorize the scent he'd been unable to commit to memory in the Complex. Then, he shifts out of the wolf, keeping himself largely hidden from view — when he shifts out, he's naked and his clothes are still a good mile away where he'd stashed them, but Katniss is...shy about that sort of thing — before he speaks up, pushing his upper body through the brush so that she can see him. "...Katniss?" Part of him already knows, but he just needs to hear her say it. Just to be sure.
no subject
Maybe that's why she's spending so much of her time along the wall, as close to the wilderness as she's currently willing to go. She's missed this. She's missed the smell of the woods and the sound of the leaves rustling. She misses Prim most of all. At least being outside is still novel enough that it helps to dull the ache. She misses Prim but at least Prim's alive in Alpha. Alive and with people who can protect her.
The sound of leaves rustling catches her attention. As she starts to turn her head in the direction of the noise, a familiar voice calls her name. It catches her off-guard and her brow wrinkles in confusion. Katniss hasn't exactly taken the time to see if there's anyone she might know here. It seems too good to be true that anyone important to her might be here. But it's him, isn't it? Katniss takes a few steps closer. It is Derek.
For a few seconds, she forgets all about being prudish. A smile crosses her face and she runs towards him. She doesn't know why he's taken his shirt off and she doesn't ask - although Katniss does assume he has pants on. "Derek," she greets with a surprised laugh as she wraps her arms around his neck in a hug. "Is this real?"
The full-body nudity will sink in shortly.
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He gives her a squeeze and smiles into her hair, taking her scent in properly as he does so and he nods against the side of her head before answering. "It's real. I'm here, I'm right here," he promises. They've bonded over their issues and Derek understands where that question comes from, because of it. It's all he can do to assure her that this isn't in her imagination, although he imagines when she sees his state of undress, she might find it weird enough to be doubtful.
"Katniss, I'm...you kinda caught me at a bad time for a hug, just...can you promise me you won't freak out? And, for your own sake, maybe don't look down just yet?" he asks, sounding equal parts apologetic and amused as he loosens his hold on her, but doesn't step away.
no subject
"I won't," she begins slowly, her brow furrowing a little in confusion. He's never minded hugs from her in the past and up until right now, he didn't mean to mind it here. Then it starts to sink in. As his hold loosens, and she looks down just enough to see the bare skin of his chest (and thankfully? not much more), it sinks in. He's standing behind these bushes for a reason. He's preserving her modesty and the thought is touching. But it's also embaressing to realize that she's standing here hugging a naked Derek. "Oh."
"Oh," she repeats again, quietly and bashfully. Katniss wants to freak out but she had made a promise. She stands very still instead. Her cheeks must be bright red by now. "I, uh... Do you want me to let go?"
no subject
"It's okay, Katniss," he says fondly. "I just...I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I don't care. Nudity isn't really a big deal for me; it never has been. That sort of modesty isn't something I was brought up with." This is a man who thought nothing of seeing his mother or sister naked when they transitioned out of their full wolves, because he'd been raised not to really notice it beyond the action of giving them something with which to cover up once they'd come back out of it. This is a man who took on a Berserker with his bare hands while naked and surrounded by a handful of teenagers and hunters. Alcide has seen him naked. His younger sister has. Peter has. His own modesty is the last thing on his mind.
"I...listen, I do have clothes, but...they're kind of a ways out...do you want to wait here while I go back for them or...?" he offers. He can shift back into the wolf and race back to his clothes in maybe a minute or two and it'll take him a few more minutes to get back to her on two legs, but whatever makes her more comfortable he's okay with. "You could come with me if you want. I can shift back and then you won't...you know. Have to walk with me while I'm naked," he offers. "But...you'd have to walk with a wolf that can't talk to you for a while. It's up to you. I don't mind. I just don't want you to be uncomfortable."
no subject
However, there's a big difference between sleeping beside a shirtless Derek and seeing him in his full glory. A big difference. And if Katniss had any doubt that this wasn't Derek, they're completely obliterated by his willingness to once again put her needs before his. He always does this. Always seems to put her first. By now, she's stopped expecting that she owes him anything in return. This is just who Derek is. It's endearing. More than that. And it's one of the many reasons she had tried so hard to understand his explanation of a werewolf. He's right in thinking that she didn't entirely believe it.
"Wolf," she echoes, trying to remember everything Derek had told her that night. He's not a muttation - he's too good to be anything the Capitol could come up with. But he's not entirely human, not like her. Her brow furrows in thought and even though she should probably let go of his arm, her hand stays tight around one wrist. It's almost as if letting go risks losing him again.
That train of thought solidifies her decision. Walking in the forest with a naked man seems... Well, that's something she can't seem to put into words. It's extremely different from stripping to patch up wounds in the arena. More practically, what if he steps on something and injures himself? Then there's the fact that she just wants to see it. She wants to understand. Katniss presses her lips together, trying to look resolute and brave even as she wants to give into her nerves instead. "I want to see it. You. Shifting. I..." Katniss trails off. Admitting she doesn't know something is still hard. "We don't have that in Panem. I want to see it."
See for herself that he's still the same Derek she cares about.
no subject
"Okay," he says agreeably enough. If she wants to see it, then he'll show her. Derek gently extricates his wrist from her hold and takes a little step back. "After I do it, follow me, okay? Alcide and I stashed clothes in a few places out here, so we're not far from one of my stashes. I'll make sure you can keep up," he assures her, a reminder mostly to himself not to take off running just because he can.
With that Derek takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly as he closes his eyes and rolls his neck on his shoulders to stretch a little. At first, nothing happens; at least, that's probably what it looks like to Katniss. To Derek, he's slipping into the mindset and finding his focus point. And then, just like that, in only a few seconds worth of time, Derek goes from a man standing upright and smoothly fades into an especially hairy man standing upright, to a wolf standing on its hind legs before finally dropping forward onto all fours. His eyes light up as he looks up at her and he bows his head just slightly as if to remind her that he isn't a threat just because he looks like one. He's still Derek in there.
no subject
"I'll follow," she promises. And she won't panic, she promises herself. This is Derek. She trusts him. That's not something that she does all that easily.
For the first few seconds, nothing seems to happen. He stands in front of her with his eyes closed, completely naked. Despite her determination to keep from embarrassing herself, she can't help but look him over from head to toe. Curiosity about the werewolf thing is the lie that she tells herself, even as her cheeks flame a little. Then, unexpectedly, he becomes extremely hairy. Despite expecting it, the sudden change still comes as a shock. Even more so when he drops on all fours and becomes a wolf.
A wolf. Just like he said.
She gasps, unable to stop herself, and stands there uncomfortably for a couple of moments. The wolf's head bows and she takes another sharp intake of breath. It is possible. He's become a wolf. He's nothing like the canine-like muttations that had hunted her in the 74th Hunger Games. Not that she expected him to be. Really, Katniss didn't know what to expect. She takes another breath and finally forces herself to take a step forward. Katniss is unarmed. If he wanted, he can attack easily. Instead, the wolf just stands there. Cautiously, she kneels in front of him to better look into his eyes. There's intelligence in there, more so than the animals she's seen in the wild. It's human intelligence and in that way, he's like the muttations. But there's no malice in his eyes. He's still Derek. He's still safe.
She smiles a little now, and chuckles despite herself. "Derek." She says his name fondly as she places her hand gently on the top of his head. Her smile widens. "This is..." Katniss shakes her head, unable to find the words to describe how surreal this moment is. After everything that's happened to her, there should be no more surprises. Nothing should be impossible. And yet? Her fingers dig into his fur, stroking gently as she continues to watch him. "You really are a wolf." Then, with a bit of amusement, she adds in: "You might come in handy when I hunt."
no subject
She takes a step forward and then kneels down in front of him and Derek sits back on his haunches, rather than continuing to stand there which, as far as he can tell, would put him in a much easier position to attack than if he's sitting. He wants to make sure that she realizes fully that he's really still in here underneath all the fur and fangs, and he isn't going to hurt her.
As she rests a hand on his head, he lifts his head slightly into her touch. He's feeling significantly more relaxed knowing that she does, in fact, recognize that he's in here, even if it's a lot to take in just to look at it for the first time. If he could laugh at her comment about the hunting, he would. He's probably a better hunter than she is if only because she probably can't chase her prey anywhere near as fast as he can. Then again, maybe she doesn't have to; maybe she's good enough that she wouldn't need to chase it. ...admittedly, half the fun for Derek is the chase, in this form.
Derek gets back to his feet again, tail swishing as he turns in a circle and starts to lead her further into the woods to find the stash of clothes he's left. It's a good mile out, so it's probably going to take a good twenty or thirty minutes to get there, but the longer they stand around in the clearing, the longer she's going to be without someone to talk to. Derek stays close to her, largely at her side and only just slightly ahead. If she were to reach out with her dominant hand, she'd still be able to reach his back at about her hip level.
no subject
His fur is soft underneath her hands. It's a lot softer than Katniss expects it to be. She's never been much of an animal person, certainly not in the way her sister is. But Katniss respects wolves for the capable hunters they are. And this isn't just any wolf standing in front of her. It's Derek and really, it's kind of amazing. A little frightening, yes, but still amazing. She probably should be more afraid than she is but Katniss' fears have focused much more on matters of survival. Her own life, the lives of the people she cares about. And as long as she continues to remind herself that it's Derek, and reminds herself of how wonderful Derek's been to her, it's a lot harder to be afraid of the wolf in front of her.
He gets to his feet and Katniss takes that as a signal to stand. She wishes they could talk right now. Find out where he's staying, how long he's been here, if he's seen anyone else. Those questions can wait. Besides, Katniss likes the silence. There's solace in the woods. Although she would rather be holding his hand, touching skin instead of fur, she's happy to have any kind of contact with him. Her fingers continue to brush his back as they walk. Wolf or human, it's the same premise: letting go risks the chance of Derek disappearing. Katniss doesn't want that.
She's in good health, and has always been inclined to walking. In District 12, it had been her primary form of travel. She's used to forest terrain too. Without even trying, her steps remain quiet. Even if she isn't out hunting, it's habit to avoid stepping on branches or leaves or anything that might give her away. This is the closest to the feeling of home she's had since before the Quarter Quell.
no subject
The walk goes on for about half an hour, which isn't much longer than Derek had thought it would take, before he finds the spot where he's hidden his clothes and he breaks away from Katniss to duck into the brush to shift back into human form. Once he's transitioned back out, Derek gets dressed and looks back out from the brush.
"You okay?" he asks, just to be certain, as he makes his way back into sight again. He'd rather wait to make sure that she's not still processing it all and dizzy with reality before he tries to hug her again. Which, quite frankly, he'd really like to be doing just now. So long as it's not as the expense of her comfort. ...again.
no subject
When he changes back again, it's just as surprising as it had been before. It shouldn't be. She should expect it by now. But it still takes her aback. The wolf disappears in the brush and when he comes back, it's Derek. He looks exactly the same, as if the transformation never took place. And why should he look different? He's still human, isn't he? Still Derek.
Katniss laughs a little in disbelief when he rejoins her, shaking her head in disbelief. He had been a wolf and now... Quietly, Katniss closes the distance between them and wraps her arms back around his waist. She's still trying to process it all but the contact helps to ground her. It helps to remind her that this is real.
She exhales and her breath comes out almost like a sigh. "Sometimes I wonder if I died that day with Prim," Katniss admits, the words a whisper. "Life has never returned to normal. It's only gotten stranger."
no subject
Derek strokes her hair, smoothing it against the back of her head in a gesture he hopes she finds at least a little bit soothing, if not reassuring. "I know, but I promise...this is real. I'm real. This place is real. No more soylent, no more stupid jumpsuits. No more being told our memories are 'glitches' and that everything under the sun could get us arrested and torn apart," he promises.
Just them in this place and this place isn't home but Derek is fine with that. This place is better, anyway. He finally releases her and takes a step back, his hands still on her arms to keep in contact with her. "...is Prim here, too, then?" he asks. He never did get to meet her...
Community house
"Katniss? Buffy, I was in Alpha with you. I mean--I think I was. Maybe you don't know me."
no subject
She can hope. It's a strange and nagging feeling but it's also become one that she can't entirely escape from lately. If Derek is here, maybe Prim can show up too. That hope spikes again again when Buffy approaches her.
"I remember you." It's almost tempting to hug her, too. Awkwardness gets the better of her and she smiles crookedly, but happily, instead. "It's good to see you again."
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Buffy remembers vaguely that she and Katniss spoke about sisters, but she believes it was before Prim arrived because they'd talked about the pain of losing them. Regardless, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Prim would be here or might arrive here at some point in the future. Buffy is still trying to decide if this place is safe enough for Dawn. Home isn't safe, but there are people there that love Dawn and can keep her safe.
Oh good. There won't be any awkward introductions or explanations the way there had been when she'd met both versions of Steve. Buffy wouldn't have minded being hugged, but she remembers Katniss was a little gunshy about being touched so she doesn't initiate it. When she smiles crookedly at Buffy, Buffy returns the smile. "It's good to see you again, too. Are you settling in okay? When did you arrive? Where are you staying?"
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"A few days ago," she answers, sorting through the questions and figuring out which seem most important to answer first. It's a lot at once. At least this time, Katniss is much more willing to talk. "I have a bed assigned in that skyscraper. Floor 2," because she might actually trust Buffy, "but I don't like staying there. Too many people."
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Very similar. Buffy had once threatened to quit the whole saving the world gig if Dawn died, and she would have done (still would). Instead, she'd died for her sister rather than sacrifice her sister. She can say it was to save the world, but she knows better. That just makes the people around her feel better if they think it was to save the world. Buffy understands that line of thought; she feels the same way about Dawn.
She nods in response. She hadn't arrived much sooner than that. It's a whole lot at once and Buffy gets that as well. It's good that Katniss is more willing to talk. It means she's made progress. "Oh! That's the one I'm in too. I'll look for you."
Though, within a very short amount of time, she's going to be moving to the abandoned apartment building of Derek's. She simply doesn't know that yet.
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"Keep staring at it like that and you might burn a hole through one of the trees." The curiously accented voice comes from the teen just a little younger that Katniss herself in archaic clothes and sitting in a camo-colored wheelchair nearby. Despite his obvious disability, there's a general air of toughness that surrounds him. He'll stab anyone who so much as looks at him wrong.
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"That's-" Katniss stops herself short. She was going to say that's impossible but she knows better. After being in the Alpha Complex and arriving here, she knows better. Things Katniss would have considered impossible aren't. So she shakes her head quickly. "-not going to happen."
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Ivar wheels himself a little closer to Katniss, staring at her in silence just long enough for the moment to become uncomfortable. He's taking her in, judging her in the observant way that he so often does to people around him. It's a habit he's had ever since he was a small child. His eyes, strange with their light blue sclera as well as blue pupils, don't blink. Whatever he sees in her face, he seems to approve of. "What is your name?" He asks her.