i know why the caged bird sings

Lavinia Katharina Foxworth. 23. Avox from District 5. She had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.

[joho-mason-blog]

That’s understandable, I guess. Do you have anyone out there? Fighting, I mean.

[laviniafoxworth]

Everyone who's out there.

[joho-mason-blog]

That’s just the way it has to be. If we’re going to win this war, we need to be aggressive. 

[laviniafoxworth]

I know. I just... I worry is all.

[joho-mason-blog]

I missed another mission? Great.

[laviniafoxworth]

It seems like they're sending people out every week, now. I'm sure they'll put you on the next one. No man spared, apparently.

[finnickodoubledair-blog-blog]

I’ve never had so much fun in my life, thank you for asking.

Care to join me?

[laviniafoxworth]

What exactly is it that you're doing?

[alexkingstonsarchive]

[laviniafoxworth]

And dreamed of para-para-paradise every time she closed her eyes

[finnickodoubledair-blog-blog]

[laviniafoxworth]

Having fun?

[xavier-williams-blog]

I think you would. You’re so incredibly strong and brave. You’d know that there was to hope for. 

If I thought Mr Liny was terrifying, it was nothing compared to his lady friend. She had pink and blue striped skin with silver tattoos. I thought she was wallpaper one, accidentally. I got in trouble for that.

Me too. Seeing Peeta come back from the Capitol… it’s scary what they can do. Oh, I miss my books. I didn’t get any of those. That’s incredibly lucky. I bet you he swiped something of yours as a reminder of you as well. There’s no way he wouldn’t be thinking about you in a time like this. I think I might ask around. Or we can just match together some army clothes, medic stuff and they grey. At least it’s a mish mash of dull colours then. 

[laviniafoxworth]

Maybe, just maybe, that's because of you, Xavier Williams. Don't ever underestimate your ability to touch people, because I don't think you realize what you've got.

God, you'd think they were deliberately trying to look as awful as possible! It was almost impossible not to crack a smile. 

They've gotten worse. I never thought it would happen. I remember how they used to... Their torture has gotten even more terrifying. They're turning people against themselves. It's not right. But it is nice to have the little reminders of how things used to be with us. Bit I'm glad things are changing. After this war is over, we can go home.

Brilliant! A mish mash of dull colours is better than just grey. I'm sick of it.

[arabtimelord-deactivated2017052]

[xavier-williams-blog]

Hope is what keeps us all going when things are tough. I’m not sure about that. I just - my mother was always optimistic I guess. There just has to be something better than for us and I want to believe we can find it.

I did. It was terrifying but so funny. I think he was trying to impress a lady friend because he kept making conversation while he danced. 

Really? It’s one of my favourites. It’s the softest one I have. I am going to miss my Christmas jumper. I wish I had more than the two I have. Mr Edenthaw didn’t really give us enough warning to grab much. They must have a stash of clothes or textiles somewhere. They’ve got white for the medical staff so there must be more colours, somewhere.

[laviniafoxworth]

Well, if it weren't for you, I don't think I'd have much left. 

A lady friend! God, that's so hard to believe. I guess to women of the Capitol that would be fairly normal, but that's just embarrassing!

No, he didn't, but I'm glad he brought us. I managed to grab The Great Gatsby, though, my red jumper, and even Pollux's old jacket. It still smells like him, and it's a nice reminder that he's out there. Oh, you're right! That means they must have something, or at the very least a way to make some. 

[xavier-williams-blog]

Thank you. I really like having you by my side.

It might be hope. We have hope here and a chance for a life we were told we could never have. I think we are destined for change. I’m not sure what it will be or if it’s good or bad but change is coming. It’s only a matter of time.

That’s the one. He used to wear a pink wig on special occasions as well. He was frightening to look at but if you put a rose between his lips and he started tangoing, it just became funny.

I think that’s an excellent idea. I think that means I will have to pull out my jumper from when we arrived. It’s strange that it’s the most colourful thing I’ve seen in months and it’s just blue and red. I’m glad they didn’t take our clothes from us. 

[laviniafoxworth]

I like being there.

You're right. Hope. I like that. You've always been the optimist - the best of all of us, really. Don't know how you managed it for so long.

Oh my god, please don't tell me you had to watch him tango with an actual rose in his mouth? That's awful!

That jumper! Oh, that's my favourite jumper of yours besides the Christmas one, you've got to wear it! D'you think they'd have a way for us to get our hands on anything more colourful, or is it an unspoken rule that you've got what you've got but the rest remains grey?

[xavier-williams-blog]

It’s okay if you have to leave, Lavinia. I’ll always be here waiting for you.

Destiny seems like a silly concept but I still think it happens. You’re parents are a wonderful sign of it.  Love like that is always inspiring to see and be a part of. 

I’m pretty bad but I’m sure there are worse dances. Do you remember when I worked for Mr Liny? He would try and tango and it took everything I had to keep my laughter in. It was just… ridiculous.

I think that would be a wonderful idea. A little bit of fun and a happy occasion is enough to lift the spirits. Everyone could use some fun, even if it’s just for a few hours. 

[laviniafoxworth]

I'm not going anywhere.

I don't think it's silly. I just kind of gave up on it for a while, but something's brought it back. It's a good thing. What do you think, Xavier? Think we're destined to get out of this mess?

I remember him! Tall and pudgy, right? Weren't his lips dyed purple or something?

And we should make a rule that absolutely no one is allowed to wear grey. I've seen enough grey to last me a lifetime.

[claire-earnheart-deactivated201]

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for him then.

Yes, do not worry but thank you for caring.

[laviniafoxworth]

You're a trooper, I'll give you that. I'd've been distraught just at the knowledge that it got me.

[claire-earnheart-deactivated201]

It’s Claire, please. It feels strange being called that.

That is good to hear Lavinia, though sadly my arm was caught. Yourself?

[laviniafoxworth]

Sorry, old habits die hard. Claire. That's a beautiful name.

Oh, no, have you had it looked at? Burns are... I hate burns, they're absolutely no fun. I was lucky enough to make it out, but my friend wasn't. He'll get better soon, though. We've made it this far, so I'm sure of it.

[claire-earnheart-deactivated201]

Maybe just in passing.

[laviniafoxworth]

Well, thank you all the same Miss... Earnheart, right? I'm Lavinia.

I'm doing very well, thank you. Better, here. And yourself? I hope you didn't get caught in the fire?

[claire-earnheart-deactivated201]

I haven’t seen you in a while how are you?

[laviniafoxworth]

Have we met?

[xavier-williams-blog]

Oh dear. Maybe just when they ask you is a good idea. I don’t want you getting into trouble. I think you’ll find some and I’d be happy to help you search for them if you don’t. We can make an adventure out of it. 

That’s so perfect. You’re parents were just destined to be together. They even had there own dance so the universe must’ve known. Don’t worry, I still am the worlds most terrible dancer. The waltz is all I know and that’s rather easy compared to the foxtrot. I remember, my mother used to know how to rock ‘n’ roll dance and she’d dance with all of us but mostly we just twisted on the spot. I’d love to teach you how to waltz though. We can teach each other.

[laviniafoxworth]

If they ask me, I'll just say no. I'm not leaving you again.

I haven't believed in destiny for a long time, but I think you're right. They were most definitely destined to be together. They got along like a house on fire.

Oh, don't be ridiculous, I doubt you're the world's most terrible dancer. You should've seen Artemis. Young though she may have been, her coordination was completely off. Couldn't stand on her own two feet. But I'm not sure. I think Flickerman might be the worst.

We'll have fun with it. Once we've got it all figured out, we should try and make a get together out of it. I think everyone around here could use a night to kind of just let loose.

[xavier-williams-blog]

Xavier smiled at the way Lavinia took the time to say the word correctly. It is a bit useless without the discs, they’re the music. Once I’m better, I’ll come looking with you. He hoped dearly that he would be up and moving around in no time. Being idle wasn’t something Xavier was ever good at. 

It’s hard not to have fun when there is music. Is - was the foxtrot your parents dance because your last name is Foxworth? I can imagine you dancing around as a kid. I know how to waltz but I’m afraid that’s all I might know. My parents loved to dance as well. 

[laviniafoxworth]

Well, I'm not leaving this spot until they physically drag me out of here. When they do, then I'll go find the discs. If they're still missing by the time you're all healed up, then we'll search together. It'll be fun.

It was! It's even funnier, though, because my mum's maiden name was Trotter. In high school, their friends used to combine their last names into 'Foxtrot'. It turned into a long-running joke and it was official-ized as 'their dance' at the wedding. Oh, god, I was the most terrible dancer when I was young. The foxtrot is the only real dance I know. Dad tried to teach me others, so I can't teach you much, but any kind of dancing is a blast. You've got to teach me to waltz.