This is a thank you to my friends on Tumblr and at the same time a birthday drabble for @geekymoviemom who is such a sweetheart and it’s so much fun speaking to & @alliswell21 whom I love so much & who has the cutest little one you’d ever seen.
RATED: G - Unbeta’d all mistakes are mine.
Modern AU Everlark on Tumblr….hehehe for all of you readers and writers this is what would happen between Katniss and & Peeta if Peeta was a writer on Tumblr and Katnsiss was a reader…enjoy
The phone atop of her desktop buzzed. Katniss lifted her hand to touch the screen but was interrupted by Marvel, one of the sales guys. “Hey Everdeen, our tech guys say’s a whole bunch of those small little screens got damaged in transit.”
“You mean the CDU’s,” Katniss sighed. Sales guys were, all the same, all they cared about was the sale, after that they didn’t want to deal with anyone or anything. It was up to her to make nice with the customer or to generally make them complacent without being nasty.
“Yeah. Isn’t’ that what I said?”
Running the returns department was sort of like corralling a whole bunch of kindergartners hyped up on sugar. She gave him a stern look.
Marvel’s casual pose changed, he slipped his hands from his pocket and stood straighter. “So when you can, can you get together with Joanna from logistics and see if we can bring them back and send out a replacement…please.”
“I need a copy of the purchase order, invoice, and correct contact information.” Katniss gave him a slight nod and Marvel zoomed out of her office. Nobody liked to hear ‘no’ and no one wanted to hear the terms negative revenue but it went hand in hand with manufacturing.
The moment Marvel left Katniss turned her attention to her phone. She was waiting for two important messages, one from her sister letting her know she was arriving safely back at school the other was an update from her favorite FanFic writer Dentalion. He described himself as a super fan of her favorite book, The Restitution Games.
Those books touched a cord with her, the protagonist was a girl, the reluctant hero. A survivor was branded as unwanted by her own people. Katniss scraped by her whole life, making ends meet slowly making her way through a community college to be able to get this job. Growing up she had little time to focus in on herself, focusing in on her families needs, but the result was well worth the sacrifices.
Her sister was well adjusted, going to the school of her choice, and their mother was getting the treatment she deserved. In spite of having achieved all of her goals, life was lonely and there were times she wished for companionship. However, because of the upheaval, she experienced as a young girl she valued her quiet life.
She was by nature someone who didn’t like fuss, even with her passionate temperament. She’d dated but it always ended in disasters and even had sex once in her life. But it just wasn’t good and she figured it wasn’t for her. She’d settled into her convent style life.
Fanfic helped fill the void. Katniss quickly typed in her code and she grinned slowly like a cat at the notification of the update.
Getting up from her desk, Katniss made her way to the private bathroom. She opened the door with her key, locked the door behind her with the key all the while her phone connected to her writing blog. She’d been waiting for this update. The two main characters Scout and Barley were at a critical point in the story. They were in a cave, and Scout was trying to save both of their lives.
She didn’t bother with the introduction as she began to read.
Barley captured Scouts hand his blue eyes pleading, “You can’t go out there, it’s too dangerous?”
Scout scowled, there was a note in her voice that betrayed the harsh look. “Without that medicine, you’re going to die.”
“What if you don’t come back,” Barely asked his body began trembling.
“Barley,” Scout whispered. She grasped his hand in hers, it was hot. She touched his forehead and it burned. Gently she put a kiss on his lips, “I can’t let you die. I’ll be back I promise.”
“You don’t have,” he said but she shook her head.
Scout left him behind the bow in her hand silently traveling through the man-made forest. There were ferocious generated beasts along with the kids who were hunting them down. There was a clause this year, there could be two winners but only if they come from the district. There were only two district partners left and Scout was one of them.
She made her way to the drop off point. All looked deceptively peaceful. At the center of the clearing was a tree stump with the numbers of the regions they belonged to. Scout was a swift runner as she ran she quickly took her satchel. The ground shook beneath her feet and a hole opened up. She quickly dodged the holes, the edge of the forest was near, but as she reached the edge she was tackled to the ground by Anise.
They rolled near the holes. Scout managed to push Anise off and the girl slid off of her and into one of the holes. Her regional partner a beast of a boy named Cabil shouted her name. Scout got up and ran into the forest the package with the medicine clutched by her side. Her sole focus was to arrive at the cave. When she arrived at the cave he was a greyish color, she quickly tore open the pack and taking out the injection she put it at the sight of the wound, he’d suffered at the hand of Cabil.
Barley was good and she couldn’t have his death on her consciousness. If he died she would never ever recover. The stuff engineered in the capitol was one hundred times stronger than anything her mother the regions healer could ever come up with. She took his hand, tears flowed down her cheeks. It was hot, but he looked like the patients that died on her mother’s table.
“Please, please, please make it…please live,” Scout begged, her face fell on his chest. With every passing minute, his breath became shallow and death was at Barley’s door.
Katniss cupped her mouth as she read the ending over and over again. Her eyes teared up, her hands shook. She went from a state of shock to anger. “OH HELL NO,” she muttered under her breath. “He can’t kill Barley,” she fumed. Barley was important to Scout, he was her anchor in the upcoming rebellion.
Normally she didn’t reach out to the writers, she only left a quick thank you review. But this was an emergency, Dentalion was about to break canon.
Dentalion,
I normally do not reach out to writers and write emails or stalk them on Tumblr. I just leave a nice review, but after your last update may I express how angry I am about what you are about to do. Why would you write:
With every passing minute, his breath became shallow and death was at Barley’s door.
How could you try to break canon and kill off Barley are you out off your rocker? Barley is Scout’s support system. He’s the arms she runs to when things become rough! It’s
from-AllaboutRSgames
Katniss pushed herself off the door, slipped her phone into her pocket and proceeded to quickly use the bathroom.
***KPKPKP***
Hours later she smiled into her computer screen as she face-timed with her sister. “Why didn’t you tell me you got a flat?”
“Katniss really what could you’ve done from the Seam, I was on the road in the middle of nowhere.” Prim shook her shrugged her blond hair fell over her shoulders, “I called roadside assistance and they helped me change the tire.” Katniss couldn’t help feeling proud of the woman her sister had become.
“You should’ve told me,” Katniss made a face.
“Nag,” Prim mocked.
Katniss laughed. “Okay, I’m going to let you go cause I know you rather hang out with your college friends instead of your frumpy sister.”
Prim giggled. “You’re not frumpy you just choose to live that way.”
“Oh look at the time is it time for Katniss needs to get out more speech?”
“Katniss,” Prim warned.
“Nag,” Katniss mocked back.
They both grinned. Prim wanted her to get out more in the world to see what else was out there. “Just think about what I said Katniss, please?”
“I’ll think about it,” Katniss began but her sister incredulous face stopped her. “Okay, I get it I need more than just Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream on a Friday night.”
“Good,” curtly nodded then her face turned sweet. “Night sis and enjoy that rocky-road.”
Katniss smiled as she closed the window, immediately missing her sister. She was about to shut down her laptop when she saw that she had an email.
Dear AllaboutRSgames,
Thank you for your concerns. I am glad you think I am an accomplished writer. That being said I understand you believe Scout somehow cannot survive without Barley, I believe Scout is strong enough to survive on her own two feet. She has her friend Collic at home who she can reach out to.
Colic knows Scout better than most people, it’s the reason she’s constantly thinking about him.
From-Dentalion
Katniss stopped reading, her ire through the roof. She spat, “Are you a COSC SHIPPER!”
Sitting up in her bed she quickly typed out.
Dentalion;
I’ve been reading your stories for a while, and I always thought you were an excellent storyteller. However, I must stress that Collic does not have the temperament to be the emotional support for Scout. Collic was well aware of the trials Scout faced when her father died.
Did he reach out to her in her time of need? Mind you he had the means to do so having the skill set to trap and hunt. Both families were active players in the rebellion and granted they are outcasts by law. But it was Barley who dared crossed that invisible line and helped her family. It’s the reason the government reaped him to be in the games that were held every five years.
Scout knows this and is desperate to help him survive. In her mind, he should survive and not her. How could you even write that?
AllaboutRSgames, -
She sent it away and went to the fridge where she grabbed her pint of rocky road and padded back to her bedroom and signed into Tumblr. She liked the anonymity of the website.
Unlike other places where it was all about appearances. Katniss liked keeping a low profile. It was as she was scrolling through the newest Star Wars that she got a ping from the private message on Tumblr. Glancing on the top portion she thought it was Johanna who was also on Tumblr with her. She clicked on the icon her eyes went wide on her face.
Dentalion was instant messaging her. Sitting back into her pillows Katniss considered if she should reply back. She took a spoonful of her rocky road and scooped it into her mouth trying to decide if she wanted to look at the message. Curiosity won out.
Dentalion: By your response, I am guessing you are a Basc Shipper.
Katniss rolled her eyes she bit the bottom of her lip. Her fingers tapped on the keyboard itching to write a snarky reply.
AllaboutRSgames: Your assumption is correct. I firmly believe the last book will confirm Scout and Barley will end up together.
Dentalion: Why don’t you think Scout and Collic will end up together?
Katniss sighed and shook her head, the fandom was deeply divided. Collic was the typical alpha male. A gun-slinging no question asked, type of hero that was so prevalent in the movies and in our culture a guys-guy. Barley, on the other hand, was capable of being like Collic, he was built with strong shoulders, had great physical strength and swift abilities. Yet he was the opposite of typical male archetypes. Barley was softer, a pacifist, and always willing to see the good in people. In the second book, he wept over the one mercy killing he did. It wasn’t in his nature to kill.
Leaning in she began to type.
AllaboutRSgames: There are several reasons why I don’t think Collic is a natural choice. The first being is they are exactly alike, they both have stormy temperaments. They both are impulsive, intelligent, with a happy trigger finger. They are always arguing, and cannot agree to disagree; those two would combust if they were ever in a romantic relationship. The second she’s aware that Collic is handsome, and knows he has had several relationships but that she doesn’t see him that way, she states very clearly “I do not love Collic and I cannot see myself marrying him.” There isn’t a “pull” between herself and Collic, but she states there is a “pull” between herself and Barely. Third, she admits she doesn’t like to be touched, but in the second book she wants and desires to be physically close to Barely. She wants to have his arms around her, she craves them, and not just out of necessity. It’s the reason she sneaks to his house at night to snuggle in bed with him. She desires him but doesn’t know how to say it, to Barely, but she can tell Collic she’s not interested in him like that after he forced kissing her. It’s not okay to force yourself on anyone. Barley has never done that, while Collic did.”
Katniss finished typing and hit send. Dipping her spoon into the forgotten ice-cream she waited to see what he would say.
The ping came immediately:
Dentalion: I agree it’s not okay to force themselves on someone, even if it is with a simple touch. You’re right; Barley would never do such a thing.“
“Thank you!”
Dentalion: “But Collic and Scout have a history.”
“HA! Have a HISTORY! What history they’re neighbors. He was a jerk when they met as kids. And the only reason he wanted to hang out with her is when discovered she was an expert hunter like her father. They clung together for self-preservation,” Katniss exclaimed. She frowned at the screen as her fingers flew across the keyboard.
AllaboutRSgames Just because you have a history with someone doesn’t mean you are going to have a great romantic relationship with them. How many girls didn’t you grow up with and you’d never cross that line?
Dentalion: LOL, okay, okay…I’ve got this one friend she’s like a sister. But still, the fact remains that women don’t want a mushy man who’s in touch with his emotions.
Katniss typed and spoke out loud.
AllaboutRSgames: How do you know????
Dentalion: You are like one of many women who says she wants a man like Barley but only go out with or settle for a guy like Collic?
Katniss laughed out loud. She wasn’t the dating type but if a guy remotely was like Barley became a reality she’d date him, bed him, and wed him.
AllaboutRSgames: Men like Collic are a dime a dozen, I’d take a guy like Barley any day.
Dentalion: You want a sensitive guy? No one wants a safe dependable guy. Every girl I’ve met wants the rebel, the bad boy.
AllaboutRSgames: Perhaps you haven’t me the right woman or you don’t get it.
Dentalion: Then explain it to me, and I don’t mean that in a sarcastic way either. I just want to understand.
AllaboutRSgames: When you go through a lot you want someone who makes you feel safe, safe doesn’t mean boring, safe means desired. Dependable is golden. I’ve been through a lot. I lost my dad at an early age, I had to take care of my mom, and raise my sister. I don’t need someone who I have to worry about. I don’t need their fire; I’ve got enough of my own. That’s why Barely is, like the dream guy. He’s someone who is steady, sweet and someone who will care for me just as I am. Barely will never gawk at the short skirts that walk by, even when he’s not with me or rather Scout.
Katniss shook her head, she’d just revealed a lot personal information as she thought about how she wanted someone like Barely.
Dentalion: Honestly it’s a little hard to believe, but I’ve never met someone who really wanted the boring guy.
AllaboutRSgames: It sounds like you had a bad experience.
Dentalion: LOL, you have no idea. I’m sorta like Barley
Katniss pictured a guy with a pudgy body and thinning hair. She knew he was well read because he made references to those books in his writing, from Little Women to a One Thousand Leagues Under The Sea. Through the written word she imaged someone not attractive but someone who she shared many intrinsic values with.
She was beginning to think of maybe he was someone who could offer her the companionship she wanted. Someone she could share a deep friendship even though he was a shipper of Collic and Scout. She could see women passing him up because of his looks. Putting her container down she typed.
AllaboutRSgames: Wait did some girl dump you?“
Dentalion: What are you a medium?
AllaboutRSgames: No, but I’m curious. My curiosity has gotten me into plenty of scrapes.
Dentalion: Okay so there’s no chance I’d ever meet you so I can be totally honest with you right.
AllaboutRSgames: Go on there will be no judgment coming from me other than your rather poor ship taste.
Dentalion: Hardy har, har, har. Are you finished?.
AllaboutRSgames: Ugh I’m waiting for you dandelion.
Dentalion: Hmm smart not many people figure out what my name is.
Katniss cheeks heated up at his compliments, she wasn’t used to getting them. Her job, her struggles helping her mother cope, and rearing her sister was often thankless. Dandelions reminded her of her father and the hunting trips they used to have. It was his name that first attracted her to his stories, about the books. She was an avid reader of his fanfics. Chatting with him was cozy.
AllaboutRSgames: I have an unnatural affection for that plant, now go on. Who broke your heart and caused you to become a Collic and Scout shipper?
Dentalion: Before I tell you anything that will make me look like a loser, how do you know what Dentalion means?
AllaboutRSgames: My father and I used to go hunting. It was our thing before he passed away. He used to tell me all of the flower’s scientific name and an odd reference. He used to make dandelion tea when we were out in the woods. Sundays were, well it still is my favorite time of the week.
Dentalion: I’m sorry about your loss. It sounds like you loved your father a lot.
AllaboutRSgames: I did, I still do.
Dentalion: You’re lucky to have someone who really loved you. I don’t have a good relationship with my parents. My mother and I we’re not on speaking terms, she was abusive toward me and my dad. My dad did the only thing he could, he paid for my college tuition and told me to flee to get as far away as I could. I did just that, though I’ve tried to reach out to her she just doesn’t want me. I’ve done all the steps, gotten help and figured out that I’m not the problem. I know I sound…
AllaboutRSgames: No don’t you dare apologize for something that was out of your control.
Katniss shook her head and became upset for him, for the way his mother mistreated him. No child should be hurt. Katniss sensed in him a goodness, as he communicated with her. He wasn’t angry like she expected, he was still seeking a relationship with his mother.
Dentalion: It took me a long time to get to that point.
AllaboutRSgames: When it comes to parents it’s not easy to reconcile the past.
Dentalion: No it’s not. What’s your favorite color?’
Katniss moved her fingers away from her keyboard slightly puzzled as to why he would want to know her favorite color.
Dentalion: Well?
AllaboutRSgames: Why?
Dentalion: If I am going to tell you about my deepest most embarrassing moments I need to know at least what your favorite color is?
His response made her chuckle.
Dentalion: Am I getting too personal?
AllaboutRSgames: No
Dentalion: So, what’s your favorite color?
AllaboutRSgames: If I tell you will you share with me what’s yours.
Dentalion: Of course, I would never want our friendship to be lopsided.
AllaboutRSgames: Okay then my favorite color is green.
Dentalion: Mine is orange
AllaboutRSgames: Like the fruit?
Dentalion: NO! It’s softer like like the sunset.
AllaboutRSgames: That sounds beautiful, like an artist or something. I actually you are an artist because you’re good with your words.
Dentalion: Thank you, but I am not as cool as you make me sound. Well, my last date didn’t think so.
AllaboutRSgames: So you really are going to tell me what really happened?
Dentalion: I sound like a total loser but, the last girl I dated left me in the middle of dinner at Saes. She said I was too nice, she didn’t feel I was a manly enough. I guess if I were more like Collic she would’ve stuck around. Girls have never wanted me. They’ve always used me as a stepping stone for a guy like Collic. My last three girlfriends to be exact
AllaboutRSgames: Wait, are you talking about Saes on the corner of Fulton and Franklin?
Dentalion: Do you live in near the Twelve?
Katniss nearly spit out spit the ice-cream from her mouth. She currently lived in the small inner city community known to the locals as Twelve. Cautiously she typed.
AllaboutRSgames: I know the place, I live nearby and that chick is an IDIOT!
Dentalion: Yeah, all of the women I’ve dated always dump me for the macho man. I live around the corner from Saes. Do you want to maybe meet and talk about the book?
Katniss jumped up from her bed and looked down at her screen. The question mark jumped out at her. Her fingers trembled and her heart beat out of control.
Dentalion: As friends…nothing more. I don’t want you to get freaked out, but I’ve got nothing to do tonight and am feeling rather sorry for myself. If you don’t want to I understand and it’s been lovely speaking to you.
Katniss sighed. His words touched her, his voice always reached her and they were doing the same thing right now. Swallowing she used her fingers to swiftly type.
AllaboutRSgames: Okay, why not. I’ll meet you in a half an hour.
Dentalion: I’ll be wearing a red carnation you bring the books. See you there.
Katniss as soon as she closed the laptop anxiety rushed through her body. She stood walking around her room shank her hands trying to calm down. She glanced at herself in the mirror.
“Okay Katniss no need to get nervous, he’s a phenomenal writer but because he’s shipping the wrong couple, you will not get into a heated argument with him!” She looked down then up, “You will, however, try to make him jump ship to yours.”
Pushing away she put on a pair of dark jeans and a semi-decent top. She slipped her shoes on braided her hair loosely. Before taking the books with her, she gave herself a glance over. She was excited and a smile brightened her face. In the taxi ride over she tapped her hands on her jeans.
Her mind going over the conversation and how easy it was to share with him. She’d always been someone private, tight-lipped about her father or her sister. But with Dentalion it was really easy to simply share. At this point, it didn’t matter what he looked like because Katniss liked him.
The driver reached Saes and she walked in. Her grey eyes scanning the place for a guy with a flower. Her eyes rested on a heavyset man with thinning hair and glasses. She smiled and began walking toward him but she noted he didn’t have a flower, and another woman sat down at his table. She stopped short and instantly felt foolish.
Just when doubt began to run into overtime, she noted a table with a red carnation. She couldn’t see the person because he was partially covered by the waitress. Katniss approached silently hoping this was her Dentalion. She stood behind the waitress, who was tall and had more curves than a guitar.
When she moved to the side Katniss heart fell to the floor. She felt sucker punched as she openly and awkwardly started at the gorgeous man sitting at the table clutching the flower. He looked like a young Robert Redford and in her mind was the very personification of Barley.
Katniss wanted to run in the opposite direction, but she forced her feet forward. His smile lit up the room when he saw her. They often said when you met your soulmate you knew, it was as if everything became crystal clear, everything in her world became sharper, she could smell the littlest things like the cinnamon that clung to his form when he stood to greet her.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” she mouthed back.
“I’m Peeta Mellark.”
“Katniss Everdeen.”
“You’re beautiful.”
Katniss blushed, the timber of his voice made her shutter. She’d never reacted this way to any man. It scared her the strong instant connection, but his nearness calmed her fears. They talked well into the night, and walked home slowly, their hands brushing against the other and tiny sparks of excitement ran through her system faster than the speed of light. She couldn’t wait to hold hands with him. Couldn’t wait to be held by him. When he dropped her off at her apartment Katniss impulsively leaned in and hugged him.
His arms were just as she imagined it would be. It was like coming home, it was better than wrapping herself in laundry straight out of the dryer. It was better than chocolate. It was better than cheese. Wheb they seperared she took his hands and vowed to never let go.
***KPKPKP***
Two months later she woke up to feel warm and safe. She snuggled closer to her Drntalion. Her mind flashing back to that momentous date.
She learned his name was Peeta Mellark, and he owned a successful bakery near her job. That night was magical they stayed up all weekend talking not wanting to be separated. They’d fallen asleep on her couch and woke up knowing they’d found their soulmate. They decided they didn’t eant to live apart. Peeta wanted to marry, Katniss agreed. They’d decided to wait until they married to havr sex.
They’d surprised thier friends and family when they announced the desire to quickly marry. Prim flown in to witness the quiet marriage at townhall. Katniss wore a simple white dress. Peeta looked handome in hus dark suite, and Katniss carried yellow dasies to approximate the dandelion. The day of thier wedding she could not put into words what she felt, so she showed him on thier wedding night. Both were glad they’d waitied to consumate thier relationship.
Tonight she was reading when he’d come home. They reanacted one of his steamy love scenes. Love was perfect when it was with the right person. Katniss shifted slightly. Their limbs were tangled, her head nestled on top of his chest, and the memory of their lovemaking still fresh on her mind. She basked in the heat of his body and her lashes drifted closed. Her last thought, was every girl deserved their very own Dandelion.
