Haymitch intentionally pushing the other Newcomers away so they wouldn’t be punished for his actions. Haymitch promising Beetee that he’d look after Ampert in the arena even though he had no chance of winning. Haymitch rearranging the limbs of the dead tributes so their families wouldn’t see their mangled bodies on camera. Haymitch only killing two tributes, both entirely in self defense. Haymitch wearing some of the Newcomers’s district tokens to honor them. Haymitch running away with Louella and then Lou Lou’s bodies so the Capitol wouldn’t immediately take them. Haymitch sharing the chocolate he’d been given by sponsors with Wellie and Silka.
Haymitch, in the midst of so much pain and trauma, remaining kind and reminding people of their humanity.
I love that every victor from District 12 won by breaking the rules.
Katniss was proficient with a bow and in a forest because she went past the fence and hunted game illegally; Peeta survived because Katniss threatened for the games to not have a victor after the promised rule (presumably influenced by Haymitch?) if he wasn’t saved; Haymitch won because he used the capitol forcefield against his opponent, bringing their weapon into his game; Lucy won because of rat poison brought into the arena and Snow feeding her scent to the snakes.
There was not a victor from twelve that didn’t backhand the Capitol with their survival. lmao.
“Oh Snow never loved Lucy, he was evil the whole time!” No, he wasn’t, that’s the entire freaking point. He starts out a traumatized teenager who doesn’t fully know how to love. And he almost learns. Almost. That’s the pure tragedy of it all.
If he hadn’t kept making choices he couldn’t come back from, he would have. He could have been the “doer not dreamer” that Lucy saw him as. But he rationalized his way down the path to evil.
We’re all Snow to some extent. We all have trauma and blind spots and cruel thoughts. What do we do with it?
Tuesday the 5th was Oyster Day, and I really wanted a drabble of Peeta opening oysters for Katniss, because he wanted to give one to Katniss to propose.
Rated G or T - & all mistakes are mine
-
"Why do you need more oysters?" Johanna demanded over the phone.
“They’re all gone.”
“I just sent you a case this week.”
Peeta sighed; he was hoping that he didn't have to explain to Johanna why he was purchasing oysters. "Jo, I just need the oysters."
“You’re going to poison yourself with all of the oysters you’re eating,” Johanna muttered over the phone.
“Johhana, just send me another case. I need them,” Peeta rubbed his face.
"You know, oysters are considered aphrodisiacs." Johanna's voice carried that sly tone that made Peeta blush. "Don't tell me you and Brainless are getting it on!" Johanna cackled.
"Johanna."
Johanna didn't hear him.
"Johanna."
She was gasping for air.
"Johanna, I am trying to find a pearl like the one I gave her in the arena. It got lost during the war."
Johanna stopped laughing, "Oh, OH! Why didn't you say so!"
"I wanted to surprise Katniss, you know," he looked around to make sure Katniss wasn't around. She had the softest footsteps. He lowered his voice, "When I propose."
"You're," Johanna gasped, "You're really going to do it!?"
"Yes," Peeta said.
"Man, you two were really meant to be with each other. Hold on. Let me get Annie."
"Johanna, please don't- I don't want anyone to know!" His words fell on deaf ears as he heard Johanna hollering for Annie.
Peeta removed the receiver from his ear as Johanna was so loud it bothered his eardrum.
"Annie! Annie, sweetheart, get over here!"
After the war, Johanna went to live with Annie and Mrs. Everdeen. All three were raising Finnick Jr. together.
In the background, he heard another feminine voice, this voice one was softer.
There was a shuffle as the phone was picked up. His anxiety rose. He wanted to propose to Katniss and was secretly afraid that she would say no. They were all but living together. They slept in the same bed. Katniss often came over to his house. Too many ghosts at hers.
One true thing was that they didn't like to be without the other for too long.
However, this was a big change. This meant that they would have a Toasting and would have to pick one roof to live under. The idea of spending the rest of his life with Katniss was humbling and exciting. But it wouldn’t work if he didn’t have the pearl.
"Peeta," Annie's soft, soothing voice calmed his fears. "I know you want to find one like you gave Katniss, but pearls take years to grow inside of an oyster. I don't know if the oysters Johanna is sending you will be the ones you need. I know someone who can help, but can you be patient?"
“What do you mean?”
“I know you both were there when the bombs..." Annie's voice drifted as they both thought of Primrse. She sighed softly and continued, "It could be that the pearl was in her clothing. I know - well, Tigress said the government kept her things. They're stored in a vault. I could ask to see if it survived, or maybe we can get you a replica."
"Oh," Peeta said as his breath left his body. It was a lot for him to process. "But I don't want a plastic one, I want a real one."
"It will be real, Peeta. I promise."
"Okay, thank you."
The call was over, and now he had a lot of pent-up energy. He walked to his studio space and began to paint. Painting helped him avoid having an episode. Time must have elapsed because the door to his painting studio opened.
"There you are," Katniss said quietly.
"Hi," Peeta greeted. She looked like an angel with the light illuminating her from behind. Katniss did not comprehend how she affected everything.
"I was calling for you. I made stew, well, if you're hungry?"
His stomach growled at that moment. "Looks like I'm hungry."
"Sounds like it." Katniss then extended her hands to him, and Peeta stood. He wiped his hands and set his brush inside the glass jar with water.
He took her hand and allowed her to lead him to the sink so that he could wash his hands. When they sat down to eat, it occurred to Peeta that one of these days he would be asking her to marry him. But he had to wait and be patient. Patience was one of his traits. It was something the Capitol could not erase from him. Peeta found that he could wait for things.
He waited to be let go from his treatment in the Capitol to return to Katniss. He waited to be seen by Katniss. He waited to be loved by her. Yes, he was patient. And one day that patience paid off. The package arrived from the Capitol.
"Hey, Kid," Haymitch greeted.
"Afternoon, Haymitch," he greeted.
"This came for you." Haymitch raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you were expecting a package?"
"Oh yes." Peeta reached out for the package. His hands trembled slightly as it could only be one thing, since he hadn't ordered anything.
"Some new gadget for the kitchen?"
"Um," Peeta said, looking at the label. It was from Tigress. "No."
"Hmm, you know Trinket called me."
"Did she? I thought you two weren't speaking."
"Yeah, that's why I found it strange that she called to give me directions about the Mockingjay's pearl." Haymitch gave him an unreadable look. "Yapped in my ear for a full 20 minutes about how half the government was put on alert and that I needed to retrieve the package and give it to you. She said they cleaned it, and it might be a little off color, but otherwise it's fine.
"What do you mean?"
"Apparently, real pearls don't burn."
"Huh," Peeta said. "Well, thank you."
"You're going to propose?" Haymitch said.
"Shh, not that loud," Peeta turned around really quick. He quickly looked around him.
Haymitch laughed. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
"Okay," Peeta said nodding. "See you later."
"No."
"Won't you need dinner?"
"Peeta, if you're going to propose marriage, I suppose I shouldn't be the third wheel."
"Oh, yeah," Peeta said. "Do you want a loaf to tide you over?"
"That would rightly neighborly of you."
Peeta nodded and walked into the house, grabbed a loaf, and brought it to Haymitch.
"Good luck, boy, but don't worry, sweetheart will say yes."
He opened the box and saw that inside was a small plush case. With shaking hands, he withdrew the small velvety case and threw out the box. Peeta breathed in and out; he could feel the tightness in his chest that came with an episode.
Grabbing the case and stuffing it in his pocket, he made a beeline to his studio. The painting helped. This time, however, he was aware when Katniss came over to cook. He joined her in the kitchen and made her favorite cheese buns. The entire time, he was aware that the case was in his pocket.
They were eating, laughing at something that happened to her in the woods, when Peeta knew it was time. He reached into his pocket and put the case on the table.
"What's this?" Katniss asked.
"For you." His voice sounded rough to his ears. "Marry me, Katniss?"
Her eyes flew to him. Her mouth was slightly ajar.
"Go on."
Katniss reached out and opened up the case. "Oh, how, Peeta, how can this be? I thought it was destroyed in the fire."
"Did you know pearls don't burn. They're like us, survivors."
A tear slipped from her eye, and she nodded yes and whispered, "They don't burn."
-
Author's Note: My dad was a jeweler for years. Real pearls don't burn when exposed to fire for a short period. However, if you dip them in (flammable stuff and let them soak), when they are exposed to flames, they will blow up. What will burn is the material that is used to string them up. The real pearls will turn ashy, but you can wipe them clean, and if they're a lighter color, they will be discolored a little. In this case, I'm imagining that Peeta was trailing behind Katniss, and when she was tossed by the explosion, Peeta found Katniss and put out her flames.
Haymitch and Chaff, talking, stressed the fuck out:
Chaff: Listen, even District Eleven has been iffy lately. People are barely allowed to keep some share of the crops. Whipped if they try to take some. They're hungry, Haymitch. And words are being spread. I fear many can get hurt. It's bad.
Haymitch: Yeah Chaff I hear ya. District twelve's new head peacekeeper has been brutal on the folks. New whipping every other week. I've seen more than I ever have in the last five years combined. They're hungry and starving too, even the townies can't be seen eating much lately.
Chaff: Gods, help us in these trying times.
Finnick, who is being babysat by Haymitch while Mags is gone, dancing on the Wii in the living room with sunglasses he stole from Haymitch’s bedroom, unaware of the muted conversation behind him: 🎷🎷 ~~You make me this, bring me up, bring me down, play it sweet. Make me move like a freak, Mr. Saxobeat~~🎷🎷Look Haymitch I got 100 percent!!!!!!
Haymitch, thumbs up while grabbing another bottle, not knowing what the fuck Finnick is doing: Good job.
Finnick: I'm gonna perfect another one hold on!!!! [Rasputin begins playing as he starts clapping his hands]
