His eyes rested on her as she spoke. Haymitch wasn’t the kind of person to take the time to look at someone and listen as they spoke. It had a lot to do with the fact he didn’t respect a lot of people, nor did he care about them, but his other Victors? They were people who earned his respect.
Well, some of them earned his respect. Some of them were as broken as he was, only showing it in a different way. Those were the ones who earned his respect. And Annie was on that list.
A soft chuckle escaped him, while a smile played on his lips. Her words were like a compliment to him, which was something he never received.
“I say you got me pretty good, Gills. You’re right, though. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t care, so I guess I really wanna know. If ya tell me or not, that’s all up to you. But ya know you don’t have to say anything you don’t want to to me, right? I’m not gonna force you to say anything, cause I know what it’s like to not wanna say anything.”
she smiles && it's akin to the grin of a child receiving praise ( all pearl inlay teeth && ducked head for nothing more than a ' you're right ' times like these, she is nothing short of simple, you see, but bare bones are known of alcoholic ;; garnered from giant screens && distant glances, brief visit to outlying district && word of mouth && there is pride lingering within salt water veins that number, however slight, had gone deduced. )
❛ i i think i'm alright. no, not alright but i can't think of the proper word. i've never felt this way before lost someone i love, you know? ❜
hands shift ;; one tangling ever delicately within dark locks, lissome digits just skimming line of neck as other comes to rest flush 'gainst trim belly. absentminded. ( patterns trace through thin fabric ;; curve of a shell, rudimentary cresting wave, softly swiping thumb. )
she wonders what proper terminology is, wonders if he would know if asked. ( wonders if elder had ever experienced this unique brand of loss or if he had been born bitter && off putting ;; if answer would go based on those he lost in the arena instead. scenario she does not know, sheltered from mentoring by others in fear of shattering even more. )
❛ && you? how are you doing? he liked you, you know. finnick. ❜