paradisa | [Dictated] [Broadcasted through Radio]

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katniss everdeen

[Dictated] [Broadcasted through Radio]

[Mid-day.]

[There's a crackle through the radio, and through the journals, as if someone is shifting something into place. Then the radio crackles once more more, before a song blasts out, and whatever radios were left on are now blaring this particular song.]

[What might sound a little odd after that is the sound of feet stomping, but it's done in a rhythmic way, as if someone has given into the need to pound against the floor in perfect sync. Yes, that's music from Mark's old set-up, and yes, that's someone dancing to it.]

[The next sound might be the next surprising, over the journals. That's the sound of Katniss actually laughing.]

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Wow, I just had a flashback to my high school prom.

[ Kate is smiling, though. She doesn't recognize the laugh but she imagines someone must be having fun. ]

[There's a pause in the footstepping, as Katniss tilts her head, rather like the kitten she is nicknamed for.]

What's a ... prom?

[ Oh, Katniss. Now that was unexpected. ]

It's a dance they have at schools where I am from.

Aaaaah ... is it fancy?

[Because they didn't have fancy dances at her school.]

Yeah, they are formal. It's a good excuse for girls to dress up in fancy dresses and guys to go rent a tux.

[ She's talking like an expert even though Kate didn't actually even attend her senior prom, but she still knows what it is, at least. ] You didn't have those back home?

[Aaaah, it sounded like a Capital Ball. Except for young people.]

[She shook her head.] No. We only wore our fine clothes for weddings, funerals and of course, the Reaping.

... The Reaping?

[ That sounded really foreboding and Kate didn't like the sound of it at all. ]

Where the Tributes were chosen for the Games. I've told you about the Games, correct?

[She tilted her head, curiously.]

No, you haven't. [ Kate paused, because it all sounded a little... Creepy. The terminology did, anyway. ]

Ah ... [Well, this was going to be unpleasant.] I'm from a place called Panem. It's split into thirteen Districts, and the Capital. Over seventy five years ago, the Districts rebelled against the Capital, and lost. One of our Districts was considered completely destroyed, District 13. As a punishment, and as a reminder, each year the Capital made each District pick two children between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in The Hunger Games. The children would go to the Arena ... and fight to the death for the amusement of the Capital. Whichever child won was crowned the Victor, and their District for that year would be amply fed. There was only one Victor for each Hunger Games, until my Game.

Oh my God, Katniss. That is... [ Awful? Horrible? Terrifying? Kate couldn't even think of a word that would describe a country that killed it's children for entertainment. It just made her sick. ] What happened during your game? [ All Kate could hope was that maybe Katniss stopped all of that. ]

It is what it is. [And what it had been was a living nightmare. She pulled her chin up, slowing her dancing steps, to a thoughtful waltz.] Peeta happened, in my Game. He stated he was in love with me in front of the entire Capital, and he wasn't lying. I ... felt enough for him that while I thought I was faking it, I was showing I really cared.

[She spun around slowly.] They gave us a chance - if two members from the same District won, they could both survive. Well, we did it. Together. Then they changed the rules and we ... well. I. I decided that we would decide how we won. So I offered Peeta to eat poison berries with me, so we could die together, on our terms.

[ Kate wrinkled her forehead. ] I don't understand. Are you, uh... back home... [ What is a polite way of asking if she is dead? Is there one? Was that even possible, for her to be dead and still here? ]

No ... not yet. They had to let us go, you see. They couldn't kill the Star Crossed Lovers of District 12, you see. It would have caused a rebellion. [Her lips twisted.] Except, I did that anyways. Just by defying them.

Good. [ Kate knew she liked you, Katniss. ] I can't even imagine living in the type of world where that happens. [ It makes her think about Alexis doing something like that, which is heart breaking. ]

It was ...awful. [There are a lot of emotions, packed into that one little word. Awful seemed like such an understatement. She set her chin.] But I had to survive it. And I did.

[She just left most of her soul and her body behind her.]

Sometimes that's all you can do. Get through it and worry about putting your life back together later.

[ Kate sort of understands, but not to that extent. She maybe have been through her own version of hell, but what Katniss is explaining makes her own pain sound like a church picnic. ]

Yes, sometimes, that's all you can do.

[Katniss let out a long breath, before she spun around again.]

Sometimes the hardest thing you can do, is learn how to dance again.

[ The comment makes Kate smile, because she completely understands. For a few moments, she's actually glad this place exists, especially since it can give someone like Katniss a reprieve. ]

Have you ever done karaoke? Personally, that is my favorite.

[Katniss stopped again, and then tilted her head at the journal, before she laughed quietly.]

No! What is that?

Uh, well... Usually it happens at a bar, or a party. You choose a song and you can go up on stage and they play the music and you sing along. Usually while you're drunk.

...That actually sounds like a lot of fun. [She bit her lip.] Could we set it up in the Death Match, maybe?

You know, that would be a good idea. I'll talk to Castle about it.

And then, I shall sing for you.

[She smiled in turn at the journal, before spinning again.]

[ Kate can't help but grin at that. ]

I'll let you know what he says. Talk to you later, Katniss.

Re: dictated;

the_effect_she_has - 2014-07-16 18:20 (UTC) - Expand

dictated;

themuse - 2014-07-16 22:26 (UTC) - Expand

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