Journal the Seventh

[theabjectauthor]

[morning finds Lemony at his favorite spot in the library - a window seat with a view of the town, where the sun is bright but indirect. there's a small table off to his side, set with tea and some assorted pastries, a neatly constructed breakfast sandwich, and - of course - plenty of napkins. a stack of books sits to his other side, and on top, he's perched his journal. something about the quality of the light and the feeling of the moment almost makes him reach for his handkerchief ... and then he realizes that it is a good sort of melancholy. picking up his pen, he writes:]

To My Fellow Residents,

Over the past few days, I spent my time quietly observing what Paradisa wrought upon us: and while I could say much on the symbolism of age, the origins of the game of Bingo, and the perils of ingesting too many gelatin-based foodstuffs, I will not belabor you all with redundancy, a phrase which here means that many of you are likely discussing such topics amongst yourselves already.

Instead, I would be more interested to know how many of you possess the following traits, value the pursuant virtues, or have proficiency or curiosity in regards to the skills listed below:

☐ Curiosity
☐ Diligence
☐ Intelligence
☐ Courageousness
☐ Enthusiasm
☐ Versatility

☐ Punctuality
☐ Realism
☐ Respect
☐ Good Manners
☐ Integrity
☐ Stewardship

☐ Observation
☐ Codes
☐ Theatre
☐ Fire-fighting
☐ Lion taming
☐ (or really any sort of animal training)
☐ Self-defense
☐ Musicianship
☐ Artistry
☐ Mountaineering
☐ Cartography
☐ Inventing
☐ Rhetoric
☐ Biting
☐ Disguise
☐ Bibliophilia
☐ Herpetology
☐ Philately
☐ List-making

If the thought of placing an emphatic check or 'x' in several of the above boxes makes your fingers itch with anticipation, please speak with me, or come and join me in the library for a continental breakfast. After all, the world is quiet here. I hope to hear from you.

Very Fastidiously Drafted,

Comments

[theabjectauthor]

Oh --

Oh.

[pardon him while he does the math. seventy-five times twenty-three ... it's too horrible, he can't even multiply properly at the thought of it. he fumbles in his pocket for his handkerchief. his voice is watery when he speaks:]

... Dare I ask what transpired in the year that you won?

[the_effect_she_has]

[She shifts, uncomfortably, while he composes himself.]

...They offered an option. You could win as a pair, if you were from the same District. I - well - Peeta and I .. we came together. We fought to survive - and at the end they tried to renege on that. But ... I saw past them. They thought Peeta and I were in love -- that he was and that I was falling was ... well, not important. I made them think we were going to eat poison berries. To die together.

[She swallowed, looking away.] I don't think I was faking it, either.

[theabjectauthor]

Oh, what a terrible story...! The thought that you should have to consider death as a feint to avoid dying, and in the company of dear companions... Miss, those who decide the definition of "entertainment" in your world are truly atrocious and appalling. [ugh. he can't even handle how disgusted he is right now]

... But they let you win, regardless?

[the_effect_she_has]

That was the way things were. We changed them, but not without cost. Great ... cost. [She thought of Peeta's lost leg. Of District 12 covered in ash. Of Rue, of all the children. Of Prim.] They were monsters ... and they made some of us into monsters too.

They couldn't kill the star-crossed lovers. It would have been resulted open rebellion.

[theabjectauthor]

How very horrible. Unfortunately, it is the nature of great change to come at great cost ...

Do you feel it was worth it?

[the_effect_she_has]

I don't know. [It is the simple truth. She lost so much, and she wasn't even sure if things would change for the better.] I hope so. [Because she always had hope, no matter how frail it might be.]

[theabjectauthor]

I hope so, as well. ... The purpose of my list was to find a group of like-minded individuals who would be interested in helping educate and-or protect the other residents of this castle, whenever the need arose. I realize you have done your share of service to those you care for already, and then some ... but if you would be interested in what I propose, I can say with certainty that I would be honored.

[the_effect_she_has]

[She frowned a little, folding her arms around her knees. She had never really had the patience for teaching - Peeta had been the solid exception to that. And he had taught her so many things in kind.]

...What sort of thing would I be teaching?