first snare

[fanstheflame]

[everything was fire, and noise, and ash, and chaos. but still, he kept his head, making sure that everyone else was out of harm's way, first. his mother, Rory, Vick, Posy -- but he hears the sounds overhead and he knows it's coming - that this is it and he's got to move. Gale has only a few seconds notice as he breaks into a run down the road, trying not to trip over debris, and launches himself toward the only cover he can see.

behind him, it seems like the whole world erupts, and in a sense, it has. but somehow the flames don't touch Gale, and he lands face down, covering his head with his hands, hoping against hope that he'll make it out, too, and be able to join his family at their rendezvous point outside the Victor's Village. but for now, all he can do is wait for it to pass. he puts his head down, breathes in, expecting to smell the familiar peat-and-metal scent of the District's earth --]

[but the ground is sand. suddenly, inexplicably sand. warm, and fine, and smelling like sun and salt. he opens his eyes and sits up despite the protest in his ribcage, sand sticking to the undersides of his forearms, getting into his cuts and the wound on his cheek as he blinks against the sudden sun and looks around.

a beach. he's on a beach. sudden fear grips him]

No. They didn't.

[and then the fear is replaced by hot, familiar rage. he cranes his head up, searching for the skycams, and even as he starts to bellow, he's calculating what time it is, how long he has before the next horror he'd seen on the TV, how much time he's got to come up with a plan and find the others that are left. to find Katniss.]

LOOK AT YOU! YOU'RE SO DESPARATE THAT YOU BREAK YOUR OWN RULES? What do you think I'm honestly going to do? Scream for help? Break down and cry?

[he casts around in the sand with heat-blistered fingers until he finds a rock. it's the only thing he's got right now - as he hasn't noticed the journal just yet - but he'll sure as hell use it]

You picked the wrong guy, you know that? YOU PICKED THE WRONG GUY!


[sorry, Gale, this isn't the Quarter Quell arena. it's the Seasons Room. ... someone please, please tell the new guy to calm his shit down?]

Comments

[peeta_bread]

[He smirks at that expression, pleased that he got some reaction out of him. He picks up the trash can with both hands, then promptly drops it with a crash, gripping his hand and hissing. He glances over at Gale before lifting it back up with just his left hand and making his way toward the door.]

Coming?

[fanstheflame]

[Gale tucks his journal under his arm, picks up the glass of water, and then - against better judgement - takes the other handle of the trash can.


that answer your question?]

[peeta_bread]

[He sets his jaw, looking up at the other boy. Maybe he'd been too harsh.]

Thanks.

[When they get to the door, he fumbles for a minute before turning the knob and pushing it open. He turns sideways so they can fit through the door. He glances at Gale, to see his reaction.]

[fanstheflame]

Wait, what---

[he leans back through the door to make sure he's not seeing things]

There's no wall there. ... Is it a hologram?

[peeta_bread]

I'm guessing it's sort of like the arena. So yeah, I guess. Or it could just be magic. Never know with this place.

[fanstheflame]

You say "magic" like it actually exists. [he shoots him a look, but still helps move the trash can]

Where are you planning on going with this thing?

[peeta_bread]

It's hard to imagine it doesn't, living in this place for so long.

Kitchen. I saw a big trashcan in there. The ghosts can take it from there.

[fanstheflame]

And how long is "so long"?

[he'll just ... let Peeta lead the way to the kitchen and talk about whatever. he's still slowly trying to wrap his mind around all of this. also, it's a new environment, and he's trying to soak in as many details about it as he can. after being so familiar with the Seam and with the forest - being in such an alien place is more unnerving than he'll outwardly let on]

[peeta_bread]

Uh...

[He leads the way out of the room and down the hall toward the stairs.]

A little over two months, I think.

[He's still not happy about Gale tagging along, his face a grimace.]

[fanstheflame]

Wow. ... [he bites back a remark about how he could've survived this long without Katniss. if Peeta can wish for whatever he wants, there's no need for him to have to look after himself, so there you go.]

What's it like outside? Wild, like the woods outside the Seam, or ...?

[he needs to know these things, clearly]

[peeta_bread]

There is a forest. I arrived on the edge of it.

[He glances at the stairs as he reaches them and frowns. He really doesn't want to walk backwards.]

I can take the bin now.