paradisa | Second Drink

[Haymitch has finally decided that maybe, maybe, Peeta isn't crazy and they really are living in a magical castle with people from other worlds. Maybe. Of course, that doesn't mean he's not on his guard. Even if this is what people say, it doesn't mean Snow or any of his Capitol stooges couldn't show up and ruin everything. Given what Finnick told him about the future...well. Better to be safe than sorry.

And Haymitch was prepared to keep those kids safe rather than sorry at any cost.

And so, he's sitting in the Lux, occasionally glancing at the drink of whiskey he can't have until someone hands it to him, flicking through his journal pages. Eventually, he deigns to talk]

Okay. So let's say I'm more willing to buy this magical castle idea. I want to know more about it. What makes it tick. Some of you have been here for years, apparently, you must have learned something in all that time.

I'm sitting in the Lux, if you'd like to play sharetime. We can have a drink, learn a thing or two. It'll be fun.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's the most familiar thing I've heard since I came here. You're not from Panem by any chance?

No, but Peeta's told me about your world. I would probably fit right in. [the sad thing is, she really would]

My name is Triela, by the way.

Sounds like you probably would.

Haymitch. So. You really are a friend of Peeta's?

I'd like to think I am, sir. He was going to teach me how to paint.

...Was he now. Well, he is pretty good at that. Shame about the bread thing.

Bread thing? You mean his baking? I thought he was good at that, too.

Apparently it's his loss. He was good at it though, baker's son.

Oh. ... But he remembers you, and Katniss. That's good.

Yeah. That's something to be grateful for. [Haymitch is forever glad Peeta is from a point in time where he's not completely lost to them. He still doesn't know how to broach that with the boy</i.]

But you wanted to know about the castle, right? I've been here twice and remember lots of things, so I can answer questions.

Great, I'd be glad to hear anything you have to tell me.

I wasn't around for very long the first time, but a lot happened. When I first arrived, we all had to fight against these... creatures. And later we had to fight against giant lizards.

This time seems calmer so far, but it gave me fake memories when I returned, so it's still as cruel.

...Giant lizards? [Oh. Oh nooo. Not mutts. Not here. He is not prepared for mutts] Can you remember any other creatures set on you?

False memories, too. It really does remind me of home.

Not in the time I've been here, sir, but I've been absent for two years. A lot's changed in the castle since then.

Does it? How do you counter it? I still can't seem to shake mine.

I no one's 'sir', trust me. Two weeks? Where'd you go?

It takes a lot of...de-programming. I've never seen it happen to anyone, just heard of it. [Yet]

So calling a man "sir" isn't the correct term in your world?

I went back to my home world. No time passed, and I lived there for a while before coming back here in December. We were in a place called Paris, and the castle gave me false memories that I lived there and went to a private school. I was with my... brother, but he didn't come with me to the castle.

No, it's a correct term, I just don't like it.

...Whoever's running this place can do all of that? Well. That's worrying. [So, it IS a mass hijacking. Oh, that's not good]

I apologize.

It can do all that and more.

What else can they do?

I've seen it take us into space, manipulate the minds of residents, cause a blackout, take away gravity... And that was just in the few months I was here two years ago.

...It took away gravity?

Yes. It was only for a day, but it was still strange.

That sounds pretty insane.

That's Paradisa.

Looks like I've got to get used to it fast.

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triela - 2012-03-19 11:52 (UTC) - Expand

wastheexample - 2012-03-19 21:09 (UTC) - Expand