Second Drink

[wastheexample]

[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.

Comments

[wastheexample]

[Haymitch just stares at him]

...And you don't think that makes you sound in the least bit crazy?

[squirrelhunter]

What, crazier than a guy who's tellin' me he's a ghost?

[wastheexample]

Never said it was the truth.

[squirrelhunter]

Chronic lyin' is a sign o' madness, y'know.

[wastheexample]

I always thought it was a sign of intelligence.

[squirrelhunter]

Depends on the lie.

An' smart people can be crazy fuckers, too.

[wastheexample]

That they can. Or power hungry, there's that, too.

[squirrelhunter]

Well, if they try t'lord it over me, they'll get a fuckin' arrow in the ass. There's some weirdoes here.

[He gives Haymitch a look. You're one of them.]

I wouldn't put it past any of 'em.

[wastheexample]

[Haymitch doesn't seem to care, he's been labelled worse]

What happens when they have armour?

[squirrelhunter]

[Daryl downs his drink, ordering another one.]

Then I get 'em in the seams. There's always some hole. If not, there're other ways.

[wastheexample]

Explosives? [First thing that comes to his mind, yup]

[squirrelhunter]

[A snort of laughter.]

Or danglin' 'em over a fire an' lettin' 'em cook slowly.

[wastheexample]

...Well, there's a happy mental image.

[squirrelhunter]

You started this conversation.

[wastheexample]

I can finish it too. Like magic.

[squirrelhunter]

You go do that. Ain't no skin off my nose.

[So, yeah, he's just going to sit here and drink.]

[wastheexample]

[Yup, Haymitch will just be leaving now, see you buddy!]

[squirrelhunter]

[And Daryl will just be pilfering the drink he left behind. Loser.]