fifth snare

[fanstheflame]

[Filtered To Those Who Don't Live In The Castle Proper]

Anyone know of a place I could stay for the next ... week or so? I really, really, really don't want to be here right now.

[/Filter]


[and then Gale was tromping his way out to the woods, backpack over his shoulder, to wait until he got a decent reply. guess who doesn't want to deal with the fact that Katniss has a kid, right now? or, you know. ever. because everyone in this cast knows how to deal with their feelings in the best ways]

Comments

[ino]

No idea. I don't think they could be someone else's kids, though. You'll understand when you see mine -- she looks way too much like me to just be a random kid from who knows where.

[fanstheflame]

[a soft snort of a laugh] I hope she can't hear you talking about her like that.

[ino]

Hey, she's proud to be gorgeous like her mom. [LMFAO]

[fanstheflame]

Is she just as modest, too?

[ino]

[she just laughs :') every remark like that is a test, really, to see how far she can push it before he cracks and gets embarrassed. the fact that he pretty much unabashedly doesn't deny that she's pretty is really what's funny to her ...]

You'll have to wait and let her tell you herself when you get here, won't you?

[fanstheflame]

[yes, but if you'll notice, he's well aware that she's fishing for compliments and won't outwardly give them, either. it's hard to miss your ego when it gets that big, Ino]

I guess I will.

[ino]

[shhh, she just has really low expectations of guys, and, yeah, a huge ego. obviously guys think she's cute, duh! if they didn't, they'd be a jerk about it!]

See you in a few?

[fanstheflame]

If I don't get lost.

[and yep, soon enough he's knocking on the door]

[ino]

I have faith in you. [teasing, but -- she doubts he'd get lost, all things considered LMAO.

and Ino doesn't answer the door -- but Hana does! he'll see exactly what she means by her looking exactly like her -- though her skin is much darker, and her hair much more unruly and thick ... she has the same blonde mop, and her face is pretty much an exact replica of Ino's, though younger]

Hi, mister!

[fanstheflame]

Hi! [he's surprised at how easily he drops into the attitude he'd use around Vick and Posy]. My name's Gale, I'm a friend of your mom. Is she here?

[ino]

[aww, gale. so good with kids!]

Oh yeah! Mommy! [she'll be calling back from the door, before ... looking him over suspiciously, like she's evaluating his trustworthiness or something. he seems to pass, though, because then she'll grab the bottom of his shirt and pull him inside] Mommy says it's rude to make people wait outside.

[fanstheflame]

[he chuckles, amused. it's odd how strange and how normal something can feel all at the same time. mostly because she reminds him of so many of the kids he knew back at the Seam, and because it's so odd to think of Ino as a mother. strangest balance ever. he wanders inside behind her, and stuffs his hands in his pockets to wait patiently]

Well, thanks for remembering your manners.

[ino]

You're welcome!

[--and Ino's calling from somewhere down the hall]

Be right there!

Okaaaay!

[and Hana will be peering up at Gale again ...]

How come you're so tall? Mister Leroy said it was because he ate lots of vegetables but I eat a lot of vegetables and I'm still not tall!

[... sorry gale. SHE TALKS A LOT, LIKE HER MOM]

[fanstheflame]

[he sounds very very very serious, but the gleam in his eyes tells a different story] It's because I go out into the woods and climb all the tall trees and hang down from the branches.

[ino]

[it's okay, hana ... totally believes him. and she's looking up at him all wide eyed and wondrous]

Really??

[--aand here comes Ino, glancing between the two of them, pulling her hair back into a low ponytail. she'll smile at Gale and open her mouth to greet him before Hana jumps at her and attaches herself to her side]

Mommyyyy! I wanna go out in the forest!

-- Eh? What did I miss?

[fanstheflame]

[Gale just laughs] I told her the secret to being tall, and now she wants to try. You do realize I didn't get this way by just doing it once, right?

[ino]

Then I'll do it every day! Ten times a day!

[Ino will just be prying Hana off and holding her up in the air] Now, how are you going to do that when you can't even remember to brush your teeth twice a day?

I can too! Mommyyy, come oooonnnn! [Hana starts kicking her legs a little impatiently ...]

[fanstheflame]

What if I promise to take you out into the woods if you remember to do that? [he winks at Ino]

1/2

[ino]

[Ino will make a bit of an amused face at him -- both at the suggestion and because she's ... surprised! at how good he is with kids. but he did mention he had siblings, didn't he ...

she'll let Hana down, though, and she'll race over towards him and jump around excitedly]

Really?? Really really really really??? Does that mean you're gonna stay and play, Mister Gale?? You're not gonna go home?

[ino]

[ .... aaaand just like that, Ino's smile changes to a frown of concern, and she shifts a little uncomfortably ...] Hana ...

[fanstheflame]

[he's totally unfazed, Ino, don't worry]

I'll stay for a few days. My father had a saying: "fish and visitors start to stink after three days". You don't want me smelling up your nice house, do you?

[ino]

[hana giggles and wrinkles her nose]

No way! Smelly!

[... gale, you're a lifesaver, lmao, that was about to get so awkward. ino gives him a bit of a grateful look, before crouching down to hana's level and smoothing a hand over her hair]

Well, in the meantime, why don't you go get your sketch book? You can show Gale all the pretty plants you drew yesterday.

Okay! I'm a really good drawer! [and hana will go bounding down the hall to their room]

[fanstheflame]

[he chuckles as she goes, then turns to Ino] ... You were right, she does look a lot like you.

[ino]

Mm ... [she'll watch her run down the hall for a moment, letting out a sigh. it is ... kind of hard not to feel guilty about your child showing signs of the same issues you've been battling with here.

... but she'll shake her head, and turn to look at him, concerned]

So ... are you alright?

[fanstheflame]

[he frowns. he WAS. but then she brought it up. which ... will just lead him to be honest]

As long as I'm not thinking about it.