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

[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.

[ino]

... Sorry. [a little laugh, and she rubs the back of her head in embarrassment ...] Well, I can show you your room if you want?

[fanstheflame]

It's okay. ... But yeah, sure. Will she know where we've gone? I don't want her to think we ran off to the woods without her or something.

[ino]

[lmao .... a bit of a wry, tired smile when he says that. it's nice that he's so concerned, though ... she doesn't think he quite gets it] She'll be alright. It's past Hana and I's room, so I'm sure she'll catch us on the way.

[fanstheflame]

[he's pretty sure there's at least something he's missing here, but knowing Ino, she'll fill him in on it somehow soon enough. that's what he likes the most about her: it's more than just the banter they throw back and forth so often. she's always honest with him, always level. she doesn't hide from what needs to be said, or how she feels about things. he's not about to let his guard down for anyone so soon, but ... he's already sure he counts her as his best friend here.

maybe even his best friend, period. and that's not going to go over well at all when it surfaces.]

Okay. ... [he follows, lowering his voice] ... So how many times did you say she's showed up?

[ino]

[aww, gale. she'd be happy if she knew, and oblivious to the deeper meaning there!

but for now, she'll appreciate and roll with the different topic of conversation. he'll know in time, because he deserves to know -- but right now isn't really the best time. it's a subject that upsets her, and the last thing she wants is for hana to see her sad.]

This'll be the fifth time. She gets a year older every time she comes back. [she'll be pointing to the rooms in the hall as they pass them] That's Sakura's room, and that's Hinata's room right next to it. They're both classmates and friends from home.

[fanstheflame]

Wow. That's ... a strange way to watch someone grow up. Especially someone who's supposed to be - who is your daughter. ... I'm glad you've got friends here, though.

[ino]

Yeah, no kidding ... [she'll sigh ... but she doesn't have long to deliberate about it, because as they pass her room ... there'll be a giggling, tanned blur shooting right for you, Gale. WILL YOU NOTICE AND CATCH HER, OR JUST GET KNOCKED OVER ON YOUR ASS .... because yes, Hana is kind of freakishly and inhumanly strong]

[fanstheflame]

[he notices, but a split second too late. as he's reaching out to catch her, she barrels into him, and they go sprawling in the hallway. he's laughing as he catches her around the waist and lifts her up into the air]

Heeeeey, I wondered when the battering ram was gonna get here!

[ino]

[LMFAO. and ino is -- well, she's not surprised, and she kind of tries to keep them from falling over but ... yeah, she just sort of ends up tripping and falling on her knees, there. WORST NINJA ...

but she's laughing as Hana basically .... roars in his face, or tries to ... it mostly just comes out as adorable]

I'm not a ram! I'm a LION!!