Eighth Drink

[wastheexample]

[Haymitch is, of course, in the Lux, drowning his sorrows. But let's face it, that's pretty much normalcy at this point. He has his journal open on the table in front of him, occasionally flicking through the pages.

He's not been doing great. The castle's latest trick just dredged up horrible feelings. Of family and everything he lost and knew he'd never have back on Panem. And the way the kids were just taken away... well, that struck a very different chord]

So, now we know that this place likes to play with the lives of little children too. Makes you wonder what sort of hell it puts the apparent other-uses out there while it steals away their kids for a week. This has been happening, what? Few years now? I haven't got one of those fancy old journals that goes back forever and a day, so someone else if going to have to fill in the blanks. And no one has ever seen this other bedroom before now?

[There's a pause as he thanks one of the bar staff for handing him his drink, taking a deep swig before he turns his attention back to the journal again]

Is anyone else pretty damn disturbed that there's an alternate version of themselves who got happily settled down and started popping out youngsters? Even when there's no way those two people can exist in the same space and time? Sounds to me like we've got another castle. Somewhere.

[The term 'breeding farm' springs to mind, but he really hopes that's not the case. Not even the Capitol had swooped QUITE that low yet. He sighs. Thinking he might have a family somewhere out there, that's he's content about that simple fact just doesn't sit well with him]

Something to think about.

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[huntersdaughter]

[Your favorite bartender has swung around to you, Haymitch. She's not big on talking about Hannah, but she was okay with the other world. Given the things she's seen in her own world, it wouldn't surprise her.]

I've had the same little girl for three years, but she was five this year. [She'll wipe down the counter and hand him another drink. Just because she figures he might want one.]

forever!

[wastheexample]

[He nods in thanks for the drink]

So they grow up too? Each time they come back?

[huntersdaughter]

It seems to happen that way. Living whatever their life is outside this place, save for their week long visitations.

[wastheexample]

So wherever it is they go, time works differently there than it does here.

[He's thinking, trying to put all the jigsaw pieces into place when he's missing half the pieces he needs to complete the puzzle]

[huntersdaughter]

[She'll lean against the bartop, nodding at him.]

Seems like it to me. Could be how the castle does things. Some people have gone home for a bit, forgotten this place while they're home, then come back with years tacked on, but remember when they get back.

Only difference is, the body stays behind. [Which Jo still says just screams fake.]

[wastheexample]

...So they go 'home', but their body stays here? Like something's just inserting memories into their brains?

[That screams Trackerjackers to Haymitch]

[huntersdaughter]

That's what I've heard, but I haven't really gone through it. I'm dead back home. Not much left to live through.

[fredless]

[Fred's been disturbed for other reasons, some more pressing than others. Like her own jealousy]

It's a lot to think about, actually.

[wastheexample]

More than the castle usually gives us.

[fredless]

I've always thought the castle gave us plenty. Trouble it, it's not always the things we want to ponder.

[wastheexample]

No one wants to have to ponder unsettling things.

[fredless]

Maybe? But avoiding them doesn't get you very far either.

[wastheexample]

Sure as hell doesn't.

[fredless]

[For some reason she's slightly taken back by his conviction]

I'm Fred.

/can we say this is just before the loss? XD

[cricketycricket]

Oh, I've no doubt that there is. We've already proof enough that there was another castle, once. Have you heard of Libet, yet?

Yes yes we can

[wastheexample]

I think I just about missed that happy little trip.

yaaaays

[cricketycricket]

It was - is - another castle, almost identical to this one, far up north, past the mountains. We found it on one of our group expeditions, a rather large grouping of us, I'd say thirty or so. Only, it was a ghost town, not a single soul left alive. Everything within had either fallen into disrepair or been laid to waste.

That didn't mean it was safe, of course.

[wastheexample]

...And you're sure it was a castle like this? Was there any evidence suggesting there had been people there at some point.

[cricketycricket]

Absolutely sure, I saw it with my own eyes. I've photographs, if you'd like to see them. ... And skeletons are rather irrefutable evidence.

[wastheexample]

Yeah, I would, actually. I want to build a good mental image of this craphole. [He NEEDS to know what he's up against here]

[cricketycricket]

Alright, then. Where are you, I can bring them by.

Haymitch (also I was supposed to write this days ago SOB)

[accidentalrebellion]

[Here's the truth. The truth is that it's been this very exact thing occupying her thoughts, non-stop, ever since it happened. Even the nightmares have taken on a different theme to reflect it. No, they hardly go away; they evolve. Just like the sick games that this place likes to play.

Once again, Haymitch has been reading her mind.

That's what makes her seek him out today. Maybe, on some level, she needs to talk about this with someone who understands.]

I talked to Finnick. [Because well-adjusted and healthy people don't approach things directly, obviously!]

Katniss

[wastheexample]

[He tilts his head at the the sound of her voice. He knew, of course, that she felt the same thing. They were, after all, frighteningly similar]

Did you now. [There was a touch on inquiry to his tone]

Haymitch

[accidentalrebellion]

[She catches that tone. The one that's inquiring her on multiple levels. What she's actually thinking about. To what extent she felt similarly to him. ... Maybe, on some superficial level of the conversation, what she and Finnick talked about.]

Yeah. [.... But he'll have to try a lot harder than that.]

Katniss

[wastheexample]

[He's quiet a moment, taking everything he can from her tone. Of course she was going to make this difficult for him. It was her way]

There are a lot of things you and Finnick could talk about. Care to divulge?