everlarkrealornot

[everlarkrealornot]

Most "down bad" Katniss moment that's rarely mentioned:

Not only refusing to use a different ladder than Peeta but literally standing on the same rung as him because any amount of space between them is Too. Much.

[everlarkrealornot]

[everlarkrealornot]

For as insane as Katniss’s thoughts here are, Peeta is just as intimacy deprived and insane for being the one to go from strict coach to whatever this is within thirty seconds of being left alone with her. Also in the books there’s a considerable height difference between them, enough for Katniss to get on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He would have to be putting in active effort to have his lips touch her neck.

[everlarkrealornot]

Listen to me Suzanne Collins did not have to give Katniss and Peeta a history before the games. She did NOT have to do that. She could have just had their story begin when Peeta's name was called. She could have had them be total strangers until the moment of the reaping.

Like: "And the boy tribute is... Peeta Mellark!" Katniss: Who's that? Or she could have made them vaguely familiar with each other! Peeta's name is called and Katniss just thinks, Oh, I know that name! He's in my class, actually. Poor boy... Anyway!

Either way, SC could have written the rest of the story exactly the same! I think many authors would have done that! Because if Peeta's purpose in the book was to be Gale's competition, to be one of the 3 corners of a love triangle, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WAY TO DO IT!! But that's NOT how she did it because that's NOT what Peeta is.

And who is he? To Katniss, Peeta's someone who saved her and her family and received nothing in return except a beating. Peeta's someone she has had her eye on but has never worked up the courage to talk to. Peeta's someone she associates with kindness and hope. And all this before the start of the events of the book! Just because WE, the READERS, met Gale before Peeta and immediately felt a connection with him does NOT mean that was Katniss's experience! And that's what SC is trying to tell us!

To dismiss Katniss and Peeta's past as unimportant or inconsequential compared to whatever Katniss and Gale have in the present is to fundamentally misunderstand Katniss as a character and, as a result, condemn oneself to never fully understand the choices she makes in the future.

Suzanne Collins wrote it that way on purpose because she had something to say. And no one will ever be able to convince me that something wasn't "It was always going to be Peeta".

[everlarkrealornot]

headcanon: Some Capitol people are gatekeepers. (Like the people who will ask you to name 5 songs when you wear a Metallica shirt)  but tribute edition.  "Is that a MOCKINGJAY design? Name 3 of Katniss's loved ones! I bet you're not even a real fan!" or "ERM! Is that a TRIDENT??? You know that Finnick Odair uses tridents! You're probably a poser!! 11"

[everlarkrealornot]

one of tricks of the arena in the third quarter quell being the forcefield showed just how it was all planed for Haymitch. They weren’t expecting Peeta to jump on and volunteer…it was always meant to be him. Katniss and Haymitch, the mockingjay and the example -both of the minds who had the guts to defy the Capitol. Both the sparks who almost burned the entire nation with black berries and forcefields…

Snow had thought that, by killing every single person Haymitch had ever loved in his life, he had finaly been able to put a leash around his neck. And still, despite all his efforts, twenty years after he pulled his trick with the axe and won the 50th edition of the Hunger Games, Haymitch still had the guts to challenge the president one more time by creating the whole star-crossing-lovers approach with Katniss and Peeta, knowing the girl would never follow through Snows expectations, knowing all too well the sparks in her eyes and all the damage it could cause-If the mockingjay did everything she did, it was because her mentor had allowed it- and Snow was very familiar with how hunting dogs like Haymitch Abernathy and Katniss Everdeen could not be disciplined….how dangerous it was to let someone with such strong ideals to walk around safely and sound, corrupting the minds of future tributes. He knew the only way out of it was getting rid of them, both of them- he had left the example alive once, and he would not make the same mistake again

the mockingjay doesn’t exist without her mentor

however, despite all the chances, the sweet and gentle Peeta Mellark decided it was time to pull his heroic act and volunteer

[everlarkrealornot]

life would be so much better if i could just kiss peeta mellark

[everlarkrealornot]

[everlarkrealornot]

JOSH HUTCHERSON as PEETA MELLARK The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

[everlarkrealornot]

KATNISS EVERDEEN, THE GIRL ON FIRE!

[everlarkrealornot]

[everlarkrealornot]

”What I need is the Dandelion in the spring”.

[everlarkrealornot]

Laurel

Read chapters 1 & 2 on Ao3

The beginning of Chapter 3

They say no one really feels married in District 12 until after the toasting: They’re right.

~~~

She moves into Peeta’s house in Victor’s Village, bringing only a single bag of her scant possessions.

He gives a brief tour, before leading her to a bedroom prepared for her. It’s not what she’s expecting; clean and modestly decorated in District 12 fashion rather than the Capitol’s style. She’s thankful for that and pleasantly surprised.

“I know it’s a little plain,” Peeta says, misinterpreting her silence. “I don’t know what you like, but I can paint it… any color you want…”

She doesn’t miss his crestfallen look as she shakes her head effectively ending the conversation. She doesn’t need him doing more than he already has.

She hasn’t slept alone since she was five; before her sister was old enough to share the mattress in their room. It shouldn’t be this hard to rest in a bed this comfortable, but sleep plagues her. She’s no stranger to nightmares, ever since her father died a decade ago, but now the usual mine explosion is replaced with visions of Prim clutching a wailing child as life drains from her eyes. Katniss wakes frantically reaching across the empty bed for her sister before remembering where she is.

She doesn’t know what Peeta does at night, but she knows it’s not sleep. She can hear his heavy tread in the hallway and movement from the room next to hers.

They rarely see each other during the day. She leaves early to hunt, returning in the afternoon to bathe before leaving again to have dinner with her sister and mother after school, meandering back to arrive only after dusk.

After the first few days of this routine, she finds a basket on the counter on her way out the door. The note reads: ‘for your family’. She can’t resist the urge to peek inside, finding bread still warm from the oven, oranges, peppermints, a shiny tin of packets from the tea house, and cookies, beautifully iced with softly colored flowers. She scoffs at the offering; she can provide for her family just fine. Maybe there are no cookies or candies, but she manages the necessities. Shoving the basket across the counter, she grabs her hunting bag and stomps off, letting the screen door slam behind her.

But the next day another basket sits with all the same things, with the exception of a new loaf and perfectly rectangular shortbread. The note reads: ‘for your sister’. Her hands hover over the handle for a moment, before she retracts it, leaving it there once more.

The third day the note reads, ‘For the baby’, and she knows she’s been had. She scowls at the ceiling, before scooping up the basket with its heavenly smelling ginger snaps and fresh loaf.

Prim groans as she takes a bite. ‘The first thing she’s enjoyed eating in weeks,’ she claims and her sister's praise dulls the sting of Peeta’s victory.

After that she stops refusing his gifts, leaving behind a skinned rabbit or squirrel in his ice box as meager repayment.

~~~

Next

Big thank you to @rainymyx for the fic aesthetic!!

[everlarkrealornot]

Laurel

Beginning | Settling In

“Shouldn’t you be bigger?”

It takes her a moment to register his meaning. She pulls her father’s jacket closed around her as she approaches Haymitch near the entrance to Victors Village. “I’m not actually pregnant, remember?”

“The whole district will figure it out soon enough if you don’t start looking the part.”

She knows he’s right. Prim’s been hiding her growing roundness under the new shirts Katniss could get her since Peeta’s been supplementing their meals, not to mention the food itself.

“Fine,” she concedes as she moves to brush past him towards the house.

He clicks his tongue, an indication for her to wait, but it’s the sight of Peeta emerging from the house and heading in their direction that stops her.

She can tell the moment he spots her, his feet faltering, “Katniss.” He regains himself quickly, “how was your morning?”

“Good. And yours.” Her voice sounds foreign to her ear; too formal and clipped.

“Brr.” Haymitch’s voice cuts them off, “you two have got a lot of warming up to do before showtime.”

“Showtime?”

“You haven’t discussed this already?”

“What?” she snaps, not waiting for Peeta’s response.

“Victory Tour’s coming.”

Her spine stiffens. Victors were expected to be present at the festivities during their District’s stop, but she hadn’t thought about whether she would. At least no one would take much notice of her…

“I just got a call; they want a segment on your growing family.”

It seemed the odds are not in her favor.

“And you told them no?” Peeta’s voice is firm.

“Wasn’t a request.”

She shakes her head, “Why? It’s not even his tour.”

“Doesn’t matter: he’s interesting and you’re part of the package now.” He scans her over. “You’ll want a good cleaning and a new dress.”

“You should take your own advice,” she snarks back.

“I’m not the one supposed to be pregnant. The last thing we want is the director deciding you need to be styled and the preps getting their hands on you.”

Her mouth drops open.

“I can handle them. I won’t let that happen,” Peeta directs his last sentence at her.

“And don’t get me started on the interview,” Haymitch says, ignoring Peeta’s assurance. “You’ll want to drop the attitude. They’ll be expecting a sweet little District wife, not some feral barn cat”

“I can handle the interview.”

“Won’t make a lick of difference if she still looks like a spooked animal at the sight of you. What do you do in that house all day? Do you two even speak at all?” The uncomfortable silence must be answer enough. “fix this,” he snarls. “The deal didn’t end as soon as the papers were signed. You’ll need to be a happy pair when the cameras arrive. Start acting like it.” He mumbles something about needing a drink and stalks off.

“Ass,” Katniss mutters under her breath.

“He’s in rare form today.”

“Guess I just have that effect.”

She smiles at the sound of Peeta’s laughter, “you have no idea the effect you have.”

Her smile drops at his words, her brows knit in confusion and Peeta looks away, seemingly bashful at his admission, “all I mean is panem‘s gonna love you.”

She doubts it.

Adjusting her bag she looks towards an escape from the awkwardness that’s fallen.

“You headed back to the house? We could have lunch together? talk maybe?”

Her first instinct is to make an excuse and flee back to the woods or straight to her family’s home in the Seam, but she refuses to be the frightened prey that Haymitch accused, so she nods and turns towards the house.

[everlarkrealornot]

One step, not much

[everlarkrealornot]

i'm a firm believer that katniss had been harboring a little crush on peeta long before the reaping and that peeta, though infatuated with her, was not yet in love with katniss during the beginning of their first games.

[everlarkrealornot]

Do you guys think Katniss ever mentioned to Peeta that she thinks he would make a great father? And how awkwardly do you think she did that?