mylionskitten

[mylionskitten]

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.

[mylionskitten]

I didn’t want to let them in, her and Peeta, but the walls of a person’s heart are not impregnable, not if they have ever known love.

[mylionskitten]

A letter that’s been given to Haymitch Abernathy on the morning of the 75th Reaping. A letter which he first forgot and then ignored till after the execution Coin‘s. A letter which now sits in his bedside drawer. A letter which he rereads every year on their wedding anniversary, thankful that the love of his life survived the torture and the trial.

(This took so much time, hope y’all like it ✨)

[mylionskitten]

It was always Peeta.

And it was never Gale. Partly because his relationship with Katniss started as transactional.

Katniss says herself it took years for them to become friends and not hagle over every single catch/ find.

Most of Katniss’s relationships are transactional. Her friendship Gale started off as trading hunting/ gathering tips and advice. Her relationships at the Hob and Town were based on trading. Katniss even acts as the “provider” for her family (whom she loves dearly but my girl was stressed about it).

During the games she formed a transactional relationship with sponsors, and post games she formed a transactional agreement with Snow. Even in 13 she only agreed to be the Mockingjay as long as her demands are met.

And in my opinion Gale feels entitled to a romantic relationship with Katniss because it’s another transaction.

Peeta is the only person who gives to Katniss with zero expectations of getting anything in return. Not her love. Not her friendship. Not even a thank you.

[mylionskitten]

[mylionskitten]

big big fan of how katniss’s most explicit declarations of love for peeta are not her saying she loves him but recognizing it through other people:

“annie is to finnick what peeta is to me” -> “finnick loves annie” -> “i love peeta”

“haymitch is different from everyone else here; because he loves peeta; because he’s like me”

[mylionskitten]

katniss being absolutely feral over peeta after BOTH of the games is overlooked.

(or maybe i’ve never interacted with the fandom of this text)

[mylionskitten]

*SPOILERS FOR SUNRISE ON THE REAPING*

So, after the 50th hunger games, Haymitch is constantly punished for his actions in and out of the arena. That much is obvious.

Looking at it through the frame of the rest of the trilogy is so fucking sad.

Primrose Everdeen, the tribute reaped for the 74th annual hunger games, was almost undoubtedly one of Haymitch's punishments.

But Why Prim, and why is it a punishment? First and foremost, textually in SotR Burdock Everdeen is one of Haymitch's best friends, and he doesn't really ever give up on Haymitch (in my opinion) though he did give him space. (And I think Haymitch Knows that)

(Also side tangent I don't think Burdock's death was an accident. Mostly because he was implied to be either Covey or somehow related. It would also make Haymitch feel Worse.)

Back to the main point of Why Prim? Well Snow couldn't get to Astrid or Burdock through the games, but he could get to their kids. Now Katniss? She would have been tricky for the games. As pointed out by tumblr users of the past, she is a pillar of the community. Not only that, she is clever, a good survivalist, and knows how to hunt well. Which would make her extremely dangerous in the games. She would be a perfect underdog. And Snow Hates underdogs. (Especially one related to the Covey.)

Continously, Prim has an extremely low chance to win the games, even with peeta's help. Because that boy would absolutely sacrifice himself for Prim, but he wouldn't be able to win the games for her.

To take the entertainment angle, (because I fully believe Snow has camera and audio feeds all over twelve and has a special eye kept on the Everdeens you cannot persuade me otherwise) a young baker's son in love with a girl, and then getting reaped with that girls little sister? Diabolical.

Most of all though, having to mentor your dead best friend's daughter who has a practically zero chance of winning is torture. The fear and anger and grief that must have gone through Haymitch at that moment? I think that must have felt like if he had to hear Sid's name from the reaping bowl.

Thankfully, though, the power of love and the indomitable human spirit prevaled as Snow's empire crumbled under the songbird he hated. And Haymitch got a geese filled happy ending. Eventually.

[mylionskitten]

So are we going to talk about how during the three months of Quell training Haymitch probably saw a lot of himself in Peeta? Tough, unyielding, pushing the people he loves away, going home to an empty house.

[mylionskitten]

Headcanon short list of things Katniss Everdeen kept track of about Peeta Mellark:

- His birthday

- Where he sat during each class

- What days he had wrestling practice

- New burn scars from the bakery oven on his arms

- Whenever he got a hair cut

- His Reaping Day clothes

- How his hair caught the sunlight in such a pretty way

[mylionskitten]

Started thinking too hard about Peeta stopping to pick Katniss a little bouquet of flowers in the middle of nowhere and then immediately getting his heart broken. Got incredibly sad. 0/10 recommend.

[mylionskitten]

IM GOING CRAZY. PEETA SAYING KATNISS AND HAYMITCH ARE ALIKE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 WHERE HAVE I HEARD THAT BEFORE

[mylionskitten]

The "true love's kiss" is great and all, but this hug will also be always important to me. The way she describes him/his hugs here is so soft.

[mylionskitten]

Ya know what Katniss never says? That all the stuff she has to do with Peeta for the SCL act (star crossed lovers has an acronym now. Pass it on) is icky. She hates to perform, she’s terrified she won’t do a good enough job etc etc. But never once, not even a little bit, does she complain that she doesn’t want to kiss him, hug him, hold his hand. Imagine if you had to make out with someone you just met, and a lot, for weeks. I’d be HELLA uncomfortable even if he was nice about it. But katniss is never bothered by Peeta’s touch. Never. I just think that’s interesting

[mylionskitten]

Katniss and Peeta reclaiming their lost childhood postwar by doing things like taking bubble baths or playing hopscotch, Katniss and Peeta whispering soft little secrets under the covers because it’s a good way to heal but it also feels fun and a little mischievous, Katniss and Peeta homeschooling themselves past tenth grade, Katniss and Peeta deciding to have an official first date, Peeta making Katniss her first ever birthday cake, and Katniss giving Peeta his first ever proper birthday present …

[mylionskitten]

The Pearl (Everlark Headcanon)

One morning, Peeta woke up and Katniss’s side of the bed was empty. Assuming she’d gone hunting, Peeta went to make breakfast for when she got back. But when he got downstairs, he saw Katniss frantically searching the living room.

“Katniss?” he said softly.

She looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy. Immediately, Peeta rushed over to her.

“Your pearl,” she choked. “It’s gone. I’ve been looking for it all morning.”

Peeta wrapped his arms around her body. He knew what that pearl meant to her. “I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.”

Katniss sniffed and buried her head in his nightshirt. “I can’t believe I lost it, Peeta.”

“You didn’t lose it.” He gently pressed his lips to her forehead. “We’ll find that pearl, I promise.”

“I was so stupid to leave it out.” She sounded on the verge of tears again. “The damn thing is always rolling around! I need to keep it safe!”

“Hey,” he took her chin in his fingers and tilted her face up to him. “Why don’t you take a break from looking and go hunt, hm? I’ll look for it in the meantime. Okay?”

Blinking back a tear, Katniss smiled weakly. “Yeah.” She gave him a quick kiss and headed out the door.

Peeta spent the next hour looking for the pearl. Right as he was starting to think it might actually be lost, he heard a commotion from the bedroom and ran upstairs. He chuckled when he saw Buttercup batting the pearl across the wood floor and chasing it like a mouse.

“Silly cat,” he laughed as he plucked the pearl out from between Buttercup’s paws.

The cat meowed in protest.

“I’ll make sure you don’t get ahold of this again,” he teased as he lovingly scratched Buttercup’s chin. “And make sure Katniss doesn’t lose this again.”

The idea came to him in a flash, and he wasted no time.

The blacksmith by the square was known for occasionally making simple jewelry for the right price. The blacksmith asked what he wanted and how much he was willing to pay.

“The pearl pressed into a ring,” Peeta requested. “As long as it won’t budge. And I’ll pay whatever you want.”

“Won’t be too hard,” said the blacksmith. “It’ll take me an hour or so. How about you bring me bread for the…. For the rest of the week, how’s that?”

“No problem.”

When the blacksmith was done, Peeta took the ring and went home, examining it on the way. Just like he’d asked, the pearl was pressed into the ring, which was made from scrap metal, but still looked nice. Perfect for Katniss, since she always avoided flashy things. They reminded her too much of the Capitol.

Arriving back at the house, Peeta walked in on Katniss skinning a wild turkey. “You’re back!” she said. “Were you in town?”

“Yep,” he grinned. “And I got you something.”

Eagerly, Katniss washed her hands and sat next to him on the sofa. Giddy with excitement, Peeta pulled out the ring.

Katniss’s face froze. “Is that the…”

“It is.” He held it out to her. “I found it upstairs. Buttercup thought it was a fun little toy.”

A smile broke over her face and her eyes glistened. “That stupid cat.”

Peeta laughed. “I had it made into a ring, now you can keep it on you so you don’t have to worry about losing it.”

Katniss threw her arms around him and pulled him in for a long kiss. Even after all these years, her kisses still gave him butterflies. “Thank you, Peeta. I… thank you.”

Sliding the ring onto her left middle finger, she held up her hand. “What do you think?”

“It’s perfect,” Peeta smiled.

Pleased, she examined it again. “Did you know people used to give each other rings when they got married?”

“Really?” said Peeta. “Weird!”

[mylionskitten]

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) dir. Francis Lawrence