#Effie would find them both so funny

[marlsswrites]

Okay hear me out, figure skater Regulus and Effie Potter as his coach. James goes to visit his mum and CRUMBLES. Does this exist? BECAUSE ITS A NEED.

[caesarflickermans]

I’ve followed you for Years and I find it so funny how you went from shipping Hayffie to not and then it’s me that went from Not to shipping them ajaj. We switched! I grow up and I tend to love more adult ships especially very much complicated and almost doomed adult Dynamic. I should stop cause in every show/movies/books the adult ones don’t get much happiness. I should have known tho since Kane & Abby (they started it!!)

I so fondly remember Kane and Abby!! I shipped them back when I was watching the first few seasons of the 100 too :')

Adult ships have equally interested me more than teen ones even when I was a teen. There seemed to be so much drama around them that I much preferred calmer ships with characters that felt more settled rather than teens going through journeys discovering themselves. Funnily, in recent years I've felt more appreciative toward teen stories & teen ships—I enjoyed Alice Oseman's Radio Silence—and I've enjoyed thinking about modern high school verses for the Capitol rebels :> Me adding Cressida & Fulvia to the 'cast' is also moving down in age ranges, although they are both mid twenties.

And hmm! I think I've just gotten fed up with the movie version of Hayffie. While I understand the enjoyment to have Effie in 13, she seemed to be there for some light-hearted moments in an otherwise bleak movie. I wish they would have made her endure true hardships to really settle a character's journey, because to this day I don't see why Plutarch would've taken her along, why she did go unpunished in 13, or her truly GAF about the rebellion. It seems that for all the development they had her go through in CF, there was little beyond that in both MJ movies.

Overall, movie!Hayffie felt so rushed and ignorant to the journey these characters have had. Haymitch and Effie spent years at odds with each other. Whenever they were in contact, Haymitch was drunk trying to ignore the fact he was part of an entourage dragging two kids Effie picked to the Capitol who would inevitably die, and whose parents he might or might not have to face for the rest of his life. This all happened while Effie yapped about how boring, uneducated, or downright uncivilised she thought these children were. These characters are at such strong odds that I do not see them moving past that in the span of a year and a half.

We were robbed of a slowburn we were never going to get because these were side characters whose love story was never planned until fans asked for one.

Hayffie needs a truthful slowburn to properly work, and the kiss at the end of MJP2 was a final nail in the coffin for me. The flirtations were already a little too frequent, but this kiss clearly was not their first, and that indication did not at all align with my need for a slowburn Hayffie. The fact that the actors were the ones who pushed for this, and that I don't like E-Banks, makes this less a thought-out storyline and more a "well, let's smooch, this feels right!"

The issue with Hayffie is that, after the end of MJ, they aren't really forced into contact with each other anymore. I don't see why Haymitch would care enough for Effie to stay in contact, and I don't really think Effie's life centres around a guy who she appeared to be disgusted by for the whole two to three weeks per year she was forced to spend her time with (and to everyone who might say that, no, Haymitch is a looker: He had been abusing his body with alcohol for two decades and did not seem to bathe often).

That's not to say that, in such a potential slowburn, Effie cannot realise that she cannot shake off the horrors that happened to her in the book. She might end up getting in contact with Haymitch, but she also sort-of really needs a reality check about how her ignorance made her selfish, because I don't see any evidence anywhere that Effie felt any semblance of guilt for her participation or felt grief for the previous tributes.

So a rather rough phone call might make her think, re-watch, and re-evaluate her past actions. That doesn't happen overnight, but takes months and years to come to terms with.

This is the central aspect I think is amiss in the Hayffie canon story and in most ideas that I was surrounded by. Effie needs to apologise, and it needs to happen from genuine growth that I find doubtful to happen during the canon book timeline.

From then onward, maybe a friendship can develop with some calls ever so often, maybe Effie sending him a gift by the next train as a thanks for a particularly rough call. While I don't necessarily see Effie as too bound to the Capitol due to potential trauma after the book time in MJ—she might live in some of the "better" Districts—I struggle to see her move to Twelve. And I don't see Haymitch leaving his home, ever.

So whatever they might—maybe, with an abundance of what ifs attached—become is going to be reduced by distance and, frankly, age and health. I'm sorry to Mr. Abernathy, but his alcohol abuse is not guaranteeing a long life. By the time that Effie might come around, I think he won't live much longer. Even in this version they don't end up in a romance, but at least I can see some platonic affection and appreciation—once Effie actually understands and listens.

I've also seen more Hayffie content I did not enjoy than enjoy (which was... fairly little) and just. realised that discrepancy. My issues with the portrayal of these two in the fandom were that I've often seen them reduced to stereotypes, phrases, and punchlines. There's only so many times that Effie telling Haymitch "Manners!" is funny, especially if we link this back to the never-addressed undertones of colonialised-colonialser here. I've also at some point realised that this is one of the ships where the dynamics are that of damsel-helper, whereupon Effie's trauma was a frequent and serious topic while Haymitch's drinking problems were the bottom of jokes.

But maybe I've also grown old and cynical so sayonara

[eyra]

apparently ao3 is down for a lot of people at the moment! you might have some luck if you keep refreshing and they’ve said they’re working on it, but in the meantime here’s a bit of chapter 7 to put you on 🎄🐕‍🦺

the oldest recipe for parsnip soup

The presents beneath the tree tumble in a great pile of reds and fir-greens and shiny, gold ribbons. Boxes and bottle-bags and something soft and crinkly that squeaks when Bunny fishes it out of the stack and squeezes it between his teeth. There's a joint present for Effie and Fleamont; something that James always sorts for both of them, from the two of them, and Sirius writes the card. It's a bulging hamper of tea and biscuits and sweets this year, chocolates from some fancy shop Effie likes and shortbread fingers in a long, tartan tin. There's a jar of fig chutney that Fleamont pores over with interest, and a box of crunchy peppermint thins, and then the customary bottle of gin for Effie with a note that reads: "Sorry I am the way that I am. - J xxx"

"That's for you, pal," James says as he sinks onto the sofa next to Sirius in front of the fire and hands him a soft, rectangular parcel. It's clumsily wrapped as ever, odd bits of sellotape hanging off the corners. "Don't say I never give you anything."

"Thank you," he says, sliding a finger carefully under the wrapping, and folding it open to hold up a plain, grey sweatshirt.

"Look on the front," James says giddily, and when Sirius flips the sweatshirt round it's to find a huge, shiny photograph of a dog's smiling face, printed onto the fabric: Bunny, mouth open and tongue lolling, a little red Santa hat balanced on top of his glossy black head.

Sirius grins.

"I like that."

"Knew you would," James says, and then: "Where's mine?"

Sirius hands him a small, silver-wrapped gift. It might be the right thing. He's not sure. He's never sure, really. Last year it was a book that he'd seen James eyeing up in the bookshop across from the student union in the autumn, and he'd seemed pleased with that. The year before it was whisky: something that Fleamont had sent him an email about towards the end of term, suggesting that James might quite like a bottle of it if Sirius hadn't found him anything yet. And James had seem pleased with that, too. But he's still never sure, really. Another puzzle.

He watches as James tears off the paper, stomach doing something mildly uncomfortable, and then James is huffing out a quick, surprised breath, and smiling, and saying:

"Oh, wow."

He looks at Sirius, and then back down at the photographs. It's a simple thing: a thin, brass frame with a hinge down the middle so that it opens like a book. A rectangular pane of glass on either side of the hinge, space for two prints that Sirius had sent away for online back in November.

"Jesus, we're young there," says James, pointing at the photograph on the left. It's a faded, speckled thing: the two of them, side-by-side in their first year at the old boarding school. Eleven years old in their ridiculous uniforms, grey shorts and little striped neckties. James grinning with his too-big glasses and a wild mop of jet-black hair, Sirius clinging loosely to the hem of James's knitted jumper with the fingers of his right hand, even though they'd only met a month or two prior. James points at the other photograph then, and says: "I don't even remember taking that!"

"It was this summer," Sirius says. "Just in the garden."

It had been a hot and hazy sort of day, he remembers, and James had just been to the Post Office to pick up a parcel which had turned out to be his new phone, and he'd spent the entire afternoon running around like a madman snapping pictures of everyone and everything. A harried Effie in the kitchen, a bemused Fleamont reading his paper in the living room, and Sirius, who he'd bounded over to and slung an easy arm around, holding the phone out in the other hand and grinning.

James is quiet for a moment. The funny, uncomfortable twist in Sirius's stomach wonders for a moment if he might've got it horribly, horribly wrong. But then James is sniffing, and looking back up at Sirius, and giving him a weak, watery smile.

"Thanks, mate."

And Sirius thinks, as James looks back down at the twin photographs, that maybe he got it right this time.

[gudvina]

The things I do to keep you near.

Ship: Effie Trinket/Haymitch Abernathy

Fandom: Hunger Games

Chapter 9: I need you to know (not too much)

Can be read on AO3. <3

74th Hunger Games, part seven.

He should have known Gloria would come back. She left just after he sent Katniss an ointment for her burns, parting with recommendations that they rest a little, not to work themselves too hard. He’d thought she’d be like the occasional sponsors, for a fleeting moment. The ones that came in, signed their deals and left.

But there was nothing occasional about Gloria.

Just a few hours after midnight Haymitch and Effie came down to the Sponsors’ Lounge, and were surprised to find Gloria already there. She was sitting by Chaff’s stand, between him and Faustina, Eleven’s escort. The lounge was almost empty, and the Victor’s voice bellowed across the room, inviting them to their stand.

The table was already set for breakfast, and two added seats were already waiting for them. It was suspiciously convenient, and his friend’s unusually cordial smile didn’t help his scepticism. He knew what this was all about. He’d feared this would happen the moment Katniss spotted Rue clinging to the branches of that damn tree.

An alliance. He’d made a few in the first years of his mentorship, before giving up altogether. He’d sworn he’d never make one again.

“Up, up, up, ‘Mitch!” Chaff teased, mocking Effie lightly, “How did you sleep?”

“Ha, ha, how funny” Effie rolled her eyes and took a bite of a pastry. She was trying to fight the remnants of sleep, and he knew that it would probably take another strong cup of coffee to fully wake her up. It was surprising that, despite the lack of sleep, her makeup was still flawless.

“Come on, Effs, you know Chaff”, Faustina smiled. She was sipping on some pink coloured juice, reclining on the sofa. He didn’t know how close Effie was with the other escorts, but he’d heard enough about Faustina from both her and his friend. Incredibly tone deaf, but she was determined to get a winner and that meant that she tried her absolute best every year. The only thing that differentiated her from Effie was the lack of grief after losing.

“Yeah, she knows me. How’s boyfriend, by the way?”.

Effie froze beside him, and Haymitch glared at his friend. He knew that it came from a place of caring, but Chaff didn’t have the right to question her about Crane.

“Crane is fine where he’s at”, Haymitch grumbled.

“Good, now that we’ve asked about friends and family, Chaff, why don’t you begin with the serious subject?”.

Chaff took Gloria’s suggestion, and started to talk about the benefits of an alliance. It would help both their tributes when receiving a gift, and if anything happened to one of them the funds for one would go directly to the other’s mentor. It wasn’t the worst he’d ever had to sign, and after all Chaff was his friend. His tributes this year weren’t the worst, but they’d been outshined by his girl, so it was only fair.

“You know what I feel about alliances, but I will accept. Only this once”.

“I knew I could count on you. So, Effie, are you ready to team up with Faustina?”.

“Chaff, I’ve known Effie from the Academy. We’re always ready to team up!”, Faustina quipped in, winking at Effie, “When we were sixteen, we had a modelling exam and we passed with flying colours! Seneca was quite taken with the result”. Haymitch frowned and looked at Effie, confused by what he’d just heard. A modelling exam? What the fuck was that?

“Faustina, I’d rather not discuss our modelling exams”.

“Oh, come on! It was so fun. Well, maybe we were a little young for certain poses, they were a little risqué, but Mr Sewned loved the pictures. I think Seneca still has some of them, maybe I should ask”.

“We were sixteen, Tina”.

“Since when have you become such a prude? You don’t want to talk about our exams and you don’t sleep with sponsors anymore, not even with Seneca. I’m starting to think your mother has rubbed off on you”.

“And I’m starting to think this conversation is over, darling. Whatever Effie does is none of your business”. Gloria redirected the conversation towards the strategies for their incoming interviews.

Every year, at the start of the games, mentors and escorts were supposed to give out interviews. It was during these interviews that alliances were laid out. Effie listened to Gloria’s tips, taking notes on her little notebook. Gloria’s whole strategy had always been to charm the audience, making it fall at its feet, and as he listened to her he understood that Effie had, during her training, made hers the woman’s lessons.

“Haymitch and Chaff, instead, should be a little more… affable than usual. I will explain later, but Chaff, you know I wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t absolutely necessary”.

“I know, Gloria. Remember I swore to my old man I’d listen to you, so you don’t have to worry about me. Look at Haymitch, instead. He’s the one who’s hell bent into upsetting people. Poor Trinket has almost had a heart attack once or twice”.

“Haymitch can behave when he wants to, so he’s not a problem”.

“When he wants to, yeah”.

“I’m right here, y’know that, right?”.

Effie and Chaff smirked, but then turned their attention back to Gloria.

“Effie, I need you to engage audience and sponsors a little more. We need your savoir-faire more than ever, so you can lead the conversation and Faustina can also have a little of the spotlight. It’s not going to be easy, but you can do it”.

“What do you mean with engaging the sponsors?”, Haymitch asked.

“The usual, a little harmless flirting here and there. Nothing I haven’t done myself”.

“Those freaks are going to want to follow up on it”.

“Effie will know how to deal with it. I’m not asking her to sleep with them, Haymitch. I’m asking her to play pretend”.

It made him uncomfortable, but he couldn’t say anything without mentioning their marriage, so he just clenched his jaw and ignored Effie squeezing his hand under the table. The conversation continued for another half hour, and dawn was still one hour away. Breakfast ended in a high note for everyone but him, and they all parted to prepare their stands.

Effie was arranging the documents, unusually silent. She probably sensed his irritation.

“Modelling exams? What the fuck was that about?”, he asked, lighting up the mood a little.

“Yes, they were mandatory at the Academy. They gave us a prompt and we used to spin a shooting around it”.

“So, you were sixteen doing strip teases for pictures that would be sent to a fifty-year-old man?”

“You make it sound so bad, but Mr Sewned was a professional, and it wasn’t strip teases. I admit we were a little precocious, but they were harmless compared to those awful magazines you and Chaff like to go through”. She wrinkled her nose, and he smirked. He’d never actually looked at Chaff’s zines more than once, as they never did anything for him, but Effie seemed to be of the impression that he was doing who knows what with them, and he liked to know he wasn’t the only jealous one there.

At least on that, their marriage was balanced.

“D’you think Crane still has those pictures?”.

“No, I don’t. And if he does… Panem! That would be awfully weird, wouldn’t it?”, she put on her escort mask as a sponsor walked in front of them, aiming for the breakfast buffet already laid out at the centre of the room.

“More than that. Anyways, do not be too friendly with those sponsors”.

“You can’t seriously think I would”, she turned toward him, a flash of hurt in her eyes, “I also agreed to our arrangement”.

“I’m don’t think, sweetheart. I’m… can I be honest? I will be honest. I don’t like the idea. I understand we need to do this, and that it’s your part of the deal, but I hate it. I hate to think of the ideas those maniacs will get. If any of them try anything, you come to me. Please”.

His speech showed more vulnerability than he would have liked, but he needed her to know. That he wouldn’t mindlessly pimp her out, that he didn’t like the idea of those man touching her. He couldn’t tell her she was his wife, but he could tell her that.

With the excuse of having to arrange the pillows behind him she leaned closer to him and, taking advantage of the backrest shielding her, she whispered.

“I am yours. Always and all ways”.

The reminder of their night after the training scores made him groan, as he felt his cock twitch and his hand tingle to touch her skin. He’d have to wait, though. And if her words had brightened his mood, he tried not to let it show too much.

***

Effie’s hands shook as she laid out Haymitch’s outfit on the bed. It was a dark navy suit she’d bought him months ago on a whim, before reaping season had even started. She’d imagined him wearing it, moving in it, and concluded, right after the purchase, that it had been a smart investment.

Unfortunately, the long-awaited moment felt tainted now.

Katniss throwing the tracker jackers’ nest onto the other tributes resulted in Peeta sacrificing for the girl once more, and coming out of it badly injured. The girl wasn’t in the best shape either.  Fortunately, Rue, who watched the whole thing hidden from the ground, took over and got her to safety.

She’d tried to reason with Haymitch, but there was no way of convincing him to send something to Peeta. Throwing things hadn’t worked, and he’d been firmer than the previous days. Given that the boy was in hiding there was no reason to help him out, unless he was dying. Haymitch always had the last word, and she could only hope to convince him sometime later.

The sound of the shower stopped. He came out of the bathroom with just a towel covering him from the waist down. Her mouth went dry. Droplets of water slid down his torso, and she stared for a second too long before returning- or trying to- her attention to the suit.

“Maybe Faustina is right, maybe you are becoming too prudish”, he sneaked up behind her, pressing her back to his chest. She felt warmth pool below her stomach, and, despite herself, she relaxed against him.

“How infuriating, coming from you!”.

“We do have a little time”, he smirked against her nape. He wasn’t wrong, but he’d just showered. She didn’t want to lose time with another one.

“After the interviews”, she whispered, but pressed her backside to his crotch. His groan didn’t help her temptation, nor did his hands when they settled on her waist. God, she hated being so weak, but she wanted him. Badly.

“You’re giving me mixed signals here, sweetheart”.

When she bent over to slide down her panties, she hoped her message was loud and clear. She held onto the mattress and braced herself for him. His hands held onto her waist and slid inside of her, setting a rather slow pace to prolong the moment. She rewarded him with a soft moan.

When he was inside her, his hardness against her most sensitive spots, she felt full. Full of him, full of pride for being the reason for his arousal. It was amongst the few things she was sure of. She had a vague suspicion that he’d come to consider her a little, at least enough for their affair and work relationship to continue, but his feelings were an incognita she didn’t want to find.

Feeling her distraction he increased his pace, and she couldn’t think about anything but him and his hands travelling all over her body. When they were both spent, his hand gripped her jaw to turn her around. He kissed her with abandon, and she reciprocated. If her kisses tasted a little too much like love, she hoped he wouldn’t tell.

“How about we take your shower together?”

“Just showering, Haymitch! No improper behaviour allowed; I have a schedule to follow. Unlike you, I need to visit the prep team, and it wouldn’t do to keep Octavia, Venia and Flavius waiting”.

He snorted, pulling himself out of her. It reminded her of the first time they’d had sex without a condom, too taken by the moment to realize until they were done. Thankfully, she’d been on the drips since she was twelve. She’d started using them as a hormone stabilizer, but continued because of their contraceptive properties. He’d told her she’d taken ten years of his life with that stunt.

“Let’s go, sweetheart”.

Uncharacteristically, he listened to her this time. He touched her here and her, relishing in the softness of her skin, but otherwise kept his hands- and nether regions- to himself. When they were done he stayed in the room to dress and prepare, while she walked to the prep team's work area, undergoing the usual routine. It relaxed her, allowing her not to think for a little while.

When they were done with her she was dressed in a dark red dress that reached her mid-thighs, sported a daring decolletage, and came with a pair of matching gloves. Her wig was light blonde, almost white, and contrasted heavily with the dress and her makeup.

Cinna and Portia were aiming to bring out her sensuality, and in that dress, it wasn’t too hard to embody. She looked beautiful, tempting, like a red apple dangling from the branch of a tree. But she didn’t care about the sponsors or the audience’s opinions, no. Flattery, after some time, faded. Haymitch’s desire for her, on the other hand, lingered for longer.

When she left the prep team she took the elevator, meeting Haymitch, Chaff and Faustina backstage at Ceasar’s television studio. She was wearing a forest green dress that was dotted with real thistles. Her opposite, she looked quite innocent. Exactly what they were looking for.

She complimented her with a wink, before turning her attention to Haymitch. His eyes widened as he took in her attire, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. She walked to stand by his side and heard Chaff whistle.

“Girl, you’re breaking hearts tonight. Sure you don’t want to switch districts, huh?”.

“Hey!”, Faustina protested playfully, “Finnick has been waiting for years, get in line!”

“There is no line, stop being assholes and leave my w- escort alone”.

He tripped on his words a little, and, without taking notice of what he was saying, she basked in the knowledge that she’d managed to render him speechless. They lined up with the other mentors and escorts, watching on a small screen as Ceasar started the show by introducing himself and a few of the Gamemakers. Soon, he called for the mentors and the escorts. The audience roared, calling out to them.

[sunshinechay]

The way my mind connects the dots with 0 hesitation is hilarious. I could be seeing something like "Omg Michael is SO hot, looks so good with his hair like that, my little meow meow!" and Im like "ya Michael-

Seater?

Cera??

Myers!

from the group chat??!!!???

Really be like that (I barely care about any of those people, my brain will just pick at random), wild to see this post in the wild tho, its been years since I saw fans of (pick your fighter).

Only to find out OP is talking about a totally unrelated Michael from something I've never heard of, but its too late, ive already connected the dots in such a hilarious way, I gotta reblog now. But im collecting the new Michael for another similar situation if this ever comes up again.

I remember in high school we had this classmate named John Oliver and for the life of me, I couldn't understand that my friends were talking about John Oliver the tv host. They'd sit there saying the wildest shit like "Did you hear what insane shit John Oliver did last week?" and for a whole 5 seconds I'd be SO concerned about our mutual classmate only to be told this is about some random dude I don't know or watch (back then) and suddenly the world made a LOT more sense. But for those 5 seconds my mind created real terror and I just had to know what kind of sitcom life my classmate was living every fucking week.

So anyways, if you're always wondering why i keep re-blogging posts about your favs with the dumbest tags, its because I keep re-living Last Week with John Oliver time loop with you😭.

I don't even read your url, im just scrolling fast and every time im like "wait Effy slow down, this made no sense, dont just accept that" I look at the url and you're talking about some whole other guy.

Like I really saw your post and went "ah the creepy pasta girlies from 2012 breached containment and hit my dash again...ya...i'll reblog" and it was literally NOT about that Jeff at all.

I need an option to highlight your username in big and bold so my brain understands that your favs and my brain has 0 overlap and idk any of those people. This keeps happening with just you on my dash and no one else. I remembering struggling with my life, during your vegas era (of vegaspete of kinnporshe). Like this is NOT about Las Vegas at all, but if you asked me what my brain ran off with in those 5 seconds, if left unchecked, you'd understand why I love having you in my dash so much. Scrolling super fast on tumblr with you on my dash is just briefly time traveling to another universe istg.

Plus sometimes I do end up watching what you watch like kinnporshe so thats just a bonus.

Glad I could help! Haha

And don’t worry, my brain frequently does this kind of thing as well. Our brains recognize patterns and make connection only it seems our make connections where there are none, but that’s half the fun. Sometimes I laugh at where my own brain takes me.

I saw your tags on the Jeff posts and laughed because omg can you imagine Jeff the Killer reading his own fanfiction 😂😂😂

However, it’s Jeff Satur we’re talking about and honestly the fact he has read fanfiction about himself is both funny and horrifying like “I’m so sorry you had to witness this Jeff…would like some recs for other fics about you?” 😂😂😂

I’m glad that you have liked the BLs you’ve watched. They’re really just something else, in both good ways and bad and I love them so much. So I’m happy I can spread the joy :)

[punmonster]

Hong Lu is definitely suspicious. He talks of his family a lot, but except the mention of his grandma in ons of his IDs and Jia Huan who got like 3 lines, we know absolutely nothing.

His jade eye obviously has some effect, but I don't think we've seen it, unless it's a subconscious thing, is it like surveillance? I need to find a summary of his novel. Additionally, the out of touch way he acts is obviously odd - both by city standards and ours - and has only been really broken by seeing the whales if I'm remembering right.

His symbol contains his eye, his hairband and a cloud - possibly representing how he seems to be on cloud nine to those around him, or dies it represent blocking something out.

Hong Lu's emotional intelligence could also be seen as a break in his act, like with his portrayl of Young-ji of the Lo9 and how he lies to Saude about Effie.

Unrelated but apparently DoTRC contains characters known as 'the Twelve Beauties' and there are 12 other Sinners excluding him, which is funny to me for no particular reason.

Good Day!

-[⏰]

his granny likes to send him places in his ids. im wondering if he was planted here. plus hes so detached from everything.... and a great actor. hes so unthreatening that it loops back around to being sus. i imagine at least a conflict of choosing sides when it comes to his canto

tho, i do think betrayal would be difficult in a gacha and it cant last long, or it will need to be near the end. peeps will get mad if they whale out for some ids and then cant use them lol

i think the cloud isn't about being on cloud 9. im not sure how common that phrase is in china (origin of hong lu's book) or korea. i think its more to do with how his family is distant and above society. the eye with the cloud rings looks a bit like a planet to me, which pushes him further out of reach... and brings me back to hong lu moon theory :D

[valentinesparda]

drace and effie having a well-to-do family makes it to where at least they both have a shot at rising ranks, and it gives effie the chance to befriend a young vayne while they're going through schooling themself. like they wouldn't be in any classes close to him but in a close enough proximity that this very young lord comes into contact with them, is OBSESSED with them but effie just wants to be friends with him. they DO love him, they love everyone and he's hidden most of his bad traits from them, but the time that vayne tries to convince them to just give him a chance it's the same time that effie and noah become aware of each other (or more accurately, effie gets a closer look into the judges through their sister and having gone through extensive physical therapy and MORE schooling to become a palace tutor as the second best thing to do), and they've had a crush on noah before, but killed it out when they know that he's far from their reach emotionally and physically as well as being six years their senior, and it fell off from there

it's when they've become larsa's tutor, the child is still young and drace has been protective of him after seeing the monster his older brother has started to become, and gramis has appointed her as bodyguard for the young lord. so naturally effie gets the job and they're 24 and maybe it wouldn't be too bad to be a part of the royal family their father says, it would be good for them (the future of the family) but they can't shake the feeling that something is wrong, and even drace is like "you're a fucking moron with your bleeding heart" even though they learned it from her. but because of THAT then they meet noah for the first time and he's made aware of their existence outside of word of mouth, and their kind demeanor and soft voice and he's IMMEDIATELY in love with them, but he refuses to say anything about it because he sees how vayne treats them. watches them. talks about them. he gets it. a lot of nervous laughs and intentional accidental meetings, and vayne's attempts to woo effie being met with a hesitant cold shoulder but a warm gaze in noah's direction and he knows he can't shake it

gramis watched his son flounder and falter and suffer in regards to his first love and he already trusts drace, he's put his trust in effie, and part of him almost pities the situation. he knows nothing will come of it (a loveless marriage it would be, no gain on his side besides his son winning effie like a pawn). but in any case, effie is sweet and smart and can be stubborn and does their best to be agreeable around the council and the emperor but they just can't not say what is on their mind. larsa loves them to death but it's a pure love from a child who has gained a new sibling, a teacher he could not adore more, which is so strongly opposite to how he can see vayne loves them that it's almost funny. I think the emperor would definitely notice how his judge would stand up a little straighter, hover around the child's tutor, and later find him coincidentally spending more and more time on their side of the palace in his free time

so anyways to circle back around to the actual point; noah and effie dancing around their feelings in secret for a year or two, and then around the third year, drace having been the confessional between the two lovers as well as their biggest support, and eventually around the third year it is moreso an open secret. this does not stop vayne from being in denial and hissing his blessings even while effie continues to try and smooth things over, sooth his worries, be his closest friend. the year they turn 28 is when noah offers himself in hopes of committing to them, and their engagement falls shortly before the battle of nabudis (because if noah had to worry about it knowing that he had to propose after committing regicide, he would blow it and he knows - and having effie is something nice to return to). but while noah is spending his days freely and having a warm body to sleep next to most nights, of course he does so knowing that his twin is under lock and key, suffering for his supposed crimes

surely the emperor would give his blessing to one of his judges, but he respects the wishes that the wedding be kept a small secret affair, one that is witnessed by their closest friends and bitterly blessed by lord vayne himself, where young lord larsa wishes to play a part in the union of his beloved teacher and his brother's bodyguard

noah still harbors his ill-wishes against his brother even when he is the happiest he's ever been, because he feels so deeply and his emotions are a deep extreme from one to the other, and effie is impressionable enough to believe that maybe everyone that he is tasked to track and contracted to kill definitely deserve it. even his brother

[sameschmidtdiffname]

Johanna is 100% the filthiest, but the close runner up I honestly feel like is Peeta, and I'm not even saying that to be funny.

Peeta is a sweetheart. An angel. A froofy poofy scrumptious little kitten baby meow meow poodle boy. When he's not in public, he cusses like a fuckin' dog. Not even to be crude! I don't think he'd even realize he's cursing half the time. Like he would drop a spoon or something and just go "Fuck." And if someone scolded him or told him he cursed he would just go "Oh shit, did I?" Again, not realizing it. We all heard about his household, you can't tell me they did not curse inbetween ever other word there. His momma was chef Gordon Ramsey, change my mind. (Spoiler: you won't.)

Haymitch is third in place, which is still high but surprisingly low for him. I feel like Effie would keep him in line with at least half decent manners. Really, it kinda depends on how drunk he is. Sober Haymitch rarely cusses, drunk drunk Haymitch doesn't use any other language, really.

Finnick was fourth. RIP🕊

Gale I feel like would be like one of those people who uses swears to emphasize his point. Like he cusses regularly, but when he's passionate about something he starts kinda fluffing them on, like "That's fucking bad" instead of "That's bad." It has a somewhat 12 year old/frat boy quality to it, like Jojo Siwa. No disrespect, just an acknowledgment.

Katniss would be used to censoring herself due to Prim and just in general being quiet, but after the war when she's tired of keeping up a public image and there's no young ones nearby to hear her, she will make it quite known that she is "out of fucks to give." Honestly?? I think she's that kind of person that won't curse around a new acquaintance for the longest time and then when you finally hear her curse it is a really dramatic "FUCK!" After she cuts herself while skinning a rabbit or something, and you're just really shocked but in that supportive friend way like "Hell yeah!! Be comfortable cursing around me friend!! I will now start cursing to support you!!"

That friend is Delly at number seven.

Number eight we have got Madge. Did got Madge.🕊 RIP girlie, you would've loved 'Good Luck, Babe!' By Chappell Roan.

Prim and Mrs. Everdeen are tied for ninth. They would both have their reasons for not cursing, Mrs. Everdeen being she respects proper manners and was raised to act decent (I think that's even touched on in the books.) I can't imagine she would view cursing as appropriate by any means at all. And Prim would have the wolves clawing at her throat between her mother and Katniss if she even uttered a "Damn." However, when they're working on a dying patient I would think that goes out the windows so slightly, and they'd just start using whatever English comes out of their mouth first without a care what they or anyone else says.

And finally, at number ten, we have the ever so lady like Effie Trinket. Who keeps everyone else in line and absolutely detests foul language. However, like a Southern Baptist grandmother, she would absolutely find the most creative loopholes that would not technically count as swears, but would be said with such hatred and contempt that it would still make everyone pause as if she just screamed "CUNT!" at full volume in a crowded store.

Personally, I think whenever someone curses in the books with some light word like "stinking," that's just Suzanne (or Katniss if you subscribe to my memoir theory,) censoring the actual statement of that characters so thr editors/public wouldn't have a cow. Hijacked Peeta did not use the word 'stinking' in actuality when screaming his head off about Katniss, I'm sorry. I'm going to always believe he screamed the most vile, potential slur about her imaginable that would make everyone shit if it was revealed. But that's just a theory.

very important question.

cursing and THG characters. Who curses. Who doesn't curse? What are their favorite curses? Who is the FILTHIEST and why ISNT it Johanna?

[chainsawworld]

Ok ok where axel became a doctor because ze actually does have some drive to help people pier did it because pier is a mad scientist

[springmagpies]

Guess who finished Catching Fire and is ready to rant again! It's me! This is Part 2 of THIS post! So, here is some of my favorite Peeta Mellark moments from Catching Fire!

Book 2

Favorite: Okay, there are so many favorites. Catching Fire is my favorite book and Peeta is my favorite character so you can imagine that I'm having a tough time picking just one favorite. I think, though, that the scene that sticks out for me the most as my favorite Peeta moment is the one on the beach where he gives Katniss the locket. The fact that he uses his token as a gift for her is just so gentle and so sweet. And I love that he doesn't do it for any sort of pay back or manipulation. He just genuinely loves her and wants to keep her safe. It is also, I think, one of the defining moments for Katniss where she realizes she has feelings for him (in as much as Katniss is able to address those emotions with everything going on). Also, I am adding the scene with the pearl on to this because that just adds to the overall cuteness and generosity that is just Peeta in a nutshell.

Underrated: Okay, many underrated moments. First of all, the painting of Rue. The lead up to this scene is Katniss and Peeta having a conversation about how they are going to kill all of the other Tributes now that they have gotten to know them. Peeta takes Katniss's hands and leans his forehead on them, which in and of itself is just so sweet. And he brings up about how unfair it is that they have to kill anyone. They get on the subject of Rue and it clicks in his mind what he wants his talent showcase to be. He then basically gives the finger to the Capitol by holding them accountable for killing someone so innocent and young and good all while honoring Rue and the other innocent children who have been forced into the games. And he's so sincere about it and when he and Katniss get in trouble with Haymitch and Effie for what they've done in their private sessions, he refuses to back down from it and says he's glad he did it. It's just such an amazing scene that showcases Peeta is just as angry at the Capitol and is just as capable at making a statement.

A few more underrated moments that I won't go on quite as long of a rant about are: him defending Gale at the whipping post, making bread and cookies for Katniss's family, him carrying Katniss princess style up and down the stairs after she hurts her heel and tailbone, and all those soft moments between him and Katniss when they comfort each other. One such moment being after the jabber jay hour where he presses his hand and forehead against the barrier in an attempt to be there for Katniss and then cradling her and reassuring her that her family is safe (and therefore also comforting Finnick who is listening intently and also needs reassurance).

Sweetest: Okay, again I have more than one. One of the sweetest moments (that is also underrated) is the scene between him and Katniss on the rooftop of the Tribute Center the day before interviews. The softness of him sketching her and saying that he's practicing his knot tying when he's really just stroking her hair. And every time they work on the book of plants and he's so methodical about it and Katniss just enjoys watching him work (same girl).

But two other moment that I love so much are ones that I'm not sure if I would categorize as sweet, but more as moving. When he gives the money to Rue and Thresh's families in 11 and the scene where he comforts the Morphling. The scene in District 11 is just so heart wrenching and Katniss's speech after just had me in tears. I always sob during that scene. However, this time I was caught off guard by how affected I was my the Morphling scene. If you want my full rant about that scene you can find that here!

Funniest: Okay, this is both funny, sweet, and makes me cry. The line: "careful, there's a force-field up there." Iconic. Also, him and Haymitch and Prim just covering for Katniss when she's almost caught outside the fence isn't necessarily funny, but the image of him and Haymitch playing chess and throwing around sweets to each other and Prim makes me smile.

Badass: The freaking baby bomb. Talk about iconic. Talk about badass. I love that everyone is trying really hard to get the Games cancelled or at least play into how unpopular they are and cause disruption, and they're all doing really well. However, as much as they add kindling to the fire they don't quite light it. And then comes Peeta with his "if it weren't for the baby" and he doesn't just light the fire, he freaking blows it up. And he's so freaking smart about it and does it in such a perfect way where everyone in the Capitol is losing their collective minds and there are whole riots in the streets and all because Peeta was like "I've got an idea." Also, the fact that it helps with sponsors and gives an excuse for any sort of emotional meltdown that Katniss is experiencing while Snow purposefully targets her and tries to make her look weak just adds to the genius of it. I also love how the minute they get back to their floor Peeta is like "before you say anything, is there anything I need to apologize for?" And Katniss is like "No, you're amazing." Like is genuinely sorry for telling her beforehand because they agreed on being completely honest with each other, but Katniss is just in awe of how brilliant he is and is grateful that she didn't have to overthink anything given she already had enough on her plate. It just shows a) how brilliant Peeta is and b) how great of a power couple they are that together they not only cover each aspect of the Game, but make each other better.

[paintedpeeta]

Peeta is a bit of gossip, not in particularly mean or salacious way, because that's obviously not him, but he just enjoys hearing about all the silly goings on in the town and coming home to tell them to Katniss who just rolls her eyes and says he's insatiable. He'd never go around telling anyone else things he's picked up because he's a good egg and after everything he's been through he has respect for other people's privacy so he just tells her. but I think it brings a sense of normality for him to see and hear about life going on and that's why he low key partakes in it

lol part of everlarks brand for me is that they’re both a lil gossipy, especially when they get together 💀 (like katniss making fun of the career kids names, the pair of them imitating effie in the cave, the conversation before the quell where they basically call the other tributes a freak show) and i love that for them.

like you can’t tell me that peeta doesn’t hear things in the bakery and make a note in his head to tell katniss, and that night in their bed they sit and laugh and laugh at the silly feuds and pieces of gossip going around the district. there’s nothing particularly nasty in it, they’re just having fun and besides - they were probably the topic of the conversation throughout the entire country for a good few years, i think they’re allowed to poke fun at people.

however, i do think he’d be too interested in their own privacy to gossip outside of their household. that activity is strictly between him and his wife, who snorts with laughter when he tells her stuff and demands to know more (she’d like to pretend she’s too aloof to care but deep down she likes to know what’s going on lmao)

katniss then tells haymitch some of the stuff because he finds it just as funny and ridiculous as them and well it would be rude not to keep their good old mentor in the loop

[sameschmidtdiffname]

STOP why didn't I consider this???

Katniss would be thoroughly unnerved by all of his youngest brother shit, like she's secretly panicking after he just comes to bed one night, flops down and curls around his trying to relax wife and just very sweetly requests if she can rock his shit because he's bored. She solicits advice from Haymitch who is just like "Hey idiot, he had siblings" "but I had sibli-" "You were parentified, completely different. Just smack him until he shuts up."

Cuz deadass what do siblings do half the time when they're bored?? Play fight. And Peeta is filled with so much younger brother yippee spirit when Katniss finally agrees to wrestle that his immediate reaction is to just TACKLE her like FULLY expecting her to pick up what to do. She's pinned underneath her canonically thick shouldered, bulky husband just like "what the fuck what the fuck!!!!!" While Peeta is overhead like ":3 I win?"

Long story short, Effie is HORRIFIED one day when she comes to visit and her two favorite babies are just SLAPPING at each other, walking across the house, backed against a wall, catfighting until Katniss climbs Peeta like a squirrel and perches on his shoulders, arms around his throat going "SAY UNCLE!!" while Peeta is just twirling around pawing at her to try and get her off because if there's one tactic he didn't learn, it was how to deal with tiny opponents that can climb, which unnerved him at first. So she absolutely just does it casually until he can just walk around the house with her on his shoulders like a pet. It cures both of their anxious attachment problems like that. Haymitch really wishes it would stop. Effie finds it adorable. This leads the problems when Effie decides they should do it too. (It worked once and he will never admit he climbed her and liked it.)

The mental warfare is a completely other thing, however. Katniss just said the soup thing to be funny. She had no way of knowing there was once a giant debate amongst the Mellark brothers about this exact subject, and the eldest won due to seniority + favoritism amongst their parents who just wanted to them shut up. So Peeta is just sitting there for 40+ minutes staring at the wall he was gonna repaint Everdeen Forrest (a custom shade he created <3) and when Katniss eventually goes "hon?" He just gets up without a word, walks into the study and emerges two hours later with a complete, thorough spreadsheet and presentation on why, how and what qualifies cereal as a soup. (This becomes the great Katniss and Peeta argument post-Mockingjay. The entirety of District 12 finds out about it through their ranting to their friends about how ridiculous the whole thing is, why can't the other just admit I'm right, Effie is considering calling Dr. Aurelius and Haymitch is in the corner like "no-no, I wanna see who throws the first punch") (It's Katniss and Peeta is instant goo once she finally figures out how to pin him properly) (we all saw that slight flicker in his eyes when she pinned him to a wall in THG, he absolutely has a thing for his wife being bossy and physical)

Peeta as the smallest of 3 brothers definitely had to resort to dirty plays like biting in his youth.

First off, you're right and you should say it. Second off, Peeta being the youngest is 1000% a dynamic in his relationship with Katniss once they start to recover.

No bc listen. I was the youngest of three siblings and while we never got into physical fights I learned QUICK how to use my mouth to win what battles couldn't be fought physically because my siblings would 100% go to jail for trying to rock a 3 y/os shit. So Peeta was running his mouth religiously around the household. Can't tell me otherwise. "If it weren't for the baby??" Girl, he was biting AND flappin his lips. 100% would get pinned to the ground by his brothers and be like "wow I feel bad for your girlfriend" before getting his shit rocked. He'll offer them tips inbetween punches. "Aim for the throat. Wow, you're still pathetic."

Second, Katniss is the eldest, Peeta is the youngest in their families. Once they're more secure in their relationship, Peeta is 100% causing fun! problems 24/7. She's stressed the fuck out she's gonna come home one day from hunting again and half the house is repainted with all of the furniture just shoved into one big pile away from the drying walls like "WHY DID YOU DO THIS??" "bored :))" because he's so dangerously intelligent, I'm thoroughly convinced he's a practical fucking moron. He probably had to create his own entertainment as a child, he's used to being ignored. If he gets an idea to rearrange the furniture, he just does it. Katniss and Haymitch both have to intervene with how much this happens because Katniss complained about it to Effie once, and Effie started rambling about this thing called "feng-shui," and now Peeta is completely obsessed and will spend several hours to the point of obsession planning with Effie not just his decor, but literally fucking everyones, and Katniss tried to warn Haymitch "Hey, we need to fucking stop this," and Haymitch just said "get out of my house." But now Haymitch is too sober to deal with the constantly changing furniture, and why is this idiot painting his ceiling, and can you please pick up a hobby that doesn't involve majorly changing the layout of our houses? Peeta says no. Katniss instead comes home to Peeta having several geese chasing him at Haymitchs training. He's been waiting for an excuse to reveal this.

She stops feeling bad for needing his constant comfort once he starts biting her out of boredom. Oh, come on. You can see it. He would absolutely look at her arm one night and go "you look nice :))" before taking a giant fucking bite that makes her question every decision she made from age 16-18. There's a solid minute where they just sit in their bed at a standstill. She's holding her book in shock, he's just frozen still biting her. She says "What the fuck" he says "nostalgia :))" to which she's further confused and slightly terrified. She learns how to duck. He learns how to lure her in easier. Post-canon angst + comfort is cute, give me chaotic Peeta torturing his wife who just wants five minutes of peace but secretly adores her dangerously clever idiot of a husband

Imagine when they have kids. That woman is gonna go from "peetas baby!" To "your child."

He likes tossing the motherfuckers in the air. He's the kinda dad who will take off RUNNING with the shopping cart, shove the thing as far away as he can and just wave "bye bye! :))" to the baby inside of the cart that's laughing wildly while Katniss is just chasing this fucking thing down through the store like it's the quarter quell all over again and everyone else is just watching like "Jesus Christ he's doing it again." It gets worse when Peeta collaborates his children with the attacking geese to use against Haymitch when he tries to prevent him from repainting his ceiling again.

[katnissmellarkkk]

Andddd here’s my chappy three thoughts 🥳🥳🥳

Hmmm Katniss saying that her mother has a dress made of velvet is actually really interesting because it shows that Mrs. Everdeen Lily-Rose really was well-er off before she married Katniss’ father Hunter.

Or did she get the velvet dress from Maysilee? Oh well, who knows.

Aww, Katniss’ nervous habit of touching soft things repeatedly to soothe herself 🤧🤧.

“Crying is not an option. There will be more cameras at the train station.” — someone tell that to Peeta 🤣🤣🤣.

Okay I gotta stop picking on Primmers, I know but like. How small is she that she sits on Katniss’ lap like a toddler but then in the following year is the same height as her? Doesn’t matter I know but still I wonder.

Okay so Mrs. E is the doctor for the people of the Seam? Idk I never thought about this but who does people like Peeta or Madge or Delly go to if they’re sick or hurt? Is there a still running apothecary shop that Katniss never mentions? Are her grandparents still running the family biz?

Also okay, I gotta stop having so many thoughts on all the lil details I know but like. Katniss says here she’s familiar with the herbs her mother doesn’t grow on her own so like a). Katniss is more of a healer than she leads on because no average person knows what kind of plant is medicinal and b). Her mother is just growing herbs and Katniss never mentions it again in the whole series? Or I just missed it.

Okay imma move on from this one singular paragraph but Gale and her made a pact a year ago that they’ll supply each other’s family with game if they were to be reaped... I’m feeling like their close friendship is probably only one year old then? Idk. Just my interpretation.

Honestly I love Katniss getting mad at her mom here.

She’s sixteen, for God’s sake, of course she’s angry at what her mother’s illness put her through.

Also I lowkey like that her mother got mad back because that lady in the movies had zero personality.

“Boys who are two to three times my size.” She sounds so little, omg 🥺🥺🥺.

“I don’t care if we’re rich, I just really want you to come home” 🤧🤧🤧😩😩😩😩 okay Primmers, you got me here.

“the Peacekeeper is at the door, signaling our time is up, and we're all hugging one another so hard it hurts and all I'm saying is ‘I love you. I love you both.’ And they're saying it back...” this is so sad leave me be 😫😫😫😫

Katniss is burying her face in a pillow to block out her emotions this is too much for me 🥵🥵🥵

Omg I forgot Peeta’s father visits Katniss 😅

Why does he visit Katniss?

She describes Peeta’s father as a “big, broad-shouldered man.” And then describes Peeta as stocky. Idk the comparison of the two descriptions has always led me to think Peeta is gonna be a big dude when he grows up like his father. This made no sense and had zero correlation but I thought, so I said it, no regrets

Oh he brought her cookies 🤧

WAIT WAIT WAIT. I just had a new thought, y’all. What if instead of the baker bringing cookies being a thing he does for all tributes, what if he’s bringing the cookies because Peeta asked him to, because he made them and wants to give them to Katniss and knows she’ll never accept / trust them coming from her competition? What if that’s the real reason the baker visited her in the first place? Because Peeta asked him to? This was such a shipper comment but idc, no regrets, remember?

Omg Peeta’s father is just mute 🤣🤣🤣

Between an abusive, angry mother and a mute for a father, the Mellark brothers must have had a fairytale of a childhood 😅😅😅😅.

But seriously #PoorPeetaMyBaby

Aww Peeta’s father is gonna help keep Prim alive 😭

Omg I just remembered he’s her mother’s ex boyfriend. Haidon Mellark, as I named him in my fics.

That one fic where he was thought to be Prim’s real father is just playing now in my head, rent free.

But does Katniss not realize that he may be offering to help Prim as a favor to her? Like she claims Prim is just so wonderful people adore her but there’s like zero evidence in the text that make her endearing? Okay I need to turn this bus around, I need to find a love for Primmy Deen.

Madge is not one for preamble apparently. No “hi, how are you? I’m sorry you’re gonna die? What will your last meal be?” Just right to “here, wear this family heirloom of mine, k thanks.”

I like that Madge had to kiss her cheek for Katniss to realize they were friends 😅😅😅.

I remember always loving her and Gale’s hug here. I’ve always felt like it was platonic, but especially when I first read the books and had zero preference one way or another for Gale or Peeta, I really liked how she said even with nothing romantic between them, “when he opens his arms, I don’t hesitate to go to him” or something I’m paraphrasing ok I’m lazy

Also though, this is the first time they’ve ever hugged? Idk why that surprises me? It shouldn’t because where is a hug gonna fit into a hunting trip 😅🤣😂 “I just caught a deer!” “let’s celebrate with a hug!”

I like that Katniss remembers how her father even failed to make a good bow sometimes. Random, I know.

I like that the Capitol weren’t entertained by the people freezing to deaths because it wasn’t bloody enough 🤭🙃

“How different can it be [to kill a human vs an animal]?” She’s about to find out, Gale 🥺. And when she comes back you won’t understand 🙄😔

What did Gale want to say before the Peacekeepers dragged him away?

I used to think it was a confession of love but I’m actually sure it wasn’t now? Just the wording “remember I-“ doesn’t sound like it, considering he never confessed anything prior to her coming home.

I’m assuming now he was just gonna give her some more advice to stay alive 🤷🏼‍♀️. Clearly if it were relevant it would have made its way to the others books.

Aww, she’s never been inside a car before 😭😭. I didn’t even know they had cars in this universe but okay.

I notice though how she says “In the Seam, we travel on foot.” So is Peeta just riding his trolly down the street every day with the other merchants then? 🤣

Peeta just openly crying on camera 😅😢.

I like how Katniss is like “ooo is this an act to get sponsors?” when in reality Peeta’s like “no, I’m just a soft and genuine boy ™️”

Omg I just realized this totally goes along with Peeta’s thing later on “I want to die as myself”

He’s refusing to hold back his emotions because he thinks he’s doomed to die and he’s already refusing to pretend to be or feel something ingenious.

But a Johanna mention in book 1 chapter 3 woohoo 🥳🥳🥳 also Katniss comparing Jo and Peeta is kind of like foreshadowing of their shared torture in book 3.

Omg she just called Peeta broad-shouldered and strong. 🥰🥰🥰 my headcanon for his post-canon body is confirmed

Also why does Katniss keep allotting his strength to carrying bread trays around? Are they heavy? Why have I never once heard of people who carry bread trays being strong? I always thought Peeta was really strong because he learned to fight in order to defend himself against his mother but that’s probably wrong.

But if a mother is abusive, it can lead to one of the kids being physically violent as well and we know Peeta isn’t but he has two older brothers I’m gonna cut myself off now but I think we all smelled what I just stepped in.

Also I just find it so fascinating now how she regards herself vs Peeta here.

When talking about herself, she says, “The competition will be far beyond my abilities. [...] Oh, there'll be people like me, too. People to weed out before the real fun begins.” But when she talks about Peeta, she immediately says, “It would take an awful lot of weeping to convince anyone to overlook him.”

It’s just funny how she discounted herself right from the start but thought he was a real contender and then come to find out, Peeta believes it’s the exact opposite 😂🙃. They’re both so stupid I can’t even take it.

Wait did they actually give the location of the Capitol and the location of District Twelve in today’s world? And I just overlooked it? Brb I’m gonna go to google maps right quick.

Okay so basically what I gathered is the Capitol is probably in New Mexico and District Twelve is somewhere between Kentucky and Alabama. Irrelevant I know. But just a reminder now to everyone that Katniss and Peeta are literally speaking, crying and screaming in thick, backwoods southern accents.

It’s literally so sad how everything for Katniss is about food. Like every motive she has, every action she does is about preventing starvation ever again. 🤧🤧🤧

First mockingjay mention 🤭🤭.

“My father was particularly fond of mockingjays” 😭😭😭 I bet he was 😭😭😭😭

We always go on and on about how Katniss is a mockingjay or her children are mockingjays but Katniss herself here says mockingjays represent her father imma cry, y’all 😫😫😫😫

“It’s like having a piece of my father with me, protecting me” shut up shut up shut up shut up

Awww, Katniss has never had food like this before 😔😔😔

Neither has Peeta 🤧🤧

Katniss disliking the way Effie put the two kids from the year before down and so began to eat like a pig just to prove her point, is so her. And the beginning of her fighting for the underdog.

Omg the Rue introduction 🥺🥺🥺

Bahahahaha the commenters calling District Twelve backwards but charming 😅😅😅 they really are the hillbilly district

Peeta’s unexpected laugh 🥺🥺🥺 I love you, baby

“He was drunk. He’s drunk every year.” “Every day.” Katniss and Peeta are already finishing each other’s sentiments and teaming up to get on Effie’s nerves I love them so much 😍

Oh my God, Effie, you selfish jerk. They’re kids having fun for like one second, no need to throw in their faces they’re gonna die if the drunk won’t help them. I’d forgotten why I don’t really like the book version of her. I actually prefer her as comedic relief in the movies.

I actually just realized I really dislike Effie Trinket, I hope they never speak to her again Post-Mockingjay. Idc how you’re raised you don’t need to treat teenagers who are sentenced to a probable death badly just because they laughed at you 🙄🙄🙄😡😡😡😡. They didn’t even really laugh at her, she’s just annoying and awful, we don’t stan Effie in this household.

Okay, that’s all for my thoughts on chapter three! Until next time, y’all ! If anyone actually read this long mess of a post.

[captainseaweedbrains]

The Hunger Games Again Ch. 6 Thoughts

I am chugging through finally! Here are my rambling thoughts on chapter 6: 

I remember our Carson’s had a see-through elevator in it and I used to *love* going up and down it as a child. This just reminds me how young and pure Katniss is wanting to ride the elevator again. 

She and Haymitch will be overseeing us right into the arena. In a way, that's a plus because at least she can be counted on to corral us around to places on time whereas we haven't seen Haymitch since he agreed to help us on the train.// I am just imagining these two wandering aimlessly if they were just left in Haymitch’s charge and have a little chuckle

Effie knows everyone who's anyone in the Capitol and has been talking us up all day, trying to win us sponsors.

"I've been very mysterious, though," she says, her eyes squint half shut. "Because, of course, Haymitch hasn't bothered to tell me your strategies. But I've done my best with what I had to work with. How Katniss sacrificed herself for her sister. How you've both successfully struggled to overcome the barbarism of your district." // Similar to the prep team, I cannot help but love her because Effie is just so tone deaf to how she comes off. It's funny. 

what's she basing our success on? Our table manners? // You absolutely know she is, Katniss

I said, and this was very clever of me, I said, 'Well, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls!'" Effie beams at us so brilliantly that we have no choice but to respond enthusiastically to her cleverness even though it's wrong. // It’s stuff like this that endears me and everyone just goes along even though they’re like “wtf. No, idiot.” *wipes tear* You’re so stupid, Effie. I love you.

"But don't worry, I'll get him to the table at gunpoint if necessary." // It is with a curling wand and she is lethal with it

Yo. Sign me up for this instant dryer and hair detangler. I need that NOW. 

A meal presided over by just Effie and Haymitch is bound to be a disaster. // I would pay to see it. And they totally do after the war Yes I am a Haffie shipper Don’t @ me

Katniss, you are not wrong. Sweet wine is the best. 

Haymitch showing up right as the food is coming out is my kind of style. No, I don’t want to socialize. I am here to eat and I need to make that as clear as possible. 

I wonder who’s the unfortunate soul who is stuck cleaning Haymitch up. Do you get paid enough for such a task? Probably not

Last time I mention it, but ughhhhhhhh with the food descriptions. 

Katniss’ reaction to seeing Lavinia warms my heart for whatever reason and then I get sad because it’s connected to sadness

Peeta coming to Katniss’ slightly drunk rescue...What a saint. 

WHAT DID DELLY EVER DO TO YOU, KATNISS? Calling her LUMPY? Part of me wonders, because clearly Peeta is close to Delly as childhood friends and the fact he thinks of her right away despite the two girls looking nothing alike, if there is a tiny itsy bitsy part of Katniss that is jealous of her. Maybe not so much because Delly and Peeta are close (though perhaps…), but I imagine Delly can easily thank people and talk to people and Katniss, bless her caring heart, does not have that natural skill. So there’s bitterness there and Katniss turns that bitterness into unfair slander on my girl. SLANDER. 

Again, can we just talk about how these two work so well as a team? Picking up easily where the other leaves off? Amazing. Brilliant. We stan.

I still have many thoughts on Cinna and the hand holding. Clearly he was working with the rebellion and they were waiting for the right match to set it going. Maybe Cinna was just wiggling his way in and more like opportunity came a knocking? 

When we get to my door, he leans against the frame, not blocking my entrance exactly but insisting I pay attention to him.//Peeta, your popular jock boy self is showing.

Maybe sharing a confidence will actually make him believe I see him as a friend.// I know you don’t fully trust him, Katniss, but your subconscious seems to disagree with you if you’re willing to share anything with him.

I really enjoy how SC does this. She distracts us with the flash and glamor and then swiftly reminds us of the horrors that is Panem and the whole reason Peeta and Katniss are here. So similar to how we handle information today and how the news and government try to change our focus to other things to hide from the big, scary picture.

*cries because they read each other so well and pick up meaning behind what the other is actually saying* 

You do have the sense that we might be under surveillance here. // They are, no worries

Lmao at it just being such an obvious thing that Katniss and her dad hunt(ed). I know the Mellarks trade(d) with them, but still funny. The not-so secret of the district

There was a moment, after the bird call, but before the hovercraft, where the girl had seen us. She'd locked eyes with me and called out for help.// I love when Katniss tells stories of her past. It’s so haunting and somber. Very clear to picture, and the obvious guilt she feels here. Gets me every time. 

Peeta takes off his jacket and wraps it around my shoulders. I start to take a step back, but then I let him, deciding for a moment to accept both his jacket and his kindness. A friend would do that, right? // *weeps* Peeta is such a good egg. A true gentleman. Yes, Katniss, accept his kindness. 

HOLD THE FRONT DOOR. He *buttons* the coat? Peeta is really going all “Last few days of life. We’re just going for it.” 

The 1950s vibe of giving the girlfriend the letterman jacket I feel in this Chile’s tonight

And now begins Terri’s frequent comment about how Peeta Mellark is a rebellious boy by nature and does not get the credit he deserves by helping set the building blocks for Katniss later on in the book/series

Sldkmflm PEETA, YOU ARE SO OBVIOUS. Asking about Gale all ~casually. iS He yoUr CoUsIN??? As if you don’t know. 

Peeta is a really good liar, yes, Katniss. but he would never lie to you

I find it interesting that Peeta flat out says Mr. M probably wanted a daughter, yet in fandom, it’s Mrs. M.. Interesting. 

The idea that I might ever have been discussed, around the dinner table, at the bakery fire, just in passing in Peeta's house gives me a start. It must have been when the mother was out of the room.// Now all I’m imagining is Peeta talking about Katniss to Delly, his confidant, and her just patting his head. 

It seems impolite to say she never mentioned the baker except to compliment his bread // Dang, Mrs. E.. Show us how you truly feel. 

We're at my door. I give back his jacket. "See you in the morning then."

"See you," he says, and walks off down the hall.// 

I know Katniss is going through A Lot right now, but child, pick up your clothes before you shower. 

At least she apologizes. 

But still. 

You don't forget the face of the person who was your last hope. // Honestly, one of the best lines of the whole series. Fight me on that, but it’s so true. 

I wonder if Katniss has anxiety with how her thought process goes with the guilt and her feeling like she’s not good enough, etc..

On to the next chapter!

[fatefought]

there's a mystique about effie trinket. before twelve took home a win during the seventy-fourth hunger games, there were two sides to the coin of effie or at least what would be said about her. haymitch had heard that people found her soft. which she was, in abernathy's eyes. but it was more that she was unfit for her position, but then most capitolites would be. ( fire them all, and strike down the games ! ) the other however was that effie had no qualms to overstep and burrow her heels and hands into the innerworkings of it all. that she did ! haymitch never minded that in particular, especially when she came about at a time he had completely detached. it's only when she made him feel bad that it irked him. after peeta mellark and katniss everdeen made it out of the arena, he's noticed an uptick on escorts trying to be her.

it's funny how uncomfortable both parties were with the physical comfort given from his end. they've done a shit ton more in the past after all. but they never spoke about that, other than haymitch joking that it must have been bad. ( it wasn't. ) but there's a lightness in her thank you, that maybe it wasn't so bad. in return, he gives a swift nod and haymitch's version of a half smile ... something that is just vaguely not a frown. " that isn't new information to me, eff, " he remarks at him being insufferable. and he's sure there were times trinket hated him. his demeanor had been something that may have deprived her of glory, or at least he wondered if she ever felt that. ( there's no glory in the games though, even if city folk think otherwise ! ) drinking surprisingly didn't impact his mentoring ; sometimes it put him in much better spirits to deal with in. instead guilt and depression had been the poison of choice at times when he no longer cared about the outcome of the games.

" it was that obvious, huh ? the boy might applaud you for it. so why bother telling him ? he's a bit of a pacifist. but the girl's been yelling at me non-stop, i can use a fucking break, " ends of lips curl up briefly as he chuckles. it's better than the discomfort ; it's better than when she sounded upset. ( he's seen her yell before, but sadness feels a lot more off-putting to him. ) " we should probably find 'em, if they're not busy feeding each other berries or sneaking off. "

jesus christ, he calls, in the familiar, weirdly religious way twelve has. with what seems to be cotton in her ears, muffling every sound as her senses slowly trickle back to her, she can't read the tone in his voice. he sounds aggravated, she notices, but that's pretty common in their conversations, so she still can't pinpoint what that means. "it's fine," she insists emptily. the disbelief is still there, which she's almost amused by. in all the years she spent hiding sobs into the palm of her hand and dabbing away tears discreetly before he could see, she didn't think she was actually doing that good of a job at hiding it. in fact, she's pretty positive she's heard the rumors going around about how she's too soft for this job. no one in the capitol expected her to last this long as an escort to twelve. now she knows haymitch wasn't the one spreading them. she presses fingertips to her blocked out eyebrows, wills away the headache that threatens to spread over her temples and gives herself another moment to recompose behind her fingers. most of the hold on her throat seems to have eased up by now.

and then he apologizes, or asks a question, she isn't sure, but his hand goes up to her shoulder. as awkward and surreal as it feels, some of the tension in her shoulders does dissipate with it. tightly wound trapeze muscles seem to give out, too tired to hold her shoulders up to her ears for much longer. and then he apologizes again, which makes it sound like he's apologizing for the initial apology, and that's again almost amusing. "thank you," she chokes out with a short nod, equally awkward, her voice sounding much too proper to express the genuine gratitude blooming in her chest. if she had been in front of anyone else when this video played, maybe her night would have a much different outcome. haymitch offered her a safe place to panic, whether he meant to or not, and for that, she's grateful. her hand rises up to fix the fluffy sleeve of her dress that his hand flattened. and then, in an attempt to not look ungrateful for his touch, she reaches out to him, fixes the lapel of his suit for the sake of offering any contact back.

the threat that he might tell others causes her to freeze, but relief dawns on her quickly when he promises to keep it within the district. within their team. "you are insufferable, and i hate you," her eyes dart out, hiding the lie behind them, her lips tugging back in a near smile now that she feels like she can breathe again. her voice is still shaky, and her hands are unsteady, but she can pretend to be fine. it's what she does best. "you just hope that telling katniss will mean she has one more thing to yell at me about, and forget you for a while, isn't it?"

[the-al-chemist]

12, 17 & 24 for Ethel and Jim? 💖

Thank you for the ask, Lily! 💛

12. Where in the world would you most like to travel?

Ethel: answered here

Jim: hmm. Um… well, I’ve always liked the idea of Paris, Rome, and the Netherlands. Paris for - well, in part it’s Héloïse’s old stomping ground, in a way - but mainly because of the, um, art history in these places.

17. What makes you laugh?

Ethel: so many things can make me laugh, be it the japes my sister Selene and I have pulled or the letters we send to one another. Reminiscing about the various adventures of dear, sweet, deceased Alan never fails to amuse both of us. Of course, there’s the antics of my family, the witty repartee of my colleagues at work and old Quidditch teammates, for example, I can’t help but laugh seeing old Cled laugh. A good limerick would do the trick, and the lovely Siobhan knows some excellent sailor’s jokes. If all else fails, there’s Lysander Mercury’s face. Generally, Mercury is laughable.

Jim: oh. Um, I’d say that, my, uh…friends make me laugh, Lys in particular. He’s a card. Héloïse can be, um, funny. In her own way, of course. And I have to admit that Effy and Selly’s antics have, well, they’ve had me in stitches before. Not that I make a habit of telling them this. I don’t like to encourage them.

24. What would you consider to be your main love language?

Ethel: I hadn’t really considered the issue at all before now. I have people who I love - nay, adore wholeheartedly - those that I hold in esteem, and those that I find barely tolerable. However, I am aware that Al just took an online (whatever that means) quiz on my and Jimbo’s behalf. It turns out that my primary love language is quality time, followed by words of affirmation. How droll.

Jim: I’d, um, say French, but I don’t understand it very well. It sounds incredibly pretty though. I, uh, should prefer to spend time with those I love, I think.

Selene belongs to @lifeofkaze, Cled belongs to @that-scouse-wizard, Siobhan belongs to @kc-and-oc and Lysander belongs to @slytherindisaster