#Like I love everlark

[tiffany-smith]

Is it just me or does Katniss always saying she can't do without the "boy with the bread" just... a trauma response?

Like I totally agree that she also loves him, that it's thematically relevant to the message Suzanne Collins was trying to convey, and so on... it's a good match...

But I definitely read there being at least a little trauma response in her NEEDING him like that.

She almost starved to death and he rescued her. She even has a permanent connection between him and the idea to go hunting to sustain her family.

In her psyche, Peeta is her savior. Of course she needs him. Of course she clings to him in life-and-death situations, when she's afraid, etc. Of course "it was always going to happen."

Gale said once, "the only thing I had going for me was that'd I could protect your family." (Paraphrased)

But Peeta, indirectly, at least in Katniss's view, has done all that and more. Katniss would never even have MET Gale if it wasn't for Peeta.

Perhaps it's just the canon explanation for an IRL predetermined outcome, but the role of trauma in Katniss' psyche deserves to be talked about.

[jjadmanii]

experiencing the hunger games renaissance through twitter for the first time is so beautiful

[danyllura]

Katniss in the first book is so funny because beyond her being absolutely wrong in nearly every assumption she has of Peeta. Every other chapter she’s like “two can play that game” about him being deceptive and then she utterly fails at it. 

[motherhenna]

Blaming everyone on my dash for making me obsessed w THG and Everlark again goddamn y'all

[madeofjules]

I'll never agree with the short Peeta/tall Katniss takes because their canonical sizes are both narratively and thematically relevant.

Peeta's medium height and stocky build give him the size and strength to overpower most of his competitors in the arena, yet he rarely uses those traits to hurt people despite being in circumstances that encourage violence. Having the power and motive to be deadly and choosing to be kind instead is what defines Peeta's character.

Katniss's small size generally puts her at a disadvantage in the Games but she's still very deadly. I like that she's earned the skills (bow and arrow, hunting) and survivor mentality that make her a formidable tribute because she's not supposed to be this naturally gifted "chosen one" type figure. She's a regular teenage girl who has some special qualities but still needs a lot of help to win the Games.

Their size difference is also relevant in their relationship. Katniss has had to take care of herself since she was a young girl because of her mother's neglect, and as a result she doesn't trust other people to protect her. She's understandably mistrustful of Peeta's kindness when they become tributes, as one of them has to die for the other to live and he has the ability to kill her with his bare hands if he wants to (which we see later on when he's hijacked). Yet once they become allies, his larger size is no longer a potential threat but a source of comfort and protection; being held by him is the safest Katniss has felt with anyone since her parents held her as a little kid. And after they leave the arena, his strong arms are the only ones she trusts to guard her from her nightmares.

So even though I do think short guy-tall girl couples deserve more rep, it doesn't really make sense for Peeta and Katniss. And tbh viewing the gentle and compassionate boy as short and the tough hunter girl as tall is a little stereotypical lol.

[petalsonthemoonligh]

Katniss after Peeta’s hijacking: He’s gone. Whatever was between us is gone. We’re over.

Also Katniss whenever HijackPeeta! hits on another girl: back the FUCK UP, blue eyes. You’re still my man, you can’t have eyes for another girl.

[homosherb]

[shinynewmemories]

The Everlark quote that is eating holes in my brain at the moment is:

"I have the pearl, though, secured in a parachute with the spile and the medicine at my waist. I hope it makes it back to District 12. Surely my mother and Prim will know to return it to Peeta before they bury my body."

Just. Gosh. All the things the pearl represents and how immediately it became her most treasured possession because Peeta gave it to her. But also. The fondness. The anguish. The way she plans for Peeta to have a piece of her to keep forever. The dramatic scene she pictures of her family (ft Peeta) grieving at her funeral. The statement that "SURELY" her mother and sister will understand the weight, the SIGNIFICANCE of the pearl and simultaneously acknowledge the depth of Peeta's loss in the midst of their own. The fact that she expects her mother and her sister to NOT ONLY accept that she chose to die so Peeta could live BUT ALSO TO CARE FOR HIM AFTER HER DEATH. Ugh it's so much all at once and I am in agony

[atelierlili]

Sorry not sorry, anytime I see someone say Peeta's childhood crush as obessive/creepy, I can tell they're reaching so hard or projecting. Because Peeta's crush on Katniss is literally so normal. He never acts on it until they're placed in a life or death situation and he only weaponizes it as a tool to keep HER alive. Peeta's affection for Katniss, is and has always been unconditional and innocent. It's so ick when people twist it into something it's not to perpetuate their narrative.

When he realizes that Katniss doesn't reciprocate his affections and may feel burdened by his affections, he put so much distance between him and Katniss that she admits to missing him and HE gets criticized by most of the fandom for freezing her out.

He has always been respectful to Katniss’s autonomy and respects her boundaries. Is he overly self-sacrificing and have little self worth? Yes, but in comparison to red flags in a partner, this is barely one at all. He’s not abusive at his own volition. Doesn’t guilt her for not liking him back or continuing their lover’s facade to keep their families safe. His flaw is workable and it’s never something that can harm Katniss physically or mentally (at least for the most part). And this is not to mention that Katniss shares these flaws as well.

At the same time, these examples of his self-sacrificing nature are placed within contexts where once again, Katniss and Peeta are planning to die for each other again. Where Peeta is doing the ruthless calculus of war and knowing in the grand scheme of things, his death will have less repercussions than Katniss’. He doesn’t have people relying on him to live. He’s not the one the rebellion is using as a symbol.

“Oh, but he used to watch her go home everyday-“ no. That’s what the movie said in that abysmal cave scene. Even if that were the case, it’s not like he’s stalking her- they go to the same school?? Some people act and cling to this instance as if he’s following her home and stealing her panties. All he’s ever done is watch her (and saved her life) and guess what??? Katniss was watching him too? She’s been taking sneak peeks at him too (oh, he can lift heavy bags of flour so easy, he came in second in the wrestling tournament. 🤨 Giirrrrrl) so I guess their both creepy and obsessive for each other. Match made in heaven 🤷‍♀️

[nightlocked-in]

“peeta is bisexual” you guys are losing the vision. peeta isn’t even straight. katniss INVENTED sexuality for him. whatever katniss identifies as, he’s like “yeah, i’ll take that one” no questions asked

[notsocooljess]

i think my favorite not-explored-enough detail from Mockingjay is how after Katniss breaks down when she is reunited with Buttercup, she falls asleep on her sitting room floor but later wakes up in her bed.

i just imagine Peeta tagging along with Greasy Sae and her granddaughter to eat with Katniss for dinner, and they walk inside and see her laying on the floor, unconscious, her features red and puffy from crying. they see Buttercup curled up near her (but not next to her, since he’s still a little weary from the thrown pillows). the two of them exchange a brief look, and with no words said, Greasy Sae offers Peeta a nod and walks herself and her granddaughter home.

Peeta steps closer to her, noticing that she washed herself and changed her clothes from when he saw her earlier in the day. he silently studied her features. then, as gently as he can, he scoops her up into his arms and carries her upstairs to her room with Buttercup, awoken from the movement, trodding at his feet. he tucks her into bed, wanting to stay but knowing he shouldn’t. he gives her hand a gentle squeeze and goes home.

the next morning, he and Sae show up for breakfast. they don’t mention how her face looks puffy from fresh tears. they know this means she’s finally trying to heal.

[literallymikewheeler]

can we please talk about how clueless PEETA was??? like.... katniss dropped the line "i do. i need you." and bro literally thought "wow! shes such a great actress.... i wish she liked me :("

[madeofjules]

Katniss: "This fake relationship with Peeta is such a burden to me. I know he's in love with me but I wish he'd stop acting like it because it makes me feel guilty and awful."

Also Katniss, when Peeta doesn't act like the most perfect, loving, devoted boyfriend:

[disgurrr]

I love how both Peeta and Katniss fulfill the void left by their mothers. Peeta’s mother (hate that witch) never believed in him and abused him to the point where Peeta felt like his life was not worthwhile. Nobody ever came to his rescue or prioritized his life over their own. And here comes this beautiful, strong young girl, who does everything in her power to make sure he comes back home. Who adores him so much that she believes he will be such a wonderful father.

Katniss was emotionally abandoned by her mother. She wallowed in starvation and grief, and here came this beautiful, kind-hearted boy. Who took a beating so he could feed her. Who saw the good in her, who took care of her without expectations of returning any favor. His gentle, kind soul touched hers so much that she believed she could be loved and was wonderful. Her absent mother whom she no longer could bear her touch, but when Peeta smoothly comforted her, it reminded her of that maternal touch.

They both fulfill that maternal love left by their mothers. And that is so beautiful for these two kids.

[maadilin]

we became team peeta and anti team gale when peeta said "it's not fair to hold you for the things you said in the games. you said them to survive. you saved us."

that is the difference between peeta and gale. peeta went through them with her, and understands it was to keep them both alive. gale may not have seen it, but he basically refused that katniss said it was an act.

you picked the right man, good job katniss.

[thegreenthepeacetheorange]

Correct me if I’m wrong but through the entire hunger games trilogy, the only person to literally say the words “I love you” is Gale.

Katniss and Peeta don’t ever say these words to each other or to anyone else (like Prim, Mrs Everdeen, Haymitch etc.). I think Katniss at one point in book 1 says she’s sure that Prim is possibly the only person she loves. Peeta says he knew when he was a goner for her in the first book and because they’re “playing” at love, Katniss from then on talks about how Peeta loves her. There’s a bit towards the end of the first book, right as Katniss is thinking of the poison berries, where she talks about Peeta talking about how much he loves her but we don’t actually hear him say it, she just recounts it in her sort of daze. But neither of them say the words “I love you” to each other (or others).

But yet, we know at every turn that Peeta and Katniss love each other and care so deeply about each other. They don’t need to say the words because it’s understood, often through actions and also Katniss’s internal thoughts. We also can tell that they love the people around them, their families, Haymitch, Gale, Finnick etc. We don’t need to hear them say they words “I love you” to know that they love these people and each other. And at the end of Mockingjay, the “You love me. Real or not real?” moment let’s us know that Peeta is not asking her to say those words to him. He’s asking her to confirm something he already knows to be true.