#she is OBSESSED with peeta in the sunlight

[thegreenthepeacetheorange]

three times katniss talks about peeta completely normally in catching fire

I watch as Peeta crosses to the table, the sunlight from the window picking up the glint of fresh snow in his blond hair. He looks strong and healthy, so different from the sick, starving boy I knew in the arena, and you can barely even notice his limp now. 

I hadn't thought about it much, but in the arena at least some of the boys got to keep their body hair whereas none of the girls did. I can remember Peeta's now, as I bathed him by the stream. Very blond in the sunlight, once the mud and blood had been washed away. 

I like to watch his hands as he works, making a blank page bloom with strokes of ink, adding touches of color to our previously black and yellowish book. His face takes on a special look when he concentrates. His usual easy expression is replaced by something more intense and removed that suggests an entire world locked away inside him. I've seen flashes of this before: in the arena, or when he speaks to a crowd, or that time he shoved the Peacekeepers' guns away from me in District 11. I don't know quite what to make of it. I also become a little fixated on his eyelashes, which ordinarily you don't notice much because they're so blond. But up close, in the sunlight slanting in from the window, they're a light golden color and so long I don't see how they keep from getting all tangled up when he blinks. 

(every time she describes him, which is often in this way, it's like in a romcom or movie where the hero steps in and he's bathed in some sort of otherworldly glow so we know that THIS is the person, this person bathed in golden light.)

[peetapiepita]

Katniss and Peeta's mutual obsession with each other's hair is so cute.

Katniss describes how Peeta's hair sparkles in the sunlight and brushes his hair out of his eyes multiple times throughout the books. Actually, I think she does that in every book.

Peeta on the roof of the training center thinking this is the last normal day of his life and chooses to fiddle with Katniss' hair, claiming he's practicing his knots. He also brushes Katniss' hair from her forehead quite a few times.

I vaguely remember there's a fanfic where Prim says Katniss is obsessed with Peeta's hair. I'm sorry I can't give credit. But she's not wrong!

[cataclysmicrp]

HEATHER LEVESQUE | 78TH HUNGER GAMES VICTOR | TAKEN

TRAITS:

+ Determined, Observant, Resourceful - Perfectionist, Bears Grudges, Prideful

BIOGRAPHY:

TW: Death

Heather was popular as a child, at least amongst the people of her zone in 11. She had a remarkable set of talents that drew the attention of many. Her singing and dancing captivated other children, teachers, even a few Peacekeepers. She was showered with attention and sometimes even gifts, from the few who could afford them. However, this made her arrogant, and when she started school, she had few friends. Her constant companion was a girl named Elayne, who had short, cropped hair. They’d been friends ever since they were in diapers and she was the one to knock some sense into Heather so that she would stop queening over everyone. After that, she gained more friends, though she wasn’t as popular as she was before.

Her parents shielded her from the existence of the Hunger Games as long as they could. Evading questions about people disappearing, or why Cousin Jerome never came around anymore. However, when Phoebe turned 12, her parents decided to tell her. As she was just 7, she had just started school and hadn’t learnt about the Dark Days or the rebellion just yet. However, the night before Phoebe went to sign up for her tesseraes, her parents did their best to explain what the Hunger Games were, and how Phoebe might be involved. Heather didn’t really understand the concept of death, but she knew she didn’t want her sister to be taken away from her forever. That night, she crawled into Phoebe’s bed and snuggled into her arms. “You can’t go away. You’re staying here with me forever,” she murmured, deciding that she would fight anyone who would dare lay a finger on her sister. Ever since then she had always dreaded Reaping Day. She always held her breath as she prayed that the name on the paper was anyone’s but Phoebe’s. It never was. Even after being told about the Hunger Games, her parents forbade her from watching it. She was sent out of the room whenever it played on the TV, and she was instructed to not watch the TVs at school when they played it during the breaks. For a while, she dutifully followed their orders. However, it all changed when the 74th Hunger Games came. Everyone at school was talking about it, so were her parents and her sister, though they would always change the subject whenever she came into the room. Curiosity got the better of her and she demanded Elayne to tell her what was so special about that year’s games. After that, she watched the games obsessively, at school or at the village square. This was a chance to change their lives. This might be it. She could do it.

When Katniss and Peeta came to 11 during their Victory Tour, she knew that they were telling them to stand up and fight. They were telling them that they couldn’t sit quietly anymore. Their lives were not just the Capitol’s play-things. They were not Snow’s play-things. Rue’s life must not be in vain. When the Third Quarter Quell was announced, Heather was more than devastated. She was angry. How dare he try to take their hope away from them. Anyone could see that the Third Quarter Quell was Snow’s last-ditch attempt to quell the uprisings. But he would fail. That was for sure. The people were angry, and they were ready to fight. He was powerless when Katniss lit the spark, for the flames spread too fast and too far. The Mockingjay’s fire empowered all of them, giving them courage and chasing away their fears. They would stand. They would fight. And they would succeed.

Her parents, angry as they were, knew that they had to prioritize their children first. They did not fight back directly, however, they did help the revolution in small ways. Her father helped sneak food to District 13. Her mother, though small and meek, bravely stood up against the Peacekeepers when they went after the small children in the village. Phoebe helped cover for other workers when they snuck off to strategize and carry out plans. Heather used her talent for climbing trees to look out for Peacekeepers, whistling specific tunes to warn others to get back to work when she saw them approaching. Throughout the whole rebellion, she stayed in District 11, protecting her home and the ones she loved.

Or so she thought.

She was so stupid. She was so naïve. She was a complete idiot to think that Coin would change things. Coin took them in completely, promising equality and peace. She promised them a better life, but all she wanted was Snow’s power. She was good at keeping up her façade though. She provided medical care, more food, and clean water to 11. She helped rebuild their homes that were ravaged by war. She seemed so kind. She justified the Capitol Games as revenge, the Victors Games as a safety measure. At first, it seemed smart. In hindsight, it was such an obvious sign that Coin was just securing her position. Back in 11, Heather could see the weariness come back in people’s faces as she walked around in town. They knew they had made a mistake. But now, they didn’t have the power nor the courage to fight back. District 13 had come up with most of the operations, and provided them with the weapons. The Mockingjay had given them hope. They knew, they knew, but no one said anything. How could they? The Peacekeepers, of whom many were from 13, were still in 11, spying on them, making sure they were still loyal to Coin. District 13 had infiltrated every part of their homes, their lives. It was welcomed at first, but back then they were on the same side. Now though, now, Heather could see that things had changed, in the hardened gaze of the once-friendly Peacekeeper Bruce, and the hopelessness in eyes of her teacher Ms Honey, who had helped fight in the riots and a missing hand to prove it. When Coin announced the return of the Games, everyone cried, but no one was really surprised. Their lives retuned to as they were before. Before the fire still burned hot in people’s hearts. Before the girl on fire lit the flame. Before Katniss Everdeen pulled out those berries out of love, and only love.

When Heather turned 12, her parents forbade her from taking any tesseraes. However, the year after she had to take them, lest her family starve like they did the previous year. The year after, she took the tesseraes again, only this time, this time she wasn’t as lucky.

She remembered the stillness of the world seconds after her name was called. It was as if time had stopped. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. Then a shriek pierced the silence. “No! NO! You can’t take her! Please!” Towards her right, she saw a scuffle break out as Peacekeepers held her sister back. “Take me! Take me instead!” But they couldn’t. They couldn’t take her because she was 19 now and she couldn’t go and so Heather had to go Heatherhadtogoshehadtoleaveshewasgoingtodie- Clenching her jaw, Heather marched up the podium, resolutely ignoring her sister’s cries and her parents’ quiet sobs. Her heart pounded as she stood stock still on the stage. She could barely register what was going on around her, but something pulled her out of her head. A name called. His name called. She bit her lip as her best friend’s brother, Evan, took his place beside her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two burly Peacekeepers tackle Elayne to the ground as they had done to Phoebe. After that, she kept her eyes on the ground until they were out of the public eye.

That year, the tributes were greeted with a desert wasteland. The dry cracks in the ground suddenly made her own mouth feel dry and parched. The sweltering heat from the white sun beat down her. Heather had already started sweating in her tight shirt and leggings. The cornucopia glinted blindingly in the sunlight in the middle of the circle of tributes. The space between the tributes and the cornucopia was strewn with weapons, supply packs, and most importantly, water. Four one-gallon bottles of water stood right at the mouth of the cornucopia. Small one litre bottles of water were scattered around elsewhere. From what Heather could see, there were only three measly bottles. The moment the gong sounded, Heather snatched up the bag closest to her and tried to grab one of those few precious bottles of water, but another tribute shoved her out of the way and ran off with it. Knowing the Careers would be after her, she quickly scrambled to her feet and ran as far as she could away from the cornucopia. The flat expanse of sand and dirt provided no cover from anyone at all. All she could do was to keep running. Fortunately, she was a fast runner and about two hours later, she couldn’t see any other tributes around her. As she ran, she noticed the scenery changing slightly. Bigger rocks began to appear more frequently, and she had to watch her step. After inspecting some of the rocks for water, she found an entrance leading to an underground tunnel. There were tunnels running below the surface and the entrances were concealed by strategically placed rocks. Small underground ponds were the only other sources of water. However, vicious rats and giant scorpions ran rampant in the tunnels. Pits of quicksand were spread throughout the whole arena both above and underground. Heather survived by being stealthy enough to follow the rats to sources of water. Within the first week, half of the tributes were dead due to dehydration. By then, the Careers had also hunted down several tributes, increasing the death count. By the second week, only four Careers, Heather and Evan were left. Heather had not encountered Evan at all in the arena. Back when they were in training, she had thought that he would want to be allies, but he never brought it up, and so neither did she. She didn’t want them to be the last two anyway. Maybe one of the Careers might kill him or herself before they were forced to fight each other. Heather knew that the Careers were hunting her down, so she got herself ready for it. When they found her, she led them down a tunnel she had concealed beforehand. Some areas of the tunnel were completely covered in quicksand, but as she had scouted the area before, she knew where to step. Unfortunately, the Careers did not. With the Careers stuck in the quicksand, she threw knives at them while hidden in the shadows. She didn’t wait to see if the knives had killed them completely, escaping through another tunnel. Later that day, she heard three cannons. Not even a day after, the Gamemakers sent giant serpents after the remaining three, Heather, Evan and the girl from 2, forcing them into a small tight cave with a dead end. A minute later, Evan’s torch, the only source of light, died, and they were plunged into complete darkness. Heather had a torch in her bag but she was too afraid to let her guard down for even a second in the dark. Blindly, she stabbed her dagger at anything and everything. She had just driven her dagger hard into something when suddenly, the hissing of the snakes stopped. She could hear two people breathing heavily, but she didn’t sense any movement around her.

“Heather,” a familiar voice rasped. Her head turned towards the source of the sound. Quickly, she tore her torch out of her bag and shone it towards her right. Evan was lying on the ground in front of her. Only. Only. Only there was a dagger sticking out of his belly. Her dagger.

Heather’s victory in the Games was no victory at all. She won by killing her best friend’s brother. Coin might as well kill her too; she didn’t want to live anymore.

Heather became a shell of what she once was. She turned mute. The only times she talked were in her sleep. Nightmares haunted her for months after the games. Her eyes, once bright and alert, had turned a dull black. She didn’t seem to see or register what was going on around her. Her body seemed to cave in on itself. Her passionate spirit had been completely extinguished. She couldn’t feel, wouldn’t feel. Because feeling meant acknowledging that she killed him. She killed him. And so she went numb. She didn’t know how to face she could face anyone when she got back to 11 during her Victory Tour. She didn’t know if she could face Elayne. When she was presented to her district as the Victor, there was no cheering, no shouting. Everyone looked so, so tired. There was no revolution. Year after year they would have to send their children to die because they failed. Her family left her alone. They couldn’t imagine what she was going through. They brought her food, made sure she was clean, and tried to make her life as comfortable as possible. Heather felt like a prisoner trapped within her own mind. She felt like she was just waiting for death to come take her. Preferably sooner rather than later. However, after months in solitude, she grew more and more antsy. How was it possible to feel both alive and dead at the same time? It was a sickening feeling, with the desire to get out and run away burning through her veins, only to be stopped by her sluggish limbs. Heather desperately wished she was back in the orchards of District 11. High up in the trees, with the mockingjays as her only company. Singing freely and then hearing the same melody repeated and overlapped again and again. The cold wind blowing across her face and the enticing smells of pine and cinnamon and cloves and-

She stopped her train of thought before she could start bawling again.

Faceclaim: China Anne McClain