haymitch

[polyapathy]

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week 0; saturday post-trial; lounge

[polyapathy]

[Haymitch is predictable, at least. Katy finds him in the lounge, already cracking open a fresh bottle. The carnage from all the fucking murder oh my god is still strewn about and thus difficult to ignore, but at least there's a clean couch. She drops down next to Haymitch and swipes the bottle from him to take a drink.]

This whole gang could do with a fuckin' Puppers, if you ask me. Did you see Nathan come back to life? Twice? What in the good god damn are we dealing with, here?

[Hi. It's been a tough day.]

[oraculi]

And a good evening to you.

[At least he's in a spot that isn't bloody. Probably? He glances behind him just to check, but no, all clear. Mostly clear. It's fine. Instead: he stares blearily over at her, or at least the bottle, and waits before taking it back and sipping again.]

What we're dealing with here, darling, is a big case of reality show fuckery.

Or maybe Nathan's really immortal. Who can say? Does it matter? It's happening. Stop worrying about the why and focus more on surviving it.

[polyapathy]

[She nods, but then gets up for a moment to raid the liquor cabinet for herself. She won't be the one to part a man from his booze in his time of need, even momentarily.]

If this really is, you know, ghosts and shit, the why's important. Or the... how, or...

[The thought never quite finishes. She reclines next to him, sinking into the cushions. Oh, god, she's sticky, because that's right, she's still covered in Nathan's blood. Eugh.

More drinks, first.]

I took your advice.

[oraculi]

Oh, yeah? Which bit?

[What advice had he even given? It's so hard to remember when the warm, golden haze of alcohol beckons him not to think at all, but . . .]

The knife?

[He snorts.]

You even know how to use one of those?

[polyapathy]

Two knives.

[She produces two kitchen knives, one clean and one heavily bloodied, from idk hammerspace. And then gives him a look.]

I was hoping you would. Seems I might be needing a leg up after all.

week 2; monday; deck

[polyapathy]

So... I fucked Monika after the trial.

[She puts her hands up in defense preemptively, because she knows he's not gonna be happy about this.]

I'm in the clear. I don't feel any different, and I'm definitely not possessed.

[She shrugs.]

I thought you should know.

[oraculi]

[He stares at her for a few seconds, at first in shock and then sheer disbelief, and then scoffs as he glances away. One hand rubs over her mouth, and hey! All the tension that had been gone thanks to that swim? Comes back real fast.]

Damn it, Katy-- you ever think that maybe you'd say that even if you were possessed? Or that I wouldn't know if I could believe you?

[polyapathy]

[Oof, she was ready for it, but the look he gives her still slaps her in the face. This wasn't worth it.]

I know. I'm sorry.

[It comes out verging on flippant. It's not intentional, but she's fucked up pretty royally here and it's hard to swallow that.]

But if I was possessed, why would I tell you about sleeping with her?

[She sure hopes that'll be enough because that's about the only defense she has.]

[oraculi]

[That's true enough. There's absolutely no advantage to her having told him, and he clings to that for the moment. What else can he do? Save keep an eye on her and hope to god it's really her telling him all this.]

Fine.

[It's going to take a while for him to stop being upset.]

Was there a point, or did you just decide to say hey, fuck it, this definitely won't backfire! She only kills people one night a week!

week 3; saturday post-trial; haymitch's room

[polyapathy]

[Katy finally shows up at Haymitch's room after she's taken care of a few things, although she realized pretty quickly that she should've just come here. She is not in the mood to be out in public right now. Not after that.

He closes the door behind her, and maybe he's said something or maybe he hasn't, but she's hit her limit. She sinks against the wall until she's sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest—it's a bit painful, sitting like this with her skin still tight from the burns, but it barely registers.

It's not as abrupt this time, the way she breaks. It starts with deep, unsteady breaths, wide eyes, fingernails biting into her palms as she curls in on herself. When the tears come, she buries her face against her arms.

That was too fucking close.]

[oraculi]

[He sighs very softly, because it isn't at her, not at all. Crossing the room, he gathers a thing or two, then comes back, sitting heavily down next to her.

This time, he doesn't speak. Words aren't his strongest suit. Ideas are, and he can be bluntly to the point, but delicate situations like this? It's why he and Katniss suited each other. Neither of them knew what to say, but they at least understood one another.

Instead: he leans over, til they're pressed up against one another, thighs and hips and shoulders. And he throws an arm over, heavy and solid, pulling her in against him.]

[polyapathy]

[She tenses as his arm wraps around her, not because he's done the wrong thing, but just the opposite—this is what she needs, and he just knows, and it's exactly what Wayne would do, too.

She lets him pull her against him, readily pressing in to cling to his chest and nestle her head under his chin. He's warm, which is nice despite the stinging in her burns, and she takes a long few moments to just listen to him breathing, letting it soothe her.]

Do you have any idea how fucked I'd be if you weren't here?

[oraculi]

You'd be fine.

[It's not comforting, but it's not meant to be. Just a statement of fact.]

You think I was ready when I was sixteen? Please. You woulda broken my nose the second you met me. But people adapt. They learn. They either step up or they die, and I promise you, Katy, as somebody who's seen a lot of the latter: you'd survive.

week 4; tuesday evening; library

[polyapathy]

[Hey there, Haymitch, you've got a shadow.

Katy's been looking all over for this asshole, and the library was kind of the last place she thought to look? But, hah, found 'im, and she's sneaking over to lounge dramatically on one of the couches before he notices her.

Well, okay, here's the thing: She'd put money that he knows she's there since she's like lowkey convinced he's actually a wizard, given how he knows everything all the time, but she's trying. Let her live out her smug bitch dreams, because that's deffo what she is right now. Smug as shit.]

I learned something neat today.

[oraculi]

[The Great Gatsby, as recommended by Beck, is sort of interesting, but not wildly so, so he isn't so sorry to put it down. Does he look shocked as she drops in? No. Had he heard her? Yes. But he won't rub it in. He's just amazing like that.]

Oh, yeah? What's that?

[polyapathy]

Well, you know how Edelgard and Escha have the exact same role? I was thinking about that, and I figure we've got two options: One, we've got doubles on some roles, or two... Escha died, and now Edelgard's on the scene. Could be that Edelgard's picking up where Escha left off.

[oraculi]

[Oh, that's a good point. There's more than one person per role, he knows that, so it might not be true, but . . . shit, why not? That's a real powerful thing to be able to give someone. Maybe one's more than enough.]

Could be. But I wouldn't rely on it if Edelgard kicks it this week.

week 4; saturday post-trial; projector room

[polyapathy]

[She's got his number this time. All she has to do is peek into the movie theater to confirm the projector's been turned around. You're not that sneaky, bud!

Was he trying to be sneaky? Jury's out, but she's going to assume he was, because that means she's bested him.

Anyway, hey pal, here comes Katy, dragging a very full duffel bag through the door, on top of which is piled like an entire linen closet's worth of pillows and blankets. Where did she get this??? Idk she'll put it back after the pc, sue me.]

Hey.

[Give her a sec to finish dragging all this crap in, but in the meantime, she hands him half of a pot brownie. Here's hoping he didn't have further plans for the evening.]

Catch up.

[And then she's replicating his move with the chair under the doorknob. Everyone go away!!]

[oraculi]

[He laughs softly, absurdly amused despite himself. That's his girl. He'll happily eat that brownie, popping it into his mouth and eating it in two quick bites. He then sits back, watching her as she sets it all up however it is she wants to set it up.]

You're getting to know me pretty well.

[polyapathy]

Hold your applause, big shoots.

[She dumps the blankets and whatnot into a heap on the floor, since their use is pretty self-explanatory, and then opens up the duffel bag. Inside, it's... more blankets, but also, she unpacks a big bag of trail mix (WHICH SHE MADE HERSELF AND IT'S THE BEST AND IT'S WHAT SQUIRRELY DAN APPRECIATES ABOUT HER), that fancy bottle of bourbon from the gift shop, and... Hm.]

Don't start. I just wanted the candy.

[There's also like other snacks and shit in the bag, like idk pretzels, but those are the main draws. She slides him the bourbon as she tears open the panty packaging. Time to spend the rest of the night munching on a g-string.]

[oraculi]

[He doesn't start because he doesn't have to start. Just stares up at her, a little smirk on his face, eyebrows raised as he examines those panties.]

Well, well.

[Drawled out, but he trades her the panties for the bourbon.]

If you wanted me to eat off you, Katy, you only had to ask. Didn't have to lock me in here.

week 5; saturday post-trial; deck

[polyapathy]

[I want them to be on the deck this time, so. Have a dart, Haymitch. Katy is! They can share because cigarette sharing is my kink.]

Edelgard's in love with me.

[Over a cookie, but, still, :)!]

[oraculi]

[It's not as if he didn't notice the occasional look or comment, but it's one thing to vaguely notice it and another to hear it out loud like that, like a fact. So yes, he coughs, pulling the cigarette away to glare down at her.]

You're not funny.

[polyapathy]

[She sighs very dramatically, leaning against the railing.]

What's the matter, poopy pants? We got another one.

[She... has some feelings about the fact that it's Catra, but. It's not really Catra.]

[oraculi]

We're close to the end, Katy.

[He has some feelings that it wasn't either of them, frankly. No offense to Catra.]

But it's the last stretch that's most dangerous.