Life, Love And Playing Games

[slowlydrowning]

[Her stylists managed to corner her long enough to gloss her over and shove her into a pretty little blue and green dress, but the air here in the Capitol is so much thinner and cooler than she's used to that she's shivering despite the warm evening. She's sitting along on the steps of the Training Center, staring at the sky.]

I hate this place.

[There are people around. She isn't talking to any of them in particular. But she isn't worried about them overhearing her. Just a crazy girl talking to herself....]

Comments

[nofunandgames]

I...

[He tried to find a way to say this without getting either of them in trouble. It showed more of the Capitol then on Annie's sanity that she was considered in the wrong for not being able to handle watching the slaughter of children.]

I don't think you should be too hard on yourself. It's a hard thing to watch.

[slowlydrowning]

[She shrugs; believes that he is just trying to be nice, which she appreciates to some extent.]

A hard thing to go through, too.

[She wishes she could remember who he was. A past victor. Not all that much older than Finnick she didn't think. District 10. Missing an eye. Surely that should ring some bells. But she can't remember the last time she was able to pay attention to anything related to the Games.]

Did you have many sponsors in your own game?

[nofunandgames]

Yeah...yeah it is.

[He tried not to remember that, though. Glancing over, he shakes his head.]

Not many. But enough when it counted.

[He isn't sure if he should press her about anything, even particularly light subject, from her games. He remembers it well enough, anyway.]

[slowlydrowning]

I just... worry, you know? I'm supposed to... talk to them. Sponsors. Help my tributes. Give them what they need.

How can I, when I can't even watch?

I....

[She feels like crying. More out of frustration with herself than anything else right now. ]

Finnick told me not to worry about it. That he can handle it all. But he shouldn't have to....

[She instantly regrets even saying Finnick's name, and stops herself in the middle of her thought. She doesn't like talking to strangers about Finnick. It seems dangerous for reasons she can't quite put her finger on.]

[nofunandgames]

[Elias chews all this over for a moment, looking again over the colorful, bustling people before them.]

So let him watch. Let him lead. Tell him you'll do the most you can, and that you trust him to call you for what's needed.

[slowlydrowning]

[She nods as though she agrees. She doesn't. Bust she doesn't know how to express how frustrating it is to feel so useless.]

I do trust him.

[She can say that much with flat, honest certainty at least.]

But, not to ask me for help. He does so much to protect me. Always tries to handle things on his own.

[nofunandgames]

You think he'll try to do it all himself to protect you?

{Elias couldn't really blame him.]

[slowlydrowning]

[The smile she gives is soft, thoughtful. It is not hard to tell that her thoughts are of something dear. Precious. She knows she should probably try and hide that better.]

That's... how he is.

[nofunandgames]

[He nodded. It made sense, with everything he had heard. Reaching out, he patted one of her hands gently.]

Maybe it's better that way?