ataraxion | video ||

[Johanna flicks on the video with a glare. The room around her is dark; the screen lights her face from below. When she speaks, her voice is a little rough and hoarse, like she's been shouting a lot, very recently. (She has.)]

Hi, friends. [She bites out the word.] Just a little message for you all. You've all gotten really comfortable on this hunk of junk you're calling a ship--or what's passing as a ship-- [And she manages a little smirk at that--] --which, come on, it's crap. But I get it, it's not yours. You're all just prisoners here, it did some horrible things to you... yeah.

And that's where this comes in.

[She holds up her arm, where her tattoo is clearly stamped out, fresh and new.]

See this thing? This isn't a fashion accessory. This is bullshit. The last time someone shoved something in my arm and told me to smile and get on with my life, I didn't put up with it. I'm getting this thing out of myself, and if any of you have any sense--you'll do the same. You wonder how they get to you? It's things like this. But I'll bet you already knew that.

Well, fuck that. Fuck all of it. I'm not doing that again.

You want us to join up and help you run this ship? --Or resist this ship, or fight whatever you think is here? Here's my offer. First person that tells me how to get this thing out of my arm without dying, I'll join whatever they're running. And you want me on your side.

[JOHANNA OUT.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Smaller numbers just mean a more exclusive club.

People really think they're going home?

But I'm shifting my focus. I might find some other arm to chop off.

Sorry. You don't get to decide if you're an option or not. Guess who does?

Depends. Do you have any other fun activities? How do you show a girl a good time around here?

I can think of a couple ways to answer that question and they either end up with you losing the ability to walk straight or not being able to get up the next morning.

[ take that as you will ]

[A brief pause for thought.]

I'll take one of each.

Well, then I might just have to give you a tour.

Ooh. 'Might' isn't a word girls like to hear. But what choice do I have, I guess, except to wait around for you.

Anyway, it's not like I have anything better to do. Except the arm thing.

I never said I was trying to woo you.

So what's it gonna be. Chop your arm off and then have your entertainment? Or the other way around. I'll leave it entirely up to you, no pressure.

You didn't.

[And she sighs, like she's hard-pressed to make this choice.]

Entertainment first. If it's good enough, maybe I won't even need to chop my arm off.

Victor tours. Once you're done fighting, you get to play nice for the cameras.

[ "Play nice" used very loosely, here. See also: Johanna. ]

The victors are dragged around Panem once a year, right before the games. It's supposed to be a reminder. [ Still not sounding as invested as he should be, and after a pause: ] Or just an excuse to drink.

[ Depends on whether you're in the Capitol or elsewhere, really. ]

[ Offense might be the right reaction, but it's difficult to really view the loss of his leg as any more extreme than what any other victor has lost. He'd have said he'd done better off than Johanna, a few months ago; at least they hadn't cut down his family, one by one.

The one by one part still stands, but now the scales are closer to balanced. ] You'd have to start from scratch with your axes.

[ It's a practical observation, tone light, like he's in on the joke. ]

Sorry. A reminder of...what?

[ This should be obvious. There's a flash of frustration at the fact that he has to break it down when half of it feels like someone else's words, to begin with. ]

Of what they're capable of.

[ It's an odd mix of honest and cagey. It's true, but it isn't what he's thinking, exactly; for once, he's reluctant to speak frankly. ]

[A hesitation.]

I...wouldn't think that you would need...reminding.

[Even before he was pulled apart by the Capitol, Peeta wasn't one to rise to the bait. If Johanna had been using that remark as a test, she might be disappointed.

She hadn't been using it as a test. More like a grim white-knuckle joke. Ha ha. Cheerfully, she matches her tone to his.]

Only on one side. My other side would be just as good. And it sure would even the stakes for everyone else a little if I did have just one arm.

But I think I'd look lopsided and stupid, so maybe that's out.

[ That's another accidental joke, and Peeta makes a short, amused noise. ]

You wouldn't think so, no.

[ There's a very fine trace of malice in the comment. Peeta doesn't trust the details, but he's aware enough of the fact that he's some kind of pawn in the rebellion's game. The malice is for Coin's tactics as much as the Capitol's. ]

[A hesitation.]

Sorry. Is something...funny?

[ He grins, and it carries through well enough in his voice.

This isn't real. It's like being on the stage with Caesar, all self-deprecation and amusement, but at least it's familiar. Besides that, Johanna knows. She knows a mask when she sees one, will probably get that it's a hollow mockery of that act. ]

Are you saying you think I look lopsided and stupid?

No.

Fitting, isn't it, that she should join us here?

[He lets out a long, low whistle in reply to her little speech. He doesn't disagree, but that's a whole lot of fire in one little lady.]

Sweetheart, you wanna give it a try, I ain't gonna stop you. Already dead. Ain't gonna hurt me none.

[He's not going to bleed out anytime soon.]

You want someone t'be your guinea pig, fine.

[He realizes her words were laced with venom and sarcasm. Have a serious answer anyway.]

Your way'd leave you down a limb and still carrying nanites. 'Less you're just particular enough to want the number on your other arm.

Oh, you definitely look lopsided and stupid. I hate to be the one to tell you this--

[A pause, and then, with characteristically wicked delight:] No, I don't. Peeta, you definitely look lopsided and stupid. And that so out right now.

Well, the lopsided part is. 'Stupid' is always in.

Yeah. I know the feeling.

But let's be careful. If we start acting like everyone we dislike is going to show up here, it might actually come true.

Has that actually happened, or are you trying to scare me, too.

[Even if she's pretty sure she's not going to cut off her arm, she's not about to admit that.]

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