burnedgirl (burnedgirl) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-02-20 19:45:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, katniss everdeen, portia |
Who: Portia and Katniss
When: Late Feb
Where: Mall
What: Chance encounter
Rating/Warning: Low/None
Status: Complete
Portia had been dream free for a while now, she got the occasional repeat out of the blue but luckily, so far, no repeat of her death dream. She had seen Haymitch recently and they had enjoyed an evening of sport and beer and she had a note to contact Peeta as soon as one of her current projects was completed. It really was crazy how she would disappear for weeks at a time when she got buried under work but she did enjoy it.
She hadn’t seen Katniss since their unfortunate encounter when the young girl had called freaked out and said she didn’t believe her when Portia had explained the dreams. It had actually been that reaction that had held her back from telling Peeta, who had then chastised her for holding it back. She couldn’t win with these kids it seemed.
Katniss had just popped into the mall to grab a smoothie. She would normally go all the way around it, preferring the fresher outdoors to the covered, artificial containment of the mall, but one of her favourite smoothie shops was inside, so needs must.
Looking up from counting her change as she walked, she spotted a familiar face. Familiar on two fronts, one from real life and another from the wonderful, terrifying dreams she had woken up from in a cold sweat every night for the last week. Taking a breath, she decided she should probably speak to the woman. She might after all be able to give her some guidance on them.
“Hi,” Katniss spoke as she approached from the side of Portia. “Portia, right?”
"Katniss" Portia exclaimed somewhat shocked, "Yes, it's me. It's nice to see you" even if the feeling wasn't mutual , "Look I'm sorry about before, I shouldn’t have said anything"
“Oh no, I uh…” Katniss shook her head, looking down at her hand. “No, it’s fine. In fact it uh...it braced me for actually having them. The dreams I mean,” she explained, a little uncomfortably. She very rarely spoke about her dreams to anyone, much less to someone who had freaked her out about them before. “Not that it really helped,” she gave a little shrug.
“Well I’m sorry it shocked you but I guess it’s good you were braced, even if it didn’t help much. I am sorry you have to go through them Katniss” Portia told her, “You probably don’t want to know me but if you do ever want to talk or anything I am here for you”
"Why wouldn't I want to know you?" Katniss asked with a frown. "You've been nothing but kind to me and I freaked out. Sorry," she shrugged, dropping her eyes from Portia and fiddling with her change again. She hated apologising to people. It made her feel weak and at their mercy.
“Well I know I upset you before and I’m going to be a reminder of your dreams, that’s something none of us can stop” Portia replied, “Oh no, please don’t worry. I know it’s a lot to take in and I probably could have done it in a better way”
"Well, we could probably stand here all day and throw recriminations around or we could sit and talk about it," Katniss said pragmatically, giving a little shrug.
Portia gave a soft smile, “I’ve always been better at talking than arguing” she told Katniss before gesturing to a cafe.
Katniss hesitated briefly despite being the one to have pretty much suggested talking. Talking wasn't something she had ever really done. She just kept things to herself and found ways to get on with it, what was the point of burdening someone else with things they probably couldn't do anything about anyway? She nodded and followed Portia, taking a deep breath and diving into the unfamiliar situation. Sitting down at a table she waited for Portia to start the conversation since this sort of thing really wasn't her strong point.
Talking was something Portia could usually do without a problem, she had become a lot more outgoing lately and tried to take an interest in the world around her instead of focusing solely on her projects. But this situation was a little strange. However they sat down and she smiled at Katniss kindly, “Was there anything you wanted to know?” she asked her, “About the dreams or me” she added.
"I'm not sure really," Katniss started. "I guess...why? I mean, I've only dreamed about the reaping and being taken to the Capitol but...why did you do that sort of job? Making people...pretty for sport," she said
Portia nodded, "I wanted to do what I could to make peoples last days better I guess, I thought by helping them look good they'd feel good. Even if it wasn't for long" Portia tried to explain.
Katniss looked at her straight for a minute, watching her as she spoke. "I think...I get that," she said carefully. "I just...why be involved at all? It was...horrible being reaped, I can't describe it," she shook her head.
"What else can I do?" Portia said, "I don't want to do nothing like the rest of the capitol and at least I'd have a chance to help should the chance arrive"
Katniss nodded solemnly. “What about Haymitch? Do you know why he does it? All it seems to do is make him miserable.”
"Haymitch has no choice. He won his games which means he's now a mentor for all those who are reaped each year" Portia told her, "It's very hard for him to send all those children to almost certain death"
“I guess...the world in our dreams is so different than ours. It’s hard to imagine not having a choice,” Katniss rationalised with a shrug.
"I know" Portia nodded, "It is considering the chances we get here and the freedom we're allowed"
“Is it...real? I mean, we dream about the same things…it’s a bit weird that we all dream about the same things, don’t you think?”
"It is strange" she agreed, "But I don't see how it can be real. I mean this world is very different and so are we"
Katniss nodded slowly at Portia’s reply. “I guess…” she frowned and sighed. “It’s just so...vivid and us sharing the same dreams is more than a little freaky,” she remarked. “Are you...anything like you are in the dreams?”
Portia laughed softly at the question, "Well I'm still into fashion but I generally only dress those who want to be dressed and not to enter a fight to the death"
“Yeah, well let’s face it, that would be weird,” Katniss gave a little laugh. It felt nice to be able to find some levity about something that she had found quite distressing.
"Very true" she agreed, "How about you Katniss? Are you like your dreams so far?"
“I’m ok, I guess,” Katniss shrugged. “I seem pretty similar to my dreams to be honest. Stubborn, bit of a loner,” she took a deep breath. “Terrified of the reaping and what it means for me, what it meant for my sister,” she gazed down at the hands again. The thought didn’t bear thinking about.
“As far as I know your sister is fine” Portia said, “You saved her by volunteering Katniss, it was a very selfless thing to do”
“Yeah, something which I have a feeling I’m going to regret, aren’t I,” Katniss replied, not really asking a question, more stating a dreadful fact.
“Not as much as you could” Portia said hopefully reassuring without telling her too much. The girl knew bad things were coming she didn’t need Portia to tell her the details.
“The reaping’s not the worst thing….is it…” Katniss said, knowing the answer already.
Portia shook her head, “No but...you’ll find a strength in you that you didn’t realise you had Katniss”
“I’m not sure if I want to,” Katniss admitted quietly.
“I am sorry. I wish I knew a way to stop them coming but I don’t” Portia told her, “But I am here if you need to talk at any point. Haymitch too, despite his grumpy demeanor he is a lovely man”
“Thank you, I’ll more than likely take you up on that offer,” Katniss quirked a smile.
“Make sure you do” Portia smiled kindly.