prodigaljaybird: (Comics - Domino.)
[personal profile] prodigaljaybird
He hasn't come here since the snow melted.

Hasn't come here, in fact, since those fractured days following Bruce's arrival, feet bringing him here like they could step from sand and into memory, back to a time when Tim was here to tell him what to do.

Staring at the aging wooden structures of the outdoor gym now, Jason finds their delipidation sad. Stupid, for it's not his Tim that built it, but it feels like a legacy all the same. He should do something. Tear something of Tim's down again, but this time, with a mind to rebuild it. He doesn't have the tools, but -

"Hell, now's as good a time as any," Jason murmurs, crossing from the parallel bars and into the closest copse of trees. He lets a batarang fly before him, sharp edges catching the center of a trunk, and Jason arrives in front of it with his leg already outstretched. He feet catches the trunk just right, and with one short, sharp crack, the tree splits down the middle.

Felling trees for lumber might be easier with a saw, but it's not nearly as much fun.

Date: 2012-01-21 05:07 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (hold it together)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Finnick's following the river.

It's not the most ambitious of endeavors considering the area is far from uninhabited, but it's something to do, a break from staring out across the ocean and wondering what's on the other side. And it's an easy way of getting a better feel for the place. A better way to slowly grow accustomed to the idea that maybe this is real after all, that's really happening.

A movement in the trees to his right catches his attention and he abandons the river to skulk through the undergrowth until he comes to a small clearing littered with what appears to be shoddy wooden gym equipment.

"Interesting," he says to himself as he approaches a rotting balance beam before a loud crack from several yards away has him whirling around just in time to see a tree splitting straight down the middle. And a now familiar figure standing before it.

He blinks, stunned.

Says, "Please tell me you didn't just accomplish that with the power of your mind."

Date: 2012-01-21 03:35 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (charming young man)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
"Define into," Finnick replies, wandering closer. "I can appreciate a nice piece of cabinetry if that's what you're asking."

But if the way Jason's looking at him is anything to go by, that isn't what he means at all. Grinning, Finnick stands up a little straighter, shoulders back and head up, well used to having every inch of his body analyzed for various reasons.

Date: 2012-01-21 08:06 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (seagreen... ish)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Intrigued, Finnick glances back over his shoulder at the wooden structures. It definitely wouldn't be any small task, but it's not as though he as much else to occupy his time. And if he can find some solid rope, he could make a climbing wall as well.

"Alright," he says, decision made, lips curling into an easy smile. "But only if you teach me that tree-breaking trick."

Date: 2012-01-21 11:31 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (charming young man)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
"Uhm, Aim to Kill?" Finnick replies, his grin turning slightly sheepish. The training he'd received back in District 4 for the games had largely focused on what they'd had around. "I'm good with a spear. Tridents. Harpoons. I make good snares and I can tie up an opponent in seconds flat. Render him completely immobile."

He has much less experience with firearms and, though he's not going to admit to it, his simple hand-to-hand isn't the best. "Why? You looking for tips?"

Date: 2012-01-22 03:36 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (sit in judgement)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
"Show you?" Finnick says with a quick laugh. He holds his arms out to his side in presentation. "Didn't really bring anything with me."

Of course, he doesn't really have much either. Just a trident that he'd left back at the hut, not imagining he'd need it. There are plenty of vines though and he nods toward the trees as he adds, "I could show you a few useful knots. How's that?"

The whole conversation suddenly reminds him of practicing with Katniss, showing her knot after knot in exchange for archery lessons. The difference here is his future and the entire future of the country doesn't rest in Jason's hands. Hell, Finnick barely even knows him.

There's a part of himself that can't help being instantly suspicious. He keeps that hidden.

Date: 2012-01-24 07:15 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (ready to go)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Decision made, Finnick steps a few yards into the brush, inspecting the nearby trees for the perfect, useable vines before finding a sharp rock on the forest floor.

"You could say that," Finnick remarks, grabbing the rock in one hand and reaching for one of the thicker vines with another, pulling it down closer. "I was fourteen my first time in the arena. There wasn't supposed to be a second time, but--" He stops for a moment, glancing up at Jason to flash a small, strained smile, "Well. As I'm sure Katniss has told you, things don't always work like they say they will in the Capitol."

Date: 2012-01-24 08:29 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (looking out (looking in))
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
There's an stillness in Jason's tone and a sincerity that nearly makes Finnick shiver. Finnick has met only a few people in his life with such cold, unwavering conviction. One in particular with his claws still far deeper than Finnick would prefer to admit.

With another quick tug, the jagged rock in his hand slices through the vine. He hands the limp rope of green to Jason, eying him carefully.

"They're not all bad," he says, turning his attention on another hanging vine. "Some just don't know any better."

Date: 2012-01-25 01:57 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (sit in judgement)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Finnick still has his cutting stone in one hand, the other outstretched and curled around a hanging vine.

He blinks.

"You really need to show me how to use that thing."

Date: 2012-01-25 04:14 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (looking out (looking in))
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Letting out a quiet huff of a laugh, Finnick takes one of the vines from Jason's hands and tugs, testing its strength and resistance before dropping one end and working a quick knot into the other.

His smile wavers a little as he focuses on the movement of his fingers and not the memories that suddenly want to clamor to the front of his mind. "I threw what I had," he says, pulling the loose end of the vine through his hand and dropping the looped end to the ground. It's a simple noose, meant to ensnare any wayward foot. "This won't hold much," he says, nodding at the vine. "Good at catching game, though."

'And the smaller kids,' he doesn't say, pushing the vile thought into the back of his mind.

Date: 2012-01-26 07:35 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (barefoot against the wall)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
The change in Jason's demeanor is quick, his expression morphing right before Finnick's eyes from mild interest to a simmering rage. Though startling, it doesn't feel threatening and Finnick tries to focus on him, on Jason, and not the question.

"What happened to you?" he asks, brow furrowed as he swings the vine back into his hands and unlooping the noose.

Date: 2012-01-27 02:18 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (time will be the judge of all here)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
It's more than Finnick expected, a veritable flood of emotion he really hadn't seen coming. Jason has felt something like a kindred spirit since his first day here, beyond a simple mutual respect of Katniss. He hadn't put too much thought into exactly why.

It feels alarmingly obvious now.

He wraps the vine around one finger and tugs tight, focusing on the way it cuts into his skin.

"If you died, how did you..." he asks, his voice quieter. "How is that possible?"

Date: 2012-01-27 09:56 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (looking out (looking in))
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
A year? Finnick's heard of people dying for minutes before being brought back. And he's endured some pretty horrific injuries himself that the Capitol was able to erase the minute he became a victor. But he's never heard of anything that could bring someone back after a year without life.

He's starting to agree with Katniss's assessment - Jason's a mutt. There's no other explanation.

Discomfort coils tight in his belly and his muscles tighten, but he stays as he is. Not for the first time, he regrets leaving his trident in his beach hut.

"A doctor?" Finnick says, trying to find some other reasoning. One that makes more sense, one that means Jason isn't a monster. "Or maybe... maybe you weren't actually dead."

Date: 2012-01-28 01:10 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (worried... prettily)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Jason's not the first to warn him of the island's cruelty. But given that he's still not convinced this isn't all in his head, he hasn't spent too much time worrying about it.

But for the first time, he does just that. There a million horrifying things this place could bring from home. Mutts and trackerjackers. President Snow himself. Nearly every rich patron he serviced back in the Capitol, the ones who wanted to break him as much as fuck him, and every kid he killed in the arena. Annie with her mind shattered, victorious and alive but torn to pieces inside and out.

"Is it still here?" he asks. "Your grave." He isn't sure why he wants to know or why it even matters, but it seems important somehow.

Date: 2012-01-28 03:42 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (barefoot against the wall)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Finnick can't hide his reaction to that, brief hitch in his breath as his blood runs cold. He's seen too many a Cornucopia in his life, both up close and on a screen, as a spectator. To anyone here, it may seem perfectly innocuous. To a Capitol citizen it is a herald of imminent delight and excitement.

To Finnick and every other participant of the games, it's nothing less than a symbol of death.

Swallowing tightly, Finnick finally manages a quick, clear nod. "Good," he says, having to work a little to keep his voice even. "It doesn't belong here."

Or anywhere else as far as he's concerned. But that goes without saying.

Date: 2012-02-06 11:57 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (sit in judgement)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
It seems strange to Finnick how ready Jason is to kill, how eager. As though Jason is in the arena now, at all times, willing to do everything that it takes to be the last one standing. For now, Finnick is an ally -- not necessarily by choice, but simply due to his relationship with Katniss.

He can't help but wonder when that alliance will end.

"You care for her a great deal," Finnick says then, still watching Jason carefully. "Katniss, I mean," he adds, just in case.

Date: 2012-02-07 12:26 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (looking out (looking in))
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
"To know you?" Finnick asks, brow furrowing slightly before he shakes his head in answer. "As far as I can tell, Katniss is pretty difficult to know, too. Maybe that has something to do with it."

Jason seems so young right now, so much less sure of himself than when Finnick had first met him. Of course, Finnick had been displaced and disoriented at that time, but it still strikes him as odd right now. Jason is a mystery, a potentially very dangerous mystery.

Date: 2012-02-07 01:01 am (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (lay me down (in the hollow ground))
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Given the topic, he should be expecting it, but the question still surprises him, catching like a punch. But he falters for only a second before quickly recovering to paste on the slow, coy smile he's used countless times in the Capitol when asked variations of that very same question.

"I have many," he says. "Did Katniss not tell you? I have admirers far and wide back in Panem."

And he knows, even as the words leave his mouth, that he's trying too hard.

Date: 2012-02-07 09:17 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (intense & brooding (distracting?))
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Finnick's smile falters, Jason's words and the all-too-knowing look in his eye seeing too much.

"No," he lies, the answer immediate. He's spent years now protecting Annie with his lies and, though she may not be here, and though he may never see her again, it feels like it's the only thing he can do to keep her safe. If he doesn't speak her name, she exists only to him; no one can hurt her.

"Not even my mother and father. Not anymore."

Date: 2012-02-08 08:48 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (charming young man)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
Finnick arches an eyebrow and his lips twitch slightly, pulling into a grin to hide the immediate impulse to deny needing anyone. Anyone but Annie. "Are you volunteering?"

Date: 2012-02-08 09:31 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (come sit by me)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
He can't help his laugh then, bright and surprised. Jason is certainly a mystery, but Finnick can't deny he enjoys the man's company. "Who said anything about wanting? I just prefer to be aware of my options."

Date: 2012-02-09 04:15 pm (UTC)
victorofthe65th: (sit in judgement)
From: [personal profile] victorofthe65th
It isn't the first time Finnick has heard such things, and Finnick thinks back to Effie in particular, how she told him her brother was already here when she arrived. And that he'd been here for months when, back home, he'd never been gone at all.

Finnick wants to believe that means Annie could arrive at any moment. Or maybe his parents or his brother or Mags. Any of them whole and safe. But he can't help thinking that believing that or even wanting it is only setting himself up for disappointment.

"Katniss and Peeta are both here," he says with a mild shrug. "I guess they're close enough to knowing me as anyone else." It isn't true, of course. Despite what they've gone through together, neither of them really know him. They're not intended to.

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Jason Todd

April 2021

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