Traumaprom

[insecrets]

[In the early years, after Snow first started selling him off and before he got smart enough to realize he could use this to his advantage, Finnick had experimented with more alcohol and drugs than he cared to admit. That's how he feels right now as he groans and climbs to his knees with his eyes just barely open. Like he's been on a bad bender.

It passes quickly when he finally sits back, opens his eyes, finds himself in the world's smallest arena. That's all he can really call it, and there's that moment of panic that he's not quite familiar with sinking in his stomach. He touches the glass and shudders. It seems like hours that he's in this position, but it's really only seconds. Because as soon as he thinks "arena", he's on his feet with his back to the wall.

Because if this is a Game, he has an opponent.

And Finnick Odair doesn't die.

Except-] Johanna.

Comments

[axecerbic]

[She's in a rage the moment she's conscious and aware of her position, banging and kicking at the glass of the room in retaliation, as if her anger alone could makes the walls crack, shatter and come crashing down around them. No such luck, but it's better than pacing, admitting she's an animal stuck in a trap.

Her knuckles are bruised and bleeding before she's finally calm enough to acknowledge Finnick, teeth gritted and she reluctantly turns to face him - fellow victor, ally. Opponent. Friend.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go, but there's a bitter smile on her face as she backs as far away from as she can get from the poison and knife on the floor, from Finnick. She's not afraid of him, not yet. More of what she'll do to him if given half a chance.]

So. [A beat.] Any miraculous ideas for escape?

[insecrets]

[Only one can live. those are rules he's used to, but this isn't... They weren't going to die in the Quell. They were going to escape. Protect Katniss. Protect Peeta. Get the Mockingjay out. That's it.

He stares at her silently after she asks her question, nails digging into his palm as he stays perfect still.

She's brutal, but he has the strength if it comes down to this.

No, no he can't think like that. This is Johanna, and against all odds, they are friends. Maybe the only one he really has in a sea of admirers.

Finnick lets out a shaky breath.] I'm guessing it's Capitol-quality glass?

[axecerbic]

Better, probably. [She holds out her knuckles in a detached manner, like this isn't affecting her, like she'd just cut herself on a piece of paper and not banged them raw on the bloodied glass behind her.]

You're welcome to give it a try, if you've got any doubts.

[insecrets]

[If they ignore it, will this go away? Finnick shakes his head, taking a cautious step toward her.] I believe you. Besides, my hands are a little too delicate for that kind of treatment.

[He nods at them, her bloody and bruised knuckles.] Let me see them.

[axecerbic]

Please. [She snorts, hands curling into tight fists.] I might not know shit about fishing, but I do know those ropes can slice to the bone. [You're not anymore delicate than she is, Finnick Odair.]

I'm fine. [A brush-off, about as close as she's gonna get to telling him to stay away.]

[insecrets]

[He pauses and there's a grin twitching on his lips, a dark light in his eyes.] You got me there.

[And then he's rolling said eyes.] Oh, come on. I'm not going to hurt you.

[axecerbic]

I'm not - ['worried about that,' but that would be admitting Johanna trusts him, and that makes her spine stiffen up, her teeth grind in frustration. They had an unspoken agreement since before the Quarter Quell - I'll watch your back, if you watch mine - and it would've held through the Games, had everything gone as planned. Evidently, everything's gone to shit here, and she's not sure she trusts herself not to act on instinct when there's no sure way they're both going to get out of this alive. If things go bad, she'll deal, but she doesn't want to be the one who causes it, either. She blows out a puff of air, messing up her bangs.]

Fine, whatever, but I'm staying right here. [Not going near that knife okay.]

[insecrets]

[It can still hold, Finnick thinks. He hopes. But he licks his lips a bit nervously when she finally backs down, and he makes his way over to her. His fingers slide over her wrists as he turns her hands around. There's nothing in this room but them and a knife and a bottle he's sure is poison.

He makes a noise in the back of his throat before letting her hands go.] You didn't break anything, at least. There's the good news. [He looks back up at Johanna, quiet for a moment. He doesn't want to die, but he doesn't think he can vote to send her to her death either.

and he knows her too well for that. There's too much pride in her to just be taken like a lamb to slaughter.] Do we fight?

[axecerbic]

Like it matters. [Grousing is a small comfort as he lets her wrists go, gentler than she expected. Johanna frowns, rubs the top of them and contemplates his next words in silence. Him leaving the choice to her, because he knows she's too selfish to agree to an end where she doesn't make the one in charge regret choosing her. Because she can't just go quietly after everything that happened, even though she has nothing left and he's the one with everything waiting for him.]

If we do, whoever gets out of here makes them regret it. [She answers at a length, straightening the golden bracelet on his wrist.]

[insecrets]

Wouldn't want to leave you defenseless, would we? [She'd fight even with broken hands, he knows that. She's a bit of a monster. Part of him wants to cut up his wet suit to wrap her hands up with. There's a knife in here, after all.

He's quiet again, watching her straighten the bracelet that Haymitch gave him, a token of the alliance with Katniss. Will he die here before their plans are finished? Will he leave Annie alone? Will he leave Johanna behind instead?

There's a sigh on his lips.] I meant them. Whoever they are. Do we fight them?

[Finnick doesn't want to make a choice, doesn't know how to choose between her life and his in this kind of way.]

[axecerbic]

[She'd fight if all she had left were her teeth and a pair of legs to walk on, that's a given. Still, Johanna is no Beetee. No amount of tampering is going to a way out for both of them with just a knife and a vial of poison.]

We can't. [It's a huge admission, with just a few words.] We'll play, and we'll go all in. Anything we can give up, if it means getting out of here. [Like they have much to give in the first place.]

[insecrets]

[There's a fraction of a second where his shoulders slump, because she's right. And there's part of him that's not so much of a defeatist as it is someone who has had a long time to accept the inevitable.]

At least we know how games are played. [He gives her hand a squeeze and steps back.] Me, then. I'll be the one who dies.

[He says the words before he can rethink him. Finnick would rather one of them have a chance than both of them die, and he knows Johanna. He knows her better than she might think, and he knows that even if she has nothing, she'll always have her life.

He thinks of Annie for a brief second before banishing her away.]

[axecerbic]

['You aren't going to die,' the words are on the tip of her tongue but she can't make herself promise that, not when he's putting his life on the line for her and she can't do the same. Johanna nods, expression grim before she turns to glare up at the top of the dome.]

You hear that, you sick fucks? We've made our choice! Are you happy now?!

[insecrets]

[He smiles grimly at her, listening to her rant. What are they going to do to her anyway? She has nobody. Mags will be alone, Annie will have nothing. It'll be up to Johanna to protect the Mockingjay. He almost laughs.

They're so fucked, either way.] We're allowed to make an offer, right? [He glances up, walking around the domed room.] That's part of this game? We make you offers, and you judge them. You make us beg for our lives, and I bet you love that, don't you?

[Finnick has never begged for his own life before. He's begged for others, for his family. For Annie. He's listened to kids beg for theirs before he gutted them.] You can have me. [He licks his lips and tilts his head, that smirk he owns so well on his face.] For our lives, you can have me however you want.

[His stomach tightens to the point where he thinks he'll be sick. But he never falters, never breaks character.]

[axecerbic]

[She's pacing now, vicious grin on her face that doesn't falter - even with Finnick's offer and what it implies. Instead, Johanna imagines getting out, grabbing that leader bitch at the party and pressing thumbs into her eye sockets until her screams cut out, until her body stops twitching. It helps, but only just.]

How about I don't kill you once you let me out? Does that sound good? [Head cocked to the side as if she's seriously considering this a good offer, but this isn't her bargaining chip and she doesn't want to make promises she can't keep. There's a shake of her head as she pushes her bangs out of her eyes.] Fine. I'll give you a memory. You bargain in that, right?

[infiniteregress]

[Vanessa's voice can be heard. From where, who knows?]

As memories are yours to give, they are indeed acceptable.

[axecerbic]

[She bristles at the answer, tempted to throw the bottle of poison at the glass but refrains for now. They might need that later. Still, she doesn't take long to make a decision.]

My family, my friends, when they were taken away from me. [When Snow and the Capital gave her a reason to fight, when they gave her no choice but to be the monster they made her into. Even giving some small part of who she is would be asking too much, if her and Finnick's life weren't on the line.] You can take them and shove them up your ass.

[insecrets]

[She's giving up her memories. For him. That's what it is, plain and simple. Not good memories. Memories best forgotten, except for the fact that they've shaped her into what she is. And honestly, Finnick likes this Johanna. He likes every bit of her.

A shudder crawls up his spine before he reaches out and tugs her closer to him without any warning. And embraces her tightly, holding her to him.]

[axecerbic]

[She doesn't fight it but she doesn't reciprocate either, the only sign that she's even tolerating this is the slight dig of her chin into his collar bone. With any luck, this will be enough.]

OFFERS

[insecrets]

Finnick: Sex, pretty much. Whoever, whenever, however. He's good at the trade and he won't hesitate outwardly, at the very least.

Rating: About an 8 for him, he's used to having sex with strangers, but he's never really done it for his life before or anything. He doesn't do things for himself :'|

[axecerbic]

Johanna: The memory of her family and friends dying lol

Rating: About an 8. This is one of the things that fuels her hateboner for Snow/the Capitol and giving up any part of herself isn't easy.

[infiniteregress]

Good show! Your offer has been accepted.

((Here))