[closed]

[i_got_this]

Who: i_got_this and wastheexample
What: Medicating with Jack Daniels
When: This evening
Where: The Lux
Rating: R for language, dark themes

Misery loves company.

So, after spending an unintentional week in isolation after her talk with Carolina, South left a brief filter for Haymitch in the journals, You. Me. Lux. Now., and headed down to the lounge to wait for him.

After finally coming to terms with the news she'd received, she'd fallen into a numb state, and now just the thought of being next to another person was comforting in a way she wasn't prepared to admit. Of the teammates who either shunned her or who she had shunned, and of the people that she'd randomly met since she'd arrived, Haymitch was the only one that sprang to mind when she couldn't stand to be alone any longer.

When he arrives, she'll be leaning her arms across the bar and resting her chin against them, staring into the bubbles trapped in the ice in her glass.

Believe it or not, she's already set a second drink aside for him.

Comments

[i_got_this]

South peeks up at Haymitch. Carolina certainly acted like she knew who she was. York and Wyoming seemd pretty confident -- no one acted outwardly like South felt inside. Even Haymitch seemed, to her, to have it more together.

"Even you?"

[wastheexample]

"Especially me," Haymitch frowned, staring at the woodgrain as if all the answers of the universe were hidden there. "Most of who I knew I was got lost in that Arena."

[i_got_this]

She watches him quietly. That arena was really starting to sound much more frightening then anything she could even begin to imagine.

"That's a long time to be lost." She muses, trying to imagine going through that for herself.

[wastheexample]

He could tell her things about his Arena that would give her nightmares for life. After all, the Capitol sure did want to make Quarter Quells the most interesting of all. They were a big deal.

"Yeah, It is," he admits quietly. "You give up on getting found again, eventually."

[i_got_this]

She stares at the bottle, wondering if she'd ever be found or if she was destined to this feeling of conflict without resolution for the rest of her life.

"So I should ... stop looking?" She sounds unsure, abot what sort of answer she's expecting, or really even just what she means by it. She's frowning intently at the bottle label, as if trying to fiure out he mysteries of the universe through whiskey content.

[wastheexample]

"I don't know, maybe you still have some hope left in you," Haymitch shrugged. "Just because I gave up, doesn't mean everyone else should."

[i_got_this]

"Maybe. Guess I'll keep looking." She doesn't sound too enthused about it at this point. It's been a long week for her.

[wastheexample]

"Then more luck to you," Haymitch replied with something like a smile. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

He surprised himself that he sincerely did hope she found what she was looking for. That was rare.

[i_got_this]

"Hopefully I'll know it if I find it." South rubs her hands over her face and sighs. She still ached, from the lingering hurt and mental exhaustion, but it was good to get out and get talking like this.

She stills her movements for a moment, just thinking about North, and then adds quietly, "Thanks for -- you know. It's no fun to drink alone."

[wastheexample]

Haymitch was silent for a moment, before giving a small nod.

"It's okay. Sometimes we all need a little company, once in a while."