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[ a haggard looking young man sits on a bed, his hands wringing together over and over again as he speaks. There's a hollowness to his stare, and he takes a little longer than most between his sentences, thoughtfully ]

I was working...on having responsibilities again. I baked bread starting at four in the morning until noon. At noon I fed the geese. Depending on the day, I might have free time after that, but by dinner I helped Katniss cook and I would dead-head the flowers in the garden.

The schedule...helped.

[ his hands spasm erratically for a moment, then still as Peeta clenches his jaw ]

And now I'm here. [ he offers a tight smile ] And that means I'm not feeding geese and the garden's not going anywhere anytime soon. Not to mention there's a possible deer overpopulation problem in District Twelve.

[ he sighs ]

So there go my responsibilities. And schedule. I guess this serves as a fair warning for you all.

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Okay. Maybe that will be good, then. [ it sounds as if he's more trying to convince himself than her. ]

How often do you jog? [ he's not sure if he can trust her, but he can't really trust anything here yet. Jogging seems harmless. Jogging seems normal ]

The Emperor isn't exactly a great person, but we all look out for each other. [It's the condensed version of what she told Katniss, because she figures it'd be a bad idea to bring up the whole thing about how the Emperor wants them to fight something. Peeta can get settled before they worry about that.]

Every morning, at about seven. I live in the Earth Sector, but I'm happy to meet you wherever you'd like, since I know the place better. [And that way she can do her proper run first, then do a lighter jog with Peeta.]

My name's Stephanie, by the way. [she always forgets to do that]

[ he tilts his head ] They haven't really said anything about the Emperor. At all. What do you know about her?

[ he nods ] It'll be a good way for me to get familiar with the place. I'm in the Water Sector. Is that close?

[ he pauses ]

Peeta. It's. Nice to meet you.

No one likes her much, she's pretty cold and doesn't seem to like us all that much. But apparently she's the one who brought us here. [Steph isn't convinced the Emperor has as much control as she pretends to, but she has no proof of anything]

Close enough. Do you want a couple of days to get settled, or will I show up bright and early tomorrow?

[her smile stays gentle and reassuring] Nice to meet you, too, Peeta.

Even the ones who are dead? How can someone do something like that? [ he frowns ]

Earlier the better. I need to go out and do something or...

I'm guessing magic. The kedan don't have it, but it fits with everything we've seen from her so far. [She probably shouldn't treat magic like it's a normal thing, but she's just so used to it.]

Tomorrow it is. There's a fountain near the three story buildings in the Water sector, I'll meet you there? [as for that "or..."] Do you think you'll be alright 'till then?

[She's already asked Clark to keep a watch for Peeta, so hopefully nothing horrible will happen. But still.]

[ the word magic doesn't mean anything to Peeta, but an idea has lodged itself in his head and it won't let go ] Are you sure they're real? And not created by the Emperor? Or whoever is in charge of this place?

I think I can manage that. The door has a lock on it until then.

[That's not a theory she's heard before and Steph frowns as she thinks it over] I don't think so. If she could create people, what would she need us for?

Okay. You're welcome to contact me if you need anything. There's also a list of contact information of people who've volunteered to help in case of emergencies. [She sends a copy of Miranda's list to Peeta's console for him, just in case.]

Control. Putting out the idea that she has more power than what she really does. [ his hand flails suddenly and violently. Peeta grits his teeth and uses his other hand to restrain it ] People can't come back from the dead, real or not real?

Edited 2013-01-17 17:23 (UTC)

She does seem like the type, but I don't think that's entirely it. [The Emperor needs to use them in a way she can't use the kedan, so there's got to be more to it.

As for that question, Steph frowns, not entirely sure how to answer, especially after his hand spasms like that (she makes a note to talk to Bruce about anti-psychotics).]

The normal rules don't seem to apply here. I think because it's 'between life and death', people who've died while on Tu Vishan have washed up on the shore again without seeming worse for wear. But... people who came here dead, probably aren't able to return to their world. It seems more like an afterlife, if you're familiar with the concept.

[Hopefully that's... a gentle enough explanation.]

Edited (moar explanation :V) 2013-01-18 02:11 (UTC)

They don't have to seem like the type. That's what it's usually about, isn't it? Taking over and controlling people. Using them as pieces in their games.

[ he winces, eyes squeezing shut ]

You don't get to come back to life if you've died. That's not how things are supposed to work. And...why these people? Why not Rue? Or Prim? Or Finnick? Or...all the others? No one should be able to say the answer to that.

I'm not arguing that point. [there's a wry sort of humour in that, because well, it's pretty clear to her that the Emperor's on a power kick] I just don't think she made the kedan or anything like that. It doesn't quite fit with what else we've seen of her.

[For once, she's glad that she's been pretending to be form a world without superheroes, it saves having to explain that people come back from the dead all the time] I don't know why certain people get chosen over others. The Emperor might not have enough control over it, so she's just... grabbing whoever she can. I don't think there's a reason for each particular person.

[a pause, and then:] There's a Finnick here, and a girl named Johanna who seemed to know him.

[ Peeta goes still at that ]

Finnick.

[ he shakes his head. there's some other names he wants to ask about, other friends (and family) who've died, but he can't give in to the delusions. the delusions are what lead him to this point ]

Have there been any attacks?

What kind of attacks?

[She's not sure if he's still talking about Finnick, or if there's something else he's worried about.]

By the dead people. Have they...attacked anyone? Or soldiers. Does the Emperor have Peacekeepers?

No, the dead people are the same as the rest of us, except for... being dead back home. [They're her friends even if they're dead back home]

There's a police force, but for the moment they seem to be on our side so long as we don't break any laws. And there are criminals within the city who don't like us very much; there was a gang war a couple of months ago, but things are calm for now.

What kind of laws does this place have? [ back home, shooting a deer was cause for public whipping, after all ]

The regular ones; don't kill or steal or destroy people's stuff - [a summary of the law by a vigilante, this may say a lot] - and there's a bunch of kinda weird laws that the kedan have, but they understand that we're not familiar with them, and mostly just let us off with warnings.

Warnings? Like public whippings? [ it's hard to tell if he's joking ]

[Her eyes widen in horror, and she looks visibily taken back.]

What? No! Warnings like they tell you what law you're breaking and ask you not to do it again.

[Okay she knew their world was awful but public whippings?!]

[ he looks surprised. ]

...and that's it?

That's it. I'm not the biggest fan of the cops, but the ones here are mostly concerned with keeping the public safe, not hurting people.

You're really lucky here, then. [ spoken like it has just occurred to him for the first time ]

In some ways, yes. [She knows Keeliai is a lot nicer than a fair few worls, but it's not perfect]

What don't you like about...[ the words are awkward when he goes to say them, and slightly mispronounced ] Tew Shanshoe?

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