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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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Peeta. [Her voice rises in pitch a little, sounding sort of panicky] I've already been here for a week without you, and Finnick is alive, and they put me in the Fire district, and I need to know where you are.

If you don't tell me, I'll find you. And then you won't have a choice.

Finnick isn't alive. Not Real.

[ he shakes his head. and then, does what he does best: ]

You have to promise not to find me until I'm...secure.

[Her fingers rub over her scars, kind of echoing the way he twists them] Not Real. Not at home. But here - he is here. It's real here. They brought him back.

Tell me where you are, and I won't come looking. I promise.

No one can bring them back, Katniss. They aren't here. It's- it's another game. They're making it shiny.

[ he sighs, looking defeated ]

I'm in the Metal sector.

They've brought other people too. From other place. The rules aren't the same here.

[She nods. Her fingers worry her scars a little more intently]

When will you be sure? [She misses you]

[ Peeta stares at her sadly. he misses her too, but this is the only way they can prevent...anything. while he does feel a little guilty about lying, he won't hurt her again. he has to make sure he doesn't hurt her again ]

The rules need to be the same. Then it all gets. Not Real. And-

[ he closes his eyes ]

I don't know. Maybe we can get supervision. Just in case.

I know. I know, Peeta. [She presses the palms of her hands to her eyeballs] We live in District Twelve. Real or not real?

[She shakes her head] I only trust Johanna and Finnick to be there. And I don't think Finnick is good for you to be around right now.

[ the question is hard for him to process. maybe. but he's also here. and. living. or dead. ]

I-

[ real or not real. those are the only options. he doesn't know. he guesses ]

Not real.

Real.

I don't know.

[Oops. Katniss pulls her hands away from her face, looking at him intently] We're here now. But we live in District Twelve. In the Victor's Village, with Haymitch and his stupid geese. I hunt. You bake. We have a book that helps us remember. Real.

[ he forces himself to stop because he can feel himself slipping. he gives a hesitant nod, before asking ]

It was winter, when we left. Real?

[The barest hint of a relieved smile twitches on her lips] Real. Haymitch had forgotten to feed the geese again. They were foraging.

[ he sags, boneless into his seat. he gives a small smile ]

I don't want to kill you. Real.

[She does the same thing] I don't want to kill you. Real.

I guess that's as good of a starting point as any.

How long have you been here?

[Something in her expression softens, relaxes]

We're getting good at starting over.

[She frowns a little] A...week. Maybe. They say time stops at home.

It's better than staying where we were. [ a grin, though its strained ] Aurelisism number two.

Have you...[ he wants to ask if she's seen prim. or his family. or rue. some things shouldn't be asked though ] seen Haymitch?

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