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WHO: Katniss and You
WHAT: A week in the life of a Mockingjay
WHEN: Covering the first week of Haring
WHERE: All around Skyhold
NOTES: Warnings for possible suicidal triggers via music.

Katniss Everdeen is a young woman who does not like to be idle when it can be helped, especially when she is waiting to know where she can help. So if you are looking for the rather brusque 'Some Other Archer', you will find it hard to miss her.

1. Distributing Food and Supplies Through The Survivors

Skyhold has literally become the pilgrimage of hundreds who are seeking to flee from Corpheysus's reign of terror, who are looking for balance in a world gone mad without a Divine, or have lost their homes in one of the many wars blossoming across Thedas. Many of them came without a stitch on their backs, or food to feed themselves -- or their families.

Yet, in the last week, a tall young woman with serious grey eyes and dark hair braided along the side of her head has been handing out provisions - fresh meat mostly, and cleaned leathers and warm furs. Candles, cooking fat, and there are even healing poultices, simple things. She asks for nothing in return, and thanks makes her nervous -- but she is there almost every day to offer assistance where she can. Children make her easier - she brings them necklaces made of leather and small stones, and little toys made of bone.

Do you meet here here or ...

2. Outside in the training areas outside of Skyhold

Someone has taken the time to set up what can only be considered a crude archery training area, out of old barrels and crates, with targets painted on. But it's not just straight targets and dummies, no. It's practically an obstacle course - with the targets being at different heights, and various objects that one had to move around to get a clear shot. It's not just a test of accuracy, it's one of agility and of quick thinking.

Katniss trains here every day, practicing her shots in a dozen different scenarios. Up high, down low, jumping and rolling out of the way to make a shot. Shooting and moving at the same time, weaving between targets. She wants to challenge herself, that's clear enough. Against what? Everything, apparently.

Want to join? Want to gawk? Want to take your barrel back? Come and speak with her, unless you want to speak to her ...

3. Alone On The Ramparts

It's the song that will capture your attention. A beautiful, clear female voice will echo down to you as you climb the stairs to the ramparts, perhaps to go on guard duty. Perhaps only to see the stars. Yet while the voice will make you smile, perhaps, the song itself might just chill you down to the bones.

Or at least wonder who would sing such a song.

"Are you, are you?
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the hanging tree..."

If you go hunting down the voice, you'll find it soon enough. Katniss is sitting with her back against the ramparts, looking up to the sky and singing upwards to the stars. As if she is trying to reach someone with her voice that she just can't seem to get to.

Will you come and sit with her, or pass by?

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A flicker of surprise crossed his face at that, but stayed there only a moment. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense that she'd been taught to do things at a young age. He'd done the same, after all. The only real difference was that she was a girl, and while he hadn't grown up during a time where that sort of thing was normal for girls to do, he'd learned since then things weren't always the same in other places.

Right now, that was something he didn't mind at all. Not if it meant he had someone here that he had something in common with - and that was more than enough to get him to smile in return.

"Think that you might be the first lass I've met that wound up doing a lot of the same things I used to back home, then. And I've traveled a fair bit even before coming here."

One corner of her mouth twisted at that, as she lifted her head, "You know, I really wish I could say I was surprised by that -- but you're not the first to say that to me. Usually it's about my heritage though. Apparently, I'm some kind of freak."

That smirk held a glint more of humor, "I'm all right with that, though. Especially when I can outshoot almost any person in the Inquisition."

His eyebrows arched at that, disappearing into his bangs briefly. Katniss didn't seem all that strange to him - certainly not like anything he'd consider to be a 'freak', although he didn't tend to use that word. He knew what it meant well enough. It didn't make sense, though, and after a moment, he shook his head.

"Aye, well, I'd meant mine as a compliment, just so you know. Although I don't understand some how some of these people think here. What would your heritage have to do with anything anyway? It's as daft as thinking I'm a demon just because I fell out of a rift."

Katniss paused - trying to think of how to explain it to a Rifter. It wasn't as if their worlds had anything like elves, or like what they were going through.

"And I took it as one ... I don't think you're a demon, at all. You seem like a nice young man. With a Free Marchers accent." She quirked up one corner of her mouth, before she bit her lip thoughtfully, "So you know that there are elves here, and of course humans. Well, humans and elves can have children -- and they're called half-bloods. That's what I am."

He'd heard the part about the accent before - more than once - but even though he was tempted to add the part about Starkhaven, he didn't, only giving her a rather wry smile instead. But it faded a bit as she went on, replaced by a rather more serious expression. He hadn't known that they could have children, but hearing that gave him the beginnings of an idea as to what the problem might be, at least as far as other people were concerned.

"Oh, I see. Let me guess. The folk around here who don't like elves probably don't like that sort of thing much at all, then. Or am I getting that wrong?"

She smiled, back, equally wry, before her expression sobered. Became cool, and a little distant. She nodded her head once, knowing that she sounded bitter, and not caring a whit.

"It would be simpler if it was just humans - but the elves reject us as well. We're tainted, no matter what side it falls on. Ridiculous, really."

That was something he hadn't considered, and for a moment his expression reflected that, along with a moment of realization as the impact of what she'd said sunk in. Maybe that was because he'd only talked to a few of the elves here so far, and those had been the more open minded sort. He'd heard that a lot of them didn't care much for "shemlen", though, and given what she'd said earlier...perhaps he could see why that might happen.

See, maybe, but not agree, and he wound up shaking his head.

"Look, I'll not say as I fully understand why some of the things around here are the way they are, but for what it's worth, I like you just fine. And I'd be willing to say there's more than one person here who'd feel the same way."

Katniss looked over at him, her grey eyes quiet. In the darkness, she was silent as she considered his words. Finally, her mouth came up at the corners faintly.

"... Thank you. I ...I needed to hear that. Tonight, especially." She sighed quietly, as she looked up again, "Especially when I feel so alone."

So there had been a reason she'd been up here. He'd thought as much, but wasn't going to say that part out loud. Not this time, anyway. Instead, he nodded, the corner of one side of his mouth shifting upwards - although it was less of a smile and more of an acknowledgement of what she was saying.

"Aye. That I think I understand a bit more than the rest of it. This place is nice enough, but it's not home, and we've not got family here to make it any easier." His gaze dropped for a moment to the shard in his hand, staying there for a few long seconds before he lifted it again, a hint of determination coming into his expression. "Think I've an idea what to do about that, though."

Now, that particular turn of phrase had Katniss looking back over him, with a slightly more dubious look than before. Her eyebrow raised, and she drawled slowly, "Should I be concerned about what you're thinking of? I'm not running about Skyhold naked."

"What?"

Whatever he'd been thinking about, it certainly wasn't that - and while the relative darkness might have partially masked the look of complete surprise on his face, there was also a moment where he wound up rather visibly startling, making any attempt he might have made to hide his reaction more or less moot.

He did manage to regain some small sense of composure a few seconds later, however. Enough, at least, that he was able to give her a quick shake of his head in an attempt to dismiss the notion.

"You think I was going to suggest...och, no. Look, what I was thinking was that we could be friends. That way we'd both not be as alone."

Jamie's reaction filled her with relief ... and then her lips quirked up into a smile. A smile that turned into a laugh because the look - The Look on his face was priceless.

She covered her mouth, getting control of herself, before she cleared her throat, "Well -- as long as neither one of us is getting naked? Absolutely. Let's be friends."

"Aye. I'll not be doing the dance of the seven kilts for anyone, thank you."

As long as she didn't stand underneath him while they were standing on a ladder, everything would be just fine - at least as far as he was concerned. His own lips curled up into a smile, although his was a little more on the wry side in response to that laugh. That part of things didn't last long, however, and a rather warmer smile replaced the wry one in short order.

"Know what I'd not mind doing, though? Getting a bite to eat at the tavern. Think you'd be interested in coming along, or would you rather stay up here?"

(ooc: we can also fade things out here if you want? Although we can keep going too, whichever works for you.)

Edited 2015-12-23 20:47 (UTC)

"There is actually a dance of the seven kilts ... and it's about being naked. Your land is a strange one."

Well, since they weren't breaching any keeps yet, Jamie's modesty would be fine. Although they might bring up the conversation of some trousers in the future.

She thinks about that, before shaking her head, "Not tonight, no. But tomorrow? You're on."

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