victorbychance | Fourth Painting: [Action/Voice]

[A new sign has gone up at the bakery.

The wood of the bakery’s new sign is slightly stained with leftover coffee, giving it a lovely rich brown color. With the shellac finish, it will be practically weatherproof. Such a luxury would have been expensive beyond belief back in District 12, even for a baker’s family.

The sign could be considered quaint, but falls short of being trite. The border is done with a fine brush in grass greens; a winding vine with yellow flowers. At the bottom, a pile of bread loaves. One is the sort of loaf 12 was famous for back home, a sort of drop biscuit. Another is the seeded loaf of District 11. Accompanying them are two cheese buns, as well as an assortment of cakes, cookies, and tarts, all of which are actually offered inside the bakery. It has a provincial look to it, natural and fresh, as if even on a rainy day one could find the sun and hot bread inside this building.

The word "BAKERY" is in the palest of blues, with a slightly darker blue shading the letters. He stands on a ladder to hang it up in front of the building, a look of intense concentration on his face.

Later, he puts a message out over the journals.]

Thanks to everyone who helped at the bakery while the Kin'corans were here. Actually, I could still use help now that they're gone. There are about three hundred people in the village, and lots of them like fresh bread. If you want work but don't have any experience, I don't mind teaching. I mean, even I started out washing dishes.

So who's up for it?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A pause, then a little smile.]

You read a book about dating?

Skimmed. [said awkwardly and a tad embarrassed]. I really wanted tonight to be perfect for you.

[Actually, Peeta is starting to beam at her. He takes a sip of chocolate before speaking.]

That's...actually really sweet.

[she takes the spoon out of her mug and takes a small sip, all the better to hide behind. That smile and those words make her feel all fluttery inside. Not the nervous butterflies from earlier, but something else. Something warmer and nicer and slightly similar to the hunger that occurs when she kisses him.

She smile back from behind her mug.]

I'm glad you think so.

[He grins.]

The dress is beautiful. Cinna would gush.

It's not as beautiful as one of his creations. [just a simple statement of facts. No dress will ever compare to something Cinna could design. Not ever. Her face clouds over a little when she continues. The mug plaed back on the table. She never told him, did she?]

Snow killed him. Peacekeepers came when I was in the lift. They beat him and dragged him away and... he's dead, too. Because of me. Because of that wedding dress. [Not depressing, not depressing. She tries to force a smile.]. He would like this, wouldn't he? And hate those pants you showed up here wearing.

[...That was the worst save ever, Katniss.

Peeta stares at her for a moment, then swallows.]

He...oh. [Cinna. It seems like he thought that was the case, from somewhere, but hearing her describe it just...]

Do you think I should change?

[she shakes her head quickly. She doesn't want him to, doesn't want him to go anywhere until the morning when he wakes up to bake and she to hunt.]

No. I like it. I like you just as you are.

Cinna... He'd be proud of us, wouldn't he?

I...I don't know, Katniss. I didn't know him as well as you did.

[She probably shouldn't have expected an answer. Maybe she just needed to voice things aloud. It seemed to help somehow. And there was no one else she could think of talking to, would want to talk to.]

He liked you. I... I want to think he would. And that he'd be happy for us.

I'm sure he would.

[He drinks his hot chocolate. It's an awkward situation, because this is a terrible subject for a date conversation, technically...but they're not a typical couple.]

No, I know he would. And he'd be proud of what you've accomplished.

[So much for keeping dinner happy, staying away from depressing comments. Maybe it was inevitable for the two of them. Hadn't their lives been full of so much sorrow? Whether it is or not, she's determined to make it up to him. To make it up to both of them.

And to start, she doesn't protest. She tells herself to gracefully accept the compliment. Offer a grateful smile and a slight change of subject.]

If you could see anyone here, who would you want it to be?

Rue again. [A little smile.] She could really spread her wings here.

[...He should have said Prim. He should have said Prim. But Rue was the truth.]

Rue. [It's a good answer. Rue can hold her own if drafted, if there was an attack on the village. And she died so very young. Even younger than Prim. A thought occurs to her and she smiles, even giggles behind her mug.] It's probably a good thing that she left when she did. Otherwise we'd have to lock doors.

[A suggestive grin spreads over his face.] Is that a hint of things to come tonight?

[Cheeks flame almost instantly as she nods. Did he even have to ask?]

The book said it'd be improper on the first date but I've never been very good with rules.

Me neither. And I'm pretty sure the book didn't say to do it before the first date. Frequently.

[Even the coffee mug can't hide the way the blush goes up to her ears. Even after frequently engaging in sex with Peeta, the topic is still one that makes her uncomfortable.

But this is the kind of conversation she thinks they should be having. The kind she doesn't want to stop.]

Don't forget kissing in the cave without a chaperone.

Our gravest crime.

[She laughs, treating him to a bright smile. This is good. Nice. Being with him like this, out in public, not having to worry about cooking or cleaning or anything but enjoying Peeta's company. It's very nice.]

Effie would probably like the book. It had a lot to say about proper manners.

Fourth Painting: [Action/Voice]

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