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[sunbaked_baker]

That thunderstorm the other day had kept Sunshine indoors - she'd brought out the big guns, so to speak, and cleaned her rooms to chase away the blues.

Today, though, has been gloriously bright. And Rae isn't one to miss an opportunity.

So there is a baker, in an tangerine-hued tank-top and deep purple jean shorts, flopped unceremoniously on a large rock at the edge of the lake, seeing to the very serious business of soaking in the sunlight.

It's clearly occupying all of her concentration. That, or she's fallen asleep.

Comments

[pickledtribute]

Haymitch Abernathy has never claimed to be mature. Or even very nice. He's actually earned a fairly popular reputation for not being nice.

So really, she ought not have fallen asleep right at the edge of the lake.

And possibly she ought to wake up before Haymitch dumps her into the lake.

[sunbaked_baker]

If she had been awake, the sudden shadow between her and the sun would've alerted her.

But she's not, and that's her own fault. So it's when she feels someone taking hold of her shoulders and giving a mighty shove that she regains consciousness.

Just in time to be plunged into the lake with a very ungraceful sploosh!

[pickledtribute]

He did promise swimming lessons, after all. He takes her place on the rock, sitting sprawled on the warm perch.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae comes up wet and sputtering, wiping water from her eyes.

"You're an ass, Haymitch Abernathy," she opines with a cough-interrupted laugh, not even having to look to know the culprit. Her voice holds no heat, only wry amusement - it's her own damn fault for falling asleep in public.

At least there are no bandages, today. Where the large bandage had been on her arm, last time he'd seen her, is a four-point bite scar, about the size of a human mouth's bite. If the human had fangs.

[pickledtribute]

"I've been told." He grins, his twang still pronounced after a winter in Twelve. "How you been, Red?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Remarkably dry, up until quite recently," she answers with a grin, treading water. "You?"

[pickledtribute]

"Another year, another round in hell." He shrugs. The anger that should be there was drowned in drink a few hours into the train ride. This year he has an asthmatic and a girl who is scared of her own shadow even when she isn't marked for death.

It's kind of hard, not to see them as dead already. For the first time, he's found it almost impossible to give any sort of advice.

[sunbaked_baker]

Every time, she wants to say the ineffectual words. It's a reflex. She's sorry. She wishes he didn't have to go through all that, wishes his world was not so horrible. Wishes and apologies, and distractions of dough and chocolate and cinnamon. He knows her well enough to know the sentiments are there, the need to help, even if she can't bring herself to say the words yet again.

"Come swimming with me."

[pickledtribute]

He shrugs and stands, shedding the semi-formal suit he's been cajoled into wearing in a undignified heap on the rock. There isn't a scar on him - even the injuries of last year from a few overenthusiastic 'friends' were erased before he left the Capitol, and anything he'd done to himself over the winter was taken care of by the prep team that came before reaping.

Boxers, ladies. He unfortunately puts a lot of thought into the 'what if I had to do X in this' question with everything he does. He just drinks enough to usually not care, much.

He dives effortlessly, slicing into the cool water.

[scots_wolf]

"Blueberries?" a somewhat familiar voice tempts from not far away.

If she reacts, then she's not asleep, right?

[sunbaked_baker]

Totally.

Her reaction is not at all blinking herself awake; she's... blinking from the bright sunlight. Or in mild surprise. Something other than waking up. Yes.

"Hmm?" she asks muzzily, stretching. Not because she was asleep, of course, but only because she's been relaxing in the same position for a while. Seeing who it is, she gives him a sleepy smile. "Oh, hey Urquhart."

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart has a coltsfoot leaf full of fresh blueberries from the forest, and offers it to Sunshine after making his way over to her rock.

After the thunderstorm the other day and it's aftermath, he's taken to wearing a shirt and breeches again instead of the plaid. His dog is nosing around in the undergrowth a dozen yards away.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Mm, thank you," she says, accepting the offered blueberries. She scoots over so he might join her on the large rock. "Long time, no see."

Rae has a few more scars than she did the last time he saw her. Though, the last time he saw her, she was a rather colorful bird... so, more scars than the last time he saw her in her normal shape. One of them, a ragged, four-fanged bite mark on her upper arm, has only healed recently.

[scots_wolf]

"You've been in the wars," he comments, sitting down on the rock beside her.

Scotch on the rocks, anyone?

"I've been in peace, living outside with the dog, fishing and hunting and sitting at campfires."

[sunbaked_baker]

"No more wars than usual," Rae says, slightly wry as she eats a blueberry.

"Camping sounds nice and relaxing. I'd assume, anyway; I've never been camping," she smiles. "Hope you didn't get caught out by the rain yesterday."

[scots_wolf]

"I did," Urquhart says. "I was as wet as a drowned rat, and Franz was as wet as, well, a wet dog."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Augh," she laughs, lightly. "I bet Franz was... fragrant."

There are few things worse than a wet dog.

[stuck_mynock]

Atton was going to use the lake. He didn't expect anyone around!

But since there is, he has to lean over Sunshine and sprinkle glitter on her. For the sake of politeness, if nothing else.

[sunbaked_baker]

There isn't any immediate reaction - she's too soundly asleep.



But a few moments later, when she shifts into a more comfortable position... she's awakened with a mighty sneeze.

[stuck_mynock]

Atton beams happily, putting his hands on his hips.

"Glittersome," he remarks.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Huh?" Rae blinks herself awake, moving to sit up. Her sneeze had stirred up a minor glitter-storm in her immediate vicinity. "Why... am I covered in glitter?"

[stuck_mynock]

Atton considers this.

Then: "Teja did it."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine eyes him. He has... interesting shadows, but there's little her Dark Sight wants to tell her.

"I have my doubts," she says after a moment, forming her own suspicions. "Teja and I are supposed to spar next time we meet, anyway. He'd have woke me up."

"...In some other way than by glittering me."

[stuck_mynock]

"He was in a very jovial mood," Atton says innocently. "He just came over here, glittered you, and then danced off into the bar muttering something about dying on the slopes of Vesuvius."

That should give an air of legitimacy to this story, Atton feels.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae stares up at him, blinking. This guy is almost as bad at lying as she is.

Might as well play along.

"Was he outright laughing in between the muttering as he danced, or was it more a darkly humorous chuckle?"