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Jun. 16th, 2021 01:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
goldtoes[ He didn't even protest when the Peacekeepers came for him.
Leif, five feet tall and eighty-seven pounds precisely, had been sitting at the table tearing bread apart with his fingers and dipping it into olive oil with cracked pepper, an old comfort food, when they banged on the door. He stood, navigated calmly to it, and stared up at them with green eyes that were fearless mostly in defeat more than in bravery. Come with us.]
Do I have time to pack some things? [ Not disinterested, but unconcerned. ]
No.
All right. [ He picks up the bag he keeps by the door and follows them, flanked two by two, a quadrant of faceless danger. They bring him to the train. District 11 will never see him again, but it doesn't matter. He has no one here, anyway. So it doesn't matter. Nothing much does anymore.
He sits against the window though there's no reason to, really, and watches out the window as the rest of his life rolls past and away from him. His vision's good enough to navigate, to identify faces and places, but the fact is that his cornea are so scarred over by now that they look like puddles of heavy cream, just a spill, an accident, something that was never supposed to happen in the first place --
The Capitol comes sooner than he expects, and there was never magic in it in the first place - not before, not as a tribute, not now as a victor, either. Not led in unbuckled overalls and flannel and a plain white t-shirt, not with his quadrant of peacekeepers doubled to a formation of eight that brought him like a well-earned prize, delivered him like a gift. Leif says nothing. ]
Leif, five feet tall and eighty-seven pounds precisely, had been sitting at the table tearing bread apart with his fingers and dipping it into olive oil with cracked pepper, an old comfort food, when they banged on the door. He stood, navigated calmly to it, and stared up at them with green eyes that were fearless mostly in defeat more than in bravery. Come with us.]
Do I have time to pack some things? [ Not disinterested, but unconcerned. ]
No.
All right. [ He picks up the bag he keeps by the door and follows them, flanked two by two, a quadrant of faceless danger. They bring him to the train. District 11 will never see him again, but it doesn't matter. He has no one here, anyway. So it doesn't matter. Nothing much does anymore.
He sits against the window though there's no reason to, really, and watches out the window as the rest of his life rolls past and away from him. His vision's good enough to navigate, to identify faces and places, but the fact is that his cornea are so scarred over by now that they look like puddles of heavy cream, just a spill, an accident, something that was never supposed to happen in the first place --
The Capitol comes sooner than he expects, and there was never magic in it in the first place - not before, not as a tribute, not now as a victor, either. Not led in unbuckled overalls and flannel and a plain white t-shirt, not with his quadrant of peacekeepers doubled to a formation of eight that brought him like a well-earned prize, delivered him like a gift. Leif says nothing. ]
god he really doesnt. he will do his best!?!?
Date: 2021-08-12 03:15 am (UTC)He takes a moment to appreciate the sight of Leif letting himself soak in the experience as he steps in to the shower, and takes up a spot directly behind him. ] You look like you feel better already. [ His hands begin to comb Leif's wet hair back, away from his face.
The mingle of the water and Leif's magnified scent wraps around Rhys' senses like a blanket, and he sighs dreamily. It's a perfect combination, so unlike city air. It's organic and fresh, something he'd love to nestle against and breathe in... But he'd like to avoid inhaling water, so he grudgingly refrains. ]
that is all leif asks for ok
Date: 2021-08-12 03:28 am (UTC)It's ridiculous, you have screens for everything. [ But - is that fondness in his voice? Amusement, at the very least. He's got dimpled when he smiles. ] Even in your shower. Mother's mercy, it'll take getting used to.
sobs he's too precious for this world...
Date: 2021-08-12 03:39 am (UTC)You're tired of them already? Really? You haven't even seen the screens for the bed. [ Kidding. He's kidding! ]
i love him he's just trying ok
Date: 2021-08-12 03:50 am (UTC)If I actually get in the bedroom and there are screens in there I might have to... to. I don't know. Cut the power or something.
he is doing real good!!
Date: 2021-08-12 04:05 am (UTC)Rhys just smiles, voice gentle when he gives him a word of advice. ] Keep your eyes closed now. [ His hands pull away, and there's a click-and-snap of a bottle before his touch returns. He begins working a cool gel against Leif's head, easing it in to a lather. It's all part of a very predictable process: shampoo, rinse, condition, and Rhys is happy to take care of each and every step. ]
pepehands
Date: 2021-08-12 01:27 pm (UTC)He wonders briefly if there's some ulterior motive in all this. And then he thinks of the rain, in the arena, and Rhys is safe and solid behind him but what if he wasn't - what if he was a Career, and those hands nestled gently in his hair could move to snap his neck like that, quick and clean and one more cannonfire --
But he knows that's not where he is, even though the anxiety coils into his chest and he shakes a little, drawing in a measured breath and letting it out again. The panic rolls off him in waves, a subtle undercurrent creeping beneath natural scent.
He'll be something, though, when it's done. After he's calm again, and his hair is washed and dried, whatever those scruffy, tangled curls were are going to be something else entirely, soft like strawberry-blond cornsilk and bouncy in lazy spirals. ]
SWEET BABy...
Date: 2021-08-13 04:23 am (UTC)This is worse. The shaking is minor, something he's willing to dismiss at first, but then the steam holds a sour bite of distress. Unease? No, more than that. It's sudden and sharp. Maybe outright panic or fear.
From what? ] Leif...?
[ Alarmed, Rhys begins to rinse the suds from Leif's hair. If something is happening, they don't need him burning the shit out of his eyes in the middle of it. ] Are you afraid?
trauma do be that way eh
Date: 2021-08-13 09:01 pm (UTC)Yes. [ He breathes, slow. ] But not of you. Just - the water and having my eyes closed, and it's sort of like, [ how does he explain this to a man of such privilege? He doesn't even know. ] Like I was back in the arena again.
bout to get me some trauma from all this OVERTIME
Date: 2021-08-18 04:52 pm (UTC)He's unsure how to address such a thing. Saying this isn't the arena is pointless, because that's obvious, so he settles on the second absurd thought that pops in to his head. ] ...Are you calling my bathroom a swamp? [ Nailed it. ]
NO BB hang in there
Date: 2021-08-18 05:04 pm (UTC)If that's what you got out of what I said, this really is hopeless.
[ Alright, so maybe he wasn't the picture perfect submissive obdient omega. Leif had opinions, and he was going to share them whether Rhys wanted him to or not.]
no subject
Date: 2021-08-18 05:32 pm (UTC)Was I supposed to tell you that you're not in the arena? You know you're not. [ His hands settle on Leif's shoulders, a thumb rubbing over his water-warmed skin apologetically. ] It would've been an insult to your intelligence. [ Or so he assumes... ]
no subject
Date: 2021-08-18 05:36 pm (UTC)No, that's not how this works.
[ This is true. He sighs, dropping his head forward as Rhys' thumb strokes his shoulder. ] Reassurance is helpful. It sounds stupid. But it's grounding. My brain doesn't know I'm not in the arena. It has nothing to do with... [ He waves his hands around, vaguely, as if to indicate just sort of everything. ]
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Date: 2021-08-18 05:47 pm (UTC)Well, that makes no damned sense. Rhys frowns, brows furrowing as he makes notes to himself. All right, reassurance is what works. Even if it seems counter-productive or offensive... If it's what Leif needs, then so be it. He can make an effort to provide that.
While they're on the horrifically awkward subject, though, he supposes he can get away with learning more about Leif's... condition. ] Does it happen often?
dozes off in afternoon group and tags instead
Date: 2021-08-18 05:51 pm (UTC)It's very weird.]
The nightmares are worse. I'm never not scared, but sometimes it turns into... [ This, yes. ] This was mild. If that's not something you want to deal with, I understand.
my puppos are taunting me with naps but i wILL NOT
Date: 2021-08-18 06:13 pm (UTC)At times he may end up confused or frustrated or at a loss for how to deal with Leif and his issues, but it's all tied together now. The drive to protect is unshakeable. Whatever hurts Leif will hurt Rhys- like hearing he's never not scared. That aches in a way he can't explain. Leif shouldn't feel that way, it's not right. ]
You'll be all right. The other victors turned out fine. [ No, they did not. He's just not close enough to them to see it. ] Do you think talking to a few of them would help?
I BELIEVE!!!
Date: 2021-08-18 06:17 pm (UTC)You're right, I don't understand. [ No one gave him the chance to, but he doesn't say this part. He laughs, suddenly. ]
They're not fine. They're as bad as me. Worse off, a couple of them. I met some of the mentors. I can see it in their eyes and I can smell the alcohol.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-18 06:46 pm (UTC)Does that mean Leif will never be fine?
The thought is distressing. His other arm wraps around Leif, as if he's trying to protect him from the very idea, and then his hand begins to move again. Relieving Leif's tension while his own builds. ] I don't want you taking up that habit.
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Date: 2021-08-18 06:49 pm (UTC)I won't. I have my ways of quelling the storm. That's not one of them.
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Date: 2021-08-18 07:52 pm (UTC)He may be feeling a little clingy. ]
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Date: 2021-08-18 08:45 pm (UTC)His smile this time is genuine, and there's a little spark of life in him, suddenly, like someone stoked a fire. ]
I fix things, mostly. I either... I used to, [ he catches himself here, and he's quiet but warm, now. The bitterness has faded off. ] fix things for people in my town. Sometimes I found broken things and fixed them, and then traded them.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-19 01:51 am (UTC)He seems to be a bit bewildered while he preps the sponge, then distracted as he takes it and begins to gently scrub at Leif's scrawny torso. ] Do you... want things around? That you can fix? [ Rhys isn't even sure where he'd find such things, but fuck it, he'd try. He'd try for Leif. ]
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Date: 2021-08-19 02:10 am (UTC)[ Leif turns his head to nose at Rhys' arm, and he smiles just a little against the wet skin. It matters that he wants to try, even if he doesn't know how.
It makes Leif feel a little less lost. And the fear is gone, now that he's been touched and soothed and distracted - the only way you're going to make it out of this alive is on accident, his mentor had told him, eyes dull and haunted and blank from years of watching children hunted to death.
Well, it wasn't a bad accident, Leif thought. ]
I don't know electronics very well, the ones you use up here? I can do some of it, like in toasters and old radios. But that's it. We don't have anything like the tablets there, so I wouldn't know where to start. [ He hesitates, then straightens with pride. ] But I bet I could figure them out.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-20 01:38 am (UTC)Rhys smiles at Leif- the way he perks up while covered in bubbles, the pride in his voice. There's the fire he wants to feed. ] I bet you could, you're clever enough. [ It's not just lip service. He'd believed wholeheartedly that Leif was razor-sharp, even from the beginning. ] More clever than me, for sure. I wouldn't know what to do with any of it.
guess who gets released from his HOSPITAL PRISON TMR ITS MEEEEeee
Date: 2021-08-20 01:42 am (UTC)Definitely could be worse. Rhys, for one, could have been markedly less gorgeous and tall than he was, which... well, look, it didn't matter. ]
Mm-mm. I don't know if it's clever, exactly. Just something I picked up, here and there. It builds on itself. Once you understand the basics, anything is easy.
PRISON BREAK PRISON BREAK push the call button 300 times to celebrate
Date: 2021-08-20 01:57 am (UTC)Don't sell yourself short. [ Rhys steps back as he begins to wash Leif's back, ducking down to deliver a quick little nip to an un-soaped patch of shoulder. ] You've got a talent, you're allowed to flaunt it. It'll only get better the more you use it, too. [ Leif will be able to fix everything in the house? Forget floppy displays of submission, that will make Rhys swoon. ]
HAHAHA thankfully its intensive outpatient but over a month of 7hr a day active therapy is...
From:n o e... thats more hours than i even want to be awake, you are a baller
From:tbh i am so burned out right now i just wanna sleep after my last day tmr
From:you maybe should! take a lil 5 hr nap lol
From:no work only sleep head empty
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From:poor rhys i weeps
From:so dumb... so capitol...
From:PROTECC HIM i have to be out of the house at 745a help me
From:that is a disgusting time just take AM off the whole clock
From:wheezes weakly
From:it's ok i accept u
From:bless i couldn't be bothered
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