Room 221 [Friday evening]

[thegirl_onfire]

Katniss had spent her morning experiencing her first hangover, then being harshly woken by Peeta.

And then she'd been pushed back to Fandom, but with plenty on her mind. Peeta was right: this time they had an advantage. They could train. They would train. They'd become Careers. She would work hard here, to keep her skills sharp and her muscles

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[trickydemigod]

Luke had been wandering around town as was his habit when he got restless and bored and was on his way back up to his room when he spotted Katniss's open door. He snuck a peek inside and frowned, unsure if he should just leave her be or try to talk to her.

Eventually he decided on the latter. He tapped on the doorframe lightly. "Hey."

[trickydemigod]

"Well if you need someone to train with, I'm around," Luke offered. "I mean, I mostly know swords and knives but I'm kind of genetically predisposed to be a jack of all trades."

[thegirl_onfire]

"Swords and knives?" she asked, perking up a little. "I'd actually appreciate that. I'm good with a bow, and I can skin something if I needed, but I'm not as good with other weapons as I'd like to be.

[trickydemigod]

"Yeah, see, I'm awesome with swords and knives but not so great with a bow," Luke said, smirking. He was just proud he could shoot one in the right direction. "But I'd be happy to help. Whatever helps you help keep that guy alive."

Part of him hoped that it would help keep her alive as well but he knew how these things worked. It was easier to live through a life or death situation if you at least pretended the death part wasn't that big of a deal.

[thegirl_onfire]

"Thank you," she said quietly, sincerely. "It's never certain what weapons we'll get in the arena, so anything that'll broaden my horizons gives me another chance to keep someone from hurting Peeta. And I'd be happy to show you your way around a bow in return, if you'd like."

[trickydemigod]

"I'd appreciate it," Luke said. "I should probably get better with long range weapons. Would probably save me some scars."

Not that he needed to worry about monsters much anymore considering Kronos had gotten them over to his side.

[thegirl_onfire]

"I wish I had scars," she said honestly. "They're your story. They show what you've endured, and they're a mark of strength. Mine got wiped away last year, and it's weird. But the process of gaining them isn't fun, so I understand that."

[trickydemigod]

"I don't mind most of my scars," he admitted. Luke's hand went up to the scar on his face. "Could have done without this one, though. Tends to freak small children out."

[thegirl_onfire]

"I've always been curious about it," she admitted. "Seemed rude to ask, though."

Which wasn't stopping her now, obviously.

[trickydemigod]

"It's fine. Most people in my universe knows how I got it so it's not like it's some big secret," Luke said with a shrug. "Demigods have to prove themselves as heroes in order to get the attention of their parents, so they send us off on quests to do dangerous things and if we don't die in a cowardly manner then you get glory and hopefully your divine parent will actually speak to you for once."

Him? Bitter? No way.

"So when I was fourteen my father sent a message that he wanted me to steal these golden apples that were guarded by a dragon. Not really that impressive since another hero had done it before," he continued. "But I went anyway and fought the dragon and it ended up clawing half my face off. I didn't exactly come back a hero."

[thegirl_onfire]

"You fought a dragon?" Katniss asked, wide-eyed. "And people weren't impressed that you'd even attempted? Luke, in my world, fourteen year-olds routinely kill each other for sport, and I'm impressed."

[trickydemigod]

"I appreciate the compliment but it's different where I'm from," he said, shaking his head. "If you don't make a name for yourself as a hero you're nothing. The gods--your own family--will continue to ignore you. We're just trophies to them and if you're not good enough to be a trophy then you get shoved off to a camp where you can be easily ignored."

[thegirl_onfire]

"Do you get a second chance?" she asked carefully. "To gain their attention? Or is it one shot and then you're done?"

[trickydemigod]

"After I got back to the camp for people like me the gods stopped allowing us the chance to prove ourselves," Luke said, shaking his head. "I pretty much ruined it for everyone."

He shrugged after a moment. "It's okay though. I'll get their attention again someday."

Just probably not in the way they (aside from Apollo) intended.

[thegirl_onfire]

"You didn't ruin it," she tried, frowning a little. "I mean, you're here. Can't you do something here for them to see, to make it up? The gods can still see you here, can't they? Different universes, and all, but...they're gods."

[trickydemigod]

"Fandom's a blind spot for them, actually. Greek gods are different than the kind of gods most people pray to. They aren't infallible and can be tricked," Luke explained. "They're also selfish, greedy and hurt others for fun. The only reason they are in charge is because nobody has had the power or guts to stop them."