crystal ships (sailing out) — annie & axel

She still didn’t know how to process everything that was going on. She wondered if this was how Leon felt when he brought home her for the first time. Beck had been nothing but resilient and Annie couldn’t lie. She was impressed. Of course, being a career, you were taught that you would have to do unspeakable things in order to win the games, but Annie didn’t have the same experience as Beck. Sure, she killed. She murdered her friends and foes in order to get to the crown, but she didn’t have to go around to each district and talk to a virtual version of them. No. She got to stare at them all in the face and talk about how their deaths led her to claiming the crown. She knew none of them were thankful, hell, she didn’t blame them for that. Its why she kept her distance from so many of them. She cared. But she didn’t care enough to put her through the torture of facing them on a day to day bases.

She had her nightmares for that.

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She had made a b-line for the victor village as soon as she gotten off the train. They tried to come at a time where not many people would be awake. They needed to introduce Beck to his new home, a mansion that had been a pretty close walk to Annies and Leon’s. Each house did come with its own section of the beach, and that was always the first place Annie wanted to go too. She had always felt comfort near water, and she could always collect her thoughts better. She didn’t say too much to Beck, seeing as it was pretty self explanatory. Here you go, you killed a couple people and came home, you get a house and all the riches you could even imagine. Have fun. Annie was on the verge of vomiting, so she knew that it was her time to separate for the time being. She knew that she would have to make an appearance later, even if she didn’t want too. The peacekeepers standing outside of the village made it very obvious that the capitol had plans for all of them, even if Leon and Annie didn’t want to participate.

If you need anything, this is my phone number, you can call me. Ill race right over Beck. She thought about those words as she turned on the hot water in her own shower and began to scrub herself clean. She didn’t know if anyone else was here, but at this point, she didn’t even remember who had keys to the place. Angel of course, Wander, Axel, Beatrice. She was sure there was others, but she began to lose herself in the steam of the shower. It wasn’t important. its in the foyer. she said to Beck before turning her back and running. She needed to get away from all of this, even if for a moment.

The water cleansed her enough for her to at least relax. She still, wasn’t a fan of how much pressure she felt on her, but that didn’t matter anymore. She was a victor, precious to some, and important to anyone in the capitol. She lingered on a couple thoughts for a moment, most of them pertaining to one Shelby Levaine. She knew who she was talking too in the moment, she just didn’t know she was going to end up in the same bed as her. The next morning had been weird, but Annie tried her best to compartmentalize it, seeing as now she had much bigger things to worry about.

She wrapped herself in robe and put her hair up in a towel. She felt elegant for a moment, until she heard the door slam open. The sounds coming from the foyer told her that it was Axel. She couldn’t help but smile. Out of that part of her family, Axel was the one that Annie related too the most. She knew that he had it rough there, after all, his other siblings had a very snide attitude towards her. Anton thought he could do anything now that he had been related to a victor, and Anissa thought she could do what Annie did, but better. She would always laugh in Anissa’s face when she said such a thing. She really had no clue what she was talking about. Dreaming about the games, and being in the games were completely different things after all. Maybe one day she would be reaped, and she would get to see what it meant to really fight for her life.

Annie wasn’t sure if she would want to see her come out of it if she was being honest with herself.

But when it came to Axel, he was another story. She did want to see him come out of the games if that was the case. She knew that he was strong, even for a youngin. The way he acted was a little crass, but Annie enjoyed that about him. It always made for interesting situations. Even watching him saunter into the living room and resting on the couch made her giggle a little bit. ”Well, hi there yourself.” She said, leaning against the wall and looking at him with a concerned look. He then began to rattle off questions like he was giving an exam to her. She processed them quickly. ”No, I have not met her yet, that was not announced until we were getting on the train.” Annie was honest, shrugging a bit. ”Beck is just across the way actually. Hes shaken up, but so was I when I won.” Annie looked at the door for a moment and then realized that she also needed to not press on it anymore for the time being. She noticed his feet over the armrest. ”Why?” she stopped herself. ”I can tell you more if you want to come outside with me. I need some time on the beach to just relax.” Annie had always been honest with the boy. He was one of the only people she felt like she could be at the least.

”Ill spill all the details you want, as long as you follow me.” She said with a smirk before moving into a walk in closet in the foyer and changing into a swimsuit, putting the robe back on and covering herself up. She grabbed a pair of boys trunks from the same closet and threw them at Axel. ”Here, lets go.” she said with a small smile before heading towards the kitchen and to the sliding screen door.

To the place where she felt like her knew.