[insert clever pun here]

[64th]

Who: Cashmere and Jack
What: Hadriel's newest and coolest roomies doing cool activities 
Where: Cash & Jack's house
When: sometime too long after Cashmere's super cool network post
Warnings: Not yet?

[ against all reason, Cashmere's network post announcing an essay contest to be her roommate actually got someone to agree to live with her. she's excited to have someone else in the house, and glad that it's Jack, who she's heard enough good things about from Connor to feel like they've both made a good choice. 

dinner seems like a good way to start off and learn more about each other - or at least have Jack tell her more about himself so not all of her knowledge is based on what she's picked up through gossip.]

Okay, first question:  what's your favorite drink?  [ asking the important questions.  ]

Comments

[64th]

[ she hesitates, not sure if she wants to talk about it or not. Cashmere offers a small shrug, setting her own fork and knife aside for the moment. ]

We don't need to get into all of it now. I knew I was going to die but I don't think you can ever be prepared for it. [ she sighs, and avoids making eye contact with Jack. ] Still. The moment I knew my brother was dead I didn't want to live anymore.

[ Cashmere lifts her gaze to look at him again. ] Sometimes this stupid cave doesn't seem half-bad.

[benumbing]

[she had a brother. jack can understand that, though it's been years since he and michelle were really close. cashmere looks and sounds like she died even before she took her last breath.]

It's home. [and that's strange to say. there's all sorts of dangers and inconveniences here. jack was royalty, he should hate everything about a life that includes scavenging.] I would rather die on the floor of this place than go back. Does that make me sound insane?

[64th]

[ weirdly, Cashmere perks up a little. he gets it. sometimes she feels like an outsider, the only person not clamoring for a way out of the cave. but where would she go? there's nothing left for her in Panem.

she shakes her head emphatically. ]

No. [ she laughs. ] Unless I'm insane too, which I'll warn you is a distinct possibility. I'll never go home. Not if I have the choice.

[benumbing]

[he'd wondered if he was the only one. johnny talks about the blue sky, connor about the boyfriend he'd left behind. but he and cashmere seem to understand one another a little bit more.

he smiles to himself and starts to eat and drink again.]

You and your brother must've been close. What was he like?

[64th]

[ it's a good question. she lights up when she talks about Gloss. it all comes out at once, eager to spill out as many details as she can. ]

His name is Gloss. We're twins - he's a few minutes older. He's strong and funny, and smart. He likes to read. He seems stoic and quiet at first but once he gets to know someone he'll talk their ear off. He's so protective of me. And he's tall - huge - actually. Handsome, too, but I mean, look at me. How could he not be? [ Cashmere grins. ] He's always been my favorite person in the entire world. He's my soulmate.

[ their relationship is different than most siblings, and she knows that. ] What about you? Do you have brothers or sisters?

[benumbing]

[it takes him a moment. jack's still picturing her brother, tall and strong and golden. he should be here too. he should still be protecting her, making her world, maybe even her soul, complete.

he clears his throat gently.]

A sister. A twin. [he looks up, smiling faintly. he knows about that bond.] She's older by four minutes. Michelle is...good. Compassionate. Selfless. So many things that I wasn't. We used to share everything when we were children. I would steal cookies from the kitchens every night and take them to her room, and she would tell me stories. Unlike your brother, I hated to read. But I remember so many fairy tales...

[64th]

[ twins. that makes her happy - it's a special bond that only another twin can understand. and his love for his sister is obvious. especially when things are tough, having a sibling feels like a very special gift. ]

Cookies for fairytales. That sounds like a good deal. [ Cashmere smiles. ] Are you still close?

sorry for lateness!

[benumbing]

Not for a long time.

[the quietness of his voice, the downcast of his eyes, they're all unspoken signs of his regret. he even takes a deep breath and exhales it heavily.]

I wonder if she'd even want to see me now. If she did, it would only be because of her capacity to forgive.

[64th]

[ Cashmere's quiet a moment, and takes a long sip of her drink. she can't imagine the ache of losing that kind of bond. ]

Can I ask what happened?

[benumbing]

Our uncle tried to have my our father killed.

[jack lowers his glass, watching her closely as he finishes.]

And I took part in it.