As Far As Tales Go, This One Is Cautionary, by jada_jasmine (R)

[arsenicjade.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE HUNGER GAMES
Pairing: Johanna/Gale, Johanna/Finnick, Finnick/Annie
Length: 8,790 words
Author on LJ: jada_jasmine
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

Because Jada's Johanna-voice is spot on and because this story is about so much more than just Johanna, it's about being a woman in Panem, both pre- and post-revolution. Jada's prose is really...I don't think stark is the word, but it's simple in a way that makes it incredibly powerful. Just, it's a fantastic character study, and an amazing take on what happens after the dust settles.



There is something too sharp about her face now, cheekbones protruding and dangerously clicking into place whenever she smiles. It never really looks like she means it. Her bones shift underneath her skin, pressing tightly against the barrier. The shoulder blades are pointed, clean curved lines rising out of her back, and in the Arena the girl tribute from Two almost snapped her spine clean in half with her bare, meaty hands. Johanna survived that, slithering out of her clammy grip. She killed the girl two days later. Axe to the face, and the crowd went wild.

Back in Seven, before she was reaped, she was considered, by some, pretty.

As Far As Tales Go, This One Is Cautionary