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crack_van2012-11-09 01:45 pm
stars-inthe-sky.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2012-11-09 01:45 pm
Entry tags:
"The Fire Beneath" by DustWriter (M)
Fandom: THE HUNGER GAMES
Pairing: Katniss/Peeta, Madge/Gale
Length: 42,423 words
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: DustWriter Fics
Why this must be read: This is my second AU rec by this author, admittedly, but I have my reasons. Namely, that true alternate-universe fics in this fandom are difficult to do well, and that this is an example of a fic that succeeds. The author sets a familiar cast of characters in a Pennsylvania coal mining town, and while there's no real-world equivalent of the Games, there's still plenty of risk, poverty, and weighted promises of a better life. I think it's the truest THG AU I've read, and I hope you agree.
They let silence invade the space between them again. This time, Katniss decided to break it. "Why ain't you in school?"
"Didn't do my chem homework. Smith said I didn't turn it in again he'd flunk me. Figured I'd just skip."
"You gonna graduate?"
Madge chewed on a plastic stirring straw. "Dunno. Maybe." She sighed. "'d be nice to get outta here on time, but…I dunno."
Katniss nodded.
"What 'bout you?"
"I doubt it. I got too much to do outside o' school. Momma needs so much help with Prim n' all."
"You gonna join the Air Force still?"
"I hope so. Gonna be harder with a GED, but I guess I just gotta study real hard."
"You can have my books n' stuff. From las' year. Didn't return none of 'em for that school refund. Woulda just gone back to his credit card anyway."
Katniss smiled at the bar top. "You always been a good friend, Madge."
Madge laughed. "Well, you's my only friend, so I guess we even."
They finished their drinks and true to Madge's word, Darius waved them away without a bill. Madge winked at him when they walked out the door.
"You doin' anything else t'day?" Madge asked, lighting a new cigarette and tucking the pack into the ankle of her sneaker.
"Nah, gotta get home and take care o' the house. Needs a good cleanin'."
"Lame. You wanna ride?"
"I got my bike, I'm okay."
Madge eyed her. "Okay," she said slowly. "You gonna call me? I'm gonna start showin' up at your house you don't call me."
"Ain't got a phone, Madge. Cut it off to get away from the lawyers and reporters."
"What the hell?" Madge stared at her. "I guess you gonna hafta start comin' to school to see me, hunh?" She took Katniss' hand. "But seriously. I hate goin' there without you. Please come back. Delly Cartwright decided I'm her outreach project this year n' her cheerfulness could wear a hole in paint finish."
Katniss hemmed. "I dunno, Madge. I don't wanna see all those people."
"It ain't bad as you think," Madge said as they reached her bike. She leaned against the wall and stubbed her cigarette against the bricks. "Honestly, after what happened no one talks shit anymore. 'Cept maybe Leevy, but ain't no one like her holier-than-thou attitude. It's worse than mine," Madge grinned.
"I don't think I can see him, Madge."
"Oh." Madge cleared her throat and paused. "Umm. He's been askin' 'bout you."
She imagined her eyebrows could have floated off her forehead.
"He don't blame you, Kitty. He's got a good heart, he knows it ain't your fault."
She tried to respond, but she could only nod.
The Fire Beneath
Pairing: Katniss/Peeta, Madge/Gale
Length: 42,423 words
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: DustWriter Fics
Why this must be read: This is my second AU rec by this author, admittedly, but I have my reasons. Namely, that true alternate-universe fics in this fandom are difficult to do well, and that this is an example of a fic that succeeds. The author sets a familiar cast of characters in a Pennsylvania coal mining town, and while there's no real-world equivalent of the Games, there's still plenty of risk, poverty, and weighted promises of a better life. I think it's the truest THG AU I've read, and I hope you agree.
They let silence invade the space between them again. This time, Katniss decided to break it. "Why ain't you in school?"
"Didn't do my chem homework. Smith said I didn't turn it in again he'd flunk me. Figured I'd just skip."
"You gonna graduate?"
Madge chewed on a plastic stirring straw. "Dunno. Maybe." She sighed. "'d be nice to get outta here on time, but…I dunno."
Katniss nodded.
"What 'bout you?"
"I doubt it. I got too much to do outside o' school. Momma needs so much help with Prim n' all."
"You gonna join the Air Force still?"
"I hope so. Gonna be harder with a GED, but I guess I just gotta study real hard."
"You can have my books n' stuff. From las' year. Didn't return none of 'em for that school refund. Woulda just gone back to his credit card anyway."
Katniss smiled at the bar top. "You always been a good friend, Madge."
Madge laughed. "Well, you's my only friend, so I guess we even."
They finished their drinks and true to Madge's word, Darius waved them away without a bill. Madge winked at him when they walked out the door.
"You doin' anything else t'day?" Madge asked, lighting a new cigarette and tucking the pack into the ankle of her sneaker.
"Nah, gotta get home and take care o' the house. Needs a good cleanin'."
"Lame. You wanna ride?"
"I got my bike, I'm okay."
Madge eyed her. "Okay," she said slowly. "You gonna call me? I'm gonna start showin' up at your house you don't call me."
"Ain't got a phone, Madge. Cut it off to get away from the lawyers and reporters."
"What the hell?" Madge stared at her. "I guess you gonna hafta start comin' to school to see me, hunh?" She took Katniss' hand. "But seriously. I hate goin' there without you. Please come back. Delly Cartwright decided I'm her outreach project this year n' her cheerfulness could wear a hole in paint finish."
Katniss hemmed. "I dunno, Madge. I don't wanna see all those people."
"It ain't bad as you think," Madge said as they reached her bike. She leaned against the wall and stubbed her cigarette against the bricks. "Honestly, after what happened no one talks shit anymore. 'Cept maybe Leevy, but ain't no one like her holier-than-thou attitude. It's worse than mine," Madge grinned.
"I don't think I can see him, Madge."
"Oh." Madge cleared her throat and paused. "Umm. He's been askin' 'bout you."
She imagined her eyebrows could have floated off her forehead.
"He don't blame you, Kitty. He's got a good heart, he knows it ain't your fault."
She tried to respond, but she could only nod.
The Fire Beneath