THG Fic: "More Than the Sum" (Haymitch/Annie, PG-13, MJ spoilers)

[deathmallow]

Another Wicked Winter fill here, for trovia

Chars: Haymitch/Annie (yes, I bring you another rare pairing...)
Title: More Than the Sum
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Char death, mentions of murder and sexual slavery.
Spoilers: Post-MJ AU, so CF/MJ spoilers abound.

Comments

[trovia]

This? Is all kinds of awesome. I want to hug it and cuddle with it and put it in my pocket to carry it around. It's just such a nice sentiment.

I like the bit at the end where Annie goes to sleep and Haymitch is still supposing that she will be dreaming of Finnick. His lingering doubts aren't magicked away by the successful sex, and it'll probably be another couple of years until he can put them to rest at least somewhat. Likewise, it'll be a long while before he will allow for a notion of love. But after all the development he has gone through in your story, you also get a sense that it's a matter of more time, not an impossibility. It's just the only way of bringing that point home for him. Meanwhile, it's obvious that Annie cares for him deeply, and wants him around for good. She's a very steady presence here, despite the little mentions of how she's still struggling with her own issues.

Thank you so much for writing it!

[deathmallow]

\o/ So glad you liked it.

But after all the development he has gone through in your story, you also get a sense that it's a matter of more time, not an impossibility.Yay! That came across successfully then. It'll probably be a few more years. It's going to be another instance where Annie crept up on someone romantically, I think. She's not confrontational like Johanna. Annie's more patient. And given this is a more despondent AU than Long Road Home'verse is I think it would have taken him a lot longer anyway. b This is apparently the AU where I kill everyone to make up for everyone I didn't kill in LRH

[trovia]

I'm snickering at the image of Annie picking her prey and sneaking up on them, biding her time in the shadows until the other person is finally overcome with love and jumps her. ;) I'd be scared if a proven killer creeped up on me.

And, hey, I'm not opposed to character death if it means somebody will get laid in exchange! Especially if it's Annie. Aw, Annie. I would date Annie

[deathmallow]

LOL. Oh, Annie. And yes, I kind of chuckled at Finnick's "She sneaked up on me" because...Career, victor, killer...YIKES

[kaitou_lili]

Oh my goodness, this is beauty. Somehow Annie and Haymitch just work so well together. I like the gentle pace you took it at, both of them have ghosts a plenty but they settled slowly into being.

I also adore the fact that you highlighted (in my opinion) for all of Annie's madness Haymitch is the one more damaged.

You are absolutely fantastic and this is absolutely amazing.

[deathmallow]

I'm still H/J and F/A as my primary ships for those two because they just work so well together in terms of personality, and admittedly, H/A is almost inevitably bound to be a "dead Finnick only" ship scenario.

But I was really surprised how well this worked out, and in seeing how it contrasts to H/J and F/A dynamics. Besides, as Finnick is pretty much shipped with everyone out there, it was high time Annie got that opportunity too!

I also adore the fact that you highlighted (in my opinion) for all of Annie's madness Haymitch is the one more damaged.

Definitely the case, and her being portrayed as "mad" is based on a sole snap judgment from Katniss, who has no patience for any kind of mental illness. She may have her PTSD flashbacks but he's most definitely the one worse off psychologically.

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it! :D

[kaitou_lili]

Late response is late. Sorry!

her being portrayed as "mad" is based on a sole snap judgment from Katniss

It probably stems from the same judgement place as Johanna (I'd imagine that possibly Annie's "madness" was played up for the capitol? Finding someway to thwart the capitol's designs.

H/A is almost inevitably bound to be a "dead Finnick only" ship scenario.

I think H/A works a lot better than the G/A I've read (though, I do have to admit I think I found one that had an interesting take on Gale...a bit more sympathetic of a Gale than normally.)

[saucydiva]

Oh I like this! I basically haven't had any time to participate in or even read the ficathon, but I had a few minutes and read this and loved it. This is not a pairing that ever even occurred to me; but it's plausible. It always made sense to me, that Victors would do best paired off with each other, and I like that Annie has the skills she learned from picking up Finnick's pieces to help Haymitch too. Really great- I look forward to my time post-Yuletide exchange to get to dive into all the other stories you and everyone else have written.

[deathmallow]

Thank you! It's a pairing I hadn't really thought about either until that prompt but it worked out pretty nicely. I agree on victor couples--Finnick/Annie is another good example. That's part of one reason Haymitch/Johanna also works so well. Aside from some shared personality traits and shared losses, they have the experience of the arena in common.

Hope you enjoy the other stories when you get around to them! :D

[sabaceanbabe]

Be right back. Sobbing.

[deathmallow]

NOT AT WORK. 0_0

Sorry?

[sabaceanbabe]

Heh. Okay, I managed to not spill too many tears at my desk, but yeah. :P I knew I was in trouble the second I read that Annie and Haymitch were the only two left, that everyone else died in the Capitol. *sniffle*

This is beautiful. Oh, Haymitch!

[deathmallow]

I almost figure H/A has almost gotta be a "Finnick is dead" ship just like a requited F/J pretty much has to be "Annie is dead/Finnick never met Annie".

I make you say Oh, Haymitch! a lot? He needs hugs. Lots of them.

I'll just go back to AFAF now. It's actually happier, strange as that sounds for THGverse...

annie

[crestaodair]

I know that I'm trying to be all sly and whatnot with my "SUPA SECRET" username over here on live journal, but since everyone seems to know who I am anyway (lol) let me just say...I'm fairly known in the fandom for my intense, burning love of Annie Cresta, and when I first clicked on this story I was nervous. Not because I only want Annie with Finnick (Annie is like Hermione in my fanfictions, I'll put her with basically anyone!) but because I just wasn't sure if someone else could write about her in a way that wasn't just CRAZY, STUPID ANNIE CRESTA like most people do. And you didn't do that at all!

This is just wonderful. I've read through this a few times now and I just love it. I love that you have given her more depth and shown that she isn't just some silly girl - she's a woman. I love the words when she strips down for Haymitch and he talks about how she is not a girl at all - that she loved intensely, lost her husband, became a mother. I have tears welling up in my eyes now thinking about it. Thank you so much for sharing

Re: annie

[deathmallow]

Well, your ninja secret is safe. ;) And I hate "crazy", "weak" Annie who just needs to be protected and coddled and treated like a little girl. She's got her issues, that's clear, but she's a grown woman who's survived and loves fiercely and deeply. She knows what she believes in and what she loves, and she's not afraid to embrace it, and that's more than other people in the series can say. (Haymitch, for example, would probably claim she's got more courage than him.)

So while I'm still H/J and F/A primarily because I just love how those two pairings just work so naturally, this was a pairing that worked surprisingly well, all things considered. And I'm thrilled that a huge Annie fan like you gives it the stamp of approval. :)