Welcome the Living Doll (Open)

[sierra]

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

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The darkness was home to all when the Games came to town. Sierra knew it was only time before the Games came again. She sighed and looked into the mirror before her. The woman finished touching up her make-up and Sierra pouted her lips. The woman smiled. No doubt from the Capitol. Sierra hated some of this. She hated being a poster child for the Games...the very thing that killed so many people. She turned and stood, walking towards the center of the room where a screen had been set up. The screen showed the Games slogan, painted onto a black background.

She stood before it and faced the photographer. He handed her a teddy bear and she snuggled it close to her. The moves were so familiar...a pout, a twirl..easy. The photographer clapped with delight as she posed over and over. It was a performance...no one cared who she really was. No one wanted to know. She was the girl on the image...the living doll.

After the shoot she was again having her make-up fixed. We couldn't have any camera people taking her image if it wasn't perfect could we? She sighed when she was finally left alone. She looked at herself in the mirror and realized she didn't really know who she was anymore.

"And here we have the camera studios, where currently promotional material for the next Games is being shot." She turned at the sound of the tour guide and wanted to roll her eyes. A bunch of tourists stood behind him, mostly Capitol or lower district member's. The guide saw her and ushered his group forward. "And oh my goodness. Can it be? Ladies and gentlemen we have the privilege of seeing none other than one of the most popular faces in Panem, Sierra Cross!"

The tourists ood and awwd and Sierra stood and dropped a curtsy as some cameras went off around her for the second time today. "You are too kind, really. I'm nothing more than a humble subject of our most amazing Capitol. Do you not agree it is the most splendid found today?" She smiled, knowing what the answer was. It was all so scripted. For once she wanted someone to treat her like she was real.[/color]

[Anna Banana]

Barthandelus wandered the streets of District 2 searching for something to do. His friends were busy training for the games and he was tired of training for the day. So he settled for wandering the streets searching for something to hold his attention. Than he spotted the crowds gather at the promotional shoot for the Games. He rolled his eyes and walked forward. The tyranny of the Capitol shown in what they make this girl do. She is forced into funny clothes just to get the attention of the Capitol dolts.

He shoved his way to the front of the crowd with ease and took in the scene. Than he took in her words, questions rather. How could she say all of that knowing that she probably didn't believe a word. He decided he would say something, something shocking to mix it up. "Your not a humble subject, your a typical Capitol slave. These people aren't kind, if they were they would give you some space."

[sierra]

Sierra noticed a boy walking up to the group. His word's made her blood run cold. Yes, she had been thinking it. Yes, she knew it was true. But no one was stupid enough to say it, or so she thought. The guide seemed rather upset and quickly tried to soothe his charges. "A slave? You can't be serious. She is a fine example of what it means to be an upright citizen of Panem. Isn't that right Sierra?" He smiled at her.

Sierra wanted to say no. To agree with this boy. But she pasted a smile back on her face and straightened her gown. "You are too kind sir. Thank you for your compliment." The group nodded their assent. Yet Sierra's dark eyes met they boy's. She wanted to know who he was without attracting the notice of the group nearby. She turned back to the guide. "Perhaps you should check out the photo shoot set collection in the back."

"What an excellent idea. This way please everyone!" He led the group off and Sierra breathed with relief. She then turned her attention's to the boy nearby, checking to make sure no one was around. "You could be killed for comments like that, you know. What's your name? Do you live in District 2?" She ran a hand over her dark hair and waited for the boy to speak.

[Anna Banana]

At the words of the attendent Barthandelus spat on the ground infront of him. Capitol attendents sickened him to the point he might barf. After the crowds had followed the attendent away he turned his full attention to the girl. Upon looking again she was so odd looking was she even human? She was human though, just a poor girl used by the Capitol.

"Oh yes, I know I could be killed, but it did the trick of giving you the chance to get rid of them for a while. I wanted to give you the chance to be a human and not a puppet of the Capitol. As for my residency, I do live here, my whole life infact. I just have a very low opinion of the Capitol. Strange for a career I know, but oppression is a horrible thing. My name is Barthandelus Thorn, and I'm trying to find a way to help the other Districts. Here's an idea, how bout I take you away from here. We can get to know eachother a little better. Plus it would give you some free time away from all the Capitol swine."

[xaddiex]

Knives walked down the street, kicking a rock in front of her absent-mindedly. The sleeves of her slightly ragged but incredibly comfy purple button down shirt were pushed up over her elbows to reveal long fresh gashes in her forearms. She'd been training for hours with some other Careers and decided to take a short break though in her head she was still creating vivid battle scenarios.

Suddenly a swarm of people cut across her path. A couple waved at her energetically and Knives smile politely in return. It was a Capitol tourist group and there were probably a few of her mum's friends there who'd recognized her. Knives scanned the street to see what they'd been fussing over when she'd got there and saw the one and only Sierra Cross posing for several cameras a few feet away. Having a well-known Capitol stylist as a mother meant Knives has seen, and quite often worn, some pretty outrageous getups but they never ceased to amaze her. She wouldn't have minded posing for the Games herself, sure she'd be good at it, but never in that kind of dress and with a teddy bear?! Please, just please.

Knives walked forward and came to a halt beside a boy who seemed somewhat familiar. Must be a Career, Knives thought. She looked at Sierra and nodded towards her outfit. "Who's the designer?" she asked in a faint Capitol accent which hadn't completely faded since she'd moved. [/color] [/size]

[sierra]

Sierra stared at the boy for a minute. It seemed ludicrous to suggest it. It might even make the tabloids. Yet, she somehow didn't care. Her whole life felt like some trumped up battle. Another day just meant another chance at heartbreak or worse. She turned her gaze slightly to notice a girl coming towards them. She didn't outright recognize the girl though she suspected she had seen her before. She didn't know what to make of her. Her question was simple enough. "Piere Anadias. Alice In Wonderland themed." She wanted to be nice about it but didn't know what to say really to this girl.

"Are you both...Career's?" She had heard of children like herself. Those raised in the hopes of taking the arena. She just hadn't thought of it too much. Most of her lessons had been private anyway with excellent tutors. "Do you know of each other?"

She looked behind her for a second to see that security wasn't paying attention. "I'm a Career." She smiled softly at them. She didn't really like the idea of being taken from what she knew and shoved into a fight for her life. But, in reality, publicity was for the best and she had been told first chance she got she better volunteer. If not this time, then the next. "And the reapings not far off, is it?"

[xaddiex]

Knives quirked an eyebrow at the way the girl looked at her uncertainly but didn't mind much; she was so used to it, usually they were scared. When she finally spoke the name of the stylist, Knives couldn't resist rolling her eyes. "Piere," she scoffed, "what a loon."

She tilted her chin up proudly at Sierra's question, "Naturally, I'm a Career," she said in a tone positively dripping with self-satisfaction, "How do you think I got these?" she asked, running her fingers over the cuts in her forearms which were stained in coagulated blood.

When Sierra told them she was a Career as well, Knives bit down on her bottom lip, afraid she might roll her eyes or even laugh. Of course dreams and ambitions are nice, she thought, but this doll wouldn't last day one! She could remember when she'd been a doll in the Capitol and how much her everyday life had changed since she'd moved to Two.

Then she glanced to her right at the boy who seemed vaguely familiar, "I totally don't remember your name," she said outright, "I'm Knives Savage."

"We still have some time before the reaping. Thinking of volunteering?" she asked them, a slight smirk appearing on her lips. [/color] [/size]
(OOC: Gosh, I'm so sorry about her, Knives is just really arrogant! xP) [/size] [/color]

[Anna Banana]

Barthandelus had only glanced at this girl and he already hated her. His Career pride swelled up in him at her words. He may hate the Capitol and what the Games represented, but he hated arrogance above all. The doll girl was okay she at least seemed as normal, or as normal as possible for her. He spat on the ground again this time in front of the girl, Knife, he remembered she called herself. A cruel sneer curled onto his lips as he spat out some words to Knife.

"Funny, for being a Career I don't recognize your name. Are you sure you didn't cut yourself to make yourself look good? The names Barthandelus Thorn, remember that name because I'll be in the games and win them. In case your wondering yes, I plan on volunteering, but probably not for your self glorifying reasons."

Turning to the other girl, the living doll he smiled at her and spoke. "Yes, I'm a Career and the reaping should be soon. Are you sure you're cut out for the games though? I mean you don't exactly look like Games material?

[sierra]

They laughed at her. She knew her clothes, her mannerisms, they all seemed to point to her as being worthless. And she hated that idea. She felt her eye's take on an icy intensiveness as she looked at both of them. She wanted to tell them who her trained was. A guy she was sometimes pictured with in ads Jackson Cross, her uncle, was a leading survival expert. She was his only protege though he had taught others. She looked back for a second and a slow, sad smile crossed her face. "Well...you know what they say about doll's...we don't feel."

In her lifetime this had been proven over and over. Who cared what she said? Or even if it was that important. She knew she was a doll...it was better not to feel sometimes. She knew they both counted her out already...well, let them. Even if she wasn't fond of volunteering she didn't mind some competition.

"I am volunteering. I expect I'll be chosen." Her voice stayed flat, expressionless. She didn't need to be super cheerful. Yes, she wanted in the games...yes, she would she felt be selected. Bit, it didn't really matter what else she thought. "How did you really get those scars, Rain?"

[xaddiex]

Knives stared back at Barthandelus Thorn with cool indifference. It was almost amusing the way he though he could get to her that easily; did he think he was the first one who'd tried?

She put on the sweetest smile one could imagine and said, "No, I didn't cut myself," she narrowed her eyes maliciously as she continued, "You seem to have a habit for it though. Would you like me to help next time? It might actually improve your appearance." It was only half-true...all right, no, it wasn't true at all; Barthandelus wasn't bad-looking but guys like that often took hits at their appearance pretty hard. Knives gave a haughty little chuckle and sighed, "Oh, but I know you - upper class boy living a life of easy. Probably not as luxuriously as me, but enough that the lower district riff-raff couldn't climb halfway up your wealth hill, aint that right? You'd better wise up, kid, not knowing your competition won't do you any good. You're speaking like a rookie." It was rather fun, saying all these things, considering Barthandelus was about a year older than Knives and noticeably bigger.

Knives rolled her eyes smugly and turned away from the boy to face the dolly again. "Did you just call me Rain?" she asked then, looking down at her wounds again, "These are no biggie - the result of two hours of knife throwing practice and people getting sloppy once they're exhausted. I've had way worse and I heal fast." Knives pulled up her shirt slightly to reveal yet more cuts and a purplish bruise over her lower ribcage. "And if it's not already obvious, I plan to volunteer." [/color] [/size]

[Anna Banana]

Ah, that fire in Barthandelus was rekindled. She took a jab at his appearance, to bad he didn't care for his appearance either so it wasn't much of an insult. Infact there really was only one way to bait him, but he was the only one who knew how, and that's how he liked it. He smiled warmly at her and answered in an equally pleasant tone.

"Sure, I'll call you next time I make a new face for myself. I'm rather disappointed with how this one cameout myself. Oh, yes, I am wealthy, and I've never wanted for anything. Apparently you haven't either judging by your attitude. Incase you were wondering, I do keep track of my competition. It's for that reason that I never bothered to pay you any attention."

It had been a while since someone went into a verbal battle with him. He enjoyed those kinds of battles over weapons. Despite his size and strength he preferred to stay away from battle. Good thing she didn't know he was called the gentle giant by most of the other Careers. He felt bad for insulting the doll girl and turned his attention to her once more.

"I meant no insult, it's just your not the typical Career I guess. I don't doubt your heart and will power, or even your abilities. To underestimate a foe leads to death in the Games."

[sierra]

Sierra smiled sheepishly at the girl. "Sorry, I had a friend named Rain." She turned to look at the boy talking to her. "A lot of people like to think I'm too fragile. But yes, in general, that's how one does die in the game's." She turned towards a man who took her to the back to change clothes. Moments later she returned, done up in a different look. She looked at them and waved her arms. "Ta-da!"

A small smirk crossed her features. "See, I can look normal too. Or relatively anyway."

She got quiet again as a make-up and hair person ran out to touch up her look. She sighed and wanted to mime tapping her little feet in impatience but figured it would not help her much anyway. She tilted her head to the side and thought. "So, what brought you two here today?"

Tag: xaddiex and Axel
Outfit
Note's: Sorry about the length. A little muse-less today.

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