I Gotta Reach Higher // {The Perches}

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

She spoke with a voice that disrupted the sky
She said walk on over here to the bitter shade
I will wrap you in my arms and you'll know that you're saved

They had been chosen for an extraordinary honor, and Fabian couldn't help but feel that this was the President's way of forgiving his failures. Four had come this close in the 61st, and that was progress, if also deeply disheartening. He had tried to rally his district in the aftermath to no avail. But then President Snow had contacted him personally and told him to get ready, and fast. Fabian had wasted no time in sharing the news with the district. Even he marveled at the transformation, at the way the populace came together around the idea of the Olympics even before the events began.

And he was especially pleased with the President's choice of district invitations. It meant he would be able to spend more time in the company of Gentry and Ridley, as it had been nearly a year since the earthquake disaster had last brought the three Career Mayors together. He had small, ocean-themed invitations drawn up for them, to invite them to stay at the Mayor's beachside mansion for their sojourn in Four. He had ordered the place scrubbed down to the floor boards, and then left Althea in charge of the rest of the details while he busied himself with Capitol correspondence and the details of the events themselves.

It was exhausting, but in a rewarding way he'd never known. There was no losing for Four, so long as the events went off as scheduled. They didn't need a victor; being the host district was victory enough. The lines in his forehead were already set, but they were now joined by parentheses around his constant smile. The morning that the President and Mayors were due to arrive was a busy one, but it found Fabian in unusually good spirits.He had toured the progress of the venues, all in working order if not completely clean, and returned home for lunch to check on things with his family. They would be front and center, the faces of Four instead of their aging victors.

He inquired about his wife's whereabouts and was surprised to hear that she was out on the patio. He wondered if perhaps she planned to entertain the Mayors outside, given the especially temperate weather they were experiencing. Certainly the ocean breeze was a welcome break from the thunderstorms and dripping heat. Fabian pressed his sunglasses into his breast pocket, shielding his eyes from the sun with the back of his head as he stepped out onto the stone.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," he said, all boyish grin as he wrapped his arms around Althea's waist. He dropped a kiss on the back of her neck, holding her so that her spine pressed into his chest, her hips to his hips. "Tell me what you've done so far today."

banner credit: this girl right hurr
lyrics: robert pattinson let me sign

[sbeeg]

Althea Lassandra Dials Perch

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After years of unworthy tributes that just didn't have enough snuff to bring Four a victory, the district was chosen to host this event. The Olympics, Althea had to admit it sounded impressive. In fact the only thing she could fine wrong with the contest was that the age range was much too low. The woman wouldn't say a word about it but when she had heard about the affair she had hoped to enter herself. It was disheartening to be fourteen years older than the cutoff but the useless feeling quickly vanished as responsibility fell into her hands.

Apparently, the Perches would be welcoming the Mayors of the other two Districts into their home, an event that was causing Althea some serious anxiety. District Four had an impression to make and she needed to help it. She'd prefer to be doing it in the swimming lanes, but that was obviously not an option anymore.

Walking around the house, she pointed out corners missed and crooked frames. Straightening the silverware and inspecting the china, such is the life of a Mayor's wife. There were a lot of decisions to make, some tedious and some that caught Althea's interest. Setting up the patio, for instance, actually managed to keep her mind from turning to goo. The wind coming off the ocean was just right- strength, temperature, everything. It was invigorating to have fresh air in her lungs again, and it sure brought back all those memories of meeting underneath the dock.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," oh, the man had perfect timing. Althea felt his arms wrap around her middle, pulling her back against him. His lips brushed against her neck, sending a chill down her spine. "Tell me what you've done so far today."

"Oh, a lot," she smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder nestling against his neck. "Plates, decorations, guest rooms, boring things." Her fingers went up to caress Fabian's face, turning it just enough to let her lips meet his. "And you?"

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

She spoke with a voice that disrupted the sky
She said walk on over here to the bitter shade
I will wrap you in my arms and you'll know that you're saved

He felt her nose and mouth at his neck, and it was enough to make him forget about the details of the day, about his responsibility and obligations. Fabian closed his eyes, fell into the sound of her voice. He lifted his chin so that she would have better access to his neck, his pulse. There was a sanity in being around Althea, a calm that bonded them, that made their marriage one for the ages.

But there was also a turbulence and heat.

He held to that quiet for a moment longer, listening. "All things that needed doing," he murmured, tightening his grip around her body. He was grateful to her, and already plans on how exactly to express that. With flowers, when the closing ceremonies rolled around. And then with other things. Just the thought was enough to make him lose his grip on the peaceful zen and turn to darker thoughts. He ran his left hand up the side of her body, twisted it through her thick dark hair, and then tugged gently, pulling her head to her left and opening up her neck to him. He dropped his lips again, kissing along her collarbone, and then nipping up to her chin.

"You always smell like the sea," he murmured into her flesh, and then breathed deeply to make his point. He took the invitation then, claiming her lips with his own, pressing down and into her for a moment before drawing away just as suddenly.

And his green eyes burned as he looked down into her own. "You are a distraction, Mrs. Perch. I don't know if I'll get anything else done today."

banner credit: this girl right hurr
lyrics: robert pattinson let me sign

[sbeeg]

Althea Lassandra Dials Perch

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The man was enough to drive a girl insane. His hand slid across the material of her dress bunching it up at the hip and rising the hem line. Fingers found her hair, lips searching her skin. Fabian's voice was low and sent chills through her. She was a teenager again, sneaking out in the middle of the night and making promises she shouldn't have. It was moments like this that reminded Althea why she married the handsome Career instead of going into the Games: he was a drug and she was completely addicted to him. His voice, his touch his kisses- it was intoxicating when he was near even after all these years.

His lips were on hers with what felt like all of his passion, which Althea accepted hungrily. "You are a distraction, Mrs. Perch. I don't know if I'll get anything else done today."
A girlish giggle left her lips, and her eyes darted around the patio searching for any workers that straggled behind. Finding none she was satisfied in being her husband's greatest distraction.

"You work too hard anyway," she said, running the tip of her finger along his jawline. I think it's about time you got to spend some quality time at home." her eyes focused on her husband's lips for a moment before flickering back up to meet his green gaze. "With me."