Jolene Washburn, District 10 [Finished]

[Deleted]

I let the day go by
I always say goodbye
I watch the stars from my window sill
The whole world is moving and I'm standing still...

(Name) Jolene Washburn

(District) 10

(Age) Seventeen-and-a-half

(Gender) Female

( A body, that’s all I got)

She doesn’t stop for no man. Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll get a smile out of her, with her hand above her eyes to block out the sun. But she rolls along faster than you can think, ‘cause that’s her way. Jolene got the smile that would make hearts pump a bit faster, if she’ll show it—good teeth is a hard thing to come by in this District. But she ain’t got much of a mind to show them, not unless she wants something. But don’t let that that make you think this here ain’t a beauty. Though she don’t hide behind a slather of make-up, she can still shine just as bright as anyone else. There’s a certainty she’s bought into, with the curve of her hips and the flick of her wrist.

She’ll motion to you, her hands long and thin—too thin—and she won’t ask twice. Too much pressure and she might break, it’s what’s most striking. Something so fragile seems to hold more power than you’d expect. Long limbs fragile as the trees out in the summer sun. Lookin’ like they might snap in half, but watch out, she ain’t going to let you get too close. Cigarette in hand, she’ll ask for a light and blow the smoke into your face, with a thank you darlin’ that’ll leave you weak in the knees. She turns her head away often—taste for her is as fickle as the wind. Don’t think she got much more than the moment about her. It’s in the way she dresses—flowing clothes that dwarf her small frame and keep her tucked away from the world.

Jolene’s the type that got plenty of secrets—always hidden but never shy. She likes to say she got as many as the freckles on her face. Tends to get into more trouble during the summer, so this ain’t far from true. But don’t let the flowers she likes to put in her hair ever fool you: she’s nothing but business. With ivy skin and eyes of emerald green, some say she’s got a look that’ll haunt you. A good stare from her—Jolene likes to stare—and those eye’s will pierce you, if you ain’t too careful. And she might say that’s one of her favorite things to do.

( But my mind ain’t one to be fooled. )

Nothing is better than the feel of her hair in the wind. Just something she was born lovin’ out here in District 10. Sure there’s some that keep their heads buried and pretend to love it—they don’t eat, sleep, and breathe the ranching like Jolene does. It’s freedom for her, being able to keep one step ahead of everyone else. Helps her keep a bit of a secret, not ever looking you in the eye, or keeping her voice hushed. And a harsh word here or there helps to show that she don’t care one bit about you—not like she does it to hurt, just to show that she can have power, too.

Freedom. That’s a funny word, ain’t it? Don’t know what she’d do with it if she ever got it. Half her life is spent tryin’ to push back against expectations, the other half is making people live up to her own. The sour look on her face might be from all the disappointment; she never seems happy ‘cause she doesn’t ever expect to get what she wants. Has a lot to learn still about the way of the world. Jolene got half a mind to leave this District and disappear into the great blue yonder, if it weren’t for her younger sisters. She swears by the stars that one day she’ll be up and gone, like the dust in the wind, ‘cause District 10 is too small a place for her.

Don’t let her fool you, if she plays like she don’t know somethin’. It’s more likely she just don’t want to know, or can’t be bothered. She’ll give a laugh or a grunt, and push back that long red hair of hers. All the while she’ll move along and wave away her hands—she hasn’t got time or the mind for useless distractions. Been known to get her into trouble, that mighty amount of pride she has. Maybe it’s being the first born (to live) that makes her challenge everything so. They can’t tie her down or nothin’, and ripred help you if you try. But who’s to say what’s in this girl’s heart? Ain’t nobody pierced it yet, none that I can see.

But she don’t know everything—doesn’t always claim to. She just don’t want to be left in the background; for everything to unravel and to wind up old and wrinkled and gray, trapped in her dresses and doomed to serve tea. Or worse, to waste time searching for a place to feel happy, only to die miserable and alone. Better hope that she learns her place, else she’s going to be unhappy for the rest of her life.

(Just as chained as the rest of these sorry shits here...)

She was the second born, after one baby made its way out of this world. They buried him up near the windmill, with a little stone that read Peter Washburn, Gone Too Soon. Lots of people said the Washburns was lucky, since they ain’t never gonna be able to have any kids. Like a dam that was plugged up good, weren’t no babies coming. Made Martha real sad. She had always been such a happy girl, couldn’t believe that face could have so much sadness. Jim turned to his work, raising cattle and running a ranch. A pretty little piece of property, and since they didn’t have no one to take care of, didn’t have to worry so much about what they sent around. Almost lucky that they didn’t have any little ones to march to the reapings year after year.

They was lucky for a good while, until something opened up the floodgates again. Weren’t sure if it were the long hours they spent together—working on the farm, going out to town, and the like. Maybe it was the sadness that weighed on her, until it couldn’t break her and just gave up. ‘Cause there one thing you gotta know about the Washburns, is that they ain’t breakable. Fussy folk, they be. ‘Cause you could have a better chance of convincing a stubborn steer you right than telling a Washburn something they can’t do. Ain’t in their nature to be told no. And so Jolene came first, red hair and all, mama’s pride and joy. That sadness was all gone; Momma all proud and happy to have her little angel.

Then came Sara, and then Katherine. Whole house full of womens. Poor Jim couldn’t ever get a word in edgewise, raising all them girls. ‘Course, he had a hard time juggling all of ‘em and figuring out what they wanted. District 10 ain’t no place for a woman… either got to be tough or watched over. Even then there ain’t no guarantee you’ll make it out—that’s just life around here, though. So theys a little more rough around the edges. Wild, even. Jolene takes to staying out past when she should, with a mouth like a sailor. Swears up and down like you never did see, and ain’t afraid to stick her nose or hands where they don’t belong. Call it the hothead of the Washburns or maybe just the spirit inside of her.

Some like to think it’s on account of the spirit that didn’t get to live—Jolene more of a boy than a lady, people around here reckon. She’ll be crass and cool—move her hips and lick her lips, all for a suck on a cigarette. And she ain’t ever afraid to go after what she wants, neither. Almost ran off from home when her mother and father tried to set her straight—fat lot of good that did. Jolene being too wild for a girl of fifteen, they said she’d have to spend days out in the hot sun scooping up the cow shit if she didn’t change her ways. Only thing that stopped her from up and leaving this place was her sisters—they are just about the only thing that seems to make her more human. She watches Sara like a hawk, the little girl not saying much but curious as could be. And if anyone so much as makes eyes at Katherine, she’ll come across the room to wallop them. But she got a mind to find her way, no matter where that is.

(Codeword) Odair

(Face Claim) Aine O'Gorman

(Out of character notes) Nothing I can think of!

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[✨ zozo.]

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