Hearts and Minds // The Bachelorette Episode.1

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

After reviewing a few hundred submissions, the studio had decided to pick out eight lucky people in the Capitol for the competition. She walked down the ornately curved stairs on top of the terrace with as much grace as she could muster, silently hoping she wouldn’t go careening down them in the heels. They had her in the same outfit as the promo videos, though the host promised she’d be cycling through several others in no time. She heard him shout welcome to the bachelorette and knew that was her cue.

Charles had already told her that they’d be waiting at the bottom, so she wasn’t surprised to see people looking up expectantly. She was however, surprised to recognize Glamour Kincade, who last she had heard had been arrested and was in a relationship with Leon Krigel. Though, how any victor could have feelings for someone as heartless as a gamemaker, Katelyn couldn’t fathom. And for that matter, what the hell was he doing on the show?

Star Power?

Her gaze flicked over to the next person and she damn near lost her balance.

Oh no. Oh no no no.

It was Poria from the Tributes and Tokens souvenir shop.

Katelyn screamed internally.

Her mind was suddenly awash in twenty-four different flavors of sno-cone all named after tributes from her games, replica tokens that held no meaning beyond the novelty and Capitolites walking around dressed like dead teenagers. She stared at Poria longer than she meant to before scanning the others. She didn’t know them, but she could hear Charles introducing them to the camera and by extension Panem.

Evening Hemmingway was a dancer and the only contestant to be younger than Katelyn, if only by a year. Apparently the dancer’s publicist had volunteered her for the show, and right off the bat, Katelyn could tell that Evening was either seriously lacking in confidence or seriously did not want to be there. Katelyn made a mental note of that as he went on about the next one, because in comparison, Felicia Sterling seemed very put together. Confident. But perhaps that was to be expected when someone was planning on becoming a gamemaker at some point in their career.

Katelyn wondered briefly if Sterling would be bothering Kincade for information. Magus Argyris on the other hand, was already a part of the in crowd, as apparently, his company was the one responsible for putting together the recap videos after every games. The ones that victors had to sit and watch just when they thought they had a breather from the trauma. The same generic smile she’d been wearing for the past couple minutes stayed where it was, but her mind was elsewhere, reviewing the shot of Dillon’s blood spraying upward and across her face, the slow motion scene of the throwing axe breaking Chaske’s rib, and Margaret sinking to her knees as her last erg of energy left her body.

He must have been the person that picked those bits for the reel; worse, given general Capitolite mentality, he probably thought that she’d be blown away by the care and attention he’d given the recap video in her honor. Then there was Beniccio Duartè. A self made man who owned his own restaurant and was probably the oldest contestant on the opposite end of the spectrum from Evening. Beniccio’s Banquet was not an establishment she’d come across before and she wondered mildly where in the Capitol it was, and what kind of food they served there; hopefully all the dishes weren’t named after tributes.

Katelyn reached the foot of the stairs and stood where Charles had told her to beforehand, close to the contestants, but just not close enough that they could reach out and touch her. The last one was simply introduced as Bay. A writer for one of the Capitol’s tabloid magazines; his description of her was pretty concise, so there wasn’t much to go off of. But after a moment she realized that Charles had only introduced seven people.

So where was the eighth?

“We have a special surprise for our last contestant!” Charles crowed.

Sur-?

“Because one just wasn’t enough and three might be too much, we have a second victor for your viewing pleasure!

Oh no.

“Hailing from Katelyn Persimmon’s very own district eleven, I present Harbinger Rhodes!”

Katelyn’s eyes widened as Harbinger stumbled through a side door, looking very put on the spot. Poria Rain was probably going to have a heart attack with another victor in the room. Charles practically pranced around the room, ushering Harbinger over to the other contestants and turning to the camera with one hand pointed upwards on his mouth. “I’ll bet you he didn’t tell his wife he was entering this competition!” he said in a stage whisper. “Ooh! The drama is so palpable I can almost taste it.” He said with a satisfied hand curl.

“No, scratch that, I can taste it. It tastes like Leon’s Lemonheads™! The sweetly sour candy that’s just bursting with flavor and shaped just like Nat Krigel! Available at any establishment that carries candy trademarked by Capitol Confections!” While Charles went on bowing at the feet of the show’s sponsors, Katelyn glanced at Harbinger in apprehension before focusing on the camera lens. This was awful. What was Nayva going to think? Katelyn resolved to explain things in person when the games were over and they could go home, and worried about the implications.

Judging from the look on his face, he wasn’t here of his own volition, but that was fine, because if he was, she would have slapped him. The host kept talking for a bit, but eventually, she heard him say that they were planning to get the first date underway, that she had to pick two and the rest would go on a group date later in the day. "Have you figured out the lucky pair that's going to get some quality time with you? Remember, one of them will be leaving us at the conclusion of the date."  Kate was panicking, but she nodded. She couldn't take Harbinger, not with Navya watching, the hell with the Capitol and their surprise twists. 

But maybe she could benefit from learning more about how people in the capitol thought, and how they viewed her. It was important to know. Right?

“Yes, Charles.  I've decided on Magus and...Bay.”

"It breaks my heart, all these stories,
brings me to tears all this grief;
And I feel so fucking helpless
when I can't be your relief."

table coding (c) ghosty

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

AND HE BURNS HOLES IN YOUR

BENEDICT TUCKER

SKIN WITH HIS MOUTH.

Benedict Tucker loped, his sloppily pressed uniform hanging at an angle off of his shoulders. Another day, another assignment. At least this one kept him out of the districts. It was a glorified babysitting gig and they all knew it. Might as well make the best of it, his superior officer had said. He would have liked to have seen how Katelyn Persimmon would have reacted to that.

This evening, they were gathered on the rooftop terrace of the building adjacent to the Training Center. He was attacked by white, billowing curtains and his cap blew off – twice – in the breeze while Tinsleshit walked them through the evening’s entertainment.

Katelyn would choose two contestants for a date. One would receive a rose and advance to the next day. The other would go home immediately.

Tucker assigned two of his best guards to that group.

The remaining contestants would have about fifteen minutes a piece to talk to Katelyn, in a semi-private corner of the roof. Tucker dispatched the rest of his men there.



OOC:

For the group date, you will only have the opportunity to post ONCE (so basically, a one shot) in this very thread. Katelyn will have 5 roses to distribute among the 6 contestants at this evening’s rose ceremony. Make that post count!

For the two on one, Katelyn will start the date off. You will have the opportunity to thread with her for the next week or so. As stated above, she will have one rose to give immediately. Whoever doesn’t receive the rose goes home tonight. The other functionally bypasses the group rose ceremony and gets to have a good night’s sleep.

table by elegant

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

[googlefont="Great Vibes:400;"]

a note from the desk of

gamemaker

Glamour Kinkade

i can hear the echo ringing in my head

Glamour couldn’t help but admire how someone – Cloud? Amican? Truly? – had transformed the rooftop terrace of the building adjacent to the Training Center. He’d looked over it many times, all industrial tanks and flat grey lines. Rather, he used to look over it often. He hadn’t been permitted in the Training Center – or even on this very city block – for years. It was a step in the right direction to be within a stone’s throw of Leon tonight.

Of course, if he was going to remain this close, he had to somehow convince Katelyn to give him a chance.

Right now.

The terrace’s furniture had been pushed around so that there was a large sitting area around a fire and beer pit, and off to the far side, a smaller lounge with billowing strips of fabric. You could see the couches there, but with the evening breeze, you couldn’t hear anyone conversing.

Glamour chatted easily, mostly with Beniccio (with whom he had spent many a meal) and Poria, whom he’d never felt more threatened by. The moment Katelyn stepped onto the terrace, they all fell to silence. After the victor introduced herself and Tinsleton explained the evening’s format, she stared at them all expectantly.

The former Gamemaker set down his flute. "That's my cue," he said, before anyone else could seize the opportunity. His stomach leapt into his throat. He trailed behind Katelyn, over the to the secluded couches, until the last possible moment. With the pretense of brushing aside the curtains, he reached for the fabric – and wrenched it right into her face.

They went tumbling onto the couch, Glamour not quite pinning her. “If you have half a brain in that head – and I think you do – you’ll laugh right now. I almost died three years ago trying to save a tribute for a victor. I’m not your enemy. I know how this game works and I know what they want. Trust me.”

It was already too much to say with the cameras trained on them. He popped up, none the worse for wear, and offered his hand with a flourish. “Clumsy me. Shall we?”

He led her to the other side of the couch, and then began his rehearsed, approved pitch. He’d made a mistake, he’d learned from it, he was here to make amends. And what better way to do that than by falling in love? He asked if she liked the terrace, what she might have changed. It was a breezy fifteen minutes. Throughout their conversation, he pawed at his purse, which he had slipped between their thighs. He lifted the flap only a little in her direction, so that she could see the collection of makeup within. As they chatted (he hoped amicably, for the cameras), he tapped different lipsticks, feeling their insignias and glancing repeatedly at her lips.

With a giggle, he flicked his free hand high and slipped a tube up his left sleeve. Both hands ended up in his lap after he set the purse aside. He leaned in close. “I know I’m a clumsy oaf, Katelyn, but I think I can make you happy. If you trust me. Some things simply cannot wait.” He hoped he read permission in her eyes because otherwise his second chance was about to slip through his fingers, sliced to shreds on a rose’s thorns.

He leapt, pushing Katelyn backward and angling her out of the cameras shot. His left hand pressed lightly over her mouth, his lips to the back of it. To the world, he kissed Katelyn, and when he stood up, triumphantly, he even had a shade of her lip gloss on his own lips. “And that, my friends, is how we do it in the Capitol!”

template by anzie

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

Harbinger Rhodes Twenty | Male | District Eleven

My mind races like it has all day. People coming in and out. Iona falling, and then Weaver falling beside her. Then Navya called. I'm a father. I have a daughter, and I don't even know if I can protect her. But to top it all off, I'm being forced into doing this stupid bachelorette thing for Kate. I don't even have time to mourn the loss of my brother. President Snow just keeps pushing me and pushing me, and there's times I wish he would just take my own life, but then nobody would be able to protect my wonderful wife, and my beautiful daughter. I haven't even seen her face yet, but if she looks anything like her mommy, it'll be love at first sight. I've spent most of the morning hiding in my room trying to collect myself. The pain of losing Crusader to the games five years ago feels my heart with sorrow, but something about losing Weaver feels different. I didn't have a chance to help Crusader, but I was mentoring Weaver and Iona. I was mentoring Iain and Carrita. What more does President Snow want with me? I've lost my brother. Kirito has lost his cousin. The district eleven luck has ran out, yet he's still trying to hurt me by hurting those I care about.

A soft sigh falls from my lips as the stylist shows me a suit he's picked out just for me, and I want to scream at him. I want to tell him to get out of my face because I don't want to do this stupid show, but I remember the threats against my family, and I will do whatever I have to do to protect Navya and my daughter. So I place a smile on my face, and I nod my head as politely as I can, but apparently it isn't enough because he's wanting to make me smell better. The Capitol is just a sick joke, and they're tearing apart my life like I don't matter anymore. They're ruining everything about me, and I swear if this ruins my relationship with Navya, I'll make sure Snow never hears the end of it. I took the vows. I have her my promise that I would love her and only her for the rest of my life, and I will not break that. Kate is a sister to me. We're bound together by the same fate. Just like Kirito is my brother. We aren't related, but we've been through the same hell, and now I don't even think living was worth it. However, I know it is because as soon as I get home I can wrap my arms around Navya, and I can meet my daughter for the very first time. And that's what I'm looking forward to.

A half grunted sigh falls from my lips, and when I'm called to the stage my heart sinks. My sorrowful eyes glance around the room, and I'm trying to find a place to retreat because I don't want to be here dammit. I want to be in my room locked away from everyone until it's time to get on the train with Kate and Kirito while hauling the dead bodies home. I want to mourn the loss of my brother and Iona. This isn't right. But nothing President Snow does is right. He's a vile and cruel man, and I wish he was dead. I wish he suffered through what he's making me do. Everywhere I turn, my every single movement is monitored. Winning the games feels like a mistake, but I have the world I need. Navya, and my daughter. My eyes meet with Kate, and I'm trying to get her to understand that this is not my doing. That I don't want to be here, but I don't know how to tell her right now with all these stupid cameras watching. Navya, please understand that this is not my doing. I beg and plea as I stare into the camera. But I don't know how to make her understand. I'm just glad Kate didn't pick me to go on the small date.

The roof of the building is amazing how everything is set up. But instead of looking around, I take a seat keeping my gaze locked on the floor. And I sit and wait until it's my turn.

My steps are slow. I try to put a smile on my face, but I don't know what to do or say. The couch is comfortable, but I hate it. I don't want to sit here. "Kate...." My voice trails off, but I'm hoping she can tell that I don't want to be here, but I have no choice. "Uh.... You...uh... look amazing." I sigh trying to figure out what to do because this is so awkward for me right now. I don't want a rose, and I hope to go back to my room without any worries in the world. I'll call and explain to Navya as much as I can, but I know Snow will be monitoring my calls and everything.

I just sit there staring at the floor wishing my time was up because I don't know what else to do. Most of the time passes in silence because I don't know what to do. "It's...uh...a nice day." I try to make a conversation work, but I have nothing to say and nothing to do, and this is stupid. "I think you know why i'm here." And after that the time is up, and I quickly pop to my feet and walk away. can only pray that Kate knows the hidden meaning behind my last words. I just hope Navya will listen to me because she's my world, and I would never do anything to hurt her.

Victor of the 71st Hunger Games

[googlefont="Nothing You Could Do:400"]

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

B E N

For years Beniccio Duarte put all of his energy into the restaurant, thankfully the spotlight followed him there. Occasionally he did go out to some extravagant events but nothing as so magnificent as where he is going to be tonight. Usually Ben would hold his own events at his establishment, somehow getting some greats on the guest lists. The only time he really had his persona televised was when he was advertising his restaurant or when he had the odd hour listing for a cookery show although it didn’t exactly kick off. Not long ago he entered himself into a similar competition, Mr or Mrs Capitol…what a great mistake that was.

When the opportunity arose to join the line-up of the new Bachelorette show, it took a while for Ben to pluck up the courage as he didn’t want to make a fool of himself like last time. For months he had to rebuild his reputation after the complete humiliation he did to himself in front of the public eye. Thankfully everyone forgave him due to his fine culinary skills, it’s hard for anyone to let go of Ben’s fine tasting dishes, even if the man behind the meal is a complete clown.

Despite the chances of ruining himself again, Ben saw another light shining from to the whole bachelorette idea. Time was ticking for Ben, at the age of thirty-six being without a partner is slowly becoming a burden. Nobody to share his time with, nobody to greet in the morning, nobody to spend the rest of his life with. Many times Ben has pursued a relationship and many times they’ve failed tragically. Despite his charm and sweet nature, he is unable to keep hold of the fish he catches; instead he ends up frying them in a pan and burning them. Even if he is unable to be the perfect match for Katelyn Persimmon, it at least shows the Capitol his flirtatious skills and hopefully someone will fall for him at the other side of the screens. The thought of associating himself with a victor had never crossed his mind; none had ever visited his establishment. Only popular Capitol folk have ever stepped through his door and even though that is a big thing, Ben sees victors as being more of a higher class. After all, they did survive something pretty deadly, they are heroes to a lot more people than most Capitol folk and he admires them for that.

Hiding out in the changing room, he’d allow the stylist to do her work on him. Being pampered by somebody else is something that Ben enjoys from time to time, it makes a difference from breaking a sweat in the kitchen and like most people he enjoys relaxing. A perfect black tuxedo, with a gold waistcoat and glittering gold bowtie, even if Ben isn’t of a fashionable sense, he would have certainly picked a better outfit to wear tonight. So if he doesn’t have his attire to help make him shine, he’ll have to make up for it with his personality. Looking into the mirror, he watches as the stylist paints his face with powder. Clipping at the wild hairs of his mustache, she’d finish up, allowing Ben to join the party.

Before heading out, he’d slip an object into his trouser pocket, hoping it wouldn’t be sabotaged before he can give it away.

Not far from the training centre, a terrace had been set up for the occasion. Cameras lined the area, a collection of busy bodies working behind them. Mingling with the group of contestant, Ben mainly kept in the company of the former game maker Glamour Kinkade, seeing as he was the only prime regular to his establishment out of the lot.

As soon as Katelyn was introduced, Glamour was quick on her case so Ben continued to converse with the others. Grabbing himself a glass of champagne, he kept the same glass in his hand for the duration, not wanting to be under the influence in front of the cameras. (Ben isn’t Ben when he has had a few to drink, he doesn’t want to show the world that wild side…just yet).

Slowly the night begin to progress and finally Ben grabbed the opportunity to have a short a lone time with the District Eleven victor. Walking over to her confidently, a smile laced across his lips, he joins her on one of the many couches. ”Hello, I’m Beniccio Duarte but you can call me Ben.I run a restaurant here in the Capitol, one the best supposedly…according to many critics.”

Pulling out the object from his pocket, he prayed that it hadn’t been damaged over the night and the quality has kept. Placing it on his lap, he slowly un-wraps the paper he had protected it with, revealing some form of pastry. ”I heard you like baking,” Lifting up the paper with the pastry sat in the middle, he’d gently place it on Katelyn’s lap.”I am a chef and not a baker, surprisingly there is quite a difference but I hope my limited skills are good enough for you, it’s a little fruit pie.” A handful of forest fruits fill his pie, many he had dug out from his restaurant stores. All morning before the show, he had been trialling ingredients in his kitchen, trying to perfect the right pie.”The fruits all came from your home, most of the ingredients actually.” Quickly glancing over to the cameras, he prays that he is doing it right; it isn’t time to make a fool of himself so prematurely in the show.

Throwing another smile to Katelyn, he rises from the couch, standing close by. Taking Katelyn’s hand, he gives it a slight peck before releasing it. ”Do enjoy it, in the future we could exchange culinary skills if you would like too. Have a good night Katelyn.”

[gamemaker kelsier]

She pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth as if it were hercules trying to lift a giant boulder. Even the strongest man in legend could not hope to lift a weight as heavy as the silence she buried herself in. The men and women she stood with were giants. No matter how often she was told that she was the first and last name on the stage, Evening had never felt particularly much like a star. Various photoshoots and endorsements meant nothing to her, the appearances she often had to make were simply nightmares that she had to endure. When she walked the red carpets sprawled out in front of store openings and opening nights she only felt like she was being squeezed too tightly. The journalists and fans reaching for her over the barricade made her heart race and vision blur. All she'd ever wanted to do was dance, why that had become such a trial, she wasn't sure. Despite the fact that her passion required her to have strong toes, her feet burned. Her stylists had chosen tall heels for the first meeting after standing over her and asking her why she hadn't bothered to grow any taller than her five foot three inches. Her hair was curled and pinned back in dark waves and the eyelash extensions they had insisted they glue to her made her lids feel heavy. Her lips were stained red and had been painfully plumped with some strange balm. She wished that she was at home in her pyjamas. The other contestants and herself stood in a well lit area, cameras ready to go but not yet on. Champagne had been poured and waiters wearing penguin suits danced around the floor, handing out tall, bubbling flutes of it. Evening took one carefully, knowing that it was only for the look of it, not for drinking. It would only ruin her makeup if she did. She was a good little dress-up doll. Evening knew that she was only here for the publicity her appearance gave her and to draw in more views for the show. She also knew that she would be going home tonight. From what she knew of the tribute, she was an inferno. In comparison, Evening was simply a slow burning ember. She had nothing to offer Katelyn Persimmon. She couldn't even remember the last time she had properly followed a games, let alone wanted to. The sight of blood made her feel ill. For a brief moment, panic filled her. Was it a slight to have not watched the very games that Katelyn had won? Perhaps it would help send her home. The cameras flicked on with a quiet hum. Evening's stomach turned and she began to count down the minutes in her head until it was all over. Her being here was a joke. Everyone would see that quickly. One foot slipped into sight and then a leg. Evening's eyes widened as Katelyn appeared above them, hair falling in soft curls around her face, framing large, pretty eyes and surprisingly delicate features. Her heart began too feel strange in the way it often did when she watched someone beautiful in movement. Her eyes had been trained over the years to catch the sight of grace as it moved on the earth and there it was, rare and exceedingly gorgeous, walking down the steps towards them all. The group went quiet as they watched the victor move. Maybe they could all see it too. Suddenly Evening was afraid. If she didn't make a good first impression, she'd be sent home. She waited nervously as the others strided forwards to go and meet with the victor while her mind raced, wondering what she could possibly offer the other girl that the others hadn't already. Evening didn't even think that Katelyn was interested in woman. She probably didn't even have a chance, not against a gamemaker and another past victor. There was an urgency in her chest though, a consistent alarm of panic. Don't get yourself sent home Eve. She walked carefully over to the private area, hands shaking as she moved the curtain aside to sit down on the couch across from Katelyn. Her eyes fell on the texture of her dress, the way it clung to her body. Evening had always stayed small, compact. She'd never had to work a day in her life, all she'd ever had to do was dance. She looked for Katelyn's hands first, wondering if they'd be larger, stronger. She wondered if her nails would be dirty or clean, if she had calluses or not. "Hello," she said, resting her own hands in her lap, "My name is Katelyn, you must be Evening." She sat in silence for a moment as she considered the enormous blunder that she had just managed to make. Thousands of Capitolites had probably tuned in to watch tonight and they had all just watched her introduce herself as Katelyn. Her eyes widened a bit as she stared, tongue tied at the victor, wondering how to fix this. "I'm sorry," she finally said, cheeks burning under a thick dusting of coverup, "I'm Evening, you're gorgeous." She blinked. "I mean," Evening said, feeling smaller and smaller, "You're Katelyn." She stood then, the two minutes that had passed since she had sat down feeling like more of an eon. "Would you please excuse me?" She went back to join the others without waiting for a reply, eyes downcast and cheeks burning with embarrassment. A horrible dejected feeling filled up the empty cavity of her chest. This is why she stuck to dancing.

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

If looks could kill, Glamour Kincade would have suffered cardiac arrest. Trust the gamemaker to be the biggest showboat. What kind of stunt was he trying to pull by throwing the curtain in her face and getting on top of her? Was the gamemaker trying to get fresh? Former. Gamemaker, she reminded herself as she readied to slap his face so hard he’d remember things about the fifty-seventh games that everyone else had forgotten. The only thing that stayed her hand were the words he managed to get out before she hit him. He half-insulted her at first, but speedily explained that since he had been on the inside track before, he knew how to play the game.

His detention center stay said otherwise.

But Katelyn deigned to humor him, making small talk about nothing and trying to eat up camera time. Eventually, he started fiddling with several different tubes of makeup, and she raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Some things cannot wait he said, and she barely had a second to realize what was going on before he practically forced himself on her, covering her mouth with his hand and kissing the back of it, loudly proclaiming his false victory to Panem. She shoved him back past the curtain none too gently and huffed in aggravation.

In that moment, Katelyn understood exactly what the Capitol’s intentions were.

Turn her into a prize to be won and then forgotten about, so eleven’s lucky streak could fade into obscurity faster and join the twelves.

She wanted to send him home, but maybe she’d have to keep him around a while longer to figure out what game he was playing.

But if he pulled a stunt like that again, she was going to strangle him, cameras or no.

Decisions, decisions.
-----
When Harbinger entered the room, Katelyn felt her jaw tense. Things were weird enough for her already without the Capitol deciding to throw a married man into the show. He complimented her, shuffling around awkwardly and told her she should know why he was there. Yeah, she got it, this was about showing that she was also under the Capitol’s sway, but if that was the case then they could goddam well leave the Rhodes out of it. This was just a way of putting the screws to them, maybe damage public opinion in eleven for Harbinger; people knew him and Navya were expecting. The thought of ruining her friends’ marriage made her physically ill. Did the Capitol think her capable of that?

Regardless of what Charles egged on there was no way she was gonna do anything for the camera’s concerning him. “Yeah, yeah I know why.” She said with a strained smile. If they really wanted to, people could read into their words and twist it into having some hidden meaning, but Katelyn didn’t care, she just wanted the fifteen minutes to be up. This was cruel. Weaver had barely died twenty-four hours ago and they were still messing with Harbinger. It needed to stop. If that meant playing the socialite for the cameras…

She’d do it. And maybe her brothers families wouldn’t suffer when the seventy-fourth hunger games rolled around.


The real question was, could she send Harbinger home this early and not catch hell for it?
-----
When Ben sat down next to her and starting talking, Katelyn felt her heart flutter for a second. Maybe he was a bit older than her, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t charming. His voice was smooth and his eyes were merry; and his offering of a personal pan pie was a breath of fresh air after Glamour’s escapades and the awkward silence with Harbinger. She giggled softly and took a bite of it, surprised to find a mix of fruits as opposed to one. The raspberry and the blackberry worked well together. The pear…not so much. But it was a good try. Ben seemed surer of himself than some of the others, and yet there was also hesitancy.

When he rose to leave, he took her hand in his, not hurling himself like Glamour had, but slowly, carefully. He pecked her hand with a light kiss, and Katelyn felt her face redden. Ben was a proper gentleman. She’d love the chance to talk shop with him at some point. If there was one good thing that she could say about the Capitol, it was that the chefs knew how to turn simple ingredients into the most surprising things. Was Ben the same way? Could she spend the time to find out if he was being genuine?

Someone had to go home out of the six. But Katelyn felt she knew what result was in Ben’s near future.
---
Evening was next and Katelyn couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Where someone like Glamour had confidence to spare, Evening was an empty vessel. The girl minced steps over to her, eyes trailing downwards; for a moment Katelyn was embarrassed, thinking that Eve was checking out her chest, but she soon realized Eve was staring at her hands instead. Katelyn followed the gaze. Her nails were red, and her hands were callused from gardening. The scars she bore from the games were nearly all on her arms and neck; perhaps that was why Charles had picked the red dress with the jacket to start with.

"My name is Katelyn, you must be Evening."

Katelyn raised an eyebrow in amusement. “I’m sorry, what?”

"I'm sorry," the girl tried to recover with. "I'm Evening, you're gorgeous."

The eyebrow stayed raised and a smile turned up the corner of Katelyn’s mouth. "I mean," Evening went on, "You're Katelyn."Katelyn didn’t get a chance to respond, because Evening excused herself in embarrassment.

In that moment Katelyn decided that if she did nothing else over the competition, she would help Eve get some confidence. It didn’t hurt that Evening’s bumbling was cute enough to make her ears tingle either. And as soon as she stopped to think about that, she wondered what it said about her.  In truth, she liked a lot of things about a lot of people. Mace’s quiet honesty and Opal’s smile. Ben’s rugged looks. But the line between admiration and attraction could be easily blurred.

Katelyn was unsure of where it blurred for her.

And she wondered whether or not she should keep Evening around to find out.

"It breaks my heart, all these stories,
brings me to tears all this grief;
And I feel so fucking helpless
when I can't be your relief."

table coding (c) ghosty

[sbeeg]

Truth be told the woman was nervous. She was a business woman used to shilling out merchandise, she wasn't quite so skilled at selling herself. However, when you close off your dating pool to just victors there aren't so many fish in the sea.

Waiting around, she sits with her legs crossed talking to Glamour and Beniccio. Glamour had occasionally swung by her shop and she was finally able to say how big a fan of him she was. She had, of course, eaten some of Ben's food and it was delicious. So she rained praises on the men all the while thinking of what to say. She had met Miss Persimmon once before. She had entered her shop- which obviously thrilled Poria- but she didn't seem interested in anything for sale. Poria hoped Katelyn saw something worth investing in tonight.

The woman had spent hours getting dressed. She had tried on various versions of Katelyn's own outfits in the past. She tried a dressed up Games uniform complete with bedazzled bandanna but it just didn't look right. She basically went through every public appearance Katelyn had ever had and found herself unsatisfied with everything. Finally, the woman gave up and decided to just be herself... whoever the hell that was. She had on a big red wig, as usual, curled and teased and puffed into big swoop on her head. Thick black eyeliner was drawn across her eyelid, coming to a sharp point at the end. Pink glossy lips, shiny dangling earrings, and stilettos as sharp as a blade.

Despite being all dressed up, which she usually loved, Poria kept tugging at the yellow fabric of her dress. Her manicured nails balled up the thick fabric attempting to keep her grounded.

She had devoted her life to Victors and now she had an opportunity to truly have a relationship with one- she wouldn't fuck this up.

Katelyn entered the courtyard looking as beautiful as ever, however Glamour snatched her up before anyone else had a chance. Waiting for her turn, Poria glanced at the other contestants and decided that if Katelyn didn't work out she could always try for Harbinger. He was good looking, but maybe a little too shy. Poria looked down at her hands, highly aware of the cameras on her face and the mic pinned to her breast. She was used to finding Victors in clubs where's it's dark, loud, and everyone is drunk off their asses. She could interest them for a night, but the next morning they always ran away from her like she was a monster. Arbor did. She shivered thinking of the man back in District Twelve with his child.

Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.

Poria sat silently, watching as the other contestants found their way to the grand prize to converse. Some were charming, a lot were nervous. Soon she realized that everyone else had already had their turn around the room with Katelyn and the only one left was her. A cameraman gave her a sharp look and Poria stood, wobbling a little on her heels.

Swallowing hard, she crossed the room trying to bring up her usual easy talkative nature but that Poria seemed stuck in her throat.

"Hello, Miss Persimmon," already she was too formal. Ripred, she should have had more champagne while sitting there for so long. "I'm Poria, you've been to my shop?"

Biting her lip, Poria tried not to sound desperate but she was so unsure of herself here. In her shop it's her territory and she can easily slip through the merchandise and enchant her customers. In nightclubs no one cares who you are, if they're drunk enough they'll kiss you. On stage, everyone sees a persona put on but here? Here you were supposed to be the real, unadultered you.

She couldn't do that.

"I have your name tattooed on my back," she blurted out, spinning around trying to show off the low back of her dress. Katelyn was one of the victors inked onto her spine in gold, and Poria tried to point to the area where she thought her name might be. "Of course Harbinger is on there too, just don't get jealous!"

She turned back around, smiling into the young woman's face. "I am truly a big fan, Katelyn. It would be totally cool to get to know you better, if you know what I mean!"

Poria gave an exaggerated wink that made her fake glittery lashes look even more ridiculous.

With that, she retreated to the couch and hoped to Ripred no camera caught her face as she did. She was out of her limit here, but she had signed up nonetheless.

Next time, she'd drink more champagne.

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

Five roses, six people. Katelyn sighed. Best to get it over with.

The whole process only took as long as it took the contestants to get their roses. She hoped she wasn’t crushing anyone’s dreams too badly, and hoped she was making the right decision. There were a lot of factors to consider. The show. What the Capitol expected of her. Her heart. Her mind. She sighed softly and picked up the bouquet of roses, starting to call them by name.

“Glamour.”

Though he was the first name, he wasn’t her first pick. If he was serious about what he had to say, he'd be worth keeping around. But if he didn’t learn how to respect personal boundaries she was going to pin his throat to the ground with the tip of her stiletto.

“Ben.”

He’d made a fairly good first impression and Katelyn was wanting to see if there was more to him, perhaps a few more interactions would coax him out of his shell.

“Poria.”

Surprisingly, the owner of tributes and tokens had seemed wholly out of her element. Katelyn had expected Poria to be a lot more bubbly and in her face, so to see such a confident person like that threw her for a loop. And it beared investigating.

“Evening.”

Evening intrigued her. She could tell that the dancer was uncomfortable, maybe even more so than she herself was. But she couldn’t just send the poor girl home after what barely passed as an introduction. It wouldn't be fair. 

And…

“Harbinger.”

Charles grinned and she knew that he was hoping to catch the two victors in a compromising position. She wouldn’t let that happen, but she needed to know where his head was at before she sent him on his way.

That left one person without a rose, and she turned to them with a somber smile.

“Bye Felicia.” She said with an apologetic shrug.

"It breaks my heart, all these stories,
brings me to tears all this grief;
And I feel so fucking helpless
when I can't be your relief."

table coding (c) ghosty