A Line In The Sand || The Bachelorette Finale!

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

The day of the finale. Katelyn was nervous. Though not for all the reasons that most people probably would have expected. Though she had to admit she was interested to see what kind of families these people came from. Why were Ben and Bay so different from most, and where had they gone wrong with Glamour? She glanced down at her outfit. It was far simpler than most of the things she’d worn so far, but she supposed they wanted to make her final ceremony outfit look that much better in comparison. Tinselton went through the regular opening segment of the show, after the clip from the last episode played. But then he went off-script. Katelyn turned in surprise. “-et’s see what she does in her spare time shall we? Roll clip!”

It took her a moment to realize what she was watching, but once she did she inhaled sharply. There was a video clip of her picking out jewelry with Kirito. Dancing with Opal in the divebar. Walking arm in arm with Justice Fray. How had they? No, no this was the Capitol, she should have known, should have expected that someone, anyone was watching her when she wasn’t in the studio. Then she remembered that the apron that they’d supplied her with during her date with Ben was the one she’d left at home. This was just another reminder of who was in charge. She wanted to cry, she wanted to wring Tinselton’s scrawny neck.

“My, my, Miss Persimmon certainly gets around, doesn’t she? You have to wonder if she snuck a kiss or more off-camera.” he said, winking conspiratorially at the camera. Katelyn’s jaw dropped at what he was implying and she died a thousand deaths of embarrassment on behalf of the people on the screen. None of those had even been dates. She wanted to refute him, slap him, something, anything.

But she held her tongue, kept an easy but strained smile on her face and shrugged in a manner that said “what can I say, you got me”. There was nothing to be gained from losing her shit on television, and everything for the Rhodes and Miristioma’s to lose. Justice might not have minded the implication too much, but she was mortified for the other two. Once the show was over, she wondered if it’d be safe to assault the show host.

Tinselton went on, nodding sympathetically in her direction. “It’s quite alright Katelyn, we all know that victors just can’t control themselves around each other, though it begs the question of why you eliminated Mr.Rhodes so early.” Before she could say anything else, he’d moved on, addressing the camera.

“Today, Katelyn will be meeting family members of each of our remaining contestants. After this, one of them will be eliminated and the final two will have one last chance to prove why Katelyn should choose them. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they’ll choose her back. Especially after seeing what kind of mischief she gets up to when she thinks the camera isn’t rolling.” But then he grinned and smiled lustfully at the camera. “Or maybe that’s part of her allure. I hope you’re ready Panem!”


Katelyn definitely was not.

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Welcome to the finale dear contestants and readers! This last episode will be in two parts. The first part will be in this thread! We’ll go through a round of posting so all your characters can introduce whatever npc family member you want Katelyn to meet, feel free to godmode them and I’ll have Katelyn interact with them. Then we’ll go through a second round of posting and one last elimination. Final rose ceremony will go up afterwards. I hope you’ve enjoyed this Capitol plot as much I have, many thanks to Kay for coming up with this, and many thanks to all of you who applied when this thing took off. Couldn’t have done it without you <3

"I'm a realist, and an optimist,

but I swear to you, I'm not getting over this."



table coding (c) ghosty

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

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Glamour Kinkade

your compliments look good on me

[attr="class","Glamscroll"]

When Glamour strolled into the prep tent that morning and saw his outfit for the family date, he felt a wave of relief. It was one of his tailored suits - navy leopard print, the pants and jacket form fitting, and a frilled ivory blouse which he usually left unbuttoned. It was him, right down to the eyelet sleeves. It would be the perfect outfit to walk away from the Bachelorette as a reinstated Gamemaker, the perfect outfit to celebrate with Leon.

But even as his styling team helped him into the jacket, he couldn't shake the image of Katelyn looming over him, red petals silencing him.

He lifted his chin, his throat oddly sensitive to the powder brush strokes. Behind him a flurry of activity distracted his stylist. He stood, tugging at his sleeves, wondering what his mother had made of his ruse. Instead, he found himself staring at his very own mini-me for the first time in a year or more? He can't quite be sure. "Why, it's my baby brother. What rock did they dig you out from under?" He asked, all smiles and insincerity.

"The same one which you've decided to finally come out of." Elijah smirked.

"I assure you the decision wasn't mine but here we are. In just a moment you're going to get to meet none other than Katelyn Persimmon. I expect you know how important this tete-a-tete is to me, hmm?" He stepped closer to Elijah, measuring his gaze, his height, the slope of his nose. He was at once familiar and a complete stranger.

"Katelyn? The girl from Eleven who you have such an infatuation with. Wonderful," the snide tone rolled off of Elijah's tongue, "it's almost like you made her a victor or something. Like Leon, your beloved."

Glamour's eyes sharpened. He grabbed Elijah by the bicep - finding it quite bit larger than the last time he had dragged his half-brother around - and pulled him to the corner of the tent. His styling team immediately busied themselves with other things, turning their backs to give him a moment of privacy. "Yes," Glamour hissed. "I am infatuated as you say with Katelyn Persimmon. I need to win this competition. Do you understand? To cleanse the Kinkade name. This is good for both of us. And if you don't want to end up a pauper, you'll forget about anyone else besides her. Please, Elijah. After all I've done for you, I'm just asking for you to play nice for one afternoon. Please."

"Tell me the last time that you did something for me, hm? Tell me the last time that you shared your power just for the moment to help the rest of your family beside's for yourself. Tell me that." His voice hardened into a sharp hissing whisper. "I'll do what you want, but only to save my name away from the hell you've dragged it. Ripred knows how much worse it can get. I didn't miss the exchange of your Games for King's first. Don't expect me to be happy about it." The silence snapped back leaving only Elijah's scowl.

At that, Glamour softened. He dropped his hand and carefully smoothed Elijah's sleeve. "Alright. We understand each other. The name Kinkade is more important that whatever bridges we've burned, hmm? Amira!" He called and a dark haired stylist approached. "Be sure that my brother looks just perfect for the camera. Dampen the shine here," Glamour said, tapping the tip of Elijah's nose.

"Lovely. Can't wait."

Glamour pulled back one of the curtains to peek at the riverfront. A walk and a picnic - how quaint. He wondered if Katelyn would be willing to put him on his back in front of hundreds of people. Probably. His adam's apple bobbed anxiously and he finally realized that the tent had fallen to absolute silence.

Glamour dropped the curtain and looked back, right into the steeled eyes of his lover.

"You're here," he said, echoing Leon's very words from earlier this year. But this wasn't a tsunami rescue mission; if anything, this felt like a death sentence. His outfit wasn't an acceptance of his lifestyle; it was a reminder of what he was about to lose. Leon didn't say anything.

That was probably best.

"Very well," Glamour whispered and then nodded to the nearest camerawoman. "We're ready."

They walked out of the tent in a great procession: first Elijah, then Glamour, then Leon. The crew directed them to a sprawling picnic blanket on a knoll overlooking the rushing river that bisected the Capitol. When Katelyn crested the hill, Glamour held his breath. Perhaps it looked like his breath caught because she was so breathtaking, when instead it snagged in the spot her heel had been. He stepped - tentatively - towards her, opening his palm for her to take.

"Good afternoon, Katelyn. May I introduce you to my half-brother, Elijah Kinkade? And of course you know Leon Krigel. So thoughtful of Tinsleton to invite one of my own Victors to join us." Glamour smirked, a perfect parody of Elijah's earlier expression. "Are you hungry? Fancy a stroll? We are, as ever, at your disposal."

[permission and blitz inclusion granted by ghosty and анзие (Anz) ]

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

A picnic area. That’s what she’d been told as she walked along a grassy hill, listening to the water nearby. Mr.Kincade was to be the first, but they hadn’t told her who was next, or what family members they brought along. She supposed she should have been thankful that Tinselton didn’t have the time or the desire to ship her parents out for the finale since he wanted this to cater exclusively to the Capitol, but there was still so much that could go wrong. Like the sight that greeted her as she crested the hill and saw Glamour standing with two other men, one who bore a passing resemblance to him and the other…

Katelyn’s eyes widened. Leon? But… She clasped her hands together and plastered a surprised smile on her face. Trust Tinselton to keep squeezing drama out of anything he could get his hands on. This was bad for Kincade, worse for Leon. She felt less bad, considering that she in no way found Glamour appealing, but it was still an uncomfortable situation. “Glamour,” she said curtly, affording him a courteous nod of the head as she took his offered hand. She had seen the hesitation in his step, the guarded look in his eyes.

Katelyn knew that he knew that she could put him on blast, and more so, than she was willing to if she had to.

Not that she really would. After Tinselton’s latest escapade, she was willing to view Glamour as another unwilling pawn. Perhaps he’d done it to himself, and perhaps he was a bitter pill to swallow, but like she’d told Justice Fray early in the morning, she was tired of having enemies. Tired of having to watch her back and play the game, play a role, and play along. She was tired of the Capitol’s constant reminders every time she got too close to the line, too close to stepping over it. She was tired of the Rhodes and Miristioma’s being threatened with death and most of all she was tired of Tinselton’s face.

“A pleasure to meet you Elijah. I wasn’t aware that Glamour had any siblings. I was under the impression that he-” she caught herself, the words having almost made their way out of her mouth. She was going to say that she imagined he’d have left them on the door of an orphanage so as to get rid of any potential rivals early, but that was just a cruel thing to say, even if he was an insufferable ass. Instead she shook her head. “Well, I mean, he seems rather…spoiled to me. I assumed he was an only child.” She finished with a light laugh to recover.

Even as she tried to avoid him, she wound up looking at Leon and nodded at him. “Leon. I hope you’ve been well.” She said woodenly before focusing on Glamour and changing topics. “A walk sounds nice. We can stroll and you can tell me about your family, starting with Elijah here.” She said with a wan smile, eyes locking with Glamour’s again. She was making an effort not to bite his head off like she had the other night, it wouldn’t do to lose her temper on television again, and she hoped he could tell that as long as he played nice, she’d afford him the same cordiality.

As they began to walk, she wondered if Tinselton was hinting that she should cut Glamour loose now. Or perhaps it was just wishful thinking; perhaps the host was hinting that he wanted Glamour to stay and for things to get messy to drive the ratings up, so maybe the best thing to was to send him home before the final two if she could.

For all their sakes.

"I'm a realist, and an optimist,

but I swear to you, I'm not getting over this."



table coding (c) ghosty

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

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Glamour Kinkade

your compliments look good on me

[attr="class","Glamscroll"]

"Unfortunately."

Leon's whispered response haunts Glamour even as he introduces Katelyn to his "family". He wants to round on his lover and demand insight. Unfortunate that they were both cast in this ridiculous faux date? Or unfortunate that he had to see Glamour at all? But Leon's gone quiet again, which Glamour figures it just as well. They both have so much to say that if they start talking, they may never stop.

To his surprise - and relief - Katelyn accepts his hand. It's a very small respite from their sparring; almost as soon as she's met Elijah she's calling him spoiled, as though it were a bad thing to be loved and lavished? His face contorts, stuck somewhere between a displeased frown and a pucker. "Ha ha," he adds, a beat too late, after her forced laughter.

"A walk it is!" Glamour declares as Leon interjects, responding to Katelyn's polite greeting.

"Katelyn. A pleasure, as always, though I hear you’re taking yours more seriously from these ‘tributes' instead."

When Leon does finally decide to speak, his words are barbed - and they aren't even for him. Glamour's eyes round. He glances at the camera crew, just to be sure he'd heard Leon's remark properly. Katelyn's pleasure. The laughter bubbles up out of him, suddenly and forcefully genuine. He grabs Elijah's arm, pulling him alongside Katelyn. "It's probably best if you two get to know each other first. Elijah, why don't you tell her about our father? Or your ambitious career! We'll lead the way."

And with that, Glamour touches Leon softly - so softly - on the shoulder and walks to the riverfront path. The laughter is still a tickle in his throat as he listens to Elijah and Katelyn's conversation. ""Yeah," Elijah began and already Glamour's ears start to burn. It was a matter of public record that his father worked for the Capitol's Sanitation Department but perhaps it had not been wise to call further attention to such an unfortunate fact. "I work in the draining part of the Capitol, like my father, which Glamour luckily avoided."

At that, he does his best not to snort and tunes them out. The river is running slow, the water thinned by the long summer. There are plenty of other Capitolites along this popular stretch but the camera crew keeps them mostly at bay. Really, all things considered, he could almost forget he was on the show and simply be taking a walk with his favorite person in the world. His smile is a little shy as he tucks his chin towards Leon and murmurs: "I think you've missed me."

[permission and blitz inclusion granted by ghosty and анзие (Anz) ]

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

Leon Krigel was not in a good mood.

That much was evident from the get go. As Glamour took her hand, Leon’s smart remark stung her more than she thought it would. But it couldn’t be helped. If part of Tinselton’s agenda was to slander her reputation, she’d bite the bullet, there were far worse things that could happen. So, she tossed her hair with her free hand and acted like the insult had barely registered, turning to pay Elijah more attention at Glamour’s prompting. He didn’t speak of their mothers, but Katelyn supposed that was probably a sore point for them, since they shared a father and nothing else.

She was, however, genuinely surprised to hear that their dad worked in the sanitation department. Menial jobs like that, she had assumed automatically went to avoxes, but then, she was reminded that in many cases, avoxes were expected to look good and be doting servants. Maybe that didn’t extend to public service. Elijah went on to say that he too had work in that field, unlike his brother, and she could sense the annoyance in his tone as he said so. It certainly explained why Kincade tried to so hard. Perhaps even why he’d tried to get himself eliminated the day before. This was probably something he preferred not to talk about, even if people knew about it. Katelyn didn’t know. She didn’t make it a habit about reading through the tabloids for dirt on celebrities.

Especially since she was one of them. She turned to ask a question, but then decided to hold her tongue. Glamour was ignoring her. Maybe not intentionally, but he was. Not that she could blame him with Leon staring daggers and spitting venom; she could only imagine what he thought of seeing her and Glamour go on dates. Katelyn’s eyes were briefly drawn to the camera. Surely Tinselton saw this? Had this been his plan all along? She shrugged to something that Elijah said and decided not to think too hard about it. Glamour didn’t want to be on the show any more than she did and if he wanted to hang himself out to dry, she wasn’t going to stop him. As long as he left her out of it.

It was almost time to meet someone else’s family anyhow.

"I'm a realist, and an optimist,

but I swear to you, I'm not getting over this."



table coding (c) ghosty

[D6f Carmen Cantelou [aza]]

I didn't know what to feel.

I didn't know how to feel. Whether to be upset at the tragedy which crept towards me, or whether or not to use the newfound rage to push myself further. All I can remember is feeling so bitter and relieved of all sweet in the world; no starlit spotlight, no daddy-daughter Sundays—nothing at all except an empty space.

Completely blank as if history had been erased.

Distraught, I tried to make the most of my circumstances. Positivity could end wars, but the heart ache that came with wishful thinking was stronger than flowers aching for spring. It was dire, painful, but I still longed for a silver lining which could only be found in keeping my chin up, and looking to the future.

And so, I did. String girl to strong girl; I learnt to take it all in my stride.

I became a reflection of the only strong woman who had ever been in my life. Sure, I had written about 'strong' women coming out of a hard break-up and 'strong' women who were daring enough to break boundaries in the fashion world, but they were not the true definition of the word. Not inspirational, not motivational. I searched for hours, trying to find someone who was proof that being scared of happy resulted only in collapse; not once did I think to look close to home.

She'd lost a husband, I'd lost a father. We had grown distant since Dad's departure, but over time, we found our comfort in each other and eventually, she taught me how to feel again.

It always would've been her, though. Mom—who coached me through job interviews and picked me up after countless failed attempts. Mom—who taught me that being headstrong wasn't a disadvantage and that a girl should love every flaw she has. Mom—the rock of the family who became the best shoulder to lean on when tides took a turn for the worse.

The Bachelorette required me to bring in a family member to introduce to Katelyn. I received the news, and I did not hesitate or doubt myself once when I looked to my Mother. She had her reservations when I asked her, but I promised her that the eyes of the Capitol were nothing but a mirage if she kept her mind in the room. ("Solely in the moment, Mom.")—I told her, and for her, it was enough.

Because when it comes to reliability, nobody compares to a mother.

"Mind in the moment." I tell her. Her eyes are clouded with a black fog, sweeping across her eyelid, fading towards her ears. Her hair is precariously pressed into place, held down by the hairspray which fills the air like silence at a funeral. I inhale it from the other side of the room, and I taste the remedy of chemicals swirl in my mouth.

But I am tired of the efforts associated with presenting myself, and only shoo the artists which are collected and directed to beat my face. "I don't want it, not today." They stare at each other in confusion before falling backwards slowly.

They come in like waves to a shore, huddling around me. They insist on creating a 'natural' look, and I can't help but feel this is choreographed by the producers. One droplet of sweat, one blemish and the whole show is ruined—stupid, really.

I shrug it off. I'll still know that today isn't about me. It's so much bigger than Bay. It's about my Mother; she's the star of today's show. 

Tinselton gestures us on camera as soon as Glamour Kinkade's relations come off. Mom rises from the chair, pretty as she is, and I take her hand in mine as we walk on. We are united by blood and blood lost tonight, and it is beautiful.

 This whole situation makes me feel oceans away from familiarity. A strange distance, different from the others experienced in the other episodes of the show. Red light flashing overhead and I count down the seconds until we are broadcast onto screens across the city.

Three—and I'm feeling oceans away from familiarity.

Two—it's a strange distance, different from the other distances I've experienced in the previous episodes of the show.

One—and it's too late to forget this ever happened.

"Katelyn, this is Estela, my mother." Zero, and I realise it; this distance isn't even distance at all. This is the closest to home I've ever felt, because home is where the people you love are.

"So much taller in person!" Mom exclaims. "So lovely to meet you, Katelyn. I knew signing Bay up for this was a good idea. She'd never meet a man who could compare to you." I blush at my mother's typical maternal behaviour, and begin to wonder about Katelyn's own family—but quickly I am distracted, glancing to Mom who immediately leans into Katelyn, pecking her on both cheeks.

I'd watched Glamour's ordeal from afar, and noticed how they've all perfected their fake smiles. High walls built of stone, someday I'll look into Katelyn's eyes and see how it's really affecting her.

She's a strong girl, I know it, I love it, but it takes a strong girl to take the jump, and then fall.

"Such a gorgeous dress! Ripred, it's been years since I've been in one like that."

I laugh, trying to shield a proud smile. She's being my Mom, the one that I want the world to see; someone who knows the struggle and understands, someone who is willing to hold your feet in their lap when the day is too long, someone who has answers to questions you haven't even thought of yet—

someone who hears when you do not speak, someone who holds you close when there's an empty space, someone who teaches you how to feel again.

It always has been, is, and would be Mom.

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

B E N

It was easy for Ben to decide on a family member that he wanted to put in front of the camera, it was easy because she volunteered straight away. There was no breaking the bond between Ben and his little sister; after all they only had each other and their mother throughout the earliest years of their lives while the other older three were groomed to be little prodigies of their father. A bizarre family tradition kept him apart from his older siblings, even some of his cousins had to endure it.The first three children must follow into their father’s careers, which is why many of the Duarte family have at least four children, the outcast always being left behind to fend for themselves. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Ben was blessed with his little sister, a play mate to help him through thick and thin.

Burrowed into a little room, a swarm surrounded Ben, working on his appearance. Ben insisted that they needn’t over do themselves on him, he’d rather not look overly too glammed up like every other Capitol citizen. Fighting his cause, he was able to agree on a smart yet casual outfit. Once the herd of stylists exited from the closet sized room, he looked at himself in the tall rising mirror. They’d dressed him in a blue collared shirt, the first two buttons un-done at the top, a dark jacket and trousers accompanied the shirt. Retrieving a tissue, he tackled the glitter that painted his face, trying to minimise the product that they had coated him in. No longer looking like a pompous doll, he stepped out of the room in search for his sister.

They would be the last to be met by Katelyn, which somewhat had its advantages as he was able to watch the others live on the televisions. He wasn’t surprised that the former gamemaker had gotten this far, he did add to the entertainment of the show with his controversies and what not. Ben found it funny how his known victor lover was involved in the family meeting; Glamour must want to basket all the victors for himself …well it’s one way to stay in the spotlight. Ben hadn’t met Bay before but she seemed more of an ideal match for Katelyn than him, she was more of her age than he was…

Bursting out of her own room, Ben’s sister finally greeted him for the first time today. The stylists as expected matched both of their outfits, Ben’s sister wearing a dark blue dress to match his shirt. Ben grinned in greeting, giving his sister a hug. ”Ahh so they’ve matched us both then.” He said, while turning back to the television set. The meeting with Bay’s mother began; Katelyn would soon be here to meet his sister.

”Yes, I am surprised they didn’t put you in a dress too.” His sister replied with a giggle, joining Ben at the television set. His sister was never a fond lover of dresses and skirts, even at the age of twenty-nine she preferred to wear shorts and trousers, when most women of her age in the Capitol were usually seen in extravagant dresses. She once turned up to one of Ben’s dinner parties at his restaurant wearing a suit. She never seemed to care for the opinion of others and it was something that Ben loved about her. ”She really is pretty Katelyn, that disgrace called Glamour Kinkade will get nowhere near her. I am sure you’ll win her Ben, I’ll work my wonders on her.” She gently punched him in the shoulder, her ivories showing as she grinned. Ben replied with just a smile, hoping his boisterous sister wouldn’t over do the meeting.

His sister had persuaded the producers to hold the meeting at her own apartment, she was eager to share her rooftop vegetable patch to Katelyn, somehow hoping to get some tips. Ben had wanted to escape from the topic of food, seeing as it was the centre of most of his dates with Katelyn but it was hard to fight his sister’s plans.

”Ten minutes and she’ll be here.” One of the crew announced as they all hurried to make sure the lighting was set up. Ben’s sister was already out on the balcony, making sure all of her home grown food looked television ready. Ben went out to see what she was doing and was slightly horrified to see her bent down in the soil of one of the large containers wearing her dress. He knew if one of the stylists saw her, they would be traumatized. Shaking his head with a smile, he lead her back into the apartment, preparing them both for Katelyn’s arrival.

The cameras began to roll before Katelyn stepped through the door and at the cue; Ben introduced his sister to Katelyn and to the rest of Panem. ”It’s great to see you Katelyn,” He said while giving her hand a slight peck before turning to his sister. ”I’d like you to meet my little sister, Viola...” Before Ben was able to continue with the introduction, Viola pushed passed him to Katelyn. ”Oh it is so wonderful to finally meet you, Ben has said so much about your little televised dates with each other and wow, that dress suits you so perfectly. I wish my stylist was as good as yours.” Looking down at her own dress, Viola quickly re-acknowledged Katelyn, taking her by the hand and leading her out to her little haven. Ben hurried behind them like a lost puppy, the cameras followed suit.

”Here is where I grow most of my food, Ben refuses to use any of it in his restaurant. Says he’d rather have produce sourced from the District, rather give his money to them than get the free stuffs from me.” When Viola lost herself in the inspection of her weirdly purple carrots, Ben snuck the opportunity to speak to Katelyn, his voice low. ”I bet you’ll be happy when this is all over, time to finally rest and return home…”

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

Katelyn laughed awkwardly. “And I see where Bay got her looks from. It’s a pleasure to meet you Estela.” This was the woman that had raised Bay, had helped to mold her into the person Katelyn had met on the show. “Years? I assume you were a party-goer then. Like mother, like daughter?” Katelyn smiled and wished she was at home, while struggling to remain tactful in the presence of Bay’s mother while getting her thoughts across. Estela seemed like a nice woman, but she was at a loss as to how to respond to the compliments, though she returned the cheek greeting.

“So,” she breathed. “You’ve made it this far.” She started off, turning to Bay. “Well, of course you did. You’re pretty. And fun.” She said honestly, letting it hang in the air as she gathered herself. But, she said to herself. I’m no good for you. No, Bay needed someone with a thirst for adventure. Someone who’d have the time to experience life with her. Katelyn…she was boring. Hell, she tried to instruct her tributes to play it safe. Parties and clubs and socializing, while enjoyable, just weren’t her. And she’d had enough of faking things on the show, she wasn’t about to fake things once the cameras had dimmed.

No, Katelyn’s life was a struggle, a fight not for herself, but for those who relied on her. That didn’t leave a lot of room for fun. She let out a deep sigh. “But…my…life is not fun. And you, you’ve got so much energy, so much life, so much raw will to experience the world…" Katelyn sighed again. “I don’t want to be the one that takes that away from you. Because it’ll happen.” Her hand found Bay’s. “If you’re the last one standing, I want you to know that.”

-------------

Viola was a bubbly little thing, gushing praise and compliments like one of those little sparkly fountains that dotted every public park. She seemed quite taken with the thought of Ben and Katelyn being an item; Katelyn supposed she wanted the best for her brother, and that was something Katelyn could identify with. She chattered on about the vegetables growing in her little balcony garden and Ben found a moment to bend Katelyn’s ear.

“Yeah. Yeah, thanks for asking.” She replied.

Katelyn chuckled softly. Sadly. “To be honest, I haven’t rested since the week before the seventy-third reaping.“ A nonstop barrage of emotions clawing at her skin, tied around her ankles and eager to ruin her. The words started to spill out of her, the facade that Tinselton had crafted tearing at the seams. Katelyn was past caring, and she was done pretending.“I miss home. The peace and quiet. The lack of cameras. My parents. All the Rhodes and Miristiomas.” Or almost all of them. Talking to Navya worried her to no end. She turned to look at Ben. “I don’t want to break any more hearts.” It was true; she couldn’t help but spare a thought now and then, for all the contestants that had been eliminated.

“But at the same time I wonder if any of the contestants understand what they’d be getting into if they wanted to keep dating me after this show is over.” The words felt heavy as they left her lips, but it was a burden that lifted off her heart. Relief at saying what she’d kept under lock and key for the whole show, free now that things were getting more serious in the tone of the competition. She inclined her head towards him and looked at his eyes. "I’m young. Beautiful. Desirable.” She laughed wryly. “Well, at least that’s what they say in the theme song for this farce.” Katelyn shook her head and leaned closer to him, talking in an undertone.

“Truth is, I feel decades older than I am, even though I’ve only been mentoring for four years. I’m exhausted Ben. I have responsibilities every year that can end in death and it doesn’t feel right to drop all my baggage on some Capitolite whose been admiring me from afar.” Katelyn shrugged. “Being me is difficult. Being with me would probably be harder.” A guy like Ben deserved better. He needed a girl that could laugh with him, take care of him. Ask him about his day while making dinner together. Hold each other and look at the stars.

She wanted so badly to be that kind of woman, but she didn’t think the Capitol would let her. Not really. Not for him. How could she when she’d only see him for a few months out of the year? How could she when her attention would be constantly divided between the two unfortunate tributes and her fellow mentors’ well-being?  When would she have time to be his girlfriend? How could their two worlds ever collide without one being crushed under the weight of the other? She’d break his heart if he gave it to her. “You seem like a nice guy Ben.” She said slowly.

“You’ve made it this far. I just want you to know what you’re in for if you’re the last one standing. It’s only fair.”

"I'm a realist, and an optimist,

but I swear to you, I'm not getting over this."



table coding (c) ghosty

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

B E N

Ben forgot about Viola’s presence as soon as Katelyn began to speak, even the crew that surrounded them on the balcony were pushed to the back of his mind. The whole idea of the reality show didn’t exist as his ears fixed on Katelyn’s words. Quickly the show was growing to an end and soon Katelyn will pick her victor and that will be the end of it. The scheduling of the show had slowly become exhausting for him, even in the short space of time, Ben couldn’t even possibly think of how much energy it must have sucked out of Katelyn. After all, she did have more dates than him to attend to and had that Tinsleton breathing down her neck every minute of the day.

He can’t believe how she has been capable of doing this show while having all the other responsibilities to deal with, the show really shouldn’t have been scheduled around the time of the games although he believes a victor’s only down time is when the games are over and it really would have intruded her own personal time. Can Ben put himself up to intruding her own time? Was it really possible to keep a relationship up with all the obstacles? This is a reality show, does reality really have to happen? As long as the viewers are pleased with the result, in doubt quickly they will forget about it and turn to something else to entertain themselves with. He can really see the strain that this whole process has put on Katelyn and being a part of the show, he seems slightly responsible for it.

Glancing to the crew, Ben slyly covered the microphone that was pinned to his outfit, moving his lips close to Katelyn’s ear. ”Just because it says in the show’s description that you have to pick a lover at the end of it, doesn’t mean you have to oblige.” As soon as those words crawled from his lips, he knew he may have put his neck on the line, quite possibly shattered his reputation. The whole point of the show was to hook a victor up with a Capitolite, the viewers wouldn’t be entertained by the prospect of that not being the result. Something inside him told him to correct himself although a stronger power fought through. ”You deserve someone in Eleven that you can truly relate too but for the sake of the show…”

Ben removes his hand from the microphone, taking Katelyn’s hands in his own. ”You need someone to help you through the struggle of the days when you’re here in the Capitol, even if it’s just a couple of days of the year. Someone that isn’t involved in the games…”

Shuffling began to erupt in the crew as the minutes counted down for their date and at the motion, Viola returned to Katelyn to wish her good-bye. ”It’s been great meeting you Katelyn, if you ever want something from the garden; you’re more than welcome to come back here.”

Stepping inside the apartment, Ben turns to Katelyn, his final words before the next rose ceremony before the absolute finale. ” Do what your heart is telling you Katelyn, sometimes the mind can be too blurred in heavy decisions.”

[D6f Carmen Cantelou [aza]]

"And I see where Bay got her looks from. It's a pleasure to meet you Estela." Katelyn says, her faces telling all the secrets of a forced laugh.I didn't know what to feel. "Years? I assume you were a party-goer then. Like mother, like daughter?"

Mom arches a brow, looking to Katelyn as she sighs gently.

"Not a party-goer... Not sure where Bay gets that from. I had an office job—Liked to look good when I could."

The lighter mood begins to set as the cameras take a new angle. The sun kisses my skin, and I look up to Katelyn with a smile. There's a moment of silence, yet it isn't intrusive or awkward—it's nice, basic.

Sometimes the simplest things allow for the greatest luxuries.

"So, you've made it this far." She looks up. "Well, of course you did. You're pretty. And fun." I blush, a smile fading onto my face. Mom sits with her hands in her lap, looking towards the two of us with large, proud eyes. 

"You're pretty too, and fun, though, I think our definition of the word is different."

"But... my life is not fun. And you, you've got so much energy, so much life, so much raw will to experience the world." A sigh slips from Katelyn's lips and I don't like where this is going. I'd once told myself that attraction is fatal but never did I think that my life would be on the line and it could be cut so easily; like scissors to paper, like paper to skin, like skin to bone. "I don't want to be the one that takes that away from you. Because it'll happen." She takes my hand and my heart skips a beat. "If you're the last one standing, I want you to know that."

I squeeze her hand, taking her other hand in mine. 

"Life is the greatest adventure anyone could ask for." I think back to being a child and mixing perfumes and hair products to make potions only to get a rash; thinking that I could cut my own hair, only to end up with a hairstyle like a coconut. Rises and falls, sadness and happiness—life itself is the most exciting thing to ever experience.

"And love is just another part of it. Learning, living, losing. I've dated and lost before but I know that I've never felt like this." And I don't know what the feeling is, but it's there. Unidentifiable and unknown yet so intriguing; I hate it, I love it.

My eyes glance over to Mom, who sits smiling at the two of us. I flush red, but have no regrets.

"And I want you to know that."

"You're both making me feel emotional." Mom says, and the moment created clings to life by a wire. 

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

And just like that, it was time to choose again. Katelyn tuned out the spiel she'd all but memorized as it spilled forth from Tinselton's lips and focused on the roses nearby. They were beautiful flowers, but they smelled wrong. Not like a flower, more like a perfume. Manufactured. It made her wonder where the roses had been grown. She turned to present the first rose on cue.

“Ben.” He’d been the only one to ask her how she was doing the whole competition , made her feel a little more like a person and less like a plaything for the Capitol. For tinselton. He was kind, and thoughtful, and seemed to understand a fraction of what it was like for her to be a victor. As well as considering the notion that a healthier relationship might come from closer to home, and not from a city that she couldn’t help but associate with cruelty and death.
The other…


“Bay.”

She was oddly invigorating. And not at all what Katelyn has expected. She deserved better, and Katelyn wondered what it would have been like if Bay had not been born in the Capitol. Had grown up somewhere else. An adventure, Bay had called life. Katelyn had suffered through an adventure already, she wasn’t sure if she had enough time and energy to have another one. But Ben had a point. Maybe she needed someone she could talk to in the Capitol, outside the games. Maybe Bay could be that friend. Maybe Ben could.

Maybe they both could? Or was that too much to ask for?

That just left the person that was eliminated. Glamour, glamour’s time on the show was over. She was tired of dealing with people like him and it was doubtful the show could squeeze any more drama out of the friction generated between them. He’d folded like a house of cards when she pushed back, and was barely maintaining the pretense of interest in her. She spared him a nod when Tinselton started pontificating again and her gaze was drawn to him instead.

“-inal ceremony! Our last two contestants will have last chance to tell Katelyn why she should pick them. All this when we return!”

Following that, she walked off-camera and headed for her dressing room. It was close now. And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Tinselton had something else up his sleeve. The man was too damn happy for his own good, and at this point, if he couldn’t tell that he was putting her through the emotional ringer, he was blind or stupid. Problem was, she figured that he knew, and was relishing every moment of it. It wasn’t every day that someone got to toy with a victor like this. She stopped short in the hallway and turned that thought over in her head. Untrue. It wasn’t every day that Tinselton got to toy with a victor. Someone was always screwing with a victor on a daily basis.

That cold fury started to snake its way through her chest again. It was never enough. It wasn’t enough that the victors had fought and bled and killed to stay alive. For entertainment. They weren’t people. Not really. Not here. They were whatever the Capitol wanted them to be. All they were could be scripted out for the cameras. Life, love, death she thought darkly. It was all plotted out ahead of time with lines to learn like they were actors on a stage. Maybe she was. She certainly hadn’t felt like she could be herself the last couple of days. It felt like months. Her thoughts turned to Ben and Bay again. They were both sweet people, and she didn’t want to hurt either of them. Both of them.

The sad thing was, she was getting better at dealing with death than she was with hearts. Five coffins. Four years of mentoring. Three times she’d poured out her heart into condolences and stayed up all night baking with eyes puffy from crying and face smeared with flour from all the times she’d wiped the tears away. Two families she felt she failed after she’d succeeded. One more night she’d be repeating the process when she finally got home from the capitol. And in spite of all that it was still somehow easier to be responsible for lives than it was for love.

Katelyn found her way into her dressing room and collapsed exhaustedly into the chair in front of the makeup mirrors, resting her head on the desk with watery eyes.


She couldn’t take much more of this.

"I'm a realist, and an optimist,

but I swear to you, I'm not getting over this."



table coding (c) ghosty