second chances.

callahan spelt | district 9 victor | dad to piper and elsie

[callahanspelt]

larktimbers‌:

Lark smiled at piper, listening to Callihan talk. “Oh did she? Hi, miss piper. You’re looking beautiful this year. And you know what? When you turn 19 I’ll let you use an axe.” She opened the arm not currently wrangling two children for a sidehug. “It’s good to see you. Both of you. Too long, spelt.”

she smiled, as piper commented on their size. “Yeah, they are, aren’t they? Hey, Mea, you wanna show cousin piper your new trick?” She let go of Mea’s Hand, nudging gently. The toddler took the two or three steps that stood between them before grabbing piper’s leg and grinning, babbling proudly. Mason crawled his way over.

“Thank you,” Piper replied politely, happily hugging the woman. “I’m getting taller! Cal says I’m growing like a weed.” At the sight of Mea walking, Piper clapped her hands, encouraging the toddler to stay up on her feet. “Oh, wow!” Piper exclaimed, hugging the little girl as she proudly clung to her leg. “She can walk! Soon you can play hide and seek with me and Elsie,” Piper said to Mea, patting her head happily.

Callahan grinned. “So I don’t even have to ask how you’re doing, Lark. Seems like things have been as good as they get these days in your neck of the woods, pun intended.” Lark had two healthy and happy babies, had brought a Victor home last year, and was staying afloat. In terms of a Victor’s lifestyle, that was about the best it could be. “How is Jules doing? I haven’t ran into her yet,” he admitted.

[callahanspelt]

larktimbers‌:

Lark was sitting, watching, just like she had last year. and the year before. and the year before. on and on, until it was just her at 15 on this bench with no mentor to help show her what to look for in the tributes. clad in all black and looking terefying, she watched.

until Mea and Mason squirmed from her grip and crawled quickly to the weapon that most district seven people loved. an Axe. she managed to corral them quickly before they did anything too crazy, picking the little squirells up and saying “axe, sharp. don’t touch until me or auntie Johanna teaches you how to use it, okay?”

they were just pointing, and she finally realized there was another person at the axe station. “sorry. they’re seven kids, you know?”

Piper had insisted on coming to the training centre with Cal. He’d tried everything: bribing her with a special outing with Ember, letting her bake cookies, anything. But she insisted on seeing where their tributes would work, where Cal would work. And it dawned on him that Piper was nervous: nervous he was in danger. Elsie was perfectly happy to have Ember all to herself, and didn’t seem to care one bit about training.

So with her hand in his, Cal carefully walked Piper through the room, explaining everything to her. These are swords. This is where they learn to identify safe plants. This is a throwing knife. That’s a fire-making station. And then the pair came across Lark and the twins by the axes. “And these are axes, Piper,” Cal continued, with a warm smile to Lark.

“Half-pint wanted to see what Dad does at work,” he explained. “On the condition that she doesn’t touch any weapons until she’s nineteen.” Piper giggled as she watched the babies playing. 

“Mea and Mason are so big, Miss Lark!” she exclaimed. “They’re so cute!”

[callahanspelt]

TASK 002 // SUL SUL!

ROMANTIC // These Sims tend to be Flirty and may become Sad if they don't have any Romantic social interactions for a period of time.

FAMILY-ORIENTED // These Sims become Happy around family members, become Sad if they don't interact with family for a period of time, and can Boast about Family.

GOOD // These Sims become Happy around Sims with positive Moodlets, can Donate to Charity, become Sad with interacting with Evil Sims, and can Discuss World Peace.

SUPER PARENT // This Sim wants to be the best parent ever!

bonus: 

Piper Spelt : CLINGY // This Sim feels safest when interacting with their caregiver. There is no reason to interact with others when you have such an amazing person in your life. Forcing this Sim to interact with others will stress them out. Elsie Spelt : CHARMER // These Toddlers love to socialize. They earn Communication skill faster, and don't suffer Stranger Danger from strangers. They can Share the Love with other Sims.

[callahanspelt]

marinazale‌:

Marina chuckled and hugged both of the little girls tightly.  Nothing felt quite as right as being there with Cal and his girls.  While she loved District Four, sometimes it felt like there was a piece missing.  “Oh really? New shoes are very exciting,” she agreed.

“That’s amazing!  Did your friends like your doll?” she asked, so captivated by the girls’ excitement and energy.  While she did speak to them on the phone sometimes there was something completely different about seeing them in person.

Then Cal was there and Marina went into his arms immediately.  She pressed the side of her face into his shoulder and inhaled deeply.  That familiar fresh scent so distinctly Cal assaulted her and a wave of memories momentarily swept her away.  “You too.  I missed you,” she murmured softly.  Truthfully she didn’t want to leave his arms, but knew she had to.  She stepped back, lifting her gaze to meet Cal’s as her hand slid down his arm, itching to take his hand.  “I hope these two little princesses haven’t been giving you too much trouble.”

Cal watched as the girls chattered away to Marina, Piper growing more enthusiastic by the minute. “They loved her, they thought her hair was pretty and they liked her mermaid tail! And fish have tails, too!” Being with Marina, with his girls, it all felt natural. Like this was where they were supposed to be: all together, even if it was in his least favourite city. 

The girls, Marina too, made it feel like new.

“Missed you too,” he replied, trying not to become too distracted by Marina’s gown, or, more accurately, what Marina’s gown didn’t cover. “You look lovely. Thalia has wonderful taste,” he added. “They’ve been perfect angels, as always,” Cal teased, playfully tracing shapes of halos above both of their heads. “It’s all about the party for them. Girls, do you want a little tour of the ballroom?” he asked, holding out his arm for Marina and his hand for Piper. Elsie reached up for Marina’s other hand. “Rina and I have been here many times. We know all the secrets.”

[callahanspelt]

gxrlsbiteback‌:o

enobaria smiled — a tight lipped smile, so as not to frighten the girls. it’d taken her a long time to remember to do that. many kids had cried and ran awat from her. “really?” she asked, a tone of wonder in her voice. “you’re getting so big.” she and callahan have never quite gotten along, but…enobaria has a soft spot of children, even if the children don’t have a soft spot for her. they remind her of her brothers. not that she speaks to them much anymore. she’s got some nieces and nephews she’s never met. she doesn’t understand it — something about ripping someone’s throat out with your teeth makes your family not want to talk to you. 

“hello, callahan,” she says, less pleasantly, looking up at the father figure accompanying the children. “it’s good to finally see you at one of these things, hmm?” she inclined her head towards him, taking the drink from the avox who’d brought it over from the bar.

Elsie nodded, looking Enobaria up and down. “Your dress is pretty,” she added, clutching her punch close. She looked from the drink to the woman’s red dress. “It looks like my punch! Red!” She took a sip from the cup, Piper carefully stepping forward to help her sister not spill.

Callahan smiled politely at Enobaria as he looked up from the girls. “It’s wonderful to see you, too, Enobaria,” he added. “It’s... strange to be at another ball, after so long. But the girls love it, so that makes things just a little easier.” He shifted awkwardly, at a loss for what to say to the sharp-toothed woman who he’d never quite known how to speak to, even in his younger years. “How are you holding up?”

[callahanspelt]

reed-macphee‌:

Reed couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the girl’s seriousness. “Seven is a nice number. Not too big, not too small.”

Reed stood back up as Callahan began speaking to him. “Yeah, good to see you too.” He muttered politely. “They’re same as they always are. Not good but things could always be worse. How have you been?”

Piper nodded with a soft smile. “Dad says being seven is fun because you can help cook more things. And I like to cook. I’m going to learn how to make bread almost by myself soon,” she added.

Callahan understood Reed’s sentiment entirely. “That’s exactly how I feel. Sometimes, average is all we can hope for, right?” he shrugged it off slightly. “But things are good, thanks. The girls keep me busy, and their excitement makes coming back here a little less rough,” he added. It had been a hard fall, with the girls still dealing with Arista’s death, but they were resilient kids. They took after their dad that way. 

[callahanspelt]

satineharris‌:

“No!” Satine gushed, hand over her heart. “Four?!” She looked up at Callahan, offering him a polite smile before reaching to take a glass of punch from the avox now that Piper had moved away. She hadn’t interacted much with the Spelts at all, especially considering they spent their time in the Capitol living just a floor away from each-other. But she was acquainted with Callahan’s daughters, and she wasn’t rude enough to ignore Elsie when she was talking to her.

“Four is a great age,” she informed her. “You get to do all kinds of grownup things. Like starting school and… maths…?” she faltered slightly. Children in Eight took a few lessons she was sure were not mandatory in other districts, like embroidery. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what schools are like in Nine.” 

She looked up at Piper and Callahan. “I take it you two went to school?” she asked, placing one hand on her hip. “What can Elsie expect?”

“Uh-huh!” Elsie nodded eagerly. “And next year, I’ll be five!” Callahan returned Satine’s smile with a friendly nod of his own. He’d been so caught up last year that he hadn’t really had the chance to get to know most of the Tower, something he felt quite badly about. He remembered Satine still as the young girl she was when she won the Games, not long before he left. 

“Yeah, we learn math. But not when you’re four. You just learn counting. Right now, we’re learning about the Districts!” Piper replied. “You live in District Eight, Satine! That’s, um...” Piper furrowed her brow as she recalled her schooling. “The textiles District! You make clothes there.” She beamed up at Cal with a proud smile, which he returned. 

“Nine teaches about different kinds of grain when you’re older,” he explained. “And sometimes some cooking classes, learning to make bread and how to use grain machines. But not until you’re bigger,” he added. “Although really, the best way to learn bread is to just practice. Not just learning in school.”

[callahanspelt]

a-silentshadow‌:

She wasn’t technically supposed to be at the ball tonight. When the Tower was empty, she was given odd jobs on a rotating basis–sometimes cleaning, sometimes cooking, sometimes doing work outside of the tower. She had been in the sewers for the past couple of weeks, an experience she had hoped not to go through again. She had just been reinstated in the Tower to help with the cleaning as the Victors arrived for the Victory Ball, and she just couldn’t help it–she missed those girls more than she would’ve ever imagined. 

She had a solid hour of time before she would be missed by a supervisor, as she had gotten another Avox, a friend, to cover for her. She didn’t want to push it, though, she was only going to go down and say hello to the girls, to Cal. Then she would leave. Elsie had seen her first, announcing the age she had turned in her absence from the Capitol. 

Em smiled wide, giving Elsie a thumbs up sign to signal her excitement, before looking up and smiling at Callahan, waving to the small family.

Piper joined Elsie immediately, bouncing over to her favourite Avox. Both little girls returned the thumbs-up signs. “Miss Ember!” she exclaimed, hugging her tightly with one arm, careful not to spill the punch. “Did you help make the punch? It’s really, really good.” She beamed up at her nanny, thrilled to be re-united with the young woman. Elsie bounced up and down too with joy, her little curls bouncing with her. 

Callahan was more reserved, with a wide smile for the young woman. “It’s great to see you, Ember,” he added, his voice soft and low. He was given a bit more of a break when speaking to her, as the Capitol understood the need for him to tell her about the girls, but he had come to view Ember almost like another member of his little family. “We miss you a lot,” he added with a little laugh. “The girls say I do not make lemonade the way you do.” 

“He doesn’t, Miss Ember,” Piper added. “He doesn’t use enough sugar.” 

“Oh, so that’s the secret,” Cal teased.

[callahanspelt]

marinazale‌:

Marina was excited to see Cal and his daughters.  She hated that she had to miss their birthdays but such was the life when you lived in different districts.  At least she could call them and catch up whenever they wanted.  Those late night conversations with Cal after the girls had gone to sleep were some of her favorites.

She had moved through the party in search of a treat, not having seen Cal or his daughters arrive yet.  However, hearing Elsie’s cheerful tone immediately caused Marina to turn towards the girl and beam.  “I know sweetie!” Marina cooed before leaning down so she could give Elsie a hug.  “You’re so big now.  How are my two favorite girls?” she asked as she glanced her eyes towards Piper.

Callahan quickly reached down to grab the cup of punch out of his youngest daughter’s hand before Elsie bounced into Marina’s arms, and Piper was not far behind. “I am big!” Elsie announced. “I had to get new shoes!” Piper hugged onto Marina as well, both of the girls thrilled to see her, and Callahan stood back with a huge smile as he held the girls’ cups and watched them chatter away. 

“Good!” Piper announced. “I’m seven now, Rina! I’m learning how to do math at school! And about all the Districts!” She rocked back shyly on her heels. “When we talked about District Four, I got to tell them about the fish and the ocean like you told us, and I brought my doll and showed everybody!”

Cal waited for the girls to finish chattering before he handed them back their cups and stepped in to pull Marina close into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you,” he whispered into her hair, and once again this place felt like home.

[callahanspelt]

viikanders‌:

IF SHE WERE BEING HONEST WITH HERSELF,     petra should’ve realised that she had once been in cal’s shoes.   trying to turn over a new leaf   &  leave everything in the past behind.    she should’ve empathised with him.    yet she was such an unforgiving person that it just didn’t happen that way.    the sixty-ninth year had been in the early stages of her sobriety.  everything was magnified so when he’d hurt marina,     it seemed like the worst thing in the world.  back then she had overreacted.    now she was simply too proud to admit it.

‘  your mouth is making those words but all i hear is:      here’s another reason for me to abandon marina in the future,   blah blah blah. ’    she lowered her voice to mock him like the child that she was.   her eyes were practically rolling back in to her skull as she spoke.   

at her own introduction,   petra straightened her back so she could angle her eyes down at the children.      ‘  &   tonight i’m not petra.    i’ve come as death itself. ’   she corrected cal,   lips forming a smile.     ‘ me  &  your father go    WAY  back. ’

Cal pressed his lips together with a tight grimace as Petra mocked him. Piper looked up at him with concern and he merely squeezed her hand, trying to comfort her. He had explained to the girls a while ago that he and Marina had been friends when they were younger, but Callahan got scared and left the Capitol, and he wasn’t a good friend back then. But it still made his blood boil for Petra to even mention abandonment in front of the girls.

At Petra’s introduction, Piper pushed herself even further behind Callahan, hiding her face in his suit jacket. Even Elsie was taken aback, stepping backwards onto Cal’s foot. “I know that you don’t like me, Petra, but could you cool it on intentionally trying to scare my kids?” He asked, trying to keep the frustration from rising in his voice. “Girls, do you want to hop quick like bunnies over to choose a cupcake? It’s just right there,” he gestured to a table about ten feet away. “Piper, hold Elsie’s hand, honey. Just take one each, okay?” Piper was thankful to leave the situation, and took Elsie’s hand as they hopped together just out of earshot. 

“Look, Petra, I know you hate me, but don’t take it out on the girls. Telling a four year-old she has eight years to go until she’s in the Reaping? Seriously? And Piper’s a sensitive kid. She’s already asking if she’s going to die when she’s twelve.” He kept his tone low and even, refusing to get riled up. “I know I fucked up, and I can’t stop you from feeling upset, but they’ve been through a lot and they don’t need you putting even more fear into their heads. Direct it all at me, I can take it, but leave them out of it.”

[callahanspelt]

kaelinraeeveryday‌:

Kaelin heard a little voice and looked down, crouching down with her hands on her knees and looking at Elsie. “is that right, sweetheart?” she asked, immidiately. the capitolite was in a good mood, she’d just gotten the news last week that she was being moved to district ten. she was going to work with Birch and Mare and Celeste! “well… you know what that means…”

she turned around, going through her pockets and grabbing something. she passed it over to elsie with a smile. “happy birthday, cutie.” it was a little glass botton, see through and glimmering in the light. it was just one of the spare buttons she kept in her bag, but the eighteen year old assumed it would fasinate the girl. “if you hold it to the light…” she demonstrated, and a rainbow appeared on the floor. “see?”

and then she looked at the other two people. another little one, an adult man, their father. “would you like one, too, sweetie? oh, i hope it’s okay. ask your father.”

Elsie’s eyes lit up as Kaelin handed the button over, and admired it closely. Cal noticed Piper stiffen up, as if she were jealous or sad or a mix of both, but when Kaelin turned her attention to Piper, she smiled. “Can I, Dad?” she asked softly, and Callahan nodded. 

“Of course!” Piper took the button with a polite thank you and Cal grinned as the girls focused on making little rainbows on the floor. “That’s very kind of you,” he said to the girl with a warm smile. “You’re a stylist, aren’t you? It’s great to finally get a chance to meet you, it was a busy summer for us.” He held out his hand for a handshake. “I’m Callahan Spelt, these are my girls Piper and Elsie,” he added. “This is their first-ever Victory Ball, so I thought I’d let them have the whole experience. Dressing up, drinking fruit punch.” He smiled. Seeing the Capitol through the girls’ eyes made it bearable.

[callahanspelt]

Callahan, Piper, and Elsie Spelt’s outfits for the 76th Victory Ball 

[callahanspelt]

reed-macphee‌:

Reed had dragged himself to the ball reluctantly and now stood in line waiting to get some punch, flask hidden away in his suit jacket pocket. He wasn’t really paying attention until he heard a small voice pipe up. Reed looked down at the small girl, a smile tugging at his lips. “Is that so?” He crouched down. “Four is a pretty big number. You only have one more finger left on your hand until you’re five.” Reed looked to the other small girl. “And how old are you?”

Elsie nodded seriously, taking a moment to check her fingers to make sure that, in fact, there were five. “I’m seven,” Piper added. “It’s pretty good, so far.” 

Callahan couldn’t help but grin as he watched Reed with the girls. “Only pretty good, Piper? Not super-fantastically-good?” Piper giggled, shrugging her shoulders with a shy downcast look. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder, comforting his less social daughter. 

“Good to see you, Reed,” he added in greeting. “How are things back in Eleven?”

[callahanspelt]

viikanders‌:

PETRA KNEW   NOTHING  ABOUT CHILDREN,    that was true.   her first instinct when she’d caught two of the    short things   in the corner of her eye ,    was to back away slowly.   but all she could do was wonder,       what kind of moron brought children to a party like this?    sure,  lark timbers was probably running around with hers on her hips.   she expected that from her though.    petra kept her thoughts internal — that was until she laid eyes on the parent.

‘ well that makes more sense. ’    cal.   bad decisions  &  him often went together.    she rolled her eyes as she spotted them heading towards the refreshments table,   which just so happened to be where she was standing.     she pulled down her skull mask that had been resting atop her head,    hoping that it would shade her from cal’s view.  

why did one of them have to speak to her?     she groaned in disgust.   ‘ that’s great.’  there was no attempt made to make her voice more interested.   as usual she couldn’t hide her disdain.  ‘eight more years to go. ’    she smiled falsely,   crossing her fingers.   eight years until they’re chipperness would be ruined by a reaping.   thank god.  she looked up at cal,   doubting that her mask trick had worked,    ‘ callahan. ’  she greeted him with a nod.  ‘ i see you’ve made yet another  poor choice —  bringing children to a party like this?  how irresponsible. ’

The voice was familiar, and it was all Cal could do to not lash out at Petra for her comment. Elsie merely blinked, still confused and protected from the Reaping’s reality. But Piper understood a little more, and she protectively took her sister’s hand with a wary look at the woman. 

Callahan smiled, though it was pained to do so. It was well known to him that Petra Vikander did not like him in the slightest. It was because of him leaving Marina: after the 69th Games when he just couldn’t handle it anymore. But Petra did not care that Cal had chosen to turn over a new leaf. And Cal had accepted he could do nothing about it. Of course, Elsie was going to talk to the person who least liked him. That was Elsie: she’d make friends with absolutely anyone if you let her try.

“Petra,” he replied, his voice low and soft. “I hope you’ll forgive me that I have yet to learn how to be in two places at once, and I don’t have exhaustive childcare back in Nine. So the girls and I are a package deal until I defy the laws of human capability.” He looked down at the girls, who were back to clinging to his sides. “Girls, this is Ms. Petra. She lives in District Four, like Marina.”

[callahanspelt]

“What are the two rules tonight, girls?” Callahan reminded Piper and Elsie. He paused with the pair right outside the doors of the ballroom, pulling them aside for a moment. 

“Stay close, and don’t eat too much candy,” Piper and Elsie chorused. Cal adjusted the skirt of Elsie’s dress, fixed a stray curl of Piper’s hair, and then took both girls by the hands to walk into the ballroom. Both of them gasped as they looked over the twinkling lights and at the many plants in the room. Cal had to agree with his daughters: it was a beautiful sight.

He guided the girls over to get some fruit punch to start the night off, and as Cal watched Piper stretch up on her toes to take a cup of punch from an Avox, Elsie beamed up at the person who was waiting for their drink next to them. “I’m four now!” she announced to them, clutching her cup of punch in one hand and holding up four fingers with the other. 

Cal grinned, shaking his head a little. “You’re being a social butterfly already, Els?”

[callahanspelt]

It hadn’t been enough.

Cal sat on the couch in the District 9 suite, watching Arista’s body be pulled up by the hovercraft. He sipped at his rum and cola, wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. He was going to have to have a hard conversation with Piper and Elsie that night. They were with Ember, and Cal had asked her to let the girls play on the roof while they set up the post-Games party. It was, Cal figured, the only place that wouldn’t broadcast the finale. 

He silently raised his glass to the television, his eyes casting up to the sky. “Godspeed, little lady,” he said softly, a sad smile on his face. “I’m sorry I didn’t do right by you.” He had a second funeral plan to manage, and Birch had told him what she wanted. He couldn’t screw this up. 

As he poured some more rum into his drink, the elevator blinked and he looked up to see Marina. He placed the glass on the table and stood, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not a good day, Rina,” he said softly. // @marinazale​ 

[callahanspelt]

marinazale‌:

Having seen what transpired with Arista and Dayta on the screens the previous night, she made the decision to go see if she could help her in any way.  Cal would have a better idea of how she could do that and maybe they could have breakfast together, either with the girls or before they woke for the day.  Either way, Marina was sure she would enjoy it.

When she stepped off the elevator at a little after six in the morning, she did not expect to find Callahan comforting Piper on the couch.  She assumed the girls would still be asleep.  Her eyes softened in understanding as she moved towards the pair.  “Hi,” she mouthed back, understanding clearly what Cal needed.  Parenthood had to always come first.  She could have left, but Piper seemed upset.  Smart money was on her having seen the Games.  It was hard to keep kids sheltered and it was traumatizing at that age.  Marina was around Piper’s age the first time she recalled being exposed to the horrors of the Games.  It scared her too.

Marina sat down beside Callahan as her hand moved to rest on Piper’s back in silent support.  Those girls were not her responsibility, but Marina felt almost maternal instinct to look after them.  In those moments of fear, it was important for children to know they weren’t alone.  They had a team behind them.  She gave Cal a knowing look as she smiled reassuringly.  As long as they needed her, in whatever capacity they did, she would be there.  No questions asked.

Piper turned around when Marina patted her back, comfortably resting between the two. “’Rina, did you see the scary pony too?” she asked, her lip trembling a little as she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her nightgown. “It was really scary, and Arista had to hurt that girl. Daddy, what if there’s more ponies?” She looked back up to Cal, concern painting her features. 

“It’s okay, honey, Arista knows what to do to stay safe. I made sure to teach her just what to do.” He tucked a strand of hair behind Piper’s ear before looking up at Marina. “Somebody accidentally saw the Games last night,” Callahan explained softly. “And she’s very worried about Arista.” He instantly worried that something had happened to Arista while he’d been comforting Piper. He raised his eyebrows at Marina, silently trying to ask if everything was okay.