. h a r p e r .

i love to watch the castles burn . harper civica . . t h i r t y t w o . these golden ashes turn to dust . . 61st victor . . district f o u r .I've always liked to play with fire

[harper-civica]

fishermanfair‌:

@harper-civica​

     The first day was finally over it seemed. Inside the arena, and out, the sun had set some hours ago. There was some sort of party tonight that much Finnick knew. He could see the lights outside the expansive windows. A vague thought flitted by that he may be missed at the party, but surely Harper would be there on their behalf -a guess on his part as she simply wasn’t on the floor. 

    Sighing, Finnick rubbed his right eye with the heel of his hand. He was kicked back comfortably on the couch in the District Four living room with his feet up and the screen still on. There didn’t seem to be too much going on in the arena. Still he couldn’t sleep anyway so he might as well watch. A clock on the wall read that it wasn’t long past midnight.

    Swirling around a half empty glass of wine, Finnick was beginning to ponder whether he ought to at least lie down and attempt to sleep. He’d need to be spry and bushy tailed with his mask in place tomorrow. Just as his eyes began to drift back to the television screen, Finnick heard the unmistakable sound of the elevator doors opening around the corner.

     “Harper?” 

harper was carrying her heels, but not until she got into the elevator -- she was always positive that someone somewhere told her that alcohol numbs you.... apparently they meant everywhere but your feet. though her feet ached, the rest of her body had begun to feel like it was made of the very water from her district and she decided it was time to excuse herself. it was easy to write it off as he just wanted to get me drunk but it was neither here nor there. she wasn’t drunk and she hadn’t slept with anyone, she managed to meet a few new sponsors who were big fans of her games and rubbed elbows with a few victors who had fallen through the cracks in the whirl wind of media. 

“ hey, “ she sighed out, realizing it was finn who was up and not annie or lincoln, her persona fell a little bit and she leaned tiredly on the wall for a moment and took another huff. “ its late, everything okay? “ she asked, slipping into her room and leaving the door half open so she could still speak to him and change, knowing everyone else was asleep.  ...... “everything okay?”

[harper-civica]

《 𝕚𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕪 》

Ivory squealed happily. “I need to savor this moment, you always make it so hard for me to get you to go! This time is was a piece of cake!” The blonde victor waved her empty glass and an avox brought over another. “Could you bring the bottle, it would be much easier that way.” Ivory smiled and nodded when the avox looked unsure. 

“Yes, black tie. Oh we could have a sleep over like old times. You come to my floor. I’ll force you into some outfit you’ll complain about all night. We’ll drink too much, pose for a few gossip mags.” Ivory mused happily as Harper commented about her schedule. Ivory’s reply was cut off when Harper brought up something scandalous.

Ivory grinned eagerly, “You didn’t hear it from me, but they definitely did! Atticus, my guy right now, he’s friends with the peacekeepers who patrol the gamemaker area. It’s confirmed. I’m hoping when I see Atticus next he’ll tell me about what happened. I heard wind of punishments for behavior. They’ve got so many contracts they make the gamemakers and escorts sign about behavior. I would imagine someone’s getting in trouble.” Ivory raised her eyebrows animatedly. 

back in their youth, harper and ivory were inseparable, yin and yang deemed by the capitolites who fantasized about the two girls friendships. unbehest to the common eye, they were everything the capitol fans wished them to be and more. two, young, beautiful girls running wild with an intoxicating fanbase in a large city -- but those nights always ended on the district one floor just them laughing until their eyes were too heavy to open.

willfully the redhead listened. she didn’t enjoy drama, no, not in that sake of the word -- but there was no shame in listening to the gossip that flooded the capitol. game season was always full of scandals and rumors of all varieties since there were so many stars in the capitol at once. victors lead to parties, parties lead to recreational activities, and recreational activities always ended up with a little bit of trouble, if they didn’t, you didn’t do them right.

“ i heard they were being sent to snow’s for punishment, “ harper said matter-of-factly while taking another drink of her whisky, now a glass and a half down, the blasting of the dj’s music didn’t seem to be quite as palpitating as it was when she first arrived. the lights seemed to have made quite a filter over her blonde friend, “ and we all know what happened to the last game maker who went to snows.... “ ---- and another drink, eyebrows raised.

[harper-civica]

《 𝕚𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕪 》

“I’ll send you soo much regardless of objection. Leather is so in right now. And you look fabulous in it.” Ivory commented dramatically with a pleased smirk. It wasn’t often that she won any sort of battle with Harper. Harper was as stubborn as her hair was red. 

Ivory raised her eyebrow in surprise. She wasn’t instantly met with a no from Harper. A rare response. Ivory instantly brightened. “It’s at this exclusive club the evening the games kick off actually. They’ve invited well connected Victors. I’ve got two extra tickets. So i’m definitely bring you. You can’t say no now.” Ivory paused to take another sip of her drink. Savoring the chill and the fruit flavor. 

“It’s black tie mandatory. Not that anyone would dare not dress accordingly. My closet is bursting with new dresses, I have just the thing for you!” Ivory continued excitedly. “The guy, like I said he’s so attractive. Just dumb. His friends are a good mix of sponsors, inner circle Capitolites, and a few Victors i think. A few I haven’t interacted with much. My guy keeps me distracted.” Ivory winked suggestively.

harper sat back, relaxing with the empty drink in her hand until she was handed a new one, waving the avox away and keeping her attention on the blonde what bubbled beside her. ivory was forever alluring and had a way of stealing the red head’s attention from whatever was going on around her. it’d always been this way. they were an odd pairing but, harper wouldn’t trade her counterpart for all the money the capitol had to offer.

“ black tie, huh? “ she said. the options ran in her head of whatever else she had planned for this quill. there were other options, another black tie, but if ivory was going to be there -- this one was certainly more high end. her tributes needed all the sponsors they could get. 

“ I guess I’m in, “ harper shrugged, sitting back in her chair with a heavy sigh and a shrug. “ your parties are always much more appealing than anything generically put on at any venue. “ she smiled, leaning forward and placing her elbow on the arm of her chair, adjusting to lean closer to her friend. “ so -- tell me everything you know about felix and cygnus -- i heard after they parade they --- “ she was cut off by the excited chatter. a warm smile spread across her face.

[harper-civica]

ivory .

“I do envy that you look so good in leather! I can’t pull it off. Aesthetically it clashes with my hair and complexion. I’ve had to pass on so many outfits I’m just not edgy enough for it. I think I should just start buying those pieces for you.” Ivory smirked, “And you can’t object. Expect many packages from me when you’re in Four.”

“Well drink away, you know there’s no shortage of drinks when we’re together!” Ivory reminisced on the years of antics. Her favorite red head and her growing older together, taking the Capitol by storm once a year in their younger years. “I’ve had another glass upstairs. Catch up.” Ivory took another swig of her chilled wine. 

Ivory pursed her lips as she raised her eyebrows at Harper. “Oh him… Well you know how it is. He’s good arm candy, rather simple minded. I’ll break things off after the games.” She shook her head playfully. “Harper, he’s got a few friends…” Ivory winked playfully. “Do come to the next event with me! Please?” 

harper chuckled, the blonde always had something to say about her hair colour or the dark circles under her eyes -- how something clashed with something or other ; when your wardrobe was mostly black that wasn’t a problem you had. another long swig brought her glass to halfway as she leaned back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other. “ you know you don’t gotta do all that, “ harper commented, “ but i know the more i argue with you, the more you’re gonna send me -- “ she held up her hands in forfeit, “ you win, i look forward to new outfits. “

“ I’m drinkin’, I’m drinkin’, “ harper sang, tossing more of the dark liquid back. every muscle relaxed in tingling sensations down her extremities. she motioned for a second one with nothing but a small ring of brown at the base of the ostentatiously sculpted ice.  at the mention of a party, she leaned forward. a sigh as she ran her tongue over the inside of her cheek, weighing her options. “ tell me more about this party, “ she paused, smirking slightly up at ivory, knowing exactly how to get her going, “ and his friends.. “

[harper-civica]

ivory .

Ivory reached our for her dear friend and hugged Harper briefly. “Anything for my friend.” Ivory smiled, “Least I could do is order your drink to be ready for your entrance. You’ll have to tell me how you manage to get people to move without saying anything!” 

Ivory sank into her plush cushioned seat in the booth smoothing out her finely detailed golden skirt. “I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you. How are you?”

harper smiled, it was just like her friend to have her drink ready -- after so many years it was known what the other drinks. ivory and her white wine and harper for her dark liquor, the yin and yang. “ its the hair, “ the red head chuckled, “ the leather also helps. “

and it was just like that, they were young again, barely old enough to drink and the world was in front of them. the games had moved to a back burner thought and for at least a few hours it was going to be some much needed rest and relaxation.

“ in need of a drink.. “ harper teased, bringing her rocks glass up and tinging the edges together. “ how’re you? everything going okay with -- “ she waved her hand -- “ your most recent? “

[harper-civica]

wavesofcresta‌ .

She didn’t really know what was happening, but she knew Harper’s arms when she felt them. the woman was a brick wall, and Annie loved her. those were the arms that had held her as she’d ran offstage sobbing just after her victory. those were the arms that steered her away from the cameras. those were the arms that, even though she was more than a bit out of it… Annie trusted with her life. she allowed Harper to steer her away from the shiny metal, even though she didn’t know the severity of what she’d almost done. she trusted harper, letting the blanket be wrapped around her shoulders.

“beautiful…” she said, her eyes lighting up as she held the jewelry. pearls were her favorite. they were the capitol’s version of home, and Annie took what she could get. she smiled as the jewelry was placed in her hands, and headed to her room. she didn’t want to argue, not right now. Harper was right, they did need to go in her room, with the rest of her collection of gifted jewelry. “yes.” she said, walking towards her room with the arm still around her shoulder. she didn’t put up any resistence, not when it was safer far away from shiny counters that looked too close for comfort.

it had been a time or a few that harper had been through this with annie -- it wasn’t always the same things that set her off and honestly there was no real way of dealing the the situation. the prey like look in the younger red head’s eyes told harper it was time for redirection and if it meant that she lost a pair of earrings she didn’t really care about anyway. they were just another worthless piece of captiol junk but if it meant something to annie that was just less stress for her. 

“ yeah, “ she muttered, releasing the younger girls shoulders once they reached the threshold of her room. it felt wrong to intrude and harper didn’t really feel it necessary to invade the personal space of another victor. 

“ just wait here, I’ll be back -- “ she said, turning and leaving the door cracked as she made her way back down the hallway. that visit out to the pub was becoming a better and better idea.

[becky-llynch]

WrestleMANia

[harper-civica]

lincoln .

Lincoln chuckled and nodded in agreement with Harper’s sentiment. The madness within the Tribute Tower did not stop at the facility’s exit. There was an obvious craziness in the Capitol propagated by its affluent citizens and amoral government. “No, you’re definitely right about that.” He murmured. “And thanks, I owe you one.” The young man turned toward his mentor with a smile, snorting at the mention of the Quarter Quell. “I don’t know how I feel about it. It’ll definitely be worse than both of our Games combined, and those alone were traumatic enough. I just can’t stop thinking about all those families that are going to lose two kids, you know? And what if some siblings have no choice but to turn on each other?” He offered with a click of his tongue. “How are you feeling about it?”    

he’d pay her back -- harper snorted and dismissed him, he paid her back by surviving this long. she took another sip of her drink and adjusted in her bar stool. she had to remember that even though lincoln was a victor, he was young. things were different for him in this scenario, she’s seen siblings in the same game before.

“ i have a brother, “ she chuckled, turning her head towards her fellow mentor slightly -- “ he’d do anything to keep me alive if it was us. “ but, thats where the memories from home ended. there was a burn inside of her that not everything was private. “ but, it happens, “ she said, taking another drink -- “ some families lose both their kids not in the same game, “ she quipped.

[harper-civica]

ivory .

@harper-civica​

Ivory sat down at Bacchae’s having arrived a few minutes earlier than her dear friend Harper. She had sent a message up to Harper’s floor earlier in the day requesting a much needed catch up over drinks. The bartender came over swiftly to Ivory and she promptly ordered. “White wine please. Your newest one will do fine. And a whiskey not he rocks for my friend who will be here shortly.”

Ivory smoothed out the cream and gold filigree pattern on her cocktail dress, having come from yet another schmoozing sessions with a sponsor. She spotted Harper at the door, her friends signature red hair was hard to miss. Ivory brightened up and waved her over.

harper walked strode into the club. the lights were dim but that didn’t mean people didn’t know who was around them. she nodded at the bouncer, walking in -- a victors right -- and scanned the room. ivory had become a dear friend, but, unfortunately, in a capitolite society there was something about her that almost blended it. it was her glow that grabbed the redhead’s attention before she even started to wave.

there was no use of the word excuse me, people moved out of the way as harper made her way to the private booth. the two were always a pair -- one clad in leather and one in gold -- and she put on a grin.

“ you went through all this for me? “ harper laughed, lighting up herself. “ aw shucks, “ and held her arm out for a hug.

[harper-civica]

lincon .

While Lincoln tried to drink in moderation, the lack of paparazzi at Bacchae’s was tempting to pass on. The lack of flashing cameras brought the young man some peace he hardly found in the Capitol. Consequently, he traveled the short distance to the basement bar only to see a familiar face. His lips curled into a small smile upon seeing his fellow victor from District Four, and he slid onto the bar stool beside her with a nod.

“Hey. Escaping the craziness over at the Tower?” He asked softly with a quirked brow. Lincoln frequently escaped to his own bedroom on District Four’s floor of the Tribute Tower for tranquility. Now he needed a change of scenery. The young man turned toward the bartender to order something. “Can I get an old fashioned, please?” 

lincoln wasn’t the worst person who could’ve sat next to her, so the red head shot him a welcoming grin to his mention of everything that was always happening back in the tower. 

“ trying to escape the craziness of the capitol, “ she said, feeling the air press out from her chest. it was exhausting to be here. “ put it on my tab, “ she waved at the bartender, and turned back to her boy. “ how’re you taking all this bullshit of a quarter quill? “ she asks, even though it was her first as well.

[harper-civica]

cambric .

Cambric shrugged. “Doesn’t really fit the image.” The Capitol was pretty adamant that Victors embody the right things. The life of easy and luxury was one of them. He had his carpentry he could work on, but Cambric tried to keep that as a fun hobby. Work too much on anything and it became work and he just didn’t want to start hating the one thing he liked to do.

“Aw, come on, don’t you just want to be normal sometimes?” Winning had just meant he traded one set of worries for another. “Though it is nice being able to help my sisters out with things.” His nieces and nephews always had enough in their bellies and for that Cambric was grateful.

harper rolled her head towards him, giving him the most exhausted look she could manage without actually meaning it. “ the theory of work for a women that i grew up with is not what i want my life to be -- “ she chuckled, leaning back in her seat, elbow hooking over the back of the chair. drink in hand, “ if my mom had her way, i’d be home with the baby factory and my brother’d be sittin’ here. “ 

“ i don’t know what i’d do for work, “ harper said, shaking her head, “ maybe weave baskets or something -- “ she laughed. “ i’d imagine work is suitable in seven though with all the trees and stuff. “

[harper-civica]

annie .

“good. stay clean.” she said, a light and airy tone taking her voice away with it. she was trying to be normal, perhaps focusing it in a little longer. the truth was, moving away from the couch was proving to be a mistake. the kitchen was far too shiny. in comparison to her lovely cozy house in four…. covered in yarn-knit things… this was all too bright. too reflective. too capitol.

reflective like that blade, glistening in the moonlight…

before she could travel too far down that rabbit hole, she rushed back to the couch. Annie grabbed the blanket she’d been cuddling with (one of her own creations) and threw it frantically over the counter’s metal surface. she was still breathing hard, but she was trying to calm down. at least she’d stopped it before it got any worse. she heard harper’s comments, but didn’t say much in response. she was still trying to get calm again. life itself was such a balance of trying to stay sane. her convorsation skills tended to fall victim in the crossfire.

harper tapped her toe while the pasta began to heat up. at home, she cooked frequently -- it was one of the few strands of her normalcy life that she was able to hold onto through the transition from citizen to victor ; it was probably the only strand she still held onto. sometimes it pained her to know how the capitol took advantage of her talent. it wasn’t until annie nearly threw her blanket on the burning burner did harper realize what was happening.

a heavy sigh, this was never easy on easy of them. a strong arm wrapped around annie’s shoulders, guiding her out of the kitchen. she needed a distraction. on the way through the door, she grabbed the earrings she had discarded earlier. “ can you hold onto these for me? “ she asked, her voice soft, holding the earrings out in the palm of her hand. “ i won’t wear them again -- but they look like something you like. “ There wasn’t a moment where Annie had time to argue, “ why don’t you go put them in your room? I’ll bring your dinner in there, it should be about ready. “

[harper-civica]

trix .

Trixanna didn’t like getting out while she was in the Capitol. Too many eyes. Too many questions. But when a client requested a consultation, the tattoo clad victor left her infant with the only person she trusted in the Tower and met with the man. It was a better option than returning in the months after the yearly games as she was already there. 

Anxiety crept up her spine though as she made her way back through the Capitol and Bacchaes was just too ideal an option to quell the nerves she tried to push away as unwarranted paranoia. Ducking into the private bar, she quickly made her way across the floor and to the bar. She glanced at the red-head for a fraction of a second before turning her attention to the bartender. “I don’t care what it is, something strong.” She muttered, glancing to her right and back to Harper. “Hey, kid.“

harper turned her head a little bit and smiled, letting trixie see that her lips had curled upwards in her presence. the strong drink was always appreciated and hearing those who mentored her ordered the same way was reassuring, also, that trips to the capitol were painful for all of them.

“ waiting on a client? “ the fiery redhead asked, her voice calm and even as she took a sip of her drink. it burned her throat, there was comfort in it for her. she was aware that some considered her an alcoholic, but, deep in her soul she knew that half this glass would go to waste before she ordered another one -- frivolous spending on behalf of the victor, but it was worth it to relax.

“ i couldn’t be on that floor anymore -- annie always spirals when we’re here. “

[harper-civica]

wavesofcresta‌ .

she should’ve seen the rejection coming, really. Harper didn’t believe in the whole myth of being red. Annie didn’t know what color sun Harper had been born under. she’d never asked. but she didn’t care, because Harper didn’t care. maybe it was disbeleif that saved her from being a red girl. maybe it wasn’t, maybe harper just was spared the fate. Annie didn’t know. she simply hummed, pretending to agree with harper, even though she wasn’t so sure. it was easier to pretend.

Dinner? what had been for dinner? she sat up, her hands on the back of the couch with just her eyes peeking over it’s back as she watched Harper. she wanted to know what Harper had. she looked at the food, deciding it was servicible, and getting up. “did you shower yet?” she tried to care for the rest of the team the way they did for her, even though half the time she ended up repeating the same questions. 

“ i’ll shower in the morning, “ she told annie, watching her move towards the sound of pasta. it wasn’t a lot, but it was something -- and even with it being a career district -- the food was way better in the capitol than it was in four. she was sure that the meal would be more than enough for the sweet red head if it was enough for the gluttonous bastards that nearly killed them both. so, harper began to heat up process. 

it wasn’t that annie couldn’t do it, it was the distraction that kept harper functioning during semi normal times in the capitol. she loved to cook, but their small kitchen in the tower hardly held a candle to what a real kitchen should be. “ it won’t take long to heat up, i might run out for a drink, “ she tossed a stray hair over her shoulder, “ i haven’t decided yet. “

[harper-civica]

glimmer .

“hi,” glimmer says at the hint of recognition in the other woman’s eyes. “nice to meet you. i’m glimmer.” she puts out her carefully manicured hand for the other woman to shake. she’s one of the victors glimmer vaguely remembers. she’s pretty sure she’s from four, maybe?

turning to the bartender, she asks, “can i get a raspberry vodka soda, please?”

harper recognized the voice -- it was everywhere. turning her head to gaze sideways at the glimmering blonde. “ i know who you are, “ she said, looking at her straight on before bluntly ignoring the hand presented for her.

“ we come here to escape the tributes, are you even old enough to order that? “ she asked.

[harper-civica]

cambric .

Cambric raised an eyebrow in Harper’s direction. “The kid is twelve…” The male was anyhow and that meant almost certain death. Kids that young relatively made it past the blood bath. “I mean clearly the girl doesn’t care if she volunteered to know her little brother would go in with her.” It was a pretty cold move if Cambric was being honest.

Either way, he shrugged and ordered them another round of drinks. He only needed one more. Two were his limits during game time while his tributes were alive. “Sad when this is the only employment we have though…” That was one thing he missed most from his old life, work. He had nothing to do with his time.

harper set her elbows on the bar and leaned forward on it some ; close enough to be private but not close enough to suffocate her own sacred personal space. everyone claimed that the press wasn’t allowed here, but there was very little of that she believed fully. paranoia was her synonym for longevity. her shoulder closed them off to any bystanders who probably had no care for their business anyway.

“ nobody stoppin ya’h from workin’, “ she said, tossing back a long swig of her drink before putting it -- now almost down to ice -- back on the glossy wood with a clank. “ there’s gotta be someone who’ll let ya work just to work, “ she shrugged, “ i like bein’ able to rest when i’m not having to go to press tours -- the public is always exhausting. “

[harper-civica]

wavesofcresta‌ .

Annie nodded, quietly turning in her position on the couch so her back was no longer against the armrest. first she moved her feet, then stopped leaning so she was in a sitting position facing the turned-off Television. then, she slowly and carefully picked her way around Harper’s limbs until she was leaning against harper, snuggled in tight. she’d only frozen up once, when harper’s arm had drifted too low and graced her shoulders. that was one of the spots she couldn’t be touched, so she’d moved, relocated, and snuggled in with harper’s arm secure across her heart. when she was finally settled, she hummed. she’d been listening the whole time, and the humm was one  that meant a few things. sympathy, contentment with her new positon, and agreement. sparkles were the worst.

“the girl  is red.” it broke the humming for a second, and she returned to her hum for a moment before elaborating. “a red sun. a red hair. my red.” in the same way people said annie’s hair was a symbol of the curse she’d been born into, so people spoke of their girl. Minnow hadn’t respected annie’s advice, but that as a whole wasn’t unusual. she understood. “no heels. heels pinch your feet.”

“have i eaten?” it was a genuine question, and one that, as it always did, came out of the blue. annie’s memory was fogged at best in the capitol. such things like caring for herself never seemed to stick in her mind.

harper froze once annie started to movie. she wasn’t much of a fan of physical contact -- especially out in the open ..... especially in the captiol -- but she allowed the younger victor this time. she needed it.  it stiffened harper’s spine as her arm was draped over her. it was familial, but that didn’t mean she was okay -- but, after a few deep breaths and listening to annie ramble on about how minnow was red. 

to a degree, she began to tune out the cuddle bug, until she turned her gaze upward, stopping and shifting the mood strikingly so. “ all of that red stuff is just a myth, “ she patted the girl’s hand and shifted, “ unless you’ve eaten since you’ve been up here i doubt it, “ she said. moving to stand up and head into the kitchen, “ i think there’s some stuff up here. “ 

“ i’ve got some left overs from dinner, “ she said, pulling it out and opening it to reveal a pasta, and sliding it on the counter. “ other than that i don’t think there’s much in the way of easy. “