now i'm free

oakley groves. district 7 mentor. 97th victor. jackson's wife. juniper's mom. currently making baby #2.

[oakleygroves]

remywinslow:

“Lovely,” Remy declared, wrinkling up her nose in a cheerful smile. “I’ve decided to take it easy for this ball, or whatever the Remington Winslow version of taking it easy is. Which appears to be putting flowers on everyone and disregarding the effort of decor.” 

She smiled, happy to know that the gift made it to Seven safely. “Do you have pictures?” Remy asked, clasping her hands in front of her. “You look great for the lack of sleep, by the way. I never would’ve guessed you had an infant at home.” 

Oakley nodded.  Taking it easy for a ball was a very good idea.  She didn’t want to do too much.  After all, she’d just had a baby.  Then Remy asked about pictures and she immediately went to get her phone from her handbag.  She pulled it up and found a picture of Juniper holding Jasmine on her lap while they both sat on Jackson’s lap.

She offered the phone to Remy and smiled.  “I took that last week.  She’s already growing so much.”

[oakleygroves]

remywinslow:

Remy’s smile brightened when she saw her fellow District Seven member. For Oakley, Remy instantly went for a soft purple blossom, smiling as she carefully broke a couple from their bush. “For once they have decor that I can appreciate,” Remy mused as she tucked the flower in behind Oakley’s ear.

“How’s Jasmine doing?” she asked, her eyes shining. “Did you get the gift I sent? She’ll grow into them soon, I hope.” Remy had sent along a set of onesies patterned with little pine trees, fitting for the little one’s home. She was surprised to see Oakley up and at the ball just months after Jasmine’s birth, but she suspected it wasn’t entirely her choice to be there.

Oakley beamed when Remy placed the flower behind her ear.  “How’s it look?” she asked teasingly.  It was nice to spend time with adults rather than just her kids.  Not that she didn’t love them, but Jasmine was exhausting.

“She’s good.  I did get the gift thank you so much.  I’m sure she’ll fit in it before we know it.  She’s already growing like a weed.  If only she’d start sleeping through the night.  Then everything would be a little better.”

[oakleygroves]

remywinslow:

Remy arrived at the Victor’s Ball with no cats and a patient smile. 

These parties were a part of life, now, and Remy settled into the routine of smile, kiss cheeks, compliment fashion, and nod demurely the way she had been doing for a few Games now. As unpredictable as these twists had been as of late, Remy was thankful for the routine. Games, three months, Ball, three months, rinse and repeat. She knew where she was supposed to be and when, what was supposed to be done. She didn’t worry about appearances so much anymore. People knew who she was now, she had her place here. She could be a little more of herself.

She armed herself with champagne and took a sip as she wandered through the ballroom, admiring the foliage throughout the room. Plucking a flower from a bush, she carefully tucked it in behind her ear before looking up at the person watching her. “Did you want one, too?” she asked, grinning impishly.

It was strange to be back in the Capitol and even stranger to be separated from Jasmine for the first time since her birth.  Her infant daughter, and Juniper, were being looked after by Oakley’s sister.  Jackson wanted to stay in Seven and told Oakley to stay too, but she had been requested.  Unlike Jackson, apparently the Capitol did see use in bringing her back.  At least for now.  Jackson could have watched the kids, but he had been such a mess after Graham she didn’t want to leave them with him for two days.

When she spotted Remy, Oakley approached with a smile only for the other woman to ask about the flowers.  “Oh definitely,” she chuckled.  “I think it would look beautiful.  Yours sure does.”

[oakleygroves]

ofvigilcnce:

His entire life, Neptune had been fed these ideas of masculinity from the world around him. Even without all five senses, he was supposed to be strong and stand tall and be intimidating wherever he went. But as he grew up, he learned that was, quite frankly, bullshit. It was okay to let other people lead sometimes, it was okay to show weakness. That was how he could dance with Juniper without being nervous, he simply let her take control, a huge smile on his face as he looked down at her while they were moving from side to side.

June couldn’t stop smiling.  Whenever she was with Neptune it seemed like nothing could possibly go wrong in her world.  She kept her arm around his neck, her fingers lazily playing with the back of his hair.  This was her world and she wanted nothing more than to spend every single day feeling this happy because Neptune was with her.  Her free hand shifted to touch his chest as they continued to slowly sway.  They didn’t need words to convey what they felt for each other and that made it even more special.

[oakleygroves]

ofvigilcnce:

He could still remember the first time she had asked him to dance with her. The nerves that set in were so overwhelming for him, that he had almost forgotten how to breathe. But that was so long ago that it felt like another lifetime, and this time, when she asked, there were no nerves released. Instead, he simply replied I would love to, and began to lead her to the dance floor.

Juniper was so at ease around Neptune.  She could truly be herself with him in a way she never could with anyone else.  Not even her parents.  She followed easily when he led her to the dance floor.  The song was slow, so once they were there she moved closer, her arm around his neck so they could sway together.  These parties were just over the top, but with him it all came back to reality.

[oakleygroves]

ofvigilcnce:

Neptune arranged his hand in the sign for “I love you” and placed his hand softly on her chest, using his other hand to rub circles into the small of her back. Some would find the inability to communicate without looking at each other frustrating or difficult, but he found it intimate. There something so personal about the way they communicated, he loved it, he loved her. And as much as he wanted to communicate that to her in a deeper and more descriptive way in this moment, he just stayed in his position, taking a deep breath. He was home.

June smiled softly as she rested against his shoulder.  She could feel his sign against her chest and the way he rubbed her back.  They had their unspoken arrangement.  She knew his love.  She understood things even with her eyes closed.  These were the moments that were her favorite.  Together they swayed and June just wanted to stay there forever.  Eventually, she moved back and her hand gave his a squeeze.  Reluctantly, she dropped his hand to sign.  Do you want to dance with me?

[oakleygroves]

ofvigilcnce:

Neptune laughed, pretending to toss fake hair over his shoulder. You’d probably be very lonely and very sad and your life would not nearly be as exciting. He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear before continuing. Who knows? Maybe you’d excel at it, maybe you wouldn’t, maybe the world would explode. All I know is that right now, you’re doing what you want to do, you’re kicking ass, and I couldn’t be more proud. That’s all that matters. And with that, he wrapped an arm around her waist again, leaning his chin on top of her head and swaying from side to side.

The amount that Neptune believed in her was something June always was amazed by.  Sure, her parents believed in her too but the way Neptune did it was different.  He was just supportive of everything.  There was never any judgement.  I love you, June signed before he pulled her close once more.  She rested her head against his chest when he placed his chin on her head.  You always believe in me, even when I don’t.

[oakleygroves]

ofvigilcnce:

Neptune made a face, his nose and mouth scrunching up as small as he could make them and shaking his head. That’s false, he signed back, as his signature goofy smile returned to his face once more, his eyes widening as he continued. I am positive that you can do anything you put your mind to.

She beamed.  You’ve always believed in me, June signed in response.  What would I do without you?  I don’t think I’d want to do something like this. She couldn’t even imagine doing something like this regularly.  It was overwhelming enough to just go to these parties.

[oakleygroves]

ofvigilcnce:

There was something so calming about her presence, as if simply having her by his side made the world slow down and his surroundings less hectic. He relished in the feeling of her lips against his, of her body in his hands, before reluctantly letting go in order to better communicate. Far more now that you’re here, he responded, laughing a bit at his words. In all seriousness, June ( the name sign he had given her forever ago was the sign for the word bug with the letter J, June-bug, it just sort of worked ), I think this party would be far better if you had planned it.

June smiled brightly, watching Neptune’s hands while he signed.  After so many years it was second nature.  A pink flush rose to her cheeks and she shook her head.  I could never have planned something this extravagant.  Did you see the size of that buffet?  It always amazes me how crazy all this is.

[oakleygroves]

ofvigilcnce:

There was something about standing in a room full of people talking and hearing nothing. It was comforting, in a way Neptune didn’t think anyone understood, that he could concern himself only with the conversations he was having. In this moment, that meant half-assing conversations to people who didn’t care enough to try and understand him, to sponsors and Capitolites who tried to understand the sounds he was making instead of the far more dynamic language his hands were communicating. Despite the scare that came with someone’s hands landing on his shoulders, he was grateful for the interruption. His hands collapsed onto his chest and he pretended like he was having a heart attack, before turning around to grin at his girlfriend. Juniper, one of the only people who treated him like he was normal. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, gently placing a kiss to her forehead, then to her nose, then to her lips.

Juniper giggled at Neptune’s reaction, a bright smile on her face when he pulled her close and kissed her each time.  His lips touched hers and she returned the kiss, one hand moving to cup the back of his neck as they stood there in a sea of tranquility in the chaos of the Capitol.  Once the kiss broke, June smiled at him before signing her question.  Are you having fun?  It was often hard to tell.  The parties changed from year to year.  Sometimes it was awful and others were amazing nights. 

[oakleygroves]

@ofvigilcnce

June had been looking for Neptune for awhile. When she finally spotted him through the crowd, she smiled to herself and moved easily through.  No one really paid attention to the daughter of two relatively washed up victors anymore, so she was never stopped to talk to.  Sneaking up behind her boyfriend, June moved quickly to put her hands on his shoulders and press a kiss to his cheek.  She knew it would catch him off guard but in the grand scheme of things, she wanted to do something fun during this party.  Unfortunately until that point it seemed like the only fun thing to do was drugs in corners, not something June would ever choose.

[oakleygroves]

clover-c-darwin:

Clover felt sick to her stomach. Her fingers clinging onto the glass she had recently aquiered she kept glancing around making sure to know where Alexander and Haydn were at all times trying to soothe her nerves. As she found a familiar face in the crowd her voice was a little shaky speaking up: “Well, hello there…”

June had been looking for Neptune when she saw the woman.  Pausing, she frowned upon hearing the emotion in her voice.  “Hi,” Juniper replied.  “Are you alright?”

[oakleygroves]

huntedhunter:

“I really recommend you would go. I wouldn’t want to turn you into an accomplice of my crimes,” Jamie pointed out in a cold, but detached voice, as he crushed the white powder with his golden ring. Ever since the tension in the Capitol rose, the exhibition regarding illegal drugs had faded away considerably. He was mainly kidding, but it wasn’t out of question either to be stopped by a peacekeeper even in the darkest corner of the ball, underground seemingly.

“Do you realize how many negative health risks there are for that,” June asked, disregarding his comment as she watched him crush the powder.  “I swear half the people in this tower have a death wish.”

[oakleygroves]

BASIC INFO:

Name: Juniper “June” Groves

District: 7

Age: 23

Birthday: October 12th

Occupation: Nurse

FC: Louise Grinberg

Daughter of: Jackson & Oakley Groves

BIOGRAPHY:

Juniper, or June as she preferred, was something of a miracle child.  She knew growing up that she was special.  She was Daddy’s little princess and Mommy’s little angel, but she never understood why.  At least not until she was older.  June didn’t know how close to impossible it was for her to have been born.  She didn’t understand that there had been a time her mother came dangerously close to a life confined to a wheelchair.  All she knew was the chance to run outside and skin her knees like any other little girl.  She was almost four when her little sister was born, so June doesn’t remember what life was like before Jasmine.

Growing up, June was independent, outspoken, and spunky.  She was a daddy’s girl to her core, but that didn’t stop her from disobeying him if she felt like it.  June always wanted to say and do exactly what was on her mind with little thought to the consequences, especially when she was young.  She made friends easily and was incredibly outgoing to the point that her parents needed to pull her back.  A sense of stranger danger was not something Juniper realized until she was much older.

Jasmine and Juniper were two peas in a pod.  Both girls were outgoing and optimistic.  They were happy.  They had parents that loved them and loved each other, so there was no reason to push against the system they were born into.  Sure, reapings were terrifying and June knew the pain her mother could be in.  She’d heard her father scream at night, but it didn’t seem as real as it could have.  At least not until her best friend Neptune’s sister was reaped.  Then it felt real.  People she knew could go in there.  The reaping could just as easily touch her.

Eventually that friendship with Neptune morphed into something different and they began dating in their teens.  At first it was a little difficult, given how much her mother and his father disliked each other, but eventually they made it work.  Ever since then, Juniper has been unable to picture her life without Neptune in it.  He is the one constant she has outside of her family and that made the threat of the reaping even scarier, both for her and for him.

Thankfully she avoided the reaping and while Jasmine still has two more reapings to get through, June is convinced her family will be spared.  They have to be.  She can’t even imagine how awful it would be to watch her sister fight for her life.  Now, Jasmine has recently finished nursing school and has gotten a position at a Capitol hospital.  She’s happy with how things have been going in her life.  While her parents can still be fragile, she believes that things will get better for them, especially her father.  She’s happy in her relationship and her job, even when she works in the tower during Games season.  It’s a good life.  She wouldn’t change it for anything.

CURRENT CONNECTIONS:

Jasmine Groves - little sister

Neptune Caulder - boyfriend

WANTED CONNECTIONS:

friends

enemies

really anything else 

tbh just message me and we’ll figure things out

[oakleygroves]

drakexthornley:

Impossible was not the word he wanted to hear right now. He’d only just become comfortable enough to acknowledge at least one of them would die eventually. The prospect of either of them dying for real was unbearable to begin thinking about. “She’s a lot stronger than she looks,” he added for both his own sake and for the woman to be made aware of. “Stronger than I could ever be.”

Oakley nodded.  “I can see that,” she told him.  “She was very spirited during training when I met her.”  Cricket was her pick to win now that Graham was gone, but she wasn’t sure if she could survive this task.

[oakleygroves]

callioperhode:

“Really?” Calliope tilted her head, frowning slightly. “That party was tame. Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was fun and all, but definitely tame. Most people were out of there by midnight. Some of the costumes were a bit much, I guess.” She sighed, tossing her hair behind her shoulder. Though, she figured, her idea of what was ‘tame’ may be slightly warped. “Then again, guess it’s not for everyone, hmm?”

“It may have been tame, but anything that requires extra energy is a lot when you’re eight months pregnant,” Oakley pointed out.  She got tired quickly and then Graham died, so Jackson was a mess.  It had definitely been a long night for Seven’s team.

[oakleygroves]

drakexthornley:

Drake shook himself free of the hypnosis the newest arena change had over him. Had he been a tribute himself, his safety would’ve been in jeopardy as he stood out in the open admiring the giraffes. “I’ve been worried about them this whole time, but even more now. Birch has to cut the arm off a monkey. Cricket has to kill a lion…somehow.” At least Birch’s task seemed possible. Cricket couldn’t have weighed anymore than ninety pounds soaking wet. How would she beat the king of the jungle?

“A lion?  That’s impossible for someone her size,” Oakley said.  Her hand moved to her belly when her baby moved but she was too worried about Cricket to pay any attention to it.  She met the girl during training and she was a sweet little thing.  “There has got to be some trick to it.”