Portia

Portia Lux. 28. District 12 Stylist.

[ofportia]

PART I: CHARACTER BASICS

Faceclaim: Vanessa Morgan. Name: Portia Lux Age: 28 Gender: Cis Female Home: The Capitol Role: District 12 Stylist Personality: Determined, Ambitious, Opinionated, dedicated and self-confident Song: The Man - Taylor Swift

PART II: CHARACTER BIOGRAPHY

Portia had always been interested in fashion. Whilst most children from the Capitol enjoyed watching the games for the actual games, Portia from a young age, always enjoyed watching for what outfits the stylists would put people in. She really couldn't care less about the districts or the actual people. What she cared about was the pretty clothes that they were put in. Of course, she did watch the actual games. Who didn't? And she wasn't going to alienate herself away from her peers by actually not caring about the actual games. But, it was a well known fact that she was in it for the outfits.

Her family were always quite middle class. They rarely got invited to any parties, and they watched a lot of the games in the public galleries. This was where she spent most of her time when the games were on. Of course they could have watched at home, but what was more interesting than watching with others? And that was where Portia found her pack.

Portia had spent most of her childhood at a sewing machine, altering anything and everything that she could get her hands on. Portia absolutely hated most of the clothing that her parents go her. And so she spent a lot of time in her room creating her own things. This created quite a unique style of Portia, and she liked that. She liked being unique. Her family might not have had loads of money to spare. But, Portia did what she could to at least look as good as some of her other peers.

Portia knew that there was only one job for her. That was to be a stylist. And Portia had always had huge dreams. And so Portia set her sights on being a stylist for the Hunger Games. She knew it was a big dream. But she never let anything stop her getting what she wanted. She knew how to work hard, and she was determined to achieve her dream. And so, she carried on working hard. She knew she wasn't going to get anywhere near the games straight away, but she could get experience, and expand her sewing.

And so Portia got a job. At 16 she started working in one of the fashion shops in the Capitol. It was some retail work, with some design. But it was the start that she needed. It gave Portia the much needed experience she needed in order to achieve her goal. And each year, when the games were on, she made notes and she watched carefully. She watched the outfits, all the glitz and the glam. She was going to be prepared because one day she was determined to be there.

Slowly but surely Portia worked her way up in the fashion world, and when it rolled around to the 74th Hunger Games she was finally given her shot. Of course, it was with District 12. But Portia could honestly not care. It was her dream to work on the Games, and here she was. And she knew that if she did a good job, she could find herself styling one of the other, better, districts like One or Two. And with that thought in her head, she went into Styling Peeta Mellark with a smile on her face.

What she didn't expect was the actually develop a friendship with the other members of the District 12 team, and with Peeta himself. She'd gone into it in a mostly transactional way. It was supposed to be a stepping stone for getting a better District. But then, District 12 won. They had two Victors. Two victors at the same time. And suddenly, she was the stylist for one of the "better" districts, one of the "famous" Districts. And she loved it.

And of course, she had no intentions of not being Peeta's stylist now. She's famous now after all. And she's exactly where she always dreamt of being.

[luckythings]

[burntgods2-deactivated20241202]

Cinna smiled and took a sip of his water. He had zoned out and when Portia asked him if things seemed slow, they merely nodded. "I think it's normal." He wasn't sure, actually. Last year was the first year he had paid any attention to the games and this year, he really didn't want another death in twelve. They had already lost Chandler but he believed in Hazelle, even if no one else seemed to.

He smiled at his friend. "It's gonna be okay, Portia." He reached over and squeezed her hand. "We're doing our best. Even if it doesn't seem like it." They admitted. Cinna couldn't tell if he was saying this for her benefit or his own. He sighed and sipped his water some more.

"Tell me, have you been designing anything new?" He asked. "Let's talk about something else other than these damn games." He continued. "I wanna see them. Especially the ones for Peeta, I wanna make sure him and Katniss match for their next appearance."

[ofportia]

Portia honestly didn't know what she would do without Cinna. They'd been her best friend for a long time. And since last year she felt like they were a little team. The stylists didn't tend to work together, choosing to keep the tributes mostly separate. But Cinna and Portia had kind of broke the mould on that. Even more so with their victors now being married. Portia wasn't going to complain though. Any reason to mean she could work more with Cinna was a good reason in her mind.

"I hope so...." She murmured, her voice quiet. Subconsciously she found herself moving close to him, leaning her head on his shoulder, her eyes were still on the screen in front of her. "I feel a little useless now Chandler is dead." Of course she had her victor to style too. But losing Chandler hadn't been such a great feeling.

"You know me Cinna, I'm always designing something new." And not all of it was for Peeta, but she did spend a great deal of time on designs for him. It meant a lot to know Cinna wanted to see her stuff. She sometimes felt her own designs weren't as good as Cinna's. But he never made her feel that way. "I left my sketch pad up in the apartment though....."

[subsiist]

She stumbles over it and Peeta understands why. He isn't being fair right now. Portia doesn't know everything and she shouldn't. It's safer for her that way. But it's all spilling out - because, for once, someone chose him first. She'd following him, checked on him, wanting to know what he was thinking.

"It's not..." he starts and cuts himself off with a breath. How does he explain that what he'd wanted was for Katniss to love him back? For her to want this, not just feel as though she has to do it. He hadn't meant to trap her into this life, he'd just wanted to keep her alive.

Even if it meant he was no longer in it, all he really wants is for Katniss Everdeen to be happy and this - a wedding - isn't going to make that happen.

"It's just a lot," he lands on because he's not sure what Portia thinks about them. If she thinks, like the rest of the Capitol and unlike the rebelling districts, if this thing between the Star-Crossed Lovers is real.

But she'd smiled, she'd lit up. She's excited for the wedding and, stupidly, he's not keeping up the act. He tries for a smile. "But, of course it's wonderful," he says and hopes his voice doesn't sound as flat as he feels. "Now I just have to figure out what to say during the proposal." A weak laugh.

As though he couldn't wax poetry about Katniss in his sleep.

[ofportia]

Peeta was important to her. A year ago he'd be her tribute. And she'd only seen him like that. Someone to dress up, and send forth into the games. Back then Portia had never imagined he would win. But he had. And it had changed anything. It had propelled her social status. Made her name known. But despite all that, she had found herself a friend. Peeta was important to her more than just because of the impact his victory had had on her career. He was important to her because he was her friend.

And she wanted to see him happy. Throughout the tour she had seen glimpses of that. But she couldn't tell it if it was true. If it was true she'd have seen it all the time right? But she didn't think it was her place to question it. She was supposed to be here to style him. That was her job.

"I can imagine...." She murmured, twisting a strand of her hair around her finger. She does that nervous. She'd never felt nervous around him before. But she didn't want to say something wrong. She did that something. When she got all excited. And a wedding was exciting.

Portia bit her lip, watching him carefully. "You don't want to act for me Peeta....." She didn't know if he was acting. But she could tell that something was off. "A wedding is so exciting..... but you seem disappointed...." She hesitates a little, before she reaches out to squeeze his hand.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong right? I'm here for you. Not anyone else. You." Sure Katniss was great and all. But Peeta was, and always had been her priority. And of course, she knew too that the Capitol should be her priority, but right now that was at the back of her mind. It was not important, not right now.

[sterlingwhitvale]

"Well, it's not really a show, is it?" he questioned, hating the way people talked about the games. They all had a way of using certain words and terminology that dulled the viciousness of it all. A show, like one you'd buy tickets to, that you'd go to a theater to see. A theater, all play acting, where if someone got stabbed in the closing act, you would see them moments later as they gave a bow with the rest of the cast. The games were not a show. A knife to the gut didn't warrant applause and whispered murmurs of 'how did they make it look so real?', it meant your family watching their loved one be disemboweled on live TV with the knowledge that some people were rooting for it all along. Yes, a highly specific example, one he had personal experience with.

His reaction to her words had been immediate, having been unable to help himself, but he knew he had to phrase it in a way that wouldn't make the disdain he held for the whole thing as obvious. "The games are a sacrifice...For unity and peace" those words were hard to choke out, "And the people making that sacrifice shouldn't be seen as passing entertainment that you get bored of because they're not dying fast enough."

[ofportia]

Portia just raised an eyebrow and then struggled. Technically it was a show. People filmed it, edited it and it was played on a television screen. For all intents and purposes it was a show. She could see why people would disagree. Or well, why this man would. He was from the districts. He didn't see it the same way she did. Of course the same could be said in return. It was a show. Like the reality programme that he was part of. Though Portia sensed that if he got a choice he wouldn't be on that show. Portia was glad of the hunger games though. It had given her career a huge burst. Of course a big part of that was because her tribute had been one not to die. But that was only a minor thing. To Portia anyway.

Passing entertainment. Didn't the man know what was what they were to the Capitol? Once the games were over, they would all move on. The tributes would be forgotten. Portia herself had seen that, and it did leave a little bit of a sour taste in her mouth. Nobody cared about most of the tributes once the games had finished. "You sound like you should be the one doing some interviewing." She mused, tilting her head to the side. "You've clearly spent a lot of time thinking about it." More than she had. But she spent most of her time behind a sewing machine.

[incaensio]

it wasn't uncommon for the second and third day to be a little slower; the opening of the games was usually the most exciting day, after all, so she keeps spirits high by checking in with the mentors when she can, and talking up both of her tributes whenever she comes across someone she knows has deep pockets. there's also several parties she's been invited to, and for politeness' sake (but also nosiness), she makes sure to stop by at each place she's invited, even if she only stops by for a few minutes. she's been in this one for some ten minutes, and has already softly convinced a wealthy visitor from five (whose tributes were out of the run on the first day) to make some money by supporting the tributes from two instead, sure winners; once that's in the bag, she makes her way to where the waiters seem to be floating about more, taking a gin gimlet, the perfect thing to cool her off.

"does that mean i haven't missed anything?" she's only been away from the screens for some five minutes or so, but she likes to check. "oh, portia, darling! it has been a while." not more than a few days, in fact, when they were both fixing up their tributes for the final interviews. domitila's smile is beaming, both familiarity and the actual content of seeing that her once underling is going to be away from the podium this year — how embarrassing it had been last year, that twelve had gotten the crowns, and with a little help from portia on top of that! as if the girl didn't have most of what she has, and knows, just because of domitila's kindness. "i saw your boy last night. most pitiful. i'd say i'm sorry for ezra, but you know how it is with the games. you can't get a mr. mellark twice, after all."

[ofportia]

There was a little smile on her face as her old boss came over to her. she hadn't seen Domi for a few days. Of course, they'd both been pretty busy over the last few days. Portia was going to get less busy now though. Chandler had not made it. She didn't know if she was shocked or not though. District 12 never made it. But she supposed it would have been nice to have some more victors. She knew Domi knew how that felt. Domi had loads of victors. Did they really need another victor? Surely all the victors from 2 were falling all over each other. But as Portia looked up at the screen, glancing at Hazelle's stats, she had a feeling that they might not be getting another victor this year. It was bad to not back the district she was styling, but she was trying to be realistic.

"Yeah. It's boring." The younger girl mused, rolling her eyes. She might not be feeling that if she was in the games though, and would probably have been hoping for a boring time. It didn't make for an exciting thing to watch though. "It has indeed Domi. I was starting to forget what you looked like." She said in jest, a little grin on her lips. She wondered how competitive her former boss was. Portia too had gotten a victor on her first year of styling. Things were turning out differently for them now though. "Oh yes. It was rather sad." She had no idea what had made the man think he could take on the careers. "Brave though, for wanting to take on the careers. Stupid but brave." She mused with a laugh. "I take it you are enjoying the games."

[bloodmoonriising]

Where : Capitol, Museum of Panem History

When : 75, Day Five, Caesar's After Party

Who : Rose and Portia ( @ofportia )

Excusing herself with the excuse of needing to procure another neon blue Capitol concocted cocktail, despite the many Avoxes tasked with walking around with trays of glass of fizzing, glittering, foggy, and even flaming liquids of the brightest colors, from a conversation with a group of overzealous Sponsors all wanting a piece of the possible next Victor. Moving as far into the crowd of moving and buzzing bodies as she could, Rosmarinus’ calloused fingers grabbed a passing glass of her beverage of choice as her feet came to rest.

Eyes scanning the room for an open opportunity to both smooze and try to line up some support in the Arena, but to also live like it was her last night on earth, as it may have very well been. Glass pressed to her lips as she turned the glass bottom side up as she quickly drank all the liquid in one go, glass then flipping up right as eyes checked that no one saw her. Only her eyes did find someone, Portia Something, Rosmarinus only knew her name because of Katniss and Peeta being such a big deal. She smiled quickly. “You really have to be careful with these things, they go down so easily.” Rose attempted as genuine of a lighthearted laugh as she could muster.

[ofportia]

Portia was enjoying the games so far. It was a lot more enjoyable this year when she was a little more famous. The stylist for the lover boy. It was all she ever wanted. She remembered when she worked for Domi, dreaming of one day being a stylist for the games. It simply coming true was enough, but then to end up with a victor on her first go. It was amazing. She really had learnt from the best, with Portia achieving what Domi had nearly a decade before her. It meant that this time round, Portia found herself invited to all the parties. And she was loving it.

The museum party was lovely, and she was enjoying looking at some of the exhibitions. She had seen a couple of her designs from last year, and it made her smile to see her things on display. It made her very proud. She'd been a little distracted, thinking of that when someone spoke to her. "Oh...." She had just about caught about what the woman said to her. She briefly could remember her from the reaping, even if she couldn't remember her name. "They really do. but you get used to them. They are very yummy."

[sterlingwhitvale]

For some reason, this year more than others, people were trying to interact with him. He's unsure if it was the rising popularity of the program that invaded his family's home life or what, but more and more folks wanted to chat. He wasn't an overly social man by nature, but his few social graces came to a screeching halt whenever people tried to use the games as small talk. Not only was it hard to keep his obvious hatred of the event to a dull roar, but with his fervent refusal to watch, he often lacked enough knowledge of what was happening to hide that fact.

And while he was sticking to his guns on that, he figured if he had to learn about it, hearing people's opinions that he could just parrot back to others was his best bet, which is how he ended up begrudgingly sat in a public viewing area.

"Well, I'm sure fighting for your life sure takes it out of ya, you know? Gotta rest up."

[ofportia]

Portia had seen the show that he was in. She found it quite amusing actually. She wondered if he had known what he was getting into when he married a victor. Surely nobody predicted that one day they would end up on a reality programme. She supposed for the people of the district ending up on a reality show was probably better than ending up in an arena. Of course, she would never know, having been safely born in the Capitol. And even now, as a stylist, she was able to be safely hidden away behind the scenes. It was exactly how she preferred it.

"hmm. I suppose so." The stylist mused with a shrug as she looked up at the screen in front of her. She supposed everyone did need their rest after all. "just makes for a little bit of a boring show."

[riverdalefan6602]

[subsiist]

"Would it matter if he had?"

The question is more loaded than she'll ever know. Yes, of course it would. For once, he needs someone to choose him and only him. Not because someone told them to - not because it was what was best for the camera - but just because they wanted to. And even though Peeta's only response to this is a half-hearted shrug, he almost sighs in relief when she confirms that she'd come on her own.

Of course he does know that, she's been checking on him for over six months now, but it's easy to forget that when his life is no longer really his own and would never be. They could never get off this train.

"Did they tell you, then?" he asks and doesn't know what he hopes the answer will be. He walks back to where he was sitting and plops down onto the sofa in his room, his false leg jutted out at an awkward angle that he can't be bothered to fix right now. His voice turns to a whisper, "About the wedding?"

[ofportia]

Would Portia have come to check on him if Haymitch had asked her? Of course. Peeta wasn't just a tribute she was styling anymore. He was her friend. And of all the new friends that she had made in 12 , Peeta was her top priority. He had always been. But he hadn't asked her. Portia had just sense that something was up, and wanted to check on him. So many people were focused on Katniss, that she sometimes felt like he got left behind a little. But she would never do that. Portia would always be on Team Peeta.

"Tell me what? I haven't seen them actually...." The stylist murmurs, as she comes to sit on the sofa with him. Though she is quickly figuring that something must have happened. "Wait.... A wedding?" Portia's eyes lit up, a big smile instantly coming onto her face. "A wedding!" It was clear she was happy, and it took all of her to not do a little happy clap.

But his expression didn't match with her excitement, and her smile faltered. Something was wrong. "You.... don't seem happy about it Peeta...."

[ofportia]

Where: Public Viewing Area

Who: Portia and open

It was rather disappointing that her tribute had died so early this year. Last year she hadn't dreamt of her tribute getting this far. But Peeta had won. And well, she supposed it had spoiled her. In her first year she'd gotten a victor. And it was going to be hard to beat that. She'd not gone into the games expecting to end up friends with the tributes that she styled. But Peeta had wormed his way into her heart, and she actually quite genuinely liked him. Which, was why she felt a little sad too that Chandler had died. District 12 felt more like a family. It also meant that she had some more free time now, since she was going to have to create any further designs.

That was why she found herself in the public viewing area, a fancy purple cocktail in her hand. Was she enjoying the games? Maybe. She wasn't sure. A quell was always exciting, even though this was technically the first one she remembered. She was only 3 when the first Quell had happened. To be honest, it felt a little boring right now. Not a lot was going on.

She turned towards the person who was nearest to her, a somewhat frown on her face. "Is it just me or has the pace slowed down today?"

[subsiist]

We could get married.

It hadn't been a casual suggestion by any means - Katniss' voice had been strained and she'd hardly been able to look at him - but it was still like a punch to the gut. He'd almost rather get his other leg ripped off by tribute-mutts than feel like this.

But what was he supposed to do? Say no? This is their life now - and the act is something he'd started. It's something he's reminded of daily looking at her. While he and Katniss had reconnected since the Victory Tour, it didn't mean things were easier. She was still in love with another man while being cornered into marrying him.

It's maybe why his sketch is dark, angry scribbles of the pencil. Obvious as to what he's drawing - a picture of her, the way she looked with those berries in her hand - but a bit more faded. As though he's looking at her through a cloud of smoke, wisps of the pencil like something to choke through.

Peeta grits his teeth at the knock on the door, expecting someone he doesn't want to see, but can't ignore the voice on the other side. Portia, who had never given up on him - who had rooted for him when everyone else was rooting for someone else.

With a sigh, he gets up to open it, his gaze far away, almost absent, and steps aside to let her in. "Did Haymitch send you?" He tries not to make it an accusation.

[ofportia]

Portia has enjoyed the victory tour. When she and Cinna had agreed they'd style District 12 last year she had really not anticipated that she would be on a victory tour so soon. She'd anticipated that she'd have to work for a couple of years, and then side step onto a better district to get onto a victor tour. But here she was, and she had loved it. Her name was out there, and she was doing what she loved. It was perfect. She'd also been getting to know Peeta better too. She'd never imagined she would like them. But she did. And she was excited to see what the future was going to hold.

She frowned when Peeta opened the door, a look of worry on her face. He didn't sound like his usual self, and he really didn't look like he was there with her in the moment. "Would it matter if he had?" Portia asked as she stepped into his room. She noted that he'd been drawing, and a smile comes to her lips. They might have been born worlds apart, but they really were so similar.

"But no. He didn't." She didn't actually even think that Haymitch had acknowledged her presence in the victory tour that much. "I wanted to check on you. Nobody has to tell me to do that. You know that Peeta."

[draumas]

[ofportia]

Where: Penthouse, Training Centre, Victory Tour

Who: Portia and Peeta ( @subsiist )

When she had signed up to be the stylist for District 12 actually ending up liking the tributes hadn't been on the cards. Portia had known District 12 wasn't important. She had seen them simply as a stepping stone to get her name out there. That maybe she'd have to spend a couple of years styling them, and then she could find herself a better district. But then she'd met Peeta Mellark, and found that he was actually quite likable. Then the whole star crossed lovers thing had happened. And well, Portia found herself quite liking being known for styling Peeta.

And in the months since the games, since Peeta and Katniss had left the Capitol, Portia had gotten to known Peeta better. She saw him now as more than just a stepping stone. He was her friend now. The victory tour was frantic, them moving from district to district. Portia had never been out of the Capitol, and she certainly hadn't expected to be on a victory tour so soon. Before she'd known it they were back in the Capitol. Things felt less stressful here. she was on her own turf.

She'd been at one of the tables, sketching some designs when she saw Peeta walk past her. They'd hadn't had a chance to actually catch up lately, and she decided this might be a good opportunity too. So she abandoned her pencils, and headed towards him. "Peeta...." The stylist called out, as she knocked on the door. "It's Portia..."

[chonicentral]

Vanessa Morgan behind the scenes of Riverdale S7