* // DELICATE

E M E R A L D . P R I E S T L Y ... D. 1 TRIBUTE L A N A . M A R I S ... D. 3 TRIBUTE

[prvestley]

* &. ATTICUS

SEEING  HOW  EXCITED  SHE  GOT  almost  made  him  feel  good  ,  but  he  had  to  remember  what  he  was  there  for.  it  wasn’t  for  some  romantic  getaway  with  a  girl  who’s  name  he  didn’t  even  know  –  it  was  to  gain  potential  allies  ,  sponsors  and  make  connections  with  people  who  could  help  him  later.  he  followed  her  into  the  elevator  ,  a  smile  playing  on  his  stiff  lips.          “  interesting  that  you  know  that,  ”  he  commented.          “  did  your  mentor  teach  you  that  ,  or  have  you  already  been  up  there  ?  ”  he  queried.  he  wouldn’t  have  blamed  her  for  sneaking  off  early  ,  that’s  exactly  what  he’d  been  doing.  but  the  rooftop  hadn’t  even  crossed  his  mind  as  a  place  to  escape  to  ,  but  he  wasn’t  one  to  want  to  get  away  from  the  action.  atticus  always  dove  in  headfirst  ,  into  training  ,  into  the  games  ,  into  everything.          “  i’m  atticus  ,  by  the  way  –  ”  he  paused.          “  if  you  didn’t  already  know  ,  you  know  ,  from  reapings.  ”

               SHE KNEW WHO HE WAS, how could she not? he was a career and those guys from two certainly were memorable. all of them acted like they were some god more or less during the reapings. to lana, atticus seemed like another one of those cocky guys who expected to win. but even in this very brief conversation, he was already proving himself to be different from the rest. not to say her guard was let down though. the girl smiled at his inquiry, shaking her head while the elevator made its way upward. ❝ escort, actually. very briefly while showing us around, but i thought it was still interesting. ❞ that sounded odd of her, but she tried not to inwardly cringe. ❝ nice to meet you, atticus. i’m lana. i’m from three- ❞ she added on since she simply assumed he wouldn’t know who she was. lana wouldn’t blame him either, she heard that careers had the busiest schedules in their home districts. once the doors slid open, lana glanced around for a moment before leading him to the stairway that led directly to the rooftop guarded by a heavy, yet still unlocked, metal door. and all at once, her face lit up in a smile at the scene. ❝ just in time -- the sun goes down early this time of year and i think the skies are clearer so it’s a better view of the planets- ❞ it was a bit quick to take a perfect stranger to this sort of outing, but the girl had a chance of dying -- why limit herself to being secluded? taking a seat on a perch near a vent, she looked upward and waited for the show.  

[cluts]

You're so self centred

who else am i supposed to be centred on

[prvestley]

* &. LUX

╰ * ❪ @prvestley· ╱ emerald ｡ ❫

THE ROOM EXUDED ELEGANCE with all the tasteful decor and eye-catching attires sported by various tributes. socializing and faking comes second nature to lux, having had years to improve on his etiquette and his award-winning smile —– just appropriate and tasteful enough to interest sponsors. but as the night drags on, lux finds himself gravitating towards his fellow district tribute. he smiles upon approaching emerald, all dressed up and simply just, perfect. ‘ emerald. ’

               SHE HAD NOTICED HIM socializing earlier on that day. lux was younger than herself and emerald looked upon him as if he was her own brother. the two had different approached for the day though -- emerald preferred that people approach her rather than the other way around. made her look less desperate. lux did have a charm about him though that made his socialization efforts move to his favor. but once she found him moving back to her later on in the night, the girl smiled at her name on his lips. ❝ lux, ❞ she replied, ❝ handsome as always. have any of those low districts begged for alliances yet? ❞

[prvestley]

* &. DELSIN

DELSIN didn’t volunteer. Most of the kids from Six didn’t have the courage to, even if their friends or siblings were Reaped. Most of the time, kids from Six were sure being Reaped was a death sentence, Delsin had been convinced of that when his name had been called. It wasn’t some grand celebration or something to be honored, it was devastating. And even when he got out of the Arena, he did not return home the same. The Capitol had taken everything he was away from him, everything that made Delsin himself, and made him into a killer. Glorified the way he fought for his life, celebrated the way he murdered those kids for the sake of getting himself home. There was nothing to be proud of in that. “Six.” Had he been more arrogant, he would have been offended by her question. After taking another drink from his glass, he looked back toward the woman, “Figured you’d know your Victors back in One, unless you’re not one of the Academy kids.”

               A LOT OF THE CHILDREN from district one were groomed to be killers. hopeful killers was more like it. emerald thought that being a tribute was to be a glorified icon. the arenas were gruesome, but how bad could they truly be if she had been training her whole life for this specific purpose? glimmer was faced with tracker jackers the year before -- stupid inch long mutants, and she was killed by them. an insult to district one and an embarrassment in death. emerald was not going to be here, and she did expect the gamemaker to send some jackers after her just to see a brief reprisal of glimmer’s end, but em wouldn’t let that happen. she was ready. ❝ six... ❞ the girl repeated, a smirk tugging at her lips. should she have known her victors? yes. but emerald didn’t think those not from one really mattered. ❝ i am. we only truly focus on those who are careers and just breeze by the others. ❞ after all, careers were the majority of the victors. ❝ you do look familiar though, eyes like that are hard to forget. delsin, is it not? ❞

[prvestley]

* &. VIDA

                   ❝    YOU  MUST  BE  FROM  DISTRICT  ONE  .    ❞          she  comments  offhandedly  .    for  a  moment  she  eyes  the  other  up  .    it  is  a  look  of  admiration  ,    rest  assured  .    vida  has  grown  a  taste  for  fashion  herself—  capitol  looks  are  a  little  too  gaudy  ,    but  she  appreciates  some  aspects  of  them  .    and  can  certainly  appreciate  someone  impeccably  dressed  .          ❝    you  look  quite  stunning  .    people  are  most  certainly  going  to  be  asking  after  you  .    ❞                    @prvestley

               OF COURSE SHE WAS from district one. everyone should have known her name by now -- did they see how she looked upon arrival? that, and her name was emerald for god’s sake. at least she was named something less obnoxious than glimmer. what an idiot that girl was with her stupid braids and whatnot. a district embarrassment on top of that. but the woman’s comment had emerald grinning -- the tribute smoothing out her top offhandedly. ❝ that certainly is the plan. sponsors or not, i’ve been training. and you are... from the capitol? ❞

[prvestley]

* &. BARON

A career tribute. It was refreshing ito see her, she looked at ease and happy to shine in the capitol. He adored the careers. Looking down at himself he honestly couldn’t remember, he never paid attention unless it was his mother. The rest meant nothing. But he was paid to wear this and it wasn’t horrid so he did. “Who knows or cares. The real question is who dressed you in this darling thing?”

               EMERALD WAS EXPECTING BANTER at least, but her lips curled in a pleased grin at the man’s response to her. flattering worked, and perhaps that was her downfall. sea green eyes took another look at her meticulously crafted outfit before focusing back on the other. ❝ i have my own stylist in one, she was sure to outline everything i should wear here. designed by gould nix i believe although this certainly won’t be who i’ll have on in the parade... you’re an escort, correct? ❞

[prvestley]

* &. KAIA

District one. She’d killed careers in her games, she always found them too cocky. But they weren’t always the winners, there was more than enough proof here that often their blind superiority was their downfall. Still she flashed the woman a bright smile, “Andromeda Hart! Isn’t she darling?” She was one of the most well known stylists in the Capitol, it had been a long time since she was in any normal stylists clothes. A “perk” of being a victor they loved to display, putting her in clothes like she was one of them for a moment before they put her to a fighting ring.

               AS A CAREER, she had quite a few expectations of herself. then again, everyone had expectations for careers. glimmer or glitter or whatever that blonde’s name was from one last year was an embarrassment -- first of all flirting with the boy from two and then just standing there as those jackers stung her to death? to add insult, she was completely mutilated by those things. emerald was going to be better, better than everyone. dressing well was required. her brow raised at the mentor’s perky attitude, taking another look at her attire. ❝ niche, definitely. are you from the cattle district? ❞ 

[honeymoonavenue]

ten favourite female characters 3/10 - syrena from pirates of the caribbean 

“phillip i can save you, you need only ask.”

[prvestley]

* &. ATLAS

“as long as nobody lights me on fire,” he began, though it was hardly his only stipulation in his attire, “and i’m not wearing a hideous miner outfit, i told them they could dress me in whatever.” he was supposed to look like coal? atlas had kept his mouth shut when it came to correcting the stylists, he was sure the girl from his district had it worse. “and what is a twelve supposed to look like?” he asked, amusement clear in his eyes and voice.

               THE WHOLE FIRE thing was such a desperate grab. first the whole i volunteered for my sister thing and then the fire stunt? stupid. just smear the little wrecks in some dirt and get on with the parade like they’ve always done with twelves. but this guy looked different. he wasn’t as ragged as she expected a twelve to be. ❝ who knows, maybe they’ll try to piggy back off that theme. have you met with your stylist yet? ❞ her grin stayed on her lips -- emerald clearly seeing that he didn’t take any offense which was certainly different... somewhat nice. ❝ oh, you know... just not as put together. a bit more soot stained. ❞

[prvestley]

* &. ATTICUS

WHAT  ELSE  COULD  HE  DO  ?  the  lobby  was  full  of  press  he  was  instructed  not  to  talk  to  ,  the  other  tributes  were  either  too  timid  to  talk  to  him  or  too  deep  into  the  luxuries  of  the  capitol.  he  gave  her  a  practiced  smile  ,  not  too  big  but  noticeable  enough  that  he  at  least  looked  like  he  was  enjoying  himself.          “  are  we  even  allowed  up  there  ?  ”  he  teased  ,  not  knowing  if  this  tribute  was  a  rule-follower  or  not.  he  was  almost  sure  the  roof  was  off  limits  to  tributes  ,  but  it  was  the  first  night  there  –  and  what  could  they  really  do  if  they  caught  them  ?  reap  another  tribute  ?  his  smile  turned  into  a  sly  smirk  before  he  shook  his  head  at  himself.          “  just  kidding  ,  let’s  go  –  i  don’t  know  anything  about  the  stars  anyway.  ”  little  did  she  know  ,  she  was  setting  herself  up  for  a  perfect  opportunity  to  be  entranced.  if  he  could  use  it  to  his  advantage  during  the  games  ,  he  would.  the  capitol  would  surely  go  crazy  over  a  career  playing  another  tribute  from  a  lesser  district.

               SHE KNEW NOT TO speak with certain people. her mentor had made that painfully clear -- after all, the girl was an easy target given her appearance and lack of combat skills. the capitol didn’t even have to rank her for people to see that she wasn’t the toughest out there. and although lana knew that this boy from 2 was probably talking to her out of pity, it was nice to just converse with someone who at least acted interested. but then he said it. was he actually offering to watch the sky with her? her eyes lit up -- deep brown gaze sparkling at how excited he seemed. she wasted no time in nodding quickly before taking a quick glance around for the elevators. ❝ it’s reinforced anyway -- the building. we couldn’t jump if we tried, the forcefield’s voltage is strong enough to burn, but not enough to kill anyone i’ve heard. ❞ lithe fingers pressed the top button which was quickly met by an open elevator which she stepped into with the other -- unable to keep herself from grinning at the thought of the view this building would have. 

[prvestley]

@miseryloved

              DID SHE KNOW EXACTLY WHO her mentor was? no. all she truly knew was how he won his games and that she was expected to take advice from the man who looked like he was a chronic drinker.... just her type. ❝ so, what’s the lesson plan tonight, jupiter? going to lecture me on how to behave? ❞ she purred, handing him a glass as she took a seat beside him on their private apartment’s sofa. 

[prvestley]

* &. BELLA

THE capitol was an undeniably beautiful place. the training centre was a high tech mecca, the streets surrounding it may as well have been paved in gold. it was the sort of place that made bella want to scream, throw a tantrum upon it’s glittering soil. she hated it, and she hated its people, it’s adorers all the more. her eyes fell upon a fellow tribute, a girl as distractingly beautiful as her surroundings. and a career tribute, the type she ought to steer clear of. “ that’s what i’ve been trying to figure out. no one seems to have a straight answer around here. ”

               EMERALD SIGHED BRIEFLY -- onyx waves soon tucked behind her ear before her eyes moved in the way where there might have been a bar cart. ❝ probably want everyone sober for the killings in a month... i get it. ❞ the girl replied before looking back towards the other. ❝ very homey here though, no? far more noisy on the streets i suppose... it’s the drinking thing that’s killing me. ❞ not like she drank much in one, but she assumed that now was the time to finally have some fun aside from training. ❝ so... where were you from again? ❞

[prvestley]

* &. DELSIN

EVERYTHING was sparkling, and Delsin hated it. Then again, little to nothing The Capitol had to offer was impressive to him. He hated having to talk to the sponsors or other Capitolites, hated having to help send Tributes into the Arena to be slaughtered for their entertainment. Having been in The Games himself, Delsin wouldn’t have wished that trauma on his worst enemy. Yet there they all were, year after year, jumping through the same hoops for the sake of entertainment and power. Delsin hated it. His first stop had been to the bar to get a drink or two in for the sake of his own sanity. Drink in hand, Delsin took a sip of the scotch when he heard a voice from his left. A young woman had been glancing his way, inquiring about his clothes. His brow knit, “No one you need to worry about,” he replied. “I’m thinking you’ve got more to worry about than my fashion sense.”

                SHE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THOSE VICTORS that continued their bitter streak towards the capitol. they hated the people who send them into the arena unwillingly -- but people like emerald volunteered for the privilege. she hadn’t seen her own mentor since arriving, but what was the point for a career to have one in the first place? she’d been training her whole life, what would someone else offer her that she didn’t already know? i think you’ve got more to worry about than my fashion sense. sure she did. but at the same time, why would she worry about some kid from 10 when they’ve probably never even seen a spear? emerald smirked, blue eyes flickering down for a moment before moving back up to the mentor. ❝ i don’t really feel like i want to worry about that all just yet, ❞ emerald spoke, pouring herself her own drink at the bar cart before moving a bit closer. ❝ remind me which district you’re from? ❞

[prvestley]

* &. ATLAS

atlas was observing everything, committing it all to memory. if he was going to die at least he got to see beauty and a drastic change from his home district. he was from twelve, and traditionally, they wore shit but thankfully the previous year had taught otherwise. he was in all black, with flits of grey sparking as he moved that impressed even him sometimes. his eyes fund the voice that reached him, and the woman attached. “does it really matter? i’d say there are others far better dressed.”

               SHE HAD SEEN THE TRIBUTES as they were volunteering and getting reaped for the games. this was the boy from 12. part of her wondered if he’d try to pull something like katniss and peeta did the year before. the whole star crossed lovers this was enough to induce vomiting, but people and sponsors bought it for some reason or another... some stupid reason. and it wasn’t like she was desperate for sponsors, but they were always nice... the guy seemed far from offended though and his demeanor made her grin. ❝ 12′s stylist really stepped it up since last year i think though. i suppose you and your partner have to beat out the whole fire theme they had going on... you definitely don’t look like a 12. ❞

[prvestley]

               EVERYTHING WAS SPARKLING, and emerald felt absolutely at home here. but she was expected to interact with the other tributes to at least figure out what strengths they might have... not like that mattered much. she was from one. the sponsor gifts alone would be enough to eliminate everyone else even without her own skills. onyx hair in waves past her shoulders, emerald left her own quarters to wander down to the common area -- ocean eyes scanning the room before tilting her head to the side at the sight of another. ❝ oh... do tell who dressed you. ❞

[prvestley]

* &. ATTICUS

HE  STUFFED  HIS  HANDS  IN  HIS  POCKETS  ,  straining  the  tightly  sewn  silk  that  rested  against  his  legs.  his  eyes  trailed  over  the  shorter’s  face  ,  taking  in  her  features.  eyes  that  kind  wouldn’t  last  a  minute  in  the  arena  –  he  remembered  thinking  that  while  watching  the  reaping.  seeing  them  in  person  almost  made  him  feel  sorry  for  her  ,  but  his  heart  wasn’t  made  for  feeling  sorry  for  people  just  because  their  eyes  were  kind.  for  all  he  knew  ,  it  was  all  an  act.  district  three  wasn’t  considered  a  threatening  district  ,  but  every  smart  tribute  knew  not  to  underestimate  the  genius  nerds  from  the  technology  district.  his  eyebrows  raised  at  her  mention  of  snow  ,  his  least  favorite  thing  about  the  weather.  he  didn’t  mind  the  cold  or  the  rain  ,  but  he  absolutely  despised  snow.  the  winter  solstice  was  a  wasteful  time  of  the  year  in  his  opinion  ,  but  he  didn’t  want  to  burn  bridges  right  away  –  even  if  she  was  just  another  regular  tribute.          “  actually  ,  i  haven’t,  ”  he  replied.            “  it’s  not  a  big  holiday  in  my  family  –  we  don’t  really  like  snow.  ”

               AND IT WAS THEN THAT lana was almost certain that she lost all his interest. that wasn’t exactly something she wanted given his status as a career, but what could she do about it now? lana might as well continue on as she would if he were just another tribute now. ❝ it’s the moon that gets me. i’m not the biggest fan of snow either, but the sky’s beautiful. ❞ eyes drifted to her fellow district 3 tribute who was still entranced by the endless amount of food -- a small smirk making its way to her lips for the first time in what felt like weeks. lana then turned to face atticus, a bit more sure of herself even though she was probably a head shorter. ❝ i could show you if you’d like. i bet the roof of this place makes for a great view. my mentor wants me to work on some things for that ranking, but i’m sure i could hold off one night. ❞

[prvestley]

* &. ATTICUS

           TRAINING COULD WAIT  –  for  one  more  day  ,  at  least.  atticus  knew  that  he  wouldn’t  be  yelled  at  for  attempting  to  train  before  the  rest  of  the  tributes  ,  but  he  wouldn’t  be  punished  if  he  wanted  to  push  a  few  buttons  either.  he  left  floor  two  almost  immediately  ,  leaving  his  troupe  behind  to  go  find  someone  else  to  talk  to.  he’d  spent  his  whole  life  in  district  two  ,  he  didn’t  need  to  spend  more  time  in  the  capitol  with  people  from  home.                    “  isn’t  this  exhilarating  ?  ”  he  asked  the  nearest  person.            “  the  games  really  are  the  best  time  of  the  year.  ”

               SHE HAD BEEN SHAKING since arrival. that trembling train halting to a stop on that platform was the last thing she remembered so vividly -- the rest had been a blur. while her faith was in the uprising, lana couldn’t help but worry about what would happen to her in that damn arena. would it be a water scape? if so, she was definitely dead. but the initial shock of it all wore off to reveal a shining capitol and a more beautiful living space than she’d ever see again, after another hour, she worked up the courage to go downstairs with her fellow partner who promptly ditched her at the sight of food. nevertheless, lana began to follow, only to be stopped by what looked like a career. she’d seen his face on the many screens in her distrct. the one from two. the one who could probably snap her in half in a second. but he seemed... kind? at least for the time being. don’t say anything stupid, don’t say anything stupid... ❝ ... ever seen winter solstice? ❞ and there it was. lana would be surprised if he didn’t aim for her first now. ❝ it’s coming up actually. before the games, which is pretty nice given that the arena doesn’t allow the natural atmosphere to show. ❞