RECLAIMSELF.

( . . . )   this   gloomy   beast   within   my   breast  —  a   heart.

[reclaimself]

RECLAIMSELF , a multi - muse blog for mockingjaysfm . written by jean , they / them , twenty - one . muses include HELENA WARD , the district two tribute , CINNA , the stylist for district twelve , and ANNIE CRESTA , the mentor for district four .

[misselesava]

evan rachel wood in generation loss, westworld.

[elisabetholsens]

LAURA HARRIER for the EGR / Monica Sordo jewelry capsule © Drew Escriva

[reclaimself]

EVENT 001 .    THE TRIBUTE BALL .

annie wears an ivory corset with real pearls and seashells sewn into the bodice. a pleated skirt is tied at her hip and extends onto the floor, well past her feet. her face, collarbone, and arms are covered in delicate pearls. they also have a delicate beaded headpiece that sways while they walk. otherwise, their makeup is simple and dewy, and they look as if they’ve just emerged from the sea.

[reclaimself]

EVENT 001 .    THE TRIBUTE BALL .

cinna sticks to their go-to outfit— an understated, all-black ensemble. however, in lieu of simply wearing a tuxedo, they cut holes into the shirt and suit jacket and carries an acrylic handbag. his hair is cropped close to his head, with a gold laurel leaf painted on the sides of his head. as a finishing touch, his eyes are accented with his signature gold eyeliner.

[reclaimself]

ANNIE CRESTA .   WRITTEN BY JEAN , 21 , THEY / THEM .

laura harrier . demi woman . she / they ➶ DID YOU SEE THEM ?! they’re finally back, and you know they’re one of my favourites ! it’s ANNIE CRESTA , the TWENTY-THREE year old WINNER of the SEVENTIETH hunger games! i’m just so excited to see them returning to the capitol all the way from DISTRICT FOUR ! they won their games by WAITING IT OUT / SWIMMING so their tributes will no doubt be desperate for their wisdom. the capitol just loved them for being so KIND-HEARTED , even if they have been known to be RECLUSIVE at times, oh well, they’re not called THE OPHELIA for nothing. ( character ISN'T part of the uprising )

annie’s father was born into the merchant class in district four, and he fell in love with a woman from a different social class in his early twenties. the two wed quickly, and luckily, their relationship stood the test of time. they had two children, annie and jonah cresta, both of whom trained at the career academy in their district.

although annie wasn’t your typical, fierce career, she was undoubtedly talented in other aspects. she was the best swimmer by a mile, and she had uncanny senses of direction and survival. as a drill, the careers were often blindfolded, sent into the sea on a boat, and dropped into the water with the task of finding their way to shore. annie was renowned for out-swimming trainees two and three years older than her. however, the moment you tried to put a weapon in her hand, she couldn’t help but flinch. she never felt as if her hands were meant to harm.

at the age of eighteen, they were chosen to volunteer for the 70th hunger games. if their district partner, davis, was the head of the pair, annie was the heart. they were never close friends, but they trusted one another for protection in the arena. they made quite a splash at the opening ceremonies, fortunate enough to have a semi-talented stylist. despite their initial popularity with the public, the careers from districts one and two didn’t trust them at all. they saw annie as weak and flighty, concerned they wouldn’t put on a good show in the arena. on the other hand, the pack thought davis was stand-offish and rude; he wasn’t a team player, and they suspected he would turn his back on them at his first available opportunity.

the morning after the bloodbath, the career pack ambushed the pair from four. jonah was beheaded, and they attempted to drown annie in a shallow lake. however, she managed to escape and spent the rest of the games isolated from the other tributes. her only human contact was with finnick, who communicated to her through sparse sponsor gifts. on the last day of the games, the gamemakers broke a dam to force the remaining tributes together. however, they had no idea that this would result in the entire arena being flooded, killing every tribute except annie, who was the strongest swimmer.

annie was immediately unpopular in the capitol; career tributes were expected to put on a show, and they didn’t kill a single tribute. many capitol citizens believed they shouldn’t have won at all, that annie was undeserving of the title ‘ victor. ’ however, rules are rules, and they were crowned despite the societal upset.

annie’s mental health deteriorated quickly after the games. they became a recluse, only coming out of their bedroom in the victor’s village by being coaxed by their family. annie’s father took his own life out of grief the year after annie won; he felt as if he’d put her in this position and ruined her life by encouraging her to volunteer for the games.

annie was the mentor for the 71st and 72nd games. however, she was forced to step down from this position after acting out in public following the death of her second round of tributes. however, she became the mentor again for the quarter quell after mags was deemed unfit to continue due to her physical health.

much of what we know about annie comes from a few lines in the books. though their mental health is certainly fragile, this does not define them. they are gentle and creative, and they have a fundamentally different outlook on the world than most people. their love and loyalty is unconditional, and they feel the emotions of the world deeply.

annie technically isn’t a part of the uprising for her own safety. in this sense, i’m sticking with canon in that finnick doesn’t tell her the details of the rebel plans to keep her safe. she’s in no place mentally to be fighting a war, but she believes whole-heartedly in the rebel cause. i hope to find a way to weave her into the uprising later on !

[reclaimself]

EVENT 001 .    THE TRIBUTE BALL .

helena is dressed in a full-length, sleeveless gown made completely from silver chainmail to commemorate her district’s reputation as warriors. a matching headpiece is lain over her head to cover her hair, which is pulled back into a slicked updo. her eyebrows are bleached, and her lower eyelids are accented with angular, black liner. silver rings don each of her fingers. 

[reclaimself]

hello friends ! i moved into an apartment yesterday so i’ve been busy, but i’m finally settled in and will be getting to replies soon <3

[drexmbxys]

[kismutt]

it was a stupid idea to let herself cry, anyway. even before she felt the body next to her, she had known she would never truly be alone here.   -   but she couldn’t  help  it. so once. she could let it all out once and then be done with it and focus on what she needed to do. which at the moment was  ..  enjoy herself?  take a look around, like she was on holiday or riding the trains through six?  she’d already stuffed herself, even the sight of the decadent capitol food was starting to make her feel worse. and remind her of lasts.

what had been the last thing she had said to her sisters, before she’d been shouting on stage?  good luck? a joke, a ritual, like the games would never touch them. their odds were good enough, in the largest district. and now she was crying, so afraid of death, painting a picture of herself as a truly unstable tribute. she’d probably step off the platform too soon, be done with before the canons even had time to sound. what more could be expected of a woman from the morphling district.

so she coughed, and looked up at the person who had found her on the small balcony overlooking a beautiful alleyway  -   how did they make alleyways look like art?  “i’m just missing the morphling already,”  she lied, so easy to fall into the slouch she’d known her parents to live with, like her insides were hollow and her bones were barely holding anything up. though her skin was clear and her eyes were bright, she hoped the red that lined them distracted from the truth.  “who knows what i might do to get my hands on some in the arena?”  she needed people to be afraid. she needed to last.

[reclaimself]

    despite living in the capitol their entire life, cinna has never quite gotten used to always being around other people. when they were young, they were kept awake by the sound of other tenants’ conversations through their bedroom walls. did they even know that someone was listening in on their private moments? sure, cinna never meant to eavesdrop; he did everything he could to pay attention to anything but their voices. later in life, he learned that he, too, was a victim of privacy invasion— by the government. the only way the snow regime can survive is by maintaining a surveillance state. needless to say, they search for real alone time whenever they can get it.

    unfortunately, solitude is hard to come by in the tribute center. how strange that a building usually vacant and lifeless becomes the center of the nation’s social scene for a few weeks. capitol tv hosts are around every corner, vying for an interview soundbite that will make tomorrow’s headlines. given cinna’s success last year, it seemed as if cameras were following him. the rooftop gardens were his favorite getaway spot, but it seems that word has recently gotten around about their presence, so he’s been forced to find a new hiding spot.

    cinna is unaware of the presence of another person on the dimly lit balcony until they hear a stifled sob. i’ve been there before, he muses casually, not thinking too much of it. he naively assumes the other person is just an overwhelmed rookie, like he had been the previous games. it isn’t until his eyes adjust to the darkness that he realizes who is beside him; a tribute. they couldn’t put their finger on her home district— admittedly, he’d not been paying the closest attention during the reapings— but they knew they recognized their face. 

    cinna's look is one of genuine concern, their eyes softening in an instant. they keep their distance as not to frighten her, replying with a soft voice, “ well, fortunately for me, i won’t be in there with you. and i’m not sure i’ve ever seen morphling in the arena . . . ” her attempts to seem intimidating only made cinna pity her more. he steps into a sliver of light, wondering if she’ll recognize him from his recent rise to fame. “ if you win, now that’s a different story. they’ll give you whatever you want. ” they extend their hand cordially, hoping to distract the girl from her current plight. “ i’m cinna, the designer for district twelve. y’know, ‘ the girl on fire ’? ” his heart goes out to each and every tribute, even those from other districts. thus, he leaps at the chance to ease any of their suffering.

[bludngore]

            𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐓  𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒  𝐔𝐏  𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍  in  a  greedy  motion  for  oxygen.  more  oxygen.  she  feels  the  air  in  her  lungs  but  it  feels  …  impure,  dirty  almost.  the  lack  of  greenery  in  the  capitol  and  most  especially  in  the  tribute  centre  has  left  her  feeling  a  little  suffocated.  but  she  takes  a  deep  breath  and  another,  she  feels  another’s  gaze  and  offers  them  a  small  smile,  “  i’m  alright,  really.  ”  she  says  with  a  quivering  voice. “  i’m  just  –  i’m  just,  uh  …  a  little  worried.  ”  she  clutches  at  her  chest. “  because  –  because,  i  don’t  know  who’ll  be  looking  after  my  plants.  i  mean  –  what’s  gonna  happen  to  them  while  i’m  gone.  and  who  knows  for  how  long  …  it’s  just  –  it’s  just  …  scary.  ”

[reclaimself]

     comforting others isn’t helena’s forte, to put it kindly. she’s never been especially good at regulating her emotions, so how is she supposed to know what calms other people down? it’s even harder to make someone feel better when you can’t easily put yourself in their shoes. in helena’s case, the color green is a rare sight. district two is covered in a generous layer of snow for eight months out of the year, and you’re lucky to spot a flower or two peeking out of the ground when the ice finally turns to slush. even her district’s architecture matches its military industry; grey stone and concrete, towering columns, & harsh edges. it’s almost as if the people who designed the buildings wanted to make you feel insignificant. if anything, the capitol’s artistic, expansive buildings have finally given helena the space to breathe.      she mirrors ivy’s gentle smile instinctively, though the expression is fragile and fleeting. “ you sure you’re alright, can i, er — ” there’s no hiding her discomfort, “ can i do something to help? ” whether lena actually wants to help, or if she just feels bad that the person before her is visibly distressed, is anyone’s guess. she rubs her palms together awkwardly, giving her restless hands something to do. “ i’m sure, uh . . . there’s probably someone back home who knows how to take care of your plants, yeah ? ”

[reclaimself]

ofhgsurvivors:

If her hope for quiet was going to be dashed by anyone George was glad it was Cinna. He was more her kind of person than other Capitol elite so when he beckoned her over she smiled, hesitating only a moment before she took up the seat.

“It was long, I suppose over a decade of staying away makes the memories seem shorted. It seemed like we were on that train for years.” George said with a small scoff at her optimism. She really had underestimated how difficult it would be to return. “How have you been? You did well last year you must have big plans now.”

      cinna gives a gentle, reassuring smile when she joins them. “ a decade— has it really been that long? so much has changed since then. it hardly feels like the same place, and i never even left. ” he takes a brief sip of his drink, leaning his elbow against the glistening bar top. “ well, i hope these amenities make you more comfortable, ” he gestures casually with his empty hand towards the twelve floors above them. “ i’m blown away all over again whenever i visit. ” his eyes float around the room, admiring the incredible architecture, before finding their way back to george. “ i’ve been well. the attention takes some time to get used to, as i’m sure you understand. i just wish the circumstances surrounding the victory were better, you know. ” their voice goes flat and tapers off towards the end of their sentence, the loss a healing wound that’s reopened every time katniss or peeta are mentioned. “ i’m certainly feeling the pressure to out-perform last year. let’s hope my i haven’t forgotten how to design clothes in my time off. ” his use of humor is intentional, to try to break her walls down and make her more open. “ and how do you feel about your tributes this year? ”

[reclaimself]

gladiatefm:

apollo had watched the reapings , every second and every detail burned into his retinas . these people , he knew , were to be his enemies , his potential allies . sure , he has the pick of the litter being from four and so when helena ward approaches , he offers a friendly grin , assuming the pair will end up as allies once thrown into the arena ; might as well scope her out now . “ really ? all those mountains … two looks so nice to me . i wish i could see it , ” he shrugs then , head tilted in her direction . “ maybe if i make it to the victory tour , huh ? ” smiling , he removes his gaze from the glistening tower that is the tribute center and offers his full attention to helena , warmth in his voice , in his gaze . he’s not sure he’s doing this right –– is he supposed to act tougher than this ? “ oh yeah , four’s real nice . lots of water , lot’s of sun , we’re pretty lucky . ”

      just like apollo, helena watched every district’s reaping on the train ride with her mentor, under the guise of strategizing. the second she shot her hand into the air and uttered those epochal words, she became a player in the capitol’s favorite game. but unbeknownst to the gamemakers, lena is playing an entirely different one. she has no real interest in being the last tribute standing, especially if it comes at the expense of others. but of course, she can’t let on her ulterior motives to the other tributes. she has to appear collected and clever, leaving them to guess her intentions until she wants them to know how she feels. for now, she is merely collecting intel on her enemies. she's also expected to have her pick of allies, and no one is off the table.       “ i’m sure the mountains are nice if you’re just passing through, but living with them's a bit different. all the snow and ice gets pretty suffocating. ” she speaks genuinely, her tone calm and even. yet, her body language suggests that she isn’t quite ready to trust him completely; arms crossed protectively over her chest, breaking eye contact every once in a while to scan the terrain, her head on a swivel. “ oh, sure. it’s too bad they only let one of us go, yeah? ” the ever-present reminder looming over their heads. “ but who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and have a beautiful arena this year. ” then, at least we could suffer in paradise. the words echo in her mind, but she knows better than to say them aloud.       small talk is never comfortable, but it’s even more arduous when the person you’re talking to may have their hands at your throat come next week. if she were in the games to win them, helena would play up her natural stoicism and keep the other tributes at arms length. her academy trainers drilled the notion into her mind that emotions will be your downfall. however, being a rebel has taught her to value unity and lean into her empathy. she genuinely cares about the well-being of the other tributes, and unlike when she was eighteen, she doesn’t view her relationship with them as merely transactional. but on the other hand, expressing her vulnerability too openly would lead to certain defeat.

[reclaimself]

.

[fordirections]

STATUS: Open  CHARACTER: George (District 8 mentor)

George hated being back in the Capitol. She’d always hated it there, of course she’d only ever visited for the Games so really was it any surprise that she disliked it? This year was no different but the selfish part of her was grateful she’d see no children die this year. Despite all of this George was a good mentor, and a better Victor. She knew her role to play here and she’d play it well. That included keeping a smile on her face as she guided the tributes into the building. The smile dropping from her face as soon as they were away from public. 

“I’ll meet up with you in a sec, go with the escort they’ll show you how to get into the centre properly.” She murmured giving a nod before she stepped away hoping for a moment of quiet.

[reclaimself]

      like george, cinna is undoubtedly relieved that no children would die at the capitol’s hands this year. sure, he would prefer that the games didn’t happen at all, but they aren’t quite there– yet. cinna tunes into the mandatory viewing every year, but unlike the rest of the captiol citizens, he never enjoys it. he only grits and teeth and bears the bloodshed, trying not to let on how much he really loathes the spectacle. before becoming a tribute stylist, he thought the job might give him a more positive outlook on the games. at least he can make a difference instead of merely being a spectator. the past year, however, has proved him more wrong than he could have ever imagined.

      george is somewhat of a mystery to cinna. she wasn’t one of the rebel victors they knew closely, but she wasn’t a career, either. what did she have to gain by not being a rebel? where does she stand, and what does she really believe in? they know better than to come off too strong, as it could push her away even further. so as cinna spots her from their seat at the bar, they give her a friendly wave, encouraging her to join them. “ come, sit, let off some steam! i’m sure it’s been a long day. how was your train ride in? ”

[gladiatefm]

𝚆𝙷𝙴𝙽 ? chapter one . welcome to the capitol .            𝚆𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴 ? the tribute center , lobby

everything around him he feels as though he’s only seen in a dream , towering and gleaming , the tribute center is all he could have imagined and more . apollo is trying to keep his cool but he can’t keep the smile from his face , can’t keep from imagining how his family must feel at home now that he’s making something of himself . “ wow , ” he murmurs , his eyes widening , his head shaking in a sort of awe . “ this really is somethin’ else . ”

[reclaimself]

      helena understands the feeling— awestruck despite having dreamt of this exact moment for most of your life. the luxury and opulence of the tribute center makes her feel impossibly small. however, her awe is undermined by a sense of dread. after all, the capitol is only pampering them in preparation for their deaths, like animals fattened up before the slaughter. they certainly didn’t build this center out of the kindness of their hearts; there is always an ulterior motive. but if they only has a week-or-so left on earth, why shouldn’t they enjoy it? “ mhmm, ” she hums in agreement. “ certainly isn’t like anything back in two. everything there is so . . . dull. ” she means that literally; you’re hard pressed to find a building that isn’t made of grey stone or concrete. “ district four looks beautiful, from what i’ve seen of the reapings on television. is it the same in person? ” helena typically isn’t one for small talk, but you have to start making allies somewhere.

[reclaimself]

CINNA .   WRITTEN BY JEAN , 21 , THEY / THEM .

john david washington . demi man . he / they ➶ I RECOGNISE THAT FACE ! that’s CINNA, the THIRTY-THREE year old DISTRICT TWELVE STYLIST from THE CAPITOL . they’ve been in the capitol around THEIR WHOLE LIFE , long enough to gain a reputation as THE RISING STAR for being so ELEGANT & SUBDUED . they’re so lucky getting to live in the tribute center for the duration of the games! ( character IS part of the uprising ) jean here again ! cinna is one of my favorite characters from the series because of the number of unanswered questions i have about him. his motivations, background, personality, and artistic ability are all an enigma, and i’m very excited to fall down a rabbit hole of explanations.

cinna harbour was born in the capitol to a family of artists. his mother was a tattoo artist and body modification specialist, and his father the editor of a high-end fashion magazine. although they were by no means the most wealthy or influential family in the capitol, their family’s trust was more than enough to fund their indulgent lifestyle. they saw the world as their stage, with every moment a carefully crafted performance. when life is art, image is everything. cinna was raised to put his best foot forward in every scenario, even the most dull and mundane. though many capitol families waltzed through life as if their actions had no consequences, the harbours knew that one bad moment, one unflattering headline, one malicious rumor could poison a family name for generations. thus, the pressure for cinna to shine was enormous, to say the least.

cinna’s art has always been his emotional outlet. when he doesn’t have the words to express his feelings, he instead opens his sketchbook and begins drawing. after a long, stressful day, you’ll often find him on a patio cafe, designing an entire runway show based off of a single passerby or their colorful pet. he also dabbles in architectural design, hair, and makeup as occasional side projects.

cinna’s empathy and strong sense of justice led him to pursue a career as a stylist for the hunger games. he initially strove only to give the children a better chance at survival by helping them make a strong first impression. however, he later realized that he could use his talents to bring about real societal change.

even before becoming a stylist for the games, cinna was involved with the underground rebellion in the capitol. he and plutarch heavensbee, as well as the rebel-aligned victors, have been patiently waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves and declare war on the capitol.

other rebels, particularly those from the districts, sometimes perceive cinna’s focus on fashion as shallow and materialistic. however, he believes that clothing is both an art form and the extension of the self, and it can be used to shape public perception just as much as words and other forms of propaganda. his beliefs are proven correct after his designs for katniss skyrocket her to fame as “ the girl on fire. ”

cinna’s sense of style is, paradoxically, an obvious yet subtle way he pushes back against the capitol. rather than indulging in their over-the-top lifestyle and flamboyant couture, his daily attire consists of sleek, black clothing and his signature gold eyeliner. it’s his way of altering other rebels— and only other rebels— that he is one of them.

although i admire cinna’s kindness and believe he is a good person, i’m interested in exploring the negative aspects of his character that katniss doesn’t necessarily see. although cinna genuinely cares about his tributes’ well being, they are ultimately pawns in his long-term plan: to liberate the districts and overthrow president snow. in the trilogy, he is but one of the countless adults guilty of manipulating katniss to serve their own goals. i believe that he was acutely aware of his influence over her, as it’s mentioned in the films that cinna wouldn’t show katniss his sketches for the mockingjay suit until she agreed on her own to take the role. however, i believe that he ultimately cares more about the “ greater good ” than any individual life— even katniss’s. likewise, his economic status awards him a privilege he can never fully abandon. his capitol upbringing inevitably influences his view of the world and approach to the war.

according to canon, cinna’s first year as a tribute stylist was the 74th games, and he specifically requested district twelve. i’m keeping both of these details in my portrayal. cinna’s first job in the fashion industry was as an apprentice at one of the largest fashion houses in the capitol, but he quit / was fired as a result of pervasive creative differences between himself and the lead designer. after this, he started his own fashion brand and began networking with other rebels in secret.

he rose to fame after katniss and peeta’s tribute parade, and his designs were all the rage from the period between their victory and their tour. when katniss and peeta were killed, cinna only became more popular. the star-crossed lovers’ clothes were immortalized in a museum exhibit, which cinna was forced to host and promote. following the limited exhibit, the clothes were auctioned off to the highest bidder. reliving the trauma of their loss hardened him considerably, but it also solidified his desire to see the capitol pay for their crimes.