t h e a

'dancing bears painted wings things I almost REMEMBERED'

[cameronbaum]

[powerpuffs]

@slideivy

[saudade-ii]

@lufletcher-archive

[saudade-ii]

 LUCAS

His hands snaked round her waist, resting on the small of her back just as she’d instructed. As they swayed chest-to-chest, Lucas swore he could feel her heart beating through their shirts. “You call this dancing?” he asked, head tilted slightly to the side, a corner of his lips quirked up in a teasing manner. Before she had lifted him off the couch, Lucas was acting like a grump, but now, with her blue eyes on his, he couldn’t help but loosen up. Althea was good at that – at making him soften. Prompted by the smooth music and the heaviness in his mind, he brought his head down, gingerly rested his forehead on hers, and closed his eyes.

As the music sang its way through them, through the halls, she hummed as they danced together. With his retort, her brows furrowed at him with her sudden glance. “For someone who doesn’t know how to dance, you complain as if you know how to. Unless you know how, then lead the way, Lulu!” Smiling between their inches against each other. They were practically close to each other that it would take one more inch for their nose to touch, their cheek to brush, and their lips to kiss. “Now give me a twirl.” She said as she raised her hand much like an angle. So long as Solomon Burke’s wonder voice reached to it’s high note, it signal to a nearing end of the song with the guitar strumming, and trumpets rolling a soft two-note blow. Thea can’t help but look at him, her heart beating out of her chest. Her lips were ready for a kiss, her head coming nearer, her eyes closed. With that act, it lead her now unconscious, her head faltered to his shoulder.

[saudade-ii]

LUCAS

Althea was stubborn, perhaps more stubborn than him, but only by a fraction of an inch. Still, the difference was enough to make him reluctantly rise on his feet. Lucas sighed heavily as he followed her wherever she wanted to lead him. “Alright,” he said, standing rather awkwardly with one hand captured by her and the other limp by his side. “What do I need to do?” He wasn’t kidding when he told her he didn’t dance. Even his parents never did – at least, he never saw them do it. All they could ever do was bicker with each other.

Althea was really surprised. He really didn’t know what to exactly do. As drunk as she, she may be only able to instruct him informally than she was sober. At the open area of their suite, she dragged him at the center. “Stand right here,” Right before her.. “and loose all the stiff.” She held his pair of strong arms with her own fairly toned ones once more, doing it’s work, guiding his own to places where they should be and it’s on the upper, just above where her Dimples of Venus laid. “Stay them there.” Her eyes straight to his green orbs. Now with her hands slid up to tie at the back of his neck, she can now begin with the footwork with a soft mutter from her two petals. “Now follow and sway with me.”

[saudade-ii]

LUCAS

Solomon Burke’s hoarse yet smooth crooning was a far cry from Caesar Flickerman’s nasally, overly-eager voice. Whether or not she was trying to annoy him, Lucas didn’t mind that she turned up the radio. He was just staring blankly at the TV screen anyway, trying to drown out his thoughts. Moments after, a female voice blended into the song. Is it her singing? He turned his head ever-so-slightly just to check if his notions were true. So much for barricading her out of his mind. Leaning his head against the backrest, Lucas closed his eyes in drunken bliss and reveled in the melody that came from her lips. “God, I didn’t know you could sing.” What came next was his stupor talking. “It’d be a lot nicer to wake up to your voice every day – you know, compared to Brutus’ shower concerts.” Brutus and Lucas were Victors’ Village neighbors back in District 2.

As Althea sang her way through the blues that resonated across the hall, she heard him mutter, but inaudible to her. And so she yelled back against the booming music on the stereo, “What’s that? I can’t hear you.” Dancing her way with the sway of her torso and her hands swinging upwards. Soon as the music was nearing to the end, she proclaimed. “I need a partner!” Towards him lying at the sofa, she grabbed his hand pulling him up. “And you are going to be my partner!” It was no question and she wasn’t begging this time. 

[saudade-ii]

LUCAS

You know how your pupils dilate when you see someone you’re attracted to? The moment she beamed, his orbs did just that. Her lips were teasing petals on his ear. His arm remained firm on the small of her back. He was no Casanova, and only tacky elevator music filled the silence inside the chamber, but for a flicker of a moment, he did want to sway her into a dance. Lucas was jolted back into his senses when the elevator tinged open to District Two’s floor. He abruptly pulled his arm away from her and exited the doors. Inside the suite, there was not a soul, except for theirs. He expected their entourage to be here by now. It seemed as if they enjoyed the party more than Lucas and Althea did. At six-foot-two, his legs were enviously long, and he was able to reach the sofa with ease. He plopped onto the cushions and turned the TV on. He desperately needed to drown out his heartbeat and all its cacophony.

Soon as they got off the elevator, Althea’s arms, tied together at ends, were around his shoulders still. She walked in a manner of zigzags, drunk to the point that a straight line transposed into a curved one. Not too long, they’ve found themselves at their comfort in their suite. She had almost not recognised it at all, but for some reason, she found the stereo without any trouble. Pressed play, a song of good ole Solomon Burke came on, entitled “Can’t Nobody Love You”. It reminded her of her father. It was his favourite. She used to sing it with him as they spent the days back at District 2, preparing dinner whilst singing to that soulful blues from a very raspy radio. She turned up the volume as to intentionally bother him. She swayed herself across the room, singing herself soulfully to the music that played.

[saudade-ii]

LUCAS

Althea, when drunk, was a difficult thing to handle. She was annoying, but amusing at the same time, much like a little girl who’d just finished a Halloween’s worth of candy. Lucas was carrying her as if she were his bride, while her face was nuzzled against his cheek – the thought alone could eat at the hearts of any true romantic. But then, in his arms, she started to struggle like a lunatic. It was difficult for him to not drop her, as he himself was so drunk his limbs had turned to mush. At that point, it was difficult for him to walk a straight line. At the nonsense she was speaking, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Stop that,” he whispered in her ear. “They’re starting to look.” When the elevator doors pried open, Lucas stepped right into them and set her back down on her feet.

All but different types of smiles was expressed by her face. Truth be told, Althea was the happy type of person when it cost to her spewing alcohol just because of a selfish bet they’ve always been challenging each other. And of all the games that they played, she’d won but with a greater disadvantage. Not being sober enough for her to take her reward. Lucky enough, Lucas was there to keep her safely, even if they partly hated each other, even if they constantly fight against each other who’s the better man/woman. As he dropped her, her arm hang over to his shoulder, expulsing giggles between his cheeks. “I don’t care. Keep looking, you punks!!” She said in a thick, The Capitol accent, much like the famous Effie Trinket’s. She turned to him again, her forehead on his temple, whispers on his ear. “I just want to dance.” 

[saudade-ii]

LUCAS

When he felt her hands glide over the muscle and sinew of his chiseled torso, he sucked a breath. The gesture was strange, coming from her, but god, he didn’t want it to end. Catching where his line of thinking was going, Lucas, despite his alcohol-muddied mind, tried hard to chastise his thoughts. Maybe there was something unusual – an aphrodisiac, of sorts – mixed into the tray of shots he snatched from that Avox. The idea wasn’t too far-fetched, given the fact that the drinks came from the overly-indulgent Capitol. “No one’s dancing tonight,” he snapped a little too harshly. If his theory about the shots were true, he had to distance himself as quickly as possible from the female. Althea Lockhearst was gorgeous, without a doubt, but the world would have to end first for him to willingly sleep with her. With that thought in mind, he picked her up and hung her over his shoulder. Lucas strode towards the elevator lugging her weight around as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Without a care in the world, she never ceased swaying the night away. So much for what she took made her felt all things with every itch of movement in her body. As notorious as The Capitol’s parties, there was not a moment where she never challenged anyone, but him. Lucas. Bets and battles of all kind made the best of them, their self-serving egotism which has lead them quite inseparable. One in particular was their ‘unattractive but attractive game of wits’. It all comes down to it, seeing herself only as a sister having the best of times with him. Little did she know that there might be a slight chance for her to like him in a sense as compare to a lover. “Wee!! I’m flying!” Althea proclaimed with much excitement, as she was carried by his pair of strong arms. “Is this where the dance floor is? Why is it taking so long?” Fogged by her mind from alcohol content, she muffled at his cheek, complaining, struggling in the process as she was held by his all might. 

[saudade-ii]

TAYLOR

     TEARS STOPPED FLOWING a long time ago for this kind of conversation. it seemed as if, all of the tears already came out years ago, when she was still broken, and hurt. that’s why all she could give althea now, was a straight face with a mixture of pity and sadness in her feelings. over time, the absence of both althea and max had helped her heal. she also helped herself by keeping herself busy at the store. or hanging out with some friends, and finding another love in between of war. everything’s in the past now. the moment althea apologized, taylor was quick to wrap around her arms on her friend’s, shushing her and puling her closer to her. “ it’s okay. ” she reasurred the other, her voice soothing enough to be comforting. “ i’m here, aren’t i ?? ” she muttered closely to her ear. despite their hardships, they both had to be better for each other in the end. “ i’m still your FRIEND. ”

     Thea felt utterly vulnerable for herself and for the other. She wished if she could cherished more of what’s important, she could never betray her in this way. She loved her unceasingly much like a sister, but those turn of events made her guilty and unworthy of herself now like a lifeless body between those stagnant gaps in her life. In her embrace, she felt more safe and comforting like a cabin nearby the river that they used to hangout, like she was home and that she longed for ages and ages after all her loved ones left upon this world, left her to her own devices. With her passing years, she now had felt the love that she needed. She couldn’t be much thankful for her, keeping her by her side, soothing her with soft and comforting words. She felt her heart full again. “ and I’m not other than BLESSED to have y o u. “ her voiced muffled by her weeping away on her shoulder.

[saudade-ii]

DAEKEUN

     “ HMM… MAYBE, ” he chuckled shyly at her response. he’d like to get it straight to the other, that despite falling face down all the time, there’s nothing going to change that he’s clumsy, and would always look down on the way he looks. “ thanks, ” he chuckled even if he knew that she’s just going on with the flow. “ it’s a pain the ass being born with this clumsiness. sometimes, i wish i don’t have this. 

     Hearing his words uttered from his mouth, she felt pity for him. “I understand. Surely you’re not the only one who is suffering like you are, if that makes you happy. I could absolutely buy you a helmet, if that makes you happy as well...?? It’s very dangerous sometimes when your head hits first before any part of the body. It may result to a serious concussion, sometimes a very incurable or irreversible injury.” She said as a matter of factly, but stayed true to her pity for the other. 

[clairelizabethfraser]

Far away, long ago, glowing dim as an ember, Things my heart used to know, things it yearns to remember, And a song someone sings, once upon a December.

Anastasia (1997)

[saudade-ii]

DAEKEUN & ALTHEA — @saudade-ii !!

     “ STATISTICS SAYS THAT the more clumsy you are, the more handsome you get. every time you fall face down, there’s a chance that your face can get distorted, which is either a chance for you to look better, or turn into a nightmare. ” it was his own way to cope with his clumsiness by believing positively on it. “ in my case, it’s a beautiful chance.”

     “Where’d you get that from? An episode in Spongebob Squarepants? Although, I wouldn’t say I believe it instantly, but it’s believable.” She giggled as the other uttered. It was adorable and innocent of him to say such a thing. “It may be, but I don’t know about that. Absolutely respect for this belief.”

[saudade-ii]

TAYLOR

     A QUICK CHANGE of expression was visible on her face. now, the smile on her face faded away, her blue hues stared at the other, not surprised, but somehow, her emotions were shut down the moment althea started screaming at her. although her words, it no longer affected taylor. the heartache was long gone and taylor had learned to move on. she basically just accepted things the way they were. it’s already DONE. “ i WAS angry at you. i was so angry that i thought of hating you forever, so angry that i wish you were dead, or i wish i was dead, because i was still so in love with max back then. —-and now, i no longer feel that kind of HATRED towards you, nor did i keep my feelings for him. it just… faded over time. i guess it was true when they said, time will heal you. because i’m completely healed. you should too. ” she heaved a sigh, her blue pair of orbs never leaving her sight. “ i accepted the fact long time ago, that max will never return. that’s why this whole thing, no longer affects me. ”

After what GOD, awful yell she had put up on the other blonde, t e a r s began to rained down her face. She felt terrible to have done that to taylor, even though she of what it seems felt unaffected. it was at a state of panic of what an impulsive thing to say such, later then that her feelings had began to consume the WORST of her. it was unpleasant, especially at the time of night they are in. “ im just SO SORRY now, tay. i swore upon my life to never do that ever again, especially y o u. i cant afford to lose another friend. i’ve lost too many people i love.” and in that moment, she felt completely and honestly a l o n e. truth be told, it has been ages since she had a true connection to another being. she lived lonely without a hug, a kiss or even a proper conversation. many had passed on before her, but they seem quite temporarily. her heart had tried to its full extent to have even come across this way.

[saudade-ii]

TAYLOR

      STILL, THERE WERE so many questions adding up to her thoughts, making it hard for her to think and to feel what was going on here. confused. she had her smile tugged on the corner of her lips. althea was forgiven, although it seemed as if she still haven’t forgiven herself. it’s been years, taylor thought. it was the perfect time to reconciliate and stitch up the past with one hello, smile, hug ?? who knows ?? the time came, taylor was ready to face her. althea on the other hand, needed some more push. “ —-sorry ?? althea, it’s already done. i’ve moved on and no longer mad at you. you should start forgiving yourself as well. ”

    Clenched her teeth, and now anger had done the better of her. Insanity had become her. She swear for the words that had been said made her l o o s e her mind. Althea faced the other blonde once more, “ NO!!! Not that easily!! How could you possibly FORGIVE me for what I’ve done to you??? I’ve owed you m o r e than just that!!! You should be ANGRY at me!!!” She pointed at herself, blamed the whole world why she was born, swear into the air, “You see, T H I S face. It’s the face of a sinner!! I’ve done nothing but betrayed you, thrown you to a dark place. WHY EVER FORGIVE ME??? ”

[saudade-ii]

TAYLOR

     DESPITE THE TEARS that threatened to fall, the victor managed to crack a smile at the other. more genuine this time. she had asked her how she was doing and she only got her name in response. queue the memories that flashed back in her head years ago, when althea seemed to be at lost with her thoughts, while taylor talked endlessly about the unpleasant things in life, and the unpleasant thing about living in the world they’re in now. she’d call her attention as if she was an alien, ‘ earth to thea, hello ?? ’ she would say whilst waving her hands in the air. taylor never really thought what was in her thoughts. it could be aaron, since they were a thing before. 

now, she’s going to do it again with a smile tugging on the corner of her lips. tears were still there, but they were no longer out of sadness. “ earth to thea, hello ?? i just asked how you’re doing. ” soft chuckle escaped her small, and soft petals as she repeated the question. her blue pair of hues still gazed at the other, wondering so many things about althea, and their friendship.

    The other blonde's words felt like air passing by. Thea had not heard A thing. Fear had began to surged in her body and she was l i f e l e s s infront of her. Memories had flashed back, her rebellious phase had became clear into her mind. Those were the moments she regret. It felt like her sin was catching up to her, and she did not know what to do. Out of dismay, she turned away from her with head bowed low. All she could ever utter was a whispering though audible enough to hear, "I'm sorry."

She could never face her with full confidence, though she could never leave her as well. As much as many sins she had committed, she'd still T R Y. Whether the weather was hot or cold, she could never lose an amount of memories they shared, even if a boy came between them. SHAMEFUL Thea. She could have known better than to behave in her own space.

[saudade-ii]

STARTER FOR @saudade-ii !! ALTHEA & TAYLOR.

     TRUTH BE TOLD, taylor didn’t know where to start. as soon as the other blonde woman appeared right in front of her, she was attacked by her own mixed emotions. the moment her blue pair of hues landed on althea’s gaze, she felt like… her heart’s being crushed by an unknown force, then flashbacks of them two, laughing and smiling at each other while they prank their friends. she remembered the girl from district two who was fierce, unlike her. ( but that’s because she came from a career district. ) it was fun having althea around, which was why, when she started hanging out with her ex, she felt betrayed, hurt, and alone. 

nevertheless, it’s been years now. the victor have survived yet another challenge in her life. there were no longer resentment towards the other. all that she could feel now was the sadness she spent years alone, missing her only friend in panem. “ althea, ” she breathed in, her eyes started to cloud with tears, resisting it to flow freely on her cheeks. “ how have you been ?? ” 

     They used to have a connection, one like inseparable twins. It seems things had changed as they have finally faced together. The sight of her was still an uneasy feeling. She felt as if she committed a crime, a sin against her will. Despite that, she had to face her once and for all after what had been done. Her eyes smiled before she could call her, “Taylor.” 

It was quite a twisted faith that they’ve finally met again. Had it been haunting her for awhile? Thea could not agree more. It was never intended that the other blonde’s his had led to her and him a great friendship shared between ice creams and whatnot, though she had to feel G U I L T Y of what she’s done. Selfish Thea!!! She made her bestest friend d r i f t e d her away from herself. All clouded with her thoughts and guilt, she couldn’t bother to say a thing after that.

[aliciavikand]

‘I think, for me anyway, music and film is where you can really transport yourself to another universe.’

[badbitchesglobal]

teresa palmer