ben barnes . cis man . he / him ➶ I RECOGNISE THAT FACE ! that’s AIRK DOVECOTE , the FORTY year old MEMBER OF SNOW’S CABINET from THE CAPITOL . they’ve been in the capitol around THEIR WHOLE LIFE , long enough to gain a reputation for being so PROTECTIVE & UNYIELDING . they’re so lucky getting to live in the tribute center for the duration of the games! ( character ISN’T part of the uprising )
Basic Information
Full Name: Airk Regulus Dovecote Nicknames: N/A Age: 40 District: The Capitol Gender: Cis man Pronouns: He / him Orientation: Bisexual Profession: Trainer, member of Snow's Cabinet/Security to President Snow
Physical Appearance
Face Claim: Ben Barnes Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Dark brown Height: 6'2" Piercings: N/A Scars: A scar on his left hip, a scar across the inside of his left palm, several assorted small scars
Relationships
Father: Invictus Dovecote (Deceased) Mother: Alana Dovecote Siblings: WC Extended Family: Ariadne Dovecote (Cousin) Significant Other: Juniper Torrance (Wife) Children: Chantilly "Tilly" Torrance (Daughter), Bobbin Torrance (Son)
Extra
MBTI: ESTJ-A (The Executive) Temperament: Choleric Moral Alignment: Lawful Neutral Primary Vice: Pride Primary Virtue: Temperance Element: Fire
BIO-[TW: MENTION OF DEATH]
The Dovecote name has always held weight in the capitol-the kind of weight that insured that Airk had a rather blessed life growing up. His father held a seat on President Snow's cabinet and, even better? Held President Snow's favor.
Airk learned to never ask any real questions about just what it was that his father did. His mother always told him that he handled security for President Snow. A simple and straightforward answer. One that Airk--and most of the capitol--didn't question and Invictus was often seen at President Snow's side.
Despite being part of a capitol family--and therefore having no worry about winding up in the arena--Invictus trained Airk as if he were a career. Started young and pushed hard, kept him on his toes--he trained his son to be more than a fighter, he trained him to be lethal.
Airk never questioned it, in fact he took to training well. Never questioned. Part of him assumed that maybe his father was going to send him to be a peacekeeper, but even as Airk grew older, he stayed right in the capitol. His father taught him about the political side of the capitol, took him to a couple of meetings when he was old enough, told him to keep a sharp eye. At the end, his father would question him on seemingly random things. Tiny details that seemed pointless to notice--everything from what a person was wearing to the way they interacted with others. Airk grew up learning to be very perceptive, he learned to adapt.
It didn't take long for him to realize that his father was training him to replace him one day.
As a young man, Airk learned the truth about what his father did. He protected the President from any potential threats--specifically the people Snow decided were threats. Enemies were made when you were in a position of power, it was their job to remove those enemies from the playing field. Less security and closer to an assassin for Snow.
A job that Airk would one day take over.
All that physical skill earned him a spot training at the tribute center--every year when the games rolled around. It paid well, not that he really had a need for money. And he took pride in his job. When it came to the tributes, he truly did his best to try to keep them alive in the arena. Even though he knew only one would make it back out.
The death of his father was a surprise, and the job that Airk had trained to take over was placed onto his shoulders at an age younger than they expected. But he stepped into the role well, all that training paid off and Airk proved himself an invaluable member of Snow's cabinet. And an invaluable ally to have on his side like his father before him.
Life settled into something almost monotonous after that. Not the Airk didn't care for the social events that his job gave him access to, but they all seemed to blur together almost. Things had grown almost dull among the bright colors of the capitol.
Until Juniper came into his life.
It wasn't just her beauty that drew him in--it was her strength. Her intelligence and independence, there were some who were intimidated by Juniper--but never Airk.
They were only able to speak rarely, those far too brief moments where June was in the capitol, but Airk held those moments so close to his heart. Years passed and the flirtatious back and forth between the two turned into so much more. There were...complications, of course. A capitolite falling in love with someone from the districts. But Airk didn't share June's concerns, he knew he would do whatever it took to spend his life at her side.
June said she would marry him the third time he asked.
It was a small affair, quiet and private. But there are eyes and ears everywhere in the capitol and nothing escapes Snow's attention for long.
But Snow approved. To a degree. So long as June didn't prove a distraction, he gave his blessing to the happy couple. Allowed Airk a good amount of time with his wife--and, later on, their children--so long as his attention was where it needed to be every other week of the year.
Airk agreed. But he longs to spend more time with his family, the three people he loves more than anything in this world.
But one doesn't just leave the employ of the President. So Airk continues to serve faithfully in the hopes that one day? He will be allowed to spend his life how he wishes.
Those hopes were dashed the moment Tilly's name was drawn. When June stepped forward to volunteer to go in with her (but Airk knew she would, would she be the woman he loved if she didn't?)
It doesn't feel fair. It isn't fair to June--who had already been through that horror once before and emerged victorious, something that should have guaranteed her safety. It isn't fair to Tilly, who was far too young for this. And after everything he did for the capitol? For Snow? Even Airk-ever loyal-thinks it unfair to him.
For the first time in his life, he is beginning to question things, but as he prepares to watch his wife and child go back into that arena? He thinks his eyes have been opened far too late.