More Than Prepared

Flowaz || Leveste

“Better, now that you’re here.” He smiled at Celeste just as they reached the staircase. Why take the elevator for literally one floor? That was the benefit to being with a career, which is odd. Levi pushed away the thought of her physical status, and said: “How are you?”

With a small smile, Celeste followed his lead to the stairs. "I'm fine, I spent the day with another tribute, he helped me with picking out clothes and stuff because I'm useless with the task. I was somewhat nervous because.. because um. Yeah.." Celeste didn't want to tell him he made her nervous, so instead, she trailed off.

Flowaz || Leveste

Levi rolled his eyes as he pressed the flowers to his face. She was right, they did smell nice. But his bag had killed them. Still, he smiled though and offered her his arm like a gentleman. “Now, let’s be off to see some much better flowers than these, yeah?” He smirked at his dead flowers and wanted to punch himself in the face mentally. He sucked. Who did that? Bringing a girl dead flowers, how cute. Probably a bad omen.

Linking her arm with his, Celeste nodded and switched the flowers from one hand to the other to have the one linked to his arm free. "So," Celeste started off, to fill in the brief silence. She didn't offer anything else and mentally kicked herself before finally speaking up again. "How are you?"

Flowaz || Leveste

“That’s okay,” he said with a smile. Levi was just about to leave when Celeste finally walked out of her Flat. He had only been there five minutes, but it still felt slightly ridiculous to have to wait like that. “You look very nice.” The two had agreed to return back to the gardens since their last trip was about ten minutes in total. “Oh, hey, I got you these.” Levi turned to dig into the bag that he carried occasionally on his back. He pulled out some, rather damaged, flowers and frowned.

Was it ridiculous Celeste's cheeks were already heating up the moment she received a compliment? She waited to see what he brought and grinned at the sight of the flowers and frown. She took them from his hands and smiled, "Best flowers I've ever seen." Her tone was not sarcastic or teasing, but she was amused by the half dead flowers. "Thank you, they're great. They still smell nice, see?" Celeste brought them closer to him, a grin still planted on her lips.

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

“It’s fine. I want to, I can’t have a closet like this go un-organised.” he tried to sound light hearted even tried a small smile as he looked over his shoulder and nodded. Her question had caught him off guard but he knew replying was necessary. “Sure. Have fun.” He knelt down, carefully tucking the shoes in under the clothes while he waited to hear her door close. He just needed to stop worrying.

With a small smile, Celeste told herself not to worry about Jesse. He was probably fine. Inhaling deeply, she gave a small, "Thanks, see you soon." With that, she closed the door behind him, still feeling slightly guilty he was left cleaning her closet, and ran out towards the flat's entry where she'd made Levi wait more than anyone ever should.

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

“I don’t think he’d mind, would he? It’s not like..” those words were enough to tell Jesse that she already had suspicions. He couldn’t decide if the fact that she didn’t even carry on or ask, was good or bad. He didn’t fully take in the next few words, but he caught the end of the offer. Nodding stiffly he kept his gaze down, taking the boa from round his neck. “I’ll finish tidying and then go. You shouldn’t keep your date waiting.” His voice was small as he turned around and began putting the boa away in the closet, too scared to see the look she might have. No one knew. He’d been to careless around Celeste and he regretted it. She was Career, what was she going to think?

"Please don't tidy up anything," Celeste pulled her eyebrows together, "You've already done enough for me, I won't know how to repay you with everything you do." Celeste gave a light frown, "Okay, I'll go. I'll see you later?" Celeste ended in a question, hoping he'd say yes and that he'd have time to feel less awkward, if that's what his behavior could be called. 

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

By the time he was finished speaking he could see the smile. Stepping back as she stood he rolled his eyes at her comment. “Yes yes. But how about you that killer walk I showed you to make little Levi putty in your hands.” As she wrapped a pink boa round his neck he couldn’t help but laugh. The laughter stopped as she placed a small kiss on his cheek. Blinking and turning to look at her in surprise he felt the heat rise in his cheeks. Taking a small breath he went to walk after her when she skipped back asking another question. Her words were enough to make him stumble back, banging the back of his leg against the chair. “I..I um.” Swallowing the lump in his throat he directed his gaze towards the floor. “He shouldn’t know I’m here.” that was all he could manage at the moment. Celeste couldn’t have possibly meant it as coming out. But that was what he had heard and he now found himself feeling suddenly more trapped than he had before. What if she knew?

"Oh," Celeste took in Jesse's behavior and gave a simple nod, "I don't think he'd mind, would he? It's not like.." Celeste trailed off, wondering how to put out the idea that she thought of him as a gay friend, nicely. "I honestly don't think it would be a problem, Jesse. But if you'd prefer, you're welcome to stay here all you'd like." Celeste offered a kind smile, waiting for Jesse's reply.

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

  He watched for her reaction in the mirror, her grin confusing at first. But hearing her comment he felt his face turned red. She probably thought  the worst now. Kicking himself mentally he went to move away when she threw her arms around him, thanking him for helping. Hugging the girl back he smiled. “Think nothing off it. What else was I supposed to do? Leave you floundering. Please.” Stepping back out of her way as the knock came from the door he busied himself but tucking the dresses away in the closet in a colour order. When he noticed Celeste backing away, seeming far to distraught he walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder. Looking her in the eyes he shook his head. “Sweetpea you don’t really want me to do that. I’ve heard you this afternoon. Attractive, cutest boy ever. Those aren’t words you use lightly. Look,” Pulling her over to the chair he made her sit down  before crouching in front of her. “You are Celeste, the girl from one. The Career. But you’re also smitten. That boy is out there waiting for you, and you need to go out there and show him this outfit that I took time to put together.” Standing up he smiled playfully as he held out a hand. “So what will it be. Go out there and go on the date. Or have me dress up like another girl and explain that you aren’t well, because heaven forbid his reaction to you having another boy in here.”

Celeste sat down on the chair Jesse pulled and frowned. She slowly smiled as he spoke, cautiously returning her gaze towards him, then slowly forming a grin as he said his last words. "I bet you could pull off a girl, though, with that killer walk of yours." Celeste stood up and nodded but not before wrapping a pink fluffy feather boa around Jesse's neck. "Thank you Jesse," Celeste gave him a small peck on the cheek and skipped on towards the door. She was halfway out the door when she skipped back, "Jesse, do you want to come out now, or leave later? Either way is fine." 

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

As he carefully twisted the hair together, smoothing out an fly away pieces he smiled. He knew of mentors who had trouble with sleeping, but that was after the games. His nightmares had been with him before he was reaped. “It takes a while. You have to get used to running on empty. You get sort of used to it. You can’t sleep because you don’t have energy and feel ill or anxious. You get anxious and ill because food makes you feel ill when it doesn’t feel like a meal time. Then where you haven’t eaten you don’t feel well so that keeps you up as well as nightmares and over thinking everything. And-” Cutting himself off he laughed nervously and quickly pinned the second small braid at the back just overlapping the first. Clearing his throat he thought to himself, how does one describe Talon Andrews. “He’s got a great ass. Wait I mean he is an Ass. That’s what I meant. An ass. Complete and total jerk.” Standing up he grabbed the small mirror before taking her hand and hauling her up to show her how he’d done her hair.

"Oh," Celeste didn't push it any further and simply listened to his description of the boy. Grinning, Celeste raised both eyebrows. "An ass with a great ass, sounds like the perfect school slut boy." Taking the mirror, Celeste couldn't help but lightly touch the two thin braids that wrapped around her head. She smiled and looked at Jesse as she stood up, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you, Jesse, thank you for helping me." There was a small quiet knock on the door and Celeste's eyes widened, looking at her watch before opening the door slightly. "There's a boy here, he's waiting for you outside." The message was clearly given, but Celeste slowly shut the door and walked backwards away from it, "Oh no. Oh no no no. I'm going to be sick, Jesse cancel the whole thing for me please. No, no no, what have I done? I can't go out there."

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

Thinking of home was odd for Jesse, for him it was a dreadful place in terms of family, but great in what he could do. Deciding to speak up he kept his mind mainly on her hair, letting the words come out calmly. “It was alright, though I didn’t climb for fun I climbed when I had free time. Mainly in the late evening when my brother and sister were in bed. But I think you would have liked it.” He’d been partway through a braid when she turned, and the hair came loose. Letting the strand go he waited till she turned back round to answer, keeping his voice quiet as he worked. “No, I don’t really sleep much. I don’t like it. Haven’t for a while. I guess you could say I am used to it, not sleeping that it. Though I’m not exactly proud of that fact.” As he finished of the thin braid in her hair, he pined it back, starting on the other side.

"Well, I've heard of people who can't sleep, some mentors can't do it, or well they choose not to. I don't understand how you do it. Once I tried training all through the night, just to prove what I was capable of, but I fell asleep. I woke up until the next morning with a bow still in my hands." Celeste smiled at the thought. "Hey, so. What's Talon Andrews like? Today you mentioned him again."

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

Jumping at her sudden exclamation he didn’t even notice her taking his hand. Nodding as she asked questions he didn’t bother trying to hide his amusement. “Well yeah, I can style hair, I do have a little sister. Plus I did a lot of weaving when I got bored back home sitting in trees.” Laughing at her reaction, he moved to grab the brush he’d seen on the dresser and pulled a few of the hair grips he’d found scattered round his flat from his pocket. Kayla had more than enough of them so using them for Celeste wouldn’t hurt. “Okay, Why don’t you sit on a pillow in front of the bed, and I’ll do your hair.” Grabbing a pillow and placing it down he sat on the bed behind, waiting for her to sit down and get comfortable.

Nodding, Celeste walked around the bed and sat on the pillow on the ground, slightly leaning against Jesse's legs as she settled herself. "Life at your home sounds fun. I would have liked climbing trees for fun, but all I ever got were fake walls and forced instructions." Celeste shrugged and turned around to face him, "Oh, sorry! I forget." Turning back around, Celeste scolded herself for moving and continued, "Anyway, do you get little sleep? You look tired, even that other day. Well you don't look tired, but your eyes do. It's almost as though you're used to it."

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

Glad that she liked it he stepped back, giving her more room. As she went in search of accessories he began folding the left over clothes, placing skirts and tops together in case she wanted more outfits in the future. As Celeste brought out the small box he stopped, turning to her.When he saw the contents he looked at the necklace and a small set of earrings. “Turn around.” Picking up the necklace he brought it around her neck and lifted her hair, quickly latching it together. Moving round to face her he tucked her hair behind her ears as he carefully put in the earrings. “Now. How would you like your hair? Tucked back with an Alice-band? Up? Half up half down? Braided?”

Following his instruction, Celeste turned around and let him clasp the necklace, then place her earrings. Celeste listened to him as he spoke, mainly eyeing the paused picture on the wall as he spoke. "Wait, what!" Celeste unconsciously took his hand as she looked at him in amazement, "You can braid?Half up half down?" Celeste looked at him in astonishment, mouth slightly open in a gasp. "I don't care what you do, do whatever you'd like. Oh my God, where have you been?" Celeste turned around, letting him take a look at her hair.

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

Sitting down on the edge of the bed he tried no to let the slight embarrassment from letting his words out get the better of him. Coughing to clear his throat he simply smiled at her finishing off his sentence. Fiddling with the hem of one of the shirts he waited while she turned her back and changed. Once she turned back and slipped on the shoes and cardigan he stood, watching her spin. “It’s lovely, and it suits you.” Moving to the closet he closed the door carefully to not knock the dresses and showed her the mirror. “What do you think though? Yay or Nay. Is it nice but not nice enough for the date?”

Smiling, Celeste walked towards the mirror. "I like it, you said it was lovely. I trust you. I just want accessories." With a grin, she added, "I'm luxury, it's practically necessary I wear some." Opening one of her drawers, Celeste took out a small box. "These are mine. I brought them in my pocket after the reaping." Celeste opened it and showed the contents to Jesse. Small items such as rings and earrings were in the box and one necklace. "It's all I could bring without making it obvious." 

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

Nodding as she spoke, he scanned the clothes before walking to the skirts. As she turned on the television and drew his attention to the screen he smiled. “Okay, now I understand your cute comment. I mean that, he uh, is well yeah.” Looking back at the skirts he picked up a light blue one, and turned to the shirts. Picking out a mainly white tee, with a thin matching hem he picked up a cardigan. “Okay put these on,” laying the tops and skirt over her arm and walking to the shoes he picked out a pair of flats and put them in front of her. “and those shoes. If you want something different once you’ve tried this then we can work on it alright?”

"Attractive," Celeste felt the need to finish for Jesse. Smiling at the outfit he placed in front of her, Celeste nodded, "Thanks." Giving Jesse her back, Celeste slid her shirt off and tried on the white tee. Slipping out of her shorts, Celeste then slid on the skirt, and looked back at Jesse. "Oh, right." Putting on the cardigan and sliding her feet into the flats, Celeste gave a small turn in front of Jesse. "How's it look?" 

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

Seeing her smile and hearing the nervous rambling Jesse could do nothing but smile back. Once she was finished he clapped his hands and stood up. “Right, well. We will have to get you ready for this date then. Now, come stand over here for me.” While he waited for to come over he looked at the clothes. “So, tell me a little about this boy. Hair colour, skin tone, about how much you want to impress him with your womanly ways.” looking at her over his shoulder he smiled before turning to her completely, taking in her shape and hair.

Standing up and walking to where he stood, Celeste looked at the clothes as Jesse did too. "He has dark, messy hair. He's tall, taller than I am, light skinned, but he has more color than I do. And I have not been stalking him but watch." Celeste jumped over to where the remote to the wall's television was. Messing with it, she waited for the recordings of the Reapings to pop up and fast forwarded to District Six. "There. Him." She paused as he was zoomed into once standing on the stage and walked back to where Jesse stood. "And I really like him, so can you make me look pretty please?"

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

The more she explained the more he wanted to laugh. This was not organized and he would swear down the girl was scatterbrained it this made any real sense. “Okay so you can identify different groups, but what you have is a disorganized organization. So, let me just work this out a little. Take a seat.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Moving to the bed he quickly laid out the shirts in colours making sure he could see at least the cut on each before moving onto the shoes, matching them up and tucking them in front of the closet. Then turning to the skirts he laid them on the arms of a chair. Grabbing some hangers he quickly hung up the dresses and suspended them from the closet door, before folding the jeans and laying them on a row in the floor. “Right. Now,” Moving to sit on the edge of the bed he looked at her. “What’s the occasion?”

Sitting crossed legged on the only empty chair in the room, Celeste weaved her fingers together and waited. "Quite honestly, your arrangement looks the same to me." Celeste smiled, knowing it was not at all. Then his next question came and Celeste blushed lightly, a warm smile lighting up her cheeks. "I'm going on a date with the cutest boy ever... Not that you're not cute, you're cute too, you're very cute I bet everyone wants to kiss you. You know what, I'll just shut up now, you were saying?" 

A lady's choice and a Gentleman's Agreement | Celeste & Jesse |

“Nothing. I just meant you’ve got the ass for it, it’s just a shame you aren’t maximizing potential.” smiling as he walked passed and followed her into the flat he noticed how similar the layout was to his own. It was nice to know the Capitol really put in that extra effort for the people who fought to death for them. Following her to her room he took in the mass of clothes strewn around the room. Tutting his made his way in carefully and looked at her. “First, we need to organize all this. You won’t know what you have if you can’t see any of it.”

"Organize? It is organized. Look." Celeste looked around as well, to remind herself of where it is she stood. "Okay, over there, on the bed. All of those are shirts, darker colors on the left side, lighter on the right. By the closet are shoes, they're just not in pairs because they're slightly scattered. By your foot are skirts and dresses in no particular order. Shorts are still in the closet, jeans right over here and.. yeah. See, totally organized. I know exactly where everything is.. I just don't know how to put it together."