I THINK THERE'S A FLAW IN MY CODE

“Not yet unfortunately. Truth be told I didn’t think you’d be here, I thought you’d be with Char and Jett.” 

“Battenberg felt her generosity extended only to letting me not go on tour, I had to come. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.” 

“Ms. Conduit, what in all heck are you doin’ here?” Poppy placed her hands to her hips and shot a judgy glance at the woman, though knew she likely wasn’t her by choice. “I may have been gone, but I kept up with my gossip. You should be home with that beautiful baby of yours. How is she?”

“Batternberg suggested that as Three was the winning district, all the victors should be here that were here during the Games.” she clarified, sighing softly. She didn’t dispute her baby girl was beautiful, a smile curving her lips. “Amazing,” she admitted with a tired smile and pulled her phone from her pocket so produce the picture of Charlotte with her father and brother and held it for Poppy to see.

“not yet-”Clover walked up to Elektra the biggest of smiles she had given out in a long time on her face. “How are the kids? And you?If you need someone to take you home tonight just tell me, okay?” Clover started rambling fussing about her friend before tipping back and forward on her feet gently “And I’ve got news!”

“I’m fine, Kael’s here somewhere.” she murmured softly, offering Clover a tired smile which no matter what would’ve seemed faded compared to Clover’s and before she could ask Clover already seemed to be supplying it. “What?”

Harper let Electra lead her to the table and offered a grateful smile.  “Thank you,” she murmured before easing herself into the chair.  “I’ll try not to go into labor.  Due date says I have another week or two but who knows for sure.”  Her gaze moved to the phone then and smiled bright.  “She’s beautiful, Electra.”

“Hopefully, you can get home before the birth.” she replied softly, and smiled at the comment about Charlotte. “I think I’m smitten too.” she admitted quietly, before she turned her attention to her friend. “How are you doing? Besides being here.”

Pike nodded, agreeing with her trainor. “It really should be longer between the games and the tour. I feel like I had just gotten to spend like a day with my dad and then had to go on tour.” Pike then shrugged, her smile returning slowly. “But at least we live here now, hopefully his black lung goes away.”

“Whether it’s six months or three, it still feels like it’s not long enough.” she admitted, she’d have six months to prepare and given how near death she was when she got out she thought she had little time to prepare. “It should. The doctors are the best, and for a new victor they’ll do anything. It sounds awful, but work that angle.”

Pike shrugged. “It was… alright, I guess?” she offered, unsure how else to describe it. “It was really interesting getting to see all the other districts, but… you know, a lot of people didn’t want me there, I could tell. Especially Five.”

“Yeah, I get it.” she replied, there was always going to be hostility from one of the other districts, for Electra it had been One and Four, the way she had killed the girl from four being so gruesome that they rarely replayed the moment. “It’s part and parcel, I’m afraid. People are still grieving, and now they’re given less time to prepare to see the Victor.” that part still grated on Electra, who’d fought so hard for the rebellion, nearly died for it. To see the Games only get worse, it weighed on her conscious heavily.

When Harper spotted Electra she smiled and waddled her way over towards her friend.  The woman was set to deliver soon so having to come to the ball was a source of great frustration.  “I wish,” she huffed as she reached Electra and rubbed her belly as her daughter kicked her.  “I really wanted to stay in Eleven.  But how are you?  How’s the baby?”

She chuckled a little as she heard Harper, moving forward and kissing her friends cheek before she began to lead her to the tables, “Move.” she snapped at one of the younger apprentices from the tower and noted with some satisfaction that they scuttled away quickly. “Here, sit down. Please don’t go into labour tonight.’ she commented with a gentle smile. “I’m fine, she’s really great here--” she pulled her phone from her pocket and pulled up the photo of Kaelen with Charlotte in his arms and Jett leaning against his dad’s side and peering at the baby with a look of pure awe. “Jett’s in love.”

Pike’s polite smile she’d had for the crowd grew into a genuinely huge smile when she realized it was Electra. She ran over (as fast as she could in a crazy crowd and high heels) and gave her a huge hug.

“Oh my god I missed you!” She then pulled back as she realized Electra had asked her a question. “Oh, um… yeah, almost ready.” She then chuckled before asking “How are you? How’s the baby?”

She chuckled softly at the girl’s enthusiasm, the time she had spent ducking through the crowds giving Electra enough time to prepare for the hug, still jumpier then the other victors of her district, despite it being nineteen years since she’d won. “Same, it’s been quiet.” she commented softly, “I’m okay and she’s great, she’s with her grandma tonight. How was the tour?”

Midas was sitting at a table, about 10 drinks in already and absolutely shit faced. He was sad and angry, and lonely. He had the only picture of him and Ash in his jacket pocket, the photo never leaving him, and he was wearing the pair of underwear he took from Ash. His face was stained with red marks from crying before he had left. All he could think about was how Ash belonged here, and that this ball should have been his, and how he failed him. He failed the first person that ever truly loved him and promised to never leave. Slowly though he snapped out of it when he heard someone talking to him. Slowly looking over at them, 

“Wh-what did you say?” 

She’d hated that she was right, and that Ash hadn’t made it despite Aug’s help. In all honesty, she’d hoped to get out of going that night in an effort to avoid Midas and Augustus and it hadn’t been the case. Sighing softly when he didn’t hear her, she offered him a small smile. “Just saying hi.”

For the first week of the victory tour, Pike was, in a word, numb. Yes, she had gotten to reconnect with her dad and move into the capitol so Phil could breathe easier, but that was short lived. 

The nightmares were constant. Every night, the word “fucker” in Merle’s voice and the look of Zoe plummeting to her death haunted her. She’d wake up screaming, writhing in agony of the memories until her father could calm her down. She would even suffer hallucinations during the day. 

But now? She was getting better, but slowly.

Pike actually felt better than she had since she first saw her dad at this party. Despite hating being the center of attention, the compliments were helping her come to terms with the fact that most people didn’t see her as a murderer like she saw herself; they saw her as a Victor.

Plus, she felt like she was actually pretty in her outfit.

She had only been at the ball for about ten minutes when she saw another person approach her.

She was glad to when Pike moved to the Capitol, it was a selfish feeling to want a victor from Three around, especially a new victor and the responsibility that came with that, but she felt a strong tug of protectiveness over her first actual victor from her district when she’d been there since Clover. She’d been in Seven for Chips’ win, it never felt like something she was a part of but she felt it with Pike for different reasons. Spotting the newest Victor for the first time since her tour, having not gone on for obvious reasons, she stepped forward with a half smile. “Ready to flee yet?”

The woman descended down the stairs to the ball, the air surrounding her almost sparking with the level of confidence she carried with her. It had only been a mere nine months since she had been hastily and unexpectedly delivered back to Eleven, but it seemed as though it had been so much longer. The numerous bars and tray-carrying avoxes posed no temptation, their once strong vise on her conquered in what was the longest battle of her life. Tonight, however, wasn’t about gloating of her progress or even stealing the spotlight. Tonight was about silently returning to the mix, and most importantly, ensuring the extremely pregnant Harper was well-attended to. The last thing a woman about to give birth needed was a mighty fuss over her condition.

“Yes ma’am, I’m back,” she beamed at a nice-enough group of sponsors who had wasted no time in hounding her. “Y’all best not be overlookin’ us at Eleven anymo. From now on we’ll be takin’ charge best we can. At least we will if I got anything to say about it.”

A week. Charlotte was barely a week old, and Electra was already being dragged out of the house for an event. She hadn’t made it on tour, that much had been obvious given that she was about to pop any minute, she hadn’t wanted to give birth in a random district with none of her support around her. So, she’d stayed and the group had barely been gone when she had gone into labour. Charlotte was perfect and Electra found herself in love with her daughter in a way she hadn’t thought possible. Jett was taking the big brother role so seriously, and tonight they were in the care of their grandmother whilst Alva tightened her into a dress that semi resembled her previous figure. She hadn’t put that much weight on during her pregnancy, but she was still uncomfortable after her uniform of sweatpants and one of Kaelen’s shirts. Yet, the familiar voice pulled her out of her funk as a bright smile curved her lips at the sight of Poppy, looking well. “It’s good to see you,” she admitted honestly, knowing Kaelen would be glad to see her as well. 

Electra Conduit - 115th Bi Annual Victor’s Ball 

❝ I’m like a rubber band until you pull too hard. But I may snap when I move close But you won’t see me move no more. ‘Cause I’ve got an elastic heart. ❞

B A S I C S –

Name: Electra Conduit. Birthday: June 1st, 1987. Pronouns: She/Her. Gender/Sex: Cisgender/female. Occupation: Founder / Owner of Mockingjay Records & Music Producer.

P E R S O N A L I T Y —

+ Reserved, Passionate, Loyal. -  Reckless, Mysterious, Impulsive.

B A C K G R O U N D —

TW: Domestic Abuse

Electra’s life has always revolved around music, it was her escape from an abusive childhood home that resulted in her father finally going too far and accidentally killing her mother when she was ten years old. Her then eighteen year old brother came home to find his little sister sobbing over his mother’s lifeless body, and went out in search of his father. Beating the man to a pulp, their father was sentenced and jailed for manslaughter, and her brother for assault. 

Thrown into the foster care system, she was bounced from home to home, often getting into fights with the other children, or even her foster parents before it was said that she had to move on. At eighteen, she aged out just in time for her brother’s release, and the two moved in together to try and make a life for themselves. They worked hard, Electra somehow managing to get a job working for a record label, where she watched eagerly to learn the ropes. 

Eventually, she managed to sweet talk an investment from a former colleague, and soon enough she established Mockingjay Records. The label took off and before she knew it she had artists clamouring to sign at her label. With her proceeds she bought her brother his own bar, and the Conduit siblings finally managed to shed the past and work to a future. 

When she was asked to provide up and coming artists for entertainment at the Mayor’s annual charity event she jumped at the chance, this is the first time her label has been asked and she’s desperate to make a good impression. A scandal is the last thing she needs. 

C O N N E C T I O N S —

JETT CONDUIT: Her older brother, her hero, her confidant. He’s the best thing in her life, and she does anything to protect him, especially if someone finds out about her past. 

THE RIVAL / LOVE INTEREST: It started off as a competing for artists, to sign to their respective labels. Trash talking over phone calls and emails led to a lunch, lunch progressed to after work drinks, drinks to dinner and before they knew it, their trash talk moved to the bedroom. Still competitive, she refuses to call it a relationship, commitment is not a word in her vocab, but she hates the idea of seeing them with someone else? 

FORMER AFFAIR: At a previous label, Electra slept with a married executive before she left to start her own label. It was a one time thing, and how things ended can be further plotted. 

THE SUPERSTAR [Augustus Silk]: Electra’s top artist, can be a pain in the ass, can be a legend that’s UTP. 

THE NEWBIE (Pike Everhart): Electra’s newest artist and prized possession, she’s kept the character’s talent a closely guarded secret and tonight is their big debut. 

FRIENDS, EMPLOYEES (CFO, FINANCIERS, ANYTHING), ARTISTS

“She is,” he nodded, delivering his shock over the fact more in his widened eyes than his tone. “Apparently she came to him after the reaping telling him he was her dad and the tests they took said he was too. Crazy as hell.”

“Surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. I mean, there have been a couple of kids over the years, but no one is particularly keen to come forward, especially when it comes to admitting they bought the father or mother of their child.”

Clover couldn’t help but Huckle as well leaning again elektra’s side:“oh well- I think you are stuck with me for a little longer.”

“Good, I’m not complaining.” she sighed eyeing the screen. “Do you think she can get out?”