Believer

Task 010 - Halloween Costume

@skyxhartley​

Emilia stared out of one of the large windows that overlooked the beach. “Do you think the arena’s out there somewhere? Maybe some sort of sunken ship or something?” That’d make the most sense as to why the Capitol had chosen Four right? If the arena were close, or having to do with Four?

“Would they repeat a beach them again so soon?” Sky questioned. She knew nothing about what the Gamemakers did. What was too soon, what was a good hit.. She knew there had been a cruise ship arena and an arena that just had ships and water. “It could be possible though.” She told her, looking the same direction she was looking in. “Maybe we could try to swim out to it.” Sky laughed.

That answer wasn’t helpful, he was looking to see if he lucked out or not, and she hadn’t really clarified, so he just shrugged his shoulders, the bar bobbling as he did. “Not as heavy as a fat trunk” he said, moving it off his shoulders and holding it out to her, offering her a turn.

“A fat trunk..” The girl repeated. “So I take it your from district seven. What do you do with those fat trunks? You use them to work out or is that something with your job?” Sky asked curiously, she loved hearing about the other districts from the tributes. “Oh.” Sky looked at the bar before reaching out and grabbing it. It instantly slipped through her hands as it was too heavy for her to carry. “Okay, I have no idea how you were just holding that.”

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“Well… no, not exactly,” he admitted, although it was a little reassuring that someone else didn’t think that color looked normal. “I don’t know. I assume it’s fine, but I don’t really trust anything here on principle.”

“Well, we could just.. you know..” Sky started to look around the room before she spotted the plant in the corner. “Dump the drink out in that plant over there, and if anyone asks how the drink was, he smile and nod. Sound like a plan?”

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Willow wasn’t going to go that far, once the night was over she was going to rip all the fabric off her… Although, she might keep some of the items and wear them again. She was happy that Sky liked her outfit so much, hopefully she would be able to keep it and wear it some other time. 

“Oh I’m sure you’ll be fine! It’s just like one giant party, everyone is here to celebrate the victor and have fun.” Normally of course, it wasn’t this damned long after the games. When she asked her about her own attendance Willow nodded “In the last… four years I have attended eight balls? No… Fourteen, Yes?” She took a moment to think about it some more, math not being her strong suit.

“I started during the 120th games…. So I believe I’ve been to fourteen balls all together, eight victory balls.” She thought about the year Alder had won, now that had been a party for district seven. She sighed softly when she mentioned that her brother hadn’t spoken to her in a while and she huffed. 

“I’ll find him and give him a piece of my mind… Just give me the word.” She said as the two of them walking down the hall towards the entrance together.

“It’s just a little warm and loud.” Sky told her, letting out a small laugh. Sure, that was the kind of environment she grew up in with the orphanage but she wans’t a big fan of the dynamic. “Wow, that’s so many!” Sky said surprised. She had no idea that Willow had been around for so long. She wished she would have been able to join back then, too, but she was happy to be an escort now no matter what. “What made you want to get a job as an escort?” She asked her curiously. 

Sky then laughed at the girl and shook her head. “Thank you, but that’s not really necessary I guess. He’ll come around and be the best big brother ever, you know? I just need to give him time and to take in the news.”

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“That’s what I was hoping you’d say,” he replied. She didn’t seem the rebel type at all, and he wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t known it was all going to happen. Before Prim’s capture, he hadn’t known, either, but then the winds shifted, and it started smelling an awful lot like smoke. He closed and locked the door behind him, folding his arms over his chest a little uncomfortably.

“It’s, um, I heard a Capitolite say the term ‘maximalism’ once, you know, the opposite of minimalism, so… let’s call it that.” Really, it was just an accumulation of shit from his travels all over the country, largely gifts that people gave him when he helped them escape.

“Wow.” Sky listened to him as she looked over all of his belongings. They really were amazing and she was so interested in the stories of how he had gotten them. A lot of the things she had never seen before. 

“I still can’t believe you were living out here all of this time and I didn’t even know it.” She told him, not taking her eyes off the items. “I searched all over the district but I guess I wasn’t looking in the right places. Seems like you definitely don’t want to be found all of the way out her.” She then finally looked at him. “But now I know where you live so there’s no getting a rid of me now!” Sky joked, letting out a small laugh.

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“How have I been a great brother?” he asked, wanting to fight against the hug but instead, allowing it. He very rarely hugged anyone, he really wasn’t one for physical affection, but this was fine. She wasn’t actually trying to take advantage of him or anything, she was just being fucking earnest. And she was right that he was starting to care for her, though it was against his will. She was sweet and seemed to just be pure, a good person who wasn’t afraid to make what she wanted known. “I’ve been kind of a dick, I think.”

“True, you have been a bit a dick.” The girl started with a laugh. “But, I think that’s what big brother do, right?  You’ve also been somewhat nice.. and are actually giving me the time of day. I’d say that’s a good brother, right?” She questioned. She actually wasn’t sure what a good brother was like, but she really hoped that this was it. But really, she could be fooled since she actually never been around a brother before.

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Rodrick nods his head “Like many victors, he is afraid to get close… For various reasons you will eventually become familiar with.” he said ominously, knowing the girl wasn’t perhaps ready for the entire truth. “-he may just be trying to protect you in his own way.” Rodrick shrugged, before then admitting “-there are medical tests, see if the DNA matches… Something you could get here in the capitol.”

“I’d be happy to have guests… I’m sure my mother would be thrilled, she would show you all around town.” He chuckled, thinking of his mother fawning over the young woman and making sure she was well fed and taken care of. His mother was far too kind for her own good, but she was one of the best people Rodrick knew.

“WHAT!?” He called back, before chuckling and shaking his head. He then nodded to affirm his previous statement, before then turning back to the screens. “I think I know who I am going to pick, I might give it another day or two and let fate help me with my decision. Thank you though…”

“But I’m his sister..” Sky said sadly, she still didn’t understand. Asher was once alone and now here he was with a sister. She thought he would be thrilled with the news but that didn’t see to be the case. “If the roles had been reversed, I would of never questioned it.” She told him. “How much does a blood test cost anyway? Sounds like a lot of money.” A lot of money she didn’t have.

“Great! I will start planning my trip as soon as I have the funds! I am so excited!” The girl almost squealed at the thought of it. “You’re mother sounds lovely, I can’t wait to meet her!”

Sky laughed at him pretending like he couldn’t hear. She loved when other people had an amazing sense of humor. She found that was kind of a hard thing to find around her here. “I’m sure it’ll come to you who you should choose.” She smiled.

“It will be, we’ll make sure of it” Abel grinned. He did for the most part always have a good time at the balls, mostly because he drowned himself in enough alcohol so that he could forget what they were actually celebrating. “Ah, do you want to find somewhere then?”

“Great.” Sky said with a smile. Drinking at the ball seemed like such a common thing with everyone who lived in the tower so Sky for sure wanted to join them. “Oh my gosh, I would love to. I’m starving.” She laughed. “But only if french toast sounds good to you. You’re the one with a small hangover.”

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“Okay, perfect, you’re hired,” he said, snapping his fingers. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around much before, where are you from?” He liked her attitude, and she seemed trustworthy.

“Yay!” Sky laughed. “Oh yeah! I’m new here. Just got here within the last week.” She explained to him. “I’m Sky Hartley! I’m the new escort for district ten!” She smiled. “What’s your name?”