the cry of a m o c k i n g j a y ll private

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[luke skypotter]

iiM U S i C is L o V e

OH MY GOSH. I'M DYING HERE

arena:: [~] [~]xxxxxxuniform:: [~]

ooc:: switched between cale and mika POV a bit
cale and elijah <3 SOB
let me know if you want anything changed.

tab Mika woke to Elijah's voice exclaiming something. All she really heard in the sentence was the word "Bise". That was all she had to hear, really. Her vision was blurry, her hearing was atrocious, and she knew her appearance must have been something rather frightening. Squinting at the young, blonde boy in front of her, she made out a silver container and let out a loud sigh of relief. Bise heard her. He'd helped her. Taking the container, she managed to fumble it open, reading the note with a slight smile that made her dry lips crack. "Thank you," she sort of wheezed, not sure whether or not he could make her out seeing as how dry her throat was. Maybe she should ask Elijah for some water...Maybe in a bit. Dipping her fingers in the cream, she shakingly took some of it and rubbed it on her cut. It made some of the pain dim instantly, but it didn't immediately make her feel loads better. Taking a deep breath, she stretched out slowly, setting the cream and the note aside and looking up at Elijah with a dreamy smile. "Thank you, Elijah. I'm sure I'll be fine. Now, lie down and get some rest, I have a feeling we're going to need it these next few days," she ordered just a tad more firmly after chugging down some water. She didn't know what was going to happen to them, but there were so few left in the Games that she knew she should be worried. The next few days would definitely be the most difficult, leaving herself to protect Elijah against remaining Careers and the strange couple from 1 and 12. Letting out a deep sigh, she finally slipped into a mind-numbing sleep for the first time in days.

......................

tab After a few days, Mika was definitely feeling stronger. However, her cut was still on the mend and she wasn't going to push it too far, even with the medicine. Thinking about the few left, Mika couldn't help but shiver a bit. Huck, Lexus, the girl from 1, the boy from 12, and then herself and Elijah. She hadn't come in contact with anyone besides Elijah since their little collision with the odd couple. It was a relief, but it was also disarming. They could be anywhere and Mika had not the slightest idea where. "Elijah, I'm going to pick some fruit and try to find a bird or something. Want to go grab some water?" she asked, making sure to smear on some medicine before getting up. It was powerful stuff, but her cut had been pretty bad, even for Capitol standards. Smiling as Elijah hurried off, Mika looked up at the fake night sky. Even though she knew they were fake, the stars looked so real that she could almost convince herself she was really outside in the actual wild. And then, a couple hours later, she heard the cannon shot. A terrible sound in the dark of the night and she was off running as fast as she could towards the only place she figured Elijah would be. The pond.

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tab Cale woke in the middle of the night to no sign of Thalia, but the sound of a cannon shot still ringing in the air. Based on the past few days, he didn't even have to ponder where she'd gone. She'd been thinking a lot about Lexus, Huck, and the other Careers, and he kept telling her not to worry, but he'd figured something like this would happen eventually. He just hadn't expected it that night. Grumbling worriedly under his breath, he grabbed his sword and stood, automatically breaking into a run towards where he knew the Career camp was. He didn't get far before he ran into a sight that stopped his blood, though. Lexus was on top of Thalia, a sword hovering above her chest. She wasn't dead yet. Charging forward with a cry, he collided with Lexus, sending him to the ground away from Thalia. "Stay here, Thalia, I can do this!" he demanded as Lexus sprinted away, Cale following a few feet behind him at a full out sprint. They ran like that for a long time, and then they came to a clearing with a body of water in the middle. At the water's edge was a small form, but it didn't stay there for long. Lexus descended upon it, picked it up, and all the sudden there was a sword sticking through it's back. "Come fight me, then, 12! I'll slaughter you and then go back for your little girlfriend!" he called and Cale's eyes narrowed.

tab Rushing forward, he brought down his sword and the sound of medal on medal met his ears. It was a harsh sound and it made him want to cringe, but he refused to break his concentration and look weak. This form of conflict went on rather the same way for a while, but then Cale got a lucky hit. His sword came down on Lexus's fingers and he tossed his sword aside with a curse, the weapon landing with a splash in the water. Without stopping to think about it, Cale lunged forward and plunged his own weapon into the larger boy's chest, watching his eyes widen in disbelief, and then dim in death. It nearly made him puke to see and hear Lexus slide from the blade and hit the ground with a thud. But he pushed all feelings aside again to walk over and investigate the small form only a couple feet away. The small, blonde boy from District 4 lay on the ground at his feet, eyes open and glazed over in death. Closing his eyes for a moment, Cale shook his head, saddened by the sight, then he gripped his bloody sword in his hand and turned to walk away when he heard a gut wrenching sound.

_________________________________

tab "NO!!!" The scream wrenched from Mika's throat as she burst into the clearing by the pond. Two bodies lay on the ground a few feet from her, but only one snagged her attention. She didn't even hear the two cannons go off, she just charged forward and gripped the tiny, limp body in her arms, ignoring the blood that drenched her jacketless form. "No, Elijah...Elijah, come on! Wake up...Wake up!" she cried, voice cracking and not bothering to wipe the tears that blinded her. She couldn't even see Elijah's pale, lifeless form in her arms anymore and she couldn't believe it. She'd let him die. She'd promised that he'd be okay and as soon as she let her guard down, he was dead. "I'm so sorry, Elijah. I promised I'd take care of you...I just...No, no, no, no! NO!" she sobbed, laying her head on his chest, sitting there for a few more moments before looking up, her face suddenly set in harsh lines, her eyes devoid of emotion. At the edge of the clearing, the boy with the bloody sword stood staring back at her. When she stood and took a step toward him while taking out a throwing knife, he turned and fled. She followed. She would not let him get away. And she didn't. It didn't take long for her to get close enough to have no doubts about where the knife would land. And just as a dark-haired girl came into view, she pulled her arm back and threw, the knife sliding into his skin, perfectly centered between his shoulder blades. He crumbled.

_________________________________

tab Seeing the girl from 4 burst into the clearing and take the small boy into her arms touched Cale. He wished he could have saved him, Elijah she was calling him. But he hadn't had the chance. Lexus had slain him before he could even make out what was happening...and now the girl was after him with her knives. He wasn't a fool, he knew she was insanely perfect with the throwing knives, he really didn't have a chance. Especially when she thought he'd killed the boy she seemed to care so much about. And he could totally understand that. Like when Thalia came into sight and suddenly there was a sharp pain between his shoulder blades and he could no longer move, which was an extremely strange feeling. He crumpled to the ground and couldn't do a thing but lie there dying as the blonde girl said one last thing before disappearing. "That's for Elijah." Seeing Thalia, he mumbled for her to come over as he fought the sleepy feeling beginning to grip him. He wasn't stupid. He knew he was dying and there was no way to stop it. He just had to get his feelings out then. "Thalia...I didn't mean for...for this to h-happen. I want you to know. I didn't k-kill the...the boy. Just Le-" Suddenly, he was interrupted by having to turn his head to heave up gross amounts of blood. He couldn't finish his sentence, but he knew she understood. "Thalia...I love you. I really do. I'm sorry...So, so sorry..." he said before one last smile light up his dying face. "See you on...on...the o-other side." And then, he let go of the last breath his lungs could hold and that was it. He was gone.

_________________________________

tab Mika was still in shock as she stumbled through the ruins, hearing that final cannon shot blast off in the distance. The sun was just coming up and Mika could see the blood covering her entire body and even smeared on her face. But she didn't care. She could just remember Elijah's last look at her that evening when she'd sent him for water, completely trusting that she knew best and that she'd never let him be hurt. But she had. And she could feel that pain deep inside her chest and in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't quite sure what it meant that he'd died yet, but she did know one thing. The only thing left for her to do was fight to get back home with Bise. She couldn't leave him with what she was feeling right that, it just couldn't be right, could it? No, she had to win, and now there was only one person left to beat. The murderer's girlfriend from District 1. Sure, she sounded like she'd be a bit harder to kill, but Mika was beginning to feel her shock and grief being temporarily replaced by murderous rage. The dark-haired girl had let that stupid boy off to kill Elijah, even if he had killed Lexus as well. She was the last left to fight and so Mika prepared. She rubbed the last of the cream on her wound, rebraided her blood-filled hair, and made sure she get food in her system before settling to sharpen her knives. She didn't doubt the dark-haired girl would bring the fight to her. And she'd damn well be ready for it.

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DISTRICT ONE: Huck - Thalia
DISTRICT TWO: Lexus - Girl
DISTRICT THREE: Andrik - Clover
DISTRICT FOUR: Elijah - Mika
DISTRICT FIVE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SIX: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT EIGHT: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT NINE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TEN: Boy -Girl
DISTRICT ELEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TWELVE: Cale - Leena

Career Kill Thalia Kill Mika Kill Cale Kill Unknown/Other Kill Bloodbath Kill Career/Alliance

[queen beetch]

Where Am I?... Arena
Who Am I With/Talking To?... Lexus -- Alone -- Cale -- Mika
How Am I Feeling?... terrified -- grief stricken, angry -- rage monster

Hearing a cry made her eyes open in surprise. She was just in time to she Cale rush forward and collide with Lexus to get him off of her. The second Lexus was off of her Thalia scrambled for her sword. She heard Cale's words to her and watched for a few moments as they sprinted off into the distance. After gathering her wits again she pushed herself to her feet and headed off in the direction Cale and Lexus had gone. She was running much slower than the two boys, but she chalked it up to the fact that her adrenaline had worn off and she was tired. She'd also gotten lost a few times while she was trying to figure out where the two boys had gone. Her chest tightened in fear as she heard two more cannon blasts go off. Had they killed each other? Thalia moved faster, trying to find where ever Cale and Lexus had ended up. She needed to find Cale... dead or alive.

Thalia was close enough now that she heard the girl's scream. It must have been the girl from Four. She was the only other girl left. That meant the little boy was dead. Thalia highly doubted that the other girl would have been screaming like that for Cale or Lexus. This new realization sent Thalia's head spinning. Who was still alive? Cale or Lexus? Thalia was close enough now that she could see someone just at the edge where there was a clearing. She wasn't close enough to quite make out who it was though. Thalia stopped in her tracks as the figure started running toward her. She even took a few steps back, getting ready to run if it was Lexus coming for her. It wasn't though. She could see that now. She could see Cale's form running for her. She took her eyes off him only for a moment to see the girl from Four running after him.

Then she threw the knife.

Thalia felt like she was moving in slow motion. "CALE!" His name came out somewhere between a scream and a sob. She watched helplessly as he collapsed to the ground and she seemed to finally be moving at a regular speed again. She dropped her sword and fell to her knees once she'd gotten to him. Tears were streaming down her cheeks like a river by this point. Carefully she removed the knife from his back and tossed the offending object away harshly before gently moving him so his head rested in her lap. She cried quietly as she listened to him speak. "I-its o-o-okay. Its al-alright. D-don't st-strain you-yourself." She said after he spit up the blood. Hearing him say that he loved her only brought more tears and she was unable to hold back a sob. "I-its okay. I l-love y-you too." Thalia brought a shaking hand up to her mouth as he said his final words. "No. No, no! Cale! No, please! Please! I need you! No!" The cannon signaling his death wasn't loud enough to cover her wail of grief and anger. Thalia sat with him for a few more minutes before finally struggling to her feet and grabbing her sword. She needed to leave so that his body could be taken away. Before leaving she paused and looked in the direction she'd chucked the throwing knife. She quickly hurried over to where it had landed and snatched it up off the ground. She was going to slit the girl's throat with it.


---------------------------------------------


Thalia had waited a day. She wanted to do what she could to prepare herself mentally and physically for this last fight. She hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. Every time she fell asleep she just kept seeing Cale collapse to the ground and the light fading from his eyes. She couldn't take it. Thalia reluctantly crawled out of the sleeping bag and moved to pull on her boots. Once her boots were on her feet she grabbed the girl's throwing knife and didn't bother with her sword. She knew how she wanted to kill the girl. Her sword wouldn't be necessary. She was confident that she was stronger than the other girl and would be able to over power her. Thalia made her way out of the building and started her search for the girl. She started her search in the clearing by the pond, thinking maybe the girl would have gone back there for water or just to grieve for the little boy. She had no luck there though.

Thalia's search continued all morning and into the afternoon. She was becoming more and more angry and frustrated as the day wore on. She wanted to get this over with. At first when Thalia saw the silhouette she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. But then it was moving, running even, and Thalia quickly took chase. Her knife was at the ready. Thalia followed the girl right into a building. If she wasn't so blinded by her rage and grief she would have realized what a horrible idea this was. Thalia paused in the main room when she couldn't see the other girl. Thalia listened carefully to her surroundings as she looked around. After seeing no sign of her, Thalia huffed slightly and headed for the stairs. "Come out, come out where ever you are!" she called in a malicious sing-song tone. Thalia continued climbing up the stairs carefully. She didn't want to be caught by surprise from above or below. Thalia looked around a bit as she got to the landing for the second floor. It appeared the girl was still hiding from her.

An annoyed grumble passed Thalia's lips. "STOP HIDING YOU COWARD!" she yelled as her patients drew to an end. She couldn't handle it anymore. She wanted this to be done and over with. A very slight movement caught her eye and in a flash Thalia was throwing herself at the other girl at the same time the other girl was throwing herself at Thalia. The two collided and fell to the ground, both of them struggling to gain the upper hand. Thalia found herself realizing that she had sorely underestimated this girl. She was stronger and more skilled than Thalia had given her credit for. Eventually the two made it back to their feet and they continued sparring. At one point Thalia's knife made contact with the side of the other girl's face and put a large cut from the corner of her brow all the way down to her jaw line. Thalia had more than a few cuts on herself as well.

Finally, just as Thalia thought she was winning the tables somehow turned. Maybe it was because deep down she really just wanted to give up. As insane as it sounded, life without Cale was a life she didn't want to lead. Sure, her family would be happy to have her home, but they would not have any kind things to say about her relationship with Cale. Even if she won they would be disappointed with her performance. They would always remind her about how she should have teamed up with the other careers and they would give her hell for killing Huck. He was from her own district after all. Suddenly, Thalia found herself on her back looking up at the other girl. The other girl had her knife poised right above Thalia's heart. "You had no reason to kill Cale," she spat at the girl on top of her. "He didn't kill your little friend. Lexus did." With that Thalia jerked just as the girl was bringing her knife down. The girl wobbled slightly and instead of the knife plunging into her chest it plunged into the side of Thalia's neck. As she lie there drowning in her own blood she couldn't help but to think about Cale. Thalia closed her eyes with what little strength she had left and drifted off into death's sweet embrace.

ooc:: SOOOOOOOOB

You are the port of my call
You shot and l e a v i n ' me raw
Now I know you're a m a z i n g
'Cause all I need
Is the ღ love ღ you breathe
Put your lips on me
And I can live underwater,
Underwater, underwater!
U n d e r w a t e r !

[luke skypotter]

ooc:: cale&thalia. REST IN PEACE, BBYS <3
crowning dress interview dress
i got inspired and went ahead and posted, hope ya don't mind :3

tab It had been a day since the whole battle in the woods thing. A whole day of Elijah not talking to her or worrying about her. A whole day of her keeping her emotions carefully hidden behind the intense anger that was first and foremost in her mind. A whole day thinking about and preparing for the day to come. The day that she'd face off against the dark-haired girl from District 1. The one that was allied with the boy who'd gotten Elijah killed. He was too weak and easy to kill to believe he could have killed even the small blonde boy, but especially Lexus. Now, she wouldn't underestimate him. He was obviously stronger than she'd expected. And she couldn't make the same mistake with the girl. No, she had to win this stupid competition. She had to get back to Bise. So, hearing footsteps echoing through the abandoned streets, she stood and slipped out from a building and into a tree so she could watch the girl and still be hidden. She stayed like that for what seemed like hours, watching the girl become more and more frustrated. And then, finally, with a cold smile on her face, she slipped out of the tree and darted towards one of the abandoned buildings, a plan already playing in her head.

tab See, the buildings were decaying, but they were tall and most of them were still enclosed. Mika may have been smaller than the girl, but her muscles were toned from the training and from the work she'd been doing in the arena to make sure she could keep Elijah safe - which hadn't exactly worked, so she'd have to see how this played out. Knowing the girl wasn't too far behind her, she darted up one of the flights of stairs, and then half of the other. She wouldn't be seen from there and she'd have the element of surprise if the girl decided to keep going up. She didn't, however. Just stood screaming like a child. In a way, she felt bad. The dark-haired girl had obviously loved the boy she killed - Cale, she recalled hearing her scream. She couldn't imagine losing Bise - but the boy had been the cause of Elijah's death, one way or another. Gritting her teeth, she moved and launched herself at the girl at the same time the girl launched herself and Mika, and they both went crashing through the open doorway into a decaying room filled with remnants of desks and such, and then crashing to the floor. It took them a while to get through the immediate power struggle in which nobody won. And then they were standing and the fighting was a blur, all that came through was pain from a gash on her face and pain of shattering bones when her cheek slammed into one of the desks.

tab The fight seemed to drag on for ages before Mika finally had the other girl pinned beneath her, knife poised to strike. The girl's words should have had some sort of affect on her, but they just bounced right off the steely mask surrounding her. "He still caused it! If it wasn't for you two Lexus wouldn't have been in the meadow, I know it!" she growled, then leaned forward with a cold, cat-like smile. "Time to join your boyfriend, sweetheart. Send him my love," she hissed so quietly she doubted even the high tech filming equipment would pick it up, then she went for the kill. It would have been spot on had the stupid girl stayed still. Instead, she bucked and Mika's aim faltered, landing the knife in the side of the girls neck. Not the plan...but the same result nonetheless. After a few moments of a horrid gurgling sound, silence took over and a single cannon shot was heard. Mika looked up as if in a daze. The pain in both sides of her face was mind-numbing, but she managed to stumble outside to the sound of trumpets and the Head Gamemaker's voice announcing her the winner. That was about the time the hover craft showed up and she managed to grab onto the ladder and be frozen before she passed out cold to the sound of doctors shouting orders to other doctors about having to reshape her cheekbones because they were shattered and have her face was slashed open. Yes, that was the reassuring conversation that lulled her to sleep.

............................................

tab Waking up was strange. Mika half expected a tribute to pop up in front of her face with a knife and slash her to death. But, no. She was sitting in the same sterile room she'd been sitting in when she'd first met Milo. But now there was a mirror next to the bed, hanging on the wall, which she - of course - stood up to look into. And the reflection didn't register for a moment. She looked incredibly different. There was still a faint line running from the corner of her eye to the jawline, though it was only noticeable if you were within a couple feet of her without any makeup on. Her hair had seemed longer in the arena, but apparently her makeup team had cut it again. All in all...she just looked older in her hospital gown, the stranger staring back at her with sad blue eyes. "You did it, love," a voice spoke behind her and she immediately spun around defensively out of habit and instinct. It was Milo. Rushing forward, she drew him into a tight hug, her eyes brimming with tears. "I was so scared, Milo. I couldn't protect him!" she cried, her feelings just about ready to burst, but she kept it in check. She could survive until she was back in her Capitol room that night, after the crowning and interview. Until she could see Bise and Deidra and know everything was going to be alright - as alright as it could be. At least she'd be seeing her father and Jonah again. In the chaos of the Games, she'd almost forgotten about them, however sad that was.

tab "There now, there now. It'll be alright. Now. Let's get you dressed for the crowning, and I can show you what you'll be wearing for the interview just after, yes?" Milo rambled, trying to make her feel better, most likely. She simply gave him a smile that didn't meet her eyes and let him transform her as he had weeks before. Where last time he stressed her boldness in going into the Games, this time he stressed her maturity coming out of them. The dress was beautiful, and he kept her makeup understated, and he added some shimmering stuff to her nails to show a little bit of the bold playfulness from before, however that worked. Her hair they simply let curl naturally and just pinned back the front parts to show off her face. They kept her light scar showing as a symbol of what she'd just been through, and then she was in heels and being led to the stage-balcony thing in front of the Capitol where everyone was waiting below and she sat down in her thrown, dead center, until the President showed up to put that pointless circle of medal on her head. When the old man finally did walk onto the stage, she pushed herself up to stand her tallest, chin up and face impassive. "Good job, Miss Mikaelson. It's my pleasure to crown you the Victor of the 94th Annual Hunger Games," he told her and she gave him a polite sort of nod and a half smile and then he lifted his arms and placed the crown on her head and then the crowd went wild and then it was over and her dress was changed before she was shoved onto the stage with Caesar Flickerman standing there pointing at her.

tab The interview took forever, and simply made the games replay in her mind. And that was a understandable response seeing as how he was playing the highlights of the Games on the screen and having her comment on them with him if she wanted. She was doing alright, really, until they played the scene at the meadow. At that point she got extremely quiet and her facial expression turned steely. She saw the scene with the dark-haired girl and Lexus, and then Cale driving him into the meadow where Elijah was. Lexus killing Elijah. Cale killing Lexus. Her killing Cale. Her killing Thalia. And then the trumpets blared on screen and she watched herself, bloodied and broken, stumble to the ladder, which she didn't even remember, and then the screen cut off. "What a year! Does everyone agree?" he called and the crowd screamed. Mika simply smiled distractedly and answered the next few questions and then she was released. It was only a matter of putting on a pair of form-fitting black pants and a blue silk shirt and flats after stripping off the dress and makeup after that. Thinking about it, she hadn't felt so clean and safe - semi-safe - since the morning she'd left the Capitol building for good. Or so she'd thought. Now she was back, riding the elevator up to the fourth floor and...there was Bise. Her mentor. The guy she was in love with. Who'd saved her. Drawing in a ragged breath, she practically sprinted forward, colliding into him and throwing her arms around his neck and crushing his lips down onto hers. She was finally crying now. "Bise," she whispered, relieved and grief-stricken and guilty all at the same time. All she could really do was cling to him and hope he wouldn't let go.

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DISTRICT ONE: Huck - Thalia
DISTRICT TWO: Lexus - Girl
DISTRICT THREE: Andrik - Clover
DISTRICT FOUR: Elijah - Mika
DISTRICT FIVE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SIX: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT EIGHT: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT NINE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TEN: Boy -Girl
DISTRICT ELEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TWELVE: Cale - Leena

Career Kill Thalia Kill Mika Kill Cale Kill Unknown/Other Kill Bloodbath Kill Career/Alliance

[queen beetch]

Where Am I?... Mentor viewing/Sponsor room --> apartment
Who Am I With/Talking To?... the other mentors --> Mika
How Am I Feeling?... worried, stressed, sad --> unbelievably happy

The end of the Games had come faster than he had thought they would. He could tell what was going to happen when Lexus ended up killing Elijah though. Well, he hadn't expected Mika to loose herself quite as much as she did. The results of the Games didn't surprise him though. The girl from One didn't have anything left to live for, or at least she didn't seem to. Mika on the other hand had her family to go home to. She had reason to fight as hard as she possibly could. Bise felt relief wash through him when he saw the knife plunge into the neck of the other girl. Mika would be coming back. She'd be going home. She did have some serious injuries though. He wanted to be able to see her the minute she was back. No. He needed to see her the minute she got back. He had to see her. Hold her. Kiss her.

After being informed that she was back in the capitol he was told that he couldn't see her which had set him off. He'd yelled and done everything he could to try and get to her, but there was no possible way to do it. It seemed that the soonest he would be able to see her was at the crowning and interview. Even then he wouldn't be able to talk to her. He'd be off on the sidelines watching instead of being by her side where he truly wanted to be. He had to watch from afar. Bise sat with Mika's stylist and Deidra during the crowning and the interview. At first he didn't recognize the girl walking onto the stage. There was only one possibility of who it could be though. It had to be Mika. Bise hadn't realized the amount of damage that had been done to her. If they had to fix her up so much that they had changed her appearance then she must have sustained some very serious injuries. What he did recognize about her was the way she moved. The two had spent enough time training for him to know how she walked.

As Bise watched the crowning and interview he became slightly worried. Was she still the Mika he'd fallen for? Or had the Games changed her beyond recognition? He certainly hoped she was still his Mika.

Once the interview and crowning was over Bise was quickly escorted back to the apartment elevator before he could even think about going to see Mika. It seemed everyone was doing their best to keep the two of them apart. Bise rode the elevator up to the fourth floor alone. He found this odd. Why weren't Milo and Deidra with him? He didn't have anyone to question though. Bise stepped out of the elevator and started pacing around the floor. He wanted to know what was going on. He wanted to know why he was being kept in the dark. Upon hearing the elevator ding Bise stopped his pacing and turned to face it. He swallowed nervously as the girl from the stage stepped out of the elevator and looked at him. Then she was running for him and he finally had the answer to his question. She was still his Mika.

Bise quickly and securely wrapped his arms around her as she collided with him. He buried his face into the side her neck as he hugged and held her. He finally lifted his head when she said his name. Reluctantly he let go of her with one arm, but only so that he could wipe her tears away. "Its alright. You're safe now. I've got you," he whispered to her as he lowered his face toward hers. He was going to seize this opportunity of them being alone. Bise pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. One that let her know all that he felt for her. Only when he needed to take a deep breath did he break away from the kiss. "I'm so happy you're back," he whispered into her ear breathlessly before kissing her cheek lightly. "I tried to get to you sooner. No one would let me see you though. I'm sorry," he said softly and held her slightly tighter. He didn't ever want to let go of her again.

ooc::

Give 'em hell, turn their heads
Gonna l i v e life 'til we're dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll s a y to me, say t o me, say to m e
There goes the fighter, there goes the fighter
Here c o m e s the fighter
That's what they'll s a y to me, say t o me, say to m e,
This one's a fighter

[luke skypotter]

ooc:: cale&thalia. REST IN PEACE, BBYS <3

tab Mika had forgotten how rich Bise's voice was. How deep and full of love. She wanted to do something to show how much she'd missed him, but nothing came to mind and she was too busy holding onto him for dear life. It's okay, Bise. Thank you. Thank you for all you did for me in there. And...I'm so, so sorry. I couldn't save him, Bise. I wasn't strong enough to save him, she managed to get out before a sab wracked her bodies and she pushed her face into his neck, letting the gravity of what happened finally seep past her defenses. Elijah - the little boy she'd spent so much time with, had vowed to protect, had reassured on the train ride to the Capitol - was gone. Simply, completely gone. To his family, he was lost to them. To her, he was just lost. No longer a part of the messed-up world in which they lived. And she didn't see it changing anytime soon.

tab Getting herself under control, she took a deep, shaky breath and pulled her head back to look up at Bise. God, he looked so beautiful right then. I've missed you. So, so much, she said at a near whisper before pulling his mouth down to hers once more. And being in the apartment alone, she didn't have to keep herself under control. No, all her emotions seemed to be flooding through her at once, so she'd say things got pretty heated before the elevator dinged and she pulled back a little - not enough to pull from his arms - and looked over to see Deidra and Milo walk in. Let me just say, the situation had to look extremely awkward. Mika standing in Bise's arms, her hair a little out of sorts, cheeks blushing, lips swollen, and breath coming out a little too quick to be normal. But, Milo had no real reaction to it. Just smiled sort of knowingly at Mika, as if he'd known all along. Deidra, though. She looked like she was having all sorts of crazy thoughts running through her mind. Her eyes were wide and her face seemed even paler than usual under her powder, but her cheeks her bright red, as if she was embarrassed about walking in on something completely out of the ordinary.

tab Well, well, well, what have we got here? the pink-haired woman finally got out, her eyes flicking between the two incredulously. Milo laughed at that. What does it look like, Deidra? Are you honestly surprised? he asked, shaking his head, then grabbed her arm and hauled her down the hallway with a wink at the two before he disappeared with Deidra into one of the rooms. As soon as they were gone, Mika let a nearly hysterical laugh rattle through her, her head coming down to rest against Bise's chest. Well that wasn't awkward at all, she commented, amused sarcasm leaking into her voice. It felt nice to smile a little bit, even if she was still feeling the after effects of the Games barrelling through her. Maybe it was because she knew that, in the morning, she'd be on the train and headed back to District Four - to Jonah and her father and all the other's she'd spent so much time with before the Games. She had a feeling that she'd be spending more time in Bise's home than her own from now on, she never wanted to let go of him again. Looking up at him, she let a small, sad-eyed smile crawl onto her face before she shook her head. Maybe we ought to get to bed. It's been kind of a long day, she said before tilting her head towards the hallway, grabbing his hand, and leading him back to his room to sleep. After all, it was where she'd last slept before the arena.

.............................................................

tab The train ride seemed unbearably long this time around instead of all too short. Mika made sure to stay by Bise the whole way. In fact, she hadn't let him out of her sight ever since she'd woke up that morning. Well, kind of. She hadn't really slept at all to begin with - the nightmares were just shy of unbearable. She kept seeing Elijah getting stabbed, and then herself, foreign and cold, killing the last couple, the girl being the hardest to watch. Twice that night, she'd shot up from the bed in a cold sweat, only to realize that she was in the Capitol with Bise once more. Now she stared out the window, the circles under her eyes carefully covered with makeup, though her scar was there for the world to see. Milo had even darkened it to make her seem fierce. She wasn't sure why, either. All she was doing was going home, with people she'd known all her life. Here we are! Let's go! This is so exciting! Deidra squeaked, clapping her hands and jumping up and down like a hyperactive three-year-old. Mika simply blinked and stood, walking towards the door a little uncertainly. Looking back at Bise, she let the worry and anxiety she was feeling flash in her eyes for a moment. What if everyone hated her for what she'd done? For not being able to save Elijah?

tab Chop, chop! The district is waiting! Deidra urged and Mika took a deep breath before stepping out into the sun and walked through the City Hall building and out onto the stage, in front of which everyone was waiting. At first, she stood with her eyes on the ground, but then she raised her chin and straightened her back, looking out at the crowd with the expression of someone who'd seen the worst things in life, yet still lived. That's about the time the crowd began to cheer for her, and she spotted Jonah, standing next to her father. It had only been a few weeks and he seemed to have grown taller and older. It made her want to just stand there, trembling and crying, but she didn't. She kept her head high, her shoulders back, and her eyes forward, watchful and weary at the same time. She may be home, but she wasn't the same girl that had left. After standing in front of the crowd for what seemed like hours, she was led off stage and taken to her new home in Victors Village, where she was met by her brother and father. Sucking in a ragged breath, she gave Bise a long look with eyes brimming with tears before surging forward to meet her family in a tight hug, almost desperate. She'd missed them so much it practically hurt.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

DISTRICT ONE: Huck - Thalia
DISTRICT TWO: Lexus - Girl
DISTRICT THREE: Andrik - Clover
DISTRICT FOUR: Elijah - Mika
DISTRICT FIVE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SIX: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT EIGHT: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT NINE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TEN: Boy -Girl
DISTRICT ELEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TWELVE: Cale - Leena

Career Kill Thalia Kill Mika Kill Cale Kill Unknown/Other Kill Bloodbath Kill Career/Alliance

[queen beetch]

Where Am I?... HOME! (aka District Four)
Who Am I With/Talking To?... Mika --> my family --> Mika, Saffra, and Mika's family
How Am I Feeling?... unbelievably happy

Bise had gotten about as much sleep as Mika had the night before. He'd woken up every time she had so that he could comfort her if need be. The amount of nightmares she had reminded him of the time when he'd just won his Games. Every victor probably went through these things though. It couldn't have been uncommon. By this point he was used to being tired. He hadn't slept well while Mika and Elijah had been in the arena. In fact he hadn't slept much at all. He'd mostly stayed up with the television on and a drink of some sort in his hand to keep him going. Most of the time it was coffee. Occasionally it was something alcohol related. He did his best to stay away from the alcohol though. He didn't want to start abusing it. He knew how the mentor from District 12 could be and Bise didn't want to turn into that. So he'd stuck with coffee to keep him awake when he was too worried to sleep. The alcohol usually came out when it had been a particularly stressful day or he just absolutely needed some sleep.

On the train ride back to their District Bise had noticed Mika sticking to him like a second shadow. He didn't mind this though. In fact, if she hadn't been sticking to him, he would have been sticking to her. He really didn't want to let her out of his sight. He was too worried about her well being to do that. Bise looked up from where he was sitting when Deidra called attention to the fact that they had arrived home. He turned his head to look out the window and could see she was right, not that she'd be wrong. After all, they only had one destination. Bise slowly got to his feet and tightened up the tie the stylists had forced him to wear. He then straightened the dressy vest he'd also been forced into. He didn't bother with unrolling the sleeves of his shirt though. If they were going to make him wear dressy clothes he was going to wear them the way he wanted to. A very slightly loosened tie and unbuttoned top button of his shirt with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows. Bise looked to Mika just as she looked back at him. He saw the look on her face, if only for a moment, and stepped up closer to her. Bise gently set his hand on the small of her back and leaned down slightly to place a kiss against her temple to let her know that he was there for her and that everything would be alright.

As they made their way through the Justice Building, Bise was told that he needed to hang back and let her be the center of attention. He tried to protest, but the look he was getting from Deidra made him stop finally. Clearly she wasn't going to budge on the subject. It probably wouldn't be best to out their relationship to the whole country like that either. So, reluctantly, Bise stood back with Deidra as Mika was introduced as the victor and so on and so forth. He was used to the length of time it took for this whole ordeal to be over. He could remember it being just as long when he'd been introduced as the victor. It had been horrible and agonizingly slow and all he'd been able to think about was getting to see his family again. In fact that was partly what he was thinking about just then as well. He couldn't wait to see his family again.

Bise had accompanied Mika on the journey to the Victor's Village since he lived there as well. The first people he noticed were two men. Well, a man and a younger boy. Since he didn't recognize them he assumed they were Mika's family. He watched with a slight smile as she hurried forward to be reunited with her family. Seeing them hug made him smile. His attention was torn away when he heard a small voice yell his name at the top of her lungs. He turned his head to see his family heading his way with little Saffra in the lead running toward him like a maniac. Bise smiled and jogged toward her to meet her halfway. He quickly scooped his little sister up into his arms and held her tight as he swung her around in a circle and gave her cheek a quick kiss. "How's it going, Munchkin?" he asked as she swung around on him so that she was on his back with her arms around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist. "Good now that you're home!" she exclaimed as the rest of his family finally made it over to them. He gave his mother and father a hug each and ruffled Phox and Talon's hair. The pair both looked annoyed for a moment before they smirked and tried to tackle him. Saffra was laughing like crazy on his back as she hung on for dear life and Bise pretended to falter every once in a while. Finally Saffra calmed down enough to be able to speak again. "Bise, I wanna meet her. Pretty please?" she begged him.

Bise had always found it hard to say no to his little sister, and this time was no exception. "Alright, but just quick. She needs to have time with her family," he reminded his sister. His parents decided that they would head home with the boys and told him just to bring Saffra home with him when they were done. Bise nodded slightly and headed over toward where Mika, her father, and her little brother were. He cleared his throat lightly as he approached them and gave them all a small smile. "Ah, excuse me," he said as Saffra scrambled down off his back and moved to his side and took hold of his hand. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I told Saffra I'd introduce her to Mika," he explained as the young girl next to him beamed up at everyone. "Saffra, this is Mika. Mika, this is my little sister Saffra," he said, introducing the two quickly. "You're really pretty and brave! I'm glad you won. No one else seemed as nice as you," Saffra said sweetly and gave Mika a big smile.

ooc::

Give 'em hell, turn their heads
Gonna l i v e life 'til we're dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll s a y to me, say t o me, say to m e
There goes the fighter, there goes the fighter
Here c o m e s the fighter
That's what they'll s a y to me, say t o me, say to m e,
This one's a fighter

XXXXXX

[luke skypotter]

ooc:: HOLY GEEZ THIS IS LONG. sorry, got carried away a little bit haha

tab Mika couldn't remember ever feeling as happy as she was in that moment whilst still feeling out of place in her own skin. Probably because she'd never felt so out of place in her entire life. But she'd also never killed anyone before a few days ago. A few days ago...wow. It felt like it'd been ages since she'd felt the knife give under her hand, since she'd felt it slide into...No. She wouldn't think about that right now. Not when she was sitting there, her arms around her little brother, her father's arms around them both. Not when she was so securely wrapped in one of the few safe havens she had left. I'm so glad you're okay. Those simple words from her father's throat made her eyes water. He sounded so broken and she didn't want that for anything. It's okay, papa. It's okay, I'm here. At the sound of her voice, a sob wracked his shoulders and that was enough to stun her. She had never seen her father cry. Even after her mother died, he'd remained the buoy for his kids. But now he seemed so relieved he was almost broken. It was a sad, sad fact of the Games. I missed you, Mika. I'm glad you came home, Griffin said and she tightened her grip on him after hearing the words. Then she stood, just to get a good look at her family for the first time in what felt like ages.

tab If Bise hadn't chosen that moment to come over with a little blonde girl in tow, she probably would have just stood there all day, soaking in the fact that her family was standing right in front of her. Turning, she felt a quick stab of guilt at the fact that she'd forgotten his existence in the emotional onslaught the reunification brought on. Looking down at the little girl - his younger sister, Saffra - Mika smiled and knelt down to her height. Thank you so much. Although, I'm sure I'm not half as pretty, brave, or nice as you must be, she replied with a smile. Nice to meet you, Saffra, she grinned before standing. "Bise, this is my papa and my little brother, Griffin. Papa, Griffin, this is my mentor, Bise, she introduced just as quickly. For all intents and purposes, she appeared as though she were perfectly happy and content with being home. Only someone who knew her well or who had been through the same thing would notice the strange light in her eyes - showing that something wasn't quite right. That is until...Flounder! Only one person called her that, only one person knew about when she was a kid and fell out of a fishing boat without being able to swim and then attracting a certain type a fish. Only one other person had been there. Whytt! Oh my God, Whytt! she cried and broke into a sprint before hurling herself into his arms.

tab Whytt Naysmith was Mika's best friend, ever since they'd both been little tots, seeing as how their fathers were good friends ever since their own school days. Whytt was a couple years older than her and had escaped the horror of the Hunger Games, much to her relief at the time. Now he worked in the market and sold the fish he caught. He managed on it because he was one of the best fishermen in all of District 4. Being lifted up by him and spun around, feeling his arms around her waist, strong as ever, seeing his blue eyes and hearing his deep laugh - Mika almost broke down with relief. But she didn't, just barely. Pulling back when her feet hit the ground once more, she stretched up and kissed his cheek before hugging him hard, burying her face in his neck like she used to when they were kids. I'm glad you're home safe, Flounder, he said softly and Mika could hear the smile in his voice as he planted a kiss to her hair. Come on, I need to introduce you to Bise, she said, a little breathlessly. Whytt just cocked a brow suggestively, which Mika tried to ignore as she grabbed his hand and pulled him over to where Bise and Saffra stood with her father and Griffin. Except now there was another woman there, one Mika remembered seeing around the market every now and again.

tab Bise, Saffra, this is Whytt. He's been my best friend since we were tykes, she said with a smile and laughed when he bumped her shoulder with his. This was how she'd get better. Through her relationships with her family and friends. Mika, I also have someone to introduce to you. This is Otillie Fairbain. We're getting married soon. This news threw Mika through a bit of a loop. She'd only been gone for a couple weeks and her father was engaged? What the hell! Had she missed anything else drastic while she was fighting for her life? Nice to meet you, Otillie. After that, things slowed down a bit and she let her father go ahead and take Jonah and Otillie to finish gathering their things to bring to their new home in Victors Village, while Whytt stepped aside to wait while she spoke to Bise, talking to Saffra as he went. Turning to the man she'd grown to care about, she smiled and leaned in to steal a quick kiss while everyone's heads were turned. No need to out their relationship to all of District 4 on the first day home from the Capitol. Jeez, Caesar Flickerman would have a field day! I suppose now that we're home you have some sort of life to go back to? An intended, perhaps? she said teasingly, but there was some worry hidden underneath the amusement. What if he really did have a life to go back to? Maybe not a girl or anything, but just a lifestyle where she didn't fit in? Trying and failing to not let the doubt creep into her mind, she settled for a forced smile and kissed his cheek before backing away, waving. I should go help move the rest of our things. I'll see you, Bise, she said before turning and walking over to where Whytt was standing and giving Saffra a hug before heading off towards her old shack of a home, Whytt's arm thrown over her shoulders.


QUE SEMI-AWKWARD ROMANTIC MONTAGE


tab Weeks went by with that awkward tension hanging between Mika and Bise from their conversation that first day, then months. Mika still kept him close, still cared for him, and he was still the only one that understood what she was going through when she woke up screaming in the middle of the night from nightmares. She was fairly certain anyone within 50 feet of their house would be able to hear her screams, including Bise, who's house was only next door. Of course, they made an effort to get to know each other better. Told one another stories of their childhood. Unintentionally, most of her own included Whytt, which she began to notice bothered Bise in a way that was a bit hard for her to understand. Whytt was her best friend, but she'd never felt anything for him that was anywhere close to what she felt for Bise - and that was growing every time they took a walk along the beach together or wandered into the patch of woods at the edge of the District. As for Bise's stories, they just made Mika ever more fond of him. She recalled one story he'd told in particularly, where he'd been just a kid sitting on the roof and then he'd fallen off and broken a bone, the poor baby. However close they were growing, however, both of them refused to speak of their respective Games. Bise knew how hers went, and she could vaguely remember his, but neither felt a need to elaborate. Some days they talked for hours, some days they simply sat looking at the ocean, not saying anything. It was one of the silent days when Mika felt something shift in her. Oh to hell with this! she cried, turning around and accidentally tackling Bise to the sand when she pushed her lips to his. Of course, their little make-out session could have gone a lot further had Mika not raised her head at the sound of two pairs of giggles and looked to see familiar backs running away. Oh, s**t, she breathed, slumping down on Bise's chest, but she couldn't help the breathless laugh that escaped her when she look down at him. And once she started laughing, she couldn't stop.


THE OTHER THREE MONTHS


tab The rest of the time before the dreaded Victory Tour was spent with Mika and Bise practically attached at the hip. They even made it a habit of sleeping together at night so that both could do just that - sleep. Mika found that she felt better when Bise held her at night, less alone and less terrified of being thrust back into the arena. Of course, the day that Griffin and Saffra (fast friends, it appeared), had caught Mika and Bise practically getting down and dirty on the beach, they'd returned to knowing smiles from both sides of the family, an uncertain glare from Mika's papa, and an open excitement from Bise's mother. She was a wonderful woman, and kept going on and on about how happy she was to have another girl in the house and such. Phox and Talon begun to tease them mercilessly, and Griffin just stood to the side, talking with Saffra and laughing. Overall, it went over much more smoothly than Mika had expected. That is, until word reached Whytt. It didn't take long, really. Word tended to travel through the District pretty quickly, especially since nothing like that had ever happened. I hope you're serious about him, Flounder. And I hope you're prepared for the Capitol to present it to all of Panem as something they created, he'd told her before gently kissing the corner of her mouth and walking away, back to the market. She knew all to well what he was speaking of, but she tried to ignore it, tried to just enjoy her quickly passing time with Bise before being thrust in front of Panem again, like some plaything. So, when the day finally came and she was reunited with Milo and the merry team of stylists, she was resigned, but much better than when they'd left her. Once again, she was taken through the horrid process of ridding her body of hair, and then the scrubbing until she felt she had no skin left. Of course, afterwards she looked wonderful, just as last time, and she was dressed up appropriately for the trip to District 12 to kick off the tour. It was just one of the two Districts she was violently anxious over going to. So much so that she spent that night on the train bent over the toilets when she wasn't huddled, shivering in Bise's arms.

tab I don't know if I can do this, Bise. I killed that boy, and the girl told me that he didn't even kill Elijah! They're going to hate me, Bise, I know it. Please don't let me go up there alone, she whispered brokenly that night, absolutely terrified. And she felt as though they were. Even though she let him go the first time. Even though she'd killed him because she thought he'd killed the only person in that arena that mattered to her. Even though he didn't. That boy was still dead. That girl was still dead. And Mika had still been the one to kill them. The next morning, Milo was the one to wake her and pull her from the room quietly enough to not wake Bise. Mika felt his absence immediately. But, she didn't have much else to do but sit by while the stylists applied light makeup, enhanced the scar, and did her hair so that the now dirty blonde color shone brightly. In a way, Mika felt like her hair was a good symbol of her time in the Capitol. Once a bright, near-white color and now a gold mixed with a little brown, tainted. After that, she was dressed in darker clothes so as not to stand out too drastically. They were also warm, seeing as how it was the winter months and they were now in the Outer Districts, not home in District 4, where it was warm almost all year long. Barely hearing the speak, Mika stood on stage, staring out into the horizon, her shoulders stiff and her face as devoid of emotion as she could make it. However, when they began to show her highlights in the Games, she couldn't help but let a frown on her face as her shoulders sagged a little and her head declined gradually. She felt overridden by shame, standing there with the boy's family staring at her accusingly, but also brokenheartedly crying as the screen played the lake seen, with Elijah, Lexus, and Cale, and then her chasing Cale down and embedding the flying knife into his spine. And then came the fight between herself and the District 1 girl, and she could feel the knife in her hand as it sunk into her neck, could smell the sweat and desperation that had surrounded them, could hear the girl's words once more. Could feel herself breaking down bit by bit. And then she looked up and the family was glaring at her, but with a sort of respect in their gaze then, and all the sudden the little girl lifted her arm, making a gesture with her hand that left her three middle fingers up. Apparently that was some gesture of peace or respect, Mika didn't know, but she was ushered off of the stage soon after that, the image of the crowd still burned into her mind as she was almost shoved back into the train and she found herself once again in Bise's arms, as bewildered as ever.

Gaius & Atlas Ivory

DISTRICT ONE: Huck - Thalia
DISTRICT TWO: Lexus - Girl
DISTRICT THREE: Andrik - Clover
DISTRICT FOUR: Elijah - Mika
DISTRICT FIVE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SIX: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT EIGHT: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT NINE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TEN: Boy -Girl
DISTRICT ELEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TWELVE: Cale - Leena

Career Kill Thalia Kill Mika Kill Cale Kill Unknown/Other Kill Bloodbath Kill Career/Alliance

[queen beetch]

Where Am I?... Train (District 12) --> Capitol --> Beach (District 4/Home)
Who Am I With/Talking To?... Theta --> Lots of people --> Mika
How Am I Feeling?... tired & grumpy --> jealous & thrilled --> unbelievably nervous

That wonderful day on the beach was playing over in his mind while Theta made sure the circles under his eyes weren't visible and that his face was nice and smooth and free of hair. Bise was pretty sure he'd only gotten his old stylist from his Games back because of his relationship with Mika. There were quite a few eyes back on him again and the Capitol and the President couldn't have him going around looking only semi-decent. Really Bise wasn't all that thrilled with being in the spotlight again. He'd gotten used to being on the back burner and he'd never really liked being the center of attention. His own Victory Tour had dragged on for much too long for his liking. Theta nudged Bise's shoulder as his eyes shut. "At least attempt to keep yourself alert for your girlfriend's sake," she teased him lightly. Bise just rolled his eyes slightly and smirked a bit. "What's taking so long?" he questioned as he glanced to Theta. She lifted one of her delicately jeweled eyebrows at him and shook her head slightly. "Just as impatient as ever I see. Its only been twenty minutes, and I'm done," she said with a slight huff. Bise gave her an apologetic smile and got to his feet. "Sorry. I just haven't slept yet I don't think," he said with a slight shake of his head.

The previous night had been rough to say the least. He'd been up most of the night with Mika while she was sick and then had stayed up after she'd fallen asleep to keep an eye on her. He'd just started to doze off when Milo had come to get Mika from the room. Theta had only allowed him to sleep for an hour at most before she'd barged into his room to make him get up so she could start getting him ready for the day. "It's alright," Theta said with a smirk. "I trust you can dress yourself. And you can thank me later for not putting you in a tie." With that Theta left the room and Bise went to sit down on the bed for a few seconds. He looked toward the clothes she'd laid out for him and sighed. It certainly wasn't as bad as it could be. He really was lucky he'd gotten Theta back and didn't just have whoever was least busy. Bise finally moved and started to change out of his pajamas and into the clothes laying out on the bed. It was a simple blue shirt and black pants. The shirt matched the color of the ocean though and it made him long to be back on the beach with Mika. That wouldn't be happening for a while though.

Bise had just finished buttoning the last button he planned on buttoning on his shirt just as someone knocked on the door. He gave the okay to come in and turned to see Theta standing in the now open doorway. "The Capitol is going to have a field day with you. Still just as handsome as the day you were picked to be a tribute," she said with a smile and a shake of her head. "Mika is one lucky girl." Bise rolled his eyes slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, thanks?" he said awkwardly which made Theta laugh. "Theta, I was hoping to get your help with something. I love Mika. She's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. If I'm going to make that happen I'm going to need a ring," he said, willing her to catch on to what he was suggesting. It took her a moment but then she started clapping and jumping up and down. "You, my good sir, have asked the right person to help you pick out a ring!" she said with a smile. "We can look for one while we're in the Capitol! And then you could propose at the big party!" she suggested enthusiastically. Bise chuckled slightly and shook his head just a little. "Actually, I was thinking of proposing somewhere a bit more romantic and was hoping you and Milo could set up the spot for us," he said with a grin.


RUN LIKE ME, LIKE HELL, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE


Some Districts had gone better than others. District One had probably been one of the worst. The girl tribute's family had been giving Mika death glares the whole time. The mother had been crying as well and had yelled something at the very end, but Bise hadn't heard what she'd said. He'd just grabbed Mika quickly before anyone could do anything to her and had taken her back to the train where he was sure she'd be safe. Then they had arrived in the Capitol and he felt like he could finally relax, which was an extremely odd feeling. He wasn't used to being relaxed in the Capitol. He was used to being stressed out and exhausted. Only because he was feeling a sense of ease did he feel alright with slipping out with Theta for a while to find a ring for Mika. They'd gone to a few shops before Bise finally found a ring that he thought Mika would like. He and Theta had let Milo in on their little project so that he could get Mika's ring size for them without Mika getting suspicious.

The party was later that night. It wasn't so bad, but he had to wear an actual suit and tie for it. Theta had put him in the most comfortable suit she could find, which he appreciated, but it only helped a little. About halfway through the party he had rid himself of his suit jacket and had untied his bowtie so that it hung around his neck. He'd also unbuttoned the top couple of buttons. At that point he'd received a glare from Deidra and Theta so he'd left the sleeves of his shirt alone. It was also about halfway through the party when Caesar got a hold of a microphone to give a speech and interview sort of thing for Mika. He asked her a bit about her Games and about how the tour had gone up until that point. Bise hadn't started paying attention until Caesar had said something about her touching reunion with the guy she was in love with. While he'd come to understand that Whytt and Mika would always be apart of each others lives because they were best friends, he still couldn't help but to feel a bit jealous. It was no surprise when Bise started to feel that little green monster running around in his head because of the video that they were playing. It was footage of Mika and Whytt's "touching" reunion. He did his best to focus on anything else besides the video. When it finally ended and Caesar asked Mika about it he was slightly surprised to hear her answer. She, rather matter-of-factly, told everyone right then and there that she was in love with him and not Whytt.

Bise couldn't help the grin that appeared on his face any more than he could help what he did next. He made his way through the crowd while Caesar fumbled for words in surprise. The minute he got to Mika he pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers in a short lived but very sincere kiss. "I love you," he whispered to her as he pulled away. The words were by no means new to either of them, but they still brought a bright smile to his lips. After that he'd lifted one of her hands to press a gentle kiss to her knuckles and apologized to Caesar for interrupting the interview before heading off back to where he'd been standing with Milo, Diedra, and Theta. That grin he'd gotten earlier when Mika had told the world she was in love with him stayed on his lips the rest of the night.


ARE YOU READY FOR TONIGHT, SETTING IT ON FIRE


Bise had been beyond nervous all day. He'd done his best to hide his nerves, but he was sure Mika had picked up on it. She knew him better than anyone else. Except for maybe his best friend, Beaufort (aka Beau), who knew absolutely everything about Bise. In fact Beau was the only one Bise had ever spoken to about his Games. So now the party in their own district was happening and Bise couldn't stop fidgeting. Beau had to elbow him and tell him to relax to get him to realize he was even doing anything. Bise finally got the signal from Theta letting him know that she and Milo had finished setting up the beach and Bise tightly grasped the ring box that was hidden in his pants pocket. He took a deep breath to try and calm himself before giving Beau a slight smile. "Wish me luck," he said with a light shake of his head. "Ah, you don't need it. She'll say yes," Beau said as Bise walked away over toward where Mika was. He grabbed her hand lightly and excused her from whatever conversation she'd been having up until that point. Bise gave her a grin but didn't say a word as he pulled her away toward their favorite spot on the beach.

As they approached the spot Bise could see little lights floating out on the water and a few lanterns floating in the sky up above them. He walked with her to the edge of the water, not quite close enough for the waves to reach them though. "Mika, I've never met anyone like you. So selfless, and brave, and caring, and funny. You are beautiful inside and out and that's why I fell in love with you. A little while ago I started to realize something. I can't live without you in my life. I want you to be mine and for me to be yours for the rest of our days. So, Mika," Bise fumbled for the ring box as he got down on his knee and looked up at Mika with a smile. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked her, hope in his eyes and a loving smile on his lips.

ooc::

Give 'em hell, turn their heads
Gonna l i v e life 'til we're dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll s a y to me, say t o me, say to m e
There goes the fighter, there goes the fighter
Here c o m e s the fighter
That's what they'll s a y to me, say t o me, say to m e,
This one's a fighter

XXXXXX

[luke skypotter]

ooc:: capitol party ;; District 4

tab After District 12, Mika began to feel a bit more confident about the Tour. Of course, she still felt guilty and shunned whenever she looked out at the crowd and saw the families of the dead tributes staring back at her, but Bise was making her feel better about that little bit. That is, until District One. Mika had already known this one wasn't going to go very well. She slaughtered the girl tribute coldly and now she was definitely paying the price. The family was glaring at her and she had to watch the highlights of the girls Games up until the very end. Just as she'd predicted, they played the last fight in more gruesome detail than she'd yet seen. Just couldn't help but cringe at the ghost pain when she saw her head slam into a crumbling desk. She could just feel the bones shattering all over again. And then, almost too quickly (being in the fight had made it seem much longer than it apparently was), Mika was sitting on top of the girl, and she didn't recognize herself at all. Her cheek on one side looked entirely disfigured because of the lack of bone structure, and the other side of her face was covered in blood, still running from the deep cut and making her look...monstrous. And then her eyes. They were cold, detached, and...crazed in a way that made Mika go cold through and through. Surely that couldn't be her, could it? She hadn't felt that insane. But then again, all she remembered was holding Elijah's body in her arms and then the rest was a blur. A blur, yet at the same time she could remember everything with unnerving clarity. At the end, a shout rose about the speech being given by the mayor. I'll kill you! I swear it! You killed my Thalia! a woman called and the crowd roared it's agreement. Mika noticed the glares, then. The ones that she had been trying to carefully avoid the entire time. And, though her face remained passive, she blanched and was pulled away by Bise before anything could happen.

tab Of course, the next day, Mika arrived in the Capitol and she'd never thought she'd ever feel as safe there as she did then. Which was kind of the opposite of how she should have felt because of the fact that the Capitol started the whole thing and sent her to her death, despite the fact that she beat out 23 other kids. It was a very complicated, very confusing relationship. In any case, Mika thankfully got to spend a day lounging around the 4th floor of the same building she'd been in before and after the Games. This time, it was different. Without death looming over her head or the incredibility of getting to return home, she could actually appreciate the view and the luxurious contraptions littered around the place. That, coupled with her stylists milling about and measuring her and her skin tone, made a couple of pleasant distractions that almost kept her from missing Bise whenever he slipped out. Almost. Naturally, she was curious about what he was doing and why he was leaving her alone in the rooms, but she didn't ask him and just accepted that, as her Mentor, he had things he had to do besides babysit her. He'd done enough of that back in District 4, and she left him multiple times then in the very early morning to go out to the water and swim for miles, and then come back extremely tired and worn out, but it also kept her from thinking about the Games. Some victors turned to alcohol, some to morphling. She turned to exerting herself to such an extent that she could barely think anymore. Of course that wasn't an option during the tour, so she'd returned to no longer sleeping and waking up from nightmares screaming (sometimes - she tried to stay silent so that she wouldn't wake Bise). The morning of the party, Mika was swept away into the stylist's lair to be primped for the party and the interview. They stuck her in a beautiful silver dress that brought out the gray in her eyes and made her curves (less pronounced and much less soft after the hours of swimming) stand out like crazy. Her newly formed muscles were also placed on nice display, which she quite appreciated.

tab You need to stop losing weight, dear. I've already had to alter the dresses I had laid out in advance, Milo scolded her at one point and all she'd done was turn red and rub her arm nervously. Well, she tried to. When she moved, though, Bellatrix stabbed her with the sewing needle and gave her an annoyed glare. After that, she thought it best to keep still. Soon enough, she was shoved into the large room in which she would be eating and "celebrating" with the finest people in the Capitol. Vomit. She couldn't wait to get of the room and hide, and she tried to separate herself from the crowd, but she kept getting swept into conversation with some high-ranked, oddly-fashioned person about her performance in the Games. She didn't even get to spend a moment with Bise, seeing as how no one knew they were together and didn't think about the fact that the only place she really wanted to be was with her mentor. The one time she got a few moments to herself the entire party, she was pulled onto a platform by Caesar Flickerman. Of course. The interview started out innocently enough. He asked her questions about the Games and she answered them in the vaguest possible way. Then, he got to the touchy-feely stuff. So, you remember our interview before the Games, yes? When I asked you about a boy back home and you told us that he was older? Well, I think we've finally got an answer to the most-asked question about who you love! Take a look at this, everyone, he said and gestured to a screen on the back wall. To Mika's surprise, it wasn't Bise and her on the beach that appeared in the grainy shot. No, it was her running towards Whytt and their entire reunion. When the video was over, Mika just kind of sat there with her mouth hanging open as Caesar put a picture of Whytt on the screen, along with his name. Oh, dear lord. Uhm, I think we have a bit of a misunderstanding, Caesar. I'm not in love with Whytt, he's just my best friend, she told him and he looked utterly confused. Then...who, might I ask? Mika took a deep breath and met Bise's eyes. His name is Bise. Bise Ivory. And he was my mentor. The audience in the room went absolutely silent at that. Then Bise stormed onto the stage and kissed her, then told her he loved her, and she barely had time to reply, I love you, too, before the whole room went nuts. The rest of the interview saw Mika blushing bright red from Bise's departing hand-kiss and Caesar's surprisingly coy questions and comments on the relationship. The rest of the night was spent with a grin and bright eyes that were at ease for the first time since the Reaping.


SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

tab The arrival back in District 4 lifted the last bit of weight off of her chest. It was finally over. She was now a full-fledged victor, free to spend her life with her family in her District and spend all the time in the world with Bise. That is, until she had to begin mentoring kids with Bise. It was definitely going to be hard letting the kids she'd get to know go into the Arena and most likely not come out, but she figured herself and Bise would make a pretty good team. In any case, Mika couldn't wait for the banquet that night. There, the entire district could eat their fill, including the families that didn't have much on their own, much like her family hadn't. It had been a couple years since Bise's, but she could still remember all the rich foods that her father made sure she didn't eat too much of so that she wouldn't get sick. It made since to her now, but at the time she'd hated him for it. Intensely. We kept it simple since this is your home. Still fancier than common clothes, but nothing like you wore in the Capitol, Milo told her before she was sent out to her friends and family. And the dress was pretty, it wasn't tight, but it also wasn't loose, and it had a flower sort of pattern on it that she'd never seen before. It looked like something that was meant to be worn on the beach. The night went wonderfully, but Mika began to notice something strange in Bise's demeanor early on, but she had no idea what it was. As the sun faded into the horizon, Mika was pulled from her conversation with an old lady from the market by Bise, who simply grinned and led her towards the beach. Thank goodness she'd kicked off the shoes Milo had given to her earlier, even if Deidra had frowned upon it. It was a warm night and the banquet was set up in the center of the town and nobody there cared if she was a bit improper. As they walked, Mika silently took in the cloudless night, despite the burning desire in her gut to know what was going on. As they approached a spot the Mika knew well, which was private and surrounded by beautiful rocks and a little pool of water separated from the ocean, Mika couldn't help but let her jaw drop a little.

tab Out in the water, there were little balls of light floating close to the shore and lanterns somehow floated above their heads. Who had done this? Why? At the edge of the water, Mika turned to listen to Bise's speech. Mika, I've never met anyone like you. So selfless, and brave, and caring, and funny. You are beautiful inside and out and that's why I fell in love with you. A little while ago I started to realize something. I can't live without you in my life. I want you to be mine and for me to be yours for the rest of our days. So, Mika, She couldn't help but suck in a surprised breath as Bise pulled a small box and kneeled before her. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? A hand flew to her mouth and Mika's eyes immediately teared up. Did he mean it? She was so happily surprised that she stood there staring at him for a few moments before she remembered that he was waiting for an answer. Bise, I- she tried, but her voice failed her, so she just nodded her head enthusiastically and grinned lovingly as the ring slid onto her finger, and then she tackled Bise to the sand and kissed him. By the time they got back to the party, their hair and clothes were in quite the state. She knew people would jump to conclusions, but she was too busy grinning and laughing out of pure joy. Her fingers were interlaced with Bise's and she was holding on tight. And that's when...Mika, there you a - Holy s**t! Is that a ring? Whytt exclaimed with a devilish glint in his eyes and almost all conversation stopped and hundreds of heads turned their way, curious. The silence was only broken by Mika's giggle, which seemed to be enough confirmation for them, because they all started clapping and Mika saw Griffin and Saffra winding their way through the crowd to come see for themselves, followed by Phox, Talon, Mika's father, Otillie, and Bise's parents. All of them appeared pretty happy with the news, but her father also looked a little bit sad. Perhaps because he was giving his only daughter away, just after he thought he'd lost her forever. But Mika was in such elated spirits the rest of the night, it didn't even bother her.


DID SOMEONE SAY WEDDING?

tab Mika was damned nervous. But what kind of bride would she be if she wasn't practically shaking with nerves just a few minutes before she walked down the beach to Bise, where the'd have their District's special ceremony. Nothing like the Capitol was bound to put together. She wore her mother's wedding dress, but the headdress was too frayed to wear, so Milo did her hair up in a simple braid, but it was made elegant through the flowers he put in it as a sort of crown. A long, thin, flowing veil hung from the flowers and ended at her lower back. Tightening her hold on the flowers in her hand ( which matched her "flower crown" ), she let her father lead her down the beach to wear Bise was standing with the Mayor, and their friends and family were sitting on large white sheets spread over the sand. No one was dressed especially nice, that was reserved for the bride and groom. Once she set eyes on Bise, her nerves all but vanished and the ceremony seemed to go by quickly. By the time it was over and they could kiss as husband and wife, their foreheads were pressed together and their hands were intertwined, a symbol for having one mind and guiding each other through hardships and other things. Mika was a little fuzzy on the details, being so close to being tied to Bise forever made her a little light-headed. As they kissed in front of the clapping crowd, the Mayor tied their forearms together on one arm with a ribbon the same dark blue as the ocean in the deepest spot. I love you, she told him with a smile both on her lips and in her eyes before they were sent off to their new home to change for the 'light' ceremony. Their things had already been moved to their own home in Victor's Village and their families were allowed to keep their homes in the Village for an indefinite amount of time. Once they arrived home, they were met by their stylists, unfortunately, and were changed into the traditional clothes before being sent back to the beach for the lantern ceremony at the water. They both wore white and they walked out into the water, arms tied back together from elbow to wrist, after they'd changed. The sun was now well beneath the horizon and a large, full moon was set in a star-filled sky. They held one lantern in their hands which weren't tied together, and they let it go a few moments after stepping knee-deep into the sea. Following theirs, all of their friends and family let their own lanterns go, symbolically wishing them well in their marriage endeavors. And with that, the wedding ceremony was officially over and Mika turned to Bise, held his cheek in her free hand and kissed him, finally as a wife.

Gaius & Atlas Ivory

DISTRICT ONE: Huck - Thalia
DISTRICT TWO: Lexus - Girl
DISTRICT THREE: Andrik - Clover
DISTRICT FOUR: Elijah - Mika
DISTRICT FIVE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SIX: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT SEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT EIGHT: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT NINE: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TEN: Boy -Girl
DISTRICT ELEVEN: Boy - Girl
DISTRICT TWELVE: Cale - Leena

Career Kill Thalia Kill Mika Kill Cale Kill Unknown/Other Kill Bloodbath Kill Career/Alliance