{captured ghosts // geebs | closed

Viridian Harper
[1f8f62]

This is what she wanted Viridian told himself, standing in front of the wooden door that separated himself from his older sister. He was alone there- the only soul in District One that cared enough to come and visit Stark Harper. Frankly, she wasn't exactly well liked and Viridian knew it. The siblings had never really been that close, but it still made the boy's throat thick when he placed his hand on the doorknob. She was leaving. Stark was a tribute and going into the Games. What if she doesn't come back?

At that moment Viridian realized how much his sister really meant to him. His parents were worthless and Stark wasn't exactly nurturing but she was all he had left. A Career shouldn't act this way or have such depressing thoughts. This was a joyous occasion. Viridian was the brother of a soon-to-be victor. He hoped.

When his fingers were finally strong enough to turn the knob and open the door he caught Stark in a brief moment of unStarkness. Anxious foot tapping, for fear or excitement, the Career wasn't sure of yet. However, she quickly slipped back into the sister he knew and... loved. Yes, he did love his big sister. For a long moment neither said anything. The youngest Harper felt like his heart was lodged in his throat, blocking any words they may want to come out. However, the boy also knew his sister and she had no plans on being the first one to speak either. Sighing, Viridian swallowed to clear his throat and leaned against the door frame.

"So," more than anything Viridian didn't want to get all touchy feely with his sister. He might do some stupid like cry and she'd probably punch him. Careers don't cry, and especially not for other Careers. Even more so if they're your sister. Finally, he settled on something a little more lighthearted. "You gonna put us up in a fancy house once you win, or what?"

His eyes settled on his sister's bleach blonde hair which was not unlike his own. He knew he shouldn't feel pity for her but he just couldn't help himself. Whatever super human nonemotional power that was in the Harper line skipped the men. This is what she wanted. This is what you want. Pull yourself together.

For a split second, Viridian thought he saw his sister smile- not an evil grin that Careers wear after they kill someone else. It was the smile of an eighteen year old girl who had a brother and a family and a sense of humor. Silly Viridian thinking that kind of feeling might pass over his older sister at all in her life time. However, he couldn't help himself. He let his small, forced grin grow a little larger.

If you're going to say anything about Stark Harper it is that she is confident. The boy had to admire her for it. The Career had always been a shifty child, never defined and mostly overlooked- hidden in the large shadow made by Stark's bad reputation. He had to like the thing in her that drew attention- that little part of her brain that told her she could do anything. Viridian didn't have that, he had little self control when it came to emotions and what he did have at that moment was being used to keep tears back. If there was one thing he wanted to go through life without doing it would be crying in front of Stark.

Especially after she flicked open her switchblade. He wasn't sure what she was going to do with it. The Peacekeeper wouldn't let her take it very far into the Capitol and the Gamemakers would never allow it as a token. It was when the shining metal slid back into its place and her icy blue eyes met his did he guess her intent. Though he didn't believe she'd actually do it.

Taking that weapon into his hands felt like nothing else Viridian had ever experienced before. It was like he had finally earned the approval of his sister. Sure, there was not a single other soul that would probably keep the blade for her but that didn't matter. She had given him her switchblade. Stark might as well have given him her children to raise for a while.

It was heavy for such a small thing, full of responsibilities and feelings that would never be admitted out loud. The boy could only stare in wonder at it, running it through his fingers and flipping the blade open just to close it a millisecond afterwards. He felt his sister's hand in his shaggy hair, ruffling it up some more. The teen felt like he was all of six years old, but if felt so glorious. Don't get attached? Viridian thought, looking up at his sister with a large childish grin on his face.

"I already have," he managed to clear the sentence without his voice cracking but it had been close. His eyes tingled and Viridian turned his focus back down to the knife. She's leaving. She's leaving home, but leaving part of her here. his thumb slid across the flat side of the blade She really is my sister.

"Just don't forget it's mine" how could Viridian ever forget something like that? That's like saying "Hey, don't forget I'm your sister when I leave." The two siblings had never really had long conversations and this one was reaching the point of awkwardness. Stark finished up her goodbye, fi you could it that. Slowly, Viridian slipped his sister's switchblade into his pocket for safe keeping.

So calm. All Stark did was shrug. The Games didn't scare her one little bit. It was like talking to a statue carved completely out of rock. A stone sister that he wasn't quite sure he was related to or not. Rubbing the back of his neck, Viridian muttered a "I guess so."

He started for the door, his hand reaching out for the doorknob but before he got there the emotional part of him couldn't be contained any longer and bust out. Turning he stepped forward and pulled his sister into his arms for a moment. In his memory, Viridian had never ever hugged his sister. However, the part of him that whispered What if she doesn't come back? made him do it. Made him wrap his long arms around her and allow himself to love his big sister.

Then, he quickly flung open the door and slipped out of the room before Stark could punch him.