You Can Stand Under My Umbrella // [Matepal + Kieran]

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You Can Stand Under My Umbrella // [Matepal + Kieran] Dec 23, 2015 12:05:47 GMT -5

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Post by admin kay on Dec 23, 2015 12:05:47 GMT -5

a note from the desk of

Mace Emberstatt

of District Ten

when you never thought that it could ever get this tough,
that's when you feel my kind of love

It was late in the day by the time the Capitol doctors claimed Harbinger Rhodes and things in the Training Center began to settle down. All of the victors had been given their train schedules, with some of them leaving as early as the next morning. Mace was on one of those early trains. He'd be taking most - but not all - of his children. Most - but not all - of his heart. Last year, he'd stayed up all night with all four of them. Every moment of that night, from screaming laughter to quiet cuddles, had been precious to him.

This year, he planned to do it again. A tradition would be born. He picked up Juliet from her daddy, ordered Kieran back to their suite of rooms. They had hot chocolate and marshmallows brought up from the kitchens and for the first time in weeks, they watched something other than the Games commentary.

But still, he could not shake the Seventy-First from his thoughts.

It was some time around midnight that he went prowling around the District Ten level, out in the hallway and back to the foyer. He plucked flowers from each of the vases, forming a small bouquet. "Want to go on an adventure?" He asked his children, winking at his eldest. Then, he bundled them up in warm coats - even though it was still plenty warm inside of the Training Center. He sent Kieran down the elevator while he took his youngest children up one flight of stairs.

An avox directed them to a couch, pantomining them to stay. It had been many years since the level below had been in such a flurry, but there was something controlled about the chaos on the eleventh level today. They've learned, he realized. Three years of victory, and they had this process down. Mace snuggled Coralee close and let Mason and Juliet have the run of the place.

When Katelyn emerged, Mace came immediately to his feet, clutching his sleeping daughter in one arm and the bouquet of ridiculous Capitolite flowers in the other. At least they were artificially dyed white, black and a deep purple. The colors of mourning. "Oh, uhm, this ain't for you. You got yourself a victor. They're for Opal and I seen you two talkin' the last few days an' I wondered. You want to deliver 'em with me? I asked her to meet us at the atrium. Won't be private but," he paused, eyeing the other people in the room.

*****

The atrium, which was small and simple compared to most in the Capitol, was on the first floor of the Training Center. Fully grown trees formed a canopy and every few weeks the shrubs and flowers were exchanged for fresh ones. He was sure it paled in comparison to Opal's garden, but it was close as he could find. It was almost possible to get lost in the jungle of flora. Almost.

Mace had adjusted his stride to suit Katelyn's but Mason and Juliet were not so polite. They rushed right past Opal Earnest into the jungle, tripping over poinsettias and laughing as they rolled over the moss. Coralee, who had been fussing in her sleep, propped up her head, took one look at Opal, and began to pummel Mace's shoulder. "KY! KY! KY!" She screamed until he put her down. Her one-year-old legs toddled. Every five steps she would rock back onto her bottom, pick herself up, and continue on. Nothing would deter her when Ky was nearby.

With a grimace, Mace presented Opal with the flowers. "You deserve more than this," He said about the flowers, about Septys Lexig, about everything. He stepped back a moment to allow Katelyn through while he scanned the atrium.

When his eyes landed on Kieran, he heaved a heavy sigh. "Son?" He beckoned, gaze sliding over Katelyn and Opal. Some day - sooner for the latter - they would understand why his eldest, his eleven-year-old boy - needed to be present for this conversation. "Let's all take a walk."

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charade
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You Can Stand Under My Umbrella // [Matepal + Kieran] Dec 23, 2015 15:46:46 GMT -5

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Post by charade on Dec 23, 2015 15:46:46 GMT -5

KATELYN PERSIMMON

Harbinger was with the doctors, getting cleaned and fixed, and at some point he’d be sent off to the stylists to be gussied up. She pitied him for that, remembering her own post games ordeal and how little time the Capitol gave you to process what you’d just been through. How there wasn’t really any time to catch your breath until you were back in eleven. It was slightly less stressful from a mentor’s standpoint, but for the third year in a row, she wouldn’t be going straight home, instead there was a victory tour to attend to and a victor to look after. The family and friends of the deceased to meet. She rubbed at her jaw as she remembered the welcome she had gotten in seven. Perhaps she ought to have Finter request additional security for that stop.

The eleventh floor was a nonstop bustle of activity as it had been ever since she had won, avoxes and stylists trying to prepare her and Kirito for the party before they headed out, Finter practically beside himself with joy getting the tour schedule hammered out; the man had never been so happy before, having adopted one of Flickerman’s many monikers and constantly referring to the victors as the terrific trio. He was planning out the daily menu’s aboard the trains now and practically dancing around the room. Katelyn shook her head. Finter had a good heart underneath all of the gaudy outfits, but his priorities left something to be desired. For one, he had hardly said a thing about the casket that would be accompanying them on the ride, and for another, he did not understand her style.

She glanced at herself in the mirror and sighed. Thedress he had picked out for her was a lovely shade of yellow, like a ray of sunshine, but it left too little to the imagination for her tastes. He shushed her complaints and insisted that she had to look like a queen; that Kirito and Harbinger were like princes and that things like this only happened once a century. He vanished a few minutes later then reappeared saying that Mr.Emberstatt had come to call. She wobbled into the sitting area on the ridiculous heels that Finter had forced her to wear and had to stop herself from shrieking over the children that Mace had brought along and the tiny outfits they were wearing. “Oh, aren’t they just the most precious little things.” She breathed. “Wait, a moment, wait a moment!”

She made her way to the kitchen and made it back with a plate of chocolate chip cookies. “Here you go kids, one each.” She said with a smile. Then she noticed that Mace was holding a bouquet. Katelyn raised an eyebrow questioningly and Mace stumbled over his words explaining who they were for and why he had come to call. And he was right. Opal would need some support right about now. Katelyn looked to see that Finter was preoccupied and nodded to Mace. “Yeah. Let’s get out of here before Finter finds something else to add to this outfit. I’ve been meaning to find Opal anyway. I have something for her too.”

***
The trip to the atrium took less time than she expected, but that could have been because she was occupied with the children that were with them. Kids were the same everywhere, she decided. She could see these four puttering around a swimming hole in eleven or sitting contentedly under an old oak tree with a bowl full of blueberries. Her heart caught in her throat when she realized that one day they’d be reaping age too, but she hoped that fate wasn’t that cruel. They deserved to be children. They arrived and Mace quickly declared that Opal deserved more than just the flowers to which Katelyn found herself at a loss for words. What could she really add to that?

She took a moment to examine their surroundings and breathe in the scents of the atrium. The plants smelled real enough but the way they were arranged still seemed manufactured the area too sterile. Not like the gardens back home. “I, uh…here.” She said, handing over a bowl of strawberry tarts out to Opal. “I’m glad they stood together, even if it was only for a little while.” Mace then proceeded to tell them the little group that they should take a walk, and though Katelyn had to wonder what destination he had in mind, she took a step towards the doorway, fidgeting with her empty hands and debating what to say to avoid an awkward silence as she looked at the other two victors.

“He’s proud of you, you know.” She said after a moment, tilting her head towards the other girl. “He not good at saying what he means, but that's what he meant. Isn’t that right?” she finished with a glance at Mace, thinking of the quiet conversations they’d had in the dining hall over the last few years.

"When you’ve lost your way, when you have no words,
we are your strength, when you don’t have anymore. "

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Last Edit: Dec 23, 2015 15:57:24 GMT -5 by charade

16 Jul 12, 23:43
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You Can Stand Under My Umbrella // [Matepal + Kieran] Dec 23, 2015 21:59:51 GMT -5

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Post by cass on Dec 23, 2015 21:59:51 GMT -5

OPAL

He'd asked to meet in the Atrium, one of the two only plant filled places in the entire training centre. It was one of her favourite places to go. Her first favourite was the rooftop of the entire building, and before she left this year she would head up there, for the first time in four years, the first time since Potato had proposed to her. Finally, she was strong enough to take that step forwards that she had been dreading for the last four years, it had become safe to stay where she was, never moving, wallowing in her own self-pity and agony of all the wrong in this world. It was crazy what a few weeks of care and kindness could do to you, what facing reality was capable of doing. Mace had been the starting point, taking her to the Arena, Katelyn had fuelled her motivation, by forcing her to think about the consequences of every choice she had made these past years. Benson Tiero had made her realise, and finally accept what she had been unwilling to see. He'd made her see the part of her that was a monster, and one of those vile things that made the best victors who they were. She'd been able to accept it, and the sting of knowing she was happy the way she was, and would do all those evils again was fading.

Ky rested on her hip, but as she came to a stand-still before the trees and the plants he began to wiggle in her grasp. He was so close to turning for years old, a few weeks away now. Smiling she put him down on the ground, his little legs propelled him forwards as he dashed to the nearest plants, small fingers clutching the leaves with a gentleness that had surprised her at first. Yes, before she left, she'd go up there, and show Ky that special place of hers, show him the plants, and tell him the spot that his father had proposed to her. The young boy was already asking questions, it was hardest when they went for a walk in the district or the Capitol streets, and he'd see children with a mother and a father. The questions had been innocent at first, a curious, childish enquiry as to why there was a man and a lady with that kid. It had become harder, when he'd begun visiting Mace, and spending time with those younger children, he'd return to her and ask 'where is my daddy'? So far she'd evaded answering, her throat constricting, refusing the answer of its own accord.

Thankfully, he was still so young, and it was easy to distract him, by occupying his attention with something else just as interesting. She might have accepted who she was, she might finally have taken a step forwards and begun to move on after Potato, but she wasn't ready to tell his son that he was dead. She could crush her own heart a million times over, but not his, at least, not yet.

It was the shrill screaming of her sons name that had her spinning around, a grin slipping onto her face as she brushed aside those morbid thoughts. Not tonight, the newest victor had just been crowned, and for the sixth year in a row she would be returning to her district empty handed. Mace stepped towards her, a bundle of flowers in his hands, reaching forwards, she accepted them, her grin dropping at his next words, the hollow ache to her chest deepening. She could still see Septys' face, each wound on his body as he had fallen, she could still hear that canon going off, and her heart tendering in her chest as her head accepted what had just happened. Her heart would not stand for it, not until she was standing by his grave and looking at his parents faces, telling them things she hadn't know about him, just to ease their own suffering. She'd tell them she had tried her best, when she knew she hadn't, if only to make sure they didn't think of her wrongly.

But Katelyn had pushed her, and even though, she had lost this one, she would try her best in the 72nd. If only, to begin making amends for her poor performances. Pushing past that she gazed down at the flowers, "thank you, Mace, they're beautiful." And they were, they were stunning flowers, she'd show Ky how to plant them, to preserve them and make them whole again. Turning towards Katelyn, her jaw slipped open, in surprise as the younger victor handed open a plate of Strawberry tarts. Her surprise quickly morphed into a fond smile. "You remembered," she laughed, grasping the tarts in her free hand.

Following by their sides, she watched Ky proceed to show Coralee, a bunch of different flowers, pointing to them ,and clumsily pronouncing their names. Shifting her gaze to Katelyn she nodded, "I'm proud of him as well. Maybe for different reasons, but proud nonetheless." She fixed her gaze on his small back, the smile on her lips, meant solely for him. "District one may have suffered a loss-" she swept her arm out wide, before hooking it around Katelyn's shoulder. "but Kate! Look at you! Congratulations." She gave the girl a warm smile, knowing how hard the district eleven victor had worked. "You've done so well, I'm proud of you, Katelyn."

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You Can Stand Under My Umbrella // [Matepal + Kieran] Jan 2, 2016 14:11:48 GMT -5

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Post by gamemaker 💀 hades lochlan on Jan 2, 2016 14:11:48 GMT -5

. KIERAN .
fall head first like
paper planes and playground games

I was soon to turn eleven.

One more games, and I would be treated as an equal to all the other children in Panem. Like them, my life may have been stolen from me before I ever had the chance to live it. Like them, I might have had to fight for survival on national television.

I almost thought it would have been funny that after a lifetime of appearing in magazine articles entitled "ELDEST EMBERSTATT BOY: THEN AND NOW," or "KIERAN EMBERSTATT: FORCED TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF ARANICA'S DECLINING HEALTH?" and I knew most of what they wrote wasn't true. I had moved in with my father, but not because my mother was sick. And if I were in the games, I wondered how much of those would be real, how much would be fake.

Dad and I had bonded more than I could have ever hoped for since I moved in with him. It was like I had always been there with him, like I hadn't ever lived elsewhere and been forced to only see him a few times a year, when the Capitol declared it necessary.

Before, I had only ever realized the small things I had inherited from him: blue eyes, big ears, a long face... But I had realized (mostly because Saffron enjoyed pointing it out,) that my social awkwardness had come from him, the cold hands, the quiet laugh. So many things I would have never known had I not pitched a fit to go and live with him.

In my little pre-pubescent mind, that told me the best way to achieve my goals was to pout and kick and scream until I got what I wanted.

Not really an area of pride after I had grown up a bit.

Dad had come and found me that day.

"Want to go on an adventure?"

I suppose I had gotten my hopes up a little to high, but the adventure did not include a huge journey, or glory won from battles, or even a wise old man to help us on our way. We ended up in the atrium which was...

I huffed through my nose: quietly, of course.

Katelyn was one of the newer victors but she and Dad got along pretty well. Probably because they were both from lower districts and neither of them had gone crazy after their games. Anyone who Dad liked, I liked, so I ran up beside her as she addressed Opal, a victor from a games I was too young to remember, but a girl who was extremely beautiful regardless. She was a mentor. Like Dad and Saffron and Katelyn and Uncle Arbor. And apparently, these games had not been beneficial for her.

(I wouldn't have known. They didn't really like for me to watch the games at Dad's house.)

"He’s proud of you, you know. He's not good at saying what he means, but that's what he meant. Isn’t that right?" Katelyn said, looking over at Dad. I took her hand in mine. I liked people like her, like my Mom, who were okay with speaking for people like Dad, like me, because they knew we weren't any good at speaking.

I remembered looking over at Dad just as he began to speak my name. I thought for a second I might have been in trouble, possibly for holding Katelyn's hand without permission. So I let it go quickly. "Let's all take a walk." he chimed.

"Yes, sir." I chimed wistfully.