Around the World and Back // Kay
May 5, 2016 18:38:09 GMT -5
Post by charade on May 5, 2016 18:38:09 GMT -5
KATELYN PERSIMMON
This was not what she wanted to be doing.
She should have been out there, delivering aid and keeping an eye on the people from eleven that had come to help.
Instead, she was at the benefit party, faking smiles to the elite in the room around her, many of whom appeared to be trying and failing to emulate the people in the Capitol. Dolled up in a way that befitted a victor. The pale green dress and the light brown heels were supposed to be a nod to her districts industry. The makeup and the plaited hair were another thing entirely. It didn’t bother her like it used to. There were some battles that weren’t worth the energy it would take to fight them. And there were other people in the room to worry about.
At least the mayor seemed like he actually gave a damn.
Fabian Perch. It was a name that rolled off of the tongue before coming to a sudden stop. He looked to be in his early fifties maybe; Katelyn had never been good with ages, but despite the growing wrinkles, he had a sort of youthfulness around him. He was built like a career, which wasn’t surprising as most adults in the career districts had trained in the younger days. She listened to his speech about the plight of district four and detected a note of earnestness in his words. The flourish of his hand movements were like the waves that had come crashing down, but his eyes seemed so very, very tired.
She sighed to herself before refilling her glass with cranberry juice. Along with their mayor, Katelyn and the boys were about the only celebrities in district eleven. Which meant that at events like this, people were guaranteed to talk to them. At least Harbinger had managed to get himself assigned to one of the rescue parties quickly. She had wanted to oversee food distribution but hadn’t been asked so much as told to go the benefit, and in the wake of Iain’s death, she agreed. But for her own reasons. She drank and waited. Sooner or later, the mayor was going to talk to her; not for the first time, not when he had welcomed her to his district three years in a row on the tours, but the difference was that this time he was asking for help instead of catering to the victors from eleven.
Not that he had done much more than welcome them every time; his countenance seemed strained. But for that she couldn’t blame him. Not only did district four have but a single victor in the past couple decades, but last year, when they had been doing well, Harbinger had killed both of their tributes. Who could fault him for distancing himself from victors and their ilk? Her eyes drifted around the room until they settled on a blond girl that was staring at her with purpose. She was used to those kinds of looks and they didn’t bother her. Try staring down a pack of sabretooth tigers or the tribute that killed two of the closest things you had to friends. Squealing fans and people that were pissed about her district’s repeated wins didn’t even register on her radar.
Still, she gave the girl the once over. Bleached hair. Blue eyes that held little warmth, but bespoke of intelligence. A dress that didn’t fit correctly. The acne told Katelyn that this girl was still young, probably reaping age. She supposed the makeup was supposed to make her look older, but she didn’t carry herself like a woman. More like the idea of one. Katelyn had to wonder why this teenager was important enough to be at the benefit, or who she was related to. Maybe even a little intrigued. Not that she was looking for conversation.
Somehow though, she knew it would find her.
Some things in life were inevitable.
"When you’ve lost your way, when you have no words,
we are your strength, when you don’t have anymore. "
table coding (c) ghosty
