Duchess Grant // District Two

Duchess defines herself and is defined by her looks. Even as a little girl she called attention to herself, putting bows and ribbons in her hair, dancing in the park, screaming when nothing else worked. Pre-adolescence, most people complimented her flowing blonde hair, which wasn't cut at all until she turned four years old. By then, it trailed along her ankles. Even now, she keep it at her mid to low back, spinning the ends to create the illusion of curls. Adults may have also complimented her sea blue eyes or cherubic smile.

But with the onset of puberty, they began to notice something else entirely. Duchess came into a body generations in the making. A full chest, curved hips, and a tight waist made her look years above those in her grade. She worked for the rest of it. Those lean, muscular arms, toned legs - those are not so natural as her curves. Instead, they come from a daily routine of running, lifting, and remaining ever active.

Duchess artificially dyes her skin, although she spends quite a bit of time out in the sunshine. She keeps it golden, flawless. And if it was her head and face people loved before, they are now forgotten. Oh yes, she has heard the cruel "butter face" comment, and while she's not strictly ugly, there is certainly less to like about her visage now. A short tight nose, pointed chin, small eyes. She has all the right coloring and none of the right structure. So she puts the emphasis elsewhere - on that bodacious body.

When it's warm enough, and sometimes even when it's not, you can find Duchess in the skimpiest outfits imaginable. Bikini tops and frayed shorts, scarves wrapped around her breasts and saris around her hips. She's been sent home countless times to change into something more appropriate, but usually it's the person sending her home whose gaze follows her the longest.

[Claiming my Blake Lively reservation]

Duchess has a singular goal in life: to live on in the hearts and minds of all of Panem. To be popular in District Two is simply not good enough, and this is apparent in all that she does. Dutch barely tolerates school, disdaining most of the subjects in favor of those few which would help her in the games. This thinking follows through when it comes to her classmates. She is not overly popular; Duchess doesn't drink and therefore doesn't often party, not willing to let the alcohol bloat her figure. She is picky, though, with only a small group of friends. Those who can tolerate her arrogance.

And she is arrogant, make no mistake about it. But she is also charismatic, the sort of person to walk into a room and fill it with her laughter, her anger, her personality. There is never any mistaking Duchess' moods; she is as open as any book. Using that to one's advantage, though, is tricky. She has no love of the petty social politics of her peers; Dutch has higher aims. So while the gossip mill might try to twist and define her, Duchess brushes it off because it is, actually beneath her. In this way she make a rather good leader, and her school social group consists mostly of outcasts, which suits her just fine.

Really the only thing you need to know about Duchess is that her passion is tied up in the games. She is desperate to become a Tribute, to make her family proud. She envies those who had chosen, watches the games religiously. In fact it has become a religion to her. In way, she prays to become a tribute, to make herself worthy before the President and Panem. And this fervor is not to be taken lightly. Anyone who insults the games, or worse talks of rebellion, is sure to be hated by Duchess. She may not be the most intimidating figure in District Two, but neither is she a weakling.

Duchess was born to Ardent Grant and his young beautiful wife, Geneva. While the Grant family had made a name for themselves over generations of mining granite for the Capitol, Geneva's family was among the poorest of the district. But she had the looks, and that was all Ardent needed. Besides mining stone, the Grants also took great pride in the fact that they had, over the decades, contributed two tributes to the Hunger Games. Neither won, but it is a badge of honor among them.

As is beauty. Even though Geneva did not offer social prospects, she was welcomed into the Grant clan because of her flowing blonde hair and wicked eyes. The birth of their daughter delighted the sprawling Grant family. As soon as she could walk, she entered the family's training camp with her myriad of cousins. The grounds for it were hollowed out of one of the old Grant quarries.

From this beginning, Duchess has always been involved in the games. It was quickly apparent that her looks would be her greatest asset, the Capitol's thirst her best ally. With over a decade of practice, Duchess is not half bad at combat, but she loses consistently to her cousins, even now that she is among the oldest training.

As a Career, her days consistent of running or weight lifting at 5 a.m., school, and then several hours of practice in the evenings. No one asks if she completes her homework because no one cares. As long as she can hang a dummy, spear a goat and wield her pick with prowess. That is the Grant weapon, the mining pick. It is not glamorous, but when swung through someone's skull, it is effective.

In the late evenings, Duchess practices another thing entirely - her life as a Victor. Though it is now unlikely she will ever be chosen, with only two games left, the illusion will not leave her. She makes sure to put in a brief appearance at all public, adult events, and courts patrons. Those beautiful dresses she wears to the Reapings? They are gifts, not from her family, but from the wealthiest of District Two, playing at sponsoring her. Duchess loves their attention, no matter how old, or toothless, or handsy. She craves it, flirts mercilessly, and while she thinks of herself as the hand that guides, she is no more than a pawn to her patrons, to her family, to all of Panem. What more could a Career ask for?

Thank you for reviewing my app for Duchess <33