thecapitol | Living inside the shell

Entry tags:

Living inside the shell

Who| Mindy, open
What| The victor returns to the Capitol.
Where| Various Places
When| After being patched up
Warnings/Notes| Mindy, so foul language and descriptions of violence.

After the last few weeks, it was a breath of fresh air to be back in the Capitol. It was not something she would have easily admitted to herself, but at least here there was a sense of ease, knowing that she didn't have to be watching her back for death.

Mostly.

It was strange too. She almost felt alien, coming back here with the win. Death had at least made her an equal: now she was an object, to be striven for or hated or stared at or asked questions to. The crowing would come soon enough, she knew that, and what a pain that would be. Words to say,things to plan, and really, all she wanted was to make sure all her friends were all right. certain ones would hare her now, of course, but that was expected. She had, after all, let the games' nature affect her.

She was more than happy to be restored though: all the bleeding and the aching had taken a toll on her, and she was ready for aching she at least only inflicted on herself. There were several ways of going through with this.

1. The Training room. It was always Mindy's "go to" place, and even now there was no reason not to go. She was aware of the stares and the whispers, but she ignored these: after all, she'd come here last time after her defeat, why should her victory be any different? Mindy is hard at work on the treadmill, looking to see if she can increase her speed. There was a lot to think about, and this was the perfect way to NOT have to do that right now. Cut everyone out, hear some mindless music, run like the wind. Easy.

2. Eventually though, there's a place she needed to go: over to District 12, at the top tower to see Sandy. She hated, more than anything, to apologize or even explain herself unnecessarily but in this case it was needed. Sandy wasn't just some girl to her: she was one of the first friends she made, and after what she'd done, she needed to at least talk to her about it. The girl might not listen or care, but Mindy still needed to explain herself. She might run into anyone in District 12 though.

3. In her own tower, she made the unwise choice of attempting to sleep. After that, she thought a mushroom trip might have been more peaceful. Now she just had visions of the worse things in the Arena: beheading, throat slitting, bombs going off, and all of the dead looking at her as if she were the cause. It was pretty gory, and Mindy had awoken wide eyed and breathing hard. So anyone in the Tribute tower, especially in her District, can see the girl sitting in the room now, oversized shirt on, watching a replay of the games, almost glassy eyed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Harley felt her insides get twisted at the thought and lamented the lose of her puddin's beautiful face.

Still Mindy's excitement over the car crusher made Harley grin wickedly. "I bet! Don'tcha love how big tough guys get this high pitched cry when you break a bone really badly?"

"Oh dude, it is perfect, you have no idea. Broken bones, please, I go for limbs. Really knows how to get them to get the fuck away from you."

"Well yeah of course. Plus if you REALLY break a leg or an arm good enough it'll never totally heal. They'll have to find a nice peaceful easy job...that is if you let them live later." A cackle.

"But if we're gonna work together you gotta have a psychotic laugh." Because who cares what time of night it is?

"Yeah, trust me, I know. That's what they got for making bad life decisions."

Hell, she already knew what it was like to lose, doing what she did.

"I have a plenty psychotic laugh," she said. "You'll hear it if I ever kill someone I don't like."

Harley licked her lips in anticipation "OK, let's take that snobby mentor you hate, you know whats her name? Sunshine? How would you kill her and how would you laugh while you did it?"

Mindy made a face. "Oh, that bitch Azula. I'd take off broke her legs and have her hobble around the Capitol. She should know what its like to be in the have nots in that place."

Harley's laughter was delighted and cheerful despite the situation. "Maybe make her wear rags too. She always acts really high and mighty if you ask me. She could stand to be taken down some pegs. I mean really is she so great? Nah!"

Mindy nodded. "Yeah, no kidding. Now if you want to really bother her though, you would have gotten to Diana. I'm glad I'm not THAT kind of person."

Harley looked curious and then thoughtful "Diana...Diana...oh! That girl she was hiding out with in the jungle arena? Looked like she was detoxing or something and that dark haired girl was looking after her. Seemed kinda sweet really. If I remember, Azula threw herself on a bomb to save Diana."

Harley had actually gotten to enjoy that little show while hiding out in the bunker near where she had been camped out in the arena.

"I wish someone had thrown a bomb at her," Mindy muttered. "Sorry, having a problem thinking that stone cold bitch has any feelings after she set a trap to tear off my leg and tried to off me, then left me to die after I took her eye."

"Aw what a cry baby." Harley snickered. "All you did was take her eye. She could have at least stayed to finish you off."

Shaking her head she continued to giggle.

"All I'm sayin' is how I know who Diana is. She made sure the mentor-who-shall-not-be-named got through some detox, and the mentor died for her. Is that why ya went after her in the final round?"

"Better that she didn't. I would have probably gotten into shock after that. Losing your eye is pretty fucking painful though."

Mindy shook her head. "She was one of the last ones. Far as I knew, she still had to be taken out, right?"

"So call it a mercy kill." Harley joked twirling her ponytail around her fingers.

"Now you get to put that all behind you and focus on making the rest of us stronger. Especially the ones you like."

"It's not one I thought too much, only because I've killed people I know and felt worse."

She rolled her head back. "Oh come on Harley. You know how I'll be when this is all over."

She chuckled, "Repressing all your emotions and pretending you're stronger then you really are...which is impressive considering how strong you are. Also fighting off darker thoughts and impulses as you try to live up to your morally grey views of life?"

A pause and she added.

"Also snarky and sort of bratty."

Was Mindy just READ?

"Ok, bratty, seriously? I happen to be a pretty thorough and upfront. I wouldn't call it bratty. Anyway, yeah, so I stop crying in the corner and deal with shit. So what? Plenty of the people here do that, right?"

Harley smirked and reached over to stroke Mindy's cheek.

"You are by far one of the most grown up and mature kids I've ever met. And I've fought with multiple Robins. You would totally whup their butts. In fact if I was still a criminal you'd probably whup me too. And I might like it."

Mindy snickered. "Well, yeah, the Robins were too nice except for Todd. He wanted to get shit done. But if I were facing you? I'dd probably have to go after you guys hardcore. Joker wasn't playing around."

She wrinkled her nose. "Dude, I don't know about that. You saw me, I'm pretty brutal."

"Todd?" Harley tilted her head "Since when are you on a first name basis with them?"

Still she rolled along without concern. "Don't underestimate my tolerance for a butt whupping. I've already gotten over the whole fear of death thing mostly. And torture for me is foreplay."

"Don't read too much into that. Still just comic book characters to me unless I actually meet them."

Mindy snorted. "Yeah, trust me, I know that about you. I wonder if the capitol knows that too?"

"Probably." Harley sighed and leaned back into the sofa dragging Mindy into her so they were half laying down getting more comfy.

"It's not like I've held anything back about who I am." She lied. "I've put it all out in the front because I wanna make the best connection I can with the people."

Though truthfully, there was a deviousness to her that she'd yet to find use for. Perhaps soon though she would be able to act more subtly.

Mindy was not quite so used to getting manhandled, but she was feeling pretty apathetic now, so it was unlikely she was going to put up much of a fight.

"That is such bullshit. I've seem what you can do. You know, I think you may be into the games more than you say. It's one of the few places where you can really go buck wild and lose it. So you might be holding back."

Mindy knew her Harley. This was maybe 80% of what Harley was capable of.

"Shhh, no spoilers." She giggled. "Most people would get offended when you claim what they're saying is bull you know?" Mussing up Mindy's hair "I'll forgive you because you're bummed out."

"Oh come on Harley. I've seen you do some amazing stuff. I guess I should just ask you anyway: do you want to stop doing the Arena one day?"

Of course she overstepped her bounds. That was what Mindy did.

She looked thoughtful.

"Hmm...I suppose someday, probably. No more violent fun but it would make people happy wouldn't it? Like the district and the other mentors?

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