thecapitol | Thicker Than Blood Start

Thicker Than Blood Start

For Tributes with keen eyes, they'll notice that Peacekeeper presence seems increased and yet infinitely more ineffective in the last few weeks. Peacekeepers seem harried, as do the Stylists, and most of the Escorts titter and plot without alerting the Tributes as to what, exactly, is so exciting. They simply say that this weekend they'll know.

And so it happens that on the weekend in question, the Tributes are woken by their Escorts early and brought to a restaurant for a hearty breakfast. The restaurant is nothing spectacular, although they seem to be trying to make an impression on the television cameras that float around. The sleepy, cranky meal goes by and then the Tributes are led back to their Suites for a mandatory meeting.

Sitting on couches and the floor, in chairs and on windowsills, standing off to the side - people from the Tributes' homes are waiting to greet them in each District Suite. Some are confused, some accepting, some frightened and some elated to see their beloved. Either way, it should be an eventful reunion.

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Grain. Could be worse. At least her girl was backing a winning team.

Not that being snatched away from home was really pleasant.

But it could be worse.

She sprawled gracefully back on one of the chaise loungers, keeping herself very aware of the image she made. Sexy, a little lazy, and calm.

In reality, she was observing everything. Just in case.

Harley had been led around by her nose all day and frankly was getting fed up with it. She was a victor now! A mentor! Shouldn't she be getting all the cool behind the scenes secrets that Eva knew? Shouldn't she have had a crowning party yet!?

But all those protests were blown away as she came into the common area of the District Nine suite and saw a familiar pile of lush red hair resting so perfectly upon a green head.

"Ivy..." She whispered in shock before squealing at ear splitting levels drawing all the eyes onto her.

"IVY!!!" She shot from the entrance like a rocket arms open wide throwing herself at her long lost friend.

With an indulgent grin, Ivy held her arms open to accept the ball of energy that was Harley. It felt good to have that familiar presences snug against her.

Even though to her it seemed she had seen the blond yesterday, it didn't take many clues to see this wasn't true for Harley. And that worried her.

"What trouble are you getting into?"

Harley squeezed like she was afraid that even the slightest bit of loosening her grip would result in Ivy being ripped away from her again.

"Oh you know, the usual. Stung by hallucinogenic bees, chased by raptors for hours, poisoned more then once, fighting next to Bruce Wayne and his adopted kids till they were all horribly murdered." She rattled off rubbing cheek to cheek with Ivy.

"Now I'm a mentor! People respect me and stuff! I don't know why." She laughed and despite herself felt tears welling up in her eyes. For a moment she felt like she was flying, only to be dragged back down by the weight in her stomach knowing that this was the opportunity she had to apologize for her mistakes back home.

"Sounds like you're doing good for yourself here."

That was a bit of bitterness. Not at Harley, but at the fact that this was something Ivy would be leaving. That she really had nothing to do with. This was Harley's adventure.

And wouldn't she love to be on it.

Harley caught onto the bitterness but wasn't sure why. So she decided clearly what her friend needed was cheering up.

"Well yeah, things have really been coming around for me. I haven't even thought about...you-know-who in months!"

A lie, a clear and bald faced lie. But Ivy might appreciate it. In the meantime Harley was dragging her friend towards a door that had a wooden sign on it with three black diamonds on it. Harley's logo.

"And now that you're here with me everything is perfect!" She declared throwing open the door to reveal the jungle she had transformed her room into.

The carpet was still red, and there were obvious signs of Harley everywhere. A box of cereal, a mountain of plush toys, various gossip rags and toys all over the place.

But the biggest eyecatch was plants. Plants all along her walls. Ferns and small trees and flowers. Not as healthy as they would be under Ivy's care of course, but given what she had to work with Harley (And the Avox servants) were doing wonders with the space.

"Well, that's good." She said in her drawl, content to follow Harley out of the now crowded room.

It wasn't that she entirely believed her, but at least if she was claiming it, than she was doing better than nothing. Maybe this place would end up good for her.

"Oh, such pretty babies!" She cooed, going to run her fingers over the leaves. Really, all things considered, Harley was doing a wonderful job.

And she didn't notice any clown paraphernalia around here.

A few dolls, but nothing resembling the Joker, also some Shirts with her face on them posters and things.

"It's just...I been thinking about you alot since I was brought here. I kinda screwed up big time and made you really mad...and I never got the chance to say I was sorry. So some guy, a mentor here named Maximus, big beefy guy. He suggested that I keep some plants of my own to honor ya!" She blushed hotter and grinned hopefully. Ivy wasn't as sappy as Harley was unless it came to plants.

"Harl..."

She paused to consider her words. It wasn't that she thought Harley was simple, quite the opposite. She had seen too much in her life, it had been too harsh, and Ivy wanted to shield that away.

"Thank you for the honor." She finally settled on, reaching to tuck a stray blond hair behind Harley's ear.

Harley's cheeks went from pink to rosy and her smile was almost blinding. The deep sparkling blue eyes welled up with tears and she wrapped her arms around Ivy once more in a desperate hug.

"I missed you so much." She whimpered pathetically like the needy little puppy she was. "Don't you ever think that I don't love you! Promise!"

The l word came out suddenly but Harley sounded deadly serious about it. This was after all the guilt that had been haunting her for months.

Ivy caught the hug. She had been here before, and the anger she felt was, for now, on the back burner. Harley needed her now.

Squeezing her tightly, she held her close.

"I won't. I promise."

She let the hug linger as her heart rate slowed and as carefully as she could she wiped away a tear hoping Ivy wouldn't press her and that she wouldn't have to confess the worst of her deeds right away.

After she had calmed down she drew back to meet eye to eye and grin brightly "It's so great that you're finally here! It's gonna be horrible sometimes, but if you can find the fun in it you're gonna love it! People will kiss your butt for being who you are! And you can be a total jerk to them and they just eat it up most of the time."

"And you'll get to meet all my friends, and the people who hate me, and I'll introduce you to the gardening supply company who hired me to sell their stuff!"

This was going to be the start of something wonderful. A whole new chapter in her time here at The Capitol.

"Hired you to sell their stuff, hmm?"

She was fine letting the moment go, and exploring this energy bursting through Harley now. This place sounded, if nothing else, interesting.

"So what is this all about then?"

"Oh it's pretty crazy." Harley responded matter-of-factly. She threw herself backward onto an over sized bed and sank into it. "See they kidnap people from other worlds, and force them into arenas to fight to the death on reality TV. It sounds like something that would happen back home right?" She chuckled "The arenas last for weeks until there's only one tribute left. And no powers unless the arena allows it." She pouted "That's made things a little harder for me. I couldn't rely on your special chemical cocktail boosters to keep me from croaking a few times. Oh yeah that's another thing! If they like you enough when you die they'll bring you back to life. If you're boring through or they just don't like you...well that's why everyone else from our world isn't around anymore."

Counting on her fingers she made it sound more light hearted, but Ivy would hear the slight waver in her voice that indicated how fond she was of the people she was listing.

"There was Bruce Wayne, and his adopted kids. Commissioner Gordon's daughter, Wonder Woman, and even Eddie was here for one arena! All gone now though."

"Well, at least it sounds like they've got good taste."

She laughed, shaking her head full of red hair as she went to sink down next to Harley.

"I suppose Wonder Woman could stay. So I take it that means I am null here?"

She looked at her hand, as if she could see the lack of toxins. And interesting idea, not being toxic. One she hadn't thought about in a long time.

"Pretty much yeah." Harley sighed and draped herself over Ivy affectionately reaching up to trace her fingers over Ivy's cheek like she couldn't believe the green skinned object of her affection was still really here.

"There was another green gal who used her pheromones the way you do, but hers didn't work until she was in the arena. And even then it only works sometimes I think. It gets a little hinky when it comes to biological issues. Like, I think you'll have a leg up on the competition because you can go a really long time on just sunlight and clean water...clean water which I can send you using my mentor powers." she grinned cheekily.

She leaned into the touch with a content sigh. Although it hadn't really been a long time since she'd seen Harley, in her mind, Harlye was radiating off a sense of loss big enough for the both of them.

"Like me?" She arched a brow. Wasn't that intresting?

"Totally." Harley offered a bemused smile "She's from a planet of green skinned plant women who use pheromones to manipulate men. If I didn't know better I'd say we found your long lost family."

Turning her head inward she nuzzled into Ivy's shoulder. "I never saw her do it in person mind ya. But I guess she did it in the arena to make boys bring her things."

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Thicker Than Blood Start

Ivy for Harley

<3

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Re: <3

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