OPEN Valentine's Day Plot

[thebiddingbaron]

WHO | Everyone
WHAT | Baron sends Valentine's Day gifts to Tribute Tower.
WHEN | Valentine's Day!
WHERE | Tribute Tower
WARNINGS / NOTES | Warnings for drug use and all of the things that go with that. Possibly also sexual themes. The OOC post for this is here.




On the morning of February 14th when the Tributes come down for breakfast they're greeted by an impressive holiday themed spread. Pink and red baked goods, chocolates shaped like hearts, beautiful red and pink flowers, adorable stuffed animals all line the table.

On the table is also a sign in cursive that reads:

To our beloved Tributes, Victors, Mentors, Escorts and Stylists. Enjoy your holiday. -- Bartlett Industries

Most of the sweets are completely harmless, but if the Tributes taste the chocolate covered cherries or caramels they find themselves suddenly acting very strangely...

Comments

[itswhoyouare]

"Who is Moreau? I don't understand." She chews her lip and raises a hand to cup the side of his face gently.

[retrieverchef]

He closes his eyes, not wanting to see her reaction. "The man I worked for after I left the military," he said quietly. "He... I was his best opperative for several years. People who opposed him didn't fair well and often their families died with them. He wanted me to be his second in command."

[itswhoyouare]

That wasn't what she expected to hear, and she goes still for a moment while her brain wraps around the new information. It registers that he was a hitter and this Moreau guy must have been some sort of drug or arms dealer. Or he was a human trafficker. Her inner detective wants to recoil in anger and disgust, but the rest of her can't bring herself to hate him. Eliot is obviously haunted by his actions and she believes there's a story to explain how he ended up going from the army to the criminal underworld.

What he needs isn't a slap or lecture. Eliot's not a cold-blooded sociopath, and he's clearly been trying to do good with his team. Words honestly aren't Anna's thing; she screws it up more often than not, actually. So she does the only thing she can think of.

Propping up on her tiptoes, she cups Eliot's face in both hands and kisses him gently. It's a kiss that says everything she can't find the words for; she doesn't think less of him, if he can't forgive himself she can until he's able to, that it's going to be okay, that she just wants to heal his heart and take that pain away.

[retrieverchef]

Eliot freezes, opening his eyes as she kissed him. His head dropped to her shoulder as he wept uncharacteristically. "I'm so sorry, Anna," he whispers. "I shoulda left him sooner. So much sooner."

[itswhoyouare]

Seeing Eliot break is far too much to handle around prying eyes, so she hits the emergency stop button to pause their elevator ride for now. She lets the basket drop to the floor and she wraps him up in a tight hug, voice cracking as she speaks into his hair.

"It's okay, it's okay. It's over and done, you're doin' the right thing now."

[retrieverchef]

"I hated it," he murmurs. "The whole time, I hated it."

[itswhoyouare]

"I know you did. You made the right choice in the end, that's what matters." She presses a kiss to his hair and says softly, honestly, "None of that will ever make me love you less."

[retrieverchef]

He holds her tightly. "It wasn't soon enough, though."

[itswhoyouare]

"If you keep sayin' things like that, you'll never move past it. It's done and you can't change that. What y'can change is what you do next."

[retrieverchef]

"Already did that. Can't bring them back to life, though."

[itswhoyouare]

She tilts his chin up to look at him, free hand softly brushing hair out of his face. Anna gazes intently into his eyes, "Then you let it go and start to forgive yourself. And remember that you never want to be that man again."

[retrieverchef]

"I... don't know if I can, Anna," he whispers. "I won't go back to it but..." He shudders.

[itswhoyouare]

"It doesn't happen overnight, but I know in time you can. For now, accept that I'll forgive you until you can forgive yourself." She swipes her thumb across his cheek lightly, giving him a soft kiss before turning off the elevator's emergency stop.

[retrieverchef]

He nods, holding her closely. "You're pretty amazing," he whispers.

[itswhoyouare]

Her cheeks flush pink with color at his words and she ducks her head, averting her gaze to the floor as she shrugs. "I'm nothin' extraordinary."

[retrieverchef]

"Yeah, ya are," he whispers in her ear. "Most people would rather see people like me behind bars for life. Or dead. You're special."

[itswhoyouare]

The elevator stops on the fourth floor, doors opening to the District Four suites and she takes Eliot's hand, guiding him inside to her bedroom and shutting the door quickly.

She remains between him and the door, leaning back as if it'll keep the door shut and smiles. "Uh, so... what now?" Yep, she's kinda awkwardly adorable.

[retrieverchef]

He looks oddly shy and a bit nervous. "I... guess that's up to you. Was there somethin' particular ya wanted to do?"

[itswhoyouare]

Anna shrugs, feeling like a teenage girl all over again and plays with a piece of her hair nervously. She's good at fighting, working, and bantering, but when it comes to anything else she's a bit of an awkward turte.

"I don't think I really had anythin' in mind? I just liked the idea of havin' you to myself for a while."

[retrieverchef]

He smiles, hugging her. "That sounds good. Don't really have to do anythin'."