thecapitol | Open!

Entry tags:

Open!

Who| China Sorrows and you!
What| Sprucing up the library and making visits
Where| Her library, the DC visiting room
When| Right after the D8 and D9 breakouts
Warnings/Notes| None now. Will update as needed

[Library]

It’s dead quiet at always in the library, save for the sounds of very occasional rustling pages.

To celebrate their victories, China’s methodically bringing all the books on District 1, 7, and 8 up to the front shelves. She’s nothing if not a good little patriot, something that she hopes will be noticed by the Capitol and not by anyone harboring sympathies for the other side. Hope is free, so why not hope for the best of both worlds?

Personally, though, she’s not feeling entirely optimistic. If the Capitol has to start teetering—if not yet crashing down as all things do—she wishes it would wait until after her lifetime. Provided, of course, that such a wish doesn’t merely hasten the end of said lifetime.

She plucks another book from the cart, taking a full minute to consider it and then the shelf. Once she’s determined its perfect location, she eases it in. The cart is perfectly full—plainly she’s going to be at this a while.

She doesn’t turn when she hears someone enter. “Welcome.”

[Detention Center]

China’s been working her way down the list of tributes for visits, regardless of who they are or if they’ve even met before. If her request is granted, she’ll seat herself across from them, brilliant smile on her face even as she wrinkles her nose at their surroundings. With hardly any preamble, she slides a long list across the table.

“Please have a look, if you would. Tell me what strikes your fancy, and if I have enough takers, I’ll see if I can bring you in a little something. You must be terribly bored here.”

The list is filled with titles and authors—books from her collection. The books have titles such as President Snow’s (Glorious) Life and (Brilliant) Times and Life Before the Capitol?! (the latter in towering Chiller typeface, of course). However, there may be some slightly more interesting titles (The Varied Flora and Fauna of Our Districts, 20 Ballroom Dance Steps You Simply Must Learn, and so on) if someone really looks.

“I’m sure you can find some useful if you’re enterprising enough.” She lets that phrase hang in the air, hoping that they’ll read into it.

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Harleen Quinzel, former mentor of District Nine. Former Rebel for District 13.

Prisoner.

When she's brought into the room it's clear she's been worked over quite a bit. Her face is forced into a timid an meek smile while her eyes look watery and ready to burst into tears at a moments notice. There is still some bruising around her scalp from various needles and electrodes that had been affixed to her as the Capitol put their best monsters on the task of breaking someone who was already clinically insane to begin with.

It had worked. Harley Quinn was gone and only the shadow of Harleen Quinzel remained. Not even the ambitious go getter she had once been with passion and drive. Now she flinched when the list slid towards her as if it was somehow going to hurt her. Paranoid eyes darted between China and the list a few times before slowly...very slowly she lowered her gaze to the words and struggled to focus on them. Even something as simple as reading was a challenge for her now because of the damage that had been done. She would focus so intently on each word that sometimes she forgot the words as soon as she'd moved past them and had to re-read them.

"Do um...do we have to pick just one or two?" She asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She immediately looked apologetic as if asking that question was asking too much and she should be sorry.

If China had a heart, it would break. Instead, she carefully took in Harley’s appearance. China hadn’t been able to socialize intimately with all of the Tributes and fellow staff, but there was no way she could have missed the footage of Harley’s Arena time or her deeds in the Capitol.

Her voice was always soft, but she lowered it even more to avoid spooking this woman. She smiled gently and shook her head.

“If you’re feeling ambitious, I could certainly bring in several for you. Nothing excessive, of course, but I could likely manage six. Ultimately it depends on what I’m permitted to bring, you understand.”

“I do plan to return plenty of times—this isn’t your only chance.”

She nods, still more apologetic then relieved as if this is all a huge hassle and it's her fault.

"Um...I'd like the dancing one...and the story about Snow...and um..." She hesitated her eyes practically screaming in anxiety like she wanted to hide under the table instead of making this request.

"A-are...any of these um...romance novels?"

She immediately looked down ashamed of herself for indulging in such frivolity.

"Perfect." China flashes her best saleswoman's smile and ticks the books off. Said smile grows into something slightly more phony--almost comically so, because she's trying to share a joke--at the question. "Ah--Thank you for the reminder; I nearly forgot."

From under the table she produces yet another list--this one unfurling to about four times the length of the previous one.

"Here are the romance novels."

What else would you expect in the Capitol? China fancies herself a collector of fine books, but she does have to offer some of the things that are in demand. The flip-side of that, at least, is that she winds up with shoddier books like these that she doesn't mind so much leaving with the off-worlders in prison. Investments, she thinks.

For just a tiny moment Harleen looks like she might be happy, but it fades very quickly behind shame and embarrassment as she scans the list and requests three titles she hasn't read yet. Then back to the first list she runs through it again and stiffens when her eyes settle on a few more titles she timidly requests.

"A-and the um..."The Language of Flowers, and...um..." She hesitates before blurting out her question "Is...do you have a favorite on this list you would um...s-suggest?"

She looks like every word she manages to mumble or squeak out is a little painful for her.

None of China's favorites--nor her sub-favorites, nor her auxiliary favorites--would ever come close to exiting her library. Especially not into untested hands and especially not into a prison. Her snobbery isn't something she tends to hide, but the timidity of this woman suggests vulnerability. Vulnerability that China may be able to capitalize on by presenting a kinder face.

"'The Language of Flowers' is an excellent choice already. Human communication is beautiful as it is, but flowers make it more beautiful, do they not?" She smiles encouragingly, hoping to prompt one from Harley. "There's a book on other uses for flowers--medicine, clothing decorations--that you may like. What exactly is the appeal in them for you? Why that book?"

Despite her timid and subdued nature, China does manage to coax a small, shy smile though it never fully reaches the sadness in her eyes.

"I had...a friend. She used to say the same thing." She confessed softly and the smile faded just as quietly as it had appeared.

"She really loved plants...more then people even. But...I always thought..."

She shook her head to clear it of such silliness. That was a lifetime ago and she'd been shown the truth now. Ivy only pitied the pathetic fool she'd once been she could never really be loved by anyone sane or healthy right?

"So...um...I guess that's why." She concluded somehow even more awkward then she'd begun.

China leans forward as she listens. “My, she loved them that much?” China can understand, despite the surprise she’s playing at—she loves her books much more than people. In fact, she doesn’t really love people at all, so it’s not even a contest.

“And yet she still had you, a person, I presume, as her friend. You must be very special.”

"I-I used to think I was..." she confessed sheepishly fidgeting with the sleeve of her jumpsuit anxiously. "And...I guess she might have once...maybe..."

But everyone made mistakes right? Even someone as smart as Ivy.

"I used to act out a lot...m-misbehaving. She did too but she did it to protect her plants...I just...did it." And she sounded properly ashamed by it, and also confused. She felt like she was talking about another person. She couldn't see the pictures and videos of Harley Quinn and imagine herself making those same choices.

...well except for one or two choices.

"I even used to take care of some of the flowers in that garden by Tribute Tower just because it made me think of her."

Yes, gardening and reading. Two things that Harleen Quinzel could manage. She smiled a little more honestly and actually dared to meet China's eyes this time.

China nods soberly, her head bowed like a penitent. Honestly, she's curious about what that acting out entailed and is already strategizing how to probe more about it--but she doesn't want to be too eager, lest said misbehavior involve rebellious sympathies. She couldn't be seen condoning that.

China's smile sparkles when Harley looks at her--finally. "Perhaps she was thinking of you as well, wherever she is.

"Why do you speak of this as if it were the past? You've given no reason so far to imply that if she arrived here she wouldn't welcome you with open arms."

Stay positive, Harley!

It's harder then it sounds. Staying positive is more or less the opposite of what the Capitol tried to drill into her brain. She tries though and it hurts her heart.

"Well...I...she did show up here once...for a short while."

And then she was gone when the Capitol...no that hurt her head to think too. She focused on the feeling that Poison Ivy gave her, the sort of longing sad smile in her heart.

"Before I came here...I did something unforgivable to her. But when she arrived here she forgave me without even asking what I'd done...I should have told her shouldn't I? B-but I just...I didn't want to lose her again..."

She sniffled and wiped her eyes on her sleeve because she did lose her in the end didn't she? Sorry China but you've opened a can of worms in this shell of a woman's heart.

Rarely would China find someone she liked, but when she did… she could understand the urge to hold them close no matter what it cost. What did a little omission of the truth mean? Nothing, so long as the victim never found out.

“Should you have told? I suppose it depends on just what your transgression was.”

She tilted her head expectantly at Harley.

Oh no, was she going to have to confess? She was already so far into the story and even though she was sure the Capitol already knew she hadn't told too many people about the dirty truth.

"The last time we were...together I guess..." She started wondering if she could even find the right words, "I tried to go kill my ex-boyfriend." Somehow talking about murdering someone wasn't nearly as hard. Maybe because the Capitol always seemed to encourage bloodlust in it's tributes more then honesty.

"She always tried to protect me from him, and sure enough the minute I saw his stupid grinning face we were kissing and I fell into him all over again."

"Then when she tried to save me from him again..." This was the worst part and she gripped the table for support, her eyes welling up with tears, "I used her love for me to distract her and he knocked her out cold."

There it was, a sin greater then any murder or theft she could have ever thought of, abusing someones love. She hung her head shamefully almost wishing that China would hit her or something to punish her for it when she'd already punished herself more then a few times in the last few years.

"Of all the parts of me the Capitol could take away, why couldn't they have taken that one too?" She mumbled pathetically.

Killing an ex? Not exactly normal, but China merely nodded understandingly. It wasn't as if Capitolites exactly frowned on murder, as noted, and she felt she wouldn't get much information out of Harley if she made her feel bad.

"Ah, betrayal..." How very sad. It sounded like such a compelling story, though--China wondered idly if that was the kind of thing Meulin would one day work into a novel. ...Or perhaps it was a premise she'd carefully skirt. Either way, it had an appealing touch of drama to it.

Slowly, China reached one hand toward Harley and set it on the tabletop. The human comfort was there if she wanted to reach for it.

Even her chiding was gentle, more a warning to Harley to be careful than anything else, "They work in mysterious ways, but ultimately they do what is best. ...Tell me now, were you happy after your lover took down your friend?"

She winced as China asked exactly the right question keeping her head hung. "Yeah...I realize now it was horrible, and I realized it after a few more days but in the heat of the moment...it was monstrous."

"She broke me out after a week or so, almost killed me. I don't know why she didn't finish the job, she should have. I couldn't be trusted could I? Instead we ran off to try and kill our other friend who had betrayed us and in the end all three of us went our separate ways."

She accepted the hand and gave it a squeeze. Her hand was cold and clammy.

"Then I wound up here, and I didn't see her again until the Capitol brought everyone's loved ones in for a week. One week of happiness and pretending I deserved her smiles and kisses and then..."

Gone. Just gone in the night like she was never even there to begin with.

China wondered if that frequency of murder attempts--two or three a week--was the usual for Harley and her friend. Clearly the Capitol had gotten lucky with her.

"And then? She never found out?"

If she'd felt she had nothing to gain here, China would have offered a more blunt assessment before her questions; she's fairly sure Harley's as well as revealed the answer already. But, instead, she squeezed the poor woman's hand back and waiting patiently, solemnly, for that answer. And all that came with it.

Lucky was a relative term given how much a pain in the neck she'd been for them at times. But in the end she was a minor ache in the body of a slowly dying system. And at the moment she was suppressed with medication.

"Never. I know she said that it didn't matter but...but she didn't know. And I was selfish and just accepted it." She groaned rubbing her eyes with her free hand.

"I'm sorry, you didn't come here to have me sob at you, but you're probably the nicest person I've spoken to since they brought me back." Which wasn't saying much if you considered that she was still under supervision in the detention center where no one had to pretend to be bubbly and Capitol levels of happy.

China shook her head and offered another quick squeeze of the hand. As if almost speaking to herself, she mused. "Poor dear."

She mustered a shining smile in response to the apology. "Nonsense, darling, I did come to see how you all fared." Well. In a way. The errand was a means to an end, but China decided no one else needed to know that. Much like Harley spilling her betrayal to her visiting friend... what would the benefit be?

"Kindness costs me nothing." Save time, patience, etc. Don't worry, she'll be sure to bill for it later. "And you look as though you sorely need it. Besides, I'm enjoying your company."

Red rimmed eyes were a splash of color to her washed out pallette, and she managed a small timid smile in gratitude.

"It may not cost a thing, but some people are still awful stingy about it." She she flinched and brought a hand to her mouth winging as if someone had pinched her for speaking out of turn against the Capitol.

"Kindness, happiness...m-maybe some laughs and love. I-isn't that all anyone really wants when you get down to it?"

Or maybe it was all she wanted anymore aside from some things she couldn't speak about.

China reached over to pat Harley's hand when she saw the flinch. Interesting. What exactly had happened to this woman?

"And maybe a nice cup of tea beside the fire. But, yes, not much more than that." Influence and rare items were more China's thing. But that was the private China--public China would certainly agree with Harley's assessment.

"What would make you happy here, dear?"

She hesitated again, the look on her face clearly showing that she didn't think she was allowed.

"I guess...I wish things could go back to how they were. Everyone in the tribute center...all my friends..."

She shuddered as some of things she wanted had to pass through the filter of her brainwashing. It wasn't pleasant to be reminded of everything she'd lost but it was what she wanted.

"I know that people weren't happy then...but it wasn't worse then what we have now was it? The Capitol has changed...everything changed." Her voice trailed off ashamed "It's not fun anymore."

China nodded slowly. "'Fun' is, unfortunately, often a casualty of war." If it were China's grandmother in her shoes, she would spout a speech on patriotism and how 'fun' is a tiny price to pay for the glory of Panem. But China fancied herself much less preachy than that old woman, and she also mourned the loss of enjoyment. The only thing that kept her from more open commiseration was the need to pretend to be a good little Capitolite.

"Perhaps when we win the war, there will be fun again. What is it you miss most? Which activities did you enjoy?"

It surprised Harleen a bit she was allowed to reminisce like this but then again, she reasoned the brainwashing was intended to make her loyal wasn't it? So thinking about the nice parts of Capitol life was probably encouraged.

"The smiles, the laughter...the real stuff not the fake stuff." She clarifies and then shivers because that's toeing the line apparently.

"The parties were always so over the top, and the food was top notch. Being able to talk to people from the other worlds and people here in the capitol, learning about their lives and loves...even the arenas weren't so bad when I was...unwell. That version of me loved how creative they were." She sighed "But she wasn't exactly a role model for most people...or at least she shouldn't have been."

"But definitely the smiles, and all the people who are gone now." Her tributes...her friends. Going all the way back to Princess Diana, one of the first people she lost.

The fake stuff? China wonders at that, but doesn't yet ask of it. Seeing the woman shiver when she says it, China imagines that bringing up the topic won't win her any goodwill.

"The problem of your departed friends would be difficult to fix indeed." She sighs, casting a pitying gaze Harley's way. "Are there no new friends here to fill the gap?"

Harleen paused to consider for a moment, then shook her head.

"None of them are here." Most of them were in District 13 such as Psii or Daryl, even her patients whom she liked to think of as friends even if they didn't.

"And the ones that are here...they were friends with "Her" not the woman I am now. It...doesn't feel the same trying to talk to them when I know who they expect. The same person everyone wants but can't have anymore." She tensed again at that admission that she too longed to be Harley Quinn once more.

It just seemed so impossible from this place.

Interesting. China found this identity crisis thing sounded quite tiring--how lucky that she wasn't the one living it.

"And you don't feel that they'd welcome this new you? That they have no desire to form any new friendships?"

That earned her a soft smile shaking her head as if China had said something amusing.

"They might be polite, but no one is looking for friendship these days. A moment of comfort perhaps but...things have changed for all of us. It's more about survival now then it was even in the arenas."

And somehow, friends were detrimental to survival.

"But if you're offering, I've been told I'm a much better friend now then I was back then."

"Whatever happened to strength in numbers? There are things we can only accomplish standing together." To a degree, China believes those words, though she doesn't like them. They're her part to say as a good, loyal Capitolite.

"Are you, now? Then it seems anyone would be a fool to say no."

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Open!

[ Detention Center]

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