milieus: (i'm not in business for them)
jennifer blackwood ([personal profile] milieus) wrote in [community profile] thecapitol2014-12-23 12:28 pm

It's all it will take, we'll go down in history

Who| Everyone in the Tribute Center (plus various Capitol citizens are in attendance)
What| A Saturnalia inspired extravaganza!
Where| A large, festive ballroom
When| Tonight!
Warnings/Notes| N/A? Let me know if this needs a warning!

Jennifer had spent weeks on the preparations for this glorious night, arranging for the food and gifts and music and dancing. Everything would be perfect, and she was certain all the attendees would have a marvelous time. And besides all that, this would be a perfect way to celebrate her husband's return to the Capitol! It had been weeks since Arturas had any time off to spend at home. Surely he'd be delighted by the fanfare and revelry.

The invitations stated that the party began promptly at 6:30, to bring an appetite, and be ready to dance. The attendees were instructed to dress in costume, to participate in the role-reversal theme of Saturnalia. Capitolites were to dress as Tributes while the Tributes were to dress in the most outlandish Capitol fashions imaginable. Jennifer herself was wearing a replica of the District 2 space costume, bedazzled and covered in crystals, for an extra glamorous kick, while her stoic husband sat at his table with his politician friends, dressed in an ice skating costume, a throwback to Arena 11. Clearly he had business to attend to, so it would be up to her to see to the party.

She made her way toward the entrance and prepared to greet everyone.
gardienne: (frown)

Re: Eponine open

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Eponine looked faintly horrified as she glanced up, looking for the berries.

"There is none." She glanced at Harley, and then looked back at the ceiling. "And anyway, I should never kiss you. There is only one person I am kissing."

Okay, two. But that's between her and Grantaire. And her and Felicity. And maybe Diana. But that's it.

"And it would never be you, not even to save my life. Harlot."
revvinguptheharley: (Harley: Tut tut tut)

Re: Eponine open

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley burst out laughing at the faintly horrified look and then the very dry response. She took a minute to stop giggling before pouting her lips in an exaggerated manner.

"You should be so lucky to kiss someone like me you little grinch. Anyway the name is Harley not Harlot. You've been here long enough your accent must be slipping." She teased.
gardienne: (frown)

Re: Eponine open

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"I kiss someone so much better, with hair as soft as the flower petals, and just so lovely lips." Eponine folded her arms as best she could around the stiff material.
"And it is not my accent. It is a name. Harlot. Whore. It is for women like you. Disgusting women."
revvinguptheharley: (Harlequin: pucker up!)

Re: Eponine open

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley sighed getting a lovesick look in her eyes and clutching her hands over her heart drifting for a moment "My Ivy had everything soft as flower petals, and she smelled like an entire bouquet. She hated Christmas but she still let me have my fun."

Shaking herself from her memories she smirked wickedly once more and made to poke at Eponine's side.

"I was just joking around sourpuss. I know what Harlot means! Unlike some tributes I actually went to college you know? I'm a doctor and everything."

As if she hadn't had her license revoked ages ago. She even dug around in her bag and produced a clearly forged document with "Dr. Harleen Quinnzel" Written in crayon.
gardienne: (frown)

Re: Eponine open

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh shut up." Eponine could barely read and write. She could do it - but only just, and she knew it. She was getting better and better at reading though, practising with Eva's books. But it still made her feel inadequate when even people such as Harley were more intelligent than she was.

"What do you want, Miss?"
revvinguptheharley: (Harlequin: silhouette)

Re: Eponine open

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley chuckled feeling victorious at least in this respect and replaced her forged papers drawing out a a little green giftwrapped box instead.

"A little holiday cheer would be nice." She commented idly "But I'll settle for making some of my own. I saw your little cry for punishment on the network. " She wiggled her eyebrows and it became apparent for the first time that the mark that Harley too had sported burned into her face was now gone and not simply hidden under makeup.

"I mean I thought I was crazy. Why do you actually want people to hate you and treat you like scum?"
gardienne: (sadly reproachful)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Eponine eyed the box suspiciously. If that was for her, then it could only mean trouble.

"It is not punishment I want. For me, yes, it is sore. But it is for Eva. I want to look like Eva. I liked the brand because it made me hate this place the more. You understand? I just want something that I can choose for a change, you know?" Eponine shrugged. It was as simple as that, really.
revvinguptheharley: (Harleen: Time for action!)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley listened thoughtfully and then shrugged her shoulders brushing off the reasoning.

"Hey if you choose to have every citizen treat you like something they stepped in because you wanna honor Eva that's your business I guess. It's not like you've done much to endear yourself to anyone anyway."

Here she extended the box waggling it at Eponine temptingly.

"But this is the season for charity, forgiveness and generally tolerating people you don't like so Happy Christmas you little dork."
gardienne: (frown)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"I should rather you stopped calling me names, you know?" Eponine eyed the present again. On the one hand, she loved presents. She adored being spoiled rotten and having pretty things given to her. On the other hand, it was from Harley.

"Is it going to blow me up when I touch it or something? Will it do something bad?'
revvinguptheharley: (Harley: Wink dontcha know?)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley giggled wickedly and sighed once again having a longing far away look in her eyes for but a moment.

"Trust me if I could whip up exploding gifts for people around here I wouldn't be wasting them on you. I've got bigger fish to fry. This is just a little something I thought you could use since you seem so determined to be even more crazy then me."

The paper itself was green with candy canes on it and topped with a shimmering red bow.
gardienne: (cheeky smile)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Eponine rolled her eyes at that, but she gave in, grabbing for the box. This was actually only the second time in her life that she had ever had a properly wrapped present, and she couldn't help grinning over it.

Carefully, carefully, she eased the sellotape off, and unpeeled the paper, straightening it carefully as she went.
revvinguptheharley: (Harlequin: adorable smile)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley's grin didn't waver as Eponine unwrapped the box revealing a pack of twenty temporary tattoos. Each one shaped like the Capitol logo.

"I had to call in a favor and flirt with a guy to have these made so you better actually use em. I don't wanna hear that you regifted them." She teased wagging a finger. Honestly she was surprised that the Capitol logo wasn't an easier temporary tattoo to find but it probably had to do with it's recent use to shamefully mark tributes.
gardienne: (what? really?)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Eponine stared at the tattoos. She could see that they were the Capitol insignia, but she didn't know what it was supposed to be, or how to use them. She picked a sheaf up, and turned it over, running her finger beneath the words to read them.

"Tattoos." She said, surprised. "Like... like my brand. But... Harley..." She was a little bit lost. She didn't know how to react when Harley wasn't tricking her. "Thank you." she said, at last.
revvinguptheharley: (Harleen: smug)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"Aw don't even worry about it." Harley purred her wicked grin slipping into a warmer smile.

"Just follow those directions so they don't smear when you apply them. Maybe have your stylist do it for you if you need help. It'll hurt alot less then getting your face burnt up again." She reasoned.

"Mousy little kid like you shouldn't be getting so masochistic anyway. There's plenty of hurt and pain in the world. I can't imagine your Mama wanted you to have to endure anymore pain then you already had thrown at you." She added softly.
gardienne: (what? really?)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-23 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not a mouse. Or a kid. I must be maybe twenty something now, and I feel older yet , fifty maybe . I feel old. But I do not know. I have forgotten my birthday."

She chattered on in an attempt to hide how much her eyes filled with tears at the mention of Eva.

"I don't care though. I don 't mind pain. I don't like it - I lie to avoid a beating, but if my Pa or 'Parnasse were in the mood, they'd beat me anyway. I don't like it but I don't care on it no more. You know, it reminds me of home, sometimes. Diana is so good at that."
revvinguptheharley: (Harley: Orly hat?)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-23 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Wait that girl from District five? Is she beating on you?" That would be news to Harley.
gardienne: (no self esteem)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-24 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
"No ." Eponine blushed red. She and Diana had had some detailed discussions about all of that. Not something Eponine wanted to share with Harley.

"She teases me."
revvinguptheharley: (Harlequin: Panty and stocking)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-24 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, well that makes sense." She smirked again "I mean teasing you is fun, you just take it too seriously and get grumpy." She winked once more.

"I guess it's good to keep in touch with your roots. I just think Eva probably wanted more for you then to be the universes door mat."

"But what do I know? I was just her tribute and co-mentor." she added playfully.
gardienne: (no other way)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-24 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
"I know. And you see, this is why I protest as well. I am sick of just being changed and my hair dyed or brands or my chest big or anything. I am sick of being locked in and I am sick of wearing silly clothes so stupid people might look at a picture of you , and vile children cheer when you die. I am fed upbof this place ruining people's lives, and I tell you now, Harley, I am going to FIGHT for Eva. I am going to win."

And skinny, grotty Eponine had never looked more determined or defiant in her whole life . She was fighting back now.
revvinguptheharley: (Harley: Air piano!)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-24 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
There was something truly inspiring about such a ratty little twerp trying so very hard to do what she thought was right after so long living like a selfish brat. Gently Harley held her arms out in offering a hug.

"You're definitely not the selfish little cat thief I met last year." She mused softly. "For all the terrible stuff this world has done, at least it's changed you for the better."

She hoped. For all she knew this was just bluster. After all wasn't Eponine still publicly pro capitol?
gardienne: (hard work)

[personal profile] gardienne 2014-12-24 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
Hesitantly, Eponine moved into the hug. She half expected to feel horrible handcuffs closing on her wrists, or Harley's tight grip before she tied Eponine 's wrists together. But... Was that a compliment coming from Harley? Eponine could hardly believe it.

"I am going to make life better for me, you know? I am not going back in that arena. I am not being killed on the screen again, and I am going to do all I can for my Eva, and I don't care for nothing. The Capitol can stick it up their arse. I have had enough."

She's feeling a bit reckless tonight.
revvinguptheharley: (Default)

[personal profile] revvinguptheharley 2014-12-25 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Harley giggled at hearing Eponine's accent change the word ass into something even more rough and rude. Patting the girls back she lowered her voice.

"You've come a long way kid. Just keep at it. No matter what crazed lunatics or ruthless dictators think they own you. You're becoming someone compassionate, thoughtful and strong. Don't stop no matter what."

OK maybe Harley was stretching it, but she really wanted Eponine to keep pushing to be the kind of girl that people didn't love to hate. The kind of girl even Harley might feel bad about teasing.

...because right now it was just too easy to pick on her.