thecapitol | (no subject)

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(no subject)

WHO| Eliot and Cruentus
WHAT| Eliot's been bid on.
WHEN| After he has died.
WHERE| The common room of District 3.
WARNINGS/NOTES| Eliot has been bid on so not so pleasant things.

Things were starting to settle.

It had been a rough start. More rough than most realized. But Cruentus was starting to feel more at peace. Things had started to settle into place.

And this just proved it.

She had sent District 3 escort to go retrieve Eliot for him as she slid her finger over her tablet, pulling up all the necessary information. This was going to be a rocky conversation, but the first time always was.

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Eliot didn't fight this time when the escort came for him. They'd given him enough time to recognize where he was, that he was out of the Arena, no longer fighting for his life. No, this time, he was simply drained. They had put him completely back together before bringing him back but he still felt a few phantom pains in his wrist, shoulder, and chest. He wasn't exactly surprised to see the same woman as last time waiting for him.

When he entered, she looked up with a wide smile, before waving a hand. Momentarily, an avox set a spread before them, food to nibble on and large, colorful drinks.

"Hello again Eliot! I have some exciting news."

He raised an eyebrow tiredly at that. Considering the people here thought the Hunger Games were the best idea ever, he wasn't sure he wanted to know this "exciting news" but it didn't seem like that would be an option for him. "Oh? What is that?"

"You are, officially, the first of the new Tribute to have the...pleasure and honor of being bid on."

Her smile was wide. She was honestly happy about this. At his expense of course, but she really didn't mind that.

"The pl..." He sputtered indignantly. Then he sighed wearily. "Oh, why am I so surprised? You make us kill each other for entertainment. And you call that an honor. It figures you'd call slavery an honor as well."

"Some one wants you. I'd think that'd be an exciting prospect."

She shrugged, obviously not too concerned with his lack of excitement. This meant that everything was starting to get back to normal around here. The Capitol was becoming comfortable with this whole situation, and for the Capitol that was a good sign.

"As does my team back home. I'm not interested."

He turned to leave. "Tell them to find someone else."

"Oh, I would think by now you would know that wasn't how this went."

She smiled widely, folding her hands and looking across the table at him.

"You do what we want. Willingly. We an do this the easy way or...not."

"You people think I can't handle a little pain?" Not that he exactly wanted to find out what passed for torture in this place but some things were worse. "This isn't exactly my first rodeo."

She smiled, and pulled out her tablet, setting it on the table and slidding her fingers over the surface.

Images of Ariadne and Momoko both flickered into view between them.

"Do you have a preference?"

Eliot froze at the question. "What?" he demanded in a low growl. "What do you mean a preference?"

"As to which you'd rather take your place. If you're refusing, that is."

She looked between the two girls, pursing her lips together.

"I think I'd go for Ariadne, personally. She seems like she'd be much quieter about things."

Eliot glared at her. "You won't use either of them to replace me," he countered smoothly. "Anyone who'd bid on me clearly wants a man, not a woman."

"Well, you know, many people enjoy both quiet thoroughly."

But he was right. This particular patron liked strapping young men. And wanted fresh meat.

"You'd really throw them under the bus, as they say."

Eliot stared at her for a moment, trying to decide if she was bluffing. There were enough tributes for the client to pick who he wanted. No, the client had most likely picked exactly who she wanted. At least, he hoped this client was a woman. "You're bluffing."

"You really want to risk that?"

She tapped her finger, each click switching out the pictures of one of the girls. She had carefully chosen the best ones to tug on his heart strings.

"Yes," he decided. He had no doubt that she had only mentioned Momoko and Ariadne because he cared about them. If she had intended to follow through on the threat, she would have named someone like Karen who was far more like him.

"Well, all right then." She flicked her finger, and the pictures of the girls vanished. In their places was a man being pulled from the portal, one who looked remarkably like Eliot.

"What about him?"

Eliot froze at the sight. The blood drained from his face. "You edited that," he said, his voice just short of frantic. "You had to have."

"Oh. I suppose we could have edited a picture of Lindsey. i mean we

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"Oh. I suppose we could have edited a picture of Lindsey. i mean we <i.do</i> have plenty of pictures of <i>you/</i>."

She gave him a wide grin.

"But that doesn't really cover how I know his name is Lindsey."

Eliot stared at the screen for a moment. "Leave him alone," he said quietly, shoulders slumping in defeat. "I'll do it. Just leave Lindsey alone."

She leaned back, obviously pleased. This had worked just as well as she had hoped.

"I thought you might come around."

She slid her fingers over her display, and a flickering image appeared between them with a time, date, and the face of an older, handsome woman. A politicians who, Cruentus knew, just didn't have time to bother with personal relationships.

He got off pretty easy this time. The woman would have no notions that it was anything but what it was, or be particular cruel.

They would ease him in to it.

"I'll have this delivered to your escort. They'll get you there in time."

Eliot nodded wearily. "Did you have anythin' else ya wanted or can I leave now?"

The still smug look on her face, she nodded to the door. It was clear she'd won, and clear she was enjoying it.

"No. You can go now. It was so nice to see you Eliot."

He nodded curtly to her as he left. Damn it. Wasn't it enough that they'd kidnapped him? That they were already forcing him to fight mere children, possibly kill them to protect another? And... Who next? She'd said he was the first. Who would they whore out next?

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