I don't like walking around this old and empty house.

[the_marshal]

WHO| Wyatt and Semi-OTA (Open physically to anyone with him in District 10, with some preset threads for Howard and Max in the comments.)
WHAT| Bb gets with the times.
WHERE| District 10
WHEN| A day or two after arriving in the Districts.
Warnings/Notes| Some mild swearing perhaps? Edit: Two clueless gents flirting over the skype equivalent below. You are warned. Edit edit: It went a bit beyond flirting. Gird yourself.



Wyatt had made a promise to Howard, and he was determined to keep it. After settling in as best as he could in their temporary housing, he dug out his communicator and set about trying to get the thing to work.

At one of the heavy, thick-cut tables in the dining room, he moved his fingers over the keys just as he remembered watching Howard do -- and somehow set off a bell, a shrill alarm that cut through the quiet of the late morning like a knife through warm butter. Quickly, he clapped his hands over it and stabbed another button, managing to silence it out of sheer luck.

Glancing around, he nodded in apology to those at the nearest tables - trying to ignore the heat threatening to curl around the back of his neck - and tried again.

That time he nearly blinded himself.

Wiping the bright flash from his eyes, cursing lowly to himself, he dropped the device on the table and leaned back in his chair in defeat.

Time to consider a re-approach.

Comments

[the_marshal]

Wyatt considered it, weighing what he knew about Ellie, and then nodded.

"I'd think so. By the sounds of it she didn't much get to enjoy simple things like that where she's from, I bet she'd appreciate it now." His mouth twitched again, mustache lifting at the corner of his mouth. "An' given what I know about the both'a ya, I can't imagine she's havin' any more fun than you out there."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I think we're both going stir-crazy." Howard shakes his head. "Hard to feel enthused about going into another Arena in these guys' place. They're treating us like something the dog dragged in."

[the_marshal]

He felt useless, districts away, unable to offer any sort of support. All he could was stare down into the camera, wishing he could make it better.

"If it makes ya feel better," he offered, "they ain't all so bad. Folks out here thanked us for what we've done. Some of 'em even brought along gifts for us."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"That just makes me feel jealous," Howard says, but it's clear he's kidding. He's glad that they're treating Wyatt well. "You bringing anything back for me?"

[the_marshal]

"Depends," Wyatt said, head tipping a fraction. "Ya fancy some moonshine?"

He'd not one, but two jars of clear, strong-smelling home-brewed liquor pressed on him last night. They both sat up in his room, one untouched, the other missing only a mouthful.

That's all he'd needed. (His insides burned just thinking about it.)

"Good for what ail's ya," he teased gently.

Truthfully, he'd planned on splitting the jerky one wet-eyed woman had handed him between him and Max when they got back, but he couldn't resist pulling Howard's tail a bit.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Sure. I'll compare it to the moonshine I know how to make," Howard says, teasing back - although it's true, he knows quite well how to brew alcohol. "I bet it's better than mine anyway."

He grins. "You want anything from here?"

[the_marshal]

Wyatt chuckled fondly, smiling into the camera at Howard.

"Surprise me," he nodded. "Jus' so long as ya don't get in trouble gettin' it."

Lord only knew what the Capitol would do about a tribute making them look bad during the tours, in front of all the districts. (When out here at least, so many already seemed concerned about the Capitol's might.)

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Promise I won't." His face darkens slightly. "I remember what happened to Ariadne. Believe me, I'm not skirting trouble here."

The smile returns. "Thanks for calling, Wyatt. Really. It means a lot to me."

[the_marshal]

"Of course, Howard," he replied, without hesitation. "I promised."

He smiled again and tapped the screen with his thumb.

"Jus' hang in there an' we'll all be together again soon."