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

[nofunandgames]

"Well..." He looked down at the ground, silent for a long moment, struggling to keep his emotions under control. Severing ties with his family had always been deceptively easy for Elias.

"I don't have anything left to lose, anymore." He finally finished. "There's nothing tying me here."

[the_marshal]

Wyatt waited, silent, then shifted, folding his arms over his chest as he watched Elias carefully.

"What're ya plannin' on doin' next?"

The pieces were shifting around in Wyatt's head. A picture starting to form.

If Elias didn't want to be here, where else could he go? And why tell him, when he could have just gone without a word?

Instinct told him Elias wasn't planning on putting down roots in another district.

[nofunandgames]

"Let's go for a walk."

Outside, with the approaching snow, no one would here them. No one would even notice them. This bar was probably safe, but right now I need more than probably. He stood, his stool scraping across the floor.

And some cold, fresh air would snap his mind into place. His nerves were on edge, even if he was trying not to.

[the_marshal]

The furrow deepened again, but Wyatt didn't resist, pushing off the table and scooping up his communicator before falling in a step behind Elias.

The temperature had dropped, a chill wind racing up to embrace them as they stepped outside. He ducked his head against it, shielding his face with the brim of his hat, but he said nothing.

Letting Elias take the time he needed.

[nofunandgames]

Elias lead them slowly around to a place that would make at least slight sense for them to go to. With the cold wind, there weren't many places, but he lead them behind a building, lighting up a cigarette.

Smoking wasn't often a habit of his, but he had a feeling a few cigarettes might be useful right now. After knocking one out for himself, he offered the pack to Wyatt.

He had practiced how to bring this up, and all the ways to lay it out, but now he was face to face with his friend, this seemed so much easier than it had played out in his head.

"I need you to help me sneak back into the Capitol."

[the_marshal]

Wyatt waved a polite hand at the pack, declining wordlessly. He'd never been much of a smoker and all things considered that was probably the last thing he needed to be craving in the Arena.

When Elias finally spoke, he listened and waited, just as silent for a long moment.

He could have asked why, or what for - why him, even - but he was fairly sure he already knew the answers. Elias wouldn't have come to him if it weren't important and he'd promised all that time ago, to help anyway he could.

He studied Elias' face carefully, jaw working, a muscle flexing thoughtfully before he replied.

"It ain't like it was before," he said slowly, drawl low and purposeful. "I've been here a long time now an' -- it ain't jus' me anymore."

He had people he cared about. People to look out for, if things turned round on him.

"I'll help ya, anyway I can, but I'm gunna need yer help in return."

[nofunandgames]

Elias couldn't keep the corner of his mouth from pulling up. Oh, he knew it wasn't. Everyone in Panem knew that. But he had a feeling Wyatt was already to aware of how much people cared about his personal life.

"I wouldn't expect anything different. I wish I could say there were fail safes, but there aren't. Not at every step. But I'll do what I can for you, too." He grinned. "Of course."

[the_marshal]

That knowing grin. Of course Wyatt recognized it, he saw it everywhere, on the faces of complete strangers.

Even if they didn't know the depths of it, everyone still knew Max meant something to him. Something important.

"Keep 'em safe, Elias," Wyatt said, deciding he might as well stop beating around the bush. "If somethin' happens to me, er the day comes where ya got'a make a choice -- you make it the two of them. Max an' Howard."

[nofunandgames]

He nodded, understanding. Once upon a time he had been in the same place. It seemed so long ago. Making bonds here was dangerous, but no matter how hard you tried, it couldn't be avoided.

"I will do whatever is in my power. And if you are ever in a position where it's me against something else...don't hesitate to protect what matters most."

[the_marshal]

Wyatt nodded in turn, both of them on the same page. He held out a hand to shake on it, cementing his word.

"Max knows 'bout some of it," Wyatt told him. "We got a chance to talk without the Capitol listenin' an' I told him what I could. If he doesn't get sent back in, ya should talk to him."

[nofunandgames]

"It would take a lot for the Capitol to make his disappear. He is very popular right now."

It was a strange sort of way to comfort. No one wanted the Capitol's attention, not really, and Elias was sure Maximus felt similar, without even known the man.

But whatever kept you standing at the end of the day.

[the_marshal]

Wyatt knew what Elias meant, and he did take comfort in it, but he also knew that popularity wasn't a cure-all. Especially not when Max was associated with a man who had been publicly labeled a traitor.

"I was cuffed a while back," Wyatt admitted to him, in case Elias had somehow missed that little turn the Capitol had taken. "They put 'em on all the trouble-makers."

He rubbed his wrist idly, glancing back down the alley.

"They took it off, after I fought for 'em, but I expect they haven't forgotten."

It only seemed right to warn him.

[nofunandgames]

"Remembering is one thing they are very good at." He said, that soft, dark tone in his voice.

"But you can use the crowd appeal right now. Act like you feel safe. Act like you know you saw over the edge, and don't want to look again."

He looked over, his good eye distant.

"They're good at remembering. But they don't understand. The ones in charge...they don't get the way it feels to be here. They can't understand us."

[the_marshal]

"Yet," Wyatt replied, looking back at Elias, a low, steady determination in his rough drawl.

He'd given his conditions, had given all the warning he could, and if Elias still wanted his help, he'd give it. Shifting, he studied the man square.

"What'a ya need?"

[nofunandgames]

Elias grinned. It was a tight and tired smile, but he was at least relieved that this part of the plan was working out.

Leaning forward, he began to lay out all the precise details, quickly, and simply, not telling Wyatt more than he had to. It bothered him to not lay everything out, but right now, this was best.

[the_marshal]

Wyatt could tell, once or twice, that there was more Elias was thinking about saying, but that he decided against and kept to himself. He didn't take it personal, figuring the man has his reasons.

When he finished, Wyatt nodded and reached out to rest a heavy, callused palm on his shoulder.

"We'll get it done," he promised.

[nofunandgames]

Elias reached up, squeezing the man's hand in return. He didn't have to say how gratefully he was, Wyatt could see it in his face, in the way his whole body seem to relax knowing he had someone in his corner now. A real, solid person, not the idea of someone far off and remote.

Still, not needing to say it didn't mean he wouldn't.

"Thank you."

((Shall we wrap this puppy up?))

[the_marshal]

(Looks good to me!)