thecapitol | New kind of victory.

"Expect nothing," Wesker told him. Advice that was less lyrical, perhaps, than the popular 'expect the unexpected,' but far more useful in his experience. "No two arenas are the same, and along with your fellow tributes - a good number of which are more talented than they look - nothing is ever what it seems."

"That figures. But I would rather be up against other warriors than the alternative." Ever since he'd found out that not everyone who was brought to the Games was even trained to fight... it had bothered him. He has no problem doing what he must to defend against other fighters, at least.

"You'll have your fair share of those," Wesker assured him, head tipped as he eyed Kain speculatively. "I'd advise research, now, while you still have the chance."

Abilities to faces at the very least, if the man was smart.

"It will all become rather more difficult once you're inside the arena."

"I have no use for the Capitol's diversions, anyway. I intend to remain in that training center for most of my time. I assume I could observe the others there..." Where else to better learn of their skills, than through firsthand experience? Unless there's some other means that he doesn't yet know about. He's still finding out the full extent of their technology's capabilities.

"The Capitol has decided that many of the gifts your fellow tributes possess are unsuitable outside of the arena. We are..." His free hand flexed, fingers curling back in against his palm in a hard fist, knuckles cracking softly before his grip released again. He could feel it, the virus in his veins. Still every bit a part of him, but muted. A hum, rather than roar. "...Removed from ourselves. The only way to truly know what your competitors are capable of is to watch the footage."

"I see." More of that technology of theirs. He assumes it's something like the communication devices, being able to capture and watch things that have already happened. It'll take some getting used to. But Kain certainly intends to make himself completely aware of what to expect out there.

"Is there any means to reverse this 'removal' that they've done to us? Do we regain anything within the arena?" He keeps a level tone when he asks, but it's a question he's been meaning to find answers to... it's just not easy finding true answers in a world like this one. But all he wants to know is that his powers aren't gone forever. He dislikes feeling so... heavy, for lack of a better world. He wasn't meant to be rooted to the ground.

"Not as it stands," he murmured, purr hardening. A sharp edge hiding beneath the silk. "How they've accomplished it still remains a mystery."

He had theories, of course, but none of which he'd been able to prove.

"But there are occasionally times within the arena when abilities are unlocked. It seems to be wholly random, decided by the whim of the Gamemakers, and is up to the tributes themselves to discover."

It's better than nothing. It also means that the situation isn't... completely as irreversible as he'd initially thought. Awakening in a strange place had been nothing compared to realizing that he'd lost his specialized ability. He might not be any good at their little social game, but Kain is certain he'd be better suited to figuring out something like that in the arena.

"Then that's something to take advantage of... I should have known they wouldn't completely strip them away. Just enough to keep us under control." It also tells him what he's been wondering, that the Capitol needs to take that step to maintain control. They probably could be more readily defeated, once you got past their technology and overall structure. Perhaps.

"Of course," Wesker replied. "It's a game in the end. Entertainment. They can't risk their audience getting bored."

Getting bored and turning their minds to things more important than who said and did and wore what in the arena.

Idle hands were the devil's work.

He can't resist rolling his eyes, already disliking the whole 'entertainment' angle of the whole thing. Battles to the death, bloodbaths, and so on, he could handle. Hunting others down, being hunted... it was nothing new. But... interviews? The ones he'd had so far were pretty unpleasant.

"I'm not a bard, I'm a warrior. I've no interest in entertaining anyone. Is there no means to avoid their endless interviews?"

Or the sessions with stylists. Stylists, really. They'd spent a maddening amount of time fussing over his hair.

"They have their uses," Wesker told him mildly. "As inane as they are."

He turned back to the ledge, raising the apple toward his mouth again.

"The Games are such a popularity contest as they are a sport of physicality. The more crumbs you give them, the more they're likely to support you when the time comes."

Read, when one was choking to death on their own blood in the arena.

"I suppose I can appreciate making the right kind of allies..." But he just can't see playing along with their interviews, their dressing up, and any of the other social events. Can't they just appreciate that he's skilled out there? "...but I'd still rather it happen on my own terms."

He can tell himself that he'll just avoid needing any assistance out there. But he knows it won't be so easy.

"Who says you can't?" Wesker slanted him a look, red and gold eyes peeking out from the edges of his dark lenses.

Wesker himself was not a darling, prancing and preening and swooning for the crowds, but he maintained a healthy, reliable supply of sponsors. As he'd told the strange green man on the network - respect was universal. (Fear even more so.)

"There's more than one way to play the game."

"Ah, good." It was the first he'd heard there was a possible other angle to take the whole thing. The stylist team had overwhelmed him with all of their various ideas, and, well, the people watching all of this in the Capitol seemed obsessed with social things. "In that case, that's how I intend to play it. I've little patience for anything else."

He wasn't going to be pleasant or answer things when he didn't care to, or any of the rest of it.

"Keep them entertained, and they'll keep you alive."

Entertainment, of course, had many definitions. If Kain wasn't going to coddle them, he was going to have to back it up his strong man routine.

"I'll keep that in mind, if that's how is has to be. I refuse to deal with it in any other way." He wasn't going to go out of his way to be entertaining... but they could think as they would. If he could still gain favor enough to stay alive, that's all that mattered.

"See that you do," Wesker nodded. "And I'll see what can be done for you from the outside. If you have need, ask."

His apple crunched between his teeth, that wet snap like bone.

Kain nods. It's better than he might have expected, really. He'd been assuming he would constantly struggle with the notion of forging alliances and getting support- had written off that as a part of the game he would likely ignore. So it's at least something to know he's not the only one who feels this way.

"I'll keep that in mind. I don't intend to do anything but survive out there."

Even if there are some lengths he just won't go to, in his right mind... he still would push it far if necessary.

His duty as mentor done - no one could accuse him of not playing the part - he returned his attention to the streets below. To the horizon beyond with its impossible fields, healthy and lush here in dead of winter.

Making a mental note to keep an eye on Mr. Highwind.

For another brief moment, Kain takes in the scene below, the expanse of the fields in this District. It's strange to be just... given a place and people to fight for, to be loyal to. He'll do what he can, as much as he still has issues with the entire arrangement of the whole thing. At least he's better aware of certain aspects of it. As self-reliant as he is, Kain isn't planning on asking for assistance... not unless he's really desperate. But now he knows now who he'll be dealing with if he has need out there. When he has need.

He turns soon enough to head back inside.

New kind of victory.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject