I feel like a zombie gone back to life

[iphigeneia]

Who| Felicity & Open
What| Venturing into the world anew.
Where| Around the Capitol in various places, aka pick your scenario!
When| During Week 6
Warnings/Notes| N/A

She felt like a new girl in this new world, reborn and revitalized. It was difficult to even explain this shift in Felicity's spirit or what had prompted it precisely, but she personally put a great deal of emphasis on how liberating it felt to stroll through the Capitol in her very own pair of tailored trousers. Her outfit wasn't immodest by any means, but she still felt revolutionary donning them for the first time.

To celebrate her new life and small dose of freedom, she decided to take a stroll around the Capitol, exploring the area around the Tribute center first, eventually exploring a nearby park and later a quiet cafe. It wasn't London, and it certainly wasn't Paris, and she was still resentful about what had happened in the Arena and the circumstances of her presence in the Capitol, but she could still appreciate the small things, like a moderately sunny day or the oddly dressed citizens roaming around the place.

Did she have a mission for her wandering? No, none in particular. She wanted to explore what she could, learning through experience. Whatever had been told to her of the Capitol and it's wicked ways could be tested. The Arena was one thing, life outside of it was another.

Comments

[vissernone]

She runs into Eva shopping. Most of the people in this little shop are Avoxes, silently stacking shelves or running errands for their keepers, but Eva's always been only slightly more loath to use the Avoxes than she has been to be around them, and she has to purchase food sometime. Unlike the Mentors who live in the Tribute Center, Eva prepares her own meals.

The shop itself is thick with the smell of spices, all clashing in the kind of garish overkill that the Capitol so adores. Eva's loaded her little basket with all sorts of things that can kill off proper tastebuds, as well as some wine to mix into sauces. There are little sweets in there for Eponine, as well. Ice cream.

She frowns when she sees Felicity. She saw on the screen full well what this girl said to Eva's houseguest. Eva's face ages five years in irritation, lines forming under her eyes, at the corners of her mouth.

"Didn't expect to see the fresh meat in here," she says, standing next to Felicity and reaching over, into her space somewhat, to grab something off the shelf.

[iphigeneia]

Felicity doesn't recognize the woman at all, and so she isn't exactly sure how she is expected to react to her. Her own expression settles into one that is markedly perplexed and she drops her arms to her sides, letting the woman take whatever it is she needed from the shelf.

"I beg your pardon," she says at last, once Eva's maneuver has been completed. "Were you addressing me?"

[vissernone]

"I was, Tribute." Eva shoves the parcel into her basket. "Felicity Worthington, am I right?"

There's a certain stiffness to Eva's posture, a way she lifts her head on her neck, that betrays that she feels she's not as upper class as Felicity is, despite not coming from the trappings of Felicity's time period. It's about the way she spoke to Eponine, the self-possession Felicity has.

[iphigeneia]

"That is right." Felicity finds that she is standing taller now, sure of herself but unsure of Eva. She doesn't know this woman, but this is not the first time a stranger has called her out by name. "And you are, madam...?"

[vissernone]

"Eva Salazar, from District Nine. We haven't met, but I'm sure you're well aware that your exploits have been televised."

Eva folds her arms and sets the basket of goods aside.

[iphigeneia]

"It has been mentioned to me previously." Though, truth be told, she doesn't quite grasp how the technology makes it possible. Now isn't the time for that, however. Fee is more concerned by Eva's icy demeanor than anything else.

[vissernone]

"And you have apologies to make, I'm sure."

[iphigeneia]

Felicity's jaw sets. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

[vissernone]

"The things you said in the Arena to those less fortunate aren't especially becoming of someone who has much of the world as her oyster." Eva's face is hard as stone, her mouth a thin line.

[iphigeneia]

"I have never much cared whether or not things are becoming." In all honesty, the things she'd said to Eponine don't exactly spring to her mind. The conversation was forgettable for Fee. Weeks later, she can hardly remember it.

[vissernone]

"Clearly. Do you care for whether things have repercussions?"

Eva takes a step sideways, blocking the aisle so Felicity can't easily walk away.

[iphigeneia]

She lets of a sharp laugh to mask the sudden influx of nerves. "No. Do you?"

[vissernone]

"Generally I take it into consideration."

She leans in close, a sneer of evident distaste written into her mouth.

[iphigeneia]

"That is a symptom of indecision. I've always believed that action was better than hesitation." What good would second guessing herself do her? Commit to it and go, that was Felicity's motto.

[vissernone]

"Well, you sound like you don't put much thought into most of your actions." Eva's is well into Felicity's space now, in a way that smells of threat. Her breath wisps over Felicity's cheek.

[iphigeneia]

The girl refused to allow herself to feel threatened. No one could threaten her, even if they were vaguely ominous and clearly lacked good breeding and manners. Willing herself to be steely, she spoke with a frown. "Fortunately for me, your opinions do not matter. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've better things to do."

[vissernone]

"No, you don't." Eva lurches to the side, thoroughly blocking Felicity from escape. "And my opinions matter far more than yours do, Tribute."

[iphigeneia]

"I seriously doubt that." Felicity makes the decision then and there that she will push past Eva, no matter what. "Step aside, madam. You are making a fool of yourself."

[vissernone]

Eva's hand whips forward, fast enough that there's a wisp of wind before the smack of her palm against Felicity's face.

"You are not to tell me what to do."

[iphigeneia]

Felicity's hand goes to her cheek in an instant. However, if Eva means to silence her, she's going to be awfully disappointed. Blinking back the sting, she spits out the words, "It will take more than that to shut me up, old woman. Now step aside."

[vissernone]

Eva brings her hand back again to backhand Felicity. How dare she? How dare someone not recognize Eva for the force of nature that she is, the hurricane trapped in human clothes? "Stand down, Tribute!"

[iphigeneia]

It hurts. Yes, it hurts badly. But Felicity refuses to yield.

"No." The girl takes a deep breath, rattling in her lungs as she inhales, then exhales. Her face is bright red, burning hot and starting to swell. It hurts, stings like a whip. But compared to what she's been through before? This is nothing. "Go on."

[vissernone]

Eva realizes at this point that she has a choice - continue her attack, try to beat the hell out of this girl for her insolence, and face the Peacekeepers, or leave it now as a threat. It's only because she has to get her damn groceries that she decides on the latter.

She doesn't decide to just drop it, though. That would be wise, and Eva's fueled by pride and anger now.

She grabs for Felicity's hair. "You speak a harsh word to my girl again and you'll never make it out of another Arena alive."

[iphigeneia]

Fee screams, but she doesn't thrash or kick, realizing that doing so will only make the pain worse. Instead, she's certain that her cries will have caught the attention of other patrons of the store, even the ones who'd been avoiding witnessing their altercation. It's only because her head is aching that she doesn't yell back something inflammatory about Eponine, just to spite Eva.

[vissernone]

The people in the store start to rush around them, and Eva pulls away. This isn't where she wants to have her fight. She dumps her grocery items on the floor and makes off in a huff. The patrons clear for her to leave, not wanting to be the person she lashes out at next, and move to comfort Felicity (or, more likely, get the full scoop on what just happened).

There won't be punishment for Eva, at least not with Peacekeepers around. Mentor violence isn't entirely unheard of, and the Capitol citizens don't care much for justice for their Tributes.

[undercoverprincess]

If it was nice out, that meant Cindy was out and about. If she was back home, she'd spend her days shopping and might visit her store once, before going to lunch and then the rest of the day at the spa.

Unless she was out traveling around the world, in which case her day consisted of shopping or a spa, and then kill a few people. But here, your stylists tended to dress you. You could still go shopping, though, or in Cindy's case today, just walking around.

Cindy saw her first, and while she'd been debating going into the cafe she was near...

"Well, shit." She said loudly, stopping where she was. She was wondering when this would happen.

[iphigeneia]

"You."

Felicity stopped in her tracks just before the cafe entrance, eyes narrowed into little angry slits of blue. There was no mistaking Cindy's beautiful face and foul mouth. Fee would never forget those uncaring eyes that had stabbed her like daggers. Seeing that pretty, nasty face again was enough to make her stomach turn. She was disgusted.

[undercoverprincess]

Oh god. Cindy rarely had this problem mostly because the people she killed? Stayed dead. And she just didn't see those people that she betrayed. Lots of things happened that she never really had to own up to.

"...Hey?" Cindy put her hand up in a sort of small wave. What else was she supposed to do?

[iphigeneia]

"That is all you have to say to me?" Fee made no attempt at hiding her contempt. She was enraged, and rightly so as far as she could tell. It wasn't as if she'd understood the rules of the game fully, having been dropped into the arena in the middle of the mayhem. Death worked differently in her experience. Even normal people who had never entered the Realms and their world of magic could not see death as she did, as a living thing which sapped people and corrupted their souls. Cindy had forced her to face that fear, and it made her livid.

[undercoverprincess]

"I don't know what it is that you want me to say." Cindy have a shrug. "I'm sorry for killing you in a place that is a fight to the death? For making sure your death was memorable? Maybe you should be thanking me."

That went too far, and she knew it. But diplomacy was not what she did best. Didn't she tell everyone that, when they sent her to be the envoy to get a treaty signed by the giants? What the fuck was she supposed to do then? She really had no doubt that this particular problem couldn't be solved by getting some ear drops.

[iphigeneia]

"Why would I want to be remembered like that?" The teenager's voice began to spike, cheeks flashing an anger red color. "You are a maniac. You are a sadist. You took pleasure in it!"

The indignity of it all was enough to make Fee want to scream. More so, however, it made her want to repay the favor, tenfold.

[undercoverprincess]

"Okay, no, that's not correct. I didn't take pleasure in it." Cindy shook her head. "That would really make me some kind of psychopath, if I took pleasure in killing. I am not that kind of girl." Hell no. She wasn't Dorothy. Or Goldilocks. Both of them really took pleasure in their kills. Like a serial killer.

"I did what had to be done. Which included killing someone in an interesting way, so that sponsors would send me things so that I could survive." She sighed. "It's your first death. It gets easier over time. And shh, jeez, I'm right here, no need to be loud."

[iphigeneia]

"Don't you dare tell me to shh!" Felicity was shouting now, looking as though she might pounce on Cinderella right then and there. "I've every right to be angry! And I've every right to hate you!"

She didn't care that people might be watching this scene. She was used to getting stared at by now, even if it was generally for her newfound celebrity status and not for her poor behavior.

[undercoverprincess]

God, she would prefer it if she did jump her right here, right now. "I'm not... fine! Hate me!" She put her arms out palms up, and shrugged. "Yeah, I killed you! And you know what? I killed you well!"

People were looking, and Cindy played into it now, screaming back at her. It was going to be on camera, at this point, so why not keep going?

"And stop yelling at me for something that I already know I did, and do not regret in the slightest! So shut the fuck up and calm down!"

[iphigeneia]

Felicity's voice trembled with rage, face growing hot and red. She couldn't stand being talked down to, especially by someone who seemed to have such control and poise. Even when she was angry, Cindy seemed to be in charge of herself. It was enviable, and it made Felicity both admire and despise her even more. "You may not regret it now, but I assure you, you will. And you will regret it every arena until I am finally crowned the victor. Mark my words."

[undercoverprincess]

"So to make me regret... what do you want me to regret? Regret killing you? Or regret talking to you in such a way?" Cindy laughed, taking a half step back so she had more room to laugh. This was ridiculous. So ridiculous, and she was sure that the people here loved it. But she did not understand this girl.

Maybe if they weren't yelling at each other... too late to buy her a cup of coffee, right?

"Yes, very nice. We're going to be put into an arena where we all fight each other to the death, and I know anyone could kill me. But you want me to regret all of this, because you're going to do exactly what you would have done already." Cindy shook her head. "Jesus, calm down. You look like an idiot."

[iphigeneia]

"That is where you are wrong," Felicity snarled. She was beyond the point of being able to back out gracefully. "I don't murder people. I am not a killer. But I will make an exception for you. I will humiliate you and break you. And I'll leave you to die with someone you hate beside you."

She wanted to scream, or at the very least slap Cindy. Instead, she looked exhausted, or like she might explode. "You didn't even care who found me! You didn't even care to finish me off!"

[undercoverprincess]

The people who didn't kill in the arena tend to die in the arena. Hell, what did Ian do this time around? Set himself on fire? There were the people who didn't want to play the game, and didn't, and Cindy respected them. But someone who doesn't kill people, but will kill people?

"I did think that you were dead, or seconds away from it." A slap was what she deserved, and the threats. She did deserve them, but she definitely wasn't going to wallow in them.

"Come on, slap me. I promise, it'll make you feel better for a little bit."

[iphigeneia]

Fee didn't want to give Cindy what she wanted, but she realized that the woman was right about something. Slapping her would make her feel really good, and she didn't need to be told twice. Without hesitation, she drew her arm back and struck Cinderella's cheek as hard as she could, which was actually pretty hard, all things considered.