'Cause I only need your name...

[the_marshal]

WHO| Wyatt, Maximus, and Elias
WHAT| The Rebellion's about to get 1000% more awesome.
WHERE| District Three suites, then the Speakeasy, one of the secret, private rooms.
WHEN| Last night of the races.
Notes/Warnings| None.



It had been something Wyatt had intended on doing almost as soon as he'd agreed to help Elias sneak back into the city. He didn't like keeping things from Max, even for good reason, for one, and for another, having the two men know each other, knowing that Max could find him if he had need - if something happened to Wyatt - would only have given him some extra peace of mind in the arena. But there simply hadn't been the time.

The arena had been waiting, smack after their return from the districts and there'd been too much to do. Too much to say.

Arraigning a secret meeting had fallen by the wayside. All but forgotten until the sudden, unexpected evening out with Venus and Enjrolas had brought it back to the forefront of his mind.

With the races keeping everyone busy, the crowds on the streets large and ruckus and paying no mind to anything but who was in the lead, it seemed the perfect time now.

Heading up to Three, he rapped a knuckle on Max's door - more out of habit than a need for permission - and let himself in.

"Ya got any plans for this evenin'?" he asked, offering the giant cat that looked up from it's place at the foot of the bed a sniff of his hand, than a careful pet.

Comments

[gluteus]

Maximus was just stepping out of the shower - one of the few modern luxuries that he indulged in - towel wrapped around his hip as he was padding back to his clothes.

"Not at all, just came back from training," He murmured with a smile as he grabbed his tunic. "Something on your mind?"

[the_marshal]

By luck or design, Wyatt had always had good timing.

He gave himself a moment simply to watch - he was a healthy man, still in his prime - and to enjoy the little warm kick in his chest, before speaking again.

"I was thinkin' 'bout steppin' out for a drink, thought I'd see if you'd fancy on joinin' me an' savin' me from drinkin' alone."

[gluteus]

He slid his tunic over his head and then let the towel fall, slipping his small clothes on underneath.

"I would never leave you to such a fate," Maximus said with an amused look. "I would be happy to join you."

[the_marshal]

"Yer a good man, Max," Wyatt chuckled, watching Max's hands attentively. Letting his mind wander a moment more before he tucked his imaginings aside for later.

"...The Speakeasy suit ya?"

[gluteus]

To Maximus' benefit, he didn't pause or look at Wyatt oddly when he mentioned it, though he couldn't help but think that this drink might have a greater purpose than usual. Instead, he just smiled as he grabbed a wide belt.

"Of course. Am I to assume that this evening may or may not end with cards as well?"

[the_marshal]

Unprompted, Wyatt stepped closer, reaching to help Max fit the belt around his waist, fingers nimble over the leather as it was cinched.

"A'course," he smiled fondly, a glint in his eye. "Yer the only man I can still afford to lose to."

[gluteus]

He hadn't expected the help, but his hands fell away easily as it was offered, and he chuckled lowly, leaning in to take a quick kiss while he had Wyatt in range.

"Mm, are you so certain you can afford to lose to me, either?" He asked with a small smirk.

It was warmer now than it had been, but the wind still bit and it rained often, so Maximus grabbed his cloak and through it over his shoulders.

"Ready, when you are."

[the_marshal]

His smile warmed, curled wickedly at one corner, the taste of Max buzzing pleasantly on his tongue. Like bees, like honey.

"Iffen I come up a bit short, I reckon you an' me can reach some sort'a agreement." He checked the belt, tugging, then his hands fell away. "I don't trust jus' anybody to be so accomdatin'."

Stepping back, he pulled open the door with one hand, ushering Max through and leaving the cat with a nod and a warning to behave itself. (It harrumphed and flopped onto a lean flank, an overgrown house-cat, happy to nap.)

[gluteus]

"Oh, I'm sure we can figure something out," He rumbled with a laugh, giving Ferox a fond pat on the head before leaving him behind.

The walk to the speak easy was a pleasant one, the weather better than he'd given it credit for. He was happy to see the Winter retreating - it reminded him of Germania, and he needed few reminders.

He opened the door to the bar with only a slightly playful smirk. "After you."

[the_marshal]

Revelry spilled from the tavern and into the street, laughter and unintelligible voices, clicking glasses and music every bit as loud as the crowds gathered in the streets for the races. If anyone noticed their arrival, they didn't show it, busy with their companions and their drinks.

Their usual table was occupied, but Wyatt didn't trouble himself trying to find another. Instead he elbowed himself space at the bar and leaned close to the maid - trying to be heard.

Not hoping it would be harder for anyone else to overhear.

After a quick exchange she smiled and reached under the bar, nodding her head back. Winking at Max after Wyatt moved aside before the crowd swallowed her up again.

"This way," he told him, following the barmaid's motion with one of his own.

[gluteus]

Maximus arched an eyebrow, silent as he followed, though his expression didn't otherwise change. Wyatt had told him about the backrooms, of course, and now Maximus had reason to believe that was exactly where they were going.

So, his instinct had been right. This was no mere drink.

[the_marshal]

"It ain't entirely pretense," Wyatt murmured once they were alone. The ruckus of the main room dropped away behind them, muffled through the walls, the door as it closed. "I do want'a drink, an' I could play cards with you until the cows come home, but if there's anythin' the last arena taught me it's that I might not be here."

He looked at Max with earnest eyes, trusting he would understand and wouldn't be upset by a small white lie.

"...An' I want ya to know where to go, who yer lookin' for."

[gluteus]

"I understand," Maximus said heavily. He didn't take it as a deceit. Though Wyatt's words made him pause.

"What do you mean, who I would look for?"

[the_marshal]

"Ya remember what I said that night, 'bout the mentor from ten who went missin'?"

Wyatt looked down the hall, then back at Max, head tipped. "Well, turns out the Capitol really did send him home, an' when we were in the districts, he came to see me."

He half-turned, starting moving down the hallway, still explaining as Max moved with him.

"Asked for help. I did... on his word that if, er when, somethin' happens to me, he'll be here for ya."

[gluteus]

Maximus let out a heavy breath - he didn't like the idea that Wyatt had taken such a risk upon himself when Maximus wouldn't have been there to help him, but in the end Wyatt was his own man and Maximus trusted his judgement.

"Anything happens to you, Wyatt, and I'm burning this whole city down," He muttered under his breath. It was only half a joke.

[the_marshal]

Wyatt could tell, just by the look on Max's face, that the man didn't like it, but then, Wyatt hadn't much either, but he hadn't had much choice in the matter. Max had been across the country and using the little boxes to tell him would have been akin to asking the Capitol to kill him. Or Max. Or both.

"An' he'll see ya have matches enough..." Wyatt murmured back, reaching across to rest a hand on Max's shoulder. A joke, unequally unfunny.

A squeeze, then his hand fell away as the came up to a door. Pausing before it, he knocked.

[nofunandgames]

Elias hadn't been expecting company tonight, and although he knew it would be someone safe, there was a paranoia that always weighed on him here.

So when he opened the door and saw Wyatt, although it was not exactly unexpected, it still brought a big, warm smile to his face. His eyes flicked to Max, and his smile only broadened. Besides a handful of the other mentors, Wyatt was the closest thing he had to family in this city, really. In the world now, and no insult to Wyatt, but the brief though brought a quick ache. It was a sad statement that his world had been whittled down that small. He pushed it away.

Since Wyatt had last seen Elias, Conscientia, the owner of this place, had gotten ahold of him, and he looked like a different man. Which was the point. Dark grey bangs covered half his face, obscuring the smooth socket where his eye had been, and the right side was marked with heavy make up and new piercings. It wasn't a look he enjoyed, but it screwed up camera recognition software, and protected him to some extent from a casual citizen recognizing him. He still never let anyone see him for long, but he put up with the makeover.

Stepping back, he let the two men into the room.

"I'm guessing a round or two is in order?"

[the_marshal]

He looked different, sure, but also better. Less peaked, healthier, fuller. Conscientia, Wyatt expected, has also been seeing that the former mentor got square meals and least pretended to rest.

"Mighty obliged," he replied, smiling in return as he lead the way into the room. "Forgive us for droppin' in, but I figured it was high time you two got acquainted."

Turning back, he gestured between the two other men.

"Elias, this is Maximus." Which all fairness, Elias already knew, but it felt odd to only give an introduction one way. "Max, Elias."

[gluteus]

Maximus gave a stiff bow of his head.

"I am told you are the man to seek if anything should happen to Wyatt," Maximus replied, his voice low and rumbling, as if his throat was full of stones.

"If you have his trust, then you have mine."

[nofunandgames]

Elias nodded.

"Hopefully it won't come to that." But he wasn't trying to hide it under the carpet. Hopefully it wouldn't, but no one had a safety guarantee here. Especially not anyone dipping their toes into this trouble.

He extended his hand, smiling over at Maximus.

"Good to, finally, meet you."

[the_marshal]

"I'm plannin' on avoidin' that if I can," Wyatt added, wry amusement, as he watched the two men interact. Pleased that everything seemed to off on good footing.

"Whatever issues I go with the Capitol, I got some good things goin' too. I'd like to see 'em through."

He glanced at Max as he spoke, gaze fond, then he turned, slipping out of his coat and wrapping it around the back of a chair.

[gluteus]

He took the extended hand as he was known to - by the elbow, shaking Elias' arm firmly.

"I admit I cannot say 'finally'," Maximus said. "I only just learned of your existence." He glanced over at Wyatt. "Which, I believe, was the point."

[nofunandgames]

Elias grinned wide at that. It meant, to him, that he could trust Wyatt. Something clearly he had already thrown in the chips to do, but it was good to hear it reinforced so clearly.

"Such is the life of a victor. Everyone knows your business before you do."

Now that the introductions were over, the man was clearly relaxing.

"So, shall I get us some drinks flowing? Whiskey?"

[the_marshal]

Wyatt met Max's gaze, then turned back to Elias.

"From here, ya should expect anythin' I know, I'm goin' to pass on to him as soon as I can," he said.

He was happy to put Elias as at east, proving his confidence was in good hands, but he wasn't going to leave Max in the dark again.

Partners, through an' through.

[gluteus]

"Wine," Maximus said. He preferred it above all else - one of the few things that had remained relatively unchanged over the millennia. He reached out - squeezed Wyatt's shoulder warmly before taking a seat.

He still had very little idea of what he was here to speak about, but he was more than willing to do so.

sorry guys, I marked this seperatly since it was NPC and then lost it. So sorry.

[nofunandgames]

Elias nodded warmly, both at Wyatt's words and Maximus request, and went to the door, fingers moving easily over the small board for ordering.

Sitting back down, he made him self comfortable, reaching down to access his things. Everyone only got so much information, as a defense mechanism, but he was planning to share what he had.

"My job is to find those here who are sympathetic to the rebellion. And possibly get them out, when we can."

[the_marshal]

Settling into the chair beside Max's, Wyatt's forehead wrinkled - torn between surprise and uncertainty.

"Get 'em out?" he repeated. "You mean -- out'a the city?"

He glanced over at Max.

[gluteus]

He didn't meet Wyatt's eye, instead his gaze was locked firmly on Elias.

"I believe we can safely affirm that we have more than mere sympathy," Maximus said, firmly, leaning in closer. The idea of him and Wyatt being able to escape this city, being able to be outside--

"Free me, and I will raise you an army."

[nofunandgames]

He arched a brow, and couldn't keep in an impressed chuckle.

Well, that was promising.

"Luckily, we've got one started for you. Getting people in one place, however, with us divided among the districts can be challenging."

He took in a deep breath. His trust of Wyatt was not wavering, but admitting this still made him nervous.

"We are working to get people moved to District 13."

[the_marshal]

Wyatt couldn't say he was all that surprised to hear the supposed dead district was very much alive - since when had the Capitol ever been upfront about anything - but he couldn't imagine how they were managing it.

Getting Elias into city had been adventure by itself. Getting out couldn't only be harder.

...But that didn't stop him from already picturing it. No more hiding, no more whispering, bringing the games to an end -- being free with Max.... He might not have had as much to offer as Max did - he wasn't a general - but there wasn't much he wouldn't do to earn that chance.

"How?" he asked. "Tribute faces are everywhere, everybody knows who we are - gotta figure they'll notice us on a train out without somebody official holdin' our hands."

[gluteus]

Maximus, however, was somewhat further behind.

"District 13?" He repeated. He knew the story, but: "Wasn't it destroyed?"

[nofunandgames]

"How is the hard part. We're working on it, but..." He held up his hand in a helpless gesture.

"There's a lot of moving pieces. And I don't know all of them. I'm only at one end. But I know there are ways and means. One tribute has already been smuggled out."

It wasn't great, he knew. Trust one faceless entity in a strange world for no reason. But it was what he had.

"It was a shock for me, too. We've always had 13 held in front of our noses as what happens if you don't behave. But 13 has the nuclear weapons, and it forced the Capitol to back off, or lose in a big way."

It didn't occur to him the nuclear weapons would mean nothing to them. The threat of nuclear war had always been a simple fact, hanging in the background of his life. Vague and unknown.

[the_marshal]

Working in Elias' favor was the fact that Wyatt already trusted him, and that there wasn't much he wouldn't do for a chance at freedom. For a chance at bringing the Capitol down.

"Must really be somethin' if jus' the threat got 'em to stand down," he mused, eyebrows up as he leaned against the table.