there's a light at each end of this tunnel [open]

[ecphrasis]

Who| Molly Hooper & you.
What| Wandering.
Where| The training center, choose a level.
When| Just after her arrival.
Warnings/Notes| I'll roll with anything! She could be outside the center, joined in the elevator, on any random floor, etc.

Molly Hooper has no idea what is happening.

The series of events she has just gone through do not make sense. As she stands just outside the elevator on the tenth floor of apartments in the training center, she recaps them in her mind: she had been at Bart's working on a double homicide; she had presumably blacked out and woken up on a hard metal cot; an explanation that she hadn't fully been able to grasp had been given before she had been whisked up an elevator to this place they said was to live.

And for a few long moments, all she can think is that no, this isn't where she lives. She lives in a flat not far from the hospital, with her cat Toby and a Chinese takeout place right down the street. She lives in London, on the only Earth that has ever existed. No Capitol, no arenas, none of these things they tell her exist really can, because if they did--if they did--

Molly Hooper is frightened, and she cannot make herself feel otherwise.

Suddenly, she turns and slams her palm against the elevator button, willing it to return quickly. Once inside she presses a button, she doesn't know which one, trying to control her breathing. She needs to leave this place, find a way back to London, to her job and her cat and vague newspaper clippings about Sherlock's "suicide." Those are things she wants, needs, things that make sense. Those are things that will tell her that none of this is real and that they don't actually expect her to hurt anyone. Those things still need to exist or else Molly Hooper doesn't know if she can survive this place.

Comments

[capitolprivilege]

"Well, all right," he says with an easy shrug. "I know it's a lot to take in all at once, on your first day here." Stephen tilts his head slightly to the side, curiously. "Molly, they didn't mention which District you've been assigned to, did they?"

[ecphrasis]

She bites her lip, trying to remember. "Ten," she finally says. "District ten is what they told me." She has no idea what that means, but she's sure that he does.

[capitolprivilege]

"The people who are brought here are split into twelve groups," Stephen explains. "Twelve groups to represent the twelve Districts this country of Panem is divided into. You'll be sharing a set of rooms with everyone else who's been assigned to 10. 10th District means it's on the 10th floor. Easy enough to remember. You'll have an Escort, like me, living there with you. It's their job to help you adjust to living in the Capitol, and also to make sure you're everywhere you need to be. Listen to what they say, all right? They and your Mentors -- people who've won the games you're here for -- they're here to help you." He gives her a sideways smile. "I work for Six, myself, but I don't mind lending you a hand. Not at all."

[ecphrasis]

As she listens, Molly nods a bit. Not because she agrees with any of this, but because she can't help it. At least he's telling her something and explaining it, no just throwing the information at her and expecting her to understand or accept it. "Thank you." The response is automatic, but no less sincere. She looks at her lap. "I just--everything's happening so fast."

[capitolprivilege]

"I know," he says, and the sympathy truly sounds genuine. "It'll be all right, Molly. You've got several weeks to figure it all out -- the Arena's not till late next month." A beat, then he goes on, gently: "Now, would you like me to walk you back down to the tenth floor? Or would you rather stay up here a while longer? You can take all the time you need," Stephen adds, his tone making it clear that he's not trying to hurry her at all.

[ecphrasis]

It'll be all right. But will it? She's been taken from her home, is being held captive in a place where she'll be expected to kill people for sport, and she has no plausible way of escape. She takes a breath, and exhales deeply. "I would like to stay here." Just for a while, to clear her head. "Thank you for--for talking with me."

[capitolprivilege]

He nods.

"Would you like me to stay with you a while longer, or would you rather be alone?" The tone was still quiet, still gentle.

[ecphrasis]

Molly shakes her head, and stares at the cement as she collects herself. "I'll be okay here."

[capitolprivilege]

"All right."

Stephen stands, and rests a hand on her shoulder for a moment -- shorter, if it looks like she's flinching away.

"Remember what I said about your Mentors. And talk to the other Tributes. Try to find allies, for when the Arena comes." A pause. "Good luck."