thecapitol | Thicker Than Blood Start

Thicker Than Blood Start

For Tributes with keen eyes, they'll notice that Peacekeeper presence seems increased and yet infinitely more ineffective in the last few weeks. Peacekeepers seem harried, as do the Stylists, and most of the Escorts titter and plot without alerting the Tributes as to what, exactly, is so exciting. They simply say that this weekend they'll know.

And so it happens that on the weekend in question, the Tributes are woken by their Escorts early and brought to a restaurant for a hearty breakfast. The restaurant is nothing spectacular, although they seem to be trying to make an impression on the television cameras that float around. The sleepy, cranky meal goes by and then the Tributes are led back to their Suites for a mandatory meeting.

Sitting on couches and the floor, in chairs and on windowsills, standing off to the side - people from the Tributes' homes are waiting to greet them in each District Suite. Some are confused, some accepting, some frightened and some elated to see their beloved. Either way, it should be an eventful reunion.

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Her first thought was of her symbiont, and of the possible injuries it may have suffered during the transport into another universe. Sure, she'd time-travelled safely before, but this was a whole new ball game, and she couldn't let anything happen to Dax. So it was with some trepidation that Jadzia slowly settling into the District Seven suite, taking in her surroundings and getting used to the idea of being kidnapped to a completely alien world.

Luckily, everything seemed to check out biologically speaking, even if the explanation wasn't exactly obvious. Jadzia always liked a challenge, and figuring out the circumstances of her abduction as well as understanding the mechanisms of the Capitol's dream-induction technology was near the top of her to-do list. Their Avox handlers weren't too chatty, alas, and she had a ton to catch up on. This week was going to be jam packed even before she was reunited with Julian.

Julian was, by this point, quite through with all the secrecy, sly smiles hidden behind hands, and talk of wonderful surprises. He'd had quite enough of the Capitol's idea of surprises by now. First Garak, then the maze arena...

Well, of course everything was awful, he couldn't be caught off-guard by that any longer.

And then he was herded back into the District 7 suites, and stopped short, paralyzed with horror and fear--God, they'd dragged Jadzia into this hell too?

"Jadzia?"

He was, perhaps, rather more quiet in his greeting than she'd be used to, and unable to keep the tremulous tone from his voice no matter how desperately he wanted to. Garak was one thing--he was Garak. But his mind couldn't help but provide worst-case scenario after worst-case scenario where Jadzia was concerned--the effect whatever mechanism the Capitol used to bring them back after arenas would have on a joined Trill, simply the knowledge that if she was being forced into this game as well she would die, and nothing he could do to stop it...

"God, what are you doing here?"

"Julian?" Her eyes lit up at the sight of him. She was reassured that at the very least she had someone she could trust to help her find a way out of this place and back to DS9. Of course, she'd just seen him a few hours ago, so the weight of their encounter now meant nothing to her really. "The situation hasn't been explained to us yet. We've only just been brought here. What's going on? What can you tell me about this place?"

"I almost don't know where to start."

Julian felt as if he'd swallowed something heavy and unpleasant, his fear and anxiety settling like a cold rock in his stomach. Of course they're being watched, so he needs to be discrete--with Garak, he'd spoken Cardassian, but that wouldn't work with Jadzia.

"What have they told you thus far? And...this may seem like an odd question, but when exactly was the last time you saw Garak or I?"

Julian's reaction was enough for her to realize that something was truly wrong, that the lines the officials in this world had tried to sell were maybe not the truth.

"We were told that this is a dreamscape of some kind. Judging by the reactions though, it seems like that was maybe a bit of a fabrication." Jadzia glanced over at the other families and their heartfelt reunions. "We were at Quark's only hours ago. Why do you ask?"

"They have technology capable of that, but I wouldn't be so quick as to believe them." He barely even thinks of taking her elbow and moving to a comfortable corner--what is personal space anyway?

"I wish I'd been at Quark's...I've been here for months, and before that we were on that planetoid in the dark matter nebula where we'd crashed after destroying the ketracel white storage facility." Julian frowned as he considered the timelines--he didn't have enough information to determine what exactly the discrepancy was. It occurred to him that she may not know what he was talking about. "Garak is here as well--has been for a few weeks now."

He glances around--cameras everywhere, of course, so speaking freely isn't really an option. At least in Standard. Perhaps they could find a more private venue later.

His cautious look transforms into a smile, but the expression promises that he's got rather a lot more to say. "When we have a moment to ourselves, you'll have to catch me up. I'd rather not go into embarrassing station gossip with so many people about."

"Months?" There was no mistaking the surprised squeak in her voice, but she managed to swallow it and pull a neutral face. "I'd say that's impossible, but I think we both know that it is. Still, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this place."

She knew that look on Julian's face and she was both intrigued and troubled by it. But instead of pressing him with too many questions out of the gate, she realized it was best to play this one close to the chest.

"Yes. When we have a moment to ourselves." She looked around, for any sign of the enigmatic Mister Garak. "What about Benjamin and the rest of the crew? Is there any sign that they've been pulled into this dimension also?"

"Impossible, but true. And I hope that you're not around long enough to wrap your mind around it."

Julian would have to contact Garak later, but for now he was happy--well, for a given definition of happy--to keep Jadzia to himself. But he notices Jadzia looking around--presumably for him--and chimes in.

"He's not living on this floor, he's a few farther up."

As for her other question--

"No. As far as I can tell, we're the only ones that have had the pleasure of visiting." There's a small twist in his voice that speaks volumes for just how much of a pleasure it really is.

That wouldn't necessarily stop her from being concerned about the others, but at least she wouldn't have to worry about them all directly.

"I hope my stay is just long enough for us to find a way out of this place. There's got to be a way to get ourselves and everyone else back to our home dimensions." Her brow furrowed.

Oh, Julian's concerned enough for the both of them, really. This little show of what the Capitol is capable of is not sitting well with him at all.

"I hope so, too." Not too much hope, because the letdown would be spectacularly awful. But if anyone can help, it's Jadzia--being absolutely bloody brilliant and all.

"There's a few people I'd like you to meet, in any case. I'm sure you'll find at least some of them interesting."

"I'd like that," she said, trying not to look too concerned. She put a hand on Julian's forearm and gave it a squeeze. "There's a lot I have to learn about this place. I could use all the friendly tour guides I can get."

The stylists had been kind enough to give the girl something to wear other than her pajamas. Madoka Kaname stood silently with wide-eyes, hands joined at the front of her new cotton dress. The last thing she remembered was a fitful half-sleep before waking up here, surrounded by strangers, told that she was in a dream and not to fret. But she had been upset, and wept softly - her heart plunged in her chest as she remembered Mami's death, the memory inescapable even in dreams. The stylists and TV crew now perfectly annoyed, Madoka's puffy eyes were concealed with powder and she was rushed off to District 7's suite to wait for reasons the poor girl could not imagine.

Kyubey wasn't with her anymore and he hadn't followed her here. Madoka looked about the room for someone she recognized to no avail. There was then a sudden pouring of people into the room and the gentle girl watched carefully: as the crowd parted, she saw, to her great surprise, that Homura Akemi was among them.

If this was a dream, it would almost make sense; though her memory was fuzzy, this was not the first time she had met with her this way...

There was a silence between them. Not knowing what else to do, Madoka started towards the other girl.

"Homura-chan..."

Oh, no. No. No. This couldn't be. It wasn't. It couldn't--

It was. No matter what she tried to do, to pretend or convince herself that it was just a dream, she knew it wasn't. Madoka Kaname was standing there, in a new dress no doubt furnished by the Capitol, looking terrified and confused. She clasped her hands together, tightly, as her mind focused, and her inner voice screamed No over and over and over.

Was she here? Was she here for keeps? Or was this just a show?...Homura herself had been well-dressed, in a purple dress. She hadn't known why this had been so.

But now, she knew. It stared back at her face with large, scared pink eyes.

"Madoka."

Her lips and clasped hands shook, just slightly, even as Homura tried to keep her cool exterior.

"Welcome to Panem."

She wanted to throw up that breakfast the Peacekeepers had given to her, and then toss it back in their damned faces.

Edited 2014-04-16 21:41 (UTC)

"...Panem...?"

Madoka could not help but stare a moment, the other girl's torment lost on her. Homura's dress was so strange and womanly, so unlike what she had seen her in before, she thought. The girl understood that like herself, she did not wear it by choice - they had both been brought here by those people, except Homura, as she usually did, already knew what was happening.

Madoka was utterly bewildered. Her gaze left Homura and she shuffled nervously, looking down. She realized, with a startled but not unpleasant surprise, that it was the first time Homura had addressed her without using her last name. She did not know what to say.

"D.. Do you know why we're here, Homura-chan? Sayaka-chan isn't-.. I haven't seen her, yet..." At a loss, she was scrambling for something to say to her. She wanted to ask Homura about Mami, about what would happen now that she was gone and if Homura had seen such things before, but it made her feel like crying again and this was not the place. With these cameras around, she was not sure they would even get one moment of privacy.

"I know why I am here." Homura stared back, flipping her hair almost caustically. Niceties such as "Miss Kaname" were lost on her, now. "I hold no illusions. But I do wish to ask my hosts why you are here."

She took a deep breath, after this. No, she had to control her anger. She was frightening Madoka.

"Miki Sayaka isn't here, not that I've seen. What is the last thing you remember, before you found yourself here?"

Madoka's eyes rose from the floor and focused once more on Homura. She knew? And more still, it was simply the two of them, whisked away in the night? Madoka could not handle the smoke and mirrors any longer, but she did not want to argue and shut Homura out as Mami had done before her death. "What's going on? Please tell us," Madoka pleads desperately. She speaks as if Sayaka is still with her, as if the two of them are still naively trying to navigate the world of magical girls. She regret that she had not listened to Homura before, had not heeded her warnings... but she was listening now, with every fibre of her being.

But what Homura asks next is too much and Madoka's voice breaks. "Homura-chan! How could you forget...?! Mami-san was... she..."

Against all of her willpower, tears began to prick at the corners of Madoka's eyes and she closes them tight. She couldn't say it when Homura knew well what had happened. It had not occurred to her that they had not been brought together; all she wanted was an answer...

Edited 2014-04-17 02:52 (UTC)

Mami-san was...she...

At Madoka's words, and as the teards began to form in that girl's eyes, Homura's frown deepened. Not at Madoka, of course. Naturally, they would bring her at a moment when she was vulnerable. The same moment Homura had been taken.

"I...didn't mean it like that." Homura's voice softened, just slightly, at the sight of the poor girl. "That is the moment I came from as well. But, they have brought people here, from different times, different worlds. I didn't know..."

Her voice trailed off. She must have sounded foolish. More foolish than when she tried to convince Madoka, in timelines before...

"This place, Panem." The softness left Homura's voice, as she tried again to assert herself. Her coldness. "Its dangerous. And its not a dream, nor is it a hallucination. Don't listen to anyone who would claim otherwise."

At this, she looked down.

"We should probably speak. In private. My room. Please join me."

Edited 2014-04-17 03:03 (UTC)

Her eyes open slowly and Madoka stiffens to keep herself from crying. She listens carefully, surprised at Homura's compassion. It makes her feel better somewhat, but death is a hard thing to recover from.

People from... other worlds? She couldn't comprehend it, it was far harder for her to grasp than the Witches had been. All she could do was trust Homura - Madoka looks over her shoulder at the cameras behind her. Would they be allowed to get away?

She nods at last, taking another step towards Homura. She was not sure how the girl had a room here, but she would trust her. Homura knew what she was doing.

"Okay."

With a quiet motion, Homura led Madoka into her room. There were cameras, to be sure. She knew that. But they were hidden, at least, so Madoka wouldn't have to worry about them. Not up front, at least.

She wanted to explain everything to Madoka. Maybe this time, Madoka would believe her. On this, maybe Madoka will finally understand. ~~Was she being delusional on this? No, no. She couldn't be. She had to not give in to her doubts on this. Not yet. Not now.~~

The moment she opened the door, a small pink cat with red ribbons over its ears perked its head up, hobbling towards the door with a series of almost asthmatic meows. She was, thankfully, not dressed up; the stylists didn't get their grubby hands on her. And, she was also curious about the strange new pink creature coming into her and her mama's territory.

Madoka followed close behind, relieved to get away from the crowd and their cameras. Homura's quarters reminded her of Mami's room, and the similarities kick up more pangs of guilt and sorrow. But these troubles are assuaged by a distraction - a cat with a fur colour and ribbons not unlike her hair trots up to them and Madoka gasps with surprise and gentle affection.

Madoka loved animals. The cat is as sweet and adorable as she had found Kyubey the day they'd met. "Homura-chan...! You have a cat...!" Though her voice is low, and her usual cheer is dampened by the situation, her happiness is unmistakeable. At first she'd wondered if Homura disliked animals, by the way she treated Kyubey. She knows at once (rather, she had known the moment she'd saved their lives) that all of them had been wrong about Homura. Madoka finally meets Homura's gaze with a soft smile. "How cute... What's her name?"

Homura's eyes widened, as Madoka looked up at her, from her cat. She could only look down, her cheeks flushing, just slightly. She felt simultaneously awkward, caught, complimented...she didn't know which feeling was the most prevalent.

"...Her name is--" She suddenly mumbled, as if she seemed a bit embarrassed by the revelation. "Madoka."

The cat, meanwhile, looked up at Madoka, letting out another meow as she rubbed against the girl's legs. The pupils were dilated in wonder - and confusion. It was like looking in a mirror. A funhouse mirror. One that took away half of her fur in the reflection. ~~It was so strange.~~

"She...reminded me of you."

Madoka gasped slightly, but not unpleasantly, when Homura revealed her pet's name. Blushing as well, she was lost in thought for a moment until the cat rubbed up against her legs and she bent down to meet it. What a sweet, tiny little thing... Madoka began to pet her feline twin affectionately, smiling softly.

"'Madoka'... " She finally giggled to herself, deciding she was flattered. Her hand brushed along the cat's back with the gentlest of strokes. "Nice to meet you, Madoka..."

Still petting the cat, Madoka spoke now to Homura. "Homura-chan, I used to think... that you didn't like me very much." She remembers when she hid behind Sayaka after Homura looked at her in class. Sayaka and Mami had believed Homura was jealous of them, but though she can't put her finger on it, she knows they must have been wrong. Madoka can't help but feel guilty for her reaction, now.

"But now I know that's not it at all! You're very kind, Homura-chan."

~~This was seriously--oh...aaaah, that feels good. Meow....what was Madoka thinking about again?~~

"I'm not that kind." Homura was quick to deny it, to look away, to flip her hair. "I only do what I need to do, regardless of what must be done. That's my destiny."

Jealous? Never. Not of Madoka. She never would be. She knew people wouldn't be able to understand, no matter what they would insist.

"But, that can't be helped. And I'm fine with it."

Madoka smiled knowingly at the other girl. Homura was unkind? She didn't believe that at all. Without Sayaka here to tell her otherwise, Madoka trusted Homura easily. "Well, we'll be good friends from now on, okay?" she promised quietly, if a bit shyly.

Though she was still upset over Mami's death - it was, of course, a sadness that would take a very long time to heal - it was easier now to smile and Homura had made that possible. Madoka straightened up from patting the cat and looked to Homura curiously. She still had some questions about this place.

"Homura-chan, how long have you and 'Madoka' been here? And why?" She asked calmly. She wondered if there were others, here, that mistook Homura's introversion for being an unfriendly person.

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Thicker Than Blood Start

District 7

Jadzia Dax - For Julian & Open

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Madoka Kaname - for Homura + OTA

Re: Madoka Kaname - for Homura + OTA

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