thecapitol | 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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Cyrus takes the aside to the camera entirely in stride, letting his smile widen, turn cheerfully conspiratorial - there's nothing unusual to either of them about sharing a conversation with an invisible audience, and all of his behavior is pointedly in keeping with protocol.

If they were alone, he might say, No. If they were alone, he might say Two years was not enough. He'd hoped so much, at the beginning of Stephen's hiatus, that it would be enough time to turn his attention (always so fleeting before!) in another direction-- one pointing inward, toward the Capitol, toward the center, and not out into the rough and unstable Districts. It's taken only these brief minutes, watching Stephen shepherd his Tributes, to see how utterly dashed that hope is.

They're not alone, though, and so Cyrus says, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. I almost wish I didn't know, honestly-- I envy them all the surprise." He leans in a little closer, dropping his voice (but not with any intention of making it inaudible)-- "You know them better than I do - how do you think they'll react?"

The wheels turning in Stephen's head are practically visible as he considers the question. He runs through his tributes: Anna, Perry, Kevin, Punchy, Ian, Guy -- and for a moment, his smile freezes.

It's Guy who gives him pause, Guy who wasn't afraid to let Stephen know how much he despised the Arena and the Capitol. Guy's wife or daughter, in the mini-Arena -- Guy wouldn't take well to it.

But it's only a split second; Stephen's recovery is smooth. "It's going to be exciting," he says. "It'll give their families a little taste of our Tributes' experiences in the Capitol. I'm sure we'll see a lot of close bonding, ah -- families and friends brought closer together through shared experiences. And I'm sure that just seeing their families again is a real treat," he continues, his smile coming more naturally. "These are people that some of our Tributes haven't seen in a long time."

Cyrus' enthusiasm for the upcoming event is about on a level with Guy's, truth be told. It was an opportunity to give Stephen something to talk about, to let him make it all about the Tributes-- he's good at doing that.

He smiles warmly out at the room, and lets the conversation shift to a place that won't require him to pretend he has any real positive feelings about his participation in the coming weeks. "Yes," he says, "Those are the moments that make all the planning worthwhile. I'm so glad I get to witness them personally." He sighs-- "That's a downside of my work. I see all the numbers, all the planning reports, but I have to watch the human side on the screens with everyone else. When I find the time."

Stephen's brows crease in sympathy -- how very sad -- for a moment. "I'm sure we all understand and appreciate the hard work that goes into these Games, especially now that they're held year-round. It's easy to remember the Gamemakers and the Stylists and the Escorts, but there's so much more that goes on behind the scenes that makes the Hunger Games run smoothly." Gosh, your job is so important, Cyrus, even if it's not as exciting as his.

"I'm looking forward to showing you the human side of the Games," says Stephen, with real honesty in his voice -- nothing about that is put on for the cameras. My job is important too, and legitimately cool, and please let me show you how awesome it is.

He takes the implied compliment with grace and a fond smile, taking a hand from his pocket to sling it around Stephen's shoulders and tug him close for a friendly, one-armed hug. "I'm looking forward to seeing it," he replies. "You've worked so hard for this. Who better to show it off than you?"

If he holds on a few seconds too long, it's imperceptible; if the smile in his voice has no real warmth behind it, it doesn't come through for the cameras; if he has no interest in Stephen's delusions about the humanity of the Hunger Games, he isn't going to say so here.

"Actually," Stephen began, excited, "once the tributes and their families are settled in, I was thinking of--"

Cut off abruptly by a cry of stay back, you monster, Stephen was affronted for a moment (who was rude enough to...?) but then he actually looked at the source of the disturbance.

"Oh, no."

That didn't look good. That didn't look good at all, and it was getting worse by the moment.

Cyrus' brow furrowed at the interruption-- the voice rose over the rest of the murmur, louder and more urgent than the voices around it. It took only a second to find the source - that bizarre black-eyed otherworlder with the fixed grin, and-- was that his visitor--? His loved one...?

It didn't matter. They were at each other's throats. Cyrus searched automatically for a peacekeeper, twisting to scan every corner of the room-- where were they? Twenty otherworlders in one room and not a single peacekeeper?

With none in sight, he put out an arm, seeking to push Stephen behind him as he himself stepped back - both of them out of harm's way, but Cyrus between Stephen and the fight. "Stay back," he said, keeping his eyes fixed on the scuffle. It was meant to be calming-- to keep Stephen from panicking in the face of this unexpected danger. "The peacekeepers will be here any moment." They had better be, if they know what's good for them.

Edited 2014-04-19 23:13 (UTC)

Hands had curled around necks, and horror filled Stephen's face. He didn't see any peacekeepers, and if no one stepped in --

Stephen reached the decision in a moment. He strode forward, pushing Cyrus's arm out of the way as he went, intent on breaking it up.

"Stephen!"

It's barked out, short and shocked, before he can begin to think of getting his voice under control. He grasps at Stephen's arm, his clothes, any part of him he can reach, but it's too little, too late-- Stephen is already all but between the two furious otherworlders.

Cyrus takes half an instinctive step forward. Halts. Scans the room again for a peacekeeper. Sees none. Looks back at Stephen. Feels fear curling in his stomach, tinged at the edges with the beginnings of panic.

"--Security. Security!" He bulls into the crowd, seeking a peacekeeper to drag back here by the hair, if he has to. He throws one last glance over his shoulder at Stephen, and hopes he hasn't taken too long to act already.

Thicker Than Blood Start

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think we're good to end here!