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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I'm not her pet." He didn't like how Dominic was insinuating Adelle was not worth being loyal to, especially after all that had happened to the man. "We all signed on the dotted line, so don't act so surprised that you ended up where you did."

Topher wanted to leave Dominic to his own devices, see how the man liked being yanked around this stupid world. He glared at an Avox as though Dominic's being here was their fault. "I think I would know the Attic if I was in it. Unlike some my higher brain functions can actually tell the difference between living in a stressful world and being pampered." He wasn't going to mention the Arenas or the celebrity, both of which were equally stressful to Topher.

"Cute." Dominic's patience for Topher's snide little insults hasn't grown any since his banishment into this hellish neverending dreamworld. If this had been Adele or even Boyd chastising him now, he would have respected them enough to state again how he was keeping the Dollhouse from destroying itself entirely. But it's Topher, so he doesn't.

He's made this argument to people he liked more than Topher a few thousand times in other people's dreams.

"You look pretty pampered right now, honestly."

"Jealous? Good." Topher looked around and decided he was done smiling for the crowd. "Come on, I'll show you the cool room." His own. It wasn't really cool. In fact it was rather untidy, but Topher knew where everything was and he was free from those creepy Avox.

"I feel like I should fill you in on all that you've missed, but mostly I'm going to point out the big lie you tossed at me about Alpha being dead. Yeah, found that out in an ugly way, like, officially." He stood in his doorway so Dominic could enter the room only to mentally kick himself for leaving a partial drawing on his bed. Like the others it was coded, but if there was anyone who could begin to understand what it might lead to, it was Dominic.

Dominic scoffs, but he does follow Topher, if only because if this is the Attic, he'll want to stay close to the potential victims.

"I'm sorry, did you want me to break Adele's orders to give you a little bonus information?" He squints a bit. "How ugly was the ugly way?"

He picks up the drawing, not bothering to ask Topher for permission.

"Oh, sneaking into the House followed by a little smash and grab of Echo's backup. Luckily I backup my backups." He noticed Dominic picking up the drawing and nearly sprinted over to pull the piece out of the man's hands. "Hey, Mr. ex-Head of Security, don't touch my art."

Dominic just tightens his grip on it, so Topher will have to risk tearing it to get it away, without even moving to block Topher's grab.

"I should have known that your dream would have you doing more of this."

"You don't get it do you?" He tried to tug the paper way, but if he didn't want to ruin the thing he'd have to let Dominic paw all over it. "This is not the Attic. Don't you think I'd know if I was there?" In all fairness he had initially thought this was in fact the Attic, but he wasn't a genius for nothing and the math of this world just didn't add up to Attic.

"We're talking science fiction turned fact. Parallel universes, Einstein's wet dream with a little Hawking thrown in for giggles. This world, whatever it is, is real."

Dominic wants to protest, to say that naturally Topher's subconscious would be full of bullshit scifi, but he has to admit that this doesn't feel like his usual hunts through the psyches of others.

"And you know that how?"

Topher is quiet for a long moment before he tosses his hands in the air and makes what can only be a grunt towards Dominic.

"I just know, okay. I know the tech inside and out, I know the reactions needed for the brain to remain in a constant state and there are just too many variables in this world." He marches up to Dominic and puts his hands on his sketch, ready to take it from the older man. "I may not have the same intimate connection you have with the Attic, but I know my brainwaves, and this, this place lacks waves."

He may have no respect for Topher, but he has never really doubted Topher's genius. Topher's confidence, at times, but not his genius.

"So where are we really? And how, and why, did you get here before I did?"

"They call it Panam, which is actually not a reference to a nineteen sixties flight company. This is the Capitol." Clearly these people are genius of naming convention. "Who knows, probably because they wanted someone around who didn't scare the locals? Point it I'm here and stuck fighting some stupid game over and over again. No, actually the point is I'm about to actually make this place less boring and hopefully save lives." He shot Dominic a cheeky grin. "Isn't that just what you wanted?"

"I saw the giant turtle. You may be scared of me but I think you're in the minority."

Mr. Dominic's never held such high hopes for Topher - it's been more about mitigating damage than it has been about turning moron boy genius in the right direction. His face hardens a little bit (even more than it already is). "What stupid game?"

Topher smiled widely. "Isn't that cool? Real life Mutant Turtle." His childhood heroes were nearly real in this place, which should only put the whole Attic idea, but Turtles were just too cool for the Attic.

"The game, the game! Did they give you some orientation? Don't feed the animals, stay off the purple grass, oh, and every other month the locals like the Tributes to play a game to the not-death?"

Thicker Than Blood Start

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bet you thought i forgot

i know you better than that!

you don't know me!

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