thecapitol | If you should ever leave me - though life would still go on, believe me....

Who| Rosalind and YOU!
What| Some people take transitions like this well on their own. Rosalind is not one of those people right now, so she has finally decided it's better to familiarize herself with her surroundings...and opponents.
Where| The Tribute Commons!
When| A day or so after she arrived.
Warnings/Notes| Probably some coarse language, definitely some angst.

How long had it been now? Two days? A week? It was nigh impossible to tell, the way that time crawled along. She couldn't bring herself to look at a clock - the way it ticked, second by second instead of all at once. If things were different, she may not have found it so grating...maybe on some level, she would even have found it a relief, being in one place and one time.

If Robert was here with her, it would all be different.

But he wasn't.

That was the hardest part of all this for her. She had been everywhere and everywhen, and the sudden end to that boundless awareness was jarring...but without Robert, it felt like she had left a piece of herself out there in the multiverse. Rosalind wasn't the kind to cry...not usually, not easily. She was the type to take action. Until the Arena began, she decided the best action would be to research...to bide her time, and to be ready.

If she was honest about it with herself, though, that was an excuse. What she had really been doing since she got here was avoiding people, drinking, and glowering at every word she read about the Capitol.

So now she had moved into the common room - where she was drinking and glowering at every word she read about the Capitol...but now in a place where she could be approached. Her icy eyes were lined with dark circles, a bottle of something or other danging from one hand and a book in the other. She didn't go out of her way to approach anyone, surreptitiously watching others instead and studying from her position - sidesaddle on one of the plush couches.

If someone wanted to talk to the newcomer, they would have to approach her. She might never admit to being lonely...but she wasn't going to shun company right now, either.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Rosalind listened to all of this, considered it...and didn't really like what the implications were. Even if she won, it didn't sound like they would send her back any time soon. She detested having to play their little game....

But what choice did she have? She had to play nice for now if she wanted to make it out again...or build her own way out.

So she attempted a smile - a sad excuse for one, really - and she offered over the bottle she's been drinking from.

"Fascinating. I would be interested to hear what weapon you think I should train with...and I would like to hear more about this place from someone who has been here for a time."

Harley happily accepted and took a healthy pull from the bottle letting out a happy sigh.

"Well we'll have to go to the training hall and see if anything feels particularly good. Any weapon can be learned with enough practice and a good teacher but it helps if the weapon feels natural."

A mischievous glint flashed in her eye.

"As for finding out more about this place, I've been around long enough to give you a good bit. But I'm far from the longest lasting tribute around. If you see a giant walking turtle his name is Donatello and he's been here since the first arena where they were drawing in people from other worlds. He's still a tribute though." Her lip pouted "Seems he's just too honorable to win."

She would fix that sooner or later.

"As for locals, our elder mentor is Eva. She grew up in this world. She's prickly and closed off but if you keep at her she starts to warm up to you...a little."

Ah, good. Girl after her own heart.

Rosalind nodded along with the words, following it all with ease, until - she quirked an eyebrow. This Eva character sounded...well, honestly, the description sounded much like how people described her. But....

"...I beg your pardon. A giant walking turtle? Really?" It wasn't necessarily the strangest thing she had ever heard of...but once in a while, concepts COULD still catch her off guard. Especially when she couldn't see everywhen at once.

"Oh absolutely." She chuckled "Donnie's as real as they come. A mutant you see? Trained in the art of butt whupping. Trust me you won't be able to miss him. He sticks out like a green thumb." She stuck out her thumb and wiggled it teasingly.

"...I see."

Mutants. Well, familiar enough territory, she supposed.

"Mutated via procedure or other means?"

She wasn't much for blathering on idly, but...if she were honest with herself, the conversation was actually very nice.

"Huh..." Harley looked surprised "You know I don't think I've ever asked him. But apparently it's been his whole life so whatever it was happened when he was young. Him and his brothers."

Really that would be one of the best ways to get Donnie to play to win, if they had one of his brothers. Donnie was very dedicated to his family from what Harley had gathered.

"Hm. Perhaps I will ask, if I meet him."

If. Not when. The word when suggested she would be sticking around, and she didn't plan to. She needed to get back to where she WAS needed. She needed to get back to Robert.

She heaved a sigh.

"...If you've won, and you're still here...I am guessing they don't let the winners go?"

Harley barked out a laugh.

"Oh that'd be real kind of em wouldn't it?." She threw an arm around the new woman affectionately.

"No I'm afraid you just become a mentor and work for the Capitol training new recruits to go off and entertain. But on the plus side no more arenas, and you get to go to some fancy parties." She muttered softly in sharp contrast to how projecting she had been before "And if there is any way to get home the only way we'll get it is by tearing this place apart piece by piece till we find it."

It was clear from the way that Rosalind stiffened that she wasn't expecting this kind of familiarity so quickly - and the displeasure at what was being said was plain on her face.

But then there was the murmur, and she understood at once what the woman was driving at.

Her only response was a tiny, curt nod. She wasn't going to take this lying down. She was going to get out, and Harley had found herself an ally in that.

Much too loud after getting her message across Harley called out "Well fine don't laugh. I'll laugh at my own joke." And barked out a cackle that would set most people's hair on end. It was her way of playing off the whisper for anyone who might have been listening.

"You're gonna have to develop a sense of humor if you wanna keep your head in a place like this. That's rule number one from your mentor." She added with a wink.

At the laugh, Rosalind recoiled - but that was an act, just as much as Harley's laugh was. She quirked a tiny smile at the corners of her mouth, letting out a faint chuckle at the wink.

"Point taken," she intoned, knowing full well that this odd blonde would be bright enough to take her real meaning.

"My sense of humor has gotten a bit...dull, I suppose. Was bound to happen, given my circumstances."

"What a shame!" Harley exclaimed looking positively horrified.

"Well lucky for you, this place is made to sharpen skills and I bet wit is just one of the many daggers in your collection that I can help you sharpen before the next arena."

She stuck out her hand in a more professional sort of way. "Whenever you're ready, whenever you need me just give a shout and Harley Quinn will be there." She declared.

Taking the hand in a firm grip, she shook it, head held high. A smile finally crossed her face - something just a shade more sincere than the tiny, tight lipped smirks she had been wearing thus far.

"Very well. I do suppose if you need anything to do with physics, I shall return the favor."

If you should ever leave me - though life would still go on, believe me....

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject