blah blah void blah blah spiders blah blah science [open]

[youbarium]

Who| Carlos and anyone
What| Since Carlos's survival hinges on his ability to act like he doesn't care, he's going about his business as usual. Even though he and Cecil had a very short-lived but very public romantic relationship, he's acting like he doesn't care. Come make his life harder. Come ask him how he feels.
Where| The D10 rooms, a coffeeshop, and the Speakeasy
When| After Penny and Cruentus's classy, classy announcement.
Warnings/Notes Possible mention of torture, drinking in the last prompt. Also, the first two prompts will involve Carlos denying any real feelings for Cecil. If you want an honest discussion with him, it'll have to be in the Speakeasy.

PROMPT A: D10 common room

Carlos had known what to expect. Penny had announced that Cecil would be avoxed, after all. He had known this was coming.

That had not made keeping a straight face during the broadcast any easier.

He turned off his communicator and knew that if he was going to make this act convincing, he couldn't hide up in his room all day. Carlos hated this act. It was like he had told one lie in the Arena and hadn't been able to stop lying since. It disgusted him. However, he knew that at this point, he had no choice.

There was no need to fake the irritation on Carlos's face as he walked out into the D10 common area and sat down in one of the chairs. He pulled out a notebook and began to scribble in it. Was he writing or drawing? It would be hard to tell...

PROMPT B: TRIBUTE CENTER COMMONS: GENERIC CAPITOL COFFEESHOP

Here Carlos was, sitting in the very place Dave had brought his last words to Cecil, drinking something too hot for the midsummer weather and talking into his tape recorder. If you get close enough, you might hear snatches of what he was saying:

"--correct about my impending death--"

"--new tactic--"

"--willingly cooperate--"

This part of the Tribute center was open to the public: anyone might pass by and see him.

PROMPT C: THE SPEAKEASY

Carlos wasn't one to drink out of sadness. Not usually. He had been in and out of the Speakeasy these past few weeks, having important discussions about the rebellion.

This time, though, he was after some self-administered emotional numbing.

"I don't even know what's in this," he muttered to himself, staring at the half-empty glass in front of him, which was a mass of swirling colors.

PROMPT D: ELEVATORS

Being two floors from the top meant that Carlos stood a solid chance of sharing an elevator on the way two and from the D10 rooms. He was used to it, and usually, didn't mind it. Today, however, it was all but a guarantee that whoever he ended up in the elevator with would be awkward as hell, and Carlos was really tired of dealing with it. He shifted from foot to foot in his lab coat, trying not to sigh when the elevator stopped and the doors opened.

Comments

[arosewiththorns]

"No you can't," she agrees pleasantly. "And when you do attempt to bring such change I find you encounter many disagreements with those native to the world." At least that's how she is in her personal experience. Though in her case she's trying to throw off a dictator who would likely find this world entertaining.

"I admire those who persevere in attempting to bring another opinion to light." She gets it, and her interest is caught, lips curling into the faintest smile. "It's a worthy choice of path."

[youbarium]

"But it can be very dangerous," Carlos warns her. "The Capitol has a wide array of municipally-approved punishments for Tributes and citizens who don't cooperate. Torture, execution, mutilation -- you could even end up an Avox. That's a very popular punishment," he says, darkly -- there is personal feeling in the way he says it. But Carlos goes on: "If they even suspect that you know something and you don't cooperate, you might never be heard from again."

Are you sure? he's asking.

[arosewiththorns]

"Of course," She says, head tilted carefully and Rose takes her time to continue, sipping her drink. She's trying to judge if this is just someone trying to weed out those with such ideas, or if this is something more genuine. A task made infinitely more harder without her Sight. "But simply standing by while such life is so callously tossed aside... There are few who could not feel some empathy here."

She's sure. She hasn't come from leading one rebellion to bow down to another dictatorship, even if this one is lead by humans. She knows all the dangers, she's played the games before and she relishes doing it again, doing it here.

But still she laughs, softly, to confuse those who might find their conversation suspicious. "Perhaps that's just my womanly heart talking."

[youbarium]

Her caution speaks well of her; a Capitol spy, Carlos feels, would be unlikely to exhibit such reluctance.

"It's not a matter of being womanly," says Carlos, pushing his glasses up his nose like a dork. "It's a question of basic decency and human rights. And nonhuman ones; I'm sorry," he adds as an afterthought. "But listen, Rose, if you're sure you understand and accept the risks...would you be interested in working against the government that is holding us captive?"

Time to, finally, be direct.

[arosewiththorns]

They're getting somewhere, she can feel the change in the conversation in the very air and Rose finds herself leaning in. Minutely of course, and her gaze is fixed on Carlos.

"I started orchestrating a rebellion in my own homeworld before I was 30. I have little family there, and little family here," and now she half curses herself for making her connections to the Striders too obvious, but they're big boys. "This is a new government, yes, but I am already familiar enough with these things to know that the possible benefits outweigh the potential consequences."

"Not," she says, smirk half forming. "That I find myself to be so foolish as to get caught and find out precisely what those consequences are."

[youbarium]

"Those are some impressive credentials," he says, impressed. "Okay. I'll tell you what I know. But first -- how much do you know about District 13?"

[arosewiththorns]

She shrugs slightly. "They are what they are." She doesn't tell him everything else she knows, the way her future will most likely go, after all, it's not relevant to the conversation. "But thank you."

Carefully Rose inhales and exhales, leaning with her elbows on the table. "Only a little," she confesses. "Took part in the rebellion many years ago with the other districts, was a leader, so to speak and was destroyed in the process. The other districts fell back into line after that, and as far as anyone knows it remains uninhabitable."

And she pauses, looking over Carlos critically. "But, considering you're bringing it up, there must be something important regarding it. After all, why mention a toxic wasteland in any other case."

[youbarium]

His eyes light up; Carlos is always gratified when the people he explains this to pick it up quickly.

"Very good," he says. "Yes, it's important. Possibly one of the most important locations in Panem. You see, according to my information, District 13 was not destroyed by the Capitol in the uprising seventy-five years ago. The Capitol only pretended it was destroyed so District 13 wouldn't follow through with its threat of nuclear war. 13 is an independent community, most likely operating in underground shelters, and is currently the seat of the resistance. They've mostly contacted us through pirate network posts that allow anonymous communication, but I have it on good authority that at least one Tribute has made it there alive."

[arosewiththorns]

She raises a brow, her only tell as she absorbs what he's telling her. It's important information, information worth something.

But Rose is a naturally doubtful person, trusting few people and trusting her Sight most. But now she's without it, and she has to consider it all carefully. If it was her she wouldn't trust the certainty of District 13's existence on another's testimony, but Carlos apparently does, so she'll have to go with it.

"Do you know what their plans are?" The greater ones, besides hacking communications.

[youbarium]

"I don't know if it's a hostile takeover or a revolution," Carlos admits honestly. "But I am reasonably certain that they are preparing for war with the Capitol."

[arosewiththorns]

"And if it's a hostile takeover, what's to say we're not jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak?" She studies him critically, toying with the straw of her drink to give her something to do.

[youbarium]

"We don't." It was true; they had no way of knowing for sure that District 13 gaining power would help them in the long run. "But we can't negotiate at all with the Capitol. We might stand a chance of bargaining with District 13. Also, District 13 hasn't cut any of my friends' tongues out." That last statement is said bitterly.

[arosewiththorns]

"It can be difficult to trust the motives of thsoe you don't know," she puts forward, tone neutral. She's just raising points, and his final comment makes her raise a brow. "Are there many of us who believe the same line of thought? That 13 is going to be easier to bargin with?"

[youbarium]

"I don't know the exact number," Carlos admits. "But I've personally spoken with about..." He runs through them in his head. "About half a dozen. I'm aware of five or six more."

[arosewiththorns]

Rose hums, softly and to herself and takes a sip of her drink. She's considering it all, weighing the pros and con and wishing she had her Sight back. It really did make things easier, and she's realising now she may have relied on it more than she knew.

"Ok," she says finally. "So what's your plan?"

[youbarium]

"Me? I'm getting the word out that there's a chance of escape. I'm finding people who I think I can trust, and I'm letting them know that there's another possibility besides fighting for the Capitol's entertainment until they die for good. Then, as soon as I can, I'm getting Cecil and myself to 13. I'll see what I can do against the Capitol from there."

[arosewiththorns]

"Ok," It's a plan, and it's almost good. Rose can see the issues though, where parts of it depends on the success of other parts. After all, if it was so simple she's sure others would have made their way to 13 by now. But there's no use pointing out the flaws right now, and she's sure Carlos has considered it all.

So she just nods, careful and measured. "My own plans can easily be worked around those in turn, so I suppose I am how they say it, in." A slight smile, one of amusement if anything.

And she pauses, for a second. "One addendum I suppose. If you're familiar with Dave Strider I must request you keep him out of this. He's capable, of course, but I would still prefer he didn't get caught up in this, just in case."

[youbarium]

Recognition flashes in Carlos's eyes when she mentions Dave.

"I understand," he says. "I know Dave. We, uh -- I -- I died in front of him last Arena," Carlos confesses a little sheepishly. He didn't mean to. "As far as I know, he isn't involved yet."

[arosewiththorns]

She sees that spark of recognition, and raises a brow. Thankfully Carlos explains before she even has to ask.

"I see." She seems too calm and Rose takes a small sip of her drink. "Sadly, you will not have been the first to die in front of him. But thank you. I'm glad to hear that at least."

[youbarium]

"...oh.". What did you say to that? "...I'm sorry. It's hard losing someone at any age."

Carlos knows absolutely nothing about the situation, but he figures Dave must have lost someone. Why else would someone die in front of him? Under normal circumstances, anyway. A lot of people had died in front of Carlos.

[arosewiththorns]

"It happens." More often to some, and the game hadn't helped that in the slightest. She doesn't think Dave compounds like she does, that each Dave knows everything the next one does, but she knows it was hard too. Lots of hard choices to make and they had only been children.

And Dave was still a child, in age at least. So she's going to try and keep some of that weight from piling onto him in this place too. "There's nothing that can be done about that now, but I'll appreciate trying to limit some things here for him." He'll be mad, of course, but it doesn't matter in the long run.

[youbarium]

He nods. Carlos isn't sure how much of it he can keep from Dave, but he's promised to try.

"If there's anything else you want to know," says Carlos, "I am a scientist, which makes me pretty good at answering questions."

[arosewiththorns]

She nods in turn, and the briefest smile crosses her lips before Rose finishes her drink.

"Maybe not today. You have given me plenty to consider and look into as it is," she smiles again, a slight curve of her lips as she starts to stand. "Should I assume one can find you here if they do have questions at a later date?"

[youbarium]

"Well, actually, probably not," Carlos admits. "Usually I'm not much of a drinker. It's just, well, recent events. You know. But if you want to talk again, just ask me out for a drink. I'll meet you here."

[arosewiththorns]

"I'm sure I'll find you, one way of the other." Her smile is mysterious as she slips out of the booth, her nod slight. "Until then."

And she leaves without another pause, leaving her unfinished drink behind the only indication she was even there as she melts away into the crowd with practiced skill.