thecapitol | Every other day's a different game that you just can't win

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Every other day's a different game that you just can't win

Who| Felicity & open!
What| Training in various forms.
Where| The training room ; around the Capitol.
When| Just after the mini-arena.
Warnings/Notes| N/A

She'd always been in decent shape, but in recent weeks Felicity had truly changed herself for the better. She was stronger, leaner, and more poised to win than ever before. Each day she spent an hour or two practicing in the training facility, followed by an hour of running around the parks of the Capitol. She didn't see much of Chris Traeger anymore, but his influence on her had been a lasting one. For the first time in her life, she felt comfortable and free with her body, and her elegance demonstrated this nicely. She was graceful, but the look on her face was one of dead seriousness. There would be no more playing around. Felicity was tired of losing all the time. Next time, she'd be in it to win.

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Jet usually trained three times a week and kept a somewhat regular schedule of it. He'd work on his endurance, his agility, his strength and then his technique, the last of which he'd often have to turn to Albert or some other willing opponent to train with. Beyond that, he usually would work by himself.

So he almost didn't say anything to his districtmate when he saw her heading for the elevator after only a couple hours. He'd been training peacefully on his own while she did her own thing, but his curiosity got the better of him this morning. He paused and stretched, his tank top riding up a bit as he did.

"Where are you off too?"

Fee had a look about her like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar. She'd done nothing wrong, of course, but coming under Jet's curious scrutiny made her bristle just a little.

"Outside," she said, standing up as tall as she could. "Fresh air and sunshine are invigorating and vital for good health, you know."

"You sound like my sister."

Psudeo-sister. Francoise would often harp at him and Joe about how going outside was good for them if they spent more than five hours playing video games. Of course, then he and the other teen would just go out and find the first sport they could be competitive about, but the reminder made his lips twitch into a smirk.

"Want some company? You go running, don't you? Promise I'll slow-up enough for you to keep up."

She bristled, tilting her chin up so as to mimic that she was looking down on him. "Keep up, indeed. We shall see about that, Jet Link."

Truth be told, she'd love a bit of company. It had been all too long since she'd really had a chance to run free with someone at her side, and she wasn't about to forget who had had her back when she'd died a few weeks ago. Who better to train with her than her older-brother-type?

"Come. We're off to the park and I shan't slow down or show you any favor."

"I hope that's a promise, Ms. Worthington." His smirk was unfading as he followed her to the elevator.

This felt more like home. She reminded him so often of Frannie, but then she had the same accent as G.B. and the same competitive edge he could bounce off of like Joe. Whether he knew how to express it or not, she was the closest thing to home.

Not that that meant he'd go easy on her. Not even the fact she was a chick was going to make him pull his punches. He knew better; he had no doubt she'd push him just as he'd push her.

He didn't speak again until they were off the elevator and making for the door. "If one of us loses pace, that person's gotta buy lunch for the other."

"I accept your terms," she said with a devilishly laugh. "When you make the arrangements, please note that I require fresh butter with my toast and that I like milk in my tea."

And with that, she darted off ahead of him, not bothering with a second glance behind her or even seeming to care that there were other persons in the lobby too.

"Hey! That's cheating!" He called indignantly, but there was a bit of a laugh in his voice as well.

He took off after her, needing to dodge a person or two who stepped in his way before he practically busted through the front doors. As soon as he had clearance, he shot forward, his long legs catching him up to her soon enough.

She was clever, his needing to tear forward to catch up and then slow down to keep pace so he didn't wear himself out too quickly threw off his beat, whereas she'd had plenty of time to establish her own by now. He liked that she was clever, even if it made him work harder.

However, two could play at that game, he quickened his pace just a little bit, enough to make a difference, but not too much for his body to maintain for a long period.

"If I had my accelerator, I'd smoke you in two seconds."

And if she had her arrows, she's slay him where he stood. Felicity didn't say that out loud, though. She was clever enough not to waste her breath or energy on snappy one-liners when simply putting in a bit more effort would do the trick. Their path had a turn up ahead and she picked up her pace just a bit, hoping to overtake Jet and ease herself into an inside position on the curve. The idea that running directly ahead of him might trip him up a bit also crossed her mind.

Mindy had to admit, she was glad to see the change in Felicity. Like many, she didn't like the games: they left you cold, dying, and fucked in the head when you finally got back on your feet. But it looked like Felicity was getting her second wind right now, and it was just as Mindy figured. Sure, there was a hint of old timeyness there, but there was steel too, once everything clicked together.

So she watched nearby, seeing her form, nodding to herself.

Felicity looked up from her training, noting that Mindy was watching her. At first she did not stop in her exercises, but after several minutes, she slowed, stretched, and made her way toward the familiar, friendly face.

"Good afternoon, Mindy." She bobbed her head gracefully.

"Hey," she said, giving her a wave. "You look amazing out there. Way different than you did a month or two ago."

"Do I?" Felicity couldn't help but beam a little. She was a glutton for praise of all kinds, no matter the source. "Something has changed within me, I suppose. I cannot put my finger on it precisely."

"Must be all the martial law. I guess it does tend to light a fire under people, when you think about it."

It sure as hell did for HER. "You adjusting ok? No one giving you problems?"

"Not anymore," she answered, perhaps too quickly. "That awful Eva woman hasn't come out of whatever hole she lives in to threaten me, at least."

Mindy raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, wait a minute. Eva from our district is giving you shit? Why?"

Felicity felt her whole body go stiff and she stood up straight, a proud look in her eye. "She attacked me over Eponine. She threatened to kill me if I ever spoke to her again."

Mindy frowned. "Wait, why would that even matter? I mean, I'm assuming you're not even going to do anything to Eponine, God knows she usually brings these things on herself. I don't get it."

Was Eva intentionally pissing people off now?

"Eponine attacked me, during my first Arena. She didn't do any damage, but Eva was still angry that I was able to defend myself, I guess." There'd been words exchanged, the argument between the girls had been heated, but it wasn't anything Eva needed to be involved in. "When I returned to the Capitol, Eva stalked me across the city and tried to strangle me in a shop. She's a lunatic."

"What the fuck?" Mindy looked scandalized. "Eponine is fucking crazy half the time, and who the fuck carries their resentment of something that happened in the Arena outside of it? Does Eponine still even harbor a grudge toward you?"

Dumb question. Eponine seemed to have it toward EVERYBODY.

Felicity's face seemed to go pale just then, as though Mindy had stumbled across some sort of buried secret. "No. If anything, Eponine has become somewhat attached to me." She hoped to God Mindy would not pry too much at that.

Mindy made a face. "Oh. That kinda makes what Eva did pretty fucking stupid then, doesn't it? I don't get some of the people around here anyway."

She was going to let certain things slide. "Look, be careful with Eponine. One minute she's fine with you the next she's fucking cursing you out. She's very moody, is all I'm saying."

"You needn't warn me about her. I'm quite accustomed to her moods." She'd read the book, after all, and she knew how rapidly the girl seemed to vacillate between emotional extremes. "If anyone can handle her, it is me, I assure you."

"If you can find her," Mindy added. "She doesn't come around too often. Tends not to be around the tower. It's why me and Harley try to be around when our tributes are there. I wonder sometimes. She was in the games a real long time ago. Can only imagine how much she seen. Sure as fuck can't tell who's loyalties she's got."

To Mariko's surprise, her second death had been much more traumatic than first one. She could still hear in her dreams the monstrous sounds that had rang through the entire boat as it began to sink.

While she was fully aware that there was no way for her to win against the brutes out in arena, she still didn't want to feel so hopeless and desperate ever again. She didn't want to deal with these nightmares or having all these panic attacks after each arena. And in order to avoid that she knew she needed to learn how to use weapons and how to defend herself.

The first thing she did after entering to training facility, was to jog around the room, while examining her surroundings as it was her first time there. After she was done with her warm ups she haltingly moved next to weaponry stand. Mariko looked carefully at each weapon displayed in front of her, biting down on her thumb as unsettling feeling appeared to her gut. She spend at least five minutes there, just staring at the weapons before picking up a light sword.

Fencing. It was beautiful and elegant sport. Almost like art. Something that Sorority and Lady Miya would approve of. Mariko nodded to herself, trying to calm herself down as she took steps closer to practice dummies, still not quite sure what to do next.

Felicity hadn't much noticed the other girl, having been engrossed in her own flights of athleticism. In fact, Mariko's presence barely registered at all until she saw the girl make for the weapons and stare at them for the most achingly long stretch of time. The girl seemed so deliberate about it, and Felicity wondered if she knew what she was doing.

It had been so long since she'd had a right proper sword fight. And this girl was about her own age and height, perhaps they'd be evenly matched. Confidently, Felicity strode toward the weapons rack and snatched up a sword of her own before joining Mariko by the dummies.

"Fancy a fight?" She asked, eyes bright and curious, the look on her face practically screaming for attention.

Mariko was one of those girls who secretly spent a quite lot of time to checking up on other girls, looking and judging their appearances and manners. So, it was very rare for her not to be aware of a presence of another girl, especially when they were as elegant-looking and graceful as Felicity. When the other girl approached her, Mariko couldn't exactly keep her surprise hidden and let out a quiet gasp while a faint blush painted her face pale pink.

"Why, yes. I'd like that." She ended up answering. After all, she had watched fencing tournaments and even tried it out at some point when she was little. So she wasn't completely clueless.

"I must warn you, though. I am rather rusty."

Edited 2014-08-09 21:20 (UTC)

"Then I shall go easy on you," Felicity said with a sly smile, moving back toward the practice area with enviable elegance. She'd caught that astonished look in Mariko's eyes and she couldn't help but revel in it a bit. It felt fine to be admired, so fine that she wanted to lap it all up.

Gracefully, she assumed the ready position and waited for Mariko to do the same. "Ready when you are."

Mariko followed the other girl, watching her every move carefully. There really was something familiar and comforting in finding a girl like her The elegant and refined demeanor of Felicity really did remind her of the sisters she had in the Sorority, like Lady Miya and Lady Mona Lisa.

But then again, Mariko wasn't part of Sorority for nothing. She, too, moved with light and elegant steps, mimicking Felicity's stance. "I'm ready."

Sword at the ready, she took to motion like a bird took wing, advancing toward Mariko in a perfect heel-toe gait. She was quick, but not as fast as she might've been, had she been facing Joly or Jet. She was testing the waters, so see just how good Mariko was.

When she moved sharply forward with sword pointed at her, Mariko's first reaction was to take one step back and raise her sword to cover her chest and face in defense.

Well, that could have gone better.

Were she in a less determined mood, she might have laughed at this. Instead, Felicity's brows creased in confusion, but she maintained her fighting form, calling out to Mariko, "Oh dear, no. You mustn't cower like that or I'll best you quite handily. Come now, back to form!"

Marius didn't quite know what his purpose was, coming into the training area like this, with dark, purplish circles under his eyes and his shirt slightly crumpled. He made only the most minuscule of attempts to fix himself, before deciding that it did not matter any longer. Nothing mattered, really.

It was not as if he could die in the training centre, even if he provoked the most abrasive, destructive Tribute among them. It was near impossible to simply end his life, and though he wanted to he could not do it, at least not without meaning. And if his life no longer held meaning he would like his death to.

Just like Paris.

It was with these thoughts that he encountered Felicity. He blinked, as if abruptly distracted from his troubles, and he realized that he had yet to speak to her after their meeting in the arena previously. (An arena wherein Cosette was still alive, and still his.)

He nodded at her, awkwardly, and shifted on his feet. He wanted to say more but knew not what words to conjure, so he settled for watching her train.

Felicity halted whatever it was she was doing then and leveled Marius with the sort of look one gives to one's lessers. She had so many conflicting feelings about him, first and foremost due to her initial death in his arms. He'd seen a part of her she'd never wanted anyone to see, and while he did not lord that weakness over her, she could not help but feel that he had unwillingly captured part of her soul because of it. The feeling was unsettling and she despised it, and part of her despised him because of it.

But beyond that, her affections for Eponine were new and puzzling, and knowing that so much of Eponine's grief centered upon this oaf of a man made Felicity's blood positively boil. Did he deserve all the love that had been heaped upon him? No! He was a miserable little brat. He was useless. He had everything he could possibly want while Felicity and Eponine had nothing it simply wasn't fair.

"Mister Pontmercy." She said at last, accent sharp and incredibly English sounding. "You do not train?"

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Every other day's a different game that you just can't win

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