[open] CATCH ALL

[reallynow]

Who| ALL Y'ALL it's a ho down
What| A catch-all reaction log for the plot developments. Saves you from making 5 logs each tbh.
Where| All around the place
When| During and post lock down, 3am~ sunday onward
WARNINGS| Panicking, talk of murder and violence. Singing the songs of panem.

When things like THIS and THIS are going down it's probably a good time to touch base with one another. Face caressing, crying and meaningful stares abound as the Tributes and Staff drag their knuckles hopelessly in an effort to figure out what the fresh hell is going on.

Make your own prompts, feel free to make them closed to specific people.

Comments

[burnedbrighter]

Another sip of her coffee as she mulls over the idea.

"It's not as though there's much we can do about it. We're not about to rebel like some cranky children. We've been given so much compared to those in the districts. And both of us have earned out positions. Too much regret leads to spite. Too much spite leads to us behaving foolishly like Enjolras. And acting like Enjolras has dire consequences."

She says that, but everyone knows how happy she was to hear he'd be going back to the arena.

[hanssome]

"I had no intention of acting otherwise." He answers coolly, so as to prove he isn't the petulant child she's describing. "It was just an observation at the pattern of events we've been experiencing lately. Though it's enough to put anyone on edge, honestly." He offers her a small smile. "Have you been well, at least?"

[burnedbrighter]

"Better then I was." She acknowledged his smile with one of her own.

"I hope you at least kept working throughout my sick leave. I'd hate to think our tributes were completely on their own. As self sufficient as...some of them are." Here she cast a knowing glance over his shoulder at Shaggy who was helping himself to what appeared to be a ninth portion of breakfast.

"Others are still in need of our guidance and support."

[hanssome]

"I'm glad to hear it." His smile widens, becoming warmer. "Of course! I've never been the sort to have idle hands." He pauses as he considers the pun there, but moves on. He chuckles as she singles out Shaggy, smirking discreetly in his direction.

"I just hope my lack of experience isn't compromising anyone, even if I've learned from the best."

[burnedbrighter]

"Oh you and your charm." She couldn't help it, she loved the praise even if she knew the earnest feelings behind it were questionable.

"As for your lack of experience, what you lack in wisdom you make up for in charisma. The best you can do for ours in continue to work the upper crust citizens for every cent they can spare. Shepard seems to have taken an extra helping of responsibility in training the less skilled as it is."

And while Azula was greatful that Shepard had taken to the job with gusto, she was still a bit jealous that she was so much better at teaching then Azula was.

[hanssome]

"The vote of confidence is reassuring, honestly." He even gives her a warm smile, like he's a little relieved to hear it. He does genuinely respect her opinions, even if he could go either way with caring about her as a person.

"I'm well aware we can always rely on Shepard where fighting is concerned." He lets out a faint laugh. "I just can't help but notice things have become distinctly complicated, lately. I can only hope everyone here continues to stay out of trouble."

[burnedbrighter]

"I suppose." His words triggered some thoughts in Azula's mind and she gave herself a moment to ruminate on them while sipping her drink.

If she really wanted to avoid trouble she would have to accept once again that the Capitol knew what they were doing. She would have to find the blind faith she had abandoned.

Live in denial but live like a princess? Or seek out the truth and suffer alongside the tributes?

"But sometimes a challenge, complications and the like are exactly what someone needs to grow." She decided with a softer inflection.

[hanssome]

Oddly, Hans hasn't clued into her thoughts. She'd always been one who, in his mind, would be among the last to succumb to the side of the rebellion. Not that it really matters, of course, he'll pick the winning side if he can given the chance.

"Of course we can grow from our experience, but it wouldn't mean much if nobody learns from it." He adds a little worry, trying to feign concern. "I suppose it's foolish to hope that nobody is hurt along the way."

[burnedbrighter]

"Optimistic, but foolish." She agreed and set aside her drink.

"Thankfully it's only up to us to help our tributes learn and grow. So what can we do to improve them. Where are our weak links?" She quizzed Hans to steer his mind away from rebellion for now. If she was going to be more proactive she'd need at least one of the mentors of her district to be playing the party line.

[hanssome]

He makes no case against her assertion, it was the response he expected after all. He came in here pretending to be naive, it wouldn't make sense for it to depart so quickly.

"Well, in an Arena I know we don't have to worry about most of them, all things considered. Most of them are either charming or competent, or a little of both if they're lucky. Their narratives are interesting as well, but outside.." He strains a little, as if it's hard to admit. "Shepard is outspoken, but she knows what she's doing. She's hard to predict. Venus and Diana know how to play to a crowd, Venus seems to have included Kankri in that, I don't imagine she'll compromise on it. Alex and Initiate are formidable enough to be interesting without trying too much, I'd say both of them know how to behave as well. Norville is.. well.. I don't think we have to expect anything too insidious from him, unless he's a wild card we don't know about. So that leaves.." He trails off, again not looking terribly comfortable. "He's already been sent back. Do you really think he'd do any worse for himself?"

[burnedbrighter]

Her smile is sharp like a razor and smooth like honey laced in poison.

"Very good. With Norville I feel compelled to mention that he has surprising depths to his intelligence when he is pressured. His quick thinking is how he survived so long in his first arena. I believe he may have some great untapped potential in speed based combat, but his pacifistic nature will attract some of the more...liberal of our contributors."

And more of those had been cropping up when you least expected it.

"As for you, your competence is a breath of fresh air whenever I need it."

[hanssome]

"Well, I certainly can't fault him for a skill set like that. It would certainly do him better if we kept that as discreet as possible, really play up the fact that he's an oaf to other people. Unless, of course, we want to make him more popular than he is surprising. We don't want him to be brushed off entirely, after all."

He's put quite a bit of thought into that, so excuse him if the compliment takes him off guard for a moment. There's a brief flash of surprise in his face, followed by an appreciative smile. "I'm happy to provide. I really have nothing better to do, you know." He laughs, so funny. What a joke.

[burnedbrighter]

"Well you know what they say about idle hands." She joked with a soft chuckle.

"So long as we can keep the items flowing, even our most abrasive tributes will be happy. The challenge in keeping our sponsors happy falls to us. Some are growing jaded by repeated loss. But there is always hope that you've backed the right party. Bragging rights, the chance to make yourself feel as though you are the smartest person in the room."