couch brotato the sequel

[plushaeusrumpified]

Who| Bro + OPEN
What| Bro becomes a couch potato, also leaves notes for people
Where| D6 commons/various
When| After he dies/throughout the following week
Warnings/Notes| N/A

At least he avoided the hangover.

That's the only consolation Bro can grasp when it's all said and done and he's back in the Capitol. He'd consumed copious amounts of alcohol in the arena, that hangover would have been a bitch. Tom had seen to it that he hadn't even needed to experience it. What a pal.

Except being stranged by Molotov's panties is probably one of the most humiliating deaths he's ever experienced. At first he hadn't been so bitter about it, until all of the pieces came together and he found out what happened. She killed Dave, her panties killed himself. It pisses him off and he's pretty fucking torn up about it in the angriest way possible. But the worst of it all is there's nothing he can do about it. Some shit obviously went down here during the arena, the peacekeeper presence is through the roof. If he picks a fight, it's going to end badly for everyone involved. So all he can do is stew in it- or else try and forget about it. Which he does. After meeting the obligatory people he's closest to, that's what Bro sets about doing.

It's just like after the first arena. He gathers up plenty of junk food and booze and holds down one of the couches in his district's common area so that he can veg out and play video games or watch whatever is on TV. Anyone from the district will likely find him eating cheetos with one hand and doritos in another, washing it down with booze. If anyone dares try and change the TV, he'll give them hell about it.

But that isn't all. Before settling down to do this, Bro went around and left notes on various people's doors.

This certificate entitles you to one (1) free drink of your choice bought by Bro Strider. To be used whenever the fuck you want - as long as I'm not busy.

The certificate has a doodles of butts all over it, as if those have anything to do with what it's offering. He had to fill the space with something, okay? These certificates are reserved for those who he feels deserves a big, stiff drink. He's had some time to think, and he feels like maybe he had been a jerk to a few people on his quest to tell people about Dave's death. He considers this a peace offering of sorts, and an excuse to drink with other people. They don't go specifically to those people he told, because there are other people he wants to catch up with as well that he just hasn't had an opportunity to do so. There are a few tributes on the list that might seem surprising as well, but he has his various reason for including them.

Those who get notes are as followed: Thor, Tony, Clara, Carlos, Shepard, Sollux, Feferi, Anna, Loki, Justin, Hiccup, Astrid.

If any of them decide to approach him, he can be found in various places throughout the next week or so, either vegging on the couch each day or earlier in the afternoon, training in the training center.

Comments

DAVE

[plushaeusrumpified]

It takes a lot of debating to figure out how Bro wants to approach him. A part of him his annoyed with Dave for not telling him who had murdered him in the arena, the circumstances of his own death only making him that much more bitter about it. In fact, he hasn't even decided how he wants to approach Dave up until the very moment he reaches the other Strider's door and knocks on it.

That's about the time that he decides he just doesn't have it in him to go in angry. There's too much negativity and awful shit going around in the Capitol that he just doesn't want to add to it by fighting with Dave. He already knows who killed him- it's the first thing he sought out when waking up- so what's the point in giving Dave a hard time about it? He decides not to even bring it up, then. Let it be the big pink elephant in the room, he doesn't care. What he really wants to do is just relax from the arena and forget it all.

So when Dave opens the door, Bro is gonna push past him into the room and flop on the bed. "So you're gonna- whoa, I don't even recognize you, that hairdo is gonna take some getting used to." He tilts his shades down to eyeball Dave pointedly. "Anyway. You're buying me lunch, right? I'm fucking starving. I want a double cheeseburger with everything on it."

Hi, Dave.

[shenunigans]

After a few weeks back in the Capitol, Dave is in a better mental state, better than he'd even been when he made the post. He's finally started sleeping better and it does wonders for that prideful temper that rears it's head every so often. Of course, it helps that he knows Molotov lost, but he chooses not to grudge too much. She had her purpose and he had his, he probably won't even pursue her next Arena. He'd rather not have that one backfire on him, to be honest.

He hasn't watched much of the Arena, he just can't bring himself to, even if he desperately wants to know how his remaining friends are doing in there. He was pretty sure he'd see them soon after they kicked the bucket, and he wasn't wrong. Reluctantly he pauses his game and stands to open the door, an expression of annoyance already on his face when it opens before it becomes surprised and then annoyed yet again. He's happy to see him, but he's a jackass.

He gets a gormless stare for his trouble, but Dave's new friend is a little more attentive. Something squawks FUCK OFF from the corner of his room before fluttering forward to land on Bro's chest, where it will happily repeat fuckfuckfuckoff in a curious chirp. Sure is a bird there.

"He said it better than I could." Dave shrugs. "I have no money, asshole. They froze our assets."

[plushaeusrumpified]

There are two types of people in the world; the ones who know that they're jackasses, and the ones that don't. Bro falls on the knowing end of the spectrum, but that doesn't stop him from being one. In fact, it rather encourages him onward.

But that bird sure is pretty distracting. God, Dave is turning into a different person before his very eyes. First the haircut, now he's brave enough to take on a pet? And a bird of all things? But he doesn't mind so much, because this bird knows how to win his heart. If it hadn't learned to curse already, Bro definitely would have taught it to. "Well aren't you fuckin' precious," he coos at the bird, reaching out and patting it on the head with his index finger. "If you shit on me, I'll break your neck," it's said in the same sort of affection, coo-like tone.

"First off, when'd you get a bird?" he asks, turning his attention to back to Dave. "Second, I figured you'd have found a way to make money while I was off fighting for my life. You couldn't find a corner to work?"

[shenunigans]

Dave doesn't feel much like a different person right now, even when he looks in the mirror and gets confused about his hair, he can see his dumb face and it reminds him of who he is. A moron, primarily. With a dumb haircut to boot. Neither the bird nor the hair had been things he'd picked for himself, so if anything it's just symbolic of the impressions people are making on him.

The bird continues to chirp quiet swears at Bro as he's pet and Dave can't help finding the precious moment a little bizarre and hilarious. Admittedly, he sits around doing the same thing, but that doesn't mean he can't smirk when it's Bro.

"Hey, that's Mayor junior you're talking to. Break his neck and I'll kick your ass." He gives his skinny arms a flex before he moves to sit on the edge of his bed, the bird flutters over to perch on his head and groom his hair. "I didn't get it, Clem and Loki said they were getting lunch and they came back with him like smug fuckers." He turns to shoot Bro a dirty look for that comment. "I've been kissing ass trying to get my name back in the good books, asshole. We broke into prison, they aren't just gonna uncuff us because we're a cute little matching set. This shit has fucking stained man."

JOLIE

[plushaeusrumpified]

It'll be Jolie that he visits after Dave, sometime around twilight. He can't very well say he's saving the best for last because that would be a bit of an insult to Dave, of course. But it would be a lie to say he isn't intensely craving Jolie's company and has been for a while now. It feels like it's been years since he saw the queen, and after everything she'd done for them he owes her so fucking much, he can't even begin to think of how he might make it all up to her.

"Visit" also implies that he's actually outright visited her. No, ever since waking up he's had ideas in mind, things he wants to do, and when he gets the chance to do them he's pretty fucking eager. It's stupid, he knows it. Cheesy, even. But that isn't stopping him from doing exactly what he intends to do- and that is leaving playing ding dong ditch at her workshop door. Which is to say he knocks, on the door and then disappears like the ninja that he is.

Jolie will open the door and find a large vase of flowers- all different kinds. No roses. There's a note that's attached to it that simply says Roof. Now. and next to it, he's doodled little black triangles that look like his shades. She'll know who it's from pretty easily, he's sure.

If Jolie chooses to accept his offer (which he fucking hopes she does) then she will find Bro up there on the roof. He has a picnic laid out all romantically and everything, with wine already poured into two glasses. He might already have had a glass himself just because he's impatient. It's too windy for candles, but he has candles set up regardless, just to complete the picture.

He's sprawled over the picnic blanket seductively, leaning on his elbow and staring in her direction. Hey baby, he's ready for you.

[reallynow]

Since Bro left for Rose, Trey has been in several states of panic, worry and confusion as to why he feels those things so strongly for Bro in particular. In their time together, Trey had really grown to appreciate him as both a person and as a very helpful method of stress relief. It wasn't love, far from it, but it was a very solid attachment and an incredibly powerful crush. The guy was hot, alright? Hot and weird and fun to be around.

He's been mulling over how to approach him when he got back, if he got back, he'd better get back. Perhaps being too friendly with him would be suspicious, but cutting off cold was just as weird. They'd have to talk about it and Trey is expecting as much when he finds out that he bit the dust. The knock at his door could be anything and he's unimpressed when he opens it to find nobody- until he sees the flowers. He can't help but roll his eyes as he takes them into his workshop, but damn if he isn't a little wooed by it.

Reading the note earns a small scoff from him and he almost feels bad for not being in drag, but Bro did specify now so he won't waste time dolling up. He reluctantly leaves the flowers to head up to the roof, stepping out onto it with the card in hand and the most deadpan expression on his face.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" This is how he handles romance, as you can see. He lifts a hand to cover his mouth, not sure whether he wants to laugh or cry or run over there and kick or kiss Bro. So, he just stands there for a long moment before shaking his head and crossing toward the dumb-ass. "Did you miss me that much, baby?"

[plushaeusrumpified]

The anticipation for Jolie to show up is practically murder. He has the feeling that Jolie will show up, but waiting is hard because the more he does, the more he realizes just how fucking much he mised Jolie. Calling it love would be stupid, Bro is incapable of such an emotion. But he's right there next to Jolie in the crush department. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected to find someone he feels so at ease with, whose presence is just... comforting. It's rare under normal circumstances, but Jolie being a Capitolite makes it even more surprising.

And when Trey shows up, he's also surprised. He gets really damn used to seeing Jolie in drag that it's jarring to see him out of it. Jarring, but definitely not a bad thing. Especially when he's wearing that deadpan expression. That expression is exactly what he looks for in a man, someone as unimpressed with the world as he is.

"Does it look like I'm fuckin' kidding?" he asks, pushing himself up into a sitting position as he gestures at the picnic around him. "Shit this smooth ain't no joke." He's well aware of how completely the opposite of smooth this is, but if you pretend hard enough then you can certainly believe that you're one smooth mother-effer. At the question, his lips quirk into a crooked smile, and he shrugs. "Well you know, you make a guy go for more than a month without his main squeeze and he gets a little lonely." Bro pats the space next to himself. "Come on and sit your ass down."

[reallynow]

There's no way Trey could ever have the heart to ignore this, even if part of him can't help feeling like he needs to be the one to put his foot down and start to put some distance between them. But there's been too much distance already and the mere thought of seeing Bro in the flesh again has his heart fluttering eagerly.

He's glad they can ghost past the lack of drag easily, because it isn't something he's interested in getting into. The only things he wants to get into are Bro's pants and maybe some of that food he's cobbled together. He's a hungry bitch in more ways than one.

"A little bit, yeah." He quips back, snorting at the fact that Bro thinks this is smooth. It's so dorky, but Trey can't deny the effectiveness of the technique. "You poor thing." He lays on the sympathetic tone, traipsing toward Bro and moving to lower himself beside the other man. As a drag queen he has a very imposing presence from wigs, gowns, heels and make up, so as a guy he feels pretty damn slight compared to a man with Bro's figure. He'll just utilize that by leaning against him with a smirk. "Miss me that much, huh?" Just gonna shoulder you, don't mind him.

[rediscover]

She's been awake in the Capitol for less than a week when she gets a note from Bro. She's been trying to keep herself busy, fiddling with bits and pieces in her room, and when she spots the note taped to her door on the way back in from dinner, she only grins and throws herself into her work even harder.

Thusly, when she shows up in the District 6 commons to find him, she's got a crown of pink roses on her head, and has his note clutched in one hand and a crown of orange roses in the other. It's sort of a thank-you gift for everything he's done for her, and how nice he was to her in the arena.

"Hey," she chirps cheerfully when she spots him sprawled across the sofa. "You're back." Obviously. Way to go, Anna. She holds out the orange flower crown. "I made you this!"

[plushaeusrumpified]

The sudden chirp of her voice is almost enough to startle him. He's staring intently at the screen, all wrapped up in some sort of RPG he's playing that feels a bit like one of the ones he'd play back home. Except for... Capitol-y. It's not the same, but it'll suffice. But no matter how much he's invested in it, her voice is enough to pull him out of it. Not only because it's loud, but because it's Anna. It's... good to see her, honestly. He'd known she was back in the Capitol, but seeing her is enough to make him relax a little regardless, because it affirms it.

Seeing her dead had been the nail in the coffin of the arena for him. Dave had been the fuel to his fire, Anna had been the bucket of ice water dumped on it. She'd been the last remaining person he felt like he was fighting for, in a sense. After seeing her like that, he'd felt really torn up. Between her and Dave, he felt vaguely like a failure. It's what had fueled his little booze binge, why he'd let himself get so damn intoxicated.

But here she is, alive. It's good to see her, but his eyebrows shoot up in surprise when she holds out the flower crown. "Oh..." For a moment, he's a little speechless, just because people don't really make things for him very often, let alone something as fucking adorable as a flower crown. It's touching, and not in the way he's used to. "Well shit, am I Arendelle royalty now?" He lets out a laugh, smiling a little more genuine than normal, as he pauses the game and bows his head. "I'm never takin' it off."

[rediscover]

Meanwhile, Anna's here feeling vaguely nervous. Which is stupid; she has nothing to be nervous about. Except for that weird moment they had in the Arena (one she's caught flashes of a few too many times on TV for comfort), and the fact that she really likes Bro, and wants his approval. It's weird, actually; he's basically the opposite of her, in so many ways--crass, and rude, and obsessed with behinds, and she's pretty sure he does something strange with puppets, but above all that, he's been a good friend to Anna. And friendship is important. So when he reacts positively to her little gift, her face cracks into a big ol' grin, and she moves forward.

"You are! You're my knight in shining armor," she announces regally. "Along with Dave, of course." She places the crown delicately on his head, and without thinking leans down to drop a kiss right in the center of it, over the blonde spikes of his hair.

[onthelii2p]

One (1) free drink of your choice brought by Bro Strider.

That's the note on the door when Sollux returns from a trip downstairs, as he stares a moment before carefully peeling the tape. There are butts on it. Of course there are butts. He's surprised there aren't panties.

But really?

He wanted to talk to Bro after the arena, having decided that by the end of their last meeting. Things might be easier then, he figured, and now he doesn't know. At the time all the tenseness and hurt made it awful, had him try to shoot him, and while he can't blame himself for the fear he still feels guilt for it. Even the parting was filled with discomfort, and left him regretting that it hadn't gone better.

In a way, it is a comfort. It means Bro actually wants to talk to him, or at least interact long enough for the drink. Maybe they can salvage something. He'd like it if they could make good on that video game challenge. And he's not busy now...

It takes a little searching and a little asking, but he finds his way to District 6 without a whole lot of fuss, and Bro Strider with it. Right on the couch, like he'd heard he'd been hanging around at, and he heads straight over with the "certificate" in hand.

He lifts it into view. "You buthy now?"

[plushaeusrumpified]

Bro's been wanting to talk to Sollux ever since then, too. One would think that after what happened between the two of them, he would still be a little bitter and want to avoid the troll, but it's actually the opposite. Bro hasn't forgotten their first talk, the way they bonded over video games and the anticipation he'd built up in regards to getting back in the Capitol so they can play.

That isn't to say that he isn't still a little chafed about it, but he'd woken up with a better understanding about it all. In hindsight, he had looked a little intimidating with his sword and bloody clothes. He's also a little more forgiving in hindsight, considering tempers were flaring and emotions were running high. They all hadn't had the best mentalities at that moment and if he'd thought about it, he would have waited before approaching certain people.

Sollux will catch him playing some mindless RPG that he'd picked out. It's not his favorite thing, but it's a decent enough time sink that distracts him from everything. But when he hears that lispy voice, he's pausing his game, turning his attention to Sollux as he sets the controller down. "Yeah, busy being bored." He's not impressed with the RPG, so he doesn't mind the distraction. "S'up, Annie Oakley?" The reference will be lost on him, but for his own sake he can't resist the little jab. "I hope you're not expecting me to buy you booze, you're like ten."

[onthelii2p]

The answer is casual, and it sets him at ease. More than just the offer itself did. He lowers the note and takes his answer as cue to head over, though he doesn't sit.

"It'th Thollukth Captor," he insists. "And I'm thikth, not ten. Didn't thtop one of the thtylithtth from thending me boothe anyway, but it tathted like crap tho I don't want any." Shrug. Really, human soporifics have got to be awful if they all taste like that gin did.

Theoretically he could just play it cool and keep going like this. Bro hasn't brought up the arena. He could just... you know, get a drink, game with him, play it normal. Bro might not even be bothered. (He's not sure, really.) But even if he was, wouldn't it be kind of rude? He did try to shoot him.

His mouth flicks down as, if for the moment, he turns a bit more serious. "But uh, I want to thay thorry. For the arena. I wouldn't have..." His eyes narrow, frown turning inward; he's still not happy about his firearm skills. "I wouldn't have shot at you if I knew what happened. The whole thing wath jutht awful."

[stotte]

It had to be a joke. A big fat joke. Seeing the note on the door, she has to do a couple of numerous takes to make sure she reads it correctly, because she definitely wasn't finding it easy to believe that Bro Strider, the guy who killed her, was giving her some sort of certificate or whatever it was meant to be.

She snatches the note with a swift yank, stomping through the the halls with full intent to find him, which doesn't take too long, locating him lounging in their main common area, acting rather casually despite the giant death match that just took place.

They've never spoken outside of the arena, but Astrid doesn't hesitate to walk in front of the television to block his view, holding up the note.

"What in Hel is this?" If her snappy tone wasn't enough, her stern look shooting daggers down at him would probably be enough to show she wasn't willing to joke around if that was what this letter intended to be.

[plushaeusrumpified]

It's most definitely not a joke.

It can be taken very easily as one, but this isn't something he's joking about. So far every arena, he's tried making it clear that it isn't personal, to the people he kills. It's not like he goes into it and does it because he hates everyone and personally wants them dead. No, it's more like he just wants to get it all over with and killing is the quickest way to do it. If he wins, then all the better so that he can start figuring out a way to help with the rebellion.

Of course he doesn't expect the peace offering to be easy so he's unsurprised when he has an extremely miffed looking Astrid stepping in front of him. "I'm pretty sure your daddy ain't a glass maker, which means you're not see-through." With a sigh, he pauses his game. He was busy, but not anymore. "What does it look like? You have eyes." After a beat, he clarifies, "It's a peace offering."

[youbarium]

Tentatively, note in hand, Carlos pushes open the door to the D6 rooms. It's easy enough to keep track of who was in which District when half the Capitol's websites are devoted to Tributes, Tribute news, Tribute gossip, Tribute photographs, Tribute fanfiction...

Anyway. Finding Bro hadn't been hard. He steps inside and closes the door behind him.

"Um...are you busy?"

It's hard to tell. For some people, day drinking and watching TV wasn't busy. For others, it was.

[plushaeusrumpified]

Bro's eyes flick from the TV to Carlos when he hears his voice, and it takes him a second or two to remember who it is and that he did, in fact, leave the man a note and that there's a reason for this interruption. He hasn't worked up a buzz yet, so he's unfortunately sober for the moment.

"Nah," he says with a shrug. "I've always got time for roomba guy." Bro pats the space next to himself. "I take it you've come to redeem your booze-drink certificate."

[youbarium]

"Yeah," says Carlos, stepping across the room to take a seat on Bro's couch. "And, uh, to find out why you left it."

As far as Carlos is concerned, Bro's done nothing to make a post-Arena apology for. He can't think of any reason why Bro would leave a note like that.

training center

[fintastic]

When Feferi makes her way to the training center, she's not exactly expecting to see Bro there, but it shouldn't be surprising. She spots him at one of the weight machines, and debates whether she wants to approach him or just let him be for now. The note is still sitting in her block, next to her bed, and she did come here to train herself. But her social nature wins out, and she tries to make her approach carefully, so as not to startle him.

"Need someone to spot you?" She might not be at the top of his trustworthy list, but she had her reasons for encouraging Sollux to shoot him on sight. It wasn't anything personal!

[plushaeusrumpified]

It doesn't startle him, fortunately. He isn't easy to, but when he's training he can be a little on edge as he works himself up and gets more tense. It's good, then, that she doesn't catch him when he's too deeply into it. If anything, he's just doing it to pass the time today. He won't lie, though, there's a sort of bitterness that pings him when he hears her voice and looks her way, if only because she's the one who urged Sollux to shoot him.

"Well if it ain't miss shoot-first-ask-later," he says in a slight deadpan, as he considers her offer. It doesn't take long before he shrugs, setting down the arm weight he's holding and moving over to a nearby bench. "Yeah, why not."

He lays down on it, wiping at his forehead before reaching up for the weight. "I see you're a little less pissy today, so that's good. Makes me feel good knowing you won't yell at the peacekeepers to shoot me if I step out of line." He doesn't even sound mad, but he can't resist getting in a few little jabs.

[fintastic]

"Can you really blame me though?" Getting in position, Feferi puts her hands out to spot the weight, though from the looks of it, he's probably got it covered. Can never be too safe though! "But I'm sorry I tried to get my boyfriend to kill you. I hope we can still be friend."

Because she doesn't need to be making enemies in the arena, that's for sure. Allies she can use. Strangers she can deal with. But enemies are another matter altogether.

[deafscythe]

Justin takes the note and goes down to the D6 suites, where he goes looking for Bro. He's probably grateful to the man for killing him and bringing him back from being an Avox, but Justin has never been the sort of person who thanks others for their help.

So the priest just offers the note back to Bro.

"I knew you were the sort of person who would kill an Avox, but I had not realized you were also the sort of criminal who encouraged underage drinking."

[plushaeusrumpified]

Bro isn't really expecting Justin to show up, if he's completely honest. He's aware that it was probably unnecessary to kill him, but at that point he'd decided to just go ahead and speed the games along so that they could all get out of the arena. He hadn't really thought about it at the time, and his excuse of 'it's nothing personal' usually held up... decently enough.

But when Justin does appear, and that's his comment, he can't help it- he laughs. Of all the things in his life, he can't imagine underage drinking being the worst thing he could possibly do. "Well damn, I didn't know you felt so strongly about it," he says, raising his eyebrows. "Siddown and have an apple juice or something."

[deafscythe]

"Someone has to maintain order here in this lawless place," he says. He's different now than he was as an Avox, of course. Infinitely more confident, the sort of person who sees nothing wrong with taking up the attention of an entire room. His voice is loud, the type of loudness that is more skilled projection than shouting. He could be on a stage somewhere, or preaching from a pulpit.

If there's a little too much confidence, if it's clear to anyone looking for it that he's just trying to be loud enough to cover over the lingering conditioning to submit, obey, well, it wouldn't be polite to mention it.

"Is apple juice fair payment for a life?"