In Every Atom, Broken, Is a Name [OPEN]

[celebrityskinned]

WHO| Venus Dee Milo and open
WHAT| Venus shows people where the blind spots are.
WHERE| The corner of Castor and Juvenal.
WHEN| After Lonestar's post.
WARNINGS| Likely some mentions of torture and suicide.

Venus does the perfect approximation of just lounging at a bus stop, playing on her network device and checking her receipt for all the things she bought at the jewelry store. Capitol citizens passing by pay her no mind, except to sneer at the brand across her cheek. She knows she should be wearing it like a badge, but no amount of conviction seems able to stop her wincing every time that look of disgust crosses someone's face.

She feels strangely detached, as if she's spent all of her energy either in berating herself for her laundry list of recent mistakes or in acting like they haven't brought her down. She knows that there's chaos around her, and yet she feels like the shrapnel and debris in the air misses her, that the wind doesn't touch her. She knows that she should feel the hum in the earth as the water behind the dam reaches a breaking point, and yet there's nothing. Nothing but the sun beating on her face, her scarred, ugly face.

She's accomplished nothing here. Even Wyatt and Maximus' safety was incidental to anything she did. She has a fistful of locations where someone, anyone might go forth and make fire with a spark that she's to dim to light.

She sits there, browsing some tabloid on her device, and she waits.

Comments

[silberfuchs]

A shadow overtakes Venus' seated form from behind, blocking the sun from glinting off the screen of her phone and letting its owner view the receipt caught in her other hand. Albert manages to glance it over and give a low whistle before Venus looks up to catch him leaning over the bench. "That's quite the shopping trip. I hadn't figured you for a magpie."

Y'know, because shiny things? Don't mind him, he's lame.

Also in a good mood, which is a general state for him lately as the wedding starts to approach. He's just so damned excited. Plus being vetted for rebellion work also has his spirits raised and hopeful, which his wedding excitement can be used as an excuse for his good mood over that.

All in all, he's happy and he hopes it will rub off on Venus, to whom shopping apparently is a form of therapy.

[celebrityskinned]

She tenses a little as the shadow crosses hers, as Albert approaches as nothing but a fuzzy silhouette reflected on her screen, faceless, all shadow. She relaxes when he gets close enough for her to make out the grey hair, when she hears his voice.

"I totally got into Hollywood for the bling." With only minimal kill money from the last Arena, she's been racking up quite the credit card debt, but the Capitol hasn't seen fit to care enough to ask her to repay it yet. Maybe it's off earning interest somewhere. She isn't planning on staying alive long enough to find out, even if dying isn't her top priority either until Kankri and Ellie are safe.

She does her damnedest to match Albert's good mood. "Besides, these Capitol citizens giving me the stink-eye? A four-digit bill usually changes their tune."

[silberfuchs]

"I can imagine. Not to mention diamonds suit you." He walks around the bench and offers his arm for her to take.

He's dressed in his usual that being the simplest clothing he could find in his wardrobe. Today it's a blue button down and black leather jacket. Topped with his aviators, he has the look of some kind of upscale bad-boy, more like a weekender who will have to go back to investment banking or insurance sales during the week and is trying far too hard to forget that fact. He doesn't seem to mind, though. Anything that makes his stylist tear at her hair in frustration is a good fashion choice in his book.

"Care for that smoothie? Though I warn you, we'll probably get more looks. According to the tabloids, I'm having one last fling with you before marriage."

[gunshiptotheface]

The Capitol had never been friendly, but it was decidedly less than welcoming since the past Arena. He hasn't talked very often with Venus, only knowing her really in passing from Shepard. Seeing her at the bus stop as he's out on his usual walk of the city, the brand sticks out on her face almost like the missing plating on his arms stands out in deep scarring.

"Hope your jewelry is prettier than the bracelet the Capitol gave me, I'm thinking they took the cheap route in showing their affections." His dry tone is not directed at her, but he doesn't give her any looks other than a friendly one.

[celebrityskinned]

It's a little difficult to read the expression on Garrus' face, given his inhuman bone structure and musculature, but she understands from what little she does glean that he means her no harm. She looks up at him with narrowed eyes for a moment, considering how best to respond.

She hasn't forgiven him for killing Ellie when the girl was so close (so close) to escaping the Arenas, but just because the anger isn't dead doesn't mean it can't be put aside. She knows she has to remember who her real enemies are. They all have too many to be concocting more.

So she relaxes. "Well, I ran up a few thousand assi, so I should damn well hope this stuff's pretty. How're you doing, Vakarian?"

[a_minute_younger]

Gary has neither the patience to wait for a bus nor shame; the two balance each other out rather well in this situation, possibly for the worse. His brisk walk breaks to an abrupt halt as he glances at the bench in passing, curiosity overtaking any rush he might have felt to continue exploring.

"Where'd you get that?" The teen points to his own cheek to indicate the obvious. He assumes it's a tattoo. This is not going to be a fun conversation for him.

[celebrityskinned]

She's reading her device, and so when he asks that she leans forward to open her bag, presuming he's asking about the jewelry she's just purchased - and then she raises her eyes to see he's gesturing at his face.

Something about the innocence with which he asks that makes her feel as if her heart and lungs are being crumpled up like a tin can. She takes a quick breath, blinking away the threat of tears before she pushes up her sunglasses, so he can see the damage for what it is: damage. A burn that tugs at her lower lid, spreads from cheek to her ear, warping and wrenching her skin.

"I got it from a hot iron." She very nearly spits the words.

[a_minute_younger]

Oh. Oh. That is either definitely not a tattoo or it is a really poorly done one. Gary's already biting his lip and thinking of ways to resolve his blunder even before Venus confirms that it is, in fact, the former. Or perhaps some combination of the two. Either way, it's not a fun situation to be in.

But nothing is too sacred for Gary's tastes. "I'm guessing you and the hot iron aren't on speaking terms anymore," he says, before he has time to consider how poorly this will go over.

[sizeofyourbaggage]

Sam doesn't think of himself as a superhero and he isn't an Avenger, but he has a pretty vested interest in someone who's both, so Venus's comment on that Lonestar post had caught his attention.

Well, that, and he is really interested in those blind spots.

So he heads out to where she said she'd be, looking around at all of the sights of the city to cover scanning for her. Honestly, it's not much of an act, considering he hasn't had a chance to be out in the city much.

When he spots her, he heads over and drops down next to her with a smile. "Finally, a familiar face. If I didn't have that map they gave me, I'd have been beyond lost by now."

[celebrityskinned]

She smiles back as she shoves her device back into her clutch; thus far, she likes Sam. It's nice to have a roommate who isn't a grade-A nutjob, genocidal, a romantic misstep or any combination of the previously stated categories. "I swear they renovate the city every time we're in the Arena. I still get lost and I've been here ages."

Besides, he's here, presumably, because she mentioned one of his friends. That kind of loyalty is a good sign.

"How's this life treating you so far?"

[sizeofyourbaggage]

"Oh, good, and here I was worried things wouldn't be confusing enough." He shakes his head, giving her a little grin, and is suddenly more appreciative of the fact that he actually likes her. Sam's not the best, at this subterfuge stuff, he's not used to being anyone but himself.

"Now that I'm actually venturing out in the city? Not bad, the Capitol's an interesting place." It's not a lie, at least, even if he has a few choice other words he'd like to pair with that. "Worked up an appetite walking around it, though, what do you say you let me buy you a smoothie? I saw a place somewhere nearby, and you look like a raspberry kind of girl."

[youbarium]

A figure in white sinks onto the bench next to her.

"So, I figured we could talk over a raspberry smoothie."

[celebrityskinned]

She shouldn't be surprised to see Carlos here. Surely he's lost more than most of the people here, what with everything that's happened to Cecil, what with the exposé that may or may not be accurate. She never bothered to ask. She never thought it was the right of a stranger.

She looks over at him and reaches over, touching the lapel of his labcoat and straightening it. "Sure. You can talk about science and my eyes can glaze over. What's to lose?"

[burnedbrighter]

"If I am ever sent home to district Five, I think I shall miss Capitol food most of all."

Azula appeared almost out of thin air with two cups of frozen yogurt. One had berries and little crackling candies in it while the other had an assortment of other chopped fruits.

"You looked lonely." She commented sitting down next to Venus without an invitation and offering her one of the cups.

[celebrityskinned]

"Ten points for observation, Azula." Still, she takes the cup of fruit with a genuine smile of gratitude. Throughout all of this, Azula has had her best interest in mind, smuggling in medicine to the Arena and letting Venus have her space in the District. She could have used her power to make Venus suffer more, and hasn't. She appreciates it.

"Thanks for the fro-yo." She takes the one with the sweets in it. "How are you?"

[pigspigspigs]

The Engineer calls him on the telephone.

I am but an infant, dear Mandus, he says in his usual rattling voice, and right now, the tit from which I suckle coughs only dust.

Work harder is what the voice meant. Oswald Mandus isn't an imbecile. Work harder, work longer, work until your fingers are raw and your vision doubles, work until you supply the veins and the muscles and the ducts that are necessary to provide milk for your youngest child. (For your only brother.) Work harder is what the voice meant, and Mandus will work harder, he will, but the telephone calls make his head feel wrong somehow. The ringing on the line is so close to the ringing in his ears. The voice on other end is so close to his own.

He goes outside for fresh air, his hands buried in his pockets to fight the oncoming autumn. He sees Venus and he knows who she is, he knows she is one of the sacrificial lambs (one of the pigs), and the pity in his heart turns so perfectly into disgust.

But he does not sneer.

"Good afternoon," he says, calm and measured. He glances at the brand on her face. Makes no effort to hide it. "I've seen you before, haven't I?"

[celebrityskinned]

She doesn't look up until he's right there, but she knows his eyes are resting on her brand even before she sees his face. There's some second sense she has now, some knowing when disgust is aimed in her way. It's like a stench she can't close her nose to, and the whole Capitol reeks of it.

Still, she looks at him as if her afternoon is perfectly pleasant. She pulls her jewelry bag onto her lap and politely sets the phone aside. She knows better than to blow off a Citizen these days.

"I'm on TV a lot." Her voice, when talking to strangers, to Citizens who used to be fans, would have been a coo, but her attempts to play to a consumptive gaze have weakened with her self-esteem. She used to play the camera almost as a subconscious habit; her poise clung to her skin like perfume. That is no longer the case. "Unless you know me from somewhere else?"

[reassures]

Since Nill can't say hello the same way most people do, when she stops by the bus stop she lifts a hand to knock on the side of it to announce herself, a small, friendly smile already on her face. This time around it seems she actually has a notepad, because she holds it up for Venus to see once she's taken notice of Nill, a message already written across the top of the page.

Can I get you a raspberry smoothie?

[celebrityskinned]

Venus leans forward to read it, then pushes her sunglasses back on her forehead to see it. She looks up at Nill and nods her head.

She doesn't know this girl with the wings at all, really, but more and more Venus is beginning to believe that everyone deserves a little privacy - and Nill came across as so frazzled and scared that she's more in need of a safe space than anyone.

"You can, if I can get you a mango one." She smiles and shoves her device into her shopping bag. "How've you been holding up?"

[honeyibrokeharlem]

"Doesn't it get lonely, just sitting there with a tablet?"

A man with gray beginning to dust his hair sits down next to her, but he keeps a respectful distance, folding his hands in his lap. He's not going to give her the code immediately, just in case the Capitol is watching. Better to make it seem at least somewhat natural, or having a code word doesn't matter. They'd pick up pretty quickly on random strangers approaching a girl for smoothies before disappearing into a blind spot.

"I think I've seen you around. You're from District 5, right?"

[celebrityskinned]

"Believe me, my District's crowded enough that a little loneliness keeps me sane."

She leans back on the bench, grateful for the bit of space even if there's no reason for her to say it out loud. She's been jumpy, lately, ever since the torture. Her ankles feel week sometimes and shadows cast around her peripheral vision, demanding her immediate attention and revealing nothing.

"Yeah, Venus Dee Milo. And you're Bruce, I mean, Dr. Bruce Banner, right?"

[gardienne]

"Miss?" Eponine comes on silent feet, weaving her way through the crowds that move, as if she's diseased, around her. Her face is branded too: it has missed her eye, but caught the left corner of her lip, making it swell and blacken and go white about the edges. Unlike Venus, though, Eponine is past caring what she looks like, past caring about snide glances and the whispers that follow her. She feigns oblivion, but inside, she's quite proud of her brand. It means she's brave and daring and, well, foolhardy as well, but as strong, as bold as Eva.

It's awkward going to Venus again, but then, Venus was always nice to her, even when Eponine was at her most vile.

"Shall we, Miss?" Eponine offers her hand to Venus. They both know what she's there for, but Eponine doesn't dare say it aloud.

[celebrityskinned]

Even though plenty of Tributes were branded, so many of them died or have their other social circles that Venus often forgets that she isn't alone in being disfigured. Unlike her, however, Eponine carries herself with some confidence still, whereas Venus seems that she's perpetually taken a blow to the gut no matter her posture.

She forgets what the brand looks like. When she closes her eyes it's not scarred flesh but a black hole, a parasite latched onto her face, a trapdoor left open and revealing her insides to be grime and muck.

"We shall." She takes Eponine's hand. "How are you doing, kiddo?"

[privilegecheck]

Kankri is nervous about this talk - but it's kind of exciting in a nice way, too. He and Venus haven't once been able to talk truly freely, and he's chafed at the restriction, especially considering the nature of their closeness. It'll be good to air things honestly, without worrying about putting either of them in danger by saying the wrong thing. It's not that Kankri knows anything about the rebellious factions - though he's probably on their list of dissenters, he's never been in on any kind of real plan - but he doubts the Capitol will like the things he needs to discuss with her nevertheless.

He waves when he sees her, smiling. He sits down beside her, setting a bag down between them. He'd had an idea passing one of the toy stores on the way here, and now he pulls out a gray rabbit doll. "Since we couldn't bring anything with us from the Arena, I thought you might appreciate this now that we're out." He offers it to her with a warm smile.

"So, would you like to go out for something? I'd like to treat you to one of those things you like - maybe a smoothie. You like raspberry flavor, don't you?"

[celebrityskinned]

She doesn't match his smile with one of her own until a look of honest surprise and gratitude crosses her face. She takes the rabbit and holds it up to the sun for examination.

"Oh, you're so getting double Christmas gifts this year." He'll probably see it in her bed the next time he comes over from a nightmare, the next time they find each other in the dark and vow with only their embraces to protect each other no matter what. Her promise to keep him safe and his to help her piece herself back together.

"I'd love that. Raspberry's my favorite, and you totally got that from checking my yogurts." She tucks the rabbit in her bag so its head is peeking out, and she pats it as if it were a small dog. "Let's do this."