Oh, he'd better not spill a drop of that wine. The bottle cost about as much as the upholstery it would ruin.
Cyrus shrugs, kind of... pointedly. Setting an example with his indifference. "So... don't." Duh. "Come on, Stephen. Just... let them take the fall, for once."
His concern is genuine, for all his tone is still easygoing. He's looking at Stephen, up and down, and wondering if he looks more tired than usual. If all this hasn't taken some kind of physical toll on him. God-- it's been too long since they've seen each other, if he can't tell that just by looking.
"It's the same in politics," he goes on. "Sometimes, yeah, you stick your neck out for somebody who really needs it-- but with the expectation you're going to get something out of it, right? Favors need to come with a price, or what the hell is the point?" A sip of wine-- he hadn't actually been intending to make a speech. "They're your Tributes, Stephen. Not your friends. Make them work for your help."
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Cyrus shrugs, kind of... pointedly. Setting an example with his indifference. "So... don't." Duh. "Come on, Stephen. Just... let them take the fall, for once."
His concern is genuine, for all his tone is still easygoing. He's looking at Stephen, up and down, and wondering if he looks more tired than usual. If all this hasn't taken some kind of physical toll on him. God-- it's been too long since they've seen each other, if he can't tell that just by looking.
"It's the same in politics," he goes on. "Sometimes, yeah, you stick your neck out for somebody who really needs it-- but with the expectation you're going to get something out of it, right? Favors need to come with a price, or what the hell is the point?" A sip of wine-- he hadn't actually been intending to make a speech. "They're your Tributes, Stephen. Not your friends. Make them work for your help."