thecapitol | But oh my heart, was flawed I knew my weakness [OPEN]

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But oh my heart, was flawed I knew my weakness [OPEN]

Who| Rose and Striders, Anna, Clara and OPEN
What| Rose has some catching up to do.
Where| Tribute Tower, Speakeasy
When| Now and backdated to before the mini Arena
Warnings/Notes| N/A

There’s no real reason she makes her way around the tower today. There’s no real need to check on anyone, the mini arena has come and gone and she’d rather ignore the events of those few days. Rather forget they even happened and she supposes that’s what makes her going out seeking people, a need for distraction, even if it comes with social interaction. It’s a little odd to be taking the initiative, it’s a task she’s still learning to do by herself and not via the egging on of her brother, the reminder that even she needs fresh air, a little human contact.

It’s to family she goes first, slipping in and out of districts with discretion, if only to keep the attention off them. She’s been a model citizen, watching her words and smiling sweetly and sticking to the enforced curfew without protest but there’s still a brand on her cheek and that alone marks her as someone to be watched. And she’d rather not draw any additional attention to her brothers (It’s easier to think of Bro as such and not father. The word sits oddly and it doesn't suit) especially Dave and Bro. They've already gotten enough attention from helping her.

So she slips in and out, stopping by and waiting till she’s sure they’re free before she approaches, quiet as she can be as she slides up behind them and in an equally quiet voice asks, “Busy?”

Others also get a visit, anything to eat up her time but all the same there’s only so many people Rose knows well enough to warrant a check in without having to force an excuse and so finally, Rose finds herself wandering down the levels to the training center. She pauses before entering, debating her choices before following her instincts. She’s been lucky with the past few arenas, able to get her hands on needles. The next one may not give her such fortune, and she needs to be prepared.

And so she can be found there, frowning at the varying weapons as she tries to work herself through them, stubbornly trying to teach herself. Until dinner comes and goes and feeling more sweaty than she’s accustomed to Rose lets her latest weapon drop and heads out with warning. In the elevator she hits the top floor, bypassing her district floor without a second thought to hit the rooftop and she can’t help the sigh she makes, letting it slip before she even really sees who may already be up here.

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Rose had suggested it at the crowning, but things were prone to slip by the wayside these days. Especially with Clara’s new status as Victor, and Rose knows the blonde’s attention is much sought after. So it takes a little time till she can get her, sending off a request for her time and smirking faintly at her communicator when she gets the positive response. Perfect. A late Sunday lunch and Rose knows just where she plans to take Clara.

She doesn't take too long to get ready, despite the vast options she’s been given thanks to Jolie, and for a change Rose seems to head the Queen’s first batch of advice. She dresses softer, pink dress and matching lipstick though there is little to be done about the brand on her cheek. Her hair at least is grown out enough to manage soft curls and Rose keeps her expression sweet, almost a bounce in her step as she heads up to Clara’s suite and raps carefully on the blonde’s door.

There were things that Clara knew came with being a Victor. There were the interviews, which were to be somewhat expected and had tapered off for the most part over the last couple of weeks, other than a few magazines and websites that hadn't been able to book her until recently. There were the ad campaigns which, duh, of course. Even if she didn't necessarily enjoy them, she understood that they were expected of her. But most of all, what had been eating up her time since she had gotten out of the Arena had been the sponsors. She can't remember Wyatt mentioning being dragged off to this many breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner meetings. Or the parties that she assumed lasted far later than when she'd usually leave around one or two in the morning. Even if they aren't really a couple, Clara can't help but feel bad for not keeping up with Rose as much as she could have.

Clara isn't exactly taken by surprise when she hears Rose knock on her door. "Just a moment," she calls out before touching up her lipstick and double checking her makeup in the mirror. While she doesn't feel as inclined to do herself up for Rose like she did when Alex used to take her on dates, it's still a matter of keeping up appearances. When she finally opens the door, she's wearing a dark red dress, also with matching lipstick. The idea of going out in something like this for something like a lunch date honestly feels slightly over the top to her, but she's read what some of the Capitol magazines have said about her, that her soft, warm look isn't fitting for a Victor. And seeing Rose in soft pinks when she's clad in something much darker than what she's used to is honestly a little hilarious to her.

"Wow." The surprise in her voice is genuine, having not at all expected Rose's sudden makeover. "I guess today is opposite day," she says, smirking at Rose before the smirk softens into a real smile. "You should wear pink more often, it suits you."

She can't help but be amused herself when she sees Clara's outfit. She definetly is an attractive woman, and as much as Rose can tell the woman isn't as comfortable or used to such bold looks, she also thinks it suits her. Clara isn't the same woman as she was before, and this is a mask she deserves at the very least. Softly Rose laughs, looking her supposed girlfriend over. "It seems so. Do you think they coordinated this?"

"I used to be fond of lavender as a child," she confesses, smile soft and gentle and Rose steps forward and onto tip toes as she presses a light kiss to the corner of Clara's lips, not wanting to smudge her lipstick. Still smiling she drops back to her heels, gold and quite tall to make her somewhat closer to Clara's own height and Rose lets her hand run down Clara's arm before entwining their fingers. "Come, I know the perfect place."

"I wouldn't be surprised if they did." It would make the most sense. After all, it would look great in the various Capitol papers. She can just imagine all the articles about them being so close that they're starting to share everything as a couple, including their sense of style. Plus, even with the brand, the softer look mixed with the fact that she's in a relationship could make Rose look a little more vulnerable, and appealing, to sponsors. Even if they aren't really a couple, Clara likes the idea of giving Rose a potential boost to make things a little bit easier on her in the Arenas.

"I could definitely see you in lavender," Clara responds with a soft giggle, making sure to look like she relishes the kiss and the hand sliding down her arm. And in a way she does, considering how much she's missed intimate human contact with how uneasy Alex was about it with the chassis before the suppression and afterwards...well, he just stopped caring. She gives Rose's hand a gentle squeeze and follows in her fashionable, pointy toed flats. "Oh do you? Is it somewhere I've heard of?"

With Anna, Rose first goes over the tapes of the previous arenas, watching the girl with a critical eye, comparing them each. She’s better than the first, but not by a lot and while she hasn't exactly seeked her out to continue her training, Rose does find herself feeling a partial sense of responsibility. She had promised the girl after all, and Rose didn't take promises lightly. Being stuck in a cell had robbed a few precious weeks, and she’s only wasted more since the return from the arena and so Rose seeks the redhead out herself.

She follows her first, watching from a distance before she approaches and when she does, it’s sudden, Anna’s only notice that she’s snuck up behind her Rose’s voice when she suddenly speaks. “You did better this time. But you could do more.” The offer hangs, there in the words she doesn't say.

Anna's not the most aware person on Earth, so it's not surprising that she doesn't notice Rose sneaking up on her from behind. She's meandering toward nobody-knows-where, humming softly to herself, perhaps trying to distract herself from thoughts of the upcoming Arena. It's emotionally tolling, knowing that it's coming and soon, and truth be told, Anna's tired. This will be her fifth Arena, and that's five too many for anyone, let alone a young, sheltered royal.

The voice behind her shakes her out of her thoughts, and Anna jumps, letting out a frightened squeak, turning quickly to face the owner of that voice. "Oh," she says softly, facing Rose for the first time since the jailbreak. The brand on her cheek is startling, and Anna tries hard to divert her gaze politely. "Right. I...I need more help, I think." It's not hard for her to admit it, it's true. She made it through a fair bit of the last Arena, but in a proper struggle she still felt clumsy. Sluggish. Useless.

Despite her intent to get Dave out of the arenas first, Rose still feels some sympathy for the other youths here. There's so many, and while she knows in turn she is actually one of the stranger ones, with her age and how these arenas used to go, it still sits wrong with her. To some degree her plans have changed, to acknowledge that if she does lose Dave before she can get him to that victory, there are others she should try and push towards that goal and when Anna jumps like so, and Rose sees the look in her eyes her name on Rose's mental list is underlined.

In truth she is more uncomfortable when people avoid looking at the brand, it reminds her more that it exists than looking at it directly. But Anna is still young, so Rose doesn't call her on it, moving on to more important topics. "You do." There's no sting to the words, nothing to insult Anna just gentle acceptance. "And I admit, I did get... distracted there, for a time. I apologise for that."

"Are you free now however?"

"That's alright."

The princess gives a little shrug, clearly not bothered by it. "I've been getting on, after all. I made it pretty far during the last one, and apparently I was interesting enough to keep around."

Rose's question gives her pause, however. "Now?" Anna glances around, looking a bit unsure. In truth, she'd been wanting to grab a snack from the kitchen, but she supposes she'll be doing herself more of a favor if she gets in some training time instead. So she settles her gaze back on Rose.

"Sure, why not. I could use it, after all."

As Rose enters the Training center, Albert's on his way out and ready to hit the showers. He's clearly just finished a work out, a towel draped over his neck and his water bottle empty in his hand. At first, he just gives Rose an offhand smile as he passes, but then he pauses after a few steps, thinking of the conversation he'd had with Dave at the crowning.

"Excuse me, Miss Lalonde?"

She's still studying the space, trying to find the place that will be best for her, Rose wanting to keep her distance still. It serves two purposes after all, keeps her from forming too many attachments and others from seeing what she's capable of. Though any tribute with half a brain would skim the recordings of the arenas to get an idea of what and who they're up against.

Albert speaks and Rose glances up, one blonde brow raised in a question she doesn't ask as she looks him over before speaking. "Yes?" She doesn't ask if they've met because she knows they haven't, and it's simple enough to get your hands on a name to a face here.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I spoke with your brother at the Crowning and he mentioned you were going to try and help Eponine." She seems guarded, so he decides it's best to simply be direct with why he'd requested her attention. "Eponine is an acquaintance of mine, and a District-mate, so I was wondering if you'd spoken with her yet."

That sounds so... nosy when he says it aloud, but he really is concerned for Eponine's well being. If she continues to behave the way she has been, she'll get herself killed permanently.

Rose has always been a guarded sort, and here the habit has only gotten worse. It seems foolish to let people get to know you, habits you have and choices you may make. Better to keep them uncertain, and it could be the saving grace needed in an arena.

"We have," she says after a pause, and the smile she gives him seems apologetic if distantly polite. "But I can't discuss our discussion without her permission, I'm sure you understand. For Eponine to speak freely with me she has to be assured she has my trust and confidentiality." After all, Rose may be doing this solely for Dave, but that doesn't mean she's not going to do it properly.

He used to think the same, and is still careful to an extent, but as the Capitol reaps more and more Tributes, he can't shake the sense that they need to band together against the common enemy. True, in the Arena it's hard to see, but those he's become allies with, even friends, he doesn't regret doing so.

"I understand, and I wouldn't ask for any specific information that would betray that trust. I'm more interested if you think you can help her. I'm... concerned that her behavior will lead to some very serious consequences, even beyond what happens in the Arena."

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But oh my heart, was flawed I knew my weakness [OPEN]

Locked to Clara, backdated to just pre mini Arena

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Locked to Anna

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hope this is ok!

It defs is and I am so sorry for the delay!!!

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