thecapitol | It's all it will take, we'll go down in history

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It's all it will take, we'll go down in history

Who| Everyone in the Tribute Center (plus various Capitol citizens are in attendance)
What| A Saturnalia inspired extravaganza!
Where| A large, festive ballroom
When| Tonight!
Warnings/Notes| N/A? Let me know if this needs a warning!

Jennifer had spent weeks on the preparations for this glorious night, arranging for the food and gifts and music and dancing. Everything would be perfect, and she was certain all the attendees would have a marvelous time. And besides all that, this would be a perfect way to celebrate her husband's return to the Capitol! It had been weeks since Arturas had any time off to spend at home. Surely he'd be delighted by the fanfare and revelry.

The invitations stated that the party began promptly at 6:30, to bring an appetite, and be ready to dance. The attendees were instructed to dress in costume, to participate in the role-reversal theme of Saturnalia. Capitolites were to dress as Tributes while the Tributes were to dress in the most outlandish Capitol fashions imaginable. Jennifer herself was wearing a replica of the District 2 space costume, bedazzled and covered in crystals, for an extra glamorous kick, while her stoic husband sat at his table with his politician friends, dressed in an ice skating costume, a throwback to Arena 11. Clearly he had business to attend to, so it would be up to her to see to the party.

She made her way toward the entrance and prepared to greet everyone.

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Mindy raised an eyebrow when she saw the sheep. "Man, they're really just letting any kind of wildlife hang around" she commented, shaking her head. She thought that Sandy's duck was peculiar, but this? That was something. Maybe a mutation too, if the rainbow covered wool was actually real.

She might actually be tempted to get an animal for herself one day, if she even thought she'd take decent care of the thing.

"Diana. Right. I met her a few times. You guys are official now, right?"

"One could say the same for our tributes." Azula chuckled indulging in a bit of her superiority complex.

At the clarifying question as to the nature of Azula's relationship with Diana the mentor answered back smoothly "Official? Don't be silly. I'm her mentor and she just happens to be a tribute who took good care of me when I was thrust back into the arena." She explained.

"There have been rumors of course that I favor her over other tributes, but given the other tributes in my district it should stand to reason I would offer more aid to the ones who need it the most." And when you stood Diana up against the likes of Shepard and Sam Wilson it was of constant amazement that Diana usually lasted till the final weeks of each arena.

"It would be reckless to indulge in something as dangerous as a relationship in our current position, caring about others gives you weak spots that can be attacked. I wouldn't dare do that to any of my tributes."

It pained her to speak so indifferently about the tributes she had grown so attached to, but as the tension increased among Capitol and tributes Azula did not want to be the mentor to give them a reason to lash out. They'd only just gotten back their after dark privileges after all.

"It should bother me I agree with you there," Mindy said, not relishing the fact, "but when you have people so happy to kill off some kids, can't really say that's wrong. Then again, pretty sure we run into those few tributes that are pretty impressive. At least they make up for it."

Mindy listened carefully, reading in between the lines. Azula was being smart, mostly. Of course she wouldn't want to look as if she was favoring any tribute: if anything were to happen, well, they'd know just who they'd have to torture, wouldn't they? Not that she thought Azula was going to go breaking rules in the Capitol anyway.

She wouldn't get caught doing it, anyway.

"Right, I got it!" Mindy said, chuckling. "Maybe I'm getting bored, but I like a rumor or two to break up some of the boring. Your District does well enough without your extra help. Just glad we finally got a little more new blood in mine."

Glad to be leaving the subject behind Azula turned her attention back to the TV where the blond viking girl was being bandaged up by a tall attractive woman who was new to the arena. The screen listed her name as "Milla" and she was currently wrapping scraps of a banner around a stump where the girls arm had once been.

"The curfew did slow things down significantly. Hopefully now that we're free to move about the streets once more life in the Capitol will be lively again."

She had felt so stifled locked up in her suite for those weeks.

"I've often wondered if there's a rhyme or reason to how they distribute tributes other then which districts have however many. It seems random but at the same time it works out in some cases to be extremely dramatic." Here she was thinking about the near constant shouting matches between her own tributes over things like food space in the fridge.

"Of course it would be paranoid to think that everything the Capitol did they did for a specific reason. These are government officials after all not evil chess masters."

"Go Ruffnut," Mindy muttered, glad to see that the girl was still kicking around. It had been devastating seeing Sandy getting taken out so quickly, and she was secretly cheering for Kenny or Korra to take the thing, but she had a distinct understanding that was not likely to happen. "Who's the amazon chick?"

She nodded. "I hate not getting my training done whenever I want. The punching bag they installed in the lounge just didn't do the stuff. Besides, you probably hated this as much as I did. You still look like you keep pretty fit."

That was some speculation. "I don't know. A little paranoia never hurt anyone in general. Wouldn't put it past them to make things interesting."

"District Eleven." Azula answered almost absentmindedly. The screen was focused now on how gruesome the wound was, which was to be expected given it had been ripped off by one of the other tributes as some kind of monster.

"I'm sure you know how to make time for training. Equipment makes it easier but you only need a space wide enough to spread your arms and legs to do the bare minimum." She reasoned. But Mindy was right it had annoyed her all the same.

"Sometimes I wonder what it looks like to those on the outside. Those who haven't actually been through an arena. I can speculate of course but the only confirmation I can get is by asking them directly...and where's the fun in that?"

"No kidding," Mindy said absentmindedly, looking at the girl. "Pretty nice of her. Let's hope it doesn't get her killed. Niceness isn't looked at too favorably unless it helps you later."

God knows Mindy was more successful not being nice than when she was.

"Of course. Always make time for training. Any little kid's gotta do it if they want to rough it in the games. I just prefer the obstacle course."

She nodded. "Well yeah, that and we're taking their word for it, which doesn't amount to a whole lot."

With most people, really.

Azula nodded in agreement. Mindy hadn't said anything she could really disagree with after all and what more was there to say on any of it. In a way it felt like in the last year the whole Capitol had been going around in circles on things trying to find it's footing in this new world where people could be brought back to life and the games never ended.

"It's times like this I can't help but marvel at how far we've come. It really isn't like the old days when the entire world was ripping each other apart. Sure there are conflicts and disagreements but look how far we've progressed. Look at the technology available to us. The beauty and art that's created in almost every field. When you attribute it to The Games bringing us all together like this it's amazing."

A bit of smoke really, yes the world was a wondrous place but was it wonderful because the games kept people in line? Or inspite of them? Azula didn't really care. It was her world and she'd earned her place in it. And until the rest of the world recognized that she wouldn't bat an eyelash at bringing the entire system down and starting over in her image.

But Mindy didn't need to know that. So as far as Azula was projecting she was still loyal to her home.

Mindy chuckled. "How far we've come, yeah. We've been pretty busy, haven't we? Rebellions, races, fighting, torturing: we're just a bunch of bees, we are. Then again, what do you expect, pulling people from different worlds all in one place right? There's bound to be a sharing of ideas or whatever, even in a distopia. Just sucks we can't share it with, you know, everyone."

She was thinking of the Districts, of course. In everyone's fight to live and their hate against the Capitol and their problems, the Districts were almost always overlooked. Mindy was guilty of this herself, because how much harder was it to care about people that weren't even there in front of them? In time, Mindy realized this was exactly what the Capitol wanted: that they care more about their own troubles and less about the Districts even though they bore the brunt of everything.

"Of course, probably asking too much there, right?"

Azula held up her finger wagging it in an admonishing fashion.

"You're thinking much too recently. I'm thinking in a more historical sense. This is my world after all and I grew up hearing stories of the days before. The days when humans foolishly indulged whatever little "Freedoms" they thought they deserved and almost destroyed us all. From the ashes of that old world my people rebuilt and have created wonders beyond comprehension of some...lesser minded."

It felt good to be condescending again. She hadn't indulged in it that often.

"All of this in the last two years? Just a testament to how great mankind can be when they put their minds to it both scientifically and creatively."

Glossing over the little things like organized brutal murder and rebellion.

"Don't do that." Mindy looked slightly annoyed. "I can take the usual condescension, but the hand wagging makes me wants to hit you with a chair. As for your wonders or whatever, I don't think my world was too far from where you guys are now, but there was a problem with greed hat stopped people making productive stuff. Like, the idea of building something that would help people and benefit them without costing them everything was pretty much insane. Everything, that goes for my world and here, is always motivated by personal gain. No way I'll ever believe its not."

That, after all, was something she learned in New York. If anything, being here cemented the idea, only they just went around telling people it was for their benefit.

She smiled. "Oh yeah. It's a marvel."

The sarcasm she contained from her voice. Someone might be listening, after all, and she didn't need to be on their hit list again.

"Nobody likes a savage who doesn't act her age." Azula admonished further though she put the hand down. Her point had been made.

"If you're not willing to at least try and be a little optimistic sometime then no one is going to want to talk to you." She added at Mindy's sarcasm.

"You know, you get really boring when you use the same insults over and over. You have to be less of a broken record."

Because after everything she'd been through? She was not about to be condescended to by someone who long ago forgot what actual suffering was like. Screw that.

"I'll save my happy attitude to people I like," she said. "With all the downsizing they do, the list gets shorter. Tends to dampen the optimism needed around here."

"Well if you ever actually changed then perhaps I'd have something new to insult. But you're stuck in your own rut and that leaves me with only so much to choose from." Azula countered nonplussed.

"I find it difficult to believe you were ever optimistic in this world. Your old one perhaps but in every encounter you and I have had you have been moody, you've complained about things you can't change, you've refused to ever concede even when you're wrong. Honestly the only times we've ever come to an agreement is when there is absolutely no way to deny what I'm saying is honest. And even then you make an attempt." She chuckled with amusement.

"It's the little things in life that keep people hoping for something better. Good little things, bad little things. But the big picture is too much for most people and it just causes more foul moods."

"If you ever bothered to get to know anybody, you might actually see a change," Mindy said. "There's more to me than just fighting. It's just one of the things I'm best at, so of course I'm going to try and get better."

Here though, she shrugged. "Complaining about this place reminds me why I shouldn't be comforted about it. People are laziest when they think they've got it good. I gotta keep my mind sharp. I mean look around: a kid CAN find things to like here, what with the arcade and the potential to do dangerous stuff without people telling you its not OK. But the moment I start to do that, I'll just become another person around here. That just doesn't fit me."

Frankly, there were plenty of times Mindy wasn't depressed: that was usually when other people were around. Azula did not inspire that in her.

"I guess I'm a big picture person then? I mean yeah, there's some little things, sure. They went and arrested Eponine, after all. I could totally be cheerful about that."

"Well you've hardly made me want to learn more about you really. I mean you could make an attempt. It's only polite."

Ah yes nothing like one of Azula's favorite games. Pointlessly argue with a teenager until she goes away.

"You could be, but I don't think you want to be cheerful. I think you're so afraid of losing your edge the only thing you can do is pick apart every good thing that comes your way till you're back down to the gloomy avenger you imagine yourself to be."

She paused and added, "Of course it's just a theory. You could have an actual problem."

"The feeling was mutual, last I checked. Why would I even think you want to know anything about me? You keep calling me a savage anytime we meet, and if you're not doing that than you're talking to me about how great this place is. You get pretty one note after awhile, even if you ARE a pretty capable mentor. What would you even want to even learn from me?"

Pointless was a key word.

"You know, could reflect on the good things that happen to me. Now that I think about it, I was kinda happy once, right around the time dad came. It was bad timing, but hell, he was here, Ellie and Riley were my homegirls, me and Sandy didn't hate each other that much, and I think the Doc was still here. But you know, all it took was a few months, and all that was gone. So maybe for me? Makes more sense NOT to get my hopes up about shit only to have them take it away."

As for certain people, say, Kenny, she would keep that to herself.

"Oh, I have many problems. So does everyone else."

"Ah but you don't here the rest of us gloomily shuffling around making snide remarks under our breath and ruining perfectly nice viewing parties. This arena in particular should be wonderful for me because my strongest tributes are at their best." She gestured to the screen which flashed showing Shepard making her way through the base with the confidence that came with her former title of commander.

"You're basically just rebelling against life. Happiness comes and happiness goes. If you close the door when happiness leaves how can you expect it will ever come back?"

Why yes she had read some self help books in her day. Why do you ask?

"Making snide remarks happens to make me pretty happy," Mindy said, and weirdly enough, she realized that was actually true: the idea of going along and smiling and being happy about everything had a way of twisting her insides, especially after the torture session. Worst still, when she realized there was no way that dad was likely coming back, it had been enough to want to keep her in room forever. What the fuck kind of happiness was she expected to show at parties for rich people who didn't have to deal with the Capitol's hand around their throats?

"I like life just fine. If I didn't I'd be one of those sad sacks that shut themselves in their room. Look, if you wanna find joy in these parties and this frumpyness, more power to you. Me, I guess I'm more of an adrenaline seeking kind of girl, and this place grinds me to a halt."

Azula's smirk never wavered. This girl was such a strange out of place sort of creature. She had only the faintest idea of how to be a child and was still years away from having a mind capable of handling adulthood.

Some would argue that most of the Capitol was years away from being adults but that was neither here nor there.

"Well then first, you're completely misusing the word frumpy and you should know that. It means dowdy and old fashioned. This party is neither as given by the futuristic designs and theme."

In fact it was rare for the Capitol to have a party themed for more old fashioned sophisticated affairs.

"And second you're not considering how completely and utterly thrilling it can be to play the mental chess game required of every good mentor to secure proper funding, keep prospects entertained AND help manage your tributes with a team of questionable assistants."

There were many kinds of adrenaline pumping events. Azula took hers where she could find them.

Edited 2015-01-05 05:43 (UTC)

Really, what did Azula expect? Having patience and political playing? Mindy had been a superhero, not Alexander the Great. Securing help for her district meant that she had to have patience and diligence for this whole process. In retrospect, and it physically hurt Mindy to admit this to herself, she was actually right.

"You're right, wrong word. Granted, plenty of other words spring to mind, but to me, might as well be the same thing. Not that its the coolest thing to mock that stuff: my stylist is all about that life."

For some reason.

"Right, sure, but what about when you're done, you know, doing your spider web thing. What do you do for fun then?"

There were a number of answers here that were extremely petty and would not serve Azula's argument in the least. The first starting with "Spa day" and the last ending with "Video games"

So instead she adjusted her smirk into one that suggested she knew something she wasn't sharing with Mindy.

"The "Spider web thing" as you so articulately describe it, is never done. It just changes. But you've made it painfully clear you have no interest in doing things the way a proper mentor does. You carve your own path of grumpiness."

"Oh, for fucks sake," Mindy said, rolling her eyes, "you can be just as annoying as I can, but I swear you don't see it. It would be a lot easier to ask you for pointers, but you're so goddamn smug and irritating about it you won't say anything unless someone is on their knees begging you for answers. Fuck that, you already beat me once in a fight. Go keep your shit to yourself if it makes you feel that superior."

God, it was one step away from having a conversation with Eponine, and worst still, it just made her miss Ellie all the more. God, she hated this place so MUCH sometimes.

Azula savored her frustration in a way that she knew was more or less entirely petty. But it was so fun to watch.

"Now you're not being entirely fair. I've offered you advice and pointers before and you've almost always thrown them in my face at first. Then when it becomes undeniable that I was right you actually consider my words." She countered.

"And I don't feel superior because of my secrets, I feel superior because I am."

"You offer those things in the same way you always have, in the same way you do it now. I'd have thought by now you pick up that its a shitty way to do it, but I'm sure you have enough people feeding your ego about how great you are that you never think its you. I'm almost glad to see you're dating that Diana chick: I can tell that no one gets to top her, like, ever."

And no, she didn't mean sexually. Mindy was just not going there. Ever.

"I haven't seen anything telling me that is even remotely true."

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It's all it will take, we'll go down in history

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