thecapitol | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who| Diana and OPEN
What| Diana is basically just trying to figure out the situation.
Where| Anywhere in the city, really, just make sure it's clear!
When| Between Arena's 5 and 6
Warnings/Notes| Nothing at the moment.

Diana was...unhappy, if the understatement could be forgiven. Taken from her bed, stripped of her powers, tossed into this world where she was meant to fight and kill for the entertainment of the ruling class...

Well, she was familiar with concept, obviously, but that didn't mean she liked it. And she liked even less what little she'd understood of the situation, of the history, before she'd been ushered to her quarters. As soon as she was left alone she was off, exploring the building, the city, anywhere she was allowed to go in search of answers. Of a crack in the prison walls.

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"Did they?" Diana asked, intrigued. "That's interesting. Perhaps we should watch that one first, see why they would allow such a thing."

Blaine nodded and put in the tape. He moved to take a seat at the desk chair. It was comfortable enough and he thought it would be too weird to sit on his bed with her. He pressed play with the remote and let her settle in to watch the Games. The tape was a highlight tape. It included the Tribute Parade that showed off Katniss Everdeen's girl on fire costume, the interviews in which Peeta admitted his love for her, and then most of the things that had happened to them in the Arena.

Diana watched silently for the most part, occasionally remembering herself enough to glance at Blaine, check on how he was handling the carnage. Otherwise she focused on the screen, maintaining a thoughtful silence after it ended for a few minutes, processing.

Blaine had seen this one before, so he knew what was coming. That didn't stop the tears from coming to his eyes during the most emotional or vicious parts. Especially when the little girl named Rue died, and Katniss's reaction to it. It made him think of finding Sebastian dead in the snow before the Capitol ships could take his body away. The Capitol had edited a lot of the truth out, but people remembered this event so it was at least addressed.

He blinked back the tears, looking over at Diana too, wanting to gauge her reactions as well.

Gently, and softly so that he could shake off the touch if he wanted, Diana moved to hold his hand when she saw the tears, though she didn't mention them. She was unhappy with what she saw, of course, but this wasn't obvious by her expression. Mostly she looked focused, concentrating on understanding the Games, saving the anger for a time when it be more useful.

"So," she said eventually, when the recording was over. "That was interesting."

Blaine was so grateful for that contact. He had been immersing himself in the Games, watching one brutal scene after another. It had probably started to mess with his head a bit. Having someone there to help him through it meant alot, even if they were still basically strangers.

"Yeah," he said. "It doesn't usually end that way, but I don't think they had Tributes who were in love before." He had no way of knowing that the love story had been a sham, it seemed real enough to him.

"I couldn't imagine what they were going through. I... I really hurt someone I love back home, and that was bad enough. But to have to consider killing them?"

"They've had a very long time to make sure they believed there was no way to fight back," Diana pointed out absently. "I think this society, out in the Districts, is a great deal more fatalistic than we may be used to." And Diana had her doubts about the depths of feelings between the two Victors. There was affection, certainly, but there were scenes that came across as quite...calculated. Not that she could blame them.

And the ending didn't seem calculated at all. "It won't come to that," she said, turning to Blaine. "Those two proved that these Games can be fought, even when the other side seems to hold all the power." She smiled at him, gently. "You won't be forced to hurt someone you care about. I won't let that happen."

Blaine smiled as Diana spoke. She was so reassuring. He still felt guilt though, because he couldn't offer anything to her.

"I'm glad I dropped some tapes on your feet," he said softly. "But you don't have to worry as much about me. It's important that you look out for yourself too."

"I'm glad too," said Diana, teasing but sincere. "And I have a lot of experience in looking out for other people as well as myself, trust me."

Blaine nodded. For the first time he felt like he might actually have a chance in the Arena, if only because he'd have someone looking out for him. "Okay," he said. "Did... did you want to watch another tape? Or do you think you've had enough of these things?"

"It would be best to be prepared," Diana started, thinking it over. "Watching as much of the tapes as possible can give us an idea of the Gamemakers' usual tactics. Everyone has habits." Then she remembered herself. "Ah, but we're in your rooms. We don't need to watch them all at once, it's up to you. There are other ways to work on our strategies."

"There are?" Blaine asked and then after a moment he just looked a little lost. "I don't really know anything about this stuff. I'm not a fighter, not the death anyway." He could plan out competitions for a Glee club, but this was so much more.

"Of course," she said, raising her eyebrows. How was throwing such inexperienced fighters into the Arena entertaining for anyone? "The tapes only show what they've done in the past, they don't guarantee a repetition of what we see. In this instance, we want to survive, not kill, and so we would prepare accordingly."

Blaine nodded at that, taking reassurance in her idea. "The last one... My death was pretty fast," he said, voice hitching a bit as he talked about it. "But... but it's not always like that. Sometimes they really want people to suffer."

Diana's lips thinned as she listened. No one this young should die. No one, regardless of age, should have to die more than once. Neither of these occurrences are unheard of even in her home universe, but she doesn't like it any better there. "I'm sorry," she said softly, rather than voicing her anger. "That you had to go through that at all, no matter how fast. You won't suffer while I'm around." It's rash for Diana to be making these promises, she should know better, but, she's always been impulsive.

Blaine smiled, clearly comforted by her words. "Okay. Next Arena, I'll look for you."

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