we walk in love but fly in chains

[ka_sera_sera]

Who| Roland, the Signless
What| gift giving and figuring out what 'going out on a date' actually entails
Where| vague places around the Capitol
When| recently, a little while after the space arena
Warnings/Notes| none likely, will update if any are needed

The thing about Panem - aside from the imprisonment, the death, the bloodsport and the perpetual, crushing lack of options - is that it is predictable. Once Roland had started to get a feel for the place, for the way the Capitol's attention moves, shifting from one imagined drama to the next but always locked solidly onto their 'tributes', he'd realized the attention felt familiar. Being known as the heir of Eld and son of the Lord of Light, in meaning, could not be more different from being a tribute of this strange, cruel land. In effect, however, the similarities are clear, no matter how little he likes to think on them. 

Which is to say, when one knows the time of an interview, but not the name of the news-man doing it nor the place it'll happen, those latter are not so difficult to figure out. The reporters of this place fight for attention and fame the same way nobles and lesser diplomats used to tear into one another in those old, gone days to the same purpose. If one has been keeping track of the appearances made by his - well, his quadrantmate is probably the best word - and knows the pattern in which Panem's 'TV personalities' tend to tear into one another, then one can figure out where that quadrantmate is going to be with a minimum of fiddling with one's holo-gram wristwatch machine that one has not yet precisely figured the use of. 

So it is that Roland crouches behind one of Panem's elaborately designed, perfumed dumpsters with a fair view of both the front and back paths out of this particular news-building. As vantage points go it was not his first choice, but so long as it keeps him out of sight of those few fans who've followed the same thought-path as Roland himself, he will stay in this spot and be grateful. He watches the two exits, ignroing the flakes drifting over his hair and shoulders because the snowfall is sparse and not a problem yet. Of course, if Signless is wearing a hood against it it might become one, but the shape of the man's body is plenty familiar. If a short, squared figure starts out either path, he'll have to risk leaving his cover to check. 

Comments

i figure roland can just gently intercept him before he gets too far

[69problems]

Signless is feeling, on the whole, just a little overwhelmed. This is more interest than anyone's shown in him in the past year-and-a-half combined and he's still adjusting to it. It's exhausting being in the spotlight, keeping all of his answers charming and interesting but also vague and unlikely to result in unexpected fallout. It's with relief that he steps out of the building, intent on heading back to the tribute tower and sitting somewhere quiet for a while.

He pauses outside to re-arrange his scarf and flip up the collar of his coat (black with fake black 'stones' sewn on in swirling patterns, meant to evoke thoughts of his assigned district). This is his second winter in Panem but the cold is still not exactly his favorite thing about the place. He's even given in and worn real shoes.