There is room to assume you are there for a cause.... [OPEN]

[lioninside]

Who| Tom Jackman AND YOU!
What| There's a new guy in the tower - and he does seem awfully nervous, but for reasons he's not talking about....
Where| In the D10 Suite and the Commons.
When| Current, all day.
Warnings| None yet unless Hyde shows up, then I'll add whatever is necessary.



[D10 Suite]

Since being plunked down in the District 10 Suite, its newest inhabitant has been in a quiet panic. The whirlwind explanation, the promise of battle, the being away from his family BY FORCE - it's been all he could do to keep himself at bay until now, and it's really a miracle that he has.

The moment he's alone, he sets to work. Looking around the room, trying to locate cameras, safeguards, anything that could be of use - making notes of all of them. A pen and paper is promptly found and utilized, taking down everything he can find that might be used to keep someone in the room.

He doesn't look like much, kind of soft and terrified-looking - one really wonders why he's scored at nine.

But he knows he has something to hide.

[Commons]

It takes a while before Tom comes down from the Suite - nerves still not quite there, but not quite feeling like eating alone. He moves up to the bar and orders in meek tones; a glass of wine, just a glass of wine, nothing stronger, that's a bad idea.

He sits alone for the time being, sipping his drink in the gently milling crowd. He feels just a bit more secure with others around...or at least, he does for the moment. The first sign of trouble, he's going to need to dart back up to his Suite, lock himself in. What kind of a difference will that even make, though? What good will it do? It's just prolonging the invevitable, even if it makes him feel better.

He keeps one eye on the clock and the other on his glass.

Wondering which will wind up running out first.

Comments

[needlebearer]

When Arya emerges from her room, she peers over at him, noting how frantic he seems. It's not likely to help him, she knows too well. She's struck, though, by the little tube of plastic he's using to write with. The only time she's seen one previously was after Ragnar had dismantled it.

"Oh, it's like a quill!"

[lioninside]

The sudden company catches him off-guard, making him jump - but he calms quickly, rolling his eyes a little at his own jumpiness. It's just a young woman, and the Arena has not even begun yet. No need to be concerned about sneak attacks for a little while.

But then her words hit him, and after a beat, he holds up the pen, brows knitting together in confusion.

"...The pen? I...suppose it is. A...modern quill."

Who doesn't know what a pen is? What kind of place has he been thrown into?

[needlebearer]

"Ragnar broke the other one," she says nonchalantly, as though that explained anything at all. "What were you writing?"

[lioninside]

"Oh, okay," Tom responds as if it really did explain anything. He hesitates for a moment, plainly confused, before shaking himself from his reverie.

"...Notes. About the room. Are you...do you stay in this suite, then?"

Dear god, she seems...so young to be here.

[needlebearer]

Arya nods, pointing over to the closed door of her room. "I'm in that one." She'd been spending far too much time in there, simply enjoying the luxury of a warm, soft bed.

"What sort of notes?" She figures he must be from a similar world to hers, if the room was interesting enough to commit to paper. She bounds over to the wall, flicking the light switch on and off to demonstrate, sharing the secret of the magic light that had excited her so on arrival with him. "Have you written about this yet?"

Commons

[affluenza]

"Just wine?" Dandy said, sitting down next to him. He wasn't all that eager to socialize with other tributes despite throwing himself at every person from the Capitol he could, but he was bored and there was no harm in getting to know his co-stars (or rather, his competition).

"Me too, I'm a man of simple tastes, I suppose. I don't see the appeal of all these mixed beverages."

[lioninside]

Tom isn't...quite sure if he likes the company or not when he has it.

He looks sidelong at Dandy, fingers remaining steady around the glass. Unlike this fellow, he is anything but bored - but at least he's got control, so long as the proverbial cat is in the bag.

"I'm...not one for mixers, no. And I'm not in the mood for anything harder for the moment."

[affluenza]

"I've never seen the appeal of getting too drunk when it wasn't a special occasion myself," he says, "Are you new here, or have I just not seen everyone yet? Forgive me, I'm Dandy. Dandy Mott."

He extends his hand to Tom.

Commons

[foundafamily]

Firo's watching the bar's other occupants as he sips his drink. This guy in particular stands out; Firo wonders why someone in a place like this needs to watch the clock so closely. Their only job gets announced with a little fanfare, so keeping an eye on the time really doesn't matter, does it?

The proper thing to do would be to shrug and move on. Instead, Firo walks over to stand next to the guy. Hey, if he really wanted privacy, he'd just take a bottle back to his room, right? "You got somewhere important to be?"

[lioninside]

The question is met with a momentary wince of surprise before a beat of hesitation. Steady now, Tom. Steady.

"No. But I know someone who does."

He doesn't really get a lot of breaks in life. These stupid in-jokes with himself are one of few small pleasures that he gets to enjoy in situations like this. Clearing his throat and sipping from his wine, he blinks up to the stranger with a timid half-smile.

"...Are you in...this...too?"

[foundafamily]

Someone else, huh? Firo figures that statement could be something as mundane as this guy having a lazy friend who relies on him to keep time, so he doesn't mind dropping that line of questioning when the man asks something in return.

He tilts his head as if thoughtful, though he's sure there's only one thing this guy could mean. "What, the crazy murder party? Yeah. I haven't been here too long, so I haven't seen the main event or anything, but that's why I'm here. You?"

[lioninside]

"...Yes."

Crazy murder party does seem like the way to describe it, doesn't it? It doesn't do much for Tom's nerves, though...and that descriptor seems like it might be...appealing to other parties. Best be careful with that.

"Yes, I am. I...I just got here. I'm in District 10."

[foundafamily]

"District 8." So technically they're competitors, but everyone is. Even if you're the same district, there can still only be one.

This is where Firo should say it's nice to meet him, but he won't lie. Nothing against this man personally, but Firo isn't the least bit happy with their circumstances.

He smiles sympathetically. "How're you enjoyin' yourself so far? It's a nice little vacation spot, isn't it?" The sarcasm and bitterness in his voice is nearly impossible to miss. Firo's still out of practice with being subtle.

[cowcatcher]

The elevator chimes to announce its stop on District 10's floor, providing a second's warning to someone's arrival. Jane steps out right on cue, dressed in training gear with a towel slung around her shoulders. She's alone, and fresh from the training center, her short hair pasted down in places with sweat.

His presence in the common area stops her en route to the refrigerator. Dark eyes narrow slightly as they scan him from head to toe, not missing the pen and paper clutched in his hands. He's unfamiliar, but she's new and reclusive enough that it may just be their first time coming across each other. What the hell is he doing?

"Lose something?" One of her eyebrows quirks slightly in suspicion, but the rest of Jane's expression is carefully guarded.

[lioninside]

When the elevator dings, it gives Tom just a moment to not be completely startled by company - but he still seems uneasy as he's approached, holding the pad of paper to his chest.

"No, I...I've just...I've just gotten here. I'm studying the room."

He looks left, looks right, and then looks back to Jane again.

Unfamiliar as he is, it's plain to see that the man in front of her is - more than anything - lost.

[cowcatcher]

She doesn't miss the way he tries to hide whatever he's been jotting down, and Jane's no fan of secrecy. Her eyes narrow for a moment, before she gestures around dryly.

"Doesn't need much studying, honestly. Unless you're like Arya and Ragnar." But somehow she doubts that-- he's looking around at things like he has an understanding of them, or at least something similar to them. Sharp suspicion bubbles up inside her on instinct.

But is it really any of her business? It's hard to remember that, at least here, she doesn't have to cling to survival tooth and nail, doesn't have to be on the lookout for danger around every corner. From the look in his eyes, he seems harmless enough. There are people here like that. Not every tribute is a fighter. She sighs.

"... I'm guessing a Peacekeeper already gave you a run-down of what you're expected to do now." Slowly, she lowers herself into a chair some distance from him, crossing one leg over the other before leaning forward slightly, dropping her arms into her lap.