[semi open] A World of Madness

[lionhearted_victor]

Who| Leo and any revived District 2 Tributes, along with any staff
What| Examining the recovery process through each arena and making sure
Where| D2 Floor and the Training facilities
When| Week 2
Warnings/Notes| Swearing and details about the Arena deaths.

A. Death's a Slap on the Wrist [Locked to D2]

Watching the Arenas as a spectator wasn't that uncommon an activity for Leonidas to partake. He would take notes and analyze the data gathered from it to attune his training sessions with his former clients. It was his duty as a former Career and to his District. But this was the first time he was doing all of this as a staff member. He had to commend the otherworlders and their efforts in survival: the Capitol truly brought strong ones to the bloodbath. But the moment he saw someone die, Leo bit back his arrogance and decided to wait for them. He had to see the process of revival from a physical and psychological point of view. He took a tasergun as a precaution against any particularly violent Tributes reeling from the procedure.

His curiosity always got the better of him but Leo made big boasts in his first communication with the Tributes. Time to come through with said words. 

B. Pride is totally not an issue

The numbers were dwindling and it was becoming obvious to Leo that his district was either going to break even with their kills or die horribly. Felicity was still in the competition and he'd have to eat his words towards her. Great in some aspects as she proved her worth were she needed to, bad because he'd have to apologize as soon as she came in. But in retrospect, Calendius' words fell on listening ears, and if Worthington didn't win, Leo would commend her and make sure she continues whatever she's doing.

The hobbit of a man rubbed his forehead as he worked on other things, but his eyes fell back to the Arena screening...and the sabertooth battles. "Shit, shit, shit," he spat out, "Don't let the close...break the nose and-" He stopped himself.

Comments

[bravelyplucked]

"I'm sure she does." There was an uneasy chuckle. "I'll likely arrange a meeting for her if I ever figure out who it is." Assuming she'd behave herself, anyway.

[lionhearted_victor]

Torin would get a goodhearted laugh at that mental image, "I'm guessing she hasn't been behaving the first time around?"

And there went Ruffnut, broken by a berserk Thor. Not going to pay attention to that, Leo isn't going to break this happier streak of events with troubling developments.

[bravelyplucked]

"Oh, she's been behaving...but I believe that underestimating her capacity for misbehavior would be dangerous."

Torin glanced at the monitor and grimaced. He'd rather deal with the sort of danger a teenage girl who didn't have to go through the hell that was the Arena. He'd made absolutely certain to use all of his influence back home to keep her out of the Games, which had been easier with his District so full of willing volunteers...

[lionhearted_victor]

As a former volunteer whose chance was stolen, there was a level of bitterness that came with watching these new Games for Leo. He wasn't heartless or without common sense, he understood what a reaping could mean to a man like Torin Byrd. "As long as she doesn't get mixed up in anything over her head, or with a Tribute," He said under his breath, giving his boss the implicit support, "She will be fine. Felicity's headstrong..."

Cora had a feeling that if Felicity were put in danger, there wouldn't be much to say other than run.

[bravelyplucked]

Really, if Felicity were to be put in danger, the sensible thing to do would be to assist Torin in finding a sword and then to get out of the way. "And that's why I'm keeping an eye on her around the Tributes. She's a bit...star-struck with all of this, I think."

[lionhearted_victor]

Leo would suggest something extra sharp, lightweight to counter the damaged arm's limitations, and then watch from afar just why Torin won his Games in the first place.

"I'd be hard-pressed to find a Tribute or a Capitolite who would pass her father's standards, let alone yours."

As another Tribute fell, Leo took a drink, "As long as she doesn't get over her head over all this and believes..." whatever teenagers think they can do with the off-worlders.

[bravelyplucked]

"Between the two of us, we've likely got it covered." There was a slight grimace from Torin at the fallen Tribute--at least they came back from such things now, only to go through them again--as Torin's struck by the incongruity of the conversation versus what they're watching. "That's what we're here for--to make sure she keeps a level head on her shoulders."

He's just going to try not to think too hard on some of his sister's wilder flights of fancy, and how Felicity reminds him of her mother...

[lionhearted_victor]

"That and Calendius if we use him as eyecandy for her." A laugh and Leo is quick to say "I must apologize for this," Leo only apologized for Felicity's sake, not for the man who consistently regarded him as a Hobbit.

He then took a quick note, and spoke out loud, "I dare wonder what fresh hell they'll go through next week."

[bravelyplucked]

Torin has to arch an eyebrow at that, but at least the apology came quickly. He just smirked, which died quickly when the topic of the Arena came up to the forefront of the conversation once more. "Hard to say. I'm sure they'll shake it up if they think things are dragging on too long..."

[lionhearted_victor]

What came out of Leo's mouth was a mix of concern and disdain for the more arrogant tributes, "If they manage to pull through these weeks with the storms...I'll personally apologize for my earlier impression."

That felt like acid down his throat.

[bravelyplucked]

"We'll have to see what happens, then." Torin kept his tone fairly normal; he could see the other man's disdain for the concept there. Baby steps.

[lionhearted_victor]

It'll take a while before Leo's contempt would melt away into something more like a human caring for others but Torin had managed to make some process. This was seen in how Cora cheered and clapped when one of their own make headway.

And not the sort of plastic cheer that was on call. The man was grinning, "Oh wow I'd hate to be Calendius right now; good job Jet!"

[bravelyplucked]

"He's doing very well," Torin agreed. Easy enough to cheer for your own Tributes when they're doing well, and Jet's someone he actually gets on well with. "I'd say we've got a good chance at winning this one."

[lionhearted_victor]

"Fingers crossed at this rate, but if we get to the last round with at least two Tributes, I'll buy our staff a round at the bars," Leo joked, "Though I'm not aware if you'd be offended by that, or are you not one to drink?"

The Arenas weren't going to always be on their favor, so it'd best to have something of a buffer.

[bravelyplucked]

"I don't drink," Torin admits, "But I'll take something nonalcoholic and see to it that everyone gets home safely." Because sometimes those Capitol parties could get out of hand...

[lionhearted_victor]

"I'll probably need the designated driver if we don't win this Arena," Leo joked around, unaware of the outcomes to follow. Leo simply stretched along, "Me and Calendius, the man's a lightweight."

Catty? Maybe.

[bravelyplucked]

Catty or not, Torin's amused. "I'll see to it that the both of you get back to your rooms in one piece, but I'm sure it'll be from celebrating too hard." He can hope, anyway.

[lionhearted_victor]

One look at Torin and Leo spoke everything that needed to be said about him and Cal. "It's not that we're sworn enemies," he began, "It's that he keeps switching my species into off-worlders and I keep reminding him that I know what he looked like before the plastic surgery."

In other words, Torin is probably going to have his hands full.

[bravelyplucked]

"How very colorful of you both." Torin sounded more amused by that than anything. So long as none of their bickering escalated into anything serious, he could deal with it.

[lionhearted_victor]

Granted there wouldn't be any actual violence, "With all this riding on our success? I doubt we're going to fight to the death...I'd hate to cut down the Rey line. in their moment of triumph He'll be fine!"

Physically speaking. But for now, Leo simply gave his Mentor a nod, "I must be keeping you sir, with my own petty arguments." At least he recognizes that maybe it's not healthy to think as he does. "A united front through it all."

[bravelyplucked]

"It's good to keep up with what everyone else is doing." Torin still seems more amused than anything. "I'm sure we'll have a united front when it really counts."

[lionhearted_victor]

"...You're entertained with our antics," Leo laughed and shook his head, "Figured I'd give my coworkers a good time, or make them realize they're still not a demigod, and Panem's gift to mankind."

The smaller man shrugged, "My loyalty has never been questioned, I want us to get a new Victor, and rally the District. Morale has dropped, more so now that construction projects are fewer in between."

[bravelyplucked]

"Believe me, I've seen much worse between the staff throughout the years." Torin laughed. "You two are doing just fine."

But there's no laughter when it comes to discussing things back in the district. "It's difficult when so many there would gladly join us here in order to try."

[lionhearted_victor]

"At least we're not in this weird hate-romance thing," says you Leo, "Or whatever's going on with the other Districts." Only time would tell how complicated some friendships became.

But the trainer didn't hesitate to say, "I was one of them. But at thirty three, I'm way past the enrollment age. These offworlders...they help the outer Districts but they have no comprehension of what the situation is."

[bravelyplucked]

"Sometimes, I have to wonder how much of that's really going on, or how much of it's a ruse to get the Sponsors' attention," Torin mused. "The gossip rags do eat that up..." As though some friendships needed another layer of complication.

"It's hard for them to know exactly what's going on here, I'd imagine." Torin sighs. "Perhaps if they took them around to visit the Districts so they could get an idea of what it was they were fighting for..." Not that Torin thought it was their fight, but toeing the current party line couldn't hurt.