you can run on for a long time; open;

[aintyourdad]

Who| Joel and YOU?
What| Actively avoiding watching the arena.
Where| Various places around the Tribute Tower.
When| Week 5.
Warnings/Notes| None ATM.

1] District 8 commons

Here, he cooks. It's a very normal sight by now - tributes, mentors, stylists, anyone who wanders through the District 8 suites with any regularity has probably caught Joel cooking at some point. In the morning, it's breakfast, his favorite meal of the day - eggs, bacon, toast, country potatoes, the works. And he always makes more than he can eat himself. Anyone who isn't too annoying can probably get him to provide a plate. Dig in.

2] Training center

He spends time here primarily to avoid paparazzi. And, occasionally, to shoot arrows at targets, just for the exercise, really, not necessarily to train. Someone who looks particularly lost, or out of their depth, might be able to talk him into giving some lessons in the survival areas - how to build a fire is something he's particularly good at, as is erecting temporary shelter and things like that. He doesn't really care which district people are associated with - as long as they don't annoy him. Kids, in particular, will get special treatment.

3] Roof garden

He spends time wandering the roof garden to get some air, and what little privacy any of them are afforded in this place. There are no TV screens up here, a blessed relief from the constant recaps and repeats of the arena footage - something he can't do anything about, so what's the point of watching it? He's sent Tess some supplies, which is about all he can manage. He walks up here for the quiet. Sometimes with a beer in his hand as he watches the sun set.

Comments

[aintyourdad]

"Boston," Joel says easily, though if the kid is from any version of America, he ought to be able to tell that his accent is decidedly not Bostonian.

[foundafamily]

Firo may not venture out of his city too much, but he's still met his fair share of Bostonians through business.

"...Yeah." He doesn't both to hide the skepticism; it's clear in his folded arms and frown. "And how long've you been in Boston, huh?"

[aintyourdad]

"I dunno, ten, fifteen years," he says with a shrug. You kind of lose track of time in the quarantine zone after a while.

[foundafamily]

"Where were you before that?"

While it's hardly likely they're from similar times for any of Firo's knowledge to be applicable, he's still curious to try and figure something out about his Districtmate.

[aintyourdad]

"All over the place," Joel says truthfully, but then shrugs. "I was born in Texas, that's probably what you're lookin' for."

[foundafamily]

"Yeah," he nods, grateful to have it made easy on him.

"...What's in Texas? I went through there on a train once. Just saw a bunch a' dust and those weird spiky plants."

So, obviously, that must apply to the whole huge state, right? Firo doesn't realize quite how big it actually is, having barely glanced at the map the guards had.

[aintyourdad]

"The Alamo," Joel says sarcastically - what kind of a question is that, anyway?

[foundafamily]

"Hey, I was just askin'."

"I'm gonna guess the lack of anything to do isn't why you picked up and moved, though." That's what he's really curious about. A lot of people were hitching rides on the trains since the Depression, but they were going in the opposite direction. "I've heard a' people movin' around lookin' for jobs, but most people are leavin' the east coast."

[aintyourdad]

Joel just shakes his head a little. "Kid, just cause my world and yours have some of the same places, don't mean they're the same worlds."

[foundafamily]

He shrugs. "Just tryin' to figure out how close they are." Admittedly, he does tend to assume everyone's from his world until told otherwise, he's just not going to cop to it.

"...And can you not call me kid?"

[aintyourdad]

Joel snorts and shakes his head a little. "You wanna call me gramps, go for it. If you're gonna get offended by a name like that, you won't do well here at all. Learn to let it slide, that's my advice. And don't tell people you don't like it. That'll just encourage them."

[foundafamily]

"Hey, pal, you think I was born yesterday?" He runs a hand through his hair, not bothering to conceal his irritation. "I've been dealin' with people who say and do worse than that my whole life--but you seemed all right, so I figured it couldn't hurt askin' for a little respect."

[aintyourdad]

"See, that." Joel shakes his head and sighs. "I was tryin' to offer some friendly advice. You can't let people see you get offended like that over nothin'. These assholes learn what pisses you off, they'll use it against you."

[foundafamily]

Speaking flatly, he tries a different tactic. Well, sort of different. "Wow, I had no idea how people worked. I'm so glad you explained it to me, sir."

Quietly hiding anger and letting it resurface at the opportune moment is Luck's thing, not Firo's. He's already pretty permanently steamed at being here, so he's of the mind that hiding his annoyance over little things isn't going to help at all.

He drops the sarcasm and shrugs. "You don't wanna be polite, fine. Just don't expect somebody to appreciate your 'advice' when you treat 'em like a kid."

[aintyourdad]

"If treating you like you just showed up in a brand-new world that you don't know the rules for is the same as treating you like a child and bein' impolite, I think that's on you, not me," Joel says with a snort. "The door's over there, if you don't like it, but I'm finishing my breakfast."

Way to prove his point, Firo.

[foundafamily]

Another sigh. He's used to people treating him like this, but he'll never grow to enjoy it. "If you think that's all I was sayin', then you need to get your ears checked."

He considers sliding back the as-of-yet-untouched plate toward Joel, but wasting food like that would kill him. So he picks it up and leaves the man to his meal.