[Open] Aguas Blancas

[lionhearted_victor]

Who| Leo and Open
What| Random Arena Capitol party for the Victor announcement,
Where| Lux 4
When| Arena Finale
Warnings/Notes| Pitchblack humor, Arena discussion and he's wallowing in misery

Leonidas tried his best to behave himself, be a walking District 2 billiboard during this little shindig over at the Lux4, but the way the alcohol flowed into his glass meant that this? This was Staffer hell all over again. It was saddening to say that the Tributes, with all their flaws and biases (looking at you Loki), were more fun than the Capitolites he was forced to mingle with. More so when he had to explain to some of the Sponsors about the final week of the Arena and why his Tributes had not come along and done more. To their credit, Leo did recognize and made very clear that they had done what they could to survive and pulled through as best they managed. That was as close to a compliment as they'd get from the man.

Maybe it wasn't to the Sponsors' liking but Cora would not really care about it. He was here mostly to market the tributes for Post-Arena activities, raise awareness of what disasters could've been avoided had they been as incompetent as others. Leo would be heard saying:

"Yes, I believe Thor had the highest kill ratio, did you see him in the Cornucopia? So sad we lost him." Norse Gods be damned, that was a disturbing display, almost didn't give the others a chance to run.

"Felicity did very well, she lasted so long. I stand corrected in my earlier assessments," he was a proud man, but humility was marketable, especially for a Career that never made it into his own Arena. "Her loss is something to be remembered.

But when asked about Jet, Leonidas had consider what he'd said about alliances, even if that practice was subversive to the Games. He smiled at the Capitolite, and told her with the most honest tone, "His alliances brought results in the long-run. It was only fitting that the Capitol nipped anything that would corrupt of the Hunger Games." Spoken like a District 2 citizen, loyal from birth, and loyal to the end. What made it worse? He believed in it. He believed in that every element in the Arena was useful and if friends had to kill each other, so be it.

This party was proving to be boring all over again and all Leo wanted to sit down and quietly numb the pain he shared with Jason Compson: so nearly there, so close to having a Victor and then…

"Another," he growled as he sat at the restaurant bar with his drink. Anyone getting between him and the wine should tread lightly.

Comments

[talltaleteller]

Felicity herself may have been limited in the places she can go and the influence that she wields, but her mother was another story. Candy Yoshida (formerly Byrd) had been wasting little time since her family's arrival in the Capitol, and had been busy making new social connections and re-establishing old ones. The end result of all this hardcore schmoozing, pandering, and blowing sunshine up people's butts was an invitation to this very fancy Arena viewing party. Well, two invitations. But since her darling Peacekeeper husband had to work, and didn't care much for this sort of thing anyway, Felicity was dolled up and hauled along.

Not that this was bad, no, no. She was a veteran at being hauled to parties because of family connections. This was a different than being tiny and being mostly concerned with stuffing herself with whatever snacks were available, but she could adapt. She could smile and sip sparkling juice and 'ooh' and 'aah' when exciting Arena things happened, and even be a little inconspicuous and listen for stray bits of interesting Games-y gossip. What she couldn't do was hold her tongue when, darting past the bar on her way to grab yet more cocktail shrimp, she spotted Leonidas. Leonidas Cora. Leo. The most frightening 'coach' that she'd had during that very, very short period that her family had her doing combat training.

"Leo!" First, she's startled. "Leo?" Then, she's concerned. Wow, he's really taking District 2's finish line failure hard. She stops, then starts to carefully shuffle-step back towards him. "I-I-I mean, Mr. Cora?" Yes, yes, let's be respectful, here. This is a guy she'd watched totally humiliate (and also fold, spindle, and crumple) guys twice her size and ten times her talent.

[lionhearted_victor]

Had Felicity not come over, this party would have been a mess not even Snow's presence couldn't saved. But the moment he recognized that voice and smiled, "I hope to whatever deity is out there that your uncle knows you're here. You're definitely not here on a diplomatic mission, am I right?" That, or he'd verbally bust the next person who tried to argue why Tony Stark was a better Tribute than the younger Loki.

Felicity had been one of his sassier students, as she had a quick-fire wit about her, especially during her family's brief period in creating another Career Tribute like Torin. Two sessions in and maybe another student's arm later, and he put that dream to rest. Sorry Candy's husband but if a five-foot-nine man could make mince meat of your bodyguard, best heed his advice.

"It's been far too long, Felicity," he welcomed her.

[talltaleteller]

Invoking her uncle gets her pressing her lips together to stifle some laughter. Uncle Torin was the famous one, but the responsible one, too? Well, when you took a long look at her mother, it becomes obvious that Torin is the level-headed one in the family. "Maybe? But mom knows I'm here, and that's got to be good enough." And then she taps her lips thoughtfully, eyes rolling briefly, theatrically about. "I don't know... is this something that needs a diplomatic mission?"

It looked like it. It sort of might. It's entirely a possibility.

"Way, way too long! Ahahaha, but you have a lot to keep you busy! So there's reasons. Yeah."

[lionhearted_victor]

"Uh huh, you're sidestepping, I know that tell," the trainer quipped as he set his drink aside. If there was a personal rule, it was not to be a bad influence on Felicity or any Career potentials he had trained. A Tribute is their perception in the public's eyes, not just their ability in combat and survival, he'd told them. Though hypocritical at the moment, Cora straightened and did his best to demonstrate grace in defeat for Yoshida's sake.

It's an accepted reality at this point that the party would devolve in a sponsor appeasement fest, "It might be but not for you. Maybe your mother and uncle. And I have, though for now...it's looking like I'll have to do some tribute recon."

A pause, "Have you been behaving yourself in the Capitol? Anyone caught your eye?" In other words: have any boys come to you ready to have a one on one chat with Torin?

[talltaleteller]

Image is a very, very important thing, and she certainly knows it. You pick that up, being raised in the sort of family that she has, even if it is rarely outright said. "Do you really want mom coming over here to try and make it better?" Candy Yoshida's personal motto was 'just keep smiling!' which, while often applicable and useful, might not be the best thing for a moment like this one. "I can go and find Uncle Torin for you. Thaaaaaat might be more your speed...."

She seems serious about it, for she is looking this way and that through the crowd... which is why his questions catch her off guard. "Whaaa?!" Snap, around turns her head, and she's already starting to blush. "Oh no! No no no, nooo, I'm just barely getting settled in at school, and hardly know anyone, so... so no. No."

There really isn't anyone. Dancing with a cute Tribute really doesn't count. And none of her Capitolite classmates have found it within themselves to give her the time of day just yet. Love is not in the cards for Felicity, and she is acutely aware of it.

[lionhearted_victor]

Candy Yoshida had been a sort of religious experience for Leo in the brief time Felicity had been a student. The coach briefly reached inner peace, "I'll pass on your mother, and I know for a fact your uncle's around here somewhere." Saving face as well, Leo noted.

And yet he snickered a bit too openly at that, "Seems like first move jitters than anything. I'm fairly sure you'll find someone in school that will take a liking to you and not just because you're Torin's niece." As a coach, he tended to give advice to those he found needed some.

"You've got quite an imagination, and you're stronger than you look. Boys like that very much but hold your head up high, understood Cadet?" His nickname to his students shone through.

[talltaleteller]

"Guess you're stuck with just me for now?" She laughs, shoulders giving a quick little shrug, but it's really not so bad, is it? He seems plenty distracted from the gloomy matter of arena losses. Good job, self!

"You really think so?" There's hope in her question, genuine hope. Riding her uncle's coattails seemed like the only possible way to get noticed or taken seriously. But hope is quickly covered up by excited patter and nerves, and she gives her head a vigorous shake. "I'm not worried about that! Not about someone, anyway. I'm just hoping to make some good friends, y'know? It's all about who you know, here." Aah, and he calls her Cadet. There's something she was sure she had lost the right to be called, when she bombed out of training... it gets her lifting her head and smiling wider. "Understood! Absolutely!"

[contrarianlibrarian]

Years of following her parents to important Capitol parties were finally paying off. China wasn't the most social of people, but she'd learned to fake it.

After escaping from one conversation, she caught Leo's... rather unhappy-sounding voice from across the room.

She didn't rush, because China just doesn't do that. And it was hard in these heels and this tight skirt. But she did increase her pace as she approached the bar and studied Leo.

"Oh my... Are you all right, dear?"

[lionhearted_victor]

All Leo had to do to answer China's question was point to the screen, "I'm all right but...that happened. In its' entirety."

District Twelve won this Arena...shit. Then again, it was a spectacular finale and Cora appreciated the spectacle. But Thor, one of the strongest Tributes they had? Gone. The Arena? Destroyed.

"The Sponsors are going to display our heads at this rate." Better than District 7, that was a clusterfuck.

[contrarianlibrarian]

She followed his gesture to the screen and frowned. She hadn't really expected a Victor out of hers, but the pain of seeing someone else win was still there. "It is a disappointment."

Perhaps his last sentence wasn't quite a joke, but China smiled, amused, as if it were. "If we live to see it, there will be another chance. I'm certain this loss doesn't reflect at all on your abilities."

[lionhearted_victor]

"It'll reflect poorly on District 2's standing but you already knew that, as did every District that survived this long without the prize," Cora rubbed his forehead then grabbed his drink, "But, if anything, you've settled into your new role as escort quite nicely."

Whether or not that was a flirtatious comment on his part is up for debate among the partygoers but hey, they were the Arena losers.

[contrarianlibrarian]

"Hopefully neither of us will have to deal with that for too much longer." She wasn't too certain of that, but, hey, she should show some optimism for the cameras. At least the large number of Arenas allowed for the heightened chance of a win. Even if said win would be shorter than normal.

She tossed her head and laughed at his remark. It was definitely appreciated, considering she hadn't done enough to merit a win. "Please, don't flatter me. You'll make me blush."

[lionhearted_victor]

"A blush would suit you just fine, Miss Sorrows," Leo retorted China's statement, "It'll probably be one of the few nice things I'll have seen all night."

That and watching Tony Stark struggle to get his win. He was vindictive, yes, but he had no shame in admitting that he could be a horrible human being if he felt like it.

[bravelyplucked]

This has been a hard Arena. Once more, they were back to losing people, to having the dead stay dead. Between that and the fact that the meteor shower earlier in the week had triggered all sorts of bad memories for Torin, Losing the Games themselves was just rubbing salt in the wound. He'd much rather be back in his apartment, trying to forget everything while he built some of his watches or tiny clockwork dinosaurs. But no, he's got to at least put in a good appearance at this party. District 2 needs to present a united front.

But that doesn't mean he's going to get hammered at the bar, as tempting as it might be. He'll make sure everyone gets home safely. He can do that, even if he's failed at getting anyone home safely from the Arena. Dying and coming back doesn't count, and some of them didn't even get that lucky.

He makes no move to get in between Leo and the wine, and he's nursing his own ginger ale. "They put forth a valiant effort this time. Definitely an improvement."

[lionhearted_victor]

Leonidas had heard something about Torin having a moment of weakness, but the man understood what happened. "If you say so...that was obscenely close even for previous arenas. How screwed over is District 2? How screwed over are we as staff?"

The better question is how do they will try to explain how one of their strongest, if not the strongest Tribute in their roster went with the Arena. "Can't imagine Calendius right now. It's not going to be pretty when the dust settles...who do we have left?"

[bravelyplucked]

"Hard to say. We came so close, it may not be quite so bad." He gave a heavy sigh. "It's not like everyone died the first week in. We just need to keep up this level of competition."

As for who was left..."I'm not sure. I know we've lost Thor and Felicity, but I haven't yet been able to personally check on everyone else as of yet. No one has notified me if the others haven't returned."

[lionhearted_victor]

"Shit, shit, shit," Leo groaned, trying to make sense of everything that has happened in the last six hours. "I can only hope this sponsorfest winds down soon, we need to get back in there and see what kind of damage we have."

He berated himself, "I couldn't manage that many of them, the gifts...shit. But who would know that the Arena just exploded into the next continent?"

[bravelyplucked]

Torin nodded in agreement. He was ready to be done with this party. "Try not to drink too much. It may help with the moment, but in the morning, it'll only make things worse." Even if it might have been a little late for that advice.

"There's no way we could have predicted any of this. Things...aren't as regular as they once were." Which was an understatement, really.

[lionhearted_victor]

"I don't know if you've ever heard this...but you're late to the punch," Leo wasted no chance in pointing out the obvious, "I'm quite buzzed."

But the lamentation came with Leo's own nod. "It's not just the Tributes. The Arenas is changing the Districts as well. At least they're motivated."

[69problems]

Perhaps District Twelve's last victor is not exactly highest on the list of people Leo wants to talk to right now, but at least Signless has no intention of getting between him and his wine so much as existing next to the both of them. He knows he can no longer afford to avoid Capitol parties as much as he might have in the past, but mingling as someone born and bred to do it might is still not his strong suit. He orders something loaded with syrup (and comparatively not very much alcohol) and slides into the chair next to Leo's.

"I see the night isn't treating you so well." Which is understandable. Two's had the rug ripped out from under it, from being one of the strongest contenders to practically out of the race entirely.

[lionhearted_victor]

"I'm surprise you're having an awful time, Signless," Leo shot back half-heartedly. The wine was doing wonders for his temper at the moment, but if Signless were to ask anything about the Arena, he'd know why his nickname back in District 2 was the Small Lion.

"Your District won, you should be out there with the news casts and interviews with Caesar about how Stark pulled this Arena out of his ass. I know I want to hear that."

Still vicious as ever.

[69problems]

Alright. That was a fair response, considering Signless's greeting wasn't the most diplomatic one he could have chosen. Feeling a little cowed (his ears droop noticeably), he took a sip of his drink before he responded.

"I'm very happy for Tony and pleased at a second victory for Twelve, but that doesn't mean I can't offer my condolences. Your tributes put up a good fight this round and that should be acknowledged."

Despite being happy for the actual people of Twelve who must have been elated about two victories in a row and all the food and supplies that would get them, a part of him worried that two victories in a row for Twelve would make his district a target. The last thing he or his tributes needed was the other districts having a fiercer interest in taking them out to stop them from pulling off a hat trick.

[lionhearted_victor]

Leo rolled his eyes and sipped his drink again, "If that's what you're going to tell the reporters, you might actually want to believe the shit you're saying. I thought you were a sort of speaker, I saw your Coronation speech. Can't think anything on the fly?"

Yeah no, he was going to make sure District 12 would work harder next Arena, that was a guarantee. District 2 was banking on so many of their tributes, they knew they had this one in the bag. And then that happened.

"Try again, impress me," the venom spewed out of the Districter.

[69problems]

Ah. So that's how this was going to go. Signless's red eyes narrowed and his lips twisted into a pronounced frown.

"What I said is what I meant. I personally care far less for petty district rivalry than I do about the idea that every tribute deserves equal odds of winning. It is always sad to see those who work hard for victory fail to achieve it, no matter their arbitrarily-designated affiliation. It isn't my fault that you've grown to expect insincerity, but you ought to learn someone's tells before claiming to be able to read them."

Perhaps this was getting away from him. Perhaps he hated to be called a liar.

[lionhearted_victor]

The trainer chuckled and let slip a "Better, much better." At least he got a rise out of the Mentor when he clearly had no experience handling a Districter, those he'd have to face as soon as the public relations cycle happened. And he could have a little professional fun with getting a rise out of the Signless.

"When you speak to the losing Districts, don't let them see you weak or else, what I did just now? Cake walk compared to them. I expect strength from a Mentor, not compliance." Now you must understand why these games are important, it isn't just rivalry that fuels these activities."

District 2 would go without their rations, and their favor with the Capitol drops just a little more.