Where I go I just don't know

[steepled]

Who| Vivi and you!
What| Vivi explores the Capitol...or tries to. Overthinking is bad, man. Help him out?
Where| Starts off at the park, but it could go anywhere you like!
When| After his arena death in week 6.



There's a lot to see in the Capitol, probably enough to distract Vivi from these thoughts that seem to lead him nowhere. He had been roaming around for a while, eventually feeling the need to adjust his hat to block his view of the curious glances from the citizens. They're not screaming and running away, but having so many eyes on him like that makes him feel smaller than he already is. He's in a big city just like Alexandria, but that's where the similarities seem to end.

The bench he finds faces out to the rest of the park with the jogging path and a playground in plain view. He looks to sides first, searching for a familiar face before giving up and taking his seat. None of this is a dream after all. He really isn't in Alexandria anymore and he hasn't seen or heard from the others either. Zidane would've found him by now, Vivi thinks, knowing him.

He tips his hat back to better see and take note of the people around him. It's not the first time he's been in a big city and seeing friends and families playing with their children. But for some reason, instead of joy, he feels sadness.

"...I'm all alone now." He thinks to himself, lowering his head to look at his own feet.

Comments

[weaintashes]

As far as Daryl's aware, the money on Tributes' cards came from Capitol funds, and they also get paid per kill in arenas. This somewhat mistaken belief hasn't led to him spending extravagantly as a 'fuck you' to the Capitol, luckily for the Districts, who are apparently the actual party footing the bill for their froyo — as he'd discover later.

He nods and guides Charlie over to the small veranda, choosing one of the seats that put the building at his back and the sidewalk facing him. He may have been taken out of his ruined world, but the practises which had kept him alive there are so deeply ingrained that they influence every aspect of his life, even now. Keep your back covered, watch for potential threats.

This doesn't prevent him from enjoying the dessert, however.

"Nah, s'figure of speech," he explains in between bites of yogurt, thinking nothing of talking with his mouth full. "More like a headache. Kinda annoying, but that's all." Charlie's prancing in place, clearly wanting to enjoy the frozen treat with them. Under the knee-buckling weight of those puppy eyes Daryl soon relents, helping Charlie up into the chair beside him, and spoon feeds the puppy a little of the plain peach yogurt.

"How're you likin' it?" The question is directed to Vivi, since it's obvious what Charlie thinks of froyo; he's already whining and pawing for more. Daryl can't blame him. The stuff actually is surprisingly good, taste and texture both, and he almost regrets having never had it before now.

[steepled]

Vivi lets out a thoughtful hum at the explanation, having never heard of the saying before. His head comes up just above the table, but he doesn't mind. It's almost always been this way. He's careful to eat slowly, taking a most of the yogurt and a slice of strawberry. The spoon seemingly disappears into his mouth as he lets out a delighted squeal, much like the first time he tried a strawberry roll his grandfather made.

"It's really good!" The mage reaches over for a napkin and dabs his mouth before scooping up for a blueberry this time. After another bite, his eyes seem to glow brighter.

"Thank you, Mister Daryl."

and they lived happily ever after

[weaintashes]

Vivi's guileless enthusiasm and the way his eyes seem to quite literally light up with his delight, it's almost too much — endearing in all the ways that once had Daryl wishing for kids of his own, before the world went to shit. Watching Vivi is also a little painful, knowing how unkind this world is, how aggressively it will stamp out that innocence. How it's already tried to.

Keeping his grim thoughts to himself, he replies, "You're welcome," and offers a hesitant smile that's mostly in his eyes. At least they have moments such as this to hold onto, small kindnesses, like drifting motes of light amid the darkness.

"Place I'm from, it's known for peaches," he explains after a moment, using his spoon to gesture at the scoop of peach yogurt in Vivi's bowl. "S'why I picked that one, it's peach-flavoured. So it's kinda like sharing part of home with you."

Realising how ridiculously sentimental it sounds, he glances away, mildly embarrassed, and returns his attention to his own yogurt. Between him and Charlie the frozen dessert has soon vanished, and once Vivi's likewise finished his (and Charlie's licked the bowl clean), Daryl suggests they walk for a while more, just to take in the sights. No sense in wasting such a nice day cooped up inside, or sitting lonely on a park bench.

Eventually they do return to the Training Center together, and despite his earlier embarrassment Daryl reminds Vivi to ask the restaurant about the sesame buns — so he could experience something from Vivi's home, too. There they part ways, with Charlie tottering so sleepily by that point that Daryl gathers him up and simply carries him back to his suite.