thecapitol | Closed

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Who| Leonidas Cora and China Sorrows
What| Hanging out, possible
Where| Glacialis
When| Shortly after the Binding plot and Jason’s post
Warnings/Notes| None for now!

Between working with her Tributes and coworkers and meeting Sponsors, China’s social life is more active than it’s ever been. She would have looked upon such a future with trepidation and weariness just a few months ago, but she finds she’s actually enjoying herself. While she’s still far more charmed by the world of the book, the people she’s encountered outside aren’t uninteresting.

And because this is one meeting she’s actually looking forward to, she arrives promptly and with a hint of honesty in her smile.

She slips into the dining area. The cold has her wrapped up more warmly than usual, a fitted coat over her dark suit. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting, Leo. How are you?”

It's a tense time, given the recent attempts at rebellion and the resentment that may have been stirred up over Jason's network post. Even she's been feeling it and she just hopes that this can be a relaxing time. Or at least interesting.

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Ignorant, yes. China was amazed at how many still tried to push against the Capitol however they could. Didn't they realize the benefits of blending in?

"I've heard many come from somewhat rough places, yes. But a bouquet of survivalists in your District--how fortunate."

For them, too. She couldn't imagine someone District 2 trained taking well to an inexperienced whelp.

"If we get another zombie survivor, I might be tempted to petition for a stop. Luke has given me grief...and then the old man," Fate would assure Leo would lose his patience easily with that one. As soon they made their way to the park, the man's mood lifted and the smirk was much more evident, "Ready?"

"Ah, yes. The old one's made quite a stir, hasn't he? What a headache."

She found herself fortunate that hers, though maybe not too standout or flashy in the Arena, had the sense to be quiet. It was less work for her.

She smiled brightly, nothing artificial about it, and raised her hands. "Ready."

"Tell me about it," Leo chided to the memories, "Still recovering sponsors from that little stunt. I don't particularly like it when an offworlder tries to unleash a hornet's nest on the people that keep us alive..."

There's a moment when he admires China as she is, with her duplicituous demeanor and her many tattoos, and he whispered, "Skyline's got nothing on this." With that, he starts their silent waltz.

"Fortunately for you, you still have the good history of your district and some other promising prospects, so... I hope that will patch up the pickle he's put you in."

Some of these Tributes were so ungrateful. Usually she found herself almost wanting to laugh at their cluelessness, but then she was almost offended by the old man. It was no good to her if one of her few... close acquaintances were to be dragged down.

A smile glowed across her face as they glided together. "Do you think? You're quite good."

"Here's hoping but for now, I want them to last past the first four weeks...If he can prove me wrong, I will make sure the Peacekeepers do apologize for the attack..." As if they would ever apologize for doing their job, but his steps are in rhythm with hers, enough for Leo compliment China during a spin, "I'm sure...I'm surprised you've got such skill in this, book theory put in practice?"

"How sweet of you." Her eyes widened slightly in surprise--it was nice of him. They owed mouthy Off-worlders nothing, in her eyes.

She carefully tilted her head during the spin so that her hair wouldn't come close to smacking him in the face. Not because she doubted his ability to avoid it, but out of a rare courtesy. "Mostly, yes. Sometimes I make my assistant practice with me so I'm not tripping around all by my lonesome."

Her eyes twinkled, allowing room to read that as fact or a joke.

"Did they teach you how to dance when they taught you to fight?"

"What better way to improve the standing of the Peacekeepers to the ingrates that to let them think we're all in this together?" Leo laughed darkly at the thought. "Snow knows what he's doing with our country, unlike whatever place the Tributes come along."

The joke was caught and the coach's demeanor lightened up, "Practice paid off well...and yes, actually. Careers are taught not just in how to kill the competition but always represent their District in the Capitol. Stepping on a Capitolite's foot is a major faux paux, as I've taught my students time and time again."

And every step had to be correct or it was 50 pushups or 15 minutes on the track but China doesn't need to know that.

"Of course. I'm amazed their countries have even lasted so long."

She didn't falter in their dance as she laughed out loud. "I'll be candid with you, I hadn't even considered that." She had seen firsthand that some of her Tributes lacked manners and she supposed it would only be logical that backwater Tributes from the Districts might be just the same. While China was less naive about the state of the Districts than some Capitolites, there was still a vast area of emptiness in her knowledge.

Her voice was soft when she continued. The comment she had in mind dealt with his narrow avoidance of a stint in the Arena, but she didn't want to ruin the moment by brushing that sore spot. "I believe they must have done a better job with you than my books did with me. Perhaps I should reconsider my argument in our earlier dispute."

She wondered if he would remember their debate over the value of books.

Ah their old debate still rung in China's head, as Leo appreciated her technique and, in an subconscious way, the avoidance in his lack of victory. Capitolites only saw the spectacle and most were spoonfed their superiority over the rest of Panem, but Sorrows was different. She read, and was someone more informed than the likes of others in her line of work.

"I wouldn't...it still stands as a reference. What good is a training if you have no way to remember? Practice can only get you so far."

Perhaps the most valuable thing China had gained from her reading--and the long hours she spent studying with her parents--wasn't information, but the ability to read between the lines. She couldn't know everything, but she could piece together enough of a picture from the carefully sculpted glimpses of the Districts she'd seen and their contrast with the bedraggled, starved Tributes who used to emerge from them.

Her only wish was that she could learn more--for curiosity's sake, not a crusade.

"My. I think we've converted each other, don't you? And reached an impasse at the same time. Perhaps we'll have to agree that both need to work together, hm?"

And there it was: the offer for an alliance was put on the table by the Capitolite, not the Districter. Leo concluded their waltz to the applause of passerby park goers, giving them a bow and stepped aside to give China the opportunity to enjoy the praise.

"I agree completely. I'm sure that I may be able to provide assistance with the more unruly of the Tributes, if you do wish so." It's no secret that there are Tributes who can threaten their staffers and he's got a suspicion Sorrows can defend herself in a pinch.

Delighted, China cast him a grateful smile and curtseyed for their audience before turning back to him.

"Could you? I can't deny it may be some help."

"That would leave me owing you a favor, though--what could I do for you?"

True to form, she didn't make any specific offers; if she left people to figure out what they wanted by themselves, sometimes they never asked. She didn't mind not having to pay her debts.

Of course, she wouldn't be surprised if this one actually followed through.

Leo took a shot with this offering with a grin, "Keep it for now. We'll both be overworked and having a favor lingering over your head will distract you from the Games themselves." That didn't mean Cora wouldn't hold her up to her end. A Capitolite's word was as good their actions as if China could dance with a disgraced Districter as she promised, there was a chance she would follow through. Always with caution, always.

"Shall I escort you back?"

"You're so kind." She had a feeling she wouldn't be able to forget it, though. She would bet quite a few shelves of books that Leo had a record of everything owed to him stashed away in his brain.

"I believe the escorting is supposed to be my job, but if you wouldn't mind..." She offered him her hand again, ready to walk.

That list starts with the Universe and it owes the man a damn crown or an honorable death as a Tribute. Leonidas is not the healthiest of the Staffers for that obsession but he's softened somewhat by being the man behind the scenes and producing the Tributes to get that elusive symbol.

He took her hand and gave it a bow, to remember his place, "I would be honored, after this lovely evening and a waltz out of the blue."

She shook her head, dipping in a curtsy in return. "You're going to make me blush."

She looked into his eyes then and something changed in her smile as her voice grew even softer. "Thank you, Leo. I don't get to say this honestly too often, but I've had a wonderful time."

For all their playing politics and shooting barbs at each other, Leonidas had to admit that he had a great evening with China Sorrows. It’d been a while since his last actual date and not wining and dining some Capitolite. This gave his answer, however simple, a lot of weight, “Likewise, China.”

He then added as they walked, “I can only hope there will be another occasion we can pull each other away from work, if to talk about the state of affairs.” In other words, to gossip about the lives of others and keep their Tributes fed and supplied.

"As would I. Our lives aren't so busy--at least mine isn't." Though she did have to admit that the schmoozing up to Sponsors, while very much her area of expertise, did make the days somewhat tiring. She didn't want to neglect her library at all. ...But then again, she'd hate to forgo his company.

"Even if they are... we can always rub shoulders at Crownings, parties, and the link." She paused, then added, "And if you ever want to help me reorganize my library, you're welcome."

Leo takes that invitation to heart, adding, "If you need a handyman to repair the shelves, you know where to find me."

There was a divide, as much as they literally danced around it, and Cyrus Reagan's legislation prevented anything to go further. When the Tributes have more rights that the Districters, becoming closer to Capitolites, inevitable bitterness will arise.

"Thank you for the time. Even if you're not busy, your time is valuable." As it was anyone's who worked in the Games.

She laughed. "Perfect--coincidentally, I may have just been having some problems with them." No, she hadn't at all. "Yours will be the first number I try." And why not? It would be a good excuse to hang out.

"I do believe so myself, but it's nice to hear it observed. Thank you."

"I'll have to give you a heads' up," Leo then admitted in the best, nonbiased way he could, "I think you've inspired something in me. Might get a tattoo, or two." Or a full sleeve because hey! You only live once and even if he wasn't able to be in the Arena...he wanted something to remind him every day to be that good.

He gave China a final bow and tipped his head, "See you around, China. May the odds be in our favor, yours and mine."

"Do you? I imagine you'd look very fetching--please let me know if you need any recommendations."

She laughed and gave him a curtsy in return. "Goodbye, Leo. And the same to you--take care of yourself."

There were few people she'd miss--she didn't even miss her "beloved" grandmother--but she felt she might dislike his absence were he to get in trouble.

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