thecapitol | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who| Roland and Venus, Roland and you?
What| Roland delivers a message, then wanders around
Where| District 5 common room and the city in general
When| soon after the d13 post, although feel free to make a prompt at any point between that and the arena if later works better
Warnings/Notes| none yet

[closed to Venus]

It is easier to find a tribute's assigned district when you are comfortable asking around. Roland isn't. He has not spoken with Venus since arriving in this hideous gift of a place, for no reason other than that they have not spoken. There's never been a need. Perhaps he should have found one - she's certainly lasted longer than any of the other friends he might have found here. Longer, too, than a couple of the friends he did find.

Regardless, the two of them aren't known to speak. It means him seeking her out now might be seen for the oddity it is, so it's best no more people know about this than those who are going to see it. So it takes some time and some observation, but he does figure out where to look.

The main room of this floor is arranged identically to the other floors he's seen, barring the small, personal touches people don't even realize they're leaving when they spend enough time in a place. He pays very little attention to any of it. He only looks around, peering down the little hallway that, if the identical layout continues, leads to the block of tribute rooms. He isn't going to go down it, but if no one appears in a few minutes he is going to start searching through the kitchen for anything that could be used to make himself some tea.

He picks up a bag, interested. Opens it, and sniffs. Makes a face. Best leave that one be, probably.

[open]

Of course, that conversation leads him to thoughts of Susannah. Whether his message will get to her, wherever she is in district 13. Wherever she might be in district 13, because he knows as well as anyone here that there can be no guarantees. He tilts his head back to study the tops of the tall, beautiful buildings littering this place, and thinks of his first clear, safe memory of her. Remembers kneeling on the plush carpeting that covers a good deal of the tribute's tower. Remembers Susannah's arms tight around him, her voice warm and low in his ear.

He passes some distance in this way, only paying so much attention to the crowds as deeply ingrained training demands. Which means he will react to quick movement, grab the wrists of pickpockets and instinctively move to catch anything that might be thrown at or falling near him, but he will not quite realize where he is going, or pay attention to anyone's face.

Panem being itself, of course, there is only so long he will go without being jarred to wakefulness. This time, it's by a scream. It came from the building next to him, which he realizes is shaking with with a low, deep thumping that he supposes is probably music. The same voice screams again, and he pauses with the two metal fingers of his right hand hooked around the building's doorframe. There's a tone to that voice he hadn't picked up the first time - ecstasy, rather than pain. Nothing he hasn't heard before, walking the Capitol's streets. Clear as it is that nothing unusual is going on in there, he still hesitates, because going in there to check would at least give him something to think about for a few minutes.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"And you their bondsman," Roland says, his tone one of dawning understanding. He's closed a little of the distance between them, focused on their conversation as he is, but not so much of it. He's only walking even with Firo now, still about an arm's length away. "And is it truly hurting their reputation to serve the Capitol here and now? When Panem and your Family are at such a great distance from one another? I know it's no place of yours to make that decision, but in absence of anyone else you're the only one who can do it."

Firo has a feeling Roland isn't talking about a bail bondsman, but he doesn't actually know what the word means. 'Bond' sounds good to him, though, because, yes, they do have a strong bond; he just doesn't realize that Roland's observation is more fitting than that. He nods, not minding the lessened distance. "Yeah."

He scrunches his brow and looks up at the sky. It is a good point, isn't it? It's not as if he wants them to join the other Tributes in suffering here. "...I don't know. I mean I'd definitely have to tell 'em if I ever saw 'em again, but I guess that's a problem for later, is that what you're sayin'?"

Probably not something quite that clumsy. But Firo looks up at him inquisitively, seeming to hope he has the gist of it.

"Aye, more or less. If no one else is here to represent your Family, the only person who can decide what's best for them in this situation is you." He shrugs a shoulder. "Or if any of that's even a consideration here, where none of this will ever reach them."

Because, unless the powers of Panem are a great deal more restrained in their greed than Roland has ever guessed, they can not venture into other worlds. Only pull individuals out of them. Which is best left implied, probably.

"One of your captains may disagree if they end up here, and you'll face their judgement. But until then, what else is there? It's not a decision that'll wait." He eyes Firo, wondering how he'll take this next bit. "In fact, in a sense, you've already made it."

He knows that if he ever goes home, he'll tell them everything. But Roland's very correct in that it's entirely possible that the Family could never hear: how likely is it that they're going home?

He's nodding, finally seeing the reason, until the last part. His head jerks up again, somewhat startled. "I did?"

Well, shit. He's not sure how he feels about apparently accidentally making decisions.

He nods, looking away from their surroundings and back down at Firo. His tone is mild and patient, because explaining things like this is something he does have patience for, most of the time. "You're here, aren't you? Fought in arenas, gone to parties, been interviewed by a newsman or two? You've been doing work for the Capitol as an agent of your Family since you arrived. Any decision you make on the matter won't change that."

This, too, is some delicate phrasing, because what Firo's decision really boils down to is: serve or die. Saying so, though, may make it seem to any listener that Roland's encouraging Firo to the latter, and though there is little chance of being overheard out in the city, constantly moving as they've been, that is not a risk Roland wants to take.

"I'd say 'fought' is bein' awfully generous." Or harsh, if you look at it from the point of view of Firo trying to minimize his connection to the Capitol and their ways. He's not ashamed of his violent tendencies, but he has made an effort to reign them in in the Arenas for the very reasons he's agonizing over here.

He slouches even more, as if weary under the weight of these realizations. All the same, they're probably things he needs to be told. "...But I guess you're right. Shit, I should probably try and keep their name outta things now."

Not that it makes a difference to the Capitol whether he says the name Martillo or not. But it makes a difference to Firo and he feels he has to operate under the assumption that it makes a difference to the other Martillos. Firo is one of those people who would have many fewer problems if they stopped making them up for themselves.

"If you like." Whether or not that'll be making needless problems for Firo does not enter Roland's mind; it's something he is not concerned with one way or the other. Besides which, so far as Roland is concerned honor can be a very real thing. If that is what Firo decides he needs to do to protect the honor of his Family, then that is what he needs to do.

"Shouldn't be too hard. You may have to mention them from time to time, but Panem doesn't seem to care about too many of the details unless it seems relevant to them," such as the lover Roland mentioned earlier and his history of actively leading rebellions, oops, "or if it seems to make a good story. In fact, the more vague your answers are, the happier they seem to be to try and fill in the blanks. At least, if your fans are anything like mine. And if they are, they'll be happy to be redirected to those blanks that are a little more personal in nature. Course, you might have to talk on your lovers to get them there. Or hint at ones you don't have." Roland's look then is a dry one - he has some idea, after all, how Firo feels about that.

Firo can't keep from wincing and turning red just at the mention of lovers. Particularly in the plural, even if this is a theoretical conversation.

"Leave it blank, huh?" Given that he's always wanted to tell them to mind their own business, it's an appealing idea. "Doesn't that go wrong, though? Like if they make up somethin' really crazy about you?"

He doesn't pay enough attention to coverage to know what any fans may say about Roland, but given the flat-out lies people have spun about his own reputation back home... he has to wonder.

So it's not discomfort with the idea of being thought to have had Roland as a lover, specifically, but discomfort about speaking on the subject at all. Seems an odd fact of life, to Roland, to be bashful about, and in Panem a particularly unfortunate one. "That's what happens when it goes right," he corrects. "As long as they're telling crazy tales, arguing with one another over what you meant, they want to see more of you."

He shrugs. "It's no guarantee you'll see this city past another arena, but it doesn't hurt. Though if you blush now, only talking to me, I don't know that you could handle it - you know a fan told me once I'd have to fight Signless' other lovers to win his hand? By headbutting them, I think. But your mentor may have better advice for you. Depending on who they are." Because some of the Capitol's mentors do seem to have the tribute's best interests at heart. Some of them... don't.

"I'm not--" But he quickly realizes it's pointless to deny it when he can feel the blood in his face. It's not his fault the whole love thing is terrifying and strange, is it?

He settles for moving on, shaking his head at the mention of a mentor. Even if his were more attentive, he's not sure what good it would do.

"So, uh... Do they seriously think people sort out, like... um, l-love and stuff by headbuttin' people?" Would you, is the question he kind of wants to ask. These Capitolites are crazy in their romance and he has to wonder how far the Tributes are supposed to go in playing along.

"Only if they decide you're courting a troll." Roland does not hear the implied question the boy means to ask, so instead of answering it he looks up toward the skyline for a moment. Despite the time he's spent in this city and despite the people who built it, this place sometimes still strikes him as beautiful. The height of the buildings, the feats of architecture which it might have taken the builders of his old world years, at least, to comprehend. This is a culture that's seen centuries of knowledge, or at least enough to create all these things, and it shows.

Roland's doing more than marveling, though - he's making sure he knows where they are so he can make a turn toward a familiar alleyway. There are some routes through the Capitol that are both safe and less traveled by hordes of fans, and if the two of them are going to be walking in circles for the foreseeable future they ought to take a couple. "Tributes are mostly human, so far as I can tell, so they may not try to figure the how of your romancing so much as the how often. Have you truly not been asked all these things yet? You must be more deft at avoiding them than I."

Edited 2015-06-28 21:28 (UTC)

Firo has to wonder if that means Roland is more or less fortunate than those who aren't pursuing one of another species. He supposes that maybe the loving feelings can make the weird questions a little less unpleasant. Or something like that.

Firo doesn't look around long enough to admire anything, only to get an idea of the path they're taking and any landmarks.

He shrugs. Quite a few questions he's escaped by being oblivious, but he's not aware of those close shaves. "I'm not as good at it as I'd like to be. There've been a few, but I think they're less interested in askin' when it's somebody back home. And no one else." It horrifies him how many seem to think that already having someone isn't at all a barrier to additional endeavors.

"Hm. Suppose you could do something with that. Your fans might like the story of a boy pining for his distant love. Even if they don't respect it." Roland shrugs. "I'll help if you've any questions, though there are plenty of tributes who've had more experience with that part of life here than I do. The Signless, maybe, of district twelve - he may not be completely at ease in the spotlight, but he'd be more willing to be helpful than other mentors who're better at it. Facing the fans and newsmen with another tribute helps, if there's anyone suitable you trust to have your back." It may sound like he's talking about interviews with the same attitude you'd talk about fights in the arena, and that is because he is. The tactics are different, but not so much as someone might think.

Respect. No, Firo's certain that Roland's right about that not happening. Part of him wants to protest because of it, but then he thinks about how much rides on them keeping these people entertained. It might not mean so much to him if his death didn't have definite unpleasant consequences for Ennis herself. ...So maybe that makes it okay? He nods, sighing, "And I guess apologizin' to her for usin' her is another thing that'll come later."

His appreciation of the advice is probably visible in how attentively he's watching and nodding. He's already lumped Roland in with Luck and Maiza, that group of people who are smarter than him and to whom he should probably listen. Sometimes. All the same, he can't imagine where to even start with questions, so he settles for a shake of his head and a very forced laugh. "Someone to watch your back--I can get that, at least. I think all this stuff'd be easier if it was just like a fight."

Brains. Using them is a pain.

[ooc: I'm sorry for how late this is! It's been a busy couple of days.]

He grunts, agreeing. Perhaps part of the reason Roland's so willing to take the time to explain these things is the way Firo listens, obviously thinking about everything he hears. That would make anyone want to share a little more. It's a fine trick when used in the right way, making a man feel listened to, but Roland does not think it is a trick now. Roland has been fooled before, and here Sigma Klim's face flashes across his memory - former tribute and current gamemaker, the only price paid for that transformation the betrayal of a boy who'd trusted him.

Roland does not think that is the case here, but if things do turn out that way? Well, this is a fair way to spend an afternoon, anyway. "Think of it as one, if that helps. Your weapons are different, and you usually aren't aiming to kill. That's all. You ought to find some interviews, if you find your own difficult. Pain in the ass, but after watching enough of 'em you may start to recognize when someone's made a misstep, or is about to. Come to district four if you like, we'll play cards while you do it. Shouldn't have to focus your whole mind on that shit for long."

Edited (forgot to add there's no need to worry about speed, I'm in no hurry! :D) 2015-07-03 02:05 (UTC)

At first, it sounds an awful lot like studying, which is something Firo doesn't do... but then it gets much better.

Firo grins like he's just been offered the moon, for one brief moment not at all self conscious of how childish it might make him look. "Really? 'Cause I'll warn you, I'm definitely gonna take you up on that if you're tellin' the truth."

And then Roland may be stuck with more of his company--horrors!

[ooc: Thank you so much. :)]

Roland takes in the look on Firo's face, his eyebrows rising briefly. "I've a feeling I don't know the whole of what I've just offered, but aye. I meant what I said. No matter whether someone else is using the tell-a-vision at the time, should still work. Everything on Panem's for show anyway. We'll see how well you learn while teaching, if you like. I think I ought to learn some more of this place's card games, if I can."

Firo just offers a bouncy shrug at that expression. "Don't worry, pal."

Learn while teaching, hm? It's something of an interesting idea to Firo, who's spent most of his life as a student outside of his capacity as a capo. But he supposes that it sounds close enough to what Eowyn and he were doing just a little while ago, so maybe it doesn't require too much brains. "The cards should be the easy part." He stands up a little straighter, nodding firmly. "And, uh, I'll do my best."

"...Thank you."

Roland grunts and nods briefly in reply. "You're welcome. But remember, every minute I spend in keeping myself busy is a minute I'm not back doing that." He jerks his head in the direction of that club they'd entered earlier, but even if Firo hasn't been keeping track of the place's position relative to them Roland's pretty sure he'll know what Roland means. "So maybe I should be thanking you."

He doesn't thank him, though, just looks up toward the Tribute Center, which has risen up into distant view in the course of their wandering. "Care to head back now? Or do you still want that drink?"

He does recognize what's being indicated, as evinced by the slight grimace that flickers across his face. "So we're even." At least on that count; his mental ledger still records a few debts of gratitude he owes, but he'll work on those.

"Well... There's drinks back there too, so how about we head that way?" He nods his head in the direction Roland's looking, at the center. "If you don't mind, that is."

"Mm. That sounds just fine," he says, and keeps watching the building as he starts winding his way toward it. "This is probably all the excitement I should ask for today, anyway."

"I was thinking of buying your drink as apology for leading you into that place, little though that matters with their, ah, cards of credit. But that can wait, if you don't feel I've wronged you too badly." Roland isn't entirely serious there, for all that the only sign of his humor is a little crinkling at the corners of his eyes. It's been long enough since their up-close viewing of the Capitol's finest entertainments that he can joke about it, or at least exaggerate how badly it effected poor Firo.

Unfortunately, some of the humor is lost on Firo and he shakes his head with utmost seriousness. "I-it's fine!" Firo, bothered by what he sees as absolute madness and debauchery? Never! "It was my fault for goin' in anyway, so... We're square, you and me."

Firo still feels a little bad for how he reacted to all of it, but apologizing for that would require acknowledging it and he can't really bring himself to do that now.

"Good," he says, and puts a hand on Firo's shoulder to steer him around the corner of another shortcut. The distance he'd decided on a while ago is gone now, although his hand returns to his side fairly quickly. "And maybe this time we go for a drink it'll go a little better."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(no subject)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

aaaand, fade?