thecapitol | Victory Tour!

Most of you weren't around the last time District tours were allowed. The opulence of the train is just as great however. It is plush, full of the same comforts and pleasures as the Capitol. Dining, entertainment centers, and shared rooms for the Tributes, the bunk beds featuring the finest of fabrics. The wide windows all around the train give way to the stunning views of the District countrysides.

Before the quell, it used to be that only the Victors of the arena would behold such sights, but you Tributes, the survivors of the fifteenth arena of the seventy fifth quarter quell are very lucky indeed. It will be a greater pageant than ever before, with so many Tributes getting the chance to speak to the Districts their children were reaped from, where you stand and the children stand no longer. The honor, duty, and sacrifice a Tribute's life involves cannot be understated.

Staff and Mentors are, of course, brought along for the ride. You'll need them for when you are to give your speech to the Districts! There will be a lot of preparation work involved, but maybe, should you do well, you will be afforded some time to travel between the cars and visit those of other Districts.

As always, the tour will be starting in District twelve, which will take just over forty eight hours to reach. There's no need to feel unsafe. There's an overwhelming number of Peacekeepers on board, here to keep you all safe, as will there be in each of the Districts you visit.

Sleep tight.

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Porrim laughs, really laughs for the first time in months. "Like I need a kick in the head," she retorts. "In fact, let me slow down so I don't outrun you." It feels good, it feels so fucking good to laugh, even though they're not out of the woods yet--she can't help herself. Mostly, she has a thousand questions to ask but she makes herself wait. There's just one that she needs to know now.

"Are they--going to let me come?" It's the worry that's been nagging at her ever since Sam told her he'd try to bring her to 13. That the rebel leaders wouldn't trust her, would be suspicious of her motives. It terrifies her--she doesn't want to end up as a hostage in a jail cell, after all.

Sam laughs with her, low and pleased, even if it's more in response to hearing her laugh than it is to her comment. But to be fair - it's really fucking good hearing her laugh again. Damn, he's missed her.

But he goes a little more serious at her question, expression hardening a bit.

"Damn right they are. Or they're gonna have one less soldier." Not that he really has anywhere else to go, or that he really thinks that 13 would actually deny her entry - not with some of the other people it's taken in - but still. "I talked to Buck - he's the Tribute liaison there, and he's the genius behind me looking so damn good in those propaganda vids going around - about you. He said he'd give them your name, so we could look for away to get you out."

She's panting a little from running, now--Capitolites aren't much used to having to run anywhere, unless it's a few minutes on a treadmill, but she's been working out a little extra, anyway.

Sam's reassurance is, well, reassuring. She manages a smile. "Good--good. And anyone who could make you look that damn good is someone I can trust, clearly." She pitches her gaze forward again, keeping an eye out for tripping hazards. "How far is it?"

He notices that panting, but keeps going at their current pace for a moment longer as he assesses things - they're close enough to the waiting hovercraft, far enough from the train than anyone following them would have to be real damn motivated to get one of them instead of taking care of the chaos going on - and he slows down a little. Not enough to be insulting, just enough to make it clear that they're just about out of the woods.

Or into them, if he wants to get literal.

"Not much farther. This is a quick grab and go, they wanted us to get as many of you out as we can. And to back up what we said at the crowning, make it clear it wasn't a toothless threat." Then he shoots her a playful smirk. "I'll pretend like you didn't agree that I need help to look that good."

"Good," she asserts, giving Sam's hand a quick squeeze. Yeah, she's definitely hugging him again as soon as they're safely aboard. He doesn't have a choice in the matter. She laughs, shaking her head as they go, glad that he's at least slowed down enough for her to catch her breath a little.

"We both know that's not what I meant. Unless you really wanna play it like that." Really, though, Sam should know that Porrim thinks he's basically perfect.

He squeezes her hand back, his grin widening when he makes her laugh again. Damn but he's missed her, and he's so damn glad to be able to help get her out of the Capitol. "Yeah, but maybe I missed hearing you say it."

The hovercraft's just a little bit up ahead, though, and Sam points it out to her with his free hand as they move through the trees. "Just stick with me, all right?"

"You know I think you're fine as hell," she replies, only because he said he missed hearing her say it, and she can't possibly say no to that.

Looking up a head, she spies the shape of the hovercraft through the trees, and her heart starts to hammer in her chest for reasons entirely unrelated to Sam or to the physical exertion. "Okay," she agrees. As if she has any other choice, here, if she doesn't want to be shot or who knows what else.

He smirks at her, flashing her a gap-toothed smile when she humors him. "Right back at you."

Sam keeps her hand as they board the hovercraft, keeping her close and making his way towards a more private spot. He'd meant what he said about her being welcome in Thirteen, as much as any of them are - they're here to rescue people, after all, and he knows both him and Bucky will stick up for her. If only because Bucky's a good guy and takes his job as liaison seriously. But that doesn't mean he doesn't want a few minutes alone with her, while he can, to give her a heads up.

"Thirteen's a hell of a lot better than the Capitol for a lot of reasons, but I'm gonna be honest with you - it's not the greatest. Some of them aren't happy about offworlders being there, and they're probably not gonna be all that happy about a Capitolite being there, even with everything we've done to help. They're regimented, everything's on a schedule, and they're gonna want you to keep helping them."

She's never really felt small in her life. Sure, life in the Capitol meant shrinking in the face of great and terrible power, but physically it's hard to make a woman like Porrim feel minute. But entering the loading bay of the hovercraft feels like entering a cavernous mouth, where judgment surely awaits. "Yeah," she replies to his warnings, giving his hand a squeeze as he leads her to a less noticeable place inside. "I figured as much. But don't worry, I...I'm gonna do whatever I have to. I'll adjust."

"I know you will." He quirks a little smile at her. "You're one of the strongest people I know, Porrim, I don't got enough words to tell you how amazing you are. Everything we've been through, all that you've done to help already - I'm not worried about you adjusting. You'll make 'em know just how valuable you are without letting them push you around."

Sam gives her hand one more squeeze before he lets go. "And you're not gonna be alone." He gives a soft, amused huff. "Not like I got a lot of sway in thirteen, but we're in this together. All of us."

She ducks her head, trying not to glow the way she wants to at Sam's praise. "As long as I have you around, I'll be okay."

And for now, she really does believe that. After all...whatever awaits her in Thirteen is sure to be better than the Capitol. Right?

Victory Tour!

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