indisposed in disguise

[mediumdrip]

Who| Blaine and OPEN
What| Blaine lost three good friends (Diana, Atticus and Lottie), watched his own body rot away, and was killed a little more violently this time around. He's not okay in the head but he'll be damned if he lets you know that. Too bad his mask might be cracking.
Where| Tribute Tower. Three settings; District 2 Suites, Boxing Area in Training Center and Common Mess Hall
When| Final week of the Arena
Warnings/Notes| Blaine's a little broken. I'll add warnings as needed.



[District 2 Suites]

When Blaine woke up he took a shower and paid extra attention to his hair. The movements of the comb as he flattened out his curls was almost therapeutic. Each time he slid it's teeth through the black strands he felt himself getting a little more control. There were dark circles under his eyes, but he knew how to use the products of the Capitol by now and it was surprisingly easy to cover them up.

He had been back in the Capitol long enough now to know that he couldn't find Lottie, Atticus or Diana. He knew sometimes people didn't come back because he had seen posts on the network about it before. He had convinced himself that it wouldn't happen to the people that he knew though. They couldn't be among the unlucky. Diana had been a sure win for Victory. Lottie was popular because she was so flirty and fun. He and Atticus could play up their matching faces for the camera, and hadn't the werewolf and Kurt provided enough heartbreaking entertainment for the way that they stuck together? What did these Capitol people even want if it wasn't a good show?

It hurt to think about that, so instead he focused on his hair. He flattened it until it was stuck to his hair, all hint of curls hidden away. He couldn't look like Atticus right now because that hurt too.

He gathered up work out clothes and folded them carefully into a duffel bag before leaving his room. A cheerful enough expression was plastered onto his face as he walked through the Suite. He planned to get to the Training Center as quickly as possible, but he also did his best to not seem opposed to the idea of stopping and taking to his Suite mates.

[Boxing in Training Center]

He didn't eat breakfast. Instead he went right down to the Training Center. The gel here was even better than the stuff back home as he could work out and sweat without a single curl breaking free. He supposed he ought to be grateful for that, just as much as he should be for finally becoming a star.

He picked out a bag and wrapped his hands in tape before he started to hit it. Each time he let a fist land against the bag he considered all of the things the Capitol would expect him to be grateful about.

Hair gel. Good food. Clothing. His face on TV.

The honor of being killed for their entertainment.

His face was focused entirely on the bag as he pounded away at it, imagining himself with the ability to push each of those things away.


[Common Mess Hall]

After working out, Blaine really needed to eat something. He had been careful to clean himself up and was dressed as impeccably as ever. He sat with his back to the screens, not wanting to watch any more death. It was surprisingly hard, as they seemed to want to display the Games everywhere.

It probably would have been smarter to eat in his room, but he still was holding out the hope that he'd see one of his missing friends.

Comments

[gruesome]

"Yes, that's me." He's a little surprised at having been approached; he's felt distinctly avoided since returning this time; it was a bad last scene, the one between himself and Cuthbert. "I am- am looking for friends, but I don't see them."

[mediumdrip]

Blaine frowned. "Me too," he said. "Who are you looking for? Maybe we can help each other."

He was still freaked out by the grue, but Some had been nice enough to Kurt during his first Arena (even after Kurt had passed out in front of him). Blaine couldn't help but think it was a good idea to be friendly with people who might be friendly to them.

[gruesome]

"Rapunzel," he said softly. "And Lottie. Two women, both small, both with pale hair... Lottie's is in coils and Rapunzel's is... long, very very long." He looked down at his tray, the fur on his face fluffing up slightly as he flushed, and he shook his head.

"And- and you?"

[mediumdrip]

"Lottie is one of mine too," Blaine said. Some could probably tell that, though, just based on the way that he responded to hearing her name called and her hair described.

[gruesome]

Some took a breath to control his own reaction, middle jaw working. "She is... a good friend. Our st-stylists liked to pair us, but she is also just... a good friend."

[mediumdrip]

After a moment, Blaine reached out and put a hand on one of Some's arms. He wasn't sure how grues feel about touch, but he assumed that most people avoided touching Some out of fear.

Blaine didn't want to be afraid, not when he was speaking with someone who felt the pain of Lottie's disappearance as acutely as he did. It gave him something to focus on too, as he didn't want Lottie's friends to remain hurt and sad. She was too important to Blaine and if Some was important to her, then he could do his part to give Some comfort.

"She's a good friend to me too," he said. "No matter how bad things get, she always manages to cheer me up. She wouldn't want us to be depressed because she's not here right now. What if she comes back and sees us both moping? I think she'd do her best to get us to smile."

[gruesome]

Some covered Blaine's hand with one of his own, tipping his head towards him in gratitude. His thumb rubbed the hollow of Blaine's wrist a moment.

"She would. Probably with a hug, and an evening out."

[mediumdrip]

The touch was comforting, despite what the hand looked liked.

"That's right," he said. "She really knows how to party."

[gruesome]

He squeezed lately, of the same opinion. Touch always helped.

"She never belonged here. Well, here, yes... in the city, with the parties and the fine clothing, and all the lights. But not here, where they want us to fight and can't even bring us back."

[mediumdrip]

"I'm not sure she even fit with the parties too though. There's always the seedy underside to the parties here, she deserves real parties with people who are actually... You know, decent."

His voice was quiet then as he spoke, just in case someone overheard them. He hoped Some would understand what he was trying to say, rather than taking it just as an insult.

[gruesome]

"More... modest, do you mean?" He remembered how horrified she'd been at one scant costume. It had been the same party when their stylists had suggested shaving him. "Or more... honest?"

[mediumdrip]

After a moment, Blaine shrugged and then said. "Less willing to ignore the pain of others," he said after a moment. He pressed his lips together, realizing that it was dangerous to say things like this. "More like her."

[gruesome]

Some glanced sharply at him, recognizing the instinct that quieted the human.

"We should all be more like her," he said, perhaps a little louder than was necessary.

[mediumdrip]

Blaine couldn't help but be a little impressed by Some. He smiled then. "Yes," he agreed. "We should be." He wished that he could be as brave as the grue had been, but he wasn't sure he could.

[gruesome]

Brave or not, after that, Some went quiet a bit, watching the few Capitolitans in the room with a few wary eyes.

"Do you have a table?"

[mediumdrip]

"You mean to sit?" he asked. "I was over there..."