thecapitol | [OPEN]

Who| Kurt Hummel and YOU.
What| Kurt is blowing off some stream and trying to practice using a bow, perhaps in vain. Come bug him.
Where| The training center.
When| Earlier in the day.

[He's getting better at this, he thinks.

Or he wants to believe that, anyway. His arrows never fly straight, and half the time his wrist cramps up and he can't let them fly at all. Still, he wants to get good at this so badly. There's no way he'll use a knife or a spear or something that would require him to feel someone die, feel their blood spill, not if he can help it. No, this is better, distance is better, even if this is so impractical and he feels like giving up a little more every time an arrow bounces limply off the opposite wall.

If there's any skill he's always been good at, it's perseverance. And there's no way he's going to stand around and wait to die like Eponine had suggested. He doesn't want to kill people, but he has to survive. It doesn't take a genius to do the math.]

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[Kurt is so focused that he doesn't see Joan right away. When he does he looks embarrassed-- She's standing there so coolly, after all, and he can't help but feel judged. There are so many skilled and/or powered people here, after all, and he pales in comparison.]

Um-- Hello. [He shuffles his feet about awkwardly.] I'm, ah, practicing.

[He's embarrassed, and she hadn't intended that at all.]

Oh, no, of course! I didn't want to interrupt.

[She approaches, making sure her hands stay visible, ready to stop at any sign of discomfort or fear.]

Sorry, I'm still pretty new. Honestly,I don't think there's a weapon here that I don't stand a better chance of hurting myself than anyone else.

[He relaxes a little; it's always a gamble, but he seems to luck out when meeting people who seem nice and down-to-earth. Then again, he's entirely too trusting, and it shows when he lowers his weapon immediately and smiles at her.]

Is that so? I feel the same way, actually, if that wasn't obvious enough. I'm honestly more concerned about poking my eye out with this than anything else, really. [He laughs and shrugs.]

Believe me, I'd do much worse.

[She returns the smile, and offers her hand.]

I'm Joan.

Kurt.

[He shakes her hand, his touch delicate.] Ah, did you arrive here recently? I don't think I've seen you around before. It's entirely possible that I missed you, I've been ditzing out a lot lately.

[She keeps her touch gentle in response, her shake brief before releasing his hand.]

No, I'm new. They brought me here during the last arena. How long have you been here?

The last arena was my second.

[He takes a deep breath.]

It... It really has been a while. It doesn't feel like it.

It's a lot to get used to. I'm still in that state where my brain thinks this is all a dream that I'll wake up from. I'm not looking forward to coming down from that.

[He swallows.]

It'll happen soon. Probably when you least expect it. If it's any consolation, you're not alone.

I know. The people I've met so far have been amazing.

[Her voice is soft, and gentle.]

When did it happen for you? That you realized this wasn't all a dream?

I-- Well, when I was brought here it was directly in the arena. I didn't have time to wonder if it were all real or not.

I was put directly into the arena, too. So, hot, bright and people trying to kill me dream, but still. Really, how could there actually be zombies and giant talking turtles?

[She's keeping her voice light, amused without making fun.]

[A soft laugh.] Yeah, that takes some getting used to. Weirdly enough, though, that's not the craziest thing about this place.

[He smiles at her, though.] I have to thank you. It's nice to talk to someone--well, normal. [He looks a little sheepish about that, but what can you say? She's a breath of fresh air among talking animals, zombies, hardened criminals and warriors.]

[She smiles at him, totally understanding where he's coming from. Safe and familiar is nice in this place.]

That's sweet. Although normal is pretty relative here.

[She tilts her head.]

Where are you from?

Nowhere interesting, I can tell you that. But I live in New York now. [A bright smile, a twinkle in his eyes.] I love it there. It's just as magical as I've dreamed.

How about you?

[That smile is wonderful, and her own widens]

I live in New York, too! And yeah, it's pretty great. There really is nowhere else like it in the world.

I'm so happy to meet a fellow New Yorker here. [No really, he is. He looks positively delighted.]

We'll have to get coffee and swap stories sometime! For now, um... [He gingerly holds up the bow, and his face simply falls.]

[It's a stark reminder of the situation they're in, that they can be friendly one minute, while the next they're being pushed to kill each other.]

Of course. I'm in District 11, when you're free for that coffee.

We'll make a date.

[He smiles weakly.]

Do I, um. Do you think I stand a chance?

I don't know.

[It's said very softly. She honestly doesn't.]

I refuse to kill anyone, so I'd have to be incredibly lucky to have a chance. But I'm not sure I'd want to win, if it came at the cost of everybody else's death.

[She glances up at where she imagines the cameras are.]

That attitude is unlikely to win me any friends in the Capitol, though.

I agree. It's--startling, how many people are willing to kill around here.

[He swallows.] It's scary.

It is. I understand people protecting themselves. But they expect us to do more than that.

I only encountered one person...well, turtle...who tried to kill me. Well. Two. But I don't think the zombie counts. Have you encountered others?

[His throat feels very dry and he feels dizzy all of a sudden. His eyes are on the floor around his feet.]

Well, there was a--a man. And he, um. He did. Kill me.

Edited 2013-08-29 04:33 (UTC)

[She nods once.]

I was lucky. I died from a snakebite.

Do you remember who killed you?

I remember his face.

[He shifts around uncomfortably.]

I'm not quite certain I know what I'd do, if I ever saw it again. Throw up, maybe. Or start crying, or--or both, undoubtedly.

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formersurgeon - 2013-08-29 14:42 (UTC) - Expand