(no subject)

[burnedbrighter]

Who: Azula and Open to All
What: People watching and making herself available.
Where: The Training Center Bar
When: Anytime, pick.
warnings: Nothing yet but give it time.

Before the arena, Azula had never drank. Not seriously really.

Sure the occasional glass of bubbly or wine at one of her fathers business parties,  but she had always been so focused on her goals of physical and mental perfection that she had dismissed the opportunity to drink enough to be buzzed or tipsy.

Now of course as the little bottle of Morphling in her pocket reminded her, her mind would never be perfect, so what could some alcohol hurt?

Still she was technically working so every drink she purchased she nursed her drink slowly and lingered over every drop. It would not due to have the newly returned mentor getting drunk in public. But staking out a corner booth in the bar where she could watch everyone and keep an eye out for Sponsors, tributes and other mentors was perfectly reasonable. It was for this reason she chose a booth facing the door where she would be very visible.

She really shouldn't be drinking in the first place given her medication needs. But this was one of the few areas where Azula scoffed at the law and did something she knew was bad for her simply for the case of "Because I want to shut up."

 

Comments

[keep_surviving]

Diana has her hand over her mouth, covering a yawn when she comes in.

She moves over to one of the free chairs and sits down, rubbing her eyes. Someone brings her a glass of juice wordlessly and she sips it, taking a quick glance around the room.

Spotting Azula, Diana smirks and wiggles her fingers in a playful wave. "If it isn't my mentor."

[burnedbrighter]

Azula politely raised her glass in greeting, "And one of my tributes, getting a late start to your day?" She chuckled politely though she knew if she really wanted to toughen Diana up she would have to start waking her up for earlier training.

[keep_surviving]

"Just enjoying the soft beds and yummy breakfasts." Lie ins on a soft, cushioned bed and access to an endless amount of food any time of the day were not luxuries Diana was going to take for granted.

[burnedbrighter]

"That's reasonable." Azula permitted and sipped her drink before setting it back down. "You have precious little time between each arena, it's important to use it to balance your health mentally, physically and emotionally." And the soothing embrace of sleep or the comforting sensation of a full belly were both very emotionally nourishing.

[keep_surviving]

"Exactly." Diana responds, lifting her arms to up stretch, curving her back like a cat.

"You're getting an early start." She points to Azula's drink.

[burnedbrighter]

"It's not so early for me." Azula countered with another graceful chuckle.

"I've been up for awhile now. First my own daily exercises, then making my rounds to see if anyone needs me or wants to train while some of the other tributes focus on their inner health."

[keep_surviving]

Diana's lips curl into a smirk and she giggles. Her expression is one of being in a on a joke that no one else is privy too.

"Well, someone's certainly eager." She takes another sip of her drink.

"Actually, I mean it's rather early to be drinking already."

[burnedbrighter]

Again Azula smiled at the logical point Diana made.

"Maybe for some. But I enjoy the taste and have a high tolerance. Of course I wouldn't over do it." She winked playfully, "I am a professional after all."

She considered for a moment throwing Indiana under the bus by pointing out he was a classified alcoholic, but what respect she held for him made her stay silent.

"Rich in antioxidants as well."

[keep_surviving]

Diana held up her own glass to Azula in demonstration. "Think I'll stick to vitamin c, thanks."

This mornings ritual of fiercely brushing her teeth until her gums felt sore and tender were still fresh in her mind. The memories of scurvy nearly forcing her to grip at the toothbrush and scrub until her mouth bled from the deep clean.

[leavewiththegame]

AndrAIa is talking with the bartender, trying to get an energy shake. She's never had much luck, but every so often, she remembers something else about them and tries to see if the bar can recreate one. Tonight is no different from usual, and when the bartender starts to get annoyed, she gives up and settles for a milkshake. She takes a careful sip, checking for alcohol, just in case; satisfied that it was non-alcoholic, she leaves the bar and heads to the most well-lit booth.

Sitting and nursing her shake, AndrAIa closes her eyes periodically, trying to pretend she's in Dot's Diner. But the sounds are all wrong for Dot's, even for Al's. Most damning, whenever she opens her eyes, there's nobody sitting across from her.

[burnedbrighter]

Azula studied the girl carefully from a distance. She knew the girls name and what district she was playing for but precious little else. Now would be a good time for information gathering. Perhaps something she could pass along to her tributes.

Sliding from her booth she had the bartender make her a milk shake as well, chocolate. Once she was armed with her tool to establish a connection she approached the girl with a cobra's smile.

"You look lonely." She noted once she was close enough.

[leavewiththegame]

AndrAIa looked up at the unfamiliar voice. She wasn't quite comfortable with the other's smile, but she brushed it off and smiled back.

"Yes. I was thinking about my friend Enzo. I do not know where he is now, and I do not think he knows where I am."

She made a welcoming gesture towards the opposite side of the booth. "I would not mind other company, though. I am AndrAIa. You are...?"

[burnedbrighter]

"Azula, a pleasure to meet you AndrAIa." She took the seat gracefully and plucked the cherry off the whipped cream topping her milkshake.

"You're one of the tributes aren't you? From which district?" Even though she already knew she didn't want to give away how much she'd already seen of the other tributes.

[leavewiththegame]

AndrAIa nodded. "Yes, I represent District Four, but I am from the Net- and before that, Mainframe, and originally from a game. I have never seen District Four; all I know about it is what I have been told."

[burnedbrighter]

Azula nodded as if she was deeply interested in where this tribute came from. As far as she was concerned the only reason to care about where the tributes came from was to better understand their abilities and mental state.

"What sort of game?" She inquired taking a guess at where to begin learning about this girl.

[leavewiththegame]

"It was called 'Treasures of Atlantis'. Um... I guess it would be sort of a race game, but to a specific goal? We had to reach the treasure before the User. Or kill them, but they had a lot of extra lives, which made it impractical. Though I did not know that, until Enzo explained it."

AndrAIa made a dismissive motion with her hand. "That is where I am originally from, but I do not consider it home anymore. My home is Mainframe, it is where we are trying to return to."

[burnedbrighter]

Sucking gently on her milkshake Azula watched and listened intently, speaking up near the end "Was it difficult to kill the User? What skills did they have to defend against your assault?" One step at a time. Was this one really so innocent she had no second thoughts about giving up these sorts of secrets? Only time would tell.

[akingalways]

Naturally, when Jack came to the bar, he never ordered any alcohol. He was a coffee man, and he always had coffee before going down to the Training Center proper. And almost always, he took his coffee alone.

Thus, in the booth next to Azula's, Jack partook in his cup of Blue Mountain, quietly taking small sips. If he knows Azula was there - which he likely did - he was wilfully ignoring her for the moment. This was coffee time. Coffee time meant alone time. Alone time meant he wouldn't be too happy with people interrupting him.

All the more reason, of course, for Azula to bother the King of Victors.

[burnedbrighter]

Oh, how could she resist.

Moving gently in her booth so that her back was to his but he could hear her clearly she spoke coyly.

"The infamous Jack Atlas I see. I can't help but wonder what blend does he require to start his day?"

[akingalways]

"Che." Lovely. "Infamous implies I did something wrong."

He takes a sip, doing his best to pretend he wasn't perturbed by this turn of events.

"Blue Mountain. Everyone knows it. Why are you asking me?"

[burnedbrighter]

"Well I wouldn't be the one to judge that.

She chuckled politely.

"It was more so that I could strike up a conversation with a fellow mentor. One who gave off the distinct aura of not wanting to be bothered. But I can't help but think you would have been bothered by something sooner or later. So best to get it out of the way now while you're armed with Blue Mountain."

At least she was being honest? Maybe?

[akingalways]

"I would have preferred later. When I was done with my coffee."

Well, at least he was also being honest.

[burnedbrighter]

"Then of course I apologize profusely, but I simply couldn't risk you escaping without us speaking. You're difficult to get ahold of...apparently." Tracing her fingertip along the rim of her glass she listened carefully for lack of a clear line of sight.

[akingalways]

"I'm a busy man."

And that was all he was going to say about it.

"Why? What did you want to talk to me about?"

[burnedbrighter]

"Well to be fair it's less about me, after all I barely know you. But Calico has been making an awful fuss trying to get someone, anyone to get you to speak to her again. She must have done something awful for you to upset her so badly." She ran her fingers along the cuff that Calico had made for her per her request. It wasn't a bad sort of accessory. Not up to Azula's usual standards but charming in it's own way.