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Balcony
Mar 25, 2020 20:37:09 GMT -6
Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 25, 2020 20:37:09 GMT -6
Astraea wandered off onto a balcony hoping some fresh air would help her get her head into the game. She leaned over the edge looking out over a lush garden filled with fountains that seemed almost maze-like. She had to get a solid team together. It's what she was trained to do. She idly stared into a glass of campaign as she swirled it about in its cup thinking of her options.
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Balcony
Mar 25, 2020 20:53:55 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 25, 2020 20:53:55 GMT -6
The night was a whirlwind, between plates of desserts piled high with Clem and the way too many drinks with Qadyn she needed a quick breather. Nilla was sure she only had a few minutes to catch her breath before Qadyn pulled her back into the eye of the storm, not that she disliked it in the least, but she was going to use this brief respite to recharge.
The cool night air greeted her as she wandered onto the balcony, out of the sight lines of reporters and tributes alike. She let out a long loud sigh clearing her lungs of the hot air that the room full of people was generating now that no one was around to hear it.
Which made it all the more awkward when she realized someone was very definitely around to hear it. She straightened her back and quickly gave the other tribute an awkward wave, "Oh sorry I didn't know anyone was out here...I didn't mean to ruin the peace out here."
The redhead started taking steps backwards toward the door back into the party, "I'll let you just...get back to whatever you were...doing out here."
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 7:24:22 GMT -6
Post by Farathil Liadon on Mar 26, 2020 7:24:22 GMT -6
Farathil enters the balcony with his arm over a young man's shoulders. He beams at the sight of Astraea.
"Oh, hi there!" Farathil says offering his hand, "I'm so glad you could make it. I mean, I guess they sort of made you come, but you know what I mean. Anyway, I'm a HUGE fan and you know I was pulling for you to win your Hunger Games! You know..." Farathil looks around to make sure the cameras aren't on him and continues more softly, "If you're feeling at all nervous about this whole deathmatch thing, between you and me this whole thing is going to be more of an All-Star parade, where people get to see their favorite tributes again, but there won't be any real competition going on. The people of Panem have been pretty down lately, and we thought everyone could use a win." Farathil gives Astraea a pat on the back.
"Oh! And how rude of me." Farathil gestures to the young man beside him. "This is our unpaid intern Game Maker, Sylvester. He's just going to be observing this year, not doing any real work, but get used to seeing his face around the training center!" The intern grimmaces. "Anyway," Farathil continues, "good luck and just remember to have fun and smile for the cameras!"
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 9:08:18 GMT -6
Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 9:08:18 GMT -6
Qadyn wandered up to the balcony to check on Nilla, hoping she'd stabilized herself. He noticed the Game Maker, Farathil, strolling around with whom he overheard to be a new intern. Finally, someone of my caliber.
He reached out to Farathil. "We finally meet! I'm sure I've seen you around at Capitol parties, but I'll admit I never thought we'd cross paths directly. What. A. Splendid. Gift you are. That mane, girl. Yum." He turned his attention to the woman in the corner and to the intern.
"Qadyn Von Ho of THEEE Von Hos. Pleasure, both of you."
He then looked at Nilla, who had seemingly been running all around the feast talking up all of the victor-tributes. "Not wearing yourself out, I hope?"
Finally, he addressed the Game Maker again. "So doll, any tips for an old broad like me? Will you personally be sponsoring anyone in this parade of the stars?"
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 9:42:19 GMT -6
Post by Farathil Liadon on Mar 26, 2020 9:42:19 GMT -6
"Qadyn! Why don't you just look drop dead gorgeous! Like you haven't aged a day since you won the Games! I must say, watching you compete in the Hunger Games is what inspired me to become a Game Maker!"
"I don't want to give too much away, but be sure to keep your close friends close. Tributes in alliances always seem to do well, but tributes in alliances in their alliances tend to win. I'll be rooting for you, of course!"
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 10:45:02 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 10:45:02 GMT -6
Nilla gave Qadyn a playful frown, "I am feeling just as energetic as ever thank you very mu-" she lost the slightest bit of balance and had to take a small step backwards.
"...ok maybe I do need to slow down here for a few minutes." she muttered as she sat down on a stone bench that was right beside her.
Straightening herself out she gave Farathil a polite nod. She knew the man and knew it was best to be on his good side but that didn't mean she really wanted to interact with him either.
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 11:49:49 GMT -6
Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 11:49:49 GMT -6
Qadyn shot a purposeful glance at Nilla and Astraea upon the mention of allies. I wonder...
Qadyn maintained his composure in front of the Game Maker, but something about that intern seemed... off. He gave off almost a chaotic energy. Qadyn was not here for it.
"Isn't everyone?" he chimed in, in response to Farathil rooting for him. He then went back into the feast room to see if anyone new had arrived. It was getting late.
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 12:23:43 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 12:23:43 GMT -6
Qadyn's look was not lost on her but neither was her brain's desire to just sit down for a few moments.
She gave him a wave as he moved to go back to the party, "You go ahead, I'll catch up in a few minutes. You'd think I'd be used to being on my feet after my network making me hit up every vid-convention this side of Panem but...you can only expect so much of me when my job is literally sitting at a computer for hours on end." She flashed him a grin, "You better have a drink ready for me when I catch up with you!"
She leaned backwards on the bench resting her head against the balcony's railing but she kept her eyes on the gamemaster and the other tribute.
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 16:44:55 GMT -6
Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 16:44:55 GMT -6
Astraea shrugged off the gamemaster's hand with a scowl. Despite his words she didn't trust him. She was silent at the exchange between Qadyn and the red haired girl, noting his less than subtle look after the mention of allies.
Not wanting to be near the Gamemaster and his mysterious... intern, Astraea wandered closer to the other tribute.
"That look Qadyn gave us was about as subtle as his pink suit," Astraea nodded towards the orb floating around near the tribute, "Aren't there enough cameras on you at all times? Why have an extra one?"
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 16:53:47 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 16:53:47 GMT -6
Nilla smiled at new face, "Oh trust me I've had a fill of cameras to last a lifetime," she flicked a finger towards the small hovering orb with a laugh, "but this one pays my bills."
"Yeah Qadyn didn't land on the cover of Panem Panoply for being subtle...but for all his theatrics he's surprising genuine in my experience." She sat up straight and extended an arm in greeting, "Nilla Nightsand."
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 17:11:00 GMT -6
Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 17:11:00 GMT -6
Astraea gave the orb an amused smile before extending her hand out to Nilla, "Astraea Aurelis. You two seem thick as thieves already. I would have assumed you two in an alliance already." She gestured over to the intern, "He doesn't seem like much. Wonder if he'll make it as a Game Maker."
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 17:19:40 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 17:19:40 GMT -6
She shook her head, "I haven't even begun to think about alliances yet. The more I plan for the arena there more I think about it and..." she sighed, "I honestly just want to enjoy the night."
"We've just done some digital pieces for Blitzfeast before and the occasional joint night out in the Capital but he's a familiar face...and that's comforting right now."
Glancing from the Astraea to the Game Maker she gave a shrug, "Every year I have to show up at meet and greets for the Hunger Games and every year there's another intern all excited about being the next big name in murdering kids."
She eyed the other tribute's rather rough and tumble style, "How about yourself? Are you enjoying the evening or are you already running through strategies and alliances in your head?"
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 17:39:15 GMT -6
Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 17:39:15 GMT -6
Astraea nodded along with what Nilla was saying, a bit envious of her more relaxed take. It was true what she said about the meet and greets and by definition everyone was a familiar face to a certain extent. Astra laughed at the mention of her thinking through strategies and alliances.
"I'm a career. It's all I know how to do," Astraea said bitterly. "The only thing I'm good for is killing and being the Capitol's lapdog."
Astraea turned back towards the railing and looked out towards the garden, gripping the railing tight trying to force down the tightness in her chest and her quickening breath, "I'm a bit jealous you're just thinking of enjoying the night while I'm trying to size everyone up." She tried to force her voice to be calm. Take slower breaths. Not here. Not here. She loosened her grip on the railing as the feeling of panic left as quickly as it bubbled up.
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 18:14:51 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 18:14:51 GMT -6
The streamer stood up from the bench she was sitting on and hoisted herself up to take a seat on the railing so she was looking down at Astraea, "Oh no, trust me, I'm fucking freaking out inside too, but if I tired to think strategy and such now I'd end up like one of those tributes you see every year that just stands in a corner comatose."
She rolled her head backwards to look at the night sky, "In a way I used to envy you careers, you seemed to embrace the fear and use it to strategize while I let it consume me." She offered the other girl a smile, "But after being in that arena I realized you careers were just as," she tapped a button on the touchpad on her hip momentarily muting the feed, "fucked by the capitol as the rest of us were."
"Anyone who's been in the arena that still thinks careers are lapdogs would have to have been bashed around so much in there they could barely remember their own name. We're all fodder ya know?"
She tapped her pad once more and frowned at the camera, "The WiFi here is atrocious Knights..." The pad lit up with F's and emotes of tombstones.
"Besides..." hopped down from the railing, "would ya really sit and rollover for em anymore even if you were?"
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 18:55:25 GMT -6
Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 18:55:25 GMT -6
Astraea raised her eyebrow at the muting and chuckled as Nilla said her piece. She looked up at the sky and thought of how all her brainwashing had come undone in a few short weeks. To find how little the Capitol cared about you despite what you were raised into believing.
Astraea sighed, "Suppose not." She shot a grin over to Nilla, "You sure don't seem to be. However, strategy isn't something I so easily stop thinking about. What say you? Made any decisions on alliances yet or too early to tell?"
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 19:08:46 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 19:08:46 GMT -6
Nilla shrugged, "I'm not really the type to lead and I haven't really been approached by anyone yet...unless you count that glace a few minutes ago."
She responded in kind to her grin feeling somewhat safe relaxing around the other woman. Astraea seemed genuine in much the same way Qadyn did. Neither of them really tried to be anything they weren't and it wasn't hard to tell that like Qadyn and herself the arena had left a lot bubbling beneath the surface.
The redhead thought silently for a few seconds, deciding if she wanted to say what was thinking. "Ya know," she blurted out at last, "I may not be a career...but I volunteered so hard that I took one's spot." She patted the touchpad on her hip, "I wasn't in the best place and I had to fill a void with something. I was already popular enough as a streamer but...I didn't care what happened to me back then and I figured that if I won...and I streamed the whole thing...I'd end up bigger than ever."
She took a play boy to an imaginary crowd standing behind Astraea, "and it worked!" Nilla sighed, "I played social media and collaborated with other creators and had a whole campaign and everything to be the tribute that year. While the careers we're pumping iron I was pumping my fans for media exposure."
"Sooooo..." she trailed off awkwardly, "Don't feel too bad about being a career and all... I'm right there with you as far as cozying up to the Capital goes."
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Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 19:29:27 GMT -6
Astraea fought to keep her face a mask of calm. Nilla was doing this to be popular?! Anger bubbled in her chest, but Nilla seemed to be on the cusp of an alliance and she didn't want to risk losing that tenuous grip. I would give anything to not be a part of this.
"I wouldn't say I volunteered as hard as you did. My parents paid for my spot because they thought having a two time winning daughter under their belt would be nice to show off to their friends in higher places," Astraea tried to move the topic into a more familiar groove. "Qadyn does seem to have a head for a much higher strategy than I. I wouldn't mind being the brawn to that brain."
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 19:40:38 GMT -6
Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 19:40:38 GMT -6
Qadyn took his stroll back up to the balcony to get some air. He saw what looked like... Nilla? Wasn't she just...? Shit how much have I drank?
He announced to both girls, or whomever was there, hard to tell as dark as it was getting, "Well ladies, I'm going to share some space for a moment, hope you don't mind." He turned to Astraea. "And I wanted to wish you both the best during your interviews. I'm sure you'll look great. The stylists here really work miracles. Not that uh either of you need a miracle. Unless it'll get us back to our old lives."
He let out a sigh. "But I'll just take a moment to collect myself and then I may retire for the night. Enjoy the party."
He took a few steps off to the far end of the balcony and looked out over the sky.
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 19:41:01 GMT -6
Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 19:41:01 GMT -6
Nilla's expression turned to confusion, "What? No! No no no, I would give annnyythiinngg to be back at home starting up a stream right now. Back then I didn't care in the least if I just faded away but...honestly the only good thing to come out of my time in the arena was that I learned to value my own life." She sighed, "I just got an email one night telling me that my attendance in the game this year was mandatory. I guess they figured if they were just gonna trot out celebrity tributes they may as well choose ones with sizable followings."
She looked the other tribute dead in the eye, "I would never even consider an alliance with someone who wanted to be here right now. I was young and dumb back then and running from my problems...and now its probably going to seal my fate."
The redhead shook her head, "I'm sorry I'm getting to..." she sighed once more, "dark." She tried to put on a smile once more but it was clearly a little bit less real this time.
"Well Qadyn seems just as thirsty for an alliance as he does for a good time." she laughed at her own joke making the smile a bit more real in the process, "He really does have a good head on his shoulders if you were thinking of applying for the job I'd recommend it."
"Although," she poked the other woman's bicep, "I'm sure you're worth more than just your muscles." She looked up at the sky once more before the fear of seeing a tributes face in it set in, "Don't sell yourself short."
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Balcony
Mar 26, 2020 20:04:26 GMT -6
Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 20:04:26 GMT -6
A puzzled expression crossed Astraea's face. Trying to put a finger on Nilla was like trying to put a finger on a mockingjay. It was good to know she didn't actually want to be here, but what was with her obsession of viewers. She just wanted to be left alone most of the time. Her expression softened as Nilla mentioned the topic getting too dark.
We all have been there in one form or another, I suppose.
Astraea jerked away at the sudden physical contact, turning slightly to hide a blush of embarrassment. "Right... Oh, Qadyn. Speak of the devil. We were just talking about you," she gestured him over. "No need to tiptoe around it when we are all thinking about it. Have you given any thought to alliances yet?"
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Balcony
Mar 27, 2020 3:11:40 GMT -6
Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 27, 2020 3:11:40 GMT -6
Qadyn overheard the conversation taking place. He cocked an eyebrow. Thirsty for alliance? Coming from the girl I've seen chatting in virtually every square foot of space in this place? Her feet would be so tired if not for those killer shoes.
Then Astraea made a bold attempt at getting to the tea. "Any thought? Why, you know what?" He walked back over towards the girls and in the direction of the door. "I have." He smiled. "Have a lovely evening, ladies."
Qadyn headed back into the banquet hall.
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