#alexander.gloss

[riiseandfall]

@cfcannons

they had thought they had gotten used to it--losing people. from his own games to being a mentor...he had seen death more closely than he ever truly wished to. but it was different this time. he had grown to anticipate those deaths, they were part of the games--but he never expected to lose three victors like that, never expected it to be flaunted in their faces--he never expected to lose triffel.

their hand trembles as they pull the cigarette from their lips, blowing smoke into the air and watching it spiral, they had hoped the nicotine would help calm their rattled nerves. so far? they were doing a shit job of it.

as evidenced by the way alex damn near jumps out of his skin when he notices gloss nearby, "fuckin' christ--a warning, gloss! a damn warning would be nice...a bell or something." he scoffs and looks out over the city, moving to cross his arms over his chest, hoping it would hide those shaking hands. "shouldn't you be in there?" their head jerks to the party that roared on behind them, "capitol darling and all that?"

[riiseandfall]

~

it didn't matter how light gloss tried to keep their tone, the way their eyes dart about doesn't escape alex's notice. it has him looking around in a similar way, realizing just how cautious he had to be with his words going forward. "yeah, i saw her around. you guys have a whole system worked out, huh?" it was easy to forget just how long some of the other victors had been doing this for--of course there were some who had it down to a science.

they give a wry chuckle, tilting the cigarette in their hands as they looked at it, "yeah, well, not really much point in quitting now." they point out, taking another drag. it wasn't like it was smoking that was going to kill him. it was more likely to be the fellow victor who took a seat across from him.

his expression shifts at the thought--the realization of what could happen in that arena--the corner of his mouth twitching downward into a frown that only grew deeper as gloss talked. "it was before my time but you really think i haven't seen the footage?" they shoot gloss a look as if to say 'come on now'. there were several past games that alex had seen--and with the bloodbath that was gloss's? of course he had watched it. "yeah, well, there's a difference between killing for survival and executing people. i don't exactly blame you for not being desensitized to the other." so much for watching their words. alex sighs, flicks ash from the end of his cigarette. "so, are we going to talk about it? or just avoid it?"

"I should." They nod, their body language open, amused, the way their eyes dart, looking for cameras, never fully convinced they're not being watched, easy to miss unless you knew to do it yourself. That's one thing Gloss had learned early. The Capitol keeps its eyes on you, especially when you're this high value. "But me and Cash are plenty used to taking this in shifts. She won't think anything of it." Taking a sip of their drink --it's water, been water all night. they don't trust they could stomach much more right now-- they glance from Alex to the cigarette in their hand.

"You'll make yourself sick before those dent anything." They both know that. But what else do you say right now? Ask if they're okay? It's pretty clear, even if Alex wasn't one of the tributes who'd caught Gloss's eye so long ago, had gotten themself firmly in their little gaggle of younger tributes to look out for, concerned themself with despite the way the Capitol wanted them all at each others' throats.

Sitting down, their back to the party, they let their shoulders drop only when they're fairly certain to anyone else it would look like relaxing. "It's different now. I'd thought...This was before your time, but. I did a lot worse than that. Y'know, back then. Used to see it every time I closed my eyes. You'd think that'd desensitize you."

[riiseandfall]

@cfcannons

they could still hear the sound of that whistle, as if someone was doing it now. ever since aster's name had been called, ever since she walked to that stage? alex had hoped the rebellion would do something to intervene--something to stop the games.

he wasn't expecting such a bold show. even now it felt like the peacekeepers were watching everyone in the training center that much closer. there were eyes everywhere in the capitol, which means alex couldn't afford to slip up now. not with aster here.

there had been...a slight scuffle. a peacekeeper who got a little too rough with aster and alex pushed back. he was mostly fine, after all, he was a tribute again. had to be careful to not hurt the capitol's playthings. and while aster returned to the apartment, alex made his way right to the bar, wouldn't be too many more opportunities to have a drink and they damn well needed one now.

they hadn't expected for gloss to also be there, a quick glance thrown to those around them before alex made their way over, drink in hand, "i want you to know that the only thing keeping me from calling you an idiot is that i would have to call myself one too." they point out, "hope you don't take it too personally if i say i fully plan to avoid you in that arena."