thearena | I believe every lie that I ever told

The chime of the elevator just reminded her of the plan she wanted to put into effect, and soon. She'd already found the vents that she would need to move, and she'd learned the sound of an elevator that was coming or going. All she needed now was the right tools, the things that would help her out for as long as she was alive.

Best way to do that? Start from the bottom up. So she was already near the elevator on the first floor, and when it chimed, she had gone and hid. Not ready just yet. But there was someone she knew, and she was relatively sure he wouldn't hurt her.

Even if he did, she could beat him. She could do it. "So what's someone from District 11 doing down here?" Popping up, she gave him a grin.

Truth be told, Cindy scared the hell out of him. Even though he'd braced himself for a confrontation, he'd been expecting to run into someone large and terrifying who wanted him dead, not someone less large and generally friendly who was really, really beautiful.

"Pardieu, Cindy! I was not expecting you here!" After a second of feeling flustered, he was his cool and smiling self again. "I am only getting the lay of the land, so to speak. What are you doing down here?"

Cindy laughed a little at that. She loved surprising people! Not the best place for surprises, but you had to take what you could get.

"Sorry, sorry! I got excited when I saw a friendly face." Maybe, if it was someone else, she could muster the courage and stab them in the back. But that wasn't what she liked to do. Strangers, sure. People she knew and eventually cared about? No.

She came out, a not very intimidating figure with a onesie, a belt that she'd stolen and used to play her knives, and a few things, but with her hands open.

"Oh, me? Getting the lay of the land, too. I was actually on my way to the second floor, where they have the gift shop? I haven't had a chance to check it out, see what's really there." She looked over to where the stairs were, and then looked back at him, hair falling down. "Want to come check it out?"

How could anyone say no when posed that question by such an enchanting individual? Even if she were somehow less lovely, Courfeyrac wasn't certain he could resist her request. Women had always held such power over him.

"It would be an honor to accompany you." He somehow managed to come across as somewhat charming in his own ridiculous two piece ensemble. He didn't look quite as appealing as Cindy did, he was certain of that much.

He considered offering her his arm, as he had back in District 11, but caution thought better than that. It would be distracting to be so close to her. They both needed to keep their wits about them if they were going to survive. So rather than offer her arm and become sidetracked by the thought of wooing her, he would keep his head in the game and instead cautiously make for the stairwell she had indicated.

"Shall I lead the way? Or is it ladies first?"

The pajamas were a serious problem. Maybe it was better that the women were in onesies versus nightgowns, but Cindy would have preferred the nightgown. She wasn't unfamiliar with fighting in dresses, with heels or without. Or fleeing in them, but that was a whole different story of her life.

"I think ladies first is a great idea." Why was he so cute? "But." And here she put out her finger and pointed to him. "If you do anything while my back is turned, I'm going to be severely disappointed in you." It's a serious thing said in a joking manner. She didn't think he would, but no matter if it was your best friend in here, this was a game.

And you needed to stay on your toes. "Let's go. This is going to be fun." Cindy gave him a wink before running up the stairs. No loitering in there.

He stared at her finger with a perplexed look on his face, though it was not a genuine expression. He understood that mentality, the desire to win and not be betrayed. He was a plotter and a rebel, and he recognized how easy it would be to attack her now with her back to him. But he wouldn't stab someone in the back, especially not Cindy. It wasn't in his nature to be deceitful like that. He was simply too honorable.

"You have my word, I will not betray you." It might not mean much to her, but his word was good and true. She did not need to accept his word in order for him to keep it either. Coufeyrac sprinted up the stairs after her, careful not to let her get too far ahead of him. He didn't want to risk her running into someone at the top of the stairs and surprising them. "I am trusting that you have an excellent sense of what constitutes fun, my dear. Running up flights of stairs is not especially high on my list."

Not that that mattered. Yes, they were in an Arena tasked with murdering one another. Yes, she could turn on him at any moment, and hypothetically he on her. But for the moment, Courfeyrac was simply content with her good company, and to enjoy the view as they ascended the stairs.

"It's good exercise though, better then a Stairmaster." If he did go after her, something she highly doubted at this point, Cindy knew she could take him. She was fast, she knew how to fight... okay, she could take him enough to get away. She hadn't found too many men who were faster then she was. Still, her attention as they went up the stairs was not as much on him as it was what could be on the stairs, or near an open stairwell door.

When they got to the right floor, she stopped at the door, crouching down and pulling out one of her knives. "Shhh." She put her finger to her lips, before slowly opening the door, enough to see the floor. No one close by, from what she could see, and she got back up, glancing at Coufeyrac.

"I think it's safe to go. I don't see anyone, I think we're good to go. The gift shop is up there to the right, that's where we're headed."

He followed her and even managed to keep pace with her for the most part. Obediently, he closed his mouth when she shushed him, watching her curiously as she squatted down and moved about looking for unwelcome company. He trusted that she would not lead him to his death. Perhaps he trusted her too much, but he wanted to believe that her kindness had been real and that even if they were meant to slay each other, the two of them would not have to do it to each other.

He poked his head out the door, scoping out the room quickly before agreeing that the coast was clear. He nodded back to her, speaking in a low voice, "I will go ahead of you, mademoiselle. In case there is anyone in the shop, you may still have the element of surprise."

With that, he started for the shop, hoping that she would have his back and be close behind.

"Don't worry, I have your back." Cindy grinned at that, waiting just a moment once she was through the door as well. Just waiting to really know it was clear, and it was the briefest of moments, before she was walking close behind him. Still keeping a look out.

If someone decided to attack them right now, Cindy would take them down. She didn't want him to get hurt, especially on her watch, and her on his. The kind of looking out that you can't do when it's the final four, but they were nowhere close to that yet.

The gift shop came in view, and that's when she quickly darted around him, checking the place out, one spot to the next, and again. Speed was her ally, and once it was certain it was safe, she came back to stand next to him.

"I think we're good! Let's go check out some gaudy gift shop trophies." With a laugh, she grabbed his hand lightly after some hesitation, gently pulling it.

He was still on high alert, expecting that at any moment they would be interrupted by some knife-wielding intruder with murderous intentions. Of course, in their present situation, that fear was not entirely unwarranted. The shop seemed quiet, however, and gradually Courfeyrac found that he was relaxing.

It did not hurt that Cindy had taken hold of his hand. He did not hesitate to take hers in turn, nor did his pace falter as she led him along. He found that he did not mind letting her lead, which was odd for him in that he was usually the one leading young grisettes away into secluded areas, not the other way around. It was, for him, a novel turning of the tables, and he found that he liked it.

The gift shop itself had been ransacked over the previous two weeks, but there were still plenty of second choice offerings littering the shelves. Candies, sloganed t-shirts, even a promotional "Les Amis" cockade, which brought simultaneous delight and disgust to Courfeyrac's face. He was, it seemed, distracted by most of the useless items in the gift shop.

"I never thought I should find one of these here," he said, reaching to pluck up the cockade from it's display on a counter shelf without letting go of Cindy's hand. He presented the knot of ribbons to her with a grin. "Here, Cindy. For you."

It might have already been picked through, but she doubted there was anything worth too much here. No, everything that was still here was just the hilarious things. The stuff that you had to laugh at, because of how ridiculous they were.

Which was why she wanted to come here. To be able to breathe normally, if only for a few minutes. To be able to smile, and it's not just one for the cameras. To bear near someone without them attacking, trying to kill her, or vice-versa.

"I never thought I'd see this much stuff still here. They really do sell everything, don't they?" Cindy laughed, taking the cockade from him with a soft thank you. She did have to let go of his hand so she could, after a moment's debate, put it in her hair. Not like she had a hat, and this did help keep some of her hair off of her face.

Both useful, because it sure as hell couldn't be that stylist. And a gift. It was a beautiful gift. Putting her hands on her hips, she gave him a flirty smile.

"So, how do I look? Ready to take on the world?"

"You are simply beautiful. And you are ready to start a revolution in fashion." He found that he couldn't help but grin back at her, thoroughly pleased. In this moment it was far too easy to forget that they were in the midst of a battle to the death. It was almost... normal, which had the striking effect of shaking Courfeyrac out of his daze and dragging him back into reality again. He couldn't afford to feel lovesick right now. He had to focus on staying alive, on keeping Cosette alive. And he wanted to focus on keeping Cindy alive, too.

"Come," he said, taking her hand again. "There's plenty of useful things left for us. We can have our choice of anything here." He wasn't exactly sure what use could be derived from some of the items, but perhaps she could provide some insight.

She gripped his hand tight, starting to pull him over to the wall of items that could actually be useful. "We really should grab as much as possible. Ignore the fake knifes and all that, though. They're fake, and if you're going to be carrying around something that could kill another person, make sure it's on that will work."

There was a row of hangers, and Cindy was about to grab those, when she saw one of those messenger bags.

"Oh god, this is exactly what I need. My fake bag belt thing was not working out at all." She grabbed it, throwing it over her arm like a purse. "Looking for anything specific? Any ideas of what you would do in a fight?" A thought came to her, and she tilted her head slightly at him with a smirk.

"What's your weapon of choice, if you weren't out here."

"My weapon of choice?" Courfeyrac's voice hitched a little in surprise at her question. However, a quick second thought erased his surprise and actually served to intrigue him even further. "Well, if you must know, I am quite proficient with a pistol. In fact, I died with one in hand."

Though, truth be told, he would be loathe to use on in the Arena. There was something very alarming about the possibility of firing on an innocent here. Back in Paris, back at the barricade, he could at least take comfort in knowing that the guardsmen who had pinned them in had made up their minds and ideologies and had decided to battle them anyway. The people in the Arena had no choice in the matter.

"But I am used to sword fighting as well. That is something I learned and practiced, when I was younger. However, in a world such as this, I am sure my antiquated skills would be outmatched in a hurry."

"Well. So long as you died with it in our hand." Cindy looked away to hide her smile. Not really a bad way to go, if you must. Go out fighting. That's how she would like to go. That's how she seemed to be going, each time. But it was better then sitting back and waiting for it to happen.

So far there were no guns in the arena. Cindy herself wasn't too fond of guns, but she knew when they needed to be used, and for what purpose. But swords? She loved those.

"No kidding?" Cindy looked back, eyes bright with excitement. "How are you at fencing? Maybe when we get out of here, you can show me your skills. I'd love a good fencing partner." She gave a slow nod.

"You're only outmatched if you think you are. Swords can hold up against guns, if you know how to use it right."

He couldn't help but notice the glint in Cindy's eyes. Did she realize what an inviting look she had in her eyes, he wondered. "Perhaps I am not as obsolete as I had previously feared. It would be my pleasure to give you a demonstration, of course."

Courfeyrac was vaguely skeptical of her own skills, if only because he had never met a woman who knew how to use a sword, or who had ever even held one before. She had yet to disappoint him in terms of her capabilities, but he had no doubt in his own abilities as a swordsman. It was hard for him to consider that she might possibly be a better fencer than he was.

"And you, my dear? What would you have, if you were given the choice?"

"Trust me, you'll never be obsolete here." You needed people willing to fight by sword and gun, and by words. And hell, but manipulating. God knows that goes around in this place.

But Cindy preferred being outside some of those rules. But if they were going to compare swordsmanship, Cindy had no doubt that she could take him out with just a few strikes and parries.

"Well... hm." She paused, wrapping her arms across her chest and tapping a finger against her lips. "Probably would have to depend on the situation. I'm more of a knife girl myself, but I've learned how to fence from the best, so that is always on the option. I'm not that big of a fan of guns." That didn't mean she wouldn't use them, and knew them intimately.

"But if I had to use a gun, I'd like a Walther, the P99 one. Sometimes the best guns come from a country not your own." Cindy grins at him. Did she scare him away with all that?

Courfeyrac wasn't so much frightened as he was confused. "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with... that. But I've no doubt you will educate me on the subject when the opportunity arises." He would be an eager student, perhaps for the first time in his life. Maybe that had been the folly of his education. All of his instructors had been boring old men. If he'd had a beautiful and engaging woman to guide him, he would no doubt be as knowledgeable as Combeferre and as upright as Enjolras.

"I must confess something, however." He turned to her, mirroring her body language with his arms wrapped about him in contemplation. "I've never known any women who had mastered fencing or shooting or boxing. I don't mean this as a slight to you, of course. Rather, I'm looking forward to witnessing your mastery on display." He had no doubt she had something up her sleeve, whether she was really as proficient as she seemed to imply or not.

Good. Cindy would have to go and find something along the lines of 'The Big Encyclopedia of Guns' or something, if they even had anything like that here. Probably not. But a huge book with pictures of guns? A must read. Just don't put it on your table in your living room.

"I'll try and find a way to help you figure it out." She laughed, tilting her head slightly to the side. "Not too many women back home who thought that picking up a sword could be a good idea, just in case?" Cindy already knew the answer to that one, of course, but it was still funny. The women back then, they just... didn't do much. Not all of them, but a lot of them.

"But, I do have some instructors who wouldn't say I was a master at any of them." Cindy grinned, and then turned thoughtful. "I had some time to figure out some things. And I wanted to learn things that I didn't have a chance to when I was young. So. You know? Sometimes you just need a big change."

"That is admirable," Courfeyrac said with a smile, and he meant it sincerely. There was something impossibly charming about a person who capitalized on their mind as well as their body. He had seen many young men's minds go to waste due to laziness, perhaps his own included. It was impressive to meet someone so motivated in the opposite direction. "I believe it is safe to say that you are a true original, Mademoiselle. And I fear you may be well beyond my league."

With a playful bounce in his step, he cast himself away from her, only so far as to snatch up a little bag of promotional Momoko fruit snacks off the bottom shelf. Satisfied with his find, he turned back to her. "I am not certain, but I believe this might be food. Shall we try some?"

She held her tongue on the 'Maybe, but I like slumming' line that she could have said. But maybe, possibly, in another context, with someone else, it would be funny. Hell, Aladdin had been a good target for that one. This one? Not so much. Mostly because some of it was untrue.

"It's good to know that out of everyone who tries to be original, I've managed to succeed a little bit." She laughed and the grin didn't leave her face, even when she watched him curiously when he walked away. Not looking at him and wondering what he looked like without the clothes! Not doing that!

The snacks got her laughing. "It's definitely food. More like junk food, but any kind of food is good here."

He tugged the plastic packaging open with a cheeky grin, pouring out the soft, gummy treats into an open palm. He popped one into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully before offering her a handful of them. The texture was odd, but it didn't taste too terribly awful.

"These do not at all measure up to the real fruit we tasted back in the District." There was the slight pang of nostalgia welling up inside of him. Truthfully, it was because he was suddenly remembering the night they'd first met and how delicious she looked in that golden dress. It was so unlike him to be caught up in that kind of memory, but he found he could not escape it. Stranger still, he found that he didn't even care to. "What a shame that these will have to suffice, no?"

Eugh, gummy snacks. If the chance of starving didn't loom on the horizon, she might have said no. But she took a few of them, eating one and making a face at it. All sugar, that weird not quite fruit taste but also there? She was grateful they weren't sour.

She was being a bit over dramatic about it, though, to have some fun, before she had another. "It is truly a shame. That really was such a great night, wasn't it? I remember looking at the view from the top with you." Because you were there. "I don't know if it would have the same feeling to it, if I wasn't there with someone else." If I was there with someone else. If I wasn't there with you.

Were he the fluttering, Marius type of man, he might have died on the spot. Fortunately, Courfeyrac was a collected and confident man used to these sorts of conversations with ladies. With girls, mostly, to be fair. The loves of his life had never been so blatant in expressing their desires. Cindy continued to fascinate and excite him with her ability to flirt, and to do so much the way he did. In fact, it seemed to him as though she had stolen some of his lines.

"I must confess something, my dear. I fear I can hardly even recall the view." He chews another disappointing snack, wincing slightly as he swallows it. "I am afraid you had my complete and full attention that evening. If the skyline was lovely or not I cannot say. I do not recall anything besides your pleasant company."

And that dress. God, that dress. It looked so ravishing on her, but he'd spent a large part of that evening imagining her out of it and not feeling remorseful about it at all.

That was one of the things she liked about him. A big thing, actually, and she could see why some people would be wary of him. Around his time period, there's just some things they don't get, where the more modern of time took for granted. She flirted, he flirted, and why complicate things with anything else?

Sometimes, though. Sometimes. She took her time with the next one, the sugary sweetness not doing anything for the taste. It reminded her of Candyland. Worst arena she'd ever been in.

"Did I?" Cindy tilted her head down and to the side, just so she could pull the flirty 'look up at you from under the eyelashes' trick. "Well, I may have had an inkling on that one, so I can't be completely virtuous about it. They do dress their tributes well, don't they."

"You give them too much credit. You would have captured my attention regardless." He smiled, less predatory and more one of genuine fondness. She was beautiful, but there was more to her than that. She had something else about her entirely, something that held him in place and made him desire nothing more than her company. He didn't simply find her body attractive, he craved her mind too.

Slowly and without much thought to it, he settled in closer to her again. He was close enough to touch her, improperly close, but he didn't actually do it. Of course he wanted to, but being a gentleman he had to show some restraint.

"Where have you been staying, my dear? Have you been alright in this insufferable place?" He asked as he offered the last of the snacks.

"Okay, we'll only give them thirty percent of the credit, then." Cindy laughed. She did like her stylists, out of everyone from the Capitol. If you had to like someone, have it be the people who dressed you and could have you surgically altered. That was something she didn't want to ever happen. But you never knew what they had to fix here.

God, that made her shiver. If she prayed, she would pray to whoever that when she died here (and she knew she would), it would be something quick, and not cutting off her head. Morbid thoughts for a morbid place, and she closed the distance, sitting side to side.

"I've been doing all right, actually. I hope you don't mind me not telling you where I'm staying. You never know who's listening." She pointed upward quickly.

Noting that she seemed cold, Courfeyrac carefully wrapped an arm over her shoulder to keep her from shivering again. He assured himself that it was the gentlemanly thing to do, his other option being to offer her the clothes off his back. But that would only serve to complicate matters, he was sure.

"I will forgive you being prudent, Cindy, of course." Now that she was so close, he felt utterly ridiculous in having the intention of maintaining some decorum. Clearly she wished to be near him just as badly as he wished to be near her, which served as both a comfort and a distraction. It was foolish to allow himself to relax beside her, but he found he could not help himself. "Likewise, you must forgive me for intruding. I want for you to stay alive. That is my only concern."

Cindy was capable, he understood that, but part of him still wanted, more than anything else, to be her hero and come to her rescue. He felt like a foolish child, recognizing that urge in himself. He had no excuse for it, other than being blinded by pure desire. Infatuation makes a man want stupid things.

Now with his arm around her shoulders, it was easy to lean in more, and she picked up his other hand threading it with hers.

"I know. But by finding out... I'd rather you not know, so if you get taken, you won't give away where I am. Because you really have to be careful here." She smiled up at him. "And it'd be nice if you could be careful and stay alive."

What she was really getting, besides someone to be near for a little bit, some super sugary treats, and a bag, was a sense of calm and relaxation. Goddamit, she was beginning to fall asleep.

"I will be careful," Courfeyrac said with a soft snort. He understood why she would keep that from him, but it still wounded his pride, just a little. Luckily though, her hand and his were so nicely intertwined that he was able to shake off that awkward feeling quite easily. He smiled back at her, aimlessly petting the ends of her hair with his fingers. "I will watch out for you, Cindy, even if I do not know where you are hiding."

He stayed still, holding her close, listening to the sound of her breathing and to the foreign ambient sounds of the building around them. Part of him wondered if they could just stay the way they were, hidden safely in the gift shop, tucked away from the rest of the Arena, though he immediately thought better of that pipe dream. This very moment was already stolen. It wasn't supposed to happen in the Arena, not with as much blood and horror as they'd been confronted with already. Anything more than their one, simple moment would be putting both of them at risk, and he had an obligation to Marius and the others to stay alive. They would not survive if he did not survive, and this tryst had already endangered the camp.

Besides, they'd been inside the shop itself for too long. Imagine someone had seen them enter. Cuddled up as they were, they would be sitting ducks to anyone with a mind to murder.

Courfeyrac sat up straight, reluctant to pull away from Cindy, but well aware that it was time to go. The expression on his face spoke to his hesitation more than anything else. "We both need to stay alive, my darling. It is likelier that we will succeed if we do not get too comfortable here, no?"

She was relaxed, and even when he pulled away from her, she stayed relax. "Right on the money, of course." Cindy smiled at him, moving away from him and standing up slowly. She checked everywhere she could see as she got up, which was why it was slow. Had to be sure they were still alone in here

"And we both should start getting back. I don't know how long it'll take you to scout everything out before actually getting back to wherever you are hiding." Fixing her hair, as best she could, she looked around the shop, finally setting her full gaze on him with a smile.

"I had fun. A lot of fun. I hope we can do this again... just not in an arena." Cindy laughed.

Courfeyrac laughed too, reaching to adjust the cockade that still held back her hair. She looked lovely as ever. It was such a shame that fate had conspired to keep them from enjoying each other's loveliness further.

"Perhaps we will make a habit of it." He grinned, turning his body toward the door, but keeping his gaze on Cindy. "Once we are far, far away from here." New rule for their future dates: no museums.

"Marius will be waiting for me," he added, looking more than a little unimpressed. "I am sorry to have to leave you so soon."

She'd keep that crazy little piece with her for the rest of the arena. Not in her hair, of course, because it wasn't really the best for running around. But she'd keep it in the new bag that she got, and maybe she'd get a new one when she got out of the arena. Maybe.

"It's a date." Cindy grinned back. "Don't worry so much. You stay alive, okay? And I'll do the same. I'm sure we'll see each other again, soon."

Cindy would be the one to leave first, slipping out the door and running back to the relative safety of the elevator shaft.

I believe every lie that I ever told

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Wrap it up in a few more tags?

yep <3

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