A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

[etcircenses]

Who| All those on the liberation mission and all those being made to fight against them.
What| The liberation of District 1.
Where| District 1.
When| This week.
Warnings/Notes| War, violence, death. Please warn for more in headers.

The nearest to the Capitol in both relationship and location, District One is a sight to behold. Unlike the other districts where things are obviously poorer and dirtier, District One looks and feels like a smaller (and slightly cheaper) version of the Capitol. The architecture from the City Hall to the corner stores is Roman based and with the whole city built on the edge of a lake, it seems to glimmer when the sun hits it right. With half the goods to be found in One based on precious jewels and metals, the shops hold their own kind of glimmer in the windows.

This is the prime vacationing spot for wealthy Capitolites and the place looks the part.

Unlike in some areas, this may be the only place outside the Capitol where someone might suspect the war isn’t happening. The Capitol doesn’t want it’s citizens thinking there’s something to be concerned about and it’s clear in the way there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong at all, the only noticeable difference is the Peacekeepers. Previously laid back and generally unconcerned with their routes, are now more attentive, keeping watch for anything or anyone undesired.

Those soldiers from the Capitol will notice they receive plenty of smiles and hellos and general niceties one might expect from a district sitting in the palm of the Capitol. However, the real note that shows that perhaps not everything is as it seems on the surface is in the way the citizens look at the rebels. Although disguised, the people of District One know a Capitol tool when they see one and they know when they’re looking at someone who doesn’t fit that image. And yet, nothing comes of it. There’s a flash, a look of knowing in their faces, but they smile and give hellos to the rebels as well, as though they’re aware of what might be going on and simply refuse to lift a finger to change it.

And why should they? Luxury does not always buy compliance. Still, it would be wise to tread lightly no matter which side you’re on. Things aren't always as the seem. And it would seem there are many marks of both sides here. Goodness and Peace can be seen, sometimes with a question mark beside it. There are those who wear red wrist cuffs for Haruto and some with jade green dots under their eyes. There are bigger, bolder images of Quintus and Beck seen around. On one wall, a painting of Emily and Beck's hands together can be seen. A home-made banner on one house proclaims this is our home.

The war is starting, and in the back of everyone's mind is a familiar phrase; may the odds be ever in your favor.

Comments

[sizeofyourbaggage]

It's hard not to keep smiling with the way she's beaming at him. It suits the impression he'd gotten of her, reading her writing. His eyebrows raise a little, and he's about to comment on her career change when the way she's watching his lips clicks. Sam's seen that before.

Capitolites in general don't seem big on sign language, though Sam knows that it does exist here in Panem - but maybe with her being from one of the districts, or with her having rebel tendencies, she might know more. It's worth a shot.

'Do you understand?' he signs.

[furgood]

In person, Sam is just like imagined. He seems kind, easy to talk to, the same in interviews as he is face to face. Meulin had hoped it was the case because it so often wasn't in the Capitol. Even her friends had different faces.

He's easy to talk to, that is, until his fingers start moving. Signing. She knows so few words in that and none look anything like what he does. It reminds her of those rare people who'd come through town and taught her the few she'd known.

Her smile turns down, dims. It doesn't fade entirely but it no longer really reaches her eyes.

"Sorry, I don't understand those. I write." She pulls free her notepad to wave. It doesn't occur to her that she's given away that she knew what it was, even if it wasn't a method she could use.

"...And lipread but that's still a little rusty."

[sizeofyourbaggage]

Judging by the way her smile dims, he's guessing that's a no even before she replies. Well, it'd been a long shot.

"Yeah, kind of figured. Thought I'd check, just in case."

He pauses for a moment, considering. He doubts many of the other people she knows use sign language, and he's a little reluctant to offer to teach it to someone in the Capitol, considering he's used it half because so few of them seem to know it - but Terezi knows it, and he knows Terezi cares about Meulin a lot.

"I could teach you, if you wanted. I helped teach Terezi."

[furgood]

Learning sign language had never been on her to do list. It would have been nice, of course, to have some way to speak to others without her pen and paper and uncertain lip reading. She's not even sure she has his whole meaning but the basics will do. She'd always been able to get by on basics and guesswork.

But it's startlingly compelling. The idea of being able to communicate easily, teaching it to Kurloz and not having to pull up a paper for his words or rely on carefully spelling them out letter by letter on her hand. It's not rebellion is it? She's not an avox so it's alright. It's fine. Her breath catches and she looks blankly through him for a moment before her mind settles on an answer.

"A little maybe? Just basics...It would be nice. Easier for some things."

[sizeofyourbaggage]

The way she goes blank, staring right through him as she considers his offer, definitely isn't encouraging. Sam's seen that look before, on Makara most recently, but on others that the Capitol has brainwashed before. There's a stab of grief as he thinks about Steve, in their last arena together, but he lets that go to focus on her answer.

Usually once he's starting to teach someone to sign, he keeps signing while he talks to get them used to it, and maybe even start to get them to match up some signs with words - but considering she has to watch his lips to read them, he's not sure that'll be all that useful here.

"Just the basics," he agrees. "You'll have to come visit me, doesn't look like I'll be up for making house calls any time soon."

[furgood]

It's awful that she relaxes at the idea that she needs to go the Detention Center to learn. It plays right into the whole helping the Tributes come to the right side. She could help the Capitol and learn all at once. The plan doesn't circumvent the programming. It skims along the top. Touches it, reaffirms the belief that the Capitol is good. She can have both.

"Of course. I've been before. Not often but once or twice."

Her smile is so bright. She's a good citizen. She's a good person. Everything feels warm with the weight lifted off her.