On Leave in the Capital (Gorim/open)

Rosa pushed gently through the crowd in a sweet-smelling bakery, her mouth watering at the sight of the cookies and pastries. She knew some kids who'd love the pecan-chocolate, and she had a hubby who was addicted to the chocolate pastries. She stood calmly next to the counter, where the sweets just sat, waiting to be taken. These Capitolites and their luxuries. If they make it so easy to steal, then they must not care very much, Rosa rationalized as her hand snapped out like a snake and took her prizes. Cookies and a pastry. Perfect. And the place was so busy that no one noticed.

As she walked out, she saw a tall, skinny man walk in, looking preoccupied. Noticably natural-looking, compared to the freakishly changed crowd around her, she decided he'd make a good mark and stumbled into him, snatching his wallet as she did so. She turned, met his eye, and smirked before bolting down the street.

Rosa laughed as the generic cry echoed down to her. She turned and saw him try to run after her. Let him. She knew the back streets of the Capitol front and back, side to side, over and under, to and fro.

Startled Capitolites, tattoos whirling and neon hair gleaming brightly in the sun, only stared as she bolted down the street, a streak of dull grey among the rainbow of clothing.

Then she turned into an alley and jumped behind a large dumpster. She wasn't out of breath, so no ragged breathing would give her up.

Stop Thief? Alright, Pretty Boy. Let's play.

Rosa smirked and fingered the knife at her belt-loop. She could probably stab him easily, but what fun would that be? Perhaps she was arrogant, like Will said so often. For anyone else, this seemed like a tight spot to be in, cornered by a man with obvious military training. But for her, it was just another way to her to trump the city that had taken everything from her because of her circumstances.

She turned and grabbed the edge of the closed dumpster, heaving herself up on top of it. She sat down on it and smiled down at the man.

"Is this about the wallet thing?" She asked. "Because I was just taking it because you looked stupid. You can have it back if you want." She held it up, holding it between her thumb and forefinger. "You look like a sensible chap from the outer Districts; enough common sense to know not to get crazy gold skin or gems in your eyeballs at least. Take your shockingly light wallet and get yourself something pretty."

Rosa squeaked as he grabbed her shirt and tried to drag her to the ground. Since she couldn't use her legs to kick or regain balance, she ended up falling against the top of the dumpster before making a peace sign with her fingers and attacking his eyes, moving as if to gouge them out.

Rosa cried out in shock as he grabbed for her wrist. Jerking her hand back, she realized that the other hand was still clamped at her collar. She gritted her teeth, snarled, "Let you go, you JERK!" and smacked him across the face.

Rosa went crashing down off the dumpster, but quickly regained her footing and ran out of the alleyway.

"RAPE!" She screamed, causing several Capitolites to turn and stare at her, dumbfounded. "RAPE!"

-- POV CHANGE--

Molly Hart, a Peacekeeper from the Upper Districts, was walking her beat. Her father, a Capitol Peacekeeper, was worried about her, and had decided to transfer her to the Capitol for a brief period.

"You're obsessed," he'd told her sternly. "You need to calm down a bit. Walk the streets of the Capitol for a change."

Molly whistled, then choked on her tongue when a shriek echoed through street. "RAPE! RAPE!" Molly hurried over to a markedly natural looking young woman.

"What's going on, Ma'am?" Molly asked sharply. The woman was gasping for breath, looking rather wild.

"That man tried to rape me!" She said, pointing at a tall, thin man in the alley. Molly scowled and pulled out her badge.

"Sir, please walk out of the alley with your hands in the air. I'd rather not shoot you."

Molly turned to look at the woman questioningly. She shrugged.

"I gave it back," she said. "Then he attacked me." Molly sighed.

"Ma'am, you're going to have to come with me," she said wearily.

"What about Macho McVigilante over there?" Rosa said, outraged. Molly felt a headache begin to mount.

"He's coming to." She turned to look at the man, but as she did, Rosa took the chance and bolted.