More of the Same | Axel

I will not lie for the benefit of my ego when I say that living in District 2 has been quite the trial. I can only remain thankful that my daughters were too young to remember their lives in the Capitol and thus don't have to live with the regret like I do. As far as they are concerned they've always lived in District 2...but I know better, and I want better for them. It's for that reason that I requested the presence of the one known as Valeria Caden, I have heard that she is a very capable fighter, worthy of praise, and I want her to train my daughters personally. Of course it's a rather ridiculous demand to make of someone who is probably as arrogant and foolish as every other one of the muscle bound idiots called Careers. It's for that reason that I am prepared to meet any of her demands...no matter how foolish I think they may be. The safety of my duaghters is the first and only priority that I care about.

I had spent the day trying to make my home more inviting, a little less like the haunted mansion that it's been called of late. There really is no helping it though, I've never been one for the drab atmosphere of the districts, instead I prefer the glamor of the Capitol. On top of that I have a passion for antiqueties so my house is riddled with relics of the past from ages long gone and civilizations that have long since crumbled before the "might" of the Capitol. I suppose you could call me eccentric, the typical old man that you hear of in stories that is somewhat crazy and secluded, refusing to participate with anyone or anything. In truth I don't want anything to do with anyone here, which is why I arrange for personal meetings on my property, at my request. I could only hope that the reputation of this Career girl has been greately exaggerated, that she isn't quite as rigid and lacking in emotion as they say.

A knock on the door signaled the arrival of my guest, and slowly I rose up from my dining table to walk to the door. Throwing it open I came face to face with the girl known as Val. The reputation of her appearance certainly wasn't exaggerated, well toned and beautiful, with a less than appealing amount of clothing on. Looking over her critically I moved aside to allow her entry into my home. "I'm going to assume that you are Val...welcome to my home, and I appreciate you coming out here to...humor me by listening to what I ask. Make yourself at home, for this particular visit what's mine is yours, just be careful of what you touch, my home is a bit...different." Turning my back to her I walked down the dark hallway towards the dining hall calling out for the kitchen to prepare a meal for two. Without looking back at my guest I began talking to her. "I'm not going to test your patience with pleasantries Ms. Caden, I called you here to discuss hiring you as a personal trainer for my daughters. Your reputation as a fighter I'm sure is not exaggerated and there is nothing I value more than the safety of my daughters...which is why I called you."

The face of the girl before me betrayed what she was really thinking of my request. Not that I could blame her for the obvious questions she may have for my odd request. Who among the districts would actually consider safety before the pride and glory that came with the Games? Perhaps it was the fact that I grew up in the Capitol that made me request something so strange, after all I had now seen the Games from the Capitol as well as the districts. Before now I may not have thought at all about who participated in the Games, but now the threat looms over me, eating away at me...it could be one of my daughters selected to represent District 2. I didn't seek glory or pride from their participation I wanted their survival, and this is where the punishment of the Capitol made itself clear to me. They would ensure that threat would loom over me until my daughters were of age to no longer participate.

Calling once more for a meal I clasped my hands infront of me and leaned back in my chair to listen to what this girl would say. They were all questions that one as simple minded as a Career would ask, but never the less important ones. After all what I was asking her to do was, going by the Capitol's rules, illegal, and she had no reason so do what I said without some questions. Once it was clear she was done speaking I leaned in on the table towards her, taking in every detail and filing the information away for later. Should things not go exactly how I had planned it may be necessary to defend myself after all, and no sense in letting her have the advantage. Satisfied that I had a good read on her I addressed each of her questions, deliberately avoiding any of the story about my...exile...from the Capitol.

"Ms. Caden, I hope that you would be able to train my daughters to defend themselves, not for the purpose of killing but for survival. You see I do not view the Games as a source of pleasure or entertainment, rather I see them as a means of making sure that those of us who have a will of our own are broken down by loss. What better to take away from us then our children? So no, I do not want my daughters to volunteer for the Games, but on my honor, should they be reaped they will enter them. Their own pride would ensure that no one would be allowed to fill their spots. Thus I have been searching for a personal trainer, and a name that stood out to me was yours. Your reputation as one of the best that District 2 has ever seen certainly made sure your name appeared several times in my search. Although...if you are unwilling, I have no intention of forcing you to assist me...but if word of this meeting gets out should you decline, then I will be forced to take action against you."

I looked at her unflinchingly and without fear or doubt, I hadn't lived and watched as many of the Games as I have to not learn something about those that trained to be in them. If I gave this girl any room to believe I was weak she would gain the edge, and having in advantage in a verbal fight was just as important as having the edge in a fight with weapons. "However, should you accept my offer you shall recieve adequate compensation for your troubles, and you would be living on my estate under my protection. I realize that what I'm asking would put you in the position of getting into trouble with the Peacekeepers or even the Capitol, but the protection I offer would be more than enough to keep you under their radar."

Leaning back in my chair once more I watched as my servant set down two plates, one for myself and one for Ms. Caden, and hurried out of the room. I didn't even bother to look at the meal or even acknowledge that it had been placed on the table though, my guest had my undivided attention. Placing my elbows onto the table I placed my head on my hands never letting my eyes drop from hers. "Please Ms. Caden, eat, I'm sure you'll find it to be to your satisfaction, I wouldn't want to ruin that lovely figure of yours by offering you something you would never eat.

This girl was wearing my patience thin, she didn't understand that I knew how District 2 worked, that there were plenty of people in District 2 that would volunteer should my daughters be reaped. She also didn't understand that my daughters would never give up their positions in the Games, as far as they knew they've always grown up in District 2, and as a result, much like any decent Career they would never give up their spots in the Games. At this point she was probably under the impression that I was some crazy old man who had no idea how things worked here in District 2. Quite the contrary though, I knew exactly what it meant to live here, living in the Capitol and a district has given me some unusual insight. Perhaps I should explain the situation to her in such a way that her simple Career mind might understand.

Standing up from the table I walked around it to stand next to her, but I turned to face the wall behind her. "Ms. Caden, first off, please call me Jeremy, second, I don't believe you understand what it is I'm asking of you. Shall I explain it to you in words even you can understand, or perhaps I shall tell you a little bit more about myself. I will admit, my tolerance for this girl and her ignorance was beginning to bother me, her mind was so caught up in the Games she didn't stop to consider what it was I was asking of her. Letting out an exasperated sigh I turned around to look at her again. "Ms. Caden, I realize that your talents are sought after by the families of District 2, and I realize that the Peacekeepers will keep tabs on you. However, I have some power and...talents...that I can put to good use hiding you, I'm not just an eccentric old man you know."

Chances were my attempts to get her attention would have little affect on her, but I did not lie when I said I was more than capable of keeping her hidden. Having formerly been a prestigious member of the Capitol society has allowed me to have some sway over the Peacekeepers within this district. Then to add upon this I was also a master of illusions and magic, and thus very adept at keeping things hidden from people. "Ms. Caden, what if I was to tell you that I'm still closely associated with some very powerful people from my life in the Capitol. Not everyone demanded for my exile to the districts, and there are still those that are loyal to me. As a result I can make sure that no questions are asked about your sudden disappearance from the radar. It was your interesting job within the Capitol that got me interested in you as a personal trainer. Perhaps it was just some nostalgia for an old man from the Capitol, but I contacted you above all others for a purpose."

I glanced back at her to make sure that she hadn't grown bored with my prattle, and when I felt satisfied I still at least had part of her attention I continued. "I'm a patient man Ms. Caden, however, I don't like to waste my time. My business is with you and you alone, you are the only person that I'm interested in talking to, otherwise I would have a long list of other possibly candidates lined up outside my door. It is your rather...unique...relationship with the Capitol that made me take an interest in you. It's not every person from the districts, prodigy or not, that is selected to be one of the trainers at the facilities in the Capitol. Typically they select a few members of Capitol society, as odd as that may sound, to assist with training in those facilities. Why give you the honor and priviledge? Or is it the fact that you're a prodigy that they gave it to you, keeping that age of principle of keep your friends close but your enemies closer?"

It was fairly obvious to me now that I wouldn't be able to take advantage of her various talents for the sake of my daughters, however, I had her thinking about my last statement. There was to much of a pause, to much consideration before her responce, and that was all I needed to tell me that there was a shred of doubt, no matter how small, in the back of her mind. I knew she was no fool, my words had been meant to get under her skin and make her feel angry, an angry mind is a sharp mind. For now, obtaining her as the personal trainer to my daughters is less important than learning more about her time in the Capitol. She was an exception to the usual rules, and generally the Capitol NEVER did any favors for the people in the districts like that...no matter how gifted the person was.

"I see you are familiar with that age old philosophy my dear, and I can also tell from the hesitation and contemplation that you are not fully sure of your answer. Did it not occur to you, no I don't mean this to say you're stupid, that the Capitol has never done any favors for the districts? There is always a hidden agenda within the Capitol, I'm sure even President Snow himself has no idea about everything that goes on in the shadows of the Capitol buildings." I knew, whether she was willing to admit it or not, that she had at least some interest in what I was saying. Of course, I may be presuming to much when I say that she wanted to hear what I had to say on the subject though. This did little to deter me from attempting to explain to her how the Capitol really worked. If what I thought had any substance to it then Ms. Caden may be in more danger than she believes.

"Ms. Caden, I shall ask you some questions and I expect honest answers from you. I'm only asking them for the benefit of your own safety. I realize you have no reason to trust me or a word I say, but my old standing as a Capitol official has provided me with much...insight on how things work. I was not exiled from the Capitol for nothing, I knew to much, as did my father before me. In a way it was his fault I'm stuck out here in this god-forsaken district, but I'm just as much at fault for entertaining his ideas. Striding around to the otherside of the table I began to pace along the length of it running my fingers over the Capitol ring that still adorned one of my fingers. It wasn't often that I spoke of my old ties to the Capitol let alone to some girl I barely knew. She needed to know how things REALLY worked though, that her job at the Capitol may be no more then a method for the Capitol to keep an eye on her, and when the time was right...dispose of her.

"How long does the Capitol keep you up there for the training, I can see it isn't until the Games are over, otherwise you would be up there instead of here. Doesn't that strike you as odd, considering everyone else involved with the Games remains in the Capitol? Also, when were you given the position, after you were no longer elligible to enter the Games?" While the original purpose of this meeting had been to get a personal trainer for my daughters I was now more interested in her relationship with the Capitol. Perhaps we could still be "friends" and assist eachother in some way that would be mutually beneficial to the both of us.

This girl is not a simpleminded puppet of the Capitol, so why then does she cling to the facade that she is ignorant to how the world works. Of course there are hidden agendas everywhere, and of course I have a few of my own but she doesn't even stop to think of what the Capitol's agendas may be. I couldn't tell whether she was just indenial or she just refused to think past the money that was being shoveled into her pockets from her "service" to the Capitol. She wouldn't be the first one to be more interested in lining her pockets rather then the purpose behind the actions. There had to be a reason that the Capitol was dragging her into its inner facilities only to send her away the minute the Games began. Her answers were enough to convince me that there was something going on behind the scenes that could potentially have her removed from the picture.

She was beautiful, powerful, she had close contact with the tributes and the Careers of District 2...in short she was a threat. They wanted to keep her where they could see her for as long as the tributes were in the Capitol, the only thing I couldn't figure out was why. Perhaps they wondered if she would become too popular with the Careers of the district or even with some of the Capitolites, she has a certain amount of arrogance that would make her appealing to the younger generation. They don't like anyone who could possibly threaten their seats of power, someone as charimatic as her would easily garner the attention of the people. Maybe, just maybe we could use eachother for a mutually beneficial agreement. She would be in the Capitol anyways, it might be possible to use her as my eyes and ears.

"Ms. Caden, would you be interested in hearing a proposition I have for you? I would be willing to pay you for your troubles and give you any compensation that you require." I rose up from the table for perhaps the millionth time this meal and began to pace around the room. It was dangerous for me to put my faith in a girl so young, or even a girl that seemed oblivious to the politics of the Capitol. Never the less she could be useful to me in more ways than one, since I no longer had all of my connections with the Capitol intact it would be good, if even for a short time, to have someone listening and watching. "Ms. Caden, would you be interested in a job that would require you to...spy...for me? Nothing to obvious and nothing that you would ever be caught for, but I'm interested in what information you could collect. I think you have several weapons at your disposal for obtaining information, and you have access to the Capitol, if only for a brief time."

This seemed like another proposal that she would inevitably refuse, but I needed to clear the air of all the requests I had. Even if this particular request had not been part of my original plans. It was funny, I had called her over here with the intent of hiring her to train my daughters, but now I was asking her to do something dangerous and possibly rebellious. If she refused it was of little to no consequence to me, but part of me hoped that she would agree to my proposition. After all it wasn't entirely for selfish reasons, part of me was curious to learn what interest the Capitol had in her.

Ah, there it was, the responce I had been expecting from her, she was afraid. Despite the facade that she put on she was afraid of any REAL action. Of course the magnitude of the request I had put before her was huge, and any normal person would have their own misgivings about it. I had singled her out as different though, someone whom I could place my trust in and hopefully have as an ally as I set about putting into action some of the plans my father had attempted to implement. Perhaps I had been mistaken though, a foolish notion for me to believe that this girl had a spine enough to make a difference. Maybe I should let her leave...then again I may yet have a chance to convince her to do as I request. She wasn't a lost cause until she walked out the door of her own volition.

"Your fears are well founded Ms. Caden, after all what I propose to you is treason in its own right. However, should the cards be played properly and we keep a calm collected demeanor while things play out we should be fine. As far as I am concerned Ms. Caden we are in the middle of a struggle with the Capitol, it is the will of the people versus the will of those in power, in this case President Snow and his hierarchy of followers. You may think me treasonous or even a traitor to our fine nation, but I merely want to help those that seek an end to the violence the Capitol promotes." It was interesting, I could sense that there was a small trace of anger towards the Capitol for her ineligibility for the Games, and then the tempting job offer of being one of the trainers for the tributes. How kind of them...or was it that they wanted to put her in a position that caused her the most pain.

They weren't fools, and niether was this girl, so why did she seem to profess undying loyalty to a Capitol that has done nothing but tempt her. "If you will pardon my asking, what is it that you find least appealing about my proposition? You owe nothing to the Capitol accept that they kept you out of the Games and now have put you in a position where you are so close to being in them, but you'll never make it. What about that is an act of kindness, or do you just choose to be blind to the ways of the Capitol. Ms. Caden, I shall be blunt, you are a threat to the Capitol, whether you know it or not they feel threatened by you. A beautiful girl who is more then capable of creating an army of Careers with her beauty and charisma? Whether you would do it or not the Capitol fears you will, and they will keep you close until the opportunity arrives...then they will not hesitate to kill you."

She would probably take my words as no more then a ghost story meant to frighten her, but I knew the truth of it all, I had seen it first hand. Being one of the "aristocrats" that once was on a council within the Capitol had given me insight on how it works. I'm not proud of it because at that time I had thought nothing of it, simply casting my vote to kill someone who was of little consequence to me. Being in the districts had taught me something, and now made me suceptible to that very same vote that I had once been a part of. "I will understand if you do not wish to assist me in this matter, but I also want you to go with caution for your life hangs in the balance. I can help you Ms. Caden, I can help you in ways the Capitol cannot, I can get you somewhere safe, or at least out of the prying eyes of the Capitol."

She was worried about my daughter's safety...how amusing. Had I not already explained to her I had the means to cover any trail and hide what I wanted to? I had already secured the safety of my daughters by means of bribery and perhaps a little black mail. Turns out I had more of the rebelliousness that my father had than I had orginally believed. It was foolish to believe that I could simply discard the years of "training" my father had put into me, preparing me to take over when he passed on or was caught. In reality I didn't know which one had happened, if he had passed on or if he was caught, for that matter he could have died in captivity. What I did lack was his natural ability to draw people in, and this was clearly evident by the fact that Ms. Caden was attempting to leave the house.

"Your concern is touching Ms. Caden, please ignore the look on my face as it does not betray my true emotions. Having said this my daughters are about as safe as they can be, they know nothing of what I do, or for that matter what I've done. I would appreciate it if they never did find out either, as it is you're the only other person aside from my network of spies who knows anything about this. If my daughters should ever find out...well...that would mean bad things for you." I will admit, my patience was wearing thin for this obstinate, pig headed girl. She was intelligent enough, I could tell by the look in her eyes that she had more brains than the average District 2 Career. With time she may come to see things through my eyes, maybe if I gave her some space and time she'd warm up to the idea.

"I shall not be stopping you from leaving Ms. Caden, but know that my doors are always open to you. This may be you saying goodbye, at least for now, but my offer remains should you change your mind. Remember to be careful though, whether you believe it or not the Capitol is watching you and you ARE a threat to them. They don't need logic or anything else to support their claims, all they need to do is dislike you. I clapped my hands twice and the maid that had been waiting close by took Ms. Caden's arm leading her to the door. She wouldn't be leaving of her own free will, she would be leaving as if I had sent her away. "Oh, Ms. Caden, would you spread the word that I'm still in the market for a personal trainer, I'm afraid you weren't at all what I wanted.

You see, I need someone who is willing to make some sacrifices on their end. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained, and I'm afaid you just aren't willing to venture out of that "comfortable" life you life. I will see you around the district my dear but remember...not a word" I gave her a wink and a knowing smile waiting for her to take the remaining few steps out my door. This would certainly not be the last time I saw Ms. Val Caden, I felt sure we would run into eachother again soon, the only question was...would she be my enemy or an ally.