Strings That Tie to You [Vasco/Carmen blitz]

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Strings That Tie to You [Vasco/Carmen blitz] Jan 26, 2019 3:24:57 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2019 3:24:57 GMT -5

I let the rest of the folks go ahead of me.

It was later in the afternoon, closer to sunset, when we came upon the Stirling place. I’d taken special pains not to disturb them with too many folks. They’d had enough attention with Carmen’s return, especially after the loss of her grandmother. Emma had reminded me that the older woman had gone just before the little one came back. I think the both of us cried the night Carmen fell; I’d stayed awake, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Raquel, Levi, Benat, Gabe, Iago, and Salome – all of their faces, just like hers.

That was someone’s child that the world got to watch get slaughtered. No matter how many times I see it, I can’t help but hurt. It’s anger that wells up in my chest, and sorrow, that we can’t do a thing for them. At least – not the ones that fall. It was that we had to do something for the folks that were left behind, that hadn’t been done, that would make the difference.

But Carmen got to come back, as clear as that was. I hesitated at the door, a hand outstretched to knock. Let me not make all the same mistakes other folks made with me.

“Miss Stirling?” I called, with a knock on the doors.

Sleepy Fluttershy
District Mayor

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«Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm». (Winston Churchill)

Strings That Tie to You [Vasco/Carmen blitz] Jan 26, 2019 13:28:34 GMT -5

Post by Sleepy Fluttershy on Jan 26, 2019 13:28:34 GMT -5

Carmen Stirling.

You are sitting on a small table by the window, legs crossed, a tiny pencil sticking out of your mouth like a cigarette. A piece of yellow paper is lying in front of you. You fished it out of a dumpster yesterday and now it's covered in words and numbers, numbers and words.

"So if we earn just as much as we did yesterday every day we can afford milk, right?"

You hum a merry tune as you look down on the paper. Grandma passing away didn't make life any more cheerful but now with one mouth less left to feed you can add something to your daily rations. You miss her, truly, but this is the truth. And in any case, monthly budget planning can't be canceled under any circumstances if you want to survive.

"But I'd rather have cheese. It's food. And there is always plenty of water for drinking, it's free."

You glance at your sister who's standing by the table and also studying the calculations. She doesn't want cheese or milk. She wants both. And maybe a doubled portion of bread. It's written all over her face, just like yours. After the Capitol meals, the hunger is especially fierce.

Suddenly there is a sound of footsteps and a knock on the door.

"Miss Stirling?"

You open the window and the mess of your black curls pops outside accompanied by your curious face. There is a man whose face looks familiar to you, but you can't remember why. You've seen too many faces lately.

"There are two miss Stirlings in here, which one do you need?"

(graphics by Kaplan)

☆GABRIELLE☆

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Strings That Tie to You [Vasco/Carmen blitz] Jan 27, 2019 3:40:12 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2019 3:40:12 GMT -5

A head popped out of the window along the side of the house, and Carmen Stirling began to speak. She reminded me that there was more than one Miss Stirling, and I gave a nod in return. I was all too familiar with Cat, whose sharp tongue and fiery anger was ready to tear anyone in two. I was pleased it had been little Carmen that had greeted me. I cleared my throat and rested my hands at the front.

“Hola, Miss Carmen? My name is Vasco Izar,” I began with a little bow of my head. “I’m going door to door, as I’m running for Mayor, and I’m trying to talk to all of you to see what I might be able to do for you, if I was the one to become Mayor.”

I couldn’t help but look over her face with the tiniest sliver of envy. How would the world have been different if Raquel had been the one to return back to our district?

That wasn’t quite fair, and was the sort of thought that would turn the whole thing bitter. Carmen was alive, and had the rest of her life to live.

“Mija, I’m sure you’ve heard it enough, but I – I was proud to see you come back to our district.” The announcement by president Snow had left us all awash in our own thoughts. How wonderful for the Stirlings to get little Carmencito to return. Worse still, what kind of damage had the games done to both the Rhodes boy and Carmen that would last the rest of their lives.

“I wanted to tell you as well… I’m sorry for your loss. My wife told me that your abuela passed, and – well, I am saying this as me, not as someone running for Mayor but, if there’s anything we can do for you all, please feel free to knock on our door.”

Sleepy Fluttershy
District Mayor

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last seen Mar 30, 2022 16:20:24 GMT -5

«Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm». (Winston Churchill)

Strings That Tie to You [Vasco/Carmen blitz] Jan 27, 2019 15:39:29 GMT -5

Post by Sleepy Fluttershy on Jan 27, 2019 15:39:29 GMT -5

Carmen Stirling.

Oh, right. The election. You forgot this was something that happens every five years. You have no idea why that even happens. Isn't it obvious that it is just an illusion of a choice? Whoever the next mayor is, Snow will still be sitting in the Capitol and SUXing the district blood. Nevertheless, here is a candidate who wants to talk to you.

You throw the pencil onto your budget planning list and throw your legs over the windowsill. Sitting in the window is comfortable and more convenient than jumping down on the floor, walking to the door, opening it and talking there like all normal people would do. And it is cheaper. Your socks and shoes will survive longer if you minimize the amount of walking you do on daily basis. Cathy doesn't see any sense in that though because she gasps instantly

"Carmy, you'll fall!"

"No I won't" - you whisper carelessly to her. And you move your toes in the wind as they stick out of your torn old socks as a sign of rebellion and freedom.

“Mija, I’m sure you’ve heard it enough, but I – I was proud to see you come back to our district.”

You grin and think about how out of all the emotions you had when you got to come back not a single one resembled anything close to "proud". But you still do your best to take the guy's speech seriously. It's clear to you that he's being sincerely nice.

“I wanted to tell you as well… I’m sorry for your loss. My wife told me that your abuela passed, and – well, I am saying this as me, not as someone running for Mayor but, if there’s anything we can do for you all, please feel free to knock on our door.”

You raise your eyebrow at the mention of your grandma's death to blink back a stray tear in the corner of your eye. When you think about it, it is okay. You know it had to happen anyway, you just didn't know when. It happens. It is all right. But you still can't keep yourself together when other people talk about it. So your voice comes out a little harsh when you try your best to remain calm and find proper words.

"Condolences accepted, sir."

At the same time, a practical thought crosses your mind. You know Cathy can't survive street singing, she is not beggar tomboy material. Every winter in the street brings her colds and a sore throat, with the district eleven medicine who knows where that will end... Two voices are better than one, people give more to a duet. But you value your sister's life a billion times more than money.

"We don't need anything, you know, but I could offer you a deal. If you find my sister a permanent job, you'll get two more votes."

But your honesty fights its way through your poker face and a seemingly cynical attitude.

"If you don't, you'll get them too though just because you're a great dude."

Cathy's voice hisses from behind you:

"You can't say things like this, Carmy!"

You turn you head and hiss back just as quietly:

"What, aren't you going to vote for him? He is a great dude!"

You can't see her, but you can feel her face changing color and her eyes saying "shame on you!"

"I was trying to tell you that you should watch your language!"

(graphics by Kaplan)

☆GABRIELLE☆

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Strings That Tie to You [Vasco/Carmen blitz] Jan 29, 2019 18:27:00 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2019 18:27:00 GMT -5

We don't need anything, you know, but I could offer you a deal. If you find my sister a permanent job, you'll get two more votes.

There had been folks throughout the district with the same refrain: find us better jobs and you’ve got our votes! At first, I spun the yarn of my plan: I’d travel out to the other districts to negotiate with their mayors to see who could be sent out to work for them, and who they could bring to us. We’d raise prices of products and work with local businesses to generate more revenue. We’d invest in a new hospital, and schools, so that everyone benefitted. And it all sounded nice – but the more I kept talking, the more I thought about how I’d never done anything like this before.

What if I failed?

Sometimes it was hard not to listen to the little voice, the one that whispered out you’re not smart enough to do this, or that you’re going to make a fool out of yourself. Worse still, who are you to think you could ever be Mayor? I thought of my own children, of Raquel and all that I had never been able to give them.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep! Raquel’s voice rattled out in the back of my mind. A day long ago, when I promised her a stuffed rabbit that’d been on display in the general store. Each time we passed the window (me buying seed or new gloves, her staring longingly at the white of the bunny’s tail), she would tug to my sleeve and point. For your cumpleaños, eh? But there wasn’t enough coin in my pocket between the seed for the farm, the new shoes she, Emmanuel, and Sofia grew out of, or the new roof we needed after the worst winter since the 40s. Her birthday came and it was a little sweet cake and a pair of overalls, and a tantrum. You promised, She’d said, full of tears.

“Carmencito, I will work, night and day, to make sure that people like you and your sister have the kind of jobs where you’re not worrying so much about the day after tomorrow.” It sounds the same as what I’d said to other folks, and I can’t help myself. Emma said there was a fine line in what I could promise, but Carmen had seen too much. She deserved more.

“My wife Emma – she’s my campaign manager – she and I are going to keep living where we are now, and we plan on turning the Mayor’s house into a shelter for folks that need help getting back onto their feet. Would that be something your sister might be able to help me with?”

On the morning of Raquel’s first reaping, I’d woken her up with a stuffed rabbit tossed onto her bed. We laughed together about it – that it took me ages to save, that I hadn’t forgotten. I felt silly giving it to her after so many years, but she reminded me she knew what it meant to sacrifice for her. You don’t have to be perfect for me to love you. I just want to know you’re going to be there for me.

I laughed at the scolding from her sister, and shook my head. “You don’t have to worry, I’m no one fancy. I’m happy to be a dude, if that’s what I am.”