talk down . zori . blitz

V A S C O

I hadn’t made a plan to travel to one of the upper districts as I’d done with some of the others. There seemed a greater sensitivity there; letters I’d written to some of them had gone unreturned, and I couldn’t help but think the lines were still drawn against us. Eleven was a district based in the earth and had a reputation for being far behind the rest, save for our neighbors to the north.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when a voice at the end of the line started to hurl insults at me for running again. I hadn’t done a perfect job – some would’ve said far less than that – but it hadn’t stopped me from putting my best foot forward.

“Excuse me,” I turned my head to the side and leaned into the phone. “I’m not sure who this is. Though I appreciate the feedback. I’ll remember that when I accept their nomination on stage later.” I couldn’t help but grin. Was it pride? Certainly. Did that mean I didn’t have a right? I didn’t think so.

“Did you call for my advice on how to run a campaign? Perhaps you could learn a thing or two from someone who’s won their race.”

V A S C O

A chill set down my spine when Octavia spoke. I’d been too cavalier in my reply, riding high from the fact I was unopposed, and who (honestly?) uses their position to bully someone over the phone? None of the career district mayors had ever taken an interest in me before, why would that change now?

And she didn’t just intend to wound, but to skin me to the bone. Bringing up my children, as though that would have ever been fair game. Hadn’t she lost one of her own? I had to remember that district two was hardly a place that they’d ever have thought to teach empathy, let alone compassion. Still, her needling brought a heat across my face and had my heart beating out through my ears.

“You are very rude,” I started, my voice just above a whisper. She’d fired off a whole list of things anyone could have accused me of, and part of me wondered that people across eleven must. But to bring up my children, to threaten the place that was my home? She must not have known eleven at all, or she’d have seen we weren’t cruel. We were certain of what we have, who we were, and what we could offer.

“I feel sorry for you. Calling someone to belittle them.” I licked my lips, “Later tonight, I’ll pray for you, ma’am. You seem… troubled.”

V A S C O

She didn’t stop, but instead decided to keep hurling insults his way. Each one seemed an attempt at the last, to break him apart by her sheer force of will. And while he felt a lump growing in his throat, she wasn’t going to have the benefit of hearing him be bothered by any of it. Even if it still stung and had him wishing he hadn’t been taught to let cruel people like her be miserable in their own way. He could rise above it.

“If you ever bothered to ask me what I planned to do in a respectful way, perhaps I would’ve invited you to be a part of the conversation. But I sincerely hope for your sake that you manage to run your district better than you run your mouth,” It was hard to express the shakiness that coursed through my body, considering I hadn’t yelled at someone like this since the night of riot when Sampson had taken to threatening Yani.

“Your idea of fun seems miserable and if this is how you go about finding happiness, I will pray that you find peace. Because as far as I can tell, you’re the sort of miserable person to spend her whole life hating all the people who get by just fine without having to be cruel to other people.” I took a breath to steady myself. “To think after the quell I’d thought eleven and two might be able to work together. But I see some people simply can’t be helped.”