irradient

Tana looked over at Sienna for only a second before turning her attention back to the screen. Where was Robin?! “I’ve never seen one,” she muttered. She’d only ever seen pictures, or simulations on video. She’d read about them sometimes. “Where’s Zeppelin?” she asked, shifting to sit more on the edge of her seat. “He was with Robin, wasn’t he?”

.

“He was,” she said, checking his vitals tracker on her phone. He was alive; heartbeat heightened, of course... Where was he, though? Everything was confused as the water swept through the Arena. “I hope they can hold on to each other...” Though she wasn’t sure how much that would help.

Dahlia looked at Sienna for a moment. The seriousness in the woman’s voice was not what she’d expected to happen when they walked to the corner. After a moment’s hesitation, Dahlia squeezed Sienna’s hands. “Go ahead, darling. You know you can tell me anything.”

“oh. oh my goodness. I don’t think there’s anything I’d rather do.” Now all she wanted out of life was to hold Nilly up to a phone and let him meow to a cat across the country. “Maybe we can even send our scarves to each other!” would knitting hurt her hands? she didn’t know. but she was willing to try.

“oh, shoot, you’re so right!” Addy nodded, studiously. “You’ll have to teach me your ways. Maybe we’ll need to call more often during the off season.” an excuse to talk to a friend? absolutely. she liked her friends! “once a week! we can knit and chat and have a great time!”

As if something in her software blocked, Sienna’s suggestion of at least challenging the law left Venine speechless and neutral, blinking in confusion for a moment. Afterwards, an accomplice grin spread over her features. “Sure, yes, anytime,” she spoke, utterly impressionable and easy to convince. “I think having fun is the most important,” she concluded, as if making peace between the beliefs she had been imprinted with and the deep feelings longing for freedom that she held as her own.

She grinned, brows wiggling. “Oh, a quiet corner? Certainly.” Dahlia tugged on Sienna’s hand to follow her, weaving easily through the crowd towards a corner where less people mingled. 

Emilia couldn’t pass up that offer. “Oh I certainly hope so. Every floor having a hot tub to enjoy, everyone could relax even if just a little.” Though she knew it wasn’t easy to relax here, in this city, in that tower. The handful of weeks she spent in the Capitol were always the least sleep she’d get all year. 

“oh, I can’t wait until I can do that. you know… come to the capitol and know she’s here and give her a big hug.” that sounded perfect. just… perfect. and both she and sienna were smiling like fools, now, she didn’t mind. “I thought I was well on track to being an old cat lady, but here we are.”

“I a hundred percent second that notion.” She laughed softly. “Tell you what, if I figure out how to get a hot tub out in I’ll pass the info on if you’ll do that same.” She gave a nod, making a mental note to ask Hyacinth later.

“The raccoon thing might be real…” She thought for a moment and then shrugged. Hyacinth had asked about Abel a few nights before, maybe he was helping her with the raccoon. “Drake and Hyacinth’s girl somehow managed to smuggle one into the capitol.” She couldn’t fathom how, but she’d applaud the girl for succeeding. “So maybe the hot tub thing is true too. God I hope so, that’d make nights here ten times better.” Though that wasn’t a hard thing to do, nights in the Capitol were always far from Emilia’s favorite. 

Emilia perked up at that information. “No, can’t say we do… But really?” She’d have to figure that out as well. “I’d like to know who to talk to about that as well.” She nodded. When did they start installing hot tubs in the district suites?  “Can’t use it now, but maybe for next games.”

Emilia gave a nod of agreement. “Oh yes, most certainly. And my in-laws, I’m sure.” She loved Jada and Alejo, but she was sure they’d be over twenty-four seven once the twins were born. “It’ll be a nice place to escape.” She smiled wistfully. If only she could escape her reality right now. 

“Yeah, and who cares if I get my colorful umbrella? It’s not like it’s against the law or something,” Venine said, feeling powered up by Sienna and entirely serious about the matter. “Let’s go get our umbrellas, what do you think?” she then grinned at the red head, ready to skip to the bar.

“I spilled her tea.” she laughed, nervous. “last games, I spilled her tea all over her. she’s got such pretty eyes, I couldn’t- I mean… I don’t get distracted often.” that was the truth. she was an old pro at the stand. “But… well… you see. she’s so pretty. and then we got to talking this games… and here we are?”

–

“Yep. We didn’t get to use it until the following summer though. It’s awfully cold in the winter.” Snow was gorgeous to look at, but she couldn’t stand to be out in it, much less even think about swimming in. “I say go for it. That’ll probably be what I add next for once I’ve had the twins. A hot tub can be year round use, a pool not so much.”

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