it's arithmetic [Constance x Vasco]

[parsnip]

Constance Fear

She'd seen the train come in. High-speed, slick as can be. Her vantage point was atop a watchtower where she'd placed herself many times before. Besides, it wasn't every day she had a visit from the esteemed Vasco Izar. They'd met before, at least twice. Maybe twice in the same occasion, though. It was some kind of benefit ball in Three. There was some dancing. Some sneaked-in drinks. There was laughter to be had but cards were kept close to chests. For Constance, she didn't reveal much to anybody back then. It was before her goals had aligned with her circumstance. It was before she knew what she wanted, and what the District needed. She remembered envying the Mayor of Eleven, though. That much was true.

When her eyes had laid upon the new arrival for long enough, the time had come to descend gracefully down the stairs for long enough to gain a light sweat. Her pulse carried her through into her own office block which was close to the District train station, walking distance clearly. It was a humble building that obviously served more purpose than beauty. She would wince at it daily, at least internally.

The office was fresh. The window had been open most of the morning, and some kind of air freshener was new to the area. Constance had sat herself on the corner of the table, her table, and was flicking through various pieces of paper. She paid them little attention with each page-turn, but still, they were flicked nonetheless. She awaited something, someone. Looking to the door at each given noise. But, of course, acting completely calm. Nothing was amiss. Everything was in order.

[marguerite harvard d2a (zori)]

v a s c o
i z a r

Vasco had sat watching the change of districts until the sun had turned cherry red on the horizon. He became accustomed to weightlessness; it took concentration to regain his own center of gravity now, fifty years on.

Long stretches of time vanished into the blur of fields and smokestacks that raced past the train’s windows.

When he’d seen the tips of light spiraling out the oil fields of five, Vasco had turned to the empty seat beside him with a familiar grin. He’d parted his lips to tell his wife to get a good look at the red, blue, and purple flames that illuminated the night sky, only to fall silent.

Speaking couldn’t come easy now, his voice lost to the din of those around him, wilting like a sunflower in the heat. Here the jockeying of the train car drowned out whatever words he’d managed to get out, which was just as well. He’d gone back to flipping through the pages and pages of papers he’d tucked into his leather portfolio when the train slowed into the district station.

He'd stood in between the stone columns leading out the station with his suitcase to steady himself. For a moment, he believed that if he let go of the leather satchel over his shoulder and took a step, he might float skyward.

It was the mundane that had always brought Vasco back down to the earth, and, in as much as he’d lost, he wasn’t quite ready to drift away. Nothing conquered grief like purpose; and that had meant putting his feet back down again and trusting they’d stay on solid ground.

He steadied, tucked his shirt into his slacks, and ambled down the steps toward the glass windowed office buildings stretching on in the distance.

He’d taken a meeting with Constance without hesitation.

He remembered Constance as well as he’d remembered anyone, not as a politician remembering hands shaken but with the curiosity he’d always had. What were her intentions, her hopes, and her dreams? Could she weather the storms the capitol would throw at her?

And if she couldn’t, would she swallow her pride and take someone else’s hand?

When he arrived at her office door, he’d adjusted the sunflower pin on his pocket and gave a gentle knock.

“Ms. Fear,” Vasco’s voice called out as he pressed through the door, almost swallowed up by the space. He gave a smile and stood in the doorway with his left hand drawn up to his elbow, ready for a handshake if the opportunity presented itself. “I hope I didn't keep you waiting. How are you?”

ELEGANT

[parsnip]

Constance Fear

The office was lit not just by a plethora of warm lights all aptly placed, but also by the dreary sunlight that dipped into half of the small room. As the door swung open she looked to it with her poised figure. “Ms. Fear,” he’d announced. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting. How are you?”

She stepped into the body of the room to meet him, a polite hand extended. Her handshake, if accepted, would be firm and wide, yet last only a short moment. Her smile was beaming, however, with a genuine elation. “Mayor Izar, not at all,” she motioned to the chair that sat opposite her desk, but brought along her own seat so that she sat alongside him instead of creating a void using the desk itself. “I’m well – despite the state of play in this miserable place.” She spoke, but her mind was on the pressing conditions in the District. It wasn't yet her duty to manage it all, but the weight of the responsibility was something she was already taking upon herself to endure. Not only was the District being shamed for a lack of success in the Games, it was being punished for it too. Even her industry of administration and accounting was being hit.

She looked out of the window from her now-seated position. The sunlight was rare these days. An overcast climate had dominated for at least the week, meaning most citizens were straining their eyes in the presence of the rare brightness. “As you can see, you’ve brought the sun with you. I hope all is well on your end? It’s been some time since we last met.”

She knew privately of what the dear mayor may be going through. Not at all the details, however. It wasn’t rare that a surname was recognisable in the Games, but it was definitely a shock to see yet another of the same dynasty. A further reminder to Constance that becoming mayor would not secure safety for her own children, who are due to be Reaping age for the first time this year.

[marguerite harvard d2a (zori)]

v a s c o
i z a r

The room was lit with warm yellow of lived in light.

Nights must’ve been spent here among the delicately filed papers and smartly arranged books. Constance’s office stood in direct opposition to the scattershot method he’d arranged his own. Time and again Emma would remind him that he’d have gotten more done if it didn’t take an excavation team to find anything.

“Sunlight’s our specialty.” Vasco replied, his hand in hers. He sank into the cushion of the seat in front of her desk only to find Constance take a seat next to him. “And you should see my office. Every time I turn around, I feel like another tornado has blown right through everything.”

An ache creaked through his voice that dragged under his joke like a riptide. As the last few months of his third term wound down, sleep became a rarity. His daughter Yani would find him in the kitchen late at night, radio low, scratching away and then scratching out papers spread across the hardwood table.

(Or some nights, when they would sit together and whisper about how hard the day had been. The emptiness of the third chair at the dinner table ate away at them so that they could hardly stand. Only by the grace of holding on to one another did they steady their feet for morning.)

“It’s been a tough time, Ms. Fear.” Vasco had never lost his honesty, no matter how small his voice became. He searched the features of Constance’s face for trust, as though it were as easy as shaking her hand to find. “But every day is better than the last.”

He gave another pained smile. No, he wouldn’t be expanding on that. He took in a breath and slapped his hands to knees.

“You’ve been so kind to invite me here, I'm ashamed to admit I don’t think I know much about district three at all.” Nothing more than the Sparks had given. He had imagined it flat, gray, and full of short people who moved in a hurry. “What’ve you kept yourself busy with?”

ELEGANT

[parsnip]

Constance Fear

“Sunlight’s our specialty.”

"So it seems, very good, very good."

Their handshake was a swift thing, but she appreciated that as there was plenty to discuss. Formalities aside, he may notice that the moment she seated herself she relaxed as though the shields were down on a battleship. She slumped slightly, humorously, into the cushion as though it had been the first time all day. It had, and the night prior was spent planning out various election activities - people to see, places to be, more hands to shake. But this, it was a friend, essentially. The tools were back in the box for this one.

“And you should see my office. Every time I turn around, I feel like another tornado has blown right through everything.” Like a storm, she'd think. Well, it must come with the territory. Where there is chaos there is also a storm of sheets and pens. Admin may just be the bane of Constance's life. Not because she avoids it, but because she is meticulous with every detail. Her staff are always complaining about her attitude towards them. Not harsh, just demanding. Constant work that never ends.

"Well, with everything going on - as usual - I daresay a tornado is a light breeze."

“It’s been a tough time, Ms. Fear. But every day is better than the last.”

She nodded. The air between them was mutually alive with an understanding that that wouldn't be elaborated on, and it made sense. While Constance can be all business a lot of the time, a lot of the time wasn't when a Mayor visits. That's rare.

“You’ve been so kind to invite me here, I'm ashamed to admit I don’t think I know much about district three at all. What’ve you kept yourself busy with?”

There'd been a lot of stagnation in the District. It was a given, and mirrored their performance in the Games. "Well, it's been a jolly old occasion, having the Technology Fair and all. People have come far and wide to take part. It's been good rubbing shoulders with all kinds of people. Other than that, mayoral elections are coming. I've put my hat in, amongst many viable candidates."

She gave a genuine small speaking of herself, but seemed more keen to speak about her visitor. "But you, dear Vasco - what's next for the Mayor of Eleven?"

[marguerite harvard d2a (zori)]

v a s c o
i z a r

He liked the sound of her voice.

Constance had a depth to her that could not easily be moved. Where people in district two may have compared themselves to lions, as Vasco listened (did they noticed that as much as he spoke, he was always listening) she had a strength all her own. He admired that. It would serve her well for the difficult choices she’d have to make.

“Oh!” Vasco brightened as she mentioned that she’d decided to run for mayor. “That’s amazing. Ah! I wish I had known sooner. I’d be happy to give to you my endorsement. It might not mean much to people in three but I’ve known a few of your mayors.” The Sparks had been there when he’d started so many years ago, and then Nixton, who hadn’t stayed long.

“Just take care of yourself. It’ll be hard the first year but that’s the toughest part. Finding all the things you wish you could fix that don’t seem to have easy answers.” For a second, like the sun passing behind a stray cloud, Vasco’s face fell. And just as soon as his smile faded, it returned again. “But you’ll soldier on, and find that you do the best you can.”

Not that she needed his advice, but he’d become accustomed to speaking in the past tense now that he was retiring.

… what’s next for the Mayor of Eleven?

“Well… funny you should ask.” Vasco leaned backward in his chair. He placed his arms behind him and grasped at the edges of the soft fabric with his hands. “I am retiring. Not that there wasn’t work still to be done. But there were some limits that I – well, I couldn’t help but think if I could do more for everyone, not just eleven, I should.”

What would Constance think of him when he told her that instead of remaining head of his district, he was willing to throw it all away for a half-treasonous run at the council? Though he supposed that was half the fun. How much of a revolutionary was she?

“I’m running for the high council.”

ELEGANT

[parsnip]

Constance Fear

“That’s amazing. Ah! I wish I had known sooner. I’d be happy to give to you my endorsement. It might not mean much to people in three but I’ve known a few of your mayors.”

His enthusiasm was remarkable. It warmed her chilly heart to see him brighten up from what might've been a dour train ride to the District. She savoured the moment by keeping a watchful eye on him, pouring a refreshing glass of chilled water from the pre-prepared bottle sat atop the table.

“But you’ll soldier on, and find that you do the best you can.”

"You know me well enough by now, Vasco. I won't rest until our District succeeds once more. Our orphanages grow, our victor's village withers. I simply won't have it. I'll kick the Capitol in the balls if I have to." She was mostly joking, it would seem, since her smile hadn't dissipated for a single second.

Whilst speaking, she felt the charge that spurs in only those who have been academically involved within the very District of Three. It's a vehement and visceral reaction to calculus; she'd figured out the very fibre of the conversation, where it was going, how it might land them afterwards. Yet, with Vasco it was always a surprise. It's because their personalities were quite different, yet complimentary. Constance can very well be conniving and manipulative, intentionally or otherwise, yet Vasco seemed kind at heart, and more pure. Perhaps he'd played the game long enough to hide it well. She'd hoped and seen otherwise, though.

She admitted to herself, whilst figuring it all out, that she appreciated his kindness and the visit he'd granted her. It softened part of her that she usually keeps more hidden. Her smiles began to grown more genuine, her laughter less forced, and it was a pleasant moment for the two ascending wannabes.

"You see" she spoke, yet paused. She tapped the air with a finger as though pressing on the point of the conversation. "It's arithmetic, dear Vasco. When one piece moved, so must another. So..."

… what’s next for the Mayor of Eleven? She asked it kindly, yet she was also eager to see what the options were passed mayor. Where else could a measly Districter go?

“I am retiring. Not that there wasn’t work still to be done. But there were some limits that I – well, I couldn’t help but think if I could do more for everyone, not just eleven, I should.”

"Oh, well retiring is nothing to be ashamed of... It's a very valid and-"

“I’m running for the high council.”

She grinned widely. But, it didn't hold. It was fearful for a moment, considering that this was the last thing she'd heard. She almost looked left and right so as to tiptoe her route through the next words. "Vasco, you can't be serious?" Constance's smile had disappeared. "Is that even possible for... Well, us?" She leant forward, though. She wanted to know more. How was this possible, but more importantly, how would somebody from Eleven make it to the Capitol in such a way? "Is there some kind of... Games you'll need to complete in order to prove you're not just District trash?"