Our lances are but straws {aya}, candidate debate thread

[Sleepy Fluttershy]

Rubia Anemone Lennox

The day is full of joy and sunshine. And for the first time in many days after her nineteenth birthday the girl knows what she is doing. And she is feeling like it is what she is supposed to do, who she is meant to be. She knows she could never be a perfect person, but would definitely make a wonderful politician. The only thing that is really hard for her to endure is her sister teasing her about the mayoral elections and calling her "Your Majesty" all the time. She can't put a stop to that, because she is too busy with campaigning to talk to her parents and tell them about it.

Rubia also isn't really enthusiastic about seeing them, because they are so overwhelmed by her campaign that they wouldn't stop calling her "our Annie-princess" and "Annie-sweetheart" and "honey-curls". In fact, it is getting so annoying that she has started thinking about marrying somebody just to move out of their house, even if it would mean that she has to give up being the one in charge.

However, this particular morning is just awesome. She puts on a beautiful dress and goes outside. It seems to be a nice day to go for a swim and Rubia even struggles a little, because the temptation is enormous. Nevertheless, she manages to take a left turn and head into the direction opposite to the ocean. Rubia is thinking about meeting her fellow candidates and finding out their weaknesses. It would be good to know who she is running against. Of course, she heard the basics about them - their age, their speeches. But it isn't enough. She wants to look them in the eye, talk to them, maybe even convince them to drop out.

Looks like luck is on her side today, because as soon as she reaches the District Square, she spots a familiar silouette in the distance. She gains speed to catch up with the man and adresses him with a friendly smile on her face:

"Good morning, Mr La Torre! Isn't the weather wonderful today?"

She has no idea how else she could start a conversation with a guy twenty-and-something years older than herself, but hopes that what she has said was a good way to get his attention.

[aya]

i've still got some opinions that i'm willing to claim
i'm gonna carry them around like they're some wicked campaign

"Miss Lenox." A statement. No comment on the weather. Still, Ravi sees no harm in offering the girl a polite smile, a nod in greeting.

"I caught your campaign speech. You are certainly focused on the Hunger Games, aren't you." The remark is more statement than question. "This is what weighs most heavily on your mind, then, is it not?" He peers over his sunglasses, looks her dead in the eye.

"Lack of victors." Each measured syllable hits like hail on the tin roof of the shanty he called home in his childhood. He burned the damned shack down himself once upon a time in a fit of fragility.

He removes his sunglasses, stashes them in the breast pocket of his suit. There is no concealing the danger in his dark eyes, but Ravi has no reason to hide.

"I am curious to hear what you'd do better. Surely you must have followed the Games closely. What criticisms do you have of our tributes that could be made right by — what was it you called for? Stacks of money?"

Ravi La Torre knew as well as anyone — better, even, than anyone else — that the Hunger Games could not be won by sheer economic willpower. All the money in the world could not buy a crown, would prevent hubris from spiraling into stupid. Ultimately, it would have cost the La Torres less had Ravi simply taken a torch to it himself.

[Sleepy Fluttershy]

"Miss Lennox."

A very short reply, but it's better than nothing. Rubia scans the man's face quickly for any sign of weakness, but it is telling her nothing. A majestic smile and a nod. He seems arrogant.

"I caught your campaign speech. You are certainly focused on the Hunger Games, aren't you. This is what weighs most heavily on your mind, then, is it not?"

He likes to get straight to business. A practical approach. That is something Rubia would admire if she had time to worship somebody. 

"Lack of victors."

A faint smile runs across her face. La Torre definitely dislikes what she said on that day. She doesn't blame him. How can she?

"I am curious to hear what you'd do better. Surely you must have followed the Games closely. What criticisms do you have of our tributes that could be made right by — what was it you called for? Stacks of money?"

She throws a couple of red locks back from her face. Debate time.

"Oh, that... I can't deny my speech was ridiculous. Most of it, anyway. I was thinking, though, and I still think that money could give some careers more motivation in training. No matter how good they are, there is always room for improvement, you know? However, it is not really my top priority. Not anymore."

[aya]

i'm not a doctor but i'll sell you an itch
i could apologize but then a bit more nothing exists

He quirks an eyebrow.

"I have found that throwing money at a problem always seems like the most viable solution to those who have none." Now sitting on a fortune with no heir, Mr. La Torre is perhaps the man most qualified to make that judgement call. An endless — endless — supply of money poured right into the Games, and what did it get him? A hundred grand left over to send in as it was — boast money, brag money, fuck-you money — and what was there to show for it?

A funeral pyre for District Two trash and a marine flare burned into his Little Gun's forehead.

A rabbit sensing danger — or perhaps a deer too stock-still to do so — Rubia Lennox backpedals, denouncing her speech as ridiculous. Fine. That saves Ravi a great deal of work.

He chortles, but the breathy laugh is insincere as ever. "Others may accuse a candidate who abandons her campaign promises halfway through the election of being disingenuous."

This could only be good news for Ravi. "It is now days before the election and all you have done so far is renounced your original platform. Indulge my curiosity: why do you think that anyone would vote for you?"

[Sleepy Fluttershy]

"Others may accuse a candidate who abandons her campaign promises halfway through the election of being disingenuous."

Rubia looks at him again. Ravi doesn't seem dumb, but he asked the question she was expecting. How did he fall into that trap so easily? Or was it a false move?

 "It is now days  before the election and all you have done so far is renounced your original platform. Indulge my curiosity: why do you think that anyone would vote for you?"

She shoots a gentle smile into the man's direction.

"Well, the explanation of my behaviour is pretty simple, actually. When I decided to run for mayor and started preparing my speech, I was nothing but a lost, but very ambitious ex-career girl, who needed to do something with her life. It has only been a short while, but I am not that person anymore."

Rubia's voice is getting more firm with each word. Everybody has to hear what she wants to tell them. Her heart is thumping, but it is not moved by the fear of being rejected anymore. Being misunderstood is what scares her now.

"You are asking, why people should vote for me. It is because I don't only wish to work hard to reach my goal. It is also because I am ready to actually listen to every person here. I may be young, but I learn fast. And unlike some people, I am not afraid of admitting that I made a mistake and not frightened by having to correct it. I am ready to stand for what I believe in, but I am just as ready to change the course if I am proved wrong. As for money, I do have quite a lot of it, thanks to my parents, so I do know what it can and can't do."

A short pause. Rubia stops for a moment to catch her breath and analyze what she has just said.