a commoner and a celebrity [Kirito vs Jimmy Debate]

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

”It’s about time.” Finally, my aide arrives with the nonsense list of pointers for the organised debate, with Mr Miristioma later on. When news of a debate immerged, I was quick on suggesting my component be the victor, the majority of his speech was on defending himself from my little comment. It will be interesting, especially with our joint affairs in the rebellion. I am not sure the Izar boy and the two others would be worthy enough for such battle but it’ll be interesting to watch their own debates.

My aides, two incompetent busy bodies, I didn’t get the choice on who they would be and it is making it rather difficult to share information with the rebellion, I haven’t had the chance to get in contact with Killian. They are with me, every hour of the day, from when I wake to when my head hits the pillow at night. One of them even dared to be my morning call, praising me on the rave reviews of the speech in the newspaper. Obviously, it was all nonsense for the column next to it was a positive review of Sampson Izar’s speech. I’ve enjoyed the parade so far but oh boy, how ridiculous it has been. Such a typical Capitol façade, the only good thing about it will be this debate.

Held inside the Justice Building, to a small selected audience but the television cameras will be rolling for those at home. I’m on the left and Kirito is on the right, strange co-ordination, somebody actually sat down and discussed what side to put us on, like it will make a difference.

I stand up to my podium, across from Kirito, despite my refusal to have cue cards, one of the sly aids has slipped them onto here. How do they do it?

A woman I have never seen before introduces us to the spectators and when she turns to us; I don’t wait for Kirito to throw his punch. ”So in your speech, you said you want to cut working hours and have everybody rotate. Surely that’ll mean that less people will be out in the fields, therefore creating a larger workload. Or do you wish to clone everyone so they can meet your fantasy quota?” I am not going to go lightly on this kid.

[Arrows]

Kirito Miristioma

District Eleven

It was odd, the nature of the campaign course. Although each candidate was fighting drastically, a sense of something was off. Perhaps it was the fact that those who lost wouldn't be killed. Perhaps it was the truth that whoever got this position would most likely still be linked to Kirito and the revolution. There were many things which churned within this campaign that held different candles than what Kirito was use to. Yet for once, he felt as though he didn't need to be afraid. He wasn't burying another family member this time, wasn't going to look a family in the eyes and apologize for their loss. Instead he was going to debate. 

When Kirito had first heard wind of the debates it took him by no surprise that Jimmy would be extending an invitation to him. The entire day before the debate Kirito dealt with the pests of his campaign organizers. They told him things he should say and strategies he should use, he listened to none of it. Inside his mind Kirito already knew how he would handle the debate. Kirito would remain calm and poignant, Jimmy was a respectable man with a history Kirito knew was hard. Jimmy had lived through the horrors of Eleven, he deserved Kirito's respect and honest reactions. 

When the day finally came Kirito prepared one of his grey suits and bathed Anastasia before leaving the house. How quickly his children were growing only inspired worry in Kirito's chest. If there was one thing in the world he wanted it was his children's love, he only wondered if once they knew the whole truth if they could ever love a killer like a Father. Kirito forced the terrible thoughts from his mind while he walked towards the Justice Building. 

Instead, Kirito chose to think about what actually mattered on the grand spectrum. Kirito had lived through the horrors, fought through the war, and knew every possible tragedy this District could deal. The list was endless. That was what Kirito would address this evening, he and Jimmy were gonna show the District they were going to change it. Show it a life it deserves instead of the bloodstained crops where they all currently live. It was time to wash away the scarlet stains.

A kind girl Kirito knew well from his time in this dangerous building showed him to his position on stage. For several seconds Kirito assessed the pedestal to find an outline made by his workers, a single annoyed glance was shot their way before the cameras started and Jimmy opened the debate. With patience Kirito listened to what Jimmy had to say and thought about the best way to reply. When the words finally fit Kirito decided to start with a soft smile, Kirito wouldn't let this be a place of hostility. District Eleven was above such.

"Well to begin I want to thank you Mr. Angelo for agreeing to have this debate with me, I know you are quite busy with your campaigning as well. As for your question, it was actually a point I was hoping to touch on myself." Pausing for a moment Kirito cleared his mind and spoke solely from the facts he had gathered by talking to those who had spent their lives in the fields, those like Ikaia. "First of all the quota isn't a fantasy or of my creation, the Capitol is endlessly growing in addition to our District and all of Panem. I'm afraid it would be wrong to assume the numbers the Capitol will be demanding won't increase. Due to this I came up with my plan, which no doesn't involve cloning everyone, sorry to disappoint since I don't think technology is that advanced yet." A little laugh lifted from Kirito's lips before continuing. "Anyway to clarify my system, the cut to the amount of people on a shift will drop slightly to create hands for the new shifts. Therefore at a given time there will probably be a slightly smaller number of people working in the fields yes, however, with these changes the demands of each individual and crew will change as well. I will not be expecting a crew with less people to produce the same amount as before, I honestly expect a smaller amount. However, since there will be more shifts a day with lesser working hours I believe everyone will be able to meet all of their set demands for a specific shift. When everyone is doing this the overall quota will be met, no cloning needed." 

After answering the question Kirito calmly takes a sip of the water on his podium before asking Jimmy a question of his own. "So, you said you will grant subsidiaries to farmers who divide their land. However, most of the land and fields in Eleven are owned by the Capitol and patrolled by peace keepers. For the fields which aren't, the farmers either already have too small of land to divide or for the very, very few that have quite vast lands yes, they could be divided if they choose. However, many of those few large land farmers are in good standings with the Capitol which allow them to be as large as they are. With such information,  how will you create this new land for the new farmers to farm when most of it is Capitol owned or Capitol allowed, especially when one of the biggest things the Capitol refuses to give up is their property."

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

What an experience it has been. The day I volunteered in the pub during the meeting, I never thought it would be like this. Everything is so constant, dusk till dawn, even during the night when I am trying to sleep. I can’t complain, this must be the taste of what to come. Getting the job isn’t the hardest part, it is keeping it. I’ve seen many mayors in my lifetime, all of them admirable but the District has stayed the same over the years. False promises for change, I am sure the citizens like me are fed up of hearing such lies. All I have to do is prove that I am not like the others; I am not going to repeat the past actions of those who have had residence in the mayor’s house. I can do better than them and I can do better than the boy who is pouring out his bucket of scripted words.

A victor, I am sure he is used to having his words written for him. It’s a gift, surviving the games but I am sure the Capitol has puppet strings tied to them before they even step out of the arena. Brainwashed by the eccentric individuals with their smooth palms and overflowing stomachs, it is such a farce. The only downside to this act is that I am going to have to be in contact with them. Hopefully Killian and his shadows will make a move before I lose my mind.

I give credit to Kirito’s response; they really do have him trained although to me his words feel flustered, so typical of a politician always taking the long route. The citizens want us to get straight to the point, give them strong answers to they can assess it, we have so much information to share, it will be hard for them to handle paragraphs of nonsense. ”The Capitol wants a raised quota and you want less people working shifts, okay Kirito.” I am able to slip in the words as he turns on to attack my own speech. It was inevitable but his response makes me sound like an inexperienced fool, he forgets I once worked the fields and have my own plot of land.

”As a boy, I spent my days out in the fields, my father loaned his own land from the Capitol, I have first-hand experience with the Capitol about land ownership as I inherited that land and still own some of it now.” Dry mouth begins to halt my words and I am ever grateful for the glass that sits on the podium. ”I have negotiated with Capitol officials in the past. They were going to pass my land onto someone else due to a failing crop season although I promised a change in the type of crop, I swapped tomatoes for barley and due to the nutrients from the failed fruit, the barley was the best quality that I ever harvested. The dividing of fields will be a scheme that I will not force onto land leasers but an option. It will allow us to rotate crop more efficiently across fields and therefore creating a larger yield and better quality harvest. Because if a field continuously has the same crop in it, it means the nutrients that the crop needs will disappear from the soil. Other crops leave behind different nutrients. If farmers work together by sharing, dividing and rotating land, we will make better quality products for ourselves and the Capitol. I am positive the Capitol will not give up on the opportunity as they will have greater yields of crops that will meet their ever growing demands. These are common facts and we have failed to use them to our own advantage and well, I want to lead us to take on this change that will allows us to become a stronger District. The Capitol will certainly not forget about us and we will be granted with so many benefits.”

And pause, a quick breather and I turn my attention to Kirito, it’s time to attack. ”As you all know, Victors have their duties during game season and I am sure the Capitol will not be pleased if Mr Miristioma does not meet these duties. The games are a sensitive time for the District, a time where we must all come together in comfort and love and well, Mr Victor over here will be on his train to the Capitol, likely living the life of luxury during the games period. What will you be doing during this crucial time for the District, every year? How do you intend to conduct mayoral duties when you will be partying with the many Capitol residents?”

[Arrows]

Kirito Miristioma

District Eleven

There was clearly something similar Kirito could see within the attitude of Jimmy, a gleam which he had seen countless times before. The man was competitive, but just like a career he was arrogantly so. Even though Jimmy acts as a member of the revolution in his actions for running, Kirito senses he has his own aspirations as well, some men just want power. Yet still while he talks Kirito waits and listens respectfully, unlike his opponent here Kirito wasn't planning on reacting in such clear ways to his statements. Still, Jimmy's answers and questions definently make Kirito's responses all the easier, Kirito was certain the outline in front of him wouldn't have helped anyway at this point.

While Jimmy begins to form a new question Kirito's mind ventures for a moment. Another knife is flying from Wyatt's hand burrowing into Kirito's chest with surreal accuracy. The pain almost fully returns for a second by the time Kirito renters to look at Jimmy once more. In a way he was doing battle with Jimmy, only he wasn't near the same opponent Wyatt was. Wyatt was unpredictable where Jimmy Kirito could conclude which direction he was always taking this debate. It wasn't that Jimmy was unintelligent, he was, he was just doing what every person in Panem had done. He had underestimated Kirito.

As Kirito prepares to answer his next question he first takes this moment to respond to the answer Jimmy had given to Kirito's question. Kirito didn't need anyone or anything other than himself to know what he would say. "I hate to say Mr. Angelo but your thoughts on the Capitol's nature are not accurate. As for crop rotation, that is something even the Capitol has already implemented so yes I imagine we will be keeping it. Back to the Capitol though, if you think they will give up the luxuries of certain crops for certain years because you tell them a crop grows better than tomatoes, your wrong. The Capitol might have given you a concession as a single owner because it makes a slight shift in their daily life, try to alter crop rotation systems all together for easier growing then you will undeniably be shut down. The Capitol likes its luxurious options, its just a fact. Lastly in terms of my question you honestly didn't answer, the Capitol still owns most of the land and even though you and several other families might own some portions of it, even then its Capitol allowed as you know from your deal with them. Therefore again, good luck dividing the Capitol's land and not getting repercussions."

For a moment I pause letting my words sink into the viewers' minds for a second before going to answer his "question". "That's your question? I'm honestly surprised, especially considering the 'games season' as you say is only two to three weeks out of the year. That's the same amount of time a mayor could be out due to an illness. Hence, just like every other Mayor, I will be creating a council full of members I'm certain can help me change this District for the better. Also, while I'm away for those two to three weeks I'm at the heart of the Capitol. In eleven I'll leave my council an agenda and ask for daily updates, as for myself aside from trying to help our District's children get back home to their families, I will have the opportunities to meet with the President and other high Capitol officials face to face and negotiate the changes I want to see happen here in Eleven.  Oh and lastly, while I'm partying in the Capitol with all the highest officials, I don't know, maybe I'll befriend several and get them to push my propositions for the District further. Now, I understand you don't like victors Mr. Angelo but in terms of being in the best position to actually create change, I'm there. When you have a way to travel to the Capitol and push your agenda at least once every year I look forward to hearing it."

As Kirito's words conclude so does the debate. One by one the lights shift off with the cameras and the room slowly empties with Kirito and Jimmy at the back. With a nod to his opponent Kirito thanks him for the debate, it was one Kirito would never forget.