You're That Dude, Right? {Vasco/Rosie}

[kap]

Desdemona-Rose Nomkhubulwane

'Oh, Rosie? She's such a bitch!' people would say, complaining. I don't take offense to that at this point, though. If anything, it's a bit of a compliment. I do my best to be myself, and seeing as myself is... well... a bitch... I may as well be good at it, right?

Stumbling out of my home, certainly drunk this morning before nine o'clock, I had my sunglasses on and a lollipop in hand. Besides, who liked sunlight, anyway, when they didn't have to deal with it? Plus, if you could have candy for breakfast, why wouldn't you?

Meandering down the streets of District Eleven, dodging things that didn't need to be dodged, like street lamps and benches that were well out of my way, I spotted someone who'd become a rather famous face in the District, and I grinned. The Izars had gained a lot of fame from their kids being murderer, and now this dude was trying to become the fucking mayor. A smirk crossed my face. I popped my lollipop into my mouth for a second, then took it out, approaching this man, whatever his name was (it wasn't important to me) and spoke to him.

"Hey, you're Vascular Izar, or whatever, right? The dude that wants to be mayor?" I said to him. I didn't really care to remember his name, but I'd probably gotten it right anyway. I was told I should get to know the 'important' people of the District more, and that maybe they'd have a good influence on me. Might as well put that to the test, right?

I popped my lollipop back in my mouth and lowered my sunglasses a little bit, looking at the man over the top of my shades.

marguerite harvard d2a (zori)

[Deleted]

The morning had been rather uneventful. As the sun came up and we trudged along the streets, I hung posters with some of the volunteers, and made idle small chat along the edge of the market. There was something nice in getting to know the district folks, and shaking hands. Building a level of trust in us and the work we had done – I was starting to feel quite proud of all that we’d been able to accomplish.

Of course, there were always bumps. Misspelled flyers that went up and had to be torn down. Yani getting sick all over a group of older women in the market and having to apologize for ruining their clothes in front of a group of voters. The time I locked myself in someone’s bathroom in their house because their lock had broken, and I’d had to break the door. More or less I’d had minor wounds for my pride, but I’d pushed through.

Hey, you're Vascular Izar, or whatever, right? The dude that wants to be mayor?

The drawl was one that had me turn my head and stare. I caught myself after a moment, changing to a smile on my face and did my best to make sure that this wouldn’t be a repeat of the Stirling affair.

“Yes, I’m Vasco. It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss –“ I feel as though I’d seen her before, but couldn’t put a face to the name. “I’d love to have a few minutes to answer your questions about what you’d like to see changed for the district.” The sunglasses, the swagger (I’d seen some of my brothers walk like that after a few too many) – I steeled myself for what she might ask. “What can I do for you?”

[kap]

Desdemona-Rose Nomkhubulwane

Pop! That's the sound the lollipop made as it exited my lips again.

"Yes, I’m Vasco." He made sure to emphasize how to say his name without telling me explicitly. I wouldn't have done the same. Regardless, I didn't care how it's said. It's not like I'd remember it. He kept speaking, so my brain forgot his name rather quickly, anyway.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss –" He paused, not knowing my name. Lots of people didn't know my name, and were often taken aback when they learned it. Since it was one of the few things I could remember when I was intoxicated, I thought I'd give him my full name. Besides, what fun would it be to just have him call me Rosie? That was more of a 'friend' thing, and this dude was trying to be mayor, so he probably wasn't my friend. Politicians suck.

"Nomkhubulwane," I said flatly. "Desdemona-Rose Nomkhubulwane. Make a point to remember that one, Vehicular Izar." I said that last part with a flirtatious smirk on my face. It didn't matter how old people were, I liked flirting. It wasn't like I was trying to get anywhere- it was just fun, especially when it made people feel awkward.

Something about questions and what I wanted changed, or whatever, I think he asked. What could he do for me? I grinned.

"I mean, you could probably get me another beer. That'd be nice," I told him. "Although, you might get in trouble, givin' me one of those, come to think of that. Wouldn't want that, would ya?" I paused a moment, my brain foggy.

"Hmm... something I want changed... Can there be like, more people who will actually hire me? I need a job." I then realized that I'd said something about 50% intelligent. I felt accomplished.

marguerite harvard d2a (zori)

[Deleted]

“A pleasure to meet you Ms. Desdemona-Rose Nomkhubulwane.” The name was a mouthful, and I wasn’t quite familiar with her kin. She was more or less intoxicated off of something, and I knew that this wasn’t going to be an ordinary back and forth. She asked for another beer and I gave a wry smile, ignoring my new name. Thankfully she dissuaded herself from needing another. Good call. I’d dealt with worse at family gatherings, though – Bakar often got this way.

“I have a three point plan for bringing good jobs to our district, now that you mention it. And, I’ll be opening a new office for those that wish to expedite their way to a job in another district. A temporary relocation, with a capitol permit.” I was proud of my plan, a piece of legislation that not only could bring folks in but let others get jobs in fields they might have an interest in. Someone might even hire this drunkard. On accident, probably, but such was life.

“There might be folks that come here to hire you – or you might even go to them. How about that?”

[kap]

Desdemona-Rose Nomkhubulwane

It actually surprised me a little bit when the Izar guy got my name right the first time that he tried to say it. The man seemed a little bit uncomfortable when I'd asked for another beer, and also seemed glad when I jumped to asking him a question. Regardless of the fact that I'd changed topics, it didn't mean I didn't still want a beer. The want-to-be mayor immediately jumped into answering my question about a job, and I listened. Well, I listened the best that I could with my distracted mind.

One thing in particular that he said had caught my attention, however.

“There might be folks that come here to hire you – or you might even go to them. How about that?” he said to me.

"So what you're telling me, Vacant Izar, is that I could leave this shit hole of a District and make money?" I was actually somewhat intrigued. Although still quite intoxicated, my brain was making an attempt to process what the man was saying.

"I tell ya what," I said to him. "If you can get me another beer and do that thing where you try to get me out of the District with a job, I'll vote for ya. How's that sound?"

I popped my lollipop back into my mouth and sucked on it for a moment or two, waiting for his response.

marguerite harvard d2a (zori)

[Deleted]

I had heard the criticisms of my campaign. That at its heart, I sounded like a man that while passionate, didn’t have more than a set of slogans to lead the district. Emma and I had toiled hours over what I actually believed, aside from the fact that there were folks that had the power, and that we had none. It’s not enough to inspire, or to feel, Emma had said, You have to show them the way. And I smiled in the kerosene light, and nodded. I wanted to give them all the life that they deserved.

We were conditioned to feel as though none of this mattered – that no matter how hard we tried, there would always be a set of figures in control. Whether the bogey man was the hunger games, the capitol, the peacekeepers, or death itself, we were never in control of our own destiny.

What was the point of all of this if we toiled at the leisure of a higher power that could simply point to us and say I don’t like you, and I’m going to make your life hell?

Except – despite the pain, and the grief, and the sorrow; despite the world that revolved around others, that took our children and made us sink beneath waves; despite a world that could have so easily been unimportant, I was left with the only conclusion I could ever draw:

That in spite of the struggle, we were only defined by our capacity to love. To show that this was not a quest for power. No – any fool could want power for power’s sake. The title of mayor was nothing in my hands. It meant only that I could bring together women like Desdemona-Rose and men like Ikaia and show them, you matter. You matter to me. There is dignity in your struggle, your life. And we are stronger when we work together. Stronger than the invisible hands that twist at power.

“Yes – ladies and gentleman, my plan, my campaign, is that while we have so little, we have so much to gain. The capitol has opened an office to allow temporary work. Which is fine and good because how could you find work in another place if you have never traveled there? Well – my plan is to negotiate on behalf of you, with the mayors, business, and folks of the other districts. To unite us, not pit us against one another. So that you may find a chance to work in a new place.” I grinned flagging a fellow to get the woman a beer.

“And so that you earn what you’re deserved, fair wages for fair work.”