The Drink of Truce {Chaos & Elliot}

[cameo]

Chaos Aqua

45th Maze Victor

Seems as though every year that I’m forced back to the Capitol, I return aged like it’s been another decade. Yet the baby face reigns despite, as if I’m a porcelain doll growing weary with every day of neglect that passes while it’s left upon a shelf - especially with how the Capitol transforms my appearance to be proper on how a Head Maze-Maker should represent. With the stress of being a Leader of the House, a Survivor from a Maze, and now a Maze-Maker, it should come at no surprise to why I look like a thirty year old with an infant’s facial demeanor. Certainly Lightning carries the burden of all that I do, but being in his prime of youth and dream of Love - I take on as much as I can from him without him knowing. Especially since his Girl’s about to face exactly what murdered our baby Sister a year ago, which is exactly what keeps me up at all of the moon’s hours in contemplation.

Truth be told, I don’t even really like this Chris girl. She brought drugs into the house before I even met her, putting our family at risk of her stupid gang - and dazed my little Brother into allowing this! She comes from a horrid background. She’s sarcastic. She thinks she’s a badass. Yet somehow she’s an amazing mother figure. She’s exactly like me, and I despise it. There’s only enough for one Chaos within this family. But for some reason my night’s are restless in determination on how I can ensure she makes it home to my Brother.

The Viewing Room within the Training Center isolates me at night, with Lightning spending as much time with Chris and Graham as he can. Frustration fuels me with anger and more spite on Snow’s twisted ways. We were promised permanent safety for our Siblings if we were to control this Maze, and that little snake puts in Lightning’s Girl without us even considering her exact words prior. And now it’s up to me to ensure Snow does not take another from us.

“Took you long enough to get here, Elliot. Decided to sell a couple pills on your way down?” A smirk slithers across my lips, to threaten my knowledge of everything and everyone. “Now I know I said Runners from my District will not be drinking until after the Maze, but just one? I won’t tell if you don’t.” Is offered to him while the offering is actually being poured. Usually the carrot works better then the stick, but it’s hard to predict with this one. “So just to amuse me, do you have any idea why I sent for you?” I question with curiosity of where his head lies, to see if my proposal will be met well - or if I should cut it before even breaching it to words. With wonder gleaming from my dark blue eyes, I hold out The Drink of Truce.

[tom]

Elliot Alescio

Give it to a drug dealer to get into more trouble than anyone else. He's already tried to fight a trainer who bugged the shit out of him. Already took some alcohol for himself the night before as it was the only thing he really wanted before being sent to a maze with horrors that only people can imagine. The real terror was going to become a horrible truth for him, but he didn't care because he was already screwed from the beginning. Cris was his partner, while Lightning had a thing for her, so they were going to focus on her survival over his own. A fist slams into a wall because fuck them. Fuck this. Fuck everyone. Anger was already coursing it's way through his system as the fact that she sent for him. Elliot hated them more than anything, in this moment, even if they weren't exactly the worst people. They were just selfish. Caring for their own kind than the others who have to suffer every day of their lives.

Father would have told him to be polite and make a mark, but he didn't care what he said. If he won, he'd disown his father and become his own person in a home so empty where he could do fuck all. They lead him away from the training area where he gives a glare to the District Six female who was eyeing him curiously like she was worried for his hand that had hit the wall. Fuck her. All he does is move past without a look back. They lead him down hallways that seem to have no end with bland walls of the capitol. Everything was highly advanced and only annoyed him more. The queen of the maze resides in her throne waiting for him to show because she called. Instead of the anger in his skin, he gives a small smile of possible friendliness. She was the one who had all controls over his life. Might as well suck it up as long as he was there for.

“Took you long enough to get here, Elliot. Decided to sell a couple pills on your way down?” A chuckle comes from his throat as her smirk says she knows something about him.
He didn't care if she knew what he did. His father knew and hated it just as much, no one could bother him for what he did. The small smile falls into a glare as he watches her carefully. Words falling from his own lips. "Took you long enough to threaten me with information that I don't mind being out there? And I did sell a nice amount of pills to one of your trainers. Told me he'd love to have them while dealing with us brats." The smile pulls up on his own face as he gives her a 'fuck you too' smile that he's mastered over the years. Then there's an offering to him, something that was bait most likely. She wanted something form him. He could read it across her face as clear as day, but he already had an idea of what it was. Everything had to do with his old friend who was more important to the Aquas than Elliot Alescio. “Now I know I said Runners from my District will not be drinking until after the Maze, but just one? I won’t tell if you don’t.”

A shrug as he takes the glass of alcohol in his hands taking a sip from it as he stands holding it gingerly. He just nods his reply because if there's one thing that people knew about him is he doesn't break his word. He hasn't yet to this day, but he wasn't going to do anything she wanted with just some alcohol. The smile on his face leaves as her words come once again. “So just to amuse me, do you have any idea why I sent for you?” He did. At least, he had a few ideas on what she wanted from him. Instead of speaking, he chugs the glass of alcohol down to feel a slight burn in his throat. Eyes glancing back to her as he places the glass nearby. Voice escapes his throat.

"Guessing this is about you brother's precious Crystal? Want me to protect her or something. At least, that's what I'd be looking for if I were in your shoes?"

Then he stops for a moment before giving a teasing smirk as the words fall from his lips.

"Or you've noticed how handsome I am and want me."

Then the smirk falls back into seriousness with a glare in his eyes as he speaks one last time.

"Whatever the reason is, you better tell me now. As I don't like my time being wasted."

[cameo]

Chaos Aqua

45th Maze Victor

Words coil from my requested visitor in a lushes song, though it was truly no musical beauty of a pitch. A sarcastic claim bites back in response to my own, surprised that a threat hadn’t breached from my lips sooner. Eyebrows curve upon my features in curiosity and slight confusion. Has the years of my existence crafted me into a intimidating opponent? Or had the newly forced label of being a Maze-Maker tattooed me with such? A petite smile curves across my lips in response as I continue to absorb his comments, which switch into growing that very smirk at his following humorous tune.

“You guys are a bunch of brats.” An agreement kindles between us sarcastically, and hopefully so with the curves of my voice and enhancing grin. “I was one three years ago to. Still am one, if we’re being honest…” Comedy continues to spew in hopes of lightening the mood. “But my gratitude for easing one of my Trainers, they need it. I need them in top shape to train all of you.” More words wish to carol, desires for all to perform beyond their capabilities, the hopes of succeeding the maximum of allowed victors. But all walls had ears, especially so in the Capitol, and already I’m planning to deceive Maze-Maker regulations.

Thoughts return to a previous statement that Elliot had made; and despite craving to maintain the atmosphere as comical, there’s a need to address his potentially mere joke. “But my knowledge is no threat.” Not yet. Not unless it has to be.

The drink of our truce is guzzled before an agreement even protrudes to a possibility. Purely did I seek to graze across where his thoughts may linger, and it’s uncertain if that’s swallowed with hatred or interest. No matter his opinion though, he pinpoints my need without even a single fault or uncertainty in his tone. Knowing all was precious, while having another with such power is distasteful. Still my features remain sturdy in it’s stance, strong with a slight smirk lingering - which grows once more with Elliot’s next chunk of words.

Cheeks squint in wonder, as my eyes registered the very face that Elliot’s titled as handsome. Surely pristine genes grace him without a doubt. Within a pub back at home, with strangers identifying him to no name, flirts and certainly more would spark between us. Hell, if events would have been different last Maze then my decision may be different now. But a connection already ties my Brother to one of the Runners. And even if the majority of my affairs linger with no strings, it’s not a risk I could take.

Internal debate can’t roam for long however, as he claims the value of his ticking away time. A sip of my alcohol curls down my throat in riddance of my inappropriate considerations, and again I fill our glasses. “Handsome, yes. Wanted, yes. But only to protect my Brother’s girl.” Expression doesn’t falter from the fear of his reaction; unwilling to give away my hand as he has with his constant fade and kindle of his grins. “It’s no secret of the connection they have. The slightest attempt to help her in the Maze would cause grave danger open Lightning and myself. If anything, we have to hard on her to avoid favoritism. You, however, we have no link to.” The obvious is declared, followed by another gulp of my drink in hopes to numb my boiling nerves. “If you just so happened to want to help your district Partner, I’m sure none would cause a riot over a favored ruthless career being cared for?” And with that the proposal is offered, and my breath is held.

[tom]

Elliot Alescio

Refilled glasses and an offer in the air, ready to be taken or denied. Careers and favoritism, sounds like a mixed up mess of a time. Trouble is all it was. Trouble that could lead to his ensured death in the end, even if he made it out with Crystal. Either way, death seemed to be the only option for him lately. Smirk fades as his thoughts take over of little kids and dumb games. How he had loved to play those dumb games and remember the good times of his mother before her inevitable overdose. Crystal used to be cute back then, she still was, but he'd never admit it out loud. They had been rivals for years before Lightning Aqua became a hot shot. All he does is smirk as he speaks up to the air.

"A brat known as Chaos, what irony that must have been. You still are one, trust me."

A wink comes from him as he continues to smirk at her.

"Good thing I know how to make brats behave."

A dumb joke that probably won't land, but he doesn't care. The words of Chaos still echo in his ears, benefiting to a ruthless career rather than Crystal could work. Unsure of his answer, he sips from his drink, thinking about what more he could get out of a deal like this. The trainer that he sold pills to, would have told him to accept any and all offers given to him, but who trusts a fucking guy who is high. A moron is who. His father would have told him to do anything that made a mark in the maze, to prove he wasn't the weakling that his father thought he was. Elliot was never weak. Elliot was handsome, strong, and always knew what to do, except when it came to feeling a little tipsy already from drinking before he came there a tiny bit and dealing with a decently attractive gamemaker who was around his age. A sigh falls from his lips as he sets the drink down in front of him, letting words slip off of his tongue.

"I don't know."

No confusion in his voice, but his mind is jumbled on the idea. Sure, he liked Crystal. Sure, Lightning seemed like a decently cool dude. There's still something that doesn't sit right with him yet. What would the capitol think. What if Snow had found out, he would be screwed, but what more was there worth losing. A smirk filled his face once more as the liquid courage begins to take over a little too quickly. Eli knows he's an attractive guy, plus his fist was hurting from earlier. He knows that he could get any girl that he really wanted, but right now, his mind was fuzzy. Confusion in his mind as liquid courage takes over.

"You sure that you only want me for your brother? I can see the way you eyed me up."

A smirk as he blinks once more.

"I could show you how ruthless I can be, sweetheart."

[cameo]

Chaos Aqua

45th Maze Victor

The creep of a liquor’s impact begins to curl thoughts, conjure jokes, and kindle flirts. Control of sobriety threatens to slither from the grasp of my fingertips, yet another hefty sip rolls down my throat despite. Teasing words differ from the annoyance my requested visitor just previously contained seconds prior. The briefest sigh of a chuckle seeps past my lips in automatic response to his claim of making brats behave. It surely isn’t every day that my company maintains guts to say such a thing, let alone when the intimidating label of head maze-maker titles me. The rim of my glass lingers a touch upon my lips, seeking to brush off his bravery before swallowing more of the influential substance that’ll impair my ability to negate his ways later.

“You’re lucky I’m in need of your assistance - or I would not allow for that comment to slide.” Is claimed just to state the power I should pertain. Because would I actually deliver consequence to an innocent flirt otherwise? Hardness coaxes my exterior with brutality, while internally there’s no desire to see any form of hardship upon another. And even if I wasn’t at his mercy, would I even object to his seek to seduce? Another sip that I do not need coils past my tongue.

The alcohol dramatically flutters my heart in an unpleasant manner, though it’s not due to Elliot’s sugary taunts. Uncertainty on the offered agreement rattles past his thinned lips, which leaves the beat of my existence rattling as well. And given a break from consuming more alcohol is desperately needed to maintain my composure, I down the remainder of it instead. A nightmare has encircled my brother since his welcoming into this cruel Panem, what will it take to prevent another terror upon his reality?

Distance from the one causing my thoughts to wield in numerous directions is gained when I breach from my seat to retrieve a different concoction to drink. My guest’s cup is carried away as well, to brew a new blend of alcohol for the both of us…because clearly that’s exactly what we need. But despite the consequences it may craft, it does never fail in assisting my need to conjure up pristine responses that often achieve my desires.

Varies ingredients are poured mindlessly to be one of the numerous mixtures my bartending friend had taught me in the past. And while my smart decisions currently remain absent in how conquer my need to protect Chris, more flirtatious remarks from Elliot remove the stressful silence between us.

Despite my cool demeanor, and strive of a stern pokerface, he jokes of me eyeing him in an unthreatening manner. A grin returns to my concerned cheeks though it’s not permitted, and objection doesn’t curl within my voice. He offers to illustrate just how ruthless he can be, while his tone doesn’t imply the violence of hatred. “You are ballsy, I’ll give you that.” Is complimented, followed by another unforgiving sip of my brew.

Hesitation should coax me. Intimidation should spark from my lips in an order for him to leave. But none of such happens. Was it in need to convince him to do as I say in protecting Chris? Or another reason altogether? Either way I return from the distance of the bar, and offer him yet another drink that I refused him just days prior on the train here. “I’m sure it’s universal knowledge that a Maze-Maker should not fool around with one of their Runners? So why the tease, Elliot? Desire? Power? Or a need to see me killed with my Runners?” Is questioned with retrieval to the curiosity in what I don’t actually know already.