It was bound to happen some time - OTA

[averygoodshot]

Aramis keenly remembers teasing Porthos when he had stepped through the door and become a woman. He had teased d'Artagnan and even Athos.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. He had not intended to do anything, really. He spent a good deal of his time praying, a good deal of time trying to atone for his sins.

Instead, this is what happens.

Much as his friends had, he has hitched his clothing tighter so that it may not fall down, and has fashioned something of a harness for ... well, for his new developments, as it were. He knows he could seek out Constance or even, if he was desperate, Milady, but he is not that desperate. He simply makes do and tells himself that God has a reason for everything.

He has always appreciated women and so maybe this is to test that? Who knows. Aramis does not question, at least not much. He is aware, though, that he looks a little foolish, his hair tied up, his clothing, baggy on him as a man, is like a series of large sacks on him, his boots far too big as he makes his way down the hallways. He smiles, though, not having a hat to tip, as he greets people. He knows he's not the only one who's suffered thusly. That's something anyway.

Comments

[averygoodshot]

"Good." Now, Aramis needs both hands to carry the drink and plate, but Cinna is welcome to lean on him as they make their way slowly down the hall.

"I am adjusting to this smaller gait," he admits with no little rue. "That is what I suppose I can warn you of: a door may lead you to a room or even to your room, but other times, it can take you back to where you are from, or some random place, or ... something like this." Like being a woman.

"For instance, one time I found myself on a sandy beach somewhere where they served quite frothy and cool drinks." And the view had been quite nice, too.

"I know it can be frustrating finding oneself here," he notes as they get closer to the room, "however, it could be worse."

[designerebel]

"You make a beautiful woman and a very handsome man." Cinna says, not thinking about the fact that he shouldn't know how handsome Aramis's true self is. He shouldn't know Aramis at all. But he does. He knows him well. It's difficult not to at least try to reassure him. That much is in Cinna's nature. "Surely this state will eventually pass and you will return to your usual self."

Listening to the explanation of this place, which seems like an outdated hotel to him, is nice. It's important information that he files away. "Even our rooms that are our own can change?" It's magic. It's inexplicable. But Cinna cannot go back to his own home. His fate in Panem is sealed. He will have to look before he enters.

"Yes, it could be worse." Cinna's current state is proof of that. "But what is our purpose here?"

[averygoodshot]

"That is the rub," Aramis says, offering a small wry smile. He is an attractive man and so the statement doesn't seem out of place. The compliment, whether it should be or not, is welcome. "I do not know why we are here. This place doesn't seem to care if we have responsibilities or things that need to be done, or those we need to see. It seems entirely random. Still, he doesn't understand it.

"I'm sorry that I don't have better news for you. Here we are."

Cinna can reach out and open the door, finding a room that is probably very much like his room had been either in Panem or Teleios. "Let's get you settled first, however, and I will try to answer your questions as best I can. I hope not to be too terribly frustrating."

[designerebel]

It would have been too much if it was his room in Teleios, a place that he had been safe and comfortable, a place that had felt like home, a place he had shared with another person. That would have sent him over the edge. And this is why he is both thankful and has to marvel at the room as it is his from Panem.

The room is white with sleek modern lines and very little personality. Freedom of expression in Panem is a dangerous thing. Cinna, a double agent, could never afford to draw attention to himself outside of his craft. The walls of this room can depict any scenery or color he wants with the push of a button. Out of the window is the entirety of the Nexus.

His clothes are bloody and he looks to where he closet would be. It's there. The sliding door is shut. Will it be full of clothes? His clothes? Cinna sits down on the chaise lounge and catches his breath.

"You have been more helpful than I deserve." But then, he would expect no less of Aramis. "Thank you."

[averygoodshot]

"I have some practice tending to wounds," Aramis offers, setting down the food and wine. The room is full of sharp lines and hard surfaces. He much prefers wood.

"If you do not mind my looking. Or if you do not mind telling me what might have happened?"

He doesn't see any bullet wounds, after all. There just seem to be wounds from a quite thorough beating.

[designerebel]

Cinna dips his head, pressing his fingertips to his brow where a particular wound still aches fairly badly. The spiked gloves the Peacekeepers had worn had been brutal. He remembers being dragged off to the sounds of Katniss's screams -- for more torturing he supposes. President Snow seems to find a sadistic sort of pleasure in the torture of those who oppose him.

"I was beaten. Nothing more." Cinna answers. But it was a lot more than that. He would be dead. He already knows. It's an inevitability. Snow can't let him live.

He looks up to Aramis and shakes his head. "There is nothing to be done. I'll lie down and rest and heal. I can ask no more of you." There is also the matter that he doesn't enjoy depending on or being in anyone's debt. "I will find a way to repay you for your kindness someday."

A pause, as he remembers how Aramis had seemed so alive once his friends had arrived in Teleios. "Are you alone here?"

[averygoodshot]

"My comrades are here," Aramis tells him, brows still drawn in concern. Cinna seems like a very, very nice man and has clearly suffered trauma. He owes Aramis nothing. "I was actually the last of our group to arrive, he says, bringing over the wine for Cinna to drink; it is the least he can do. "The other had been here - more or less - for nearly a year when I was here."

He gives his head a shake, tucking a lock of hair behind his ear. "I do not claim to understand time here. It seems to stop, picking up when we return to our homes, no matter how long we have been here."

[designerebel]

Cinna nods, glad for Aramis. He'd only just begun to understand how important the others were to Aramis, the many layers that went with that, but he likes that Aramis is not alone. Of course, thinking of Porthos makes him think of Grey and how he had looked up to the other man and therein lies a spiral that he can't allow himself right now.

He takes the offered wine, appreciating the familiarity of it. A part of him wants to drown himself in the glass. He can't allow himself that though. So he sips an appropriate amount, absolutely proper about it.

The way Aramis describes this place is familiar. Still, Cinna cannot go home. But he remembers Katniss and other friends telling him tales of how they went home and no time had passed. They returned having not missed a thing. Cinna nods his understanding, seemingly not surprised by it. "I cannot go home."

Drawing a deep breath, he lifts his chin a bit. "I will try to make the best of my time here. Perhaps you and I will be very good friends." As they once were.

[averygoodshot]

"I hope so," Aramis tells him, gently and sincerely. "I can be found via this communication device," he adds, showing Cinna the one that his room has for him. "I cannot claim to understand how it works, it is far beyond my time, but it is quite efficient. I will, if you do not mind, come to check on your in a few days?"

[designerebel]

There is a brief flutter of hope in his chest when Cinna thinks of communication devices. Grey. There is no bracelet on his wrist and that hope is immediately gone. Of course there's no bracelet. Of course not. Silly to think of it, really.

"It looks like something that might be from my time." He says with a nod. "I'm certain I can learn it well enough." Although, he's thinking he might just sequester himself into this room for a few days at least, to heal, to mourn, to find the ground beneath his feet.

He nods at Aramis, unable to turn the offer down even though the thought crosses his mind if just because Aramis must have his friends here to spend time with and he has done so much for Cinna already. And maybe, without those he loves, Cinna just wants to be alone. So agrees, with a slight addendum. "But please, don't go out of your way. I'll be alright."

[averygoodshot]

"I am sure you will be," Aramis says, his expression warm, concerned and inquisitive all at once. "But it will hardly be an inconvenience."

Seeing as he's been sequestered himself most of the time, praying, there is hardly a social calendar to be impinged upon. "If you need food or anything else, don't hesitate to reach out. After all," he says, "we all closed in here together."

He smiles as he says it, but it's not always a source of joy.

"Until then, I shall let you rest and look forward to seeing you soon."

[designerebel]

There is something comforting in having Aramis here, even if the other man has no idea about the comfort or the why of it. It almost makes Cinna feel like he isn't alone. Although he thinks the Aramis he knew would have stayed and held him for a bit, if just an arm around his shoulders. What a good friend and confidant Aramis had been.

Cinna nods and shakes what was from his thoughts. He needs to focus on what is... at least until he is alone.

"Thank you very much, Aramis. Your kindness will not be forgotten. And I hope your transformation rights itself soon if you wish it so." Cinna offers.

Once Aramis is gone, Cinna moves to his closet. It takes him a lot longer than usual to change into some clean clothes but he accomplishes it. Then he crawls into his bed and will sleep for some time. Then he'll lie there. Then he'll sleep again.