IC contact post

[capitolprivilege]

"Hi, you've reached Stephen Reagan -- almost. This is his phone. Leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can. Okay?"

Comments

[currupted]

[Hear that? That's the quiet, satisfying sound of the world clicking back into its proper place.]

I'm glad we were able to talk about this.

You'll be more careful from now on, right?

[Tell me you're going to be more careful, is what he's really demanding. He wants to hear it.]

[capitolprivilege]

Yeah.

[The tone is a work of art: not too casual to sound sincere, not so heavy it looks like he's exaggerating. He's brightening up, picking himself up, accepting the scolding and forgiveness and moving on.]

Yeah, I'll be careful. I let people down, and I'm going to try to make sure that doesn't happen again.

[currupted]

Good.

[It's the same cycle. It's always the same cycle. Disapproval; rebellion; control; shame; normalcy. This is the way it's supposed to be.

So long as it fits the pattern so perfectly, Cyrus has no reason to suspect anything Stephen's saying of being insincere. Stephen has never broken the pattern before; why should he now?]

And-- I know I said this already, okay. But be careful around Tributes. And if you're ever confused, if you're not sure what's appropriate or isn't - come to me. Okay?

[capitolprivilege]

[At least he's got that permission. Cyrus left fraternization very, very vague, and Stephen knows Cyrus is too smart to have done that by accident. But Stephen decides not to comment on it or ask for clarification. Better to give the impression that he's not thought about it that hard.]

Thanks. If the Capitol wants a more hands-off approach from its Escorts, I can do that.

[currupted]

I know you can.

[A smile.]

--Well. Thanks for talking with me, Stephen. I've got to go; plenty of people with questions, as expected. But I'll catch you later.

[He'll wait a moment, to see if Stephen has anything else to say-- and then he'll cut the feed.]