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

[whatisay]

funny what happens when i talk to your big brother

[currupted]

Hey, Stephen.

[Light, friendly, not at all urgent.]

No rush or anything. Just-- I wanted to talk to you about the recent changes in the rules. Make sure you understand what this might mean for you.

Message me back whenever you get a chance.

[capitolprivilege]

Yeah, it's a goddamn shame you can't hit any more of my coworkers.

private channel woop woop

[capitolprivilege]

Okay, I'm here, I'm here.

Cyrus, what the hell. You just outlawed sex. You just made fucking a punishable offense. Do you hate fun or something?

[whatisay]

i didn't hit Linden and there's security footage if you don't believe me

besides if your brother's point were made for me it would have brought up the Avoxes. and it didn't. so.

l o l

[capitolprivilege]

Wow, you are REALLY worked up about this. Why so invested in my sex life, Compson?

[whatisay]

if three lines of text message is worked up, you really are a lazy escort

Just hate to see a good family name get sullied is all

[capitolprivilege]

It's not the first time you've brought it up. This is starting to look like a pattern, Compson. Like overinvestment. Like you're a little TOO pleased the competition's thinning.

If I hear you're putting Swann in glitter suits, I'm going to throw up.

[whatisay]

ew

Don't flatter yourself, Stevie. Even if I did swing that way, I dont know where you've BEEN, you probably have off world diseases, plus my clearest memory of you is getting duct-taped into the Doyles' bathroom on a dare

[capitolprivilege]

I'm just saying, this much Don't Sleep With Tributes, Stephen is looking a little more PERSONAL than just looking out for my rep.

[whatisay]

don't worry, I'm sending gloating texts to a few other parties too

[currupted]

Don't be melodramatic. My office did not outlaw sex. This is about professionalism and trust - neither of which can exist when Tributes find themselves competing for their Escorts' favors.

[With a level look at Stephen--]

Do you understand that, or should I explain it again?

[capitolprivilege]

[Stephen sucks in a breath, then lets it out with a frustrated sigh.]

I didn't think it was that much of a problem.

[currupted]

No? You didn't think about how that might be misconstrued? What it might suggest to people, an Escort sleeping with the Tributes whose performance in the Games depends so heavily on their goodwill?

[This is a habit of his - asking questions of Stephen whose answers he knew before he ever asked.]

...Well. Obviously you didn't think about it.

[capitolprivilege]

...jeez.

[He looks more put out than anything else, and more than a little chastised. He knows that's not how it is, knows Cyrus is making the Tributes sound like a pack of wild dogs desperate for scraps, but arguing for Tributes now is something he cannot advisably do.

Still -- he finds himself wanting Cyrus to not misunderstand. He doesn't care about Jason, but despite all the mistrust and dull fear he feels when he thinks of Cyrus's political loyalties, Stephen doesn't want Cyrus to think he's preying on Tributes.]

It wasn't like that.

[currupted]

It doesn't matter how it was. Not half so much as what it looks like.

[Whether Tributes are being preyed on or not, what the intent of the Escorts is, is really secondary to Cyrus. Stephen is more important - Stephen, who stands to lose so much more than his reputation now.

Cyrus pauses, and when he speaks again, it's less short - still firm, but gentle, I know you're not a bad person but this is for your own good.]

...Look. However it was, whatever it looked like-- it has to stop. The consequences for this are very real, Stephen, and you're not exempt from them.

[capitolprivilege]

[He wonders, for a second, if this is another shot at getting him to leave his job.

...but that's crazy. Cyrus wouldn't pass a law so that he would have an excuse to take Stephen away from the Tributes. Besides, no one was being penalized retroactively, and Stephen hadn't been the only one doing it. The law wasn't directed at him, not exclusively.

He sighs.]

I know. If the alternative is losing my job, I can keep things professional from now on. It won't be a problem.

[currupted]

[Of course Cyrus wouldn't pass a law to control Stephen's behavior. ...Just, if a law he passes tends to help him do just that-- if it's not hard to make sure a law does just that-- well.]

You're sure?

[I want to trust you, his tone says, but regrettably...]

It seems to me professionalism's been... something of a problem for you lately.

[capitolprivilege]

[He drags a hand over his face.]

....not you, too. Why is everyone so convinced I have a problem? I don't. It's like everywhere I turn, Tributes and Mentors and other Escorts are trying to stage individual interventions when I am just fine.

[currupted]

Which should go to show you just how many people have noticed. Between the clothes, and the picking fights, and coming back to the Center after hours with god knows who on your arm, and then that stunt you pulled onstage with Flickerman--

[He could go on. He's choosing not to.]

--Are you seriously surprised that people are wondering if it's affecting your job performance?

[Implied, as it has been before: Are you seriously surprised that I'm wondering if you're cut out for this job?]

[capitolprivilege]

[He squirms. It's honestly unclear to Stephen himself how much of it is genuine discomfort and how much is an attempt to appear as reluctantly chastised as he wants Cyrus to see.]

--okay, but the Flickerman thing wasn't my fault. And my clothes are fine. Come on, Cyrus, it's not that bad.

[currupted]

You look ridiculous. I don't suppose you thought about how that might reflect on the family.

[Because of their ages and relative positions, Stephen's often simply known as Cyrus Reagan's brother to those who only have reason to know him for his family's position - which is what they call him in the tabloids where they report on all his antics.]

...But even ignoring that - it doesn't exactly give an impression of professionalism, Stephen. Dragging Tributes with you to strip clubs? Really?

Forget professionalisn. At this point I'd say competence is a stretch.

[capitolprivilege]

[He swallows, looking -- more than chastised. He looks nervous, actually. A little frightened, a little hurt, like he's only just now realizing the scope of the consequences of his actions.

(He isn't. He's known for a while and been willing to take the risk. But Cyrus doesn't need to know how calculated his breakdown was. Or that Stephen is thinking, even now, about how much resistance he needs to put up to be believable.)]

....oh, god. You're serious.

[currupted]

[Now it's Cyrus' turn to look hurt.]

Of course I'm serious, Stephen.

[His disapproval is still there-- but it's less angry now. Just a little wounded, and a little disappointed.]

This is about you. This is about you, and your job, and your reputation, and-- and your well-being.

Why wouldn't I be serious about that?

[capitolprivilege]

[Can I stop, now? Stephen wonders. Have I convinced everyone I'm an idiot enough to let my brother clean me up? He thinks it might work: if everyone knows Cyrus Reagan brought his brother to heel, it'll look like Stephen can barely take care of himself. That he just does what Cyrus Reagan says.

And, honestly, Stephen thinks, Cyrus can probably be relied on to do everything he can to make Stephen look less like a traitor. Taking cues from Cyrus is probably going to be the best thing, here.

...he's glad he's stopping. He doesn't particularly like waking up sick most mornings, and his vanity has taken a terrible beating.]

...but it's you who it's caused the most trouble for. You didn't need me making your life harder, especially when you'd been working so hard on that Tribute legislation.

[He sounds defeated, repentant, and more than a little ashamed.]

I'm really sorry. I hadn't thought it was that bad.

[That last isn't defensive anymore. It's an apology. It's an if I had known, I wouldn't have.]