how did we get so far gone

Bravo Battiglia // father of three // husband // escort trainee

[brcvo]

chip-foster‌:

Chip just nodded at first before looking at the man with sudden skepticism. “A-are y-you a st-styl-list?”

Bravo laughed. “Oh, fuck no,” he assured him. “Do you think any self-respecting stylist would be seen wearing this?” He pulled on the bottom of his beloved favourite sweater, faded from the wash and about as old as his doomed relationship with Winter. “My ex-wife used to say I look like I buy all my clothes from a second-hand store. Which, frankly...” he looked down at his jacket. “You know, this thing was really stylish when I was your age,” he explained defensively, if a little sadly.

[brcvo]

skyecraiol‌:

“Who are you? Are you another one of my mentors or escorts or stylists? Because I definitely do not need more, I would return some for store credit if I could.” Skye leaned her head on her hand and smirked at this man. “If you can take time out of your busy day of delivering coffee,” she said, looking pointedly at the tray in his hand, “What can you offer me?”

Bravo chuckled. “No. At least, not yet. I’m training to be an escort.” By this point he’d already grown used to the jibes about how he ‘didn’t seem the type’. He was definitely a lot older than the other escort trainees- even the other escorts. But if it meant he had a better chance of keeping his children, he didn’t care. “I will take time out of my very busy day,” he said with a gentle smile, “to talk to you.” From what he’d seen so far, people rarely seemed to just sit and talk to the tributes, as a fellow human being. It upset him. “Hello. My name is Bravo. What’s yours?”

[brcvo]

vegalattimor‌:

Vega chuckled when Bravo spoke so protectively.  It was sweet.  “It’s okay, Bravo.  I don’t need you to say anything to them.  I can stand up for myself,” she murmured softly.

“You’ll tell me if that changes though, yeah?” he checked. Of all the escorts he had bossing him around, Vega was the youngest. She was only four years older than his son. It wasn’t difficult for Bravo to imagine one of his own children in her situation. “Maybe see if one of those nice trainer folks can give you a little ass-kicking lesson. You know, just in case.”

[brcvo]

marinaoakland‌:

Marina nodded.  “I actually never thought about that.  I tend to stay close to the tower once I get here,” she admitted.  “But if you’re willing to show me the best places to go I could always make a new family tradition for them.”  She smiled slightly, feeling a little more relaxed about being back in the Capitol.  “It can be difficult, but it really is all about connections.  I’ll help you in any way that I can.  I’ve been here long enough to know who to talk to.”

“I would love to show you,” he agreed, face breaking out into a grin. “What day works best for you? I’m sure I can get an evening off or something if it’s to spend time with a beloved victor.” He wondered what Winter would think, just in the back of his mind. Would she find out? Would she care? Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. He could do whatever he liked now. “I’ll probably be starting with Eleven or Twelve or somewhere, won’t I? I don’t expect you to jeopardise your own district helping a newbie out. I’ll get the hang of it, I’m sure.”

[brcvo]

skyecraiol‌:

Skye sat down at the tables that were just outside the main area of the training centre. Big glass windows looked onto the stations and she could see all of her competitors practicing and talking to mentors, escorts, and potentially sponsors. Begging for help and money were not what she wanted to do, but as she kept on getting advice thrown at her by the adults that plagued her existence here, she felt it was worth a shot. 

Taking a sip of water, she looked at the stations and said quietly, “What am I going to do?”

Bravo walked past with an empty coffee tray, having just delivered beverages to four separate escorts who were spending time with their tributes in the training centre.

Overhearing the girl, he chuckled and spun on the ball of his foot. “I don’t know,” he teased. “What are you going to do?” Setting the empty tray down on the table, he sat across from her, still smiling warmly. “Seriously though, what do you think you should do? I don’t mind helping you out with it if I can.” He did have places to be and things to do, but he was willing to face the backlash he might get if he took time out of his day to help a child, especially one who might be dead in a week’s time.

[brcvo]

vegalattimor‌:

Vega took the order and chucked.  “I appreciate that, Bravo, truly.  I’m just not used to having any sort of authority or anything, I guess.”  She shrugged.  “It feels weird.  I guess I was just used to seeing the escorts doing nothing and pushing their work on me so I assumed that was how this works.”  Offering him a smile, she nodded.  “I’m sure you’ll do just as wonderfully.  You’re already doing a great job.”

“Who pushed their work on you when you were studying?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest. He might only have known Vega for a few days, but he’d already developed a soft spot for the young girl. “Do you want me to go have a word? Because I will.”

[brcvo]

marinaoakland‌:

“My twins were a surprise.  My oldest, Leona, she’s adopted,” Marina explained before smiling.  “That’s a lovely tradition.  With having to come here right after reapings I doubt I’ll be able to have such a cute tradition once mine reach reaping age.”  No doubt they’d still be coming to the Capitol with her, unless they were too cool for that and wanted to stay back with their Aunt Coral.  Amused, Marina smiled even as she shook her head.  “Oh no, talking to the sponsors about sponsorships,” she explained.  “Most of the sponsors won’t truly decide anything until after the bloodbath ends and they see how the tributes are fairing.”

“You could always take them out once you get here?” he suggested. “I don’t know what you guys in Four like to eat when you get take-out, but I’d be happy to show you some of the best places to go in the Capitol.” Bravo enjoyed sharing things that made him happy with others, and some of his most treasured memories with his children took place at their Reaping day restaurants. “I suppose getting sponsorships for kids is gonna be one of my main priorities as an escort, isn’t it?” he guessed. “Is it hard?”

[brcvo]

Task 003: Don’t You Want to Be Evil, Like Me?

[brcvo]

vegalattimor:

Before the Reaping, Vega thought that the full fledged escorts had it easy.  She thought they just stayed around drinking tea while they made the trainees do the real work.  Now she knew that was bullshit.  Vega had been on the phone, scheduling a time for one of her tributes to get some extra one on one help in the training center.  As she ended the call, she glanced over at the nearest person.  “I severely underestimated how much work goes into all of this.”

Holding Vega’s lunch order out to her, Bravo chuckled. “Should I be scared?” he asked, only slightly nervous. He had a rough idea of the kinds of things that would be expected of him once he completed his training. Winter had made sure he knew, probably in the hopes of scaring him out of trying. “For what it’s worth, you’re doing great. Well done,” he said encouragingly. “Hope I take to it as gracefully as you have.”

[brcvo]

marinaoakland:

Marina smiled.  “Yeah,” she murmured.  “She was a serious surprise for Glitter and River.  I always wanted more than my three, but I was a little too old when I had my twins.“  She smiled at him when he spoke about his kids.  “I can only imagine the relief.  I am so glad I still have a couple years before Leona is reaping age.”  Chuckling, Marina nodded.  “It’s very busy and big, but you’ll get used to it quickly.  Once the Games actually start there is a lot more down time for everyone.  It’s just watching and talking to sponsors.”

“Farrell, my oldest, was planned. Sienna was a surprise, but she was the best surprise of my life.” She was a little more cuddly than her siblings had been at her age, but he didn’t mind. In fact if anything, Bravo enjoyed it. She’d be out partying and kissing strangers before he knew it, and want absolutely nothing to do with him in public. He was determined to cherish every moment she wanted to spend in his company while it lasted. “We go out for curry on Reaping day. It’s been a tradition since Farrell’s first. We can use it as something nice to look forward to, then. You know, ‘if you go to the reaping, you can have a curry later’.” He smiled fondly. It was only day one and yet being away from his kids was already proving the hardest part of having a job. How did Winter do it? “Talking to sponsors?” he repeated, feeling a little bewildered. “Just, like, about the weather and stuff? Do they like that then?”

[brcvo]

chip-foster:

Chip gave the man who approached him a skeptical look, uncertain if he might be a styling assistant or another stylist until the question came out. “J-just av-v-voiding some p-people,” he admitted.

“Cool... cool...” Bravo said, nodding and sliding his hands into his pockets. Truth be told, he still didn’t feel any wiser about the whole situation. “So, um. Can I help at all? With the, uh. The avoiding.”

[brcvo]

Task 001: The Grand Heist

Bravo had everything he wanted: a loving wife, a decent home, and three beautiful children. And he lost it.

He doesn’t want Winter back. He misses what they had, and she will always be the first woman he ever loved, but he knows that they simply weren’t working anymore, and he has no illusions of them growing back together over time.

What he wants now is to try again, this time without messing things up. He wants to fall in mad, hopeless, crazy love. He wants to have a big white wedding. He wants to live in a big, beautiful house with somebody he cherishes and who adores him in kind for the rest of his life. He wants to watch his children grow up into adults, who find the same sorts of loves, and end up the same kind of happy.

Bravo Battaglia is, at the end of the day, an absolutely hopeless romantic.

[brcvo]

marinaoakland:

“Oh I’ve got it,” Marina told him before moving to set the box on one of the tables.  Once she set it down, she glanced up at him and smiled.  “Six is a good age,” she told him.  “My daughters are ten and eight.  Glitter, she’s one of District One’s mentors but she lives in Four with her husband.  Their daughters are twelve, eight, and eight months.  We both have sons too.  It’s very sweet of you to bring these clothes by, Bravo.  How are you adjusting to the tower?”

“Eight months!” Bravo repeated, unable to keep from cooing. “They’re so lovely at that age. I would love another one but... It’s not really a great time...” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Bravo didn’t want to get into details about his divorce with a woman who was still practically a stranger, she didn’t deserve that. “I have three kids. Two girls, and then a boy. He’s fourteen. And Eulalia’s twelve. This was supposed to be her first Reaping.” He’d braided her hair and sent her off into the square with her brother, and then he had cried and cried. He hated himself for feeling so relieved when the twist was announced, but he couldn’t help it. At least his kids were safe. “The tower is... big... and busy. Never realised these escorts basically ran on coffee before today. I’m going to be fit as a flea by the time launch day comes around.”

[brcvo]

chip-foster:

Chip was in hiding. Since his stylist heard he was back in the Tower, he’d been seeking Chip out to try to force the boy to try out some new hairstyles that he had no patience to sit through. When Chip spotted the stylist from across the Tower, he quickly ducked behind a sculpture and stood as still as he could as he tried not to be spotted. It was day one and he was already exhausted.

Bravo watched the victor duck behind a statue and squinted, his curiosity peaked. Leaving his coffee on the table, he slid out of his seat and came to join Chip behind the sculpture. “Are you alright, mate?” he asked quietly.

[brcvo]

osirisantos:

“Thank you. I haven’t eaten anything half decent in weeks. One of the only perks of being here.” He chuckled, though even to his own ears it sounded a little forced. Right now, he’d take being in prison over the gnawing anxiety in his gut, the fear of his impending death in the coming weeks. “I’m Osiris, the Capitol tribute.” He said, extending a hand.

“Good to meet you, Osiris,” Bravo replied, taking his hand and shaking it gently. “What are you craving food-wise? There are a whole bunch of places in here to grab lunch. Fries? Pie?” He cocked his head, “Or are you feeling something more sugary right now?” With a small smile, he added, “It’s your choice. I’ll eat anything.”

[britishgentlemendaily]

I’m an ambitious person. I never consider myself in competition with anyone, and I’m not saying that from an arrogant standpoint, it’s just that my journey started so, so long ago, and I’m still on it and I won’t stand still.

[brcvo]

marinaoakland:

Marina had not expected to run into Bravo, much less to find him carrying a box of hand me downs for the use of the kids on their floor.  Marina offered him a smile, unsure of if the clothes would fit Leona or Oceana.  Maybe she could get them to Glitter for Sapphire or Aqua.  No doubt they were too big for Tetra and Cordelia.  Even if it didn’t work, Marina could take it back to Four with her and donate it to the orphanage or to some needy families in the District.  People were always struggling.

“That is really kind of you,” she told him as she approached and took the box from him, only to set it on the table.  “I’m sure some of these things would fit my daughters, or Glitter’s.  How old is your daughter?”

Bravo handed the box over to her and then stretched his arms across his chest, one after the other. “Have you got that alright?” he asked. It wasn’t an especially heavy box, but the smooth sides made it difficult to carry- or so he’d found, at any rate. “My youngest is six. She’s just finished going through a growth spurt, and we’ve been keeping a lot of her baby things in case we decided to have another one as well.” It was out of the picture now, though. He and Winter were in no position to consider having a fourth child. “How old are yours? And, uh, Glitter’s, was it? Sorry. New here.” He held his hands up in mock defence. “Still working out which kids belong to who.”