It’s hard not to laugh at the Riggs suggesting they talk to the rebels about their ideas. Not that she’s laughing at Riggs, but the image of it is hard not to. Not only is Riggs the butt of many jokes in Panem, she’s not much different, either. They don’t have respect or prestige behind them when they’d go to express their concerns. They’d just be two of Panem’s biggest jokes, trying to keep their people safe.
But it’s better than nothing, right?
She continues to laugh for a moment, bringing a finger to press into her eyelid. “I would argue there are many people who are better than us for it, but we might be the only ones who can.” And that’s really all it comes down to in the end. She doesn’t actually think there’s anyone else for the job but them. Which is a bit of a terrifying idea.
“I wouldn’t even know how to talk to them. You think they have an extension on the phone?” She jokes, which always feels weird to her when she makes jokes around Riggs. That’s their thing to do.
But truthfully, how does one ‘bring up the concern’ to the rebels? Do they sit on thrones of their own? Do they write a letter of concern? They seem so untouchable, she wouldn’t know where to begin.
If anyone else had been laughing at a time like this, they might’ve shut down, made some ridiculous joke about their incompetence, and then left as if they had said nothing at all. Aldera, however, is trusted. She’s his team. He doesn’t just trust her, but he respects her opinions and ideas as well.
So he stays, and he doesn’t try to cover up with some silly joke, he just listens. The joke about the extension to reach the rebels isn’t missed, but despite her attempt to make it humorous, Aldera brings up a good point. It’s not as if the rebels are walking around with a name tag announcing themself to the world. “Do you think anyone’s actually made contact with them?” Riggs’ eyes rise from their hands back up to her. “Sure, we’ve had the um...” What were they to even call the various ‘announcements’ these supposed rebels have made? “...heads ups from them about something big coming, but... do you know anyone that’s sat down and talked with them, any of them? Blythe even?”
Riggs thinks then of what they would even say if given the opportunity to talk to them. Panem’s origins were rooted in protection, finding the calm amongst the chaos. That was what he had heard ever since he was thrown out into the fields as a young boy with a pat on the back and a reminder that his work was to help maintain that order and peace so they could continue on with maintaining their protection. “I think it’s fair of us to question their intentions for the future of Panem, including Eleven, before we swear away our loyalties and allegiances don’t you? I might not know of the power they all hold, but the Capitol isn’t a joke. They should be wanting all the help they can get whether it’s just more bodies or getting out the word to our people.”
Ideas of negotiation over the lives of those who can’t even speak for themselves leaves Riggs with a sour taste in their mouth and a small ache in their chest. “You know the hearts of Eleven better than anyone. It’s not just that they should talk to you, but they need to.” Riggs’ voice trembles, struggling through their thoughts and putting them into words that seem concrete and confident. “Taking down the Capitol is one thing, but reestablishing trust in a new government will be a hard thing to do if they exclude an entire district of people. We make them see that? I’m sure they’ll listen.”