Watching TV

Walking back into their quiet hotel room Rue slumped herself onto the couch and against her better judgment turned on the TV. With hostilities ramping up between Jara and Lux news channels were flooded with the rising death tolls and propaganda by one side against the other.

Flicking through the fear mongering and hateful opinions being blared at her by the TV she suddenly stopped when she flicked over to a channel and saw Brodie on screen.

Now unrecognizable from his formally unkempt beard and goofy demeanor he was now a picture of poise, refinement and excessive amounts of media training. Stewing as she sat and watched someone who was essentially the only family Kosi had in the world sit and smile playing diplomat on television made Rue seethe.

"So Sir Brodie the second, we've had a laugh with you in the studio here today but we have to adress the elephant in the room" a photogenic blonde woman said. "Sure thing Ms Ridley, lay it on me" Brodie replied flashing a bright white winning smile.

"Um maybe you can do that to me after the show" the interviewer said to a chorus of "ooohs" from the studio audience. Brodie turned to the camera and pulled a suggestive face before playing it off.

"My name's Michelle stop calling me Ms Ridley I don't have my whip. But things that are definitely gonna happen aside" she said leaving a pause in for audience laughter before continuing "as you will me more aware than most, the Jaran reinforcements for the Lux army are off to fight for us today" she said as the audience gave a polite applause.

"It must be a little hard for you to see people you spent twelve years with in that hell go off to fight for us right?" Michelle asked probingly. "I mean I've said it before and I'll say it again life in the caves wasn't bad at all, heck I had countless great days and have countless great memories of my life down there-" he said pausing as he heard the audience applause. "Thank you" he said warmly as he continued.

"Yeah as I said it wasn't bad at all and part of that was the fact that life down there brought everyone closer together. So it doesn't surprise we got an entire troops worth of Jarans to go that just speaks to their bravery and-" "Now to be fair at least some of that was thanks to the new valor rewards system. Was it your idea to extend it to the Jarans as well?" Michelle said interrupting Brodie.

"Um yes" Brodie said taken aback before immediately composing himself. "Talk to us about that what was the inspiration for this" Michelle said holding up the white plastic card Rue, Elise and Jenny had been using.

"Well simply put war is hell. So it makes sense that we didn't really have a lot of new recruits since the war ramped up. So as a thank you to anyone who's already gone and a bit of reason for someone else to go" Brodie said as he reached over and received the card from Michelle"

Holding it up he continued "We introduced a system that enables any soldier while they are here or any declared family member they write in to receive this card that enables them to want for nothing in life and receive anything they want for under 500 bells per day for free until the war ends" Brodie said displaying the card.

"Oof what a sales pitch almost makes me want to sign up. No wonder we got what did you say it was an entire troop of Jarans to sign up. Is food a big culture for you guys? Because there have been videos circulated about how much food the Jaran recruits have been quote unquote buying with these" she asked probingly.

"Come on who wouldn't live it up a little if they were going to a war in a few months. They can and will do anything for their fellow man and as you're seeing now even at the expense of their own lives. They can't see this but" he said as he paused feeling himself begin to lose the audience with his positivity towards Jarans as he turned to the camera and speak directly down the lens.

"Thank you for your service and sacrifice to the Kingdom of Lux. Glory be to Lux and glory be to you in your fight against the Jarans. Lay off the booze a little though guys" he said with a mischievous wink as the audience laughed against their better judgments.

Watching the pandering from her couch Rues anger towards Brodie subtlety shifted to a bit of pity watching him belittle his beliefs for acceptance. Remembering his infectious drive and passion that had changed Kosis life be completely drained from his words and voice she felt reinvigorated to do her part.

Walking over to the bedroom closet she pulled out two boxes that she and Kosi had taken with them from the cave and set herself a goal. Giving Kosi the greatest gift she could upon his return, answers about the murder of his parents.