Third Dispatch. I have Advice. Written.

[trinkett]

Dear Luceti,

My efforts to gain notice by the Malnosso Organization for my considerable human resources skills have not been enough, I fear.

To this end, I shall be offering my services free of charge: Effie's Advisements. No problem is too large or too small! We shall overcome -- together.

Most Sincerely,

Effie.

[That signature has a very elegant flourish to it.]

Comments

written;

[etudes]

That sounds great. I'm sure a lot of people would love to use a service like that. It's so kind of you to do that.. [ Did you just miss her reason for doing it, Kotomi. ] Can all problems really be solved like that?

written;

[trinkett]

Hello, Kotomi-chan! Not EVERY problem, of course -- I do not propose to solve problems, only to give advice. Did you need some, dear?

[etudes]

Well, I guess there's something I was still a little worried about and since you're so smart I'm sure you know.. Do you maybe know how you can hide from bullies, Ms. Trinket?

[trinkett]

[Bullies again! Hmph!]

WHO exactly is bullying you, dear?

[etudes]

Someone was talking on the journals about how there's a monster-person attacking people at the bar.. he's a bully for sure, isn't he? Attacking other people isn't nice at all!

[inyourfavor]

That is CERTAINLY not nice! Has no one at that establishment stepped up to confront him?!

[etudes]

I don't think so. I mean, if someone had, then they probably would have done it right away, right? But someone was talking about him as if he's been there for a while already.. it sounds really, really scary.

[inyourfavor]

My advice? Stay away from the place! There's no need for you to indulge in drink anyway! You'd best stick to plain water, Kotomi-chan. Stick to water and avoid scary places where spirits are served. No one ever came to a good end drinking lots of hard spirits.

[etudes]

[ Wow.. that does sound really smart! If she doesn't go near it, then she won't have to deal with it, right? .. Ah, wait-- ]

But what about the people who do go there? Someone really important to me goes there sometimes and I don't want him to get into trouble either.

[trinkett]

He does, does he?

[Hmm...]

Where I come from, important people hire skilled bodyguards to protect them against bullies of this kind. Is there a chance he can find such a person here?

[etudes]

I don't know, but.. even so, won't the bodyguards get hurt because of the bully..? O-or are bodyguards bully-resistant?

[happyhungergames]

I think they are TRAINED to be particularly difficult for bullies to defeat. I haven't been here very long, dear, but long enough to see that your friend will have his pick of folk with special powers.

[etudes]

[ It's sort of sad how Kotomi hasn't picked up on that fact yet, despite being here for over a year now. ]

Special powers..? Like the kind you read about in stories? But those aren't real, are they? [ She knows Ikki can make fire but at least that's a little more normal to her. ]

[trinkett]

They're real here. I even know of a man who fights VAMPIRES.

[etudes]

[ Vampires?! There's a noticable shocked reaction at that. ]

N.. no way.. s-so vampires could be real here too? But vampires are real bullies too in the stories..!

[trinkett]

They ARE real here! And you will want to avoid them, dear!

[etudes]

I.. I will avoid them.. [ She's totally shaking. So much that her handwriting is clearly shaky too. ]

I don't want to meet people like that, not at all..

[trinkett]

Good girl! Avoiding is excellent. I commend your decision!

[etudes]

[ At least the compliments make her feel quite a bit better. Enough to smile, either way, even if it's blankly, her chest filling up with a warm feeling. ]

Thank you.. did I really do something that smart? I'm so glad..

[trinkett]

Self-preservation isn't just a matter of smarts, you know.

[Even those in the Capitol must learn the ways of self-preservation. It's not reserved for the Districts alone. It's far less "basic," though. Far more subtle.]

It's got to be built into your whole being.

[etudes]

.. In my.. being..?

[ She repeats the word slowly as if she's still testing it out, pressing her hands onto her own chest as if she's trying to feel her being right now. ]

How do I get it in there? Is that difficult..?

[trinkett]

[This poor girl needs so. Much. Help.]

Oh dear, dear. I think one day soon you and I should get together and start at the very beginning!

[etudes]

R.. really, all the way at the beginning? [ She looks a little worried. ] Is it because there's something wrong with me that I need to start back there..?

[trinkett]

Shhh! No! Stop! Let ME worry about the beginnings. You've simply got to begin rethinking how you approach the world.

[etudes]

[ .... She's apparently already starting on thinking judging from her pause. ]

Should I maybe approach it from above instead..? That might get difficult, I'm not a bird.