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]

[swordprincess]

Well...I'm new to this land, and I really don't know what to do with myself. Would you have any suggestions?

[Written]

[trinkett]

Would you mind listing for me your talents and interests?

[Maybe that would at least be a start...]

[Written]

[swordprincess]

My talent is swordfighting...

My interest...?

[She trails off there. She hasn't thought much about her interests, other than finding Karel.]

[Written]

[happyhungergames]

Your age?

[This would be important to establish.]

[Written]

[swordprincess]

I'm...seventeen.

[Written]

[trinkett]

Have you ever considered becoming a professional...entertainer?

[Written]

[swordprincess]

To be honest...I haven't considered much at all what to do with myself before I ended up here. My only goal was to find my brother.

What kind of "entertainer" should I become?

[Written]

[inyourfavor]

Where I come from, fighters are entertainers!

[Though many are more entertained by nonfighters struggling for their lives. Little children, bloodying each other.]

There could be a future in that here.

[Written]

[swordprincess]

...You mean like duels in coliseums?

[That's pretty much all she's been doing.]

[Written]

[trinkett]

Yes! Only our coliseum is much larger and more complex than any other before in history. You have heard of this type of thing, then, I gather?

[Written]

[swordprincess]

I've been competing in coliseums for...a while. [She kind of lost track of time.]

How is yours more complex?

[Written]

[trinkett]

The Arena spans many many square miles. It may be filled with forests, deserts, lakes, fields -- any given variety of landscapes. And only one competitor ever makes it out alive.

[Except for that one time.]

[Written]

[swordprincess]

...What is the point of having an arena that large?

Only one competitor wins...that would be obvious in a one-on-one duel.

[Written]

[trinkett]

Oh, I'm sorry: two representatives from each District go in to battle for supremacy. It is not one-on-one. Sometimes many are killed at once! But to address your first question, the point is simply to add interest and drama to the action for the massive crowd watching at home. It makes it much more affecting that way.

[Written]

[swordprincess]

So a group of people fighting each other at once?

[That's certainly different from what she's competed in.]

[Written]

[happyhungergames]

Yes! Very courageous young people, I might add! Some of them very highly trained, in fact!

[Most of them.............not.]

[Written]

[swordprincess]

...Only some of them?

[Something just seems off about the way she's glorifying this thing. Or it could be Karla's own dislike towards violence in general...]

[Written]

[trinkett]

Those from Districts One and Two are raised to be professionals!

[The other Districts have to fend for themselves. They are not nearly as privileged.]

We DO teach them some survival skills before they are sent to the Arena.

[Written]

[swordprincess]

...Is this even voluntary?

[Because normally, people would train themselves about these things if this was what they wanted.]

[Written]

[inyourfavor]

No. But it is a great honor to be chosen.

[Written]

[swordprincess]

So do I have this right...?

People are chosen at random, only a few are professionally trained, and only one comes out alive?

[She does not like those odds. If the losers could at least continue to live, it wouldn't sound so terrible.]

[Written]

[trinkett]

Yes! You should SEE the response of the crowds! It is a very emotionally moving experience for all. People are affected for weeks afterward! It is very healing for Panem.

[Written]

[swordprincess]

For those watching, I suppose. The point of view must be different for those who experience it.

[Written]

[trinkett]

I suppose.

[It's an offhand answer. Effie hasn't had much cause to think too deeply about what the Tributes experience. A false glory manufactured by the glitz of the Games veils that pain. Residents of the Capitol become insulated by it, experiencing instead an emotional release entirely separate from what the Tributes are feeling.]

Would you ever be interested in competing in something like that?

[Written]

[swordprincess]

...Not particularly. I'm not too fond of killing, or the overwhelming possibility of dying.