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

[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.

[trinkett]

You've got to approach it like a jaguar.

[There. That should help unconfuse things.]

[etudes]

[ .. There's a thoughtful moment, but then she raises her hands a little as if she's trying to pretend it's claws (they're all curled up). And then, with the blankest tone ever.. ]

Gao. [ Sure an intimidating growl, right. Except not really. ]

[happyhungergames]

NO! Not...alright, that's a start. You've got to approach it as though you are meant to conquer it! Even if that means crouching up in the treetops and waiting for the right moment to POUNCE on an opportunity, should one arise! It means being in control.