trinkett | Fourth Dispatch: It's Not What You Think. Voice.

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Fourth Dispatch: It's Not What You Think. Voice.

Dear Fellow Residents of Luceti,

Wouldn't it be entertaining to put on some Games here in Luceti? Not that the Cultural Fair wasn't amusing, or any of the other activities going on here -- but true gladiatorial games. The pitting of one creature against another! Think of the thrill and drama and the release that goes along with that sort of entertainment! And here in Luceti we are ideally suited for a very exciting Games indeed.

Who would you sponsor or volunteer for this entertainment? Or would it all be...

[There is a pause here.]

Pokey-mans? I find human beings MUCH more interesting to watch, personally.

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[This is terrifying. Effie can only sputter out in return:] What? I never -- I never said killing!

Gladiators fought to the death. I've done research on them here.

If you want something gladiatorial, you want something with killing. And I am not letting this place have a Games. Not unless you go into the first one.

Get it?

[Pity Cato.

He's the one sitting in the same room as the girl growling at the journal, barely holding in a very, very violent rage.]

Yes, I think I've got it. [She hadn't wanted killing, either, but now she feels shown up by some mere girl.] I expected more from a tribute from District 2. Really.

I've been in the Games.

[She's calmed down a little. Tiny bit. Deep breaths and gripping her knife tight have her more focused. So, she takes a deep breath and tries to sound more at ease.]

They have a purpose in Panem. They're for a purpose, more than entertainment. Here, they wouldn't mean that.

People would misunderstand.

[Oh, she knows all about that purpose. That purpose is, to some extent, her purpose -- everyone's purpose in the bureaucracy and upper echelons of power. It's proof against insurgency, but even Effie has notions that that proof could still crumble.]

They already HAVE misunderstood. Greatly. Thankfully I'm adept at issuing speedy corrections and informational updates.

It's different here. They don't understand sacrifice, and I can't agree with doing it here. It won't mean anything, you see.

[She's now trying to be diplomatic. As if she didn't just tell the other woman she'd kill her if she tried to make anything like the Games happen here.]

[It's cool, Clove. Effie still respects you as a District 2 Tribute.]

They certainly don't! Nor do they understand any kind of organized entertainment. Even athletics! You would think that even the once-celebrated, now-antiquated TEAM sports would garner SOME interest.

...Someone tried to explain "soccer" to me. It sounds like a waste of time.

[Because yay new topic. So she can at least bury the evidence of the crazy from the Capitol person.]

[There is no better topic than soccer for burying the crazy.]

I have been researching in the library. Apparently "soccer" involves falsifying injuries to an absurd extent whilst trying to kick a ball into a goal.

It could be interesting....

There are... five? people per team. Or something. I think two teams. Kicking a ball back and forth between their group and trying to get it into a goal? While the other team does the same thing?

I just... don't get the point. What do you get if you win?

In some versions a human head is used?

[DOES THIS HELP, CLOVE?]

...I don't anyone here would go for that.

[Or even her, for that matter.]

Probably right about that. [Because gross, human heads.] In another version, the players are on horseback and a goat carcass is used.

...And they think Panem is strange.

You know -- I'm starting to think Panem is strange.

[BUT DON'T TELL ANYONE SHE SAID THAT, CLOVE.]

It's... [This is hard for the Career, too, Effie.] It's different.

From almost everyone else's. [She can't quite bring herself to say it. Sometimes I think that's a bad thing.]

There are WONDERFUL things about Panem, though! [Effie tries to bring this cheer to one of the more privileged Tributes.] Delightful parties! Banquets! Fascinating television programs! Many events and festivals, all the year 'round!

...Maybe in the Capitol. District Two's not used to a lot of parties. We have some, but... not that many.

[Effie backs off at that. She is still only now becoming more aware of her privilege, and not liking it at all.] When we return, I shall petition President Snow to allow more festivals in the Districts. Perhaps to celebrate his birthday. He can't object to that.

[It doesn't matter.
I'm dead.
He's going to die.
Everything you know is going to come crashing down.

But she doesn't say anything about that. What Katniss has told her... That's between them.]

The biggest parties we usually have are when people get married. Especially when Victors get married.

I can understand that! Victors must be the most prized partners in any given district! Well -- with the exception of Haymitch, for obvious reasons...

When... when someone from a community gets married, everyone in the community gives a little money. It's what the couple uses for a ceremony, for the main dishes they provide at the party afterwards... that sort of thing.

When a Victor gets married, everyone in the district contributes a little. So those are always... major events. They don't happen a lot, but we never forget when they do.

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Fourth Dispatch: It's Not What You Think. Voice.

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