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

[trinkett]

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.

Comments

[Voice]

[voidseeing]

Gai Tsutsugami. And yours?

[Voice]

[happyhungergames]

Effie Trinket. It is a pleasure, Mister Tsutsugami. What is your specialty?

[Voice]

[voidseeing]

Firearms and hand-to-hand, if you want to be technical about it. I prefer to describe it as "anything goes" myself.

[Voice]

[inyourfavor]

From what I've heard here -- the CONSTRUCTIVE feedback, at any rate -- it wouldn't quite be "anything goes." Not like back home. There would have to be some rules in place! Have you ever played "hockey"? "Football"? "Basketball"?

[Voice]

[voidseeing]

No, but I know of them. They're still popular sports even in my time-- not even the apocalypse can cause people to lose their interest in their sports. Call it clinging onto normalcy, or what's left of it.

[Voice]

[happyhungergames]

So, Mister Tsutsugami, you are suggesting that introducing these sports into Luceti might help to normalize life here?

[Because if so, BANG! A perfect rationale to push through her program.]

[Voice]

[voidseeing]

That would be one possible outcome, although I doubt this kind of sport is what most people are used to. You might have better luck starting with something like soccer or baseball.

[Voice]

[onlyeffie]

Soccer. That sport that can be played with balls, goats, or human heads?

[She is so confused about soccer.]

[Voice]

[voidseeing]

We use balls where I'm from.

[And now he's wondering where the hell YOU'RE from, Effie.]

[Voice]

[trinkett]

Balls seemed to be the tamest and most common version, yes. But certainly not without blood or injuries! I can't promise our soccer players won't get hurt.

[Because on some level she feels Lucetians want her to MAKE promises like that, now. It's preposterous.]

[Voice]

[voidseeing]

I don't think there's a sport in existence that doesn't have at least some risk of injury. That's part of what makes it so exciting, both for the players and for the spectators.