Sixth Dispatch | Action

[trinkett]

[Since her return, Effie hasn't been up to talking over the journals. Mostly she's been listening and trying to recover -- locked away in Katniss's house until Jack Horner returned, and then locked away in Horner's house. She hasn't wanted to be around people -- not with her face and much of her body still sporting some pretty vicious-looking scars.

In Capitolista culture, scars are just about the death-knell to any self-respecting woman's social life, career -- you name it.

Today, though, she is going to venture out to pick up some walnut-free cookies for Jack and some clementines for Clementine and some romance novels for herself. Bodice-rippers. Real smutty, steamy stuff that's perfect for escapism, even if one can only escape for a few hours per book. It's worth it.

Find her at the library and the grocery store. She will be wearing a cloak pulled almost all the way over her face, a scarf around the lower half of her face, and elbow-length gloves; tall boots and tights cover any evidence of violence on her legs. She's trying not to draw attention to herself, though she is wearing complete make-up and bright green wig.]

Comments

[trinkett]

How are you? [She smiles and reaches up to touch her wig. The gesture is unconscious. She approves so much of Masaomi, even if she does feel intensely self-conscious right now.] Out and about on some special errand, no doubt?

[generalflirt]

Mmmm, I wish I could boast that, but honestly - I'm pretty much hanging out, being all cool.

[And he even takes another sip of his soda, to prove the point. He's trying to feel cool and present that he is cool to her... and ignore how done up she is]

[trinkett]

[Shootin' some b-ball outside of the school?

He certainly IS cool! In fact, it serves to put her more at ease.]

Teenagers where I'm from rarely "hang out." There's no room for improvement that way! Have you thought about taking up a sport? A musical instrument?

[generalflirt]

[But are there a couple of guys who are up to know good...?]

In terms of sports, I've done a lot of training for my body - but that's mostly to fight, I'm afraid. The closest I'd get to sports is running an obstacle course with the skillset I've set up.

[Instrument, though...] What about you, Effie-san? In those years before you ascended to womanhood, what skills did you foster?

[onlyeffie]

[Effie is coming more and more to appreciate the sleek skills of a well-trained fighter's body.

Not her own, of course. Other people's. People who can protect her against anyone who can start making trouble in her neighborhood.]

Oh, the usual Capitol requirements. I speak French. [An antiquated language that remains a mark of elitism.] I play the harp. [Only well enough to pass the music course at Miss Querella's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies.] I excelled at giving recitations. And...well, very recently I ran an obstacle course! Bulla designed it for me.

[generalflirt]

Oh, French?! What a shame that you can't really use that one here... or well, you could, but it seems less impressive when I'm speaking Japanese and you're understanding me. [A little sheepishly, this is said, flipping back his bangs before he leans forward towards her, off the wall]

After all, I've heard it's a romantic language.

[inyourfavor]

[Holy crap, Masaomi. Never learn French, you will be unstoppable.

Effie wraps her arms around herself and smiles at him. It's a totally unconscious behavior.]

We use it mostly to speak so the servants can understand what we're saying. But yes -- yes, I suppose it has its moments of romance. I've never heard any Japanese...

[generalflirt]

Well, in theory, you're hearing it right now. Just that your brain's telling you something else.

[...Servants tho]

[inyourfavor]

Yes. I find the automatic translation here...don't get me wrong, it's convenient for the most part! But it does take away from the charm of a foreign tongue.

[She means it's one fewer chance to be elitist. How disappointing.]

[generalflirt]

I find that I can sort of hear it when I try, but... maybe I'm just relying on wishful thinking there.

[trinkett]

You mean you...is it layered under the other speech, or is it like an echo?

[Because this sounded like a good experiment.]

[generalflirt]

Layered under... like, what I'm hearing is what they're speaking and what I'm understanding is Japanese. ... Like I said, I can't even notice it right now, though. It's only when I've tried to focus.

[inyourfavor]

[That sounds very tiring.]

Perhaps focusing on what lies underneath isn't the best of ideas. It's certainly against everything we're ever taught at home!

[generalflirt]

Eeeeeh, so you're more fond of keeping in the shallows and the surface?

[happyhungergames]

It's safer.

1/2

[generalflirt]

[Can't argue with that. Even if that does sound alarming.]

[generalflirt]

So tell me, what's brought you here? Might I carry some bags?

[trinkett]

[Well, since he's being a gentleman...] Here. You may take this bag. I'm just...there are a few things I need to get. I'm especially interested in walnut-free items. Jack seems to be allergic to them.

[generalflirt]

Hooo. That shouldn't be too hard. Are walnuts really in that many things?

[But he takes the bag either way ]

[trinkett]

I don't THINK so. [She turns back to the shelves. Time to start scanning labels again.] But one can never be too careful, don't you think?

[generalflirt]

True, makes sense.

[ ... ]

So who's this fellow?

[trinkett]

Jack Horner?

[generalflirt]

I think I heard of the guy, at least.

[inyourfavor]

What HAVE you heard about him?

[generalflirt]

Just that he works at that bar.