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

[stillplaying]

She blinked when Effie trailed off, waiting almost expectantly for the woman to finish her thought. Something about Jack. Katniss didn't want to jump to conclusions. But she had seen his return message on the journal. It had made her wonder then just how much he truly cared about Effie. Listening to the woman now only made her wonder more.

But... She understands not wanting to discuss this. After having her whole life on display for two years, Katniss more than understands.

"She's thriving. It's good. Really good to see."

[inyourfavor]

"And her goat?"

[stillplaying]

Her lips flicker into a slight grin. India. That goat had done a number on the grass in their backyard. But Prim had successfully kept India away from the garden she and Richard started. No one had ever come to take her back to the farm. The goat seemed happy. More importantly, Prim seemed happy.

"Good. Even Buttercup seems... okay."

[inyourfavor]

Effie was actually rather fond of the cat. Maybe that wasn't too surprising. "Good.

I suppose I'll...see less of you, now."

[stillplaying]

She wondered if they really would or not. How long it would take for Effie to move back in with them. If things really would work out between her and Jack. She had no way to tell, even if she did suspect. Not really.

"I suppose."

[trinkett]

"For that, I'm sure, you're grateful!" Effie tried to grin at the girl, not realizing how much of a grimace it really was. "And Richard as well!"

Prim, she left out. It seemed too harsh to include the girl in that count.

"Make sure, Katniss, not to eat walnuts."

[stillplaying]

"I-" The statement caught Katniss off guard. She never exactly meant to be so obvious in her dislike of Effie, in the frustration she felt when the woman had moved into her home without any permission from her or Richard. But apparently, her best attempts to be civil hadn't worked.

Wouldn't Haymitch gloat if he were still here?

"Okay."

[trinkett]

"They're so...so chokey."

[stillplaying]

There's more confusion on her face. First the subject change from living arrangements to walnuts. And now she's talking about... choking?

She never took Effie for the suicidal type. Effie Trinket always seemed so put together. So confident.

"Chokey?"

[trinkett]

"They disagree with Jack."

Yes -- he'd nearly choked on her banana walnut bread.

[stillplaying]

She considers this for a minute. It's something she had seen from time to time in District 12. Before her father had died. People going to her mother because certain foods made them sick. Having no other choice in the Seam but to eat those foods and suffer the consequences because food was so scarce to begin with. The chokey response makes more sense now.

"He's allergic?"

[inyourfavor]

"He had a bad experience with one. Choked on it, don't you know. Why can't the disagreeable types choke every once in a while?" she complained. Truly, it had been a terrifying thing, watching him struggle.

"He's fine now, of course. But I don't want to remind him of that..."

[stillplaying]

And once again, Effie Trinket has managed to confuse her. Her brow furrows once more and any previous comprehension disappears. It had been one experience. Jack had to be stronger than be daunted by one bad memory. He seemed like it, anyway.

"That's... nice of you?"

[trinkett]

"Thank you!" Effie herself thought it very noble! But more than anything, she felt like Jack Horner and any stability or status his proximity granted her was slipping away. And she needed to keep him. Her life might even depend on it. "I try."

[stillplaying]

She nodded a little awkwardly, knowing full well that Effie actually believed that. She could do no wrong. She was... always right. And Katniss? Katniss and everyone else from District 12? They were the ones with no manners, no civility to speak of.

It irritated her just a little, thoughts falling on that line. And she nodded again. Better than saying something she might later regret.

She could learn after all.]