trinkett | First Dispatch. How Utterly Dreadful. Voice.

[Anyone who meets Effie in this post will meet her in full Capitol fashion and makeup. She landed in the shop, you see. A stiff turquoise-blue structured gown, fortunately, landed beside her.

And the wig -- thank the Senate! There were plenty of wigs and there was HER wig, tight and blond and curled and fabulous -- and the new violet wings sprouting from her shoulders were quite irregular but one never drew attention to one's irregularities. If anyone asked, they were Fashion. With any luck everyone who was anyone in the Capitol would be wearing similar ones, soon.

The makeup took a bit longer. Effie finally settled on green because green is one of her Power Colors and it IS almost spring, after all. She drew her lips in a pursed bow to reflect her dissatisfaction with everything.

It had only taken a quick readthrough of the Guide for Effie to grasp somewhat what was going on. It wasn't terribly shocking, but it was highly disappointing. She'd wanted to be in the Capitol for Katniss and Peeta, not transferred to a new post just at the height of a possible professional and personal triumph. Her charges were brilliant! Cinna had shown their fire to everyone. The sensation had been rampant and her promotion near-assured. Effie Trinket's star had been rising in the Capitol, the heart of Panem and civilization.

And then Someone had Bumped her. It was the only explanation for all of this business of waking up in a clothing store in what was obviously a cheap, outlying serfdom of Panem. A lesser woman would have called that Bumping Someone a dirty word, but Effie had dignity and would find other ways to trample that usurper into dust once she got back on her feet and back to the Capitol.]

Attention, Attention:

[Her usual rather chirpy voice is a bit tempered by the fact that she has only recently awakened in a clothing shop in a strange town.]

Would any available Peacekeepers in District Luceti please report to the Clothing Emporium? I repeat: any available Peacekeepers. The Diplomatic Escort for the Tributes requires a full compliment of Security. [Yes: she was still clinging to what she assumed was her now-stripped title and position.]

Thank you.

[[[[IMPORTANT NOTE: While Effie WILL be in full Capitol couture clothing and makeup for this post, some of my icons are simply those of her PB, Elizabeth Banks. I will probably try to MOSTLY use the icons from the Hunger Games movie but just assume she's all made up and dressed to the very weird nines even if you get a plain Elizabeth Banks icon! THANKS.]]]]]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, the guide contains much information that would be helpful.

No...I mostly work in solitude.

As you wish.

[University educated! She smiles more naturally; relaxes. Congratulations, Max: you now possess the Sheen of Elitism.]

That is a wonderful, useful talent! So you place these ward protections on people?

Yes. Now you're getting it.

[This little note is left later. A tiny needleprick of a note, or so it is intended.]

[For the most part, working in solitude means you are not to be trusted.

Or else you've done something horribly anti-social and have been exiled.

Or...maybe there are other explanations. Helpfully -- hopefully:]

I see...so you work with dangerous chemicals, then?

[Oh Effie, you have no idea. And the sudden change in demeanour is a little strange.]

I can do, if people ask. Usually linked to a piece of jewelry or something. But buildings too. Places.

[That presumption is...strange. And way off.]

I've no experience with...chemicals.

I patrol the forest, looking for new arrivals or victims returned from being taken. They may be lost or injured in the forest, so I escort them to safety.

[Huh. Effie leans back against the countertop behind her and begins picking over a small basket of socks.]

And do places need protection here?

[She'd read about an invasion...did that sort of thing happen regularly?]

Ah, my name is Kotomi Ichinose. I'm a senior in school back home. My hobby is reading. When refering to me, please call me 'Kotomi-chan'.

[ It sounds a little overly formal, but it actually fits in this situation.. And since she learned by now how to explain the last part-- ]

That's how I keep good people apart from the evil bullies.

You are speaking of the kidnap victims?

[She is uncomfortable speaking about this aloud, so her voice has descended into a hushed tone.]

Is there no penalty for helping them?

Sometimes. Everywhere needs protection sometimes. I've heard about attacks.

Some people just like to feel like they're safe.

Yes, the kidnap victims. When they are returned, the Malnosso have finished their business, so they see no need to punish anyone for helping their subjects. For the most part, we are free to do as we choose.

Kotomi-chan.

[It sounds rather formal. Effie likes it.]

You may call me Ms. Trinket if you like.

[This girl seems a little preoccupied with evil bullies., in Effie's opinion.]

I do not appreciate evil bullies either, Kotomi-chan.

[She selects a pair of ankle-length socks covered with pink and white stars and examines them.

They're VERY flashy.]

Safety is so important I find. You never know who might be lurking out there; what dangerous sorts there are in the world. Things are safe in the Capitol, of course, but everywhere else one needs protection.

That was sarcasm, ma'am.

~~Which flew right over your head just like everyth~~

[He stops, crosses that last bit out once or twice more, and starts over. This bickering is no better than trying to bash both of their heads against a brick wall, and he'll end up wanting to strangle her on sight if they keep this up.]

Tell you what; pretty sure we both have better things to do, so how about we leave it at this, all right? You go try and prove me wrong, and I'll leave you alone until you have all the facts straight. If you feel like it, you can come back to me later with it all. Give it at least a week before you do. Maybe longer. Some of it might take a while.

Fair enough?

[Ah. That makes sense, in a chillingly familiar sort of way.]

It is just as well; if we all do what we are supposed to do -- if we do everything correctly and properly -- they would have no need to take such measures.

[Translation: KIDNAP VICTIMS MUST GET WHAT THEY DESERVE, THEN.]

[Those may be the most terrible socks in history. He keeps his mouth shut. And his brother said he failed at diplomacy.]

Well, most of the people in the village are friendly enough. It's mainly the bastard Malnosso who cause the problems.

No city is ever one hundred percent safe.

I have never accused you of being unfair.

[It is not a yes, it is not a no.]

Anything else you wish to say should probably be said in person.

[Translation: These journals can be read by others and thus could be dangerous.]

Ah...

[She has a terrible understand of how the Malnosso work, so he'll correct her as politely as possible.]

I beg your pardon, but what we do here matters very little to the Malnosso, if at all. They take individuals when they choose, and they unleash their experiments upon the village when they choose. It has nothing to do with punishing our actions.

[Henry had just gotten into the item store just as Effie had gotten changed into her ~~gaudy~~ bright looking clothes.

The boy can only stare for a moment before he has to ask.]

What are you wearing?

[It looks ridiculously uncomfortable. If he was ever offered something that looked like that Henry would just stick with his peacoat. ]

Like I said; go learn what you can.

If you think it's worth talking about later, you can usually find me at the battledome in the mornings.

If I'm not there, just let me know over the journal where to meet you. Or leave a note at my apartment door. CH6, 6th floor, 26th room. Other than that, I doubt we have much to talk about.

Go get settled in; it still gets pretty cold at night right now. Goodnight.

"Bastard" Malnosso? [She looks alarmed, dropping the socks.] You had better hush, Mister Woodville!

"Whose Capitol?"

Ah. That about confirmed it. Both Katniss and Clove spoke of the dreadful place. But Sharpe persisted in playing dumb soldier as he returned her curtsy with a stiff bow.

[He has such a terrible understanding of how the world actually works. Poor dear.]

Bless your heart, Mister Saleh.

[Is the boy blind?! She's wearing something FABULOUS that simply OOZES CHARISMA. And giant shoulderpads, of course.]

These, my dear boy? [She twitters this at the poor ignorant lad.] This is fashion. Haute couture!

Edited 2013-03-17 21:12 (UTC)

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