trinkett | First Dispatch. How Utterly Dreadful. Voice.

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.]]]]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I see. Would you mind telling me what these organizations are called?

[Effie trusts organizations FAR more than she trusts individuals. Organizations are where all the power, opportunity, and safety lie. Outsiders are pretty much doomed, and individuals are imprisoned.]

One is called the Blue Rogues. Another is called Brave Vesperia. The New Feather guide should cover these organizations and more.

The Blue Rogues.

[They sound DANGEROUS. Saboteurs, probably.]

Brave Vesperia, yes. I did read a mention of them, but it sounds as though I shall have to go back and look it over again. Do you belong to either of these organizations?

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

No...I mostly work in solitude.

[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?

[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.

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?

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.

[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.]

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.

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

Bless your heart, Mister Saleh.

[But which world? That comment seems...out of context. And so his own response will have an uncertain tone.]

...Thank you...

I hope you never have to endure such kidnapping.

[Ouch. That one hit where it hurts, although he knows it wasn't intentional on her part.]

Unfortunately, I have just recently returned from a kidnapping myself...

[Oh, this isn't a good thing at all! Perhaps she shouldn't be associating with him after all...]

Oh. That is.........very unfortunate for you. And your reputation.

Very unfortunate, indeed.

[But what does reputation have to do with it?]

...My reputation? The Malnosso choose their subjects randomly, purely for research, or in some cases, their own amusement. The kidnap victims are never at fault, so it has no effect on their reputation.

[He should know; he's been here for nigh on three years.]

Yes, yes, I'm sure it's all very random and probably it was just a misjudgment on their part. [She says all of this very soothingly. But he must have done SOMETHING subversive to have earned that.]

There is no judgment. We are their test subjects, and they experiment on us at their leisure.

And with all due respect, I find your dismissal disturbing.

[What's this? Is he calling her out on her manners?]

Edited 2013-03-17 21:55 (UTC)

Mister Saleh, the only thing disturbing here is that you would represent yourself to me as an innocent when in fact the Malnosso Organization has seen fit to take you away for re-education purposes.

[Her manners are intact: her opinion of him as a probable enemy of the state is growing.]

[Great Dragon, what is this nonsense he's hearing?]

The Malnosso have taken me for experimentation purposes. You are a new arrival and so you make many inaccurate assumptions about the Malnosso. That is potentially dangerous. Who knows, you may be under Malnosso influence yourself and are unaware.

[It would make sense, given her behavior.]

My DEAR Mr. Saleh! Of course I am under their influence! [She gives a light laugh.] I am here to serve, after all!

[Wow, she admitted it. And frankly, it throws him off.]

...I see. Then tell me, what exactly are we expected to do "correctly" and "properly?" What exactly did you mean by "everything?"

[She's proud of it. She wants EVERYONE TO KNOW IT, FRANKLY. There can be no question of whose side she is on.

That of the strongest, controlling power.]

Why, whatever their directives are, of course! Their directives must be approached willingly and, more importantly, with a pleasant and pleasing attitude.

Whatever their directives are...

Do you even know what their directives are? The Malnosso aren't exactly forthcoming with that information.

Saleh. [You are so naive.] I only know what I need to know. And so do we all.

[That was a verbal headpat.]

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