First Dispatch. How Utterly Dreadful. Voice.

[trinkett]

[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.]]]]]

Comments

[happyhungergames]

That suit was just SO HOT. But manners, manners! One did not exercise one's sexual appetites in a public forum! Such things were best saved for hot little scrambles during elevator rides with high-powered individuals.

"I DO like that suit very much," she replied smoothly.

[originaljackass]

"Thanks, babe. The feedback is very much appreciated." He grinned and held out a hand. "I'm Jack Horner."

[trinkett]

She took it in her own and shook demurely. "Effie Trinkett.

You may call me Effie."

A man this well-dressed must BE someone here.

[originaljackass]

A lady this classy deserved an unusual level of class from Jack himself, the sleaziest of the sleaze. So while he still had her hand, he lifted it to plant a kiss on her knuckle.

"And you can call me Jack. A pleasure to meet you, Effie."

[trinkett]

A man this well dressed and sleazy must not only be SOMEONE, but someone rather high-up and respected in political circles! She blushed appropriately in faux-bashfulness and giggled over his gesture.

"Well met on both parts, then. Jack." What a fine name!

[originaljackass]

"So, Effie, babe. Anybody shown you around this town yet?" He was raring and willing. Show a babe a good time, end your trip at the bar, and magic was bound to happen.

[trinkett]

"Not in any agreeable way, no!"

Just ASK her, Jack. She will be putty in your grabby hands.

[originaljackass]

"Well if you find it agreeable, it'd be my pleasure."

[trinkett]

"No, Jack. The pleasure would be all mine."

She reached for his hand, confident, now, that the world was her oyster and this Jack Horner might be the path to the pearl.

[originaljackass]

He took her hand, coolly and without issue. He had everything he needed here, so he began his way towards the exit.

"I'll be honest with you, Effie, because I can't help but be a truth teller. But the fact is, this town isn't much to look at. I'll do my best to keep you from getting bored, but this place is going to get old faster than milk on a hot Monday."

[trinkett]

That was heartening. "You're used to bigger and better things too, are you?"

She walked primly at his side. It was harder to walk any other way in those high-heeled shoes.

[originaljackass]

Ah, nothing quite like going through town with a woman on your arm. If she wasn't so dolled up, he might feel downright good about this. As it was, he felt only somewhat hopeful. It would suck if she was ugly underneath all that.

"I come from the big city. Skyscrapers, subways, and quality restaurants. This place doesn't even qualify as being the boonies."

[inyourfavor]

"This place resembles the true wilderness of my world," she agreed, patting him on the arm. What wonderful muscles he had!

Or, at least, she hoped. It would be so unfortunate if it was just some kind of padding.

[originaljackass]

Jack was deceitful about a lot of things. But he fortunately was really just as muscular and attractive as he looked. All natural. A perk of being a Fable.

"I've seen wilder. But you're not wrong. It's a dump." As they stepped out into the plaza, he considered locations. South, perhaps, would be best. Show off the rec center, the battle dome, and the barracks. Then it would be back to the shops and then to the bar.

[trinkett]

"My district is much worse," she confided, sliding her fingers further up his arm. Ooh. Nice.

"Coal-mining is its primary industry."

[originaljackass]

He realizes now that this was more than a simple touch of the arm. Oh no, she was taking a nice long admiring exploration of his upper arm. He carefully flexed in a way that would give her something more to enjoy, but without being obvious.

"Sounds like the pits. No pun intended. But a classy lady like yourself, you don't ever have to go down into them, do you?"

[inyourfavor]

"Oh, Heavens no! I spend most of my time in the Capitol! I only travel to Twelve for the Reapings. They're entertaining affairs, you know. The entire country becomes gripped by the drama of it all!"

[originaljackass]

"Can't say I've had the pleasure of seeing one. Enlighten me."

[trinkett]

"The whole empire watches eagerly whilst we select the contenders for each Hunger Games. Tributes, they are called! This year we have two especially interesting ones."

Walking and holding his arm has made Effie chatty.

"Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. I expect great things from them in the Arena."

[originaljackass]

Arena. Empire. Tributes. Well, that added all up pretty easily.

"Oh. Fight to the death kinda thing, right?"

[trinkett]

"We prefer to think of it as a celebration of youth."

[originaljackass]

"Youth is wasted on the young, so let's put them in a ring and let them kill one another? Clever."

[trinkett]

"Hmph. We don't see it like that!" Even though that was pretty much right. That and it was an excellent form of social, political, and cultural control, all rolled into one.

"It's about history and tradition and the strength and persistence of the young."

[originaljackass]

"And damn good television. Just the line that reality TV has been craving, but legally unable to cross."

[inyourfavor]

"I'm sorry -- 'reality' TV?"