[action] A decade's worth of Games ago

[ijustlovethat]

[there was an arena like this once. ten, eleven years ago? there were horrible sand-dwelling snake muttations on an isolated chunk of beach, and the tides grew worse and worse with every passing day. naturally, the victor had been from District Four, and Effie's tributes -- she couldn't help but think of them as hers, even though it made it difficult to watch them die -- hadn't made it past the first five hours.

[so when she wakes up atop one of these rocky guys right here, she thinks, for a minute, that she has been transported to that old arena and left there by some cruel tour guide.

[she is ignoring the instructions on her communicator right now because there is a much more pressing problem to be dealt with: getting off this rock and onto the beach proper without ruining her pretty dress and shoes and hair and-- well, you get the idea.

[if you're around, you see her taking little steps to the edge, peering down at the water, trying to judge the distance between herself and the shore. (hint: she would not make that jump if she had a running start and good, sturdy flats.) very soon, she goes from frustrated to upset, pouting, batting her butterfly eyelashes as if she's about to unleash a rain of glittery tears.]

Oh, this won't do! Is there anyone who can help? [very quietly] I can't swim.

Comments

[actlikealady]

I'll just -- carry them until I've dried. [it's nice to have them called lovely though?? she doesn't have a lot of... female company. or any company that concerns themselves with such things. dreams of befriending the other girls didn't last long for Asgard's most renowned tomboy]

Stories are often told about heroic feats, but we do not witness them once they have passed.

[ijustlovethat]

That seems to be my only option. Maybe together, we can last until-- until we appear somewhere else?

[ijustlovethat]

[she may not really like you yet, but you sound like a lot of the people she knew back home. that helps your care quite a bit!]

Oh, that's wonderful! Does the light change colors also? Oh, that would be so lovely if it could. You'd always be on trend, and it would go with everything!

[ijustlovethat]

Oh. That's different. Where I'm from, if someone is there to record something spectacular, we play it again and again so that everyone can see it. [some part of her doesn't understand why you wouldn't want it that way.] For example, this wonderful thing you're doing right now -- we would show that on television so people could see how strong and generous you are. [which is exactly what she thinks you are~]

[cleanedslate]

I'll keep that in mind. Right now, if I want it to look different, I pretty much have to put on a different shirt.

[ okay, rolling up his pants legs a little, and now he starts into the water ]

[ijustlovethat]

So versatile! I've never been one for surgical alterations, but I certainly see the appeal!

[cleanedslate]

Oh, yeah. Well, you know. Have to keep it fresh. [ smooths a hand back through his gelled hair, case in point ]

[ lucky for you, Effie, that Tony's not a believer in social Darwinism, because otherwise...

getting closer to the rock now, sloosh sloosh. ]

[ijustlovethat]

Yes, exactly! [more softly as he draws closer, as if it's some super secret. or maybe she doesn't want to embarrass either of them] You aren't so bad after all, are you?

[cleanedslate]

Try not to spread it around.

[ so let's give this a shot. he's close enough to reach her now ]

[ijustlovethat]

[she stands and moves closer to the edge of the rock, nodding at the short distance between them before crouching again and leaning over to grab onto him.] Oh--is this all right?

[cleanedslate]

Might be easiest if you picked up your skirts. [ he gestures a little; gather them in one hand, then put the other on his shoulder? he's no Captain America, but he's pretty sure he can lift you. ]

[ijustlovethat]

[she's light! you'll be fine~]

[rather awkwardly following his mimed directions, and there you go, an Effie to carry to shore! what a superhero you are~]

[cleanedslate]

[ yeah, he's saving the world from evil, one silly aristocrat at a time. he carries her back to shore, and sets her down on the sand, with a grin ]

There you go. Service with a smile, and everything.

[ bending down to recover some of his clothes. it's a little warm for the whole layered look, but no sunscreen, so probably he should just keep the jacket on but leave it open and his chest bare ]

[actlikealady]

[her lips quirk up a bit, and she offers] I think no one would call you a liar if you simply told them the story. [it's not one of her more heroic feats. still, she's glad to put the other woman down on her feet on the sand once they're out of the water, carefully]

Now you know my name, but I still haven't gotten yours.

[ijustlovethat]

[smiling like she's known all along just how generous you can be~ ...or maybe she's just glad she got you to help her out. who knows? either way, dry sand! yay!]

Why, thank you very much! I'm afraid I can't really return the favor, though.

[the best she might be able to do is, oh, make some exfoliating sand scrub, but she's not sure you're the type. she's not sure anyone she's met is the type.]

[ijustlovethat]

[she daintily straightens her skirts once she's standing, smiling up at Sif] Oh, how rude of me not to introduce myself! My name is Effie Trinket, and I am so very, very, very grateful for your help!

[cleanedslate]

That's okay, we get out of here and I'll send you the bill. [ said with a straight face ]

[ijustlovethat]

[she is no longer inclined to take you very seriously.] And I'll see to it that it's taken care of.

[cleanedslate]

[ and he breaks into a grin! ] Care of SHIELD, of course. All my official superheroing goes through their office these days.

[ not even a little bit, but he does enjoy the idea of Fury getting an invoice that says CARRIED TO SHORE BY IRON MAN ]

[actlikealady]

Well, you're quite welcome. We're all in this together, so... [she shrugs a little bit, straightening out her tunic. might as well work together, take advantage of everyone's skills, not alienate people, etc]

[ijustlovethat]

Duly noted! [you remind her a lot of some of people from home, now that she isn't upset with you. congratulations! if your hair were green, you'd fit right in!]

[cleanedslate]

[ whoo hoo! just what he always wanted, to fit right in to the self-absorbed elite of a hellish dystopia ]

You said your name was Effie?

[ijustlovethat]

[dreams do come true~!]

That is correct. [nodding, adjusting her wig]

[cleanedslate]

Not short for anything? Normal, by the standards of your people? [ half teasing, half serious inquiry. he already knows some things about where you live, or can make pretty darned good guesses ]

[ijustlovethat]

[as she is from a culture of interviews and inquiries into the lives of children with almost foreign ways, his questions don't seem out of place. it's a bit strange to be on the receiving end of them, but it isn't some abnormal, offensive thing.] Why, yes, very much normal. Derived from the Greek 'Euphemia'. Very classical.

[yours does not really impress her, but she very politely does not say so]