[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

[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 ]

[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]

[cleanedslate]

Yeah? Very fancy.

My name's pretty much just derived from my, like, great grandfather. Traditional by our standards, too, though. Which is why I don't go by it. Tony just rolls off the tongue better than Anthony anyway.

[ijustlovethat]

So does Effie! And since I work in television [to put it lightly and a lot less gruesomely], well, it makes one sound more approachable to use a nickname, don't you think so? Now, if you were a Gamemaker, then I could see you using Anthony.

[cleanedslate]

I like to play by my own rules, really. [ vaguely. what's a gamemaker? ]

[ijustlovethat]

Just like Gamemakers!

[she thinks it's such a clever joke, goodnesd. but it might not be too far from the truth, considering Stark Industries made weapons for a while. aren't you happy she doesn't know that?]

[cleanedslate]

If you've gotta D&D, DM's totally the way to go. [ still vague, but he smiles at her ]

They must be pretty great if they're anything like me.

[ijustlovethat]

[ahahahahaha about that!! it really depends on who you ask! and who may or may not be listening in at this very moment!]

They are the brilliant minds behind the Hunger Games!

[queen of exposition! Effie Trinket, everybody]

...I don't know what your D&D and DM are.