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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 25, 2020 14:29:33 GMT -6
Clem pushed her way through the media crowd, dismissing each of them them as she went. "Sorry, sweetheart. No comment! No, I haven't been training. I haven't watched the Hunger Games, so I don't know who you're referring to." Clem knew she was coming off as rude, but she hadn't eaten since she left District 9, and losing a few sponsor votes was a small price to pay for some much needed sustenance. She had to elbow her way through the last wave of cameramen before arriving at the buffet, only to see that the line nearly circled around the whole banquet hall. "Oh, come ON!" she exclaimed as she dejectedly got in the back of the line.
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 25, 2020 15:23:36 GMT -6
Nilla was fiddling with a little touchscreen device that seemed to show a scrolling chat but looked up when the brunette hopped in line behind her.
"You'd think they'd let us cut in line what with us probably dying in a few days," she said through a grin.
"Guess even as tributes we're not as important as the natural born Capital sort ya'know?" She stuck out a hand suddenly in greeting, "Nilla Nightsand. What are ya eyeing on the buffet?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 15:49:56 GMT -6
Having regained his composure Carac was able to fight through to the buffet line. A couple of tributes had beat him to it as he had taken the first wave of tenacious correspondents. As he filled his plate a few stragglers continued to pester him with questions.
“Mr. Ashdown, many say that your previous victory was a fluke and had those beast not found you final three competitors, you surely wouldn’t be standing here today. What do you say to those who believe you’ll be any easy target?”
Carac tried to quell the burning sensation emanating from his stomach. The words came out calmly and with purpose but Carac could feel his cheeks burning red.
“I was well equipped for my first games and I’m—“
An over zealous reporter jockeying to get a microphone in Carac’s face bumped into him knocking over the plate he had been balancing on his left arm. As the plate dropped and food was splayed across the floor, an sinking feeling settled into Carac’s chest. Despite being a Victor and food no longer being a scarcity, he still couldn’t bear the idea of wasting what so many still needed. His embarrassment escalated as a server came to pick up the plate.
“I’ve got it!” Carac immediately regretted that his comment came out as a bark. His voice softened, “Thank you but I can do this.”
Carac placed the spoiled food and plate onto a kitchen tray. He gathered himself another plate and headed towards where the other tributes who had made it past the press were congregating.
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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 25, 2020 15:50:34 GMT -6
"Clem Abbot," she said and shook Nilla's hand. "Honestly, I might just skip right to dessert. I ate so healthy before my first Hunger Games, thinking that would give me an edge. Instead I was so anxious I made myself sick so it didn't matter what I ate. What's on that table there... some kind of bird in pudding? Don't see that everyday!" Clem paused for a moment. "Okay, why does your name sound so familiar?"
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 25, 2020 16:02:09 GMT -6
Nilla craned her neck to try to spot this questionable dish and immediately wished she hadn't. "Yeah...I don't know how I feel about congealed dairy based poultry dishes..."
She turned her attention back to the Clem, "Oh!" The redhead pulled out a small camera orb emblazoned with the logo for 1Up, a livestreaming site, from her pocket. "It doesn't amount to much but I'm one of the biggest streamers on 1Up...NillaNight?"
Nilla hated bringing it up like this...while she craved the limelight somehow it always came off as cheap and braggy.
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Post by Minnie Derva on Mar 25, 2020 16:10:17 GMT -6
Minnie had barged her way past the ring of reporters that had surrounded her and made her way up to the buffet line. She stiffly grabbed food off the buffet with her bare hands and moved down the line awkwardly shuffling in her dress she most certainly was not used to wearing.
She impatiently pushed past other guests to get to some of the food before finally making her way off to the tributes seating section, glaring down more reporters as they crept near her. Once she was seated she gruffly began shoveling the plate of food into her mouth, ripping and cracking and biting down with fervor. She sat as far from any other tributes as she could, the less she knew of them the easier it would be.
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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 25, 2020 17:59:18 GMT -6
"NillaNight... Oh! My son watches that. I'm not going to pretend like I know what that is exactly, but he LOVES you."
Clem then looked around at the other tributes devouring the fancy food by the fistful. A bearded tribute's plate came crashing to the floor, splattering Clem's shoe in something blue.
She turned back to Nilla. "I guess we're the only suckers waiting in this stupid line, huh?"
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 25, 2020 18:02:07 GMT -6
Nilla let out a polite laugh, "Yeah admittedly you probably aren't in my target audience buuuuutt..."
She nodded her head towards the camera orb in her hand, "If you wanna make your kid famous on my channel I'd could fire this thing up for a shoutout."
"Might be something to pass the time while us suckers actually wait in line."
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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 25, 2020 18:16:18 GMT -6
"Oh umm... that's all right. That's sweet of you to offer, but I don't think he'd umm... get to see it." ... "So... Fuck this line, right? That girl from District 4 has the right idea!"
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 25, 2020 18:20:48 GMT -6
"Oh..." Nilla seemed almost sheepish for a moment, betraying her finally crafted persona, "well I'm sure...um...I'm glad he's a fan!"
She switched her smile back on and nodded at the other woman, "Right idea...wrong attitude!"
She grabbed Clem by the hand, "Let's schmooze!"
As she moved down the line of people, hopefully with her new acquaintance in tow, she offered each a smile and a compliment to soften the blow of cheating the system.
"Beautiful blouse...oh wow your eyes are gorgeous...have you ever thought about acting?"
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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 25, 2020 18:42:20 GMT -6
Oh god, schmoozing....
As Clem was yanked through the line on Nilla's arm, she found herself needing to explain herself to each person they passed. "Sorry...I was told the back of the line is up here?...I think she has a media pass?"
"You really seem to belong here, Nilla. I'm sure you'll be getting a lot of votes. Did you have a lot of sponsor support last time? Is that how you won the Hunger Games?"
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 25, 2020 18:48:40 GMT -6
Her march down the buffet halted for a second internally caught off guard by a question she'd rather not answer.
Lurching back into her trek down the buffet line she called back, "I'm just used to schmoozing sponsors...its how I make money after all. From the keyboard I use to the SNAP Figures behind my desk I get a little kickback every time I make sure they're featured on camera."
Nilla spun on her heels to face Clem as they reached their destination at the dessert table, "I had the support of my fans behind me last time too which really kinda kept some gas in my tank."
She had answered two of the three questions and a small voice in the back of her head was begging her not to press on the third.
"What did your sponsors give you last time?" she asked liberating a particularly large cookie from the dessert table.
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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 25, 2020 18:57:34 GMT -6
Clem laughed briefly as she neatly arranged five different desserts on her plate. "I got an umbrella. The arena was a desert that year. I don't think anyone was rooting for me to win. Probably made a lot of gamblers angry when I got out of the arena."
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Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 25, 2020 19:00:24 GMT -6
Astraea numbly moved to the buffet table. Jarred by the sudden question about her children. It really should not have bothered her, but...
She shook her head and grabbed food with a blank expression on her face, catching some of the other tributes reactions.
Guess I'm not the only one on edge, she thought to herself after witnessing the food drop by the lumberjack. She eyed up the others as they passed. They were all strong in their own right, of course, they won their games. Who to make friends with was the question. Just thinking of going through the process again left her feeling drained.
Astraea rallied herself, taking note of the one armed man heading towards a crowd she opted for the tribute eating alone.
"You can tell a lot about someone by the way they eat," Astraea noted the girl (Minnie if she recalled from hours of playing back footage) basically attacking her food. "Still have the appetite to go through another round?"
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 25, 2020 19:31:14 GMT -6
"I'm sure you made the few that bet on you much happier than the rest were angry," she placed the large cookie sloppily on top of Clem's well organized dessert spread.
She scanned the room for open seats to better devour this feast of excess, "So...are we sitting at the cool kids table."
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Post by Minnie Derva on Mar 26, 2020 8:02:37 GMT -6
Minnie stopped mid bite for a moment to look up at Astraea. She continued to chew what was in her mouth, slowly, before gulping down the mouthful.
"Yeah I've got the appetite... I'm always hungry"
She did not recognize this tribute by name, but could recall her face. That's normally how it would go for Minnie.
She quietly picked up some peppered crab; a delicacy she rarely would experience even as a previous Victor. Looking back up at the girl and without looking away she began cracking limbs of the crab one at a time and sucking out the innards.
"Whatchu want?" Minnie grunted.
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Mox Velez
Tribute
Posts: 29
District: 8
Vote Power: 3
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Post by Mox Velez on Mar 26, 2020 11:15:40 GMT -6
"Be careful my loves," said Mox with a motherly worry in her voice. "This food is very rich and likely to upset the diets of... the less fortunate districts," she stumbled, eyeing Busty Rucket's plate of bird pudding. She could tried to hide the grimace from her face.
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 11:35:27 GMT -6
Nilla turned her head from the conversation she was having with Clem to look at the source of the voice. It sounded like your typical member of a by home generation still grasping at-
Her thought process halted immediately upon noticing who was behind them in the line, “Mox Velez? Wow I...saved my paychecks from working at a pizza shop for over a year to afford a dress by you for prom...second hand.” She tired to mumble that last bit under her breath so as not to betray her status growing up.
She fidgeted slightly so as not to too prominently display the Van Ho collaboration sneakers she was wearing. “I heard you haven’t really been appearing at the larger fashion events lately...is that because you’ve been working on something BIG?”
Nilla was clearly star struck but the chat on her hip full of kids half her age was flashing “who?” and various yawning emotes.
“Oh!” She exclaimed snapping out of it, “where are my manners, Nilla Nightsand” she said extending an arm before jerking a thumb to Clem “and this is Clem Abbot,” she finished deciding to rope Clem into the situation.
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Mox Velez
Tribute
Posts: 29
District: 8
Vote Power: 3
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Post by Mox Velez on Mar 26, 2020 12:00:07 GMT -6
"Oh what a pleasure," Mox cooed, taking Nilla's hand and kissing her on each cheek. "Not many of my dresses make it outside of the Capitol. I am truly touched." She took a step back to take in Nilla's outfit. "And what do we have here? This is a very... comfortable look. Good for you! Your generation is just so bold and independent."
Her attention then turned to Clementine. "Ah yes, Clementine Abbot, wonderful to meet you as well. You made quite the splash in the Hunger Games, if my memory serves me right."
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Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 12:00:26 GMT -6
Qadyn made his way into the main hall to grab another elderflower cocktail and a handful of cocktail shrimp. He did see a new face- well new to the feast but certainly not new to him. Mox Velez!?! He nearly gagged on his drink but passed it off as though the drink was bad. "Your first batch was better," he snapped at the young inexperienced bartender before marching up to Mox.
He'd met many famous people and a ton of designers, but he couldn't recall being this nervous before. He waited for Nilla to finish her introduction before jumping in.
"Well my stars. Mox Velez in MY Hunger Games? Dahling, that's simply not fair." He kissed her cheeks with a courteous peck. "I've been gagging over your looks for years. Not many years, of course, you must be what, 35 now?" He winked at her. "It is. A damned. P.L. easure, my dear."
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Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 12:12:55 GMT -6
Astra grinned at the response from Minnie.
"I like straightforward people," she said as glanced to the group assembling nearby chattering about fashion, "I supposed I just needed someone a bit more... real to talk to. What do you think about all this?" Astraea made a circling gesture with her finger to indicate the madness going on around them.
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Mox Velez
Tribute
Posts: 29
District: 8
Vote Power: 3
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Post by Mox Velez on Mar 26, 2020 12:13:38 GMT -6
Mox laughed playfully at Qadyn's compliment. "Oh Qadyn, look at this stunniong outfit you put together. You cannot be so blind to my wrinkles." She ran her hand over his jacket, reveling in the material.
"I must apologize for not reaching out sooner. As Nilla pointed out, my new clothing line has kept me unbelievably busy. But here we are now, as if fate forced us to meet. The circumstance are absolutely dreadful, but if my sources are correct Farathil will be treating this Hunger Game as a celebration more than anything else."
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Post by Carac Ashdown on Mar 26, 2020 12:21:36 GMT -6
Carac had been listening to them talk about fashion. It dawned on him that they had made such bold entrances and seemed to have a knack for working the right angles. Meanwhile he had shown up in a practical outfit and probably come across as oafish on his way in. He needed to start preparing for the days ahead.
It struck Carac as odd that these victors were acted so familiar. Did they know each other or is this just what its like if you're close to the capitol?
Carac chimed in, "So do you guys all run in the same clothing circles. Or fashion-y type....things?"
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Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 12:24:56 GMT -6
Qadyn chuckled at Mox's mention of wrinkles. "Well if you need skin cream, then I must need glasses! You are A VISION."
He noticed the room was beginning to fill up. "Allow me to introduce some new friends. I see you've already met Nilla, a gaming streaming legend." He saw Carac walking around, "And that fine piece of meat is Carac. I'm going to ask my father to design a bejeweled hand for him. He needs some nice things in this mundane life."
To Carac, "Carac my friend, this is THEEE Mox Velez, a fabulous designer not unlike my own mother. Please join us, chat is not limited to clothing if that's not in your repertoire."
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 12:29:19 GMT -6
Nilla was glad the lumberjack had made his way over...now she wouldn't be the most "comfortably" dressed of the lot. She was used to feeling at least somewhat like a celebrity but next to Mox and Qadyn she was feeling a bit overshadowed.
"Carac! So glad you could rejoin us!" she exclaimed happily giving the taller man a friendly pat on the back.
Feeling a slight boost of confidence at at least feeling more famous than someone she flashed Mox a smile, "Trust me, if I could I'd dress..." she suddenly realized she did not know how to end that sentence, "...better."
"Its just that my sponsors keep telling me I have to..." tapped a button on the touchpad at her hip temporarily muting her camera's feed, "connect to my fans on their level."
She flicked the switch again and turned to look at her camera with a manufactured pout, "Oh, I'm sorry Knights, it seems like the internet connection in here is a bit spotty."
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