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Post by Carac Ashdown on Mar 26, 2020 12:44:15 GMT -6
Carac's cheeks flashed red at being referred to as a fine piece of meat. He was quickly distracted by the thought of coming home with a bejeweled hand. He'd probably never live that down.
Carac nodded to Mox, "It's nice to meet you Ms. Velez." He took a sip of his drink as he stumbled for the words he had been looking for.
"Why do you think we're all here? I know pitting returning tributes against each other might boost ratings, but it's been over twenty years since I was in the games. That can't be very fun to watch. I mean, I'm getting old."
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Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 12:57:54 GMT -6
Qadyn shrugged. "Well Farathil assures me this is more like an all-star parade, but that sounds too good to be true. Maybe a parade that shoots victors out of cannons instead of confetti? Everyone gets to see their favorite celebrity die a dramatic and iconic death." He threw a hand to his head dramatically. "And oh hush, you're no older than the rest of us, garçon. I bet there's a baby face under that voluptuous beard."
"Did any of you get a chance to speak to that spastic intern? I only met him briefly on the balcony, but he seemed... Oh now I'm speculating. Apologies. But still: Not at all in the same league as Farathil. That man is pure gold."
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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 26, 2020 13:11:22 GMT -6
Clem laughed. "Honestly, a parade sounds so much worse than the regular games. I'd be the first one to die of boredom on some confetti covered float."
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Post by Carac Ashdown on Mar 26, 2020 13:20:42 GMT -6
"I saw a kid run out of some meeting earlier. Seemed like he thought he was going to get someone fired or something."
Carac stared at his boots briefly, "I'm sure they'll parade us around at some point," he paused, "but I definitely think there's a catch. I bet they'll pair us up together. Maybe put us on teams or something to spice it up."
"This is all a game to them."
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Post by Minnie Derva on Mar 26, 2020 13:22:46 GMT -6
Minnie let the girl talk for a moment before she was asked for a response. She had finished her plate and sat back looking across the table with icy grey eyes.
"I don't make anything of any of this. It's fanfare dressing up what I am here to do. Kill everyone and go home"
She reached for her water and drank long exaggerated gulps before it was drained away. She set the cup back down.
"It is nice to speak without a mic shoved in my face" she admitted with a curt nod. "I know your face but not your name, what is it? Where do you come from?"
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Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 13:30:41 GMT -6
Qadyn smirked at Clementine. "Well honey, if these games are fo' real and you come at me out there, I will put you up on a damn float." He laughed, hoping she understood it was just a dark joke and not a threat. "I jest, you know. I'm more than a pretty pink suit. How are you feeling about this all?"
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 13:42:58 GMT -6
Nilla shrugged at Qadyn's line of questioning about the intern, "Honestly once you left the balcony they just kind of continued on acting like they were god's gift to earth so...nothing out of the ordinary."
She turned her attention to Clem curious as to her take on the proceedings as well.
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Post by Huck Matteos on Mar 26, 2020 14:00:42 GMT -6
... "Oh, I'm sorry Knights, it seems like the internet connection in here is a bit spotty." 'There's an opening, I suppose.' Thought Huck, not noticing Nilla's intentional muting of her stream. Still reeling from his entrance, he had been looking for a way to join the other tributes in the lavish buffet. He casually approached the small group. "The Capitol's new networking systems are actually built into the lights of the room; fascinating stuff! You can sometimes get better reception if you turn toward a brighter area." He extended a warm handshake to the assembled victors and introduced himself. "Huck Matteos, of District 5. Wish we could be meeting under better circumstances; though it's a pleasure all the same."
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Post by Clementine Abbot on Mar 26, 2020 14:05:14 GMT -6
Clem shrugged, "I don't know if the arena will be a parade or a desert or a straight up torture chamber, but I'll tell you what. Any way you slice it, they're just buttering us up for a slaughter. These dudes are messed up and I don't buy all this fanfare for a second."
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 14:09:28 GMT -6
Nilla looked to the source of the new voice assuming it was just some IT staff worker for the event giving some helpful advice but was caught off guard when he introduced himself as a Tribute.
"Oh shit, he's cute..." the thought popped into her head as she found herself staring at him silently a bit too long.
"Oh!" she exclaimed snapping back to reality, "Yes, all things considered its a pleasure to meet you. She shook his hand warmly, "Nilla Nightsand"
"And just between you and me," she leaned in close and lowered her voice just low enough to avoid her camera's recordable range, "its just an excuse I use when I don't want my fans hearing me talk about em."
She nodded at Clem, "Yep! No matter what their 'perfectly harmless' plan is this year I'm sure it won't include marching bands and confetti."
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Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 14:09:47 GMT -6
Qadyn's posture stiffened at Clementine's comment. He was glad to turn his attention to a new face.
"My, you're smart! Welcome back to hell, Huck. Qadyn Von Ho. Charmed." He shook Huck's hand.
He overheard Farathil at the bar on the side of the room. "Did someone say shots!? I just might have one more in me. Anyone care to join?" He looked around at the group.
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 14:11:57 GMT -6
Nilla simply raised her hand in response and wiggled it a bit like an excitable kindergartner on their first day of school.
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Post by Carac Ashdown on Mar 26, 2020 14:13:56 GMT -6
"I've never been one to turn down a drink. I think tonight is as fine as any. Although that host gentlemen does give me a touch of the creeps."
Carac stepped back from his position in the conversation and headed over to the bar.
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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 14:19:15 GMT -6
"So much worry over what could only be Farathil's errand boy," Mox scoffed, "but if what this tall handless glass of water says is true. Then we might need to start making alliances now."
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Post by Qadyn Von Ho on Mar 26, 2020 14:20:51 GMT -6
At hearing the word "alliance," Qadyn called Mox over to the bar. "Dear, would you care for a drink? They have elderflower!"
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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 15:07:43 GMT -6
Mox grinned, "Elderflower sounds lovely my dear." With that she strolled off towards the bar.
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Post by Nilla Nightsand on Mar 26, 2020 15:41:04 GMT -6
"Clem, Huck? You coming?" she set down the plate of desserts she had been holding. Admittedly her eyes had been larger than her stomach but she had put a decent dent in it.
"It'll be fuuuunnn" she sang as she backed away towards the promised shots.
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Post by Huck Matteos on Mar 26, 2020 15:48:56 GMT -6
It felt strange for Huck to smile and shake hands with people who would probably try to kill him later; but like he told the tributes he mentored: 'Don't be an enemy until you have to.'
Handshakes given all around made him self conscious about the grid-pattern of scars along his hands; and he was grateful for the longer sleeves hiding the rest up his arms. Though when he noticed Carac's missing hand, he reminded himself how much all these victors had gone through. These people weren't scared teens hoping to luck out; or even careers trying to make a name for themselves. These were wolves with smiles.
"I'd love a drink, though only enough to wash down these fish cakes!"
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Post by Peach Blossom on Mar 26, 2020 16:09:04 GMT -6
Peach sidled up to the buffet and collected two full plates of presumed delicacies, making sure to grab a few that she recognized from last time around. Things had sure changed since then, but she was not surprised to see a few familiar faces. Peach combed through the desserts, and stacked a few final tidbits onto her overloaded plates. After moving between a number of crowded areas, she spotted a table at the edge of the room that had just been cleared.
Halfway to the table, a raucous conversation at another table pushed a man back onto two legs of his chair, jostling her tenuously balanced dessert plate. She bobbed a bit to the left, hoping to salvage it, but overcompensated and ended up losing some of her favorite truffles. She would normally have picked them up off the ground, but not wanting to draw attention to her error, Peach kicked the truffles underneath the nearest draping tablecloth before moving to her table.
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Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 16:59:02 GMT -6
Astraea chuckled and her own glass of water, "Great minds think alike."
After taking a sip she introduced herself, "Astraea Aurelius. District 2. Suppose you could say I was one of those "careers" that are so often hated by the other Districts. Out of retirement so to speak. Not really happy about it, but neither was I exactly "happy" in my retirement. If you're going to be miserable may as well be a well deserved miserable in the Games."
Astraea gulped the rest of her water down wishing she had grabbed an alcoholic drink instead. "How about yourself?"
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Post by Peach Blossom on Mar 26, 2020 17:42:59 GMT -6
Peach had started to work through some of the more approachable foods she had collected, when Astraea approached and introduced herself. Peach was not surprised to learn that Astraea was a career, she looked like a woman who could handle her business.
Peach extended her hand, "Peach Blossom..." Peach hesitated, she always felt embarrassed saying her name out loud. "...district 11. I'm not thrilled to be here either, but when you are a victor I suppose you know your name is on a list somewhere. What could make a successful careers retirement miserable? I certainly learned to hate the publicity, but would have thought that it would be welcome for someone like yourself."
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Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 18:09:15 GMT -6
Astraea nodded curtly towards Peach as she took the offered hand, "Not sure about the other careers, but being treated as some prize mare who is only good for breeding by your own parents is not the most warm welcome I could have thought of." In a flash of her old arrogance and bravado she flexed her arms in a strongman pose and in a sarcastic voice said, "But when you have genes like these who would want them to go to waste?"
Astraea grimaced as she put her arms down, "What was retirement like in District 11?"
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Post by Peach Blossom on Mar 26, 2020 19:45:51 GMT -6
Peach could feel the pain in Astraeas voice as she spoke, but could see that she had channeled it to good use in building up herself.
"Retirement in district 11 isn't bad, by any means, but there were a lot of obligations to meet this person or that. My family would host events for distributors and suppliers and there would be a lot of capitol folk who were interested in meeting me." Peach remembered a lot of exquisite evenings and fawning praise from those who were there as guests, but the feelings of resentment from those who lived and worked with her each day. As she would do at those times, she did now and put on a smile.
"It's a pleasure to serve as I can, and now it looks like I will entertain in a different way!" Peach knelt down and opened her arms to the nearby, and always watching camera lenses.
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Post by Astraea Aurelius on Mar 26, 2020 20:36:15 GMT -6
Astraea chuckled, "It's good to keep a good humor about all this. It's a bit more difficult the second time around." She poked around at the food on her plate. "What do you think of the other tributes so far?"
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Post by Peach Blossom on Mar 26, 2020 21:02:20 GMT -6
Peach thought for a second about her reply, honestly she hadn't really gotten to know anyone well enough to truly judge their character but loud voices carry a long ways. "It seems like there are a lot of folks who miss the glory days around here, I think a bit of reservation is a fine attribute to have in a world full of cameras. Have you had an opportunity to make any strong connections?"
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