The Tribute Youth Programme: July

[etcircenses]

Who| Adults who act as chaperones on the field trips. Any Tribute character aged 18 and under. This is ICly Mandatory for Tributes under 18 so your character will be there even if you don't tag in.
What| July's TYP round; Summer School Blues, field trips, and more...
Where| A private school building within the Capitol, a waterpark, a zoo.
When| Regular school hours (8 AM to 3 PM) four days a week (Monday-Thursday)
WARNINGS| Mind-altering juice boxes, indoctrination. Place any needed warnings within comment headers.
NOTES| If you would like your character to be caught trouble-making, please contact mods. We are looking for both Mentors to speak of the District they hail from (or represent), and Capitolite characters to talk of Panem's greatness. If you would like your character to stand as a guest speaker for the next round, please refer to this post. The fantastic Tribute Youth Programme uniforms are designed and drawn by Reiko.

The Tribute Youth Programme is back in full force. The Teacher missed you all!

Class will go much like it did before, anthems, uniforms, and all. By now the new badges should all be sewn right in. You still have the opportunity to earn more, and on top of all this, your letter replies have at last come in! Along with all the (questionably subsisting) pet bats promised of Panem Nightly.

This time is extra special, however, for there is a secret surprise planned for next month that the Teacher is preparing for. Something about partners for tents and canoes? Whatever that means. Maybe if you sign up early you'll get a partner you like. And perhaps asking among the adults if any would like to chaperone for the mystery trip.

As for this current trip, those who earned the bonus will get a free ride around the park on one of the elephants, front row seats to a live performance in the aquarium area, and a custom photo souvenir with their favourite animal.

Comments

Aquarium

[shiningeyes]

"Oh? What? See what?" Gritta had been nearby, watching the aquatic animals with a similar sort of fascination, but all she had managed to catch a glimpse of was a bit of motion. Vivi's exclamation made it clear to her that she had missed something. She presses her hands to the glass (against explicit orders and signs saying not to do so) and tries to look closer. "What did I miss? What was it?"

[steepled]

Although Vivi avoids pressing against the glass himself, he doesn't try to keep Gritta from doing so, not when it doesn't look so dangerous yet anyway (something about being closer to the glass makes him feel like he'd somehow end up in the tank. Not a good feeling to have when you can't swim!). He's never been to something like an aquarium before and keeps in mind that should when he returns back home, he'd tell the others about it for sure.

"That octopus camouflaged into the sand over there." He answers, pointing at where he last saw it. It's there, he's sure. Maybe. These creatures are smart. "It's probably waiting for food."

[shiningeyes]

"Oh? Really?" Gritta shifts a little towards the direction that Vivi's pointing, looking very intently. She's not having much luck, though, what with all that camouflaging. "I still can't see it... I hope it moves again. I've never seen an octopus before."

Since it does not seem like she is going to spot the hidden octopus anytime soon, she takes her hands off the glass and looks down at Vivi instead. "...Oh." Up until now, she had just been sure that he was just short or young or both, but... but he wasn't human, was he? She likes that. That's nice. She's not quite aware that she's staring, though.

[steepled]

"My grandpa cooked some for me once." Vivi replies, eyes still on the spot where he last saw it disappear. The creatures seem so soft like a blanket but when cooked... "I think it only tasted good because he made it."

He catches her gaze on him and takes that as a cue to make eye contact with her. "Um...your name is Gritta, right? I'm Vivi."

He had seen her around school and while he never met anyone that looks like her, he's had just enough life experience to know that everyone has different features.

[shiningeyes]

"Oh... yes, you can eat them, can't you?" She's heard of octopus being served places, but it was never served back at the Castle Terminal. "What did it taste like?" There's someone before her that can provide a first-hand report, so why not ask? She's too curious not to.

"Yes, I am!" It's fine if introductions are to happen first, though. "It's nice to finally talk to you, Vivi. I'm sorry that we haven't. I should have made the effort." And she gives a polite bow. Being caught in a strange world that isn't hers and forced to go from place to place with little rhyme or reason is no excuse to forget her manners.

[steepled]

"Oh! It's okay. I should've done the same." Vivi returns the bow with his own. Manners are important. "We're talking now and that's what matters." He perks his head back up. It's hard to tell for some at first, but there is a smile there. The little glow from his eyes indicate so.

"Um..." How do you describe the taste of octopus? "Meaty? Or maybe chewy but in a good way...grandpa would cook them with soy sauce and vegetables." The thought of it stirs his appetite some, although it's more out of homesickness if anything. He looks at the tank again and sees no signs of the animal.

"I don't think he'll want to come out now that I said that...oops."

[shiningeyes]

"Yes. That's what matters, doesn't it? We should talk more, too. We live on the same floor, don't we?" She wasn't entirely sure, given that school and her Jason-provided schedule keeps her busy, but come to think of it, hadn't he been wandering around?

"Chewy... that sounds sort of nice." Vivi's assessment of the octopus's willingness to come out and say hello seems valid, though. She makes a slightly dismayed sound, looking back into the water. "It's alright. We know you're not for eating, Mr. Octopus..." She hesitates. "Or is it miss?"

[steepled]

The mage nods. "For District 7, yeah. I usually walk around a lot if I'm not at the school." A long walk helps him think and this little fella thinks a lot...too much, even. But he enjoys whatever quiet alone time he has even as his apparent notoriety makes that a little more difficult nowadays.

Glancing back at the tank again, he tilts his head. "...um, I'm not sure." How does one know? Right as he asks himself that question, the answer he gets is a stomach growl. He adjusts his hat (that almost never needs adjusting, but it's mostly calming for him) and gestures to where the sign points to a food court.

"Boy, talking about food makes me hungry. Do you want to go get something to eat, Gritta?"

[shiningeyes]

"That must be very nice. I'm often too busy to spend time walking around. But it's all for a good cause." Which, suddenly, makes her wonder and worry. She leans in towards Vivi, her voice lowered. "...are you making enough money? Are you doing alright?"

And oh, how suddenly on topic. "Yes. Yes, I think I'd like to do that. It can even be my treat." She straightens up, the smile back on her face and in her eyes.

[steepled]

"Huh?" Vivi tip toes a bit so he could hear her. Her concern is understandable with the sudden change in how the money thing works (which is also understandable, once he has the Districts in mind). "Oh! I - I'm okay, yeah. I don't really spend much on things and I have friends that I share things with."

Even with that change, he's lived on less before.

"I-it's alright! I have some money set side for today." He wouldn't have made the suggestion otherwise. Still, her offer is really nice of her to make. "You don't have to."