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[justoutrunyou]

WHO | Sandy and YOU!
WHAT | A new tribute is confused and...hey free food?
WHEN | pre-Arena 5
WHERE | suite 12
WARNINGS | None for the moment.

Sandy felt decidedly out of place in the lavish surroundings of the Capitol. She was after all, a skinny little brat from the bad side of town. And yet here she was with freshly washed hair, clean clothes, and a view of the city from this gigantic window.

It had all happened so fast she still wasn't entirely sure she was alive at all. One minute she was running for her life, the next she was being told by some old farts that she was going to be fighting for her life.

Then it was off to bed and now here she was. Alone in a room that was bigger then her entire apartment. It was enough to make a girl wanna scream just to hear it echo.

More curiously she had tried in the shower to do her special trick, to make her skin hard as stone and nothing had happened. It was gone.

Her attention was drawn by a smell. A strong smell, a sweet smell. It led her from the window to the kitchenette area where delicious food sat on display. Like someone was preparing for a party but no one came.

Eyes shifting around cautiously as if an adult was going to pop out of one of the many doors to this area and yell at her Sandy hesitantly took a flower shaped roll out of a basket and broke it open.

It was still steaming inside.

That was all the encouragement she needed. Finding a knife she took stock of the various items near the basket and decided to try what looked to be pink butter. It was even better then she imagined! Raspberry honey butter! She devoured the roll in a few bites and moved to the fruit basket. Some kind of purple melon caught her eye and she plucked a crescent shaped slice.

If she really had died, this was not what she had imagined Heaven was like. But it was a good start.
 

Comments

[peacekeeperavox]

He didn't even have that much, really, beyond the very basics he needed to serve. He held one hand, palm up, towards her, and gestured with the other to the entire spread again. Could he get her anything, or was she fine on her own?

[justoutrunyou]

Sandy had to take a moment to figure out what his gestures meant. Well if he wasn't going to say anything how much information could she really get out of him?

"...If I try to leave this building is anyone gonna stop me?" She had been taking her time thus far but if she needed to make a run for it, it would help to know how far she could go.

[peacekeeperavox]

Someone would tell her about Avoxes sooner or later. She would understand then. For now, though, he was doing all he could. He knew that tributes were allowed, even encouraged, to go out into the city, so he shook his head with a smile.

[justoutrunyou]

Well that was a relief. Maybe she should do that. Just pack up some food and live on the street. It would feel better then knowing there were people always watching.

"And no one would make me come back here? No curfew or anything?"

[peacekeeperavox]

He frowned faintly, with a tentatively little shake of his head. He was sure there was no curfew, as such, but the tributes lived here. They had to live here, didn't they? He gestured in the direction he had last seen Effie go - she should ask her.

[justoutrunyou]

Sandy got the point and pulled a face.

"I think I've had enough of makeup lady for now." Sandy then resolved she would spend some time today coming up with a better nickname for Effie.

For now she helped herself to some juice. "So you like...work here? Do you like it?" Desperate for conversation even with someone who didn't talk, so long as they were telling her she was going to die.

[peacekeeperavox]

He looked a little more uncertain, taking a short, unconscious step back from her. With a brief hesitation, he nodded. What else could he say?

[justoutrunyou]

Sandy blinked at his reaction. "Yeah I guess even if you didn't like your job it's not like you could say anything. Aren't there like, cameras everywhere?"

[mannersmatter]

"Oh, Sandy dear..."

Effie swished back into the room, tablet in hand. Dressed in a pink fur coats, she had some business to attend, and escort meeting and personal chores to run. They weren't getting much personal time lately.

But when she saw Sandy talking to the Avox, she felt her stomach sink.

"Don't talk to Avoxes..."

She trailed off slightly, as she saw which avoxes, remembering the incident of the elevator. After a moment awkward hesitation, she gave him a strained smile.

[peacekeeperavox]

Darius drew back, giving them both a deeper bow, looking down at the floor. As he should have done all along. His smile was as blatantly apologetic as it could be, but his eyes were anxious, even afraid.

[justoutrunyou]

Oh, this lady again. Folding her arms she addressed Effie. "What's an Avox? This guy?" She jerked a thumb at the servant.

[mannersmatter]

"Yes. He is..."

She tried to find a way to explain it, without knowing the ins and outs of this Avoxes situation.

"Someone being punished. They are silent, and only here to serve. It is better for him if you don't talk to him."

[peacekeeperavox]

The Avox gave Sandy a final, sorry look, haltingly seeking out the empty plates on the table, and slipped out of the room with them as speedily as he could.

[justoutrunyou]

But unfortunately that just made Sandy more curious, as children will be.

"Being punished for what? And what kind of punishment is being a butler who can't talk?"

[mannersmatter]

"Well, I don't know what punishment that Avox is serving, but..."

Effie paused, considering her words. Avoxes were just a fact of life, and always had been, since she was a small child. Her father even had is own. Becoming an avox was what kept children in line, but Effie wasn't sure what crimes, exactly, they were actually serving for.

"Traitors, I know. Nothing violent..." Well she certainly hoped not. "And there is more to it than being a servant."

[justoutrunyou]

Traitor. That was a word that sounded heavy. She had heard people use it back home as well. People who had acted out, protested against the way New York was run.

For speaking their minds.

Was that man being punished with silence for speaking out? Or something more complicated? Sandy puzzled and pondered and struggled with the questions that couldn't find their way to her mouth.

"Like what?" Seemed like a good way to start.

[mannersmatter]

"Well, they can't speak. And they go through training. The Avoxes here are very luck, I hear some of them have to do the most awful jobs."

Her nose wrinkled. Sewers, garbage worked, all the unpleasant jobs no one wanted.

That avoxes was blessed.

[justoutrunyou]

"So basically, criminals are slaves." Was what Sandy took from all that.

She wasn't sure how she felt about it. After all her father was a criminal. And her mother had told her that she was growing up to be just like him.

Would this world turn her into an Avox if she stepped out of line?

[mannersmatter]

"Well..."

Effie paused, trying to find a way to 'correct' that idea, but really she had none. It didn't sit right, but that was all she had.

"Yes."

[justoutrunyou]

Sandy didn't look impressed. "Guess no more sneaking out after curfew." she muttered darkly. She was of course, unaware of just how much of a curfew she might have in this new home.

"So how do you help me then?"

[mannersmatter]

"Well!"

Effie smiled brightly, clearly back where she felt comfortable in this conversation.

"I will get you where you need to go. And I arrange quite a lot of things behind the scenes, including helping Haymitch get you funds for the arena!"

[justoutrunyou]

"I need money to play?" Sandy burst out in confusion. She was already flashing back on some memories of failed lemonade stands and paper routes. This was getting more and more complicated the more she knew Effie.

[mannersmatter]

"Oh no dear, you don't need to worry about that right now. Just behave, and be a sweet little girl, and Haymitch and I will take care of the rest."

For now, at least.

[justoutrunyou]

The "Sweet little girl" comment made Sandy snort with amusement.

"Yeah alright if that's what it'll take to stay alive." She could play nice for now, but so much of this world left a sick feeling in her guy. It felt like if she scratched at the paint on the walls it would reveal the wood was rotted underneath.

shall we wrap this thread up?

[mannersmatter]

Effie beamed at her.

"I think you will do much better than you think, really dear."