[open] darling i'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream

[fusshionable]

Who| Porrim and anyone in D5 or who happens to be around D5.
What| mingling in the D5 suites; addressing tribute concerns and getting to know her charges over tea.
Where| D5 suites
When| anytime between October 5th and now!
Warnings/Notes| probably none, aside from language! will update.



Soon after her initial introduction over the Network, and for the weeks following, Porrim finds herself situated at regular intervals in the District 5 lounge, a fresh tray of tea, pastries, sandwiches and assorted other delicacies spread across the table in front of her, and a handsome leather notebook poised in front of her, ready to take notes if necessary. She finds that these regular sessions--like open office hours in a university--are helpful to her Tributes. It's important for her to be accessible, especially when her district has the reputation that it does.

And, well, if she keeps a tiny silver flask nearby and occasionally slips a little something stronger into her tea, who can really blame her? The job of an Escort is a neverending headache, and the indomitable Miss Maryam is more than well-equipped to deal with the consequences. And true to her word, she's happy to socialize with anyone from another District who happens by; she'll never say no to new friends, to making new contacts and meeting new faces. After all, people are interesting. Especially when they come from such varied walks of life.

Comments

[celebrityskinned]

"As long as you don't dress me up as Jessica Rabbit. I've done that costume before, but orange hair seriously don't look good on me, and heck no with the blue and purple eyeshadows. Gold's way kinder to me."

She reaches over and takes another sugar packet, adding a little extra sweetness to the already saturated drink.

"You could also, you know, play up the fact that I was off my meds, I just got broken up with, I was so unstable - I don't know if you're familiar with Britney Spears, but she once shaved her head and beat up a car with an umbrella because the pressure of fame got to be too much. We could sell my, um, bad decisions that way."

[fusshionable]

Porrim snaps her fingers, already scribbling furiously in her notebook. "Oh, that's perfect! Genius." She glances up and gives Venus a grin. "No blue or purple, I promise. We'll skip the costume altogether. You'll just be Venus."

The Britney mention raises an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Ms. Spears' work, no. But the story is an easy enough one to comprehend. I think we may have nailed down your angle."

[celebrityskinned]

"Excellent. That's already a costume anyway." Venus' real name - not the stage name, the one her mother gave her - isn't a total secret, but she still likes to keep her real self to her chest. She'll wear the public persona, the muscles and curves, the fashion and smiles, the flirting and murder, like a sheath, and she'll stay inside, safe and unknown and practically non-existent.

They all find ways to survive in Panem.

"Do you want me to do anything dramatic to get a headline, or are we already putting my wild days in the past?"

[fusshionable]

Porrim lets out a quiet chuckle. "Fair enough." She takes a moment to gather her thoughts--another long sip of tea. "I really appreciate your cooperation, Venus. I don't want a struggle with anyone, and--" The escort lets out a quiet sigh. "I just want what's best. For all parties involved. I know, I've seen it happen--Tributes get burnt out, depressed, unhappy. It's no good. So please just tell me if there's anything I can do for you, alright?"

Suddenly, Porrim feels a bit sheepish, and a bit alarmed. That was a bit more vulnerable than she'd intended to be. So she straightens up, suddenly all business again. "Anyway. I think what we'll do is start off with you putting in an appearance at some party or other. Keep it light, happy. Sociable. We'll put words in the right ears how happy you are to be starting things off on the right foot again. A new leaf. And I'll be with you every step of the way."

[celebrityskinned]

She nods. "You're not my enemy, you're my Escort. I've been doing this whole thing a long time, before your country brought me here. I know how it goes. I appreciate your work."

She isn't under the impression that the people behind the curtain, so to speak, are automatons. Just because they don't know what it's like in the Arena doesn't mean they aren't working hard, that they aren't human. Capable of the same secret lives as anyone.

So she doesn't pry, doesn't comment further, and let's Porrim dictate that the conversations gets business-like again.

"Good. I can probably do photoshoots and all better than I can do interviews right now. Especially if they catch me in profile." She turns her face and hides her brand with her hand. "Ta-dah."

[fusshionable]

Eager to move past it, Porrim latches onto that specification smoothly, happy to accommodate. "Certainly." She giggles at Venus's little display, her hand covering her mouth in exactly the kind of affectation that's meant to be ironic rather than genuinely girlish.

"Oh, Miss Milo, how striking." It's a genuine horror to have done something like that to a face like Venus's, but Porrim thinks abstractly that if anyone could pull it off with moxie, it's Venus. Not that she'll be voicing any such opinion. "No interviews, then, for now, but we'll put you down for a few events in the upcoming weeks. Start you off slow, I don't want to overwhelm you."

[celebrityskinned]

"That sounds good." It's good to have an Escort willing to work with her, and not for the first time she's grateful that her years in Hollywood have honed her sense of professionalism. Venus pats her knees, finishes her tea and gets up. "I can find you here tomorrow, right? I have an errand to run right now."

[fusshionable]

Porrim gives Venus a little wave, a friendly smile. "As always," she agrees. "It was nice chatting with you, dear."