If you ever get to the place where the sun is shining everyday

[cigne]

Who| Swann and maybe you???
What| Gotta shape up these Tributes. And maybe have a drink.
Where| D8 Suites and also the bar in the lobby
When| TODAY

a. District 8 Suites
Swann enters the Suite with her heels clicking on the floor, peering around for any sign of life in here. She carries in her shopping bags, each labeled with the name of her Tributes. The bags overwhelm her tiny frame, the sheer amount of them and their size. Even her sky-high stilettos can't balance it all out.

She approaches the sitting room and carefully arranges the bags on the coffee table, placing them just so, very intent on the appearance. She wants everything to look just right when the Tributes come in, wants to see their eyes light up at how pretty the bags are, with their pristine edges and rich black shine and ribbons on the handles.

They have to show up first, though.

b. Lobby bar

All she needed was a single lemon drop martini, and she has it. Sitting on the high barstool, Swann looks out over the lobby, watching people come and go, watching the crowds ebb and flow as the Tributes enter and leave the building. It's interesting enough, made nicer by the drink, and the screens replay all the best scenes from the past Arena.

She occasionally fiddles with her communicators, checking emails and messages and the tabloids, making sure everything's in order while she dares to lounge for just a few moments.

Comments

[foundafamily]

He bites his lip and spends all of five seconds trying to think of a proper answer. Those seconds do little more than convince him that he really does need help with this. 'Image' isn't something camorristi spend much time on and what little of it Firo has is tied to his job and his determination to convince people that he's not girly.

He scratches his head anxiously, "...I dunno. But not that--it's embarrassing!"

He only has so much dignity left; he'd like to try and keep it.

[cigne]

"It's a guaranteed winner!" she argues, holding her hands up. "Lots of the greatest Victors have played the role, it's a really good way to get Sponsors! You want people to be invested in you, and them being in love with you is a great way for that to happen. How is having a leg up on your competitors embarrassing?"

[foundafamily]

"It's embarrassing if you hafta date somebody to get there!" It's the principle of the thing. Who's going to respect a guy who needs to get all mushy to win?

He frowns and shakes his head. "And, besides, it's easy for you to say when you don't actually hafta do any a' that!"

[cigne]

Swann heaves a sigh and rolls her eyes. "You don't have to date anyone, I just thought it would be cute little thing to get the public hooked on you! And you don't have any better ideas, so I can't come up with anything you like!"

She rubs her temple -- she's beginning to see what the other Escorts bitch about. "Look, it's for your benefit. I won't fight with you about it, because I already know that it's better for you to have Sponsors than nothing."

[foundafamily]

He pouts through her retort, but listens to the end nonetheless. "Well, I get that part." He just doesn't know how to actually attain such a goal while not hating everything about life. Something will have to give.

"...Just gimme more time and maybe I'll come up with something." He fails to sound at all convinced of that possibility. "If not, then I'll try whatever they taught you in Escort school."

[cigne]

"If you get it, then you should just listen to me, shouldn't you?" It's barely even chiding, more just pointing out the obvious. "How about I give you three days to jot some ideas down? If you can't figure out anything, then we go with my plan. Deal?"

She holds out her hand, all sportsmanlike and everything.

[foundafamily]

She does have a point there, so he doesn't argue, just does his best to pretend he didn't hear.

"Perfect. Three days is a lotta time."

That statement is only going to come back to bite him when he ends three days with no ideas except possibly extortion. Not for lack of trying.

He reaches out to give her hand a brisk shake. "It's a deal, then."

[cigne]

With a smile, she picks up his bag and hands it back to him.

"See you in three days, then, Firo! Good luck."

She has the utmost confidence that she's got her District pretty boy.

[foundafamily]

He doesn't withdraw quickly enough to avoid the bag and simply sighs as he takes it. He'll have to kick it under the bed later or something.

"Yeah, yeah, see you."

Almost as an afterthought: "...Thanks."

She *is* giving him a chance, and no matter how unwanted, a gift is a gift.