Staffer's Retreat

[whatisay]

WHO| Every Escort, Stylist and Mentor. Any Capitolites or Peacekeepers who might have reason to oversee or visit.
WHAT| A professional retreat for the overworked, underpaid, and super underappreciated Tribute Care Teams.
WHERE| A chalet in District One, easily accessible by train.
WHEN| Before the next death roll.
WARNINGS| Typical Capitolites being entitled asshats.
NOTES| I've put up some subthreads for various activities, if you want to add more just do so under the appropriate day subheader!

Staffer's Retreat. Mandatory. The teams for each District are given a handful of days to prepare for the weekend, which, they're told, is going to be scheduled for a weekend with no big shake-ups in the Arena and perfect weather for outdoor activities. On Friday morning, they're taken by train to a small chalet tucked into a mountainside. A few inches of snow covers the ground but the sky is clear, reflected in the beautiful lake at the base of the mountain.

Until Sunday evening, their days will be packed with "professional development". The schedule looks something like this:

Friday:
Icebreakers
Trust Falls
Hypothetical Scenarios: How to Be the First Person Chosen for a Bomb Shelter
Three-Legged Race
Self-Care Hour: Mandatory Yoga
Dinner
Breaking Down Stereotypes Workshop

Saturday:
Mandatory Mentor Group Therapy: PTSD is Not An Excuse
Mandatory Escort/Stylist Workshop: Building Trust with Your Tributes
Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training: Focus on Tribute/Mentor and Tribute/Escort Relationships
Lunch
Capture-the-Flag
Group Lego-Building
Dinner
12am Karaoke

Sunday:
5:30am Continental Breakfast
Compliment Circle
Journal Hour
Farewells

Comments

[contrarianlibrarian]

She nods slowly, earnestly, as if really savoring this information. And she is, especially the bit about his grandmother beating Snow. "Amazing."

Who wouldn't want to have that kind of sway? For all her parents taught her, they simply weren't that good.

"I have to say, I'm jealous of you both. She for having such a sweet grandson and you for growing up near such an illustrious figure. She must have taught you much."

[capitolprivilege]

He laughs. "I wish she'd taught me how to smell lies," Stephen quips. "I'm absolutely sure she can. But what about you?" he asks. "Would you consider yourself more interesting than your family?"

[contrarianlibrarian]

She's not entirely certain if that's a jab at her, but she laughs--truly--nonetheless. Sharp tongues are more fun.

She takes a moment to incline her head as if carefully considering his question. "You might as well ask if I consider myself more interesting than a potato sack. My parents and brother were rather dull people--I would be worried that I carry the family curse myself if I didn't find myself such enjoyable company."

All their talk about duty and serving a higher power--she's frankly surprised her parents never put themselves to sleep.

[capitolprivilege]

Stephen's caught by surprise -- he blows out a breath that's half laugh, half whistle. "Whoa, tell me how you really feel," he says, not sure how seriously to take her. One tenet of being brought up a Reagan is the importance of family: family will always be there for you, and you will be there for family, and family matters are automatically more important than any other.

[contrarianlibrarian]

She shrugs. "I don't dislike them. I even love my brother, despite him being a stick in the mud our entire childhood." And is still; she would know that even if she didn't keep tabs on him.

"I simply believe they could have benefited from expanding their interests. Taking up knitting, perhaps."

[capitolprivilege]

He gives a real laugh this time. The ice is broken, and Stephen's picking up the conversation. "So what are your hobbies, that are so superior to knitting?"

[contrarianlibrarian]

Despite having a heart that's practically made of the stuff, breaking the ice is something China enjoys.

"I'm flattered that you agree. Are you a fan of books, by any chance? I collect them."

[capitolprivilege]

"Oh, that's nice," Stephen says, in the same appreciative tone you'd use for someone describing any collection of antiques. "Is it age or subject that matters most to you?"

He's not a particular fan of them, because most of what he reads, book or otherwise, is electronic, but he can appreciate their old-world charm. A library full of old books is a really nice place to kick back with a tablet.

[contrarianlibrarian]

"Age matters a little to anyone using books in this day and age," her smile takes a turn for the rueful. She's just one poor little librarian holding out against the march of time.

"As for subject, I'm interested in all of them. There's so much more to appreciate--the design, for one. You'd be amazed at how much typography and paper quality can mean."

[capitolprivilege]

"Clearly, my imagination was too small," he says, interested. "All right, I'm listening. You've got one shot. Sell me on books." He rests his chin on his hand, his manner downright playful.

[contrarianlibrarian]

She leans back a fraction and laughs. "Those are some high stakes. Nevertheless..."

She considers her words carefully, tilting her head to the side. "The book is the best representation of the adage that 'knowledge is power.' Not only does the knowledge within it empower you, but you can beat someone unconscious with a heavy book much more easily than you can with one of these modern gadgets."

[capitolprivilege]

He breaks into a warm laugh.

"Oh, that's funny," he says, brightly. "Books as weapons! That's a cute spiel." He shifts the way he's sitting -- his legs are starting to fall asleep. This hippie-dippy feel-good stuff would feel a lot better if they weren't sitting on the floor. "Have you ever done it yourself?"

[contrarianlibrarian]

"I do try." Not that cute was often the reaction she wanted, but it was a reaction nonetheless.

"Please. That's where knowledge comes in--I know how to have others do it for me."

She folds her hands on her lap. "And if you want to know how to accomplish that, you'd find it in a book."

[capitolprivilege]

"Touche," he replies, charmed and not at all put off by the talk of violence. He's grown up with the Hunger Games, after all. "I may have to borrow one from you sometime."

[contrarianlibrarian]

A victory for print? Probably not, but China decides she'll take it. "Perfect. I'll certainly welcome you to the library any time.

She pretends to think hard for a moment. "For you, I may even do deliveries."

Or have some poor slob do the deliveries. But the thought counts, right?

[capitolprivilege]

"No, no," he protests. "I love libraries. And I would love to see yours."

Just because Stephen doesn't necessarily go for the books doesn't mean libraries aren't nice places.

[contrarianlibrarian]

China found it hard to separate one from the other, so she was interested in his perspective. "Do you really mean that, or are you just trying to be kind?"

Either way, she'd take it.

[capitolprivilege]

"You can say a kind thing and mean it," he quips. "I'll come see it after the Arena."

[contrarianlibrarian]

"If you say so." She keeps her tone playful; of course he's right that kind things can also be honest. Secretly, though, she doubts it.

"Perfect." She rummages in her purse for a moment, then holds out a business card. It's archaic in this day and age, so, in a way, it's a fitting advertisement for a print library. Her name and the address of the library are printed on it in delicate type. "My doors are always open."

cool to wrap it up here? have them called away to do something else?

[capitolprivilege]

He takes it -- and decides to wait until later to snap a picture of it with his tablet and file the information away sensibly. Stephen flips it over in his fingers playfully and slips it into a breast pocket.

Sounds good!

[contrarianlibrarian]

What tact. China watches him stow it away before an announcement across the room takes her attention.

"...It seems we're being called away to make fools of ourselves with trust falls." She sighs as she rises to her feet. "It was lovely speaking with you."

[capitolprivilege]

He laughs, climbing to his feet as well and brushing off the front of his pants. "Well, I'd hate to get in trouble on a staff retreat," he replies, giving her a smile. "Lovely indeed. Keep in touch!"

And he'll head off and be distracted by somebody else.