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]

"Oh, dear..." Even as she trails off, her smile grows at the compliment.

She ducks her head, suddenly staring at her lap as if shy. "Please. You and your words are far too kind."

[sergius]

Sergius laughed then, shaking his head. "Don't even, girl. I say what I mean, and I say what I think. Most of the other clowns here think I'm a joke because my family's not loaded. You don't meet a lot of people who'd give a guy like me a chance. 'Least, not people from the Capitol."

[contrarianlibrarian]

"Money can be made, but charm and personality are inherent. Honesty as well." And despite being a profoundly dishonest person, she did appreciate it in others.

She made a quiet show of ever so slightly sweeping her eyes around the room before looking back to him with another mischievous smile. "...And so hard to find sometimes. Don't be put off by someone who can't see the value in it."

[sergius]

He followed her gaze, looking around the room at their assorted companions. It was true, Sergius was transparent in his candor at times. It had served him well thus far. But it didn't make for an easy existence in a world populate by schemers and greedy dirtbags.

"I'll take that to heart," Sergius smiled back at her. "Being attractive can only get you so far in life. If you can't hold down a conversation, you're screwed. And if you're obviously a liar and a sneak, well..." He trailed off with a laugh. "That's no way to make friends. And in the end, no one wins when they do it solo. That's a shitty strategy and it doesn't work."

[contrarianlibrarian]

Inside, China would wholeheartedly disagree on the disadvantages of flying solo. But she likes this man and thinks he could be useful, so she nods eagerly and follows along.

"And so lonely, too. One can't speak of life's pleasure by oneself. Unless you happen to be crazy."

[sergius]

"Look," Sergius said with a laugh, "There's a lot of crazy in this town, and believe you-me, you're better off if you distance yourself from all them. It might be a hassle, developing people skills and all, but you can't get anywhere in this system without connections. Even the most melancholy and solitary Tribute needs an ally. Or if not an ally, a sponsor, you dig?"

[contrarianlibrarian]

"Yes, certainly. I 'dig'."

Inside, she wrinkled her nose at the phrase; it was one she wouldn't keep in her vernacular, but when in Rome...

"You know a lot when it comes to people, it seems. That must be quite an advantage in your position." Meaning not only his job, but also the social difference he'd mentioned before.