China Sorrows (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
contrarianlibrarian) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thecapitol2015-03-06 08:28 pm
contrarianlibrarian) wrote in thecapitol2015-03-06 08:28 pm
Entry tags:
Open!
Who| China Sorrows and you!
What| Trying to acquire free labor and company, bringing gifts to District 11 Tributes, and creeping on Tower residents and the Arena
Where| Around the Tower, the District 11 Suite, and the Common Area
When| Week 5 and onward
Warnings/Notes| No warnings for now; if you’d like to set up another scenario, I’m open to anything
[All around the Tower]
Winding her way from the outside of the Tower to the elevators is China, a tall stack of books tucked under her chin. Though neither her body nor the stack waver an inch, suggesting she has everything under control, she approaches the first person she spots regardless.
With a bright but apologetic—not sheepish, though, she doesn’t do sheepish—China asks, “Excuse me. I hate to impose, but would you be willing to assist me with these?”
Why she doesn’t just ask an Avox may be one of the questions that springs to mind.
[District 11 Suite]
As Tributes return from the Arena, China’s stationed in the District 11 common area to meet them. She has herself sitting up perfectly straight on one of the couches, hands folded demurely on her lap. Spread out before her is a selection of books, enough so that there’s one for each Tribute and staff member in the District.
There’s a range of topics, from a book of tales about old Panem heroes with a cover verging on the garish to instructional texts on arts like flower arranging. Conspicuously absent from the pile are any factual accounts of history, politics, or warfare.
Inside each one is a small card on which is written, in flourished handwriting, “As thanks for your service to glorious Panem.” There’s the faintest hint of perfume on each one because China doesn’t like overdoing things. And perfume that nice gets expensive.
As anyone approaches the room—whether from outside the suite or their own room—she greets them with a soft smile, “Hello. Do you have a moment?”
[Common Area]
The Games are as enjoyable as ever, but now China watches with a new focus. As each Tribute appears on-screen, she writes something in elegantly looping hand in a tiny notebook. A clipboard would, of course, be much easier. But it just wouldn’t look quite as good; she’s an Escort, not some low-level administrator.
She does do this for every Tribute, so someone may see her jotting down notes on one of their charges or one of their friends.
They also might notice that her attention occasionally wanders from the Games to the other watchers; she doesn’t bother to hide it, though she politely refrains from making any notes on them.
What| Trying to acquire free labor and company, bringing gifts to District 11 Tributes, and creeping on Tower residents and the Arena
Where| Around the Tower, the District 11 Suite, and the Common Area
When| Week 5 and onward
Warnings/Notes| No warnings for now; if you’d like to set up another scenario, I’m open to anything
[All around the Tower]
Winding her way from the outside of the Tower to the elevators is China, a tall stack of books tucked under her chin. Though neither her body nor the stack waver an inch, suggesting she has everything under control, she approaches the first person she spots regardless.
With a bright but apologetic—not sheepish, though, she doesn’t do sheepish—China asks, “Excuse me. I hate to impose, but would you be willing to assist me with these?”
Why she doesn’t just ask an Avox may be one of the questions that springs to mind.
[District 11 Suite]
As Tributes return from the Arena, China’s stationed in the District 11 common area to meet them. She has herself sitting up perfectly straight on one of the couches, hands folded demurely on her lap. Spread out before her is a selection of books, enough so that there’s one for each Tribute and staff member in the District.
There’s a range of topics, from a book of tales about old Panem heroes with a cover verging on the garish to instructional texts on arts like flower arranging. Conspicuously absent from the pile are any factual accounts of history, politics, or warfare.
Inside each one is a small card on which is written, in flourished handwriting, “As thanks for your service to glorious Panem.” There’s the faintest hint of perfume on each one because China doesn’t like overdoing things. And perfume that nice gets expensive.
As anyone approaches the room—whether from outside the suite or their own room—she greets them with a soft smile, “Hello. Do you have a moment?”
[Common Area]
The Games are as enjoyable as ever, but now China watches with a new focus. As each Tribute appears on-screen, she writes something in elegantly looping hand in a tiny notebook. A clipboard would, of course, be much easier. But it just wouldn’t look quite as good; she’s an Escort, not some low-level administrator.
She does do this for every Tribute, so someone may see her jotting down notes on one of their charges or one of their friends.
They also might notice that her attention occasionally wanders from the Games to the other watchers; she doesn’t bother to hide it, though she politely refrains from making any notes on them.
D11 suite!
Such feelings would explain why, when Gary comes wandering out into the common area on his way to the kitchen and China calls him, he spooks mid-yawn and nearly leaps back behind the wall. But she clearly doesn't mean him harm, her tone is friendly--so Gary recovers quickly, combing a hand through his unkempt hair and forcing a wide smile so he doesn't feel quite so ridiculous.
"Uh--yeah! Yeah, I'm free." Gary gives a nervous chuckle and slinks around the couch. "What's up?"
no subject
Still, though she's already slightly concerned for his apparent disregard for appearances, she doesn't let her face show any surprise. Her expression stays locked in that smile--friendly or unsettling, depending on how you look at it.
Her face brightens even more as he approaches. "Hello, Mr. Epps. I don't believe you've met me before, but I certainly know you. You had a wonderful performance this past Arena."
There's no hint of derision or irony; the compliment is perfectly genuine. Or she makes it look and sound like it is, and she's had a lot of practice with that.
"I'll be the Escort for our District, so I'd like for us to get acquainted."
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"I thought so myself," Gary preens. Thus emboldened, he takes this opportunity to flop onto the couch next to his guest and really get settled, and is about to make some crack or other about how he's at a disadvantage when she mentions why she's here. Or rather, what she is.
"...An Escort?" There's a moment of shock, and suddenly Gary is making a much more deliberate effort to brush his hair with his hands and straighten his conspicuously branded sleeping shirt. He doesn't pay attention to a lot of things, and their old Escort was barely around for Gary to remember, but he's been herded between locations and gotten enough passing snipes over his posture or clothing to understand what their job is. "I--I didn't know we got a new one! Hi!" He snaps out a hand for her to shake. "I guess you already know my name. What's yours?"
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She won't judge. Much.
A delicate shrug. "They don't like to alert you all very much, I'm afraid. I hope it's not too much of a shock." Though it could be, given the style of their last Escort. She isn't planning on taking a similar approach at all.
"I do, Mr. Epps." She rests one hand lightly on her chest. "China Sorrows."
no subject
There's a slight pause where Gary waits for the blush to leave his ears, but he doesn't wait long.
"So, what's the plan?"
no subject
In another light and airy gesture, she sweeps her hands over the books on the table before her. "The plan starts with you selecting one of these. Whichever you like."
"They're gifts. From my library."
no subject
"Books?" Whoops, that came out sounding kind of incredulous and disappointed. Gary catches that the moment it comes out of his mouth and immediately backpedals. "--Books! Wow, thanks! I, uh. Haven't gotten books from someone in a while! Neat."
He pauses, glancing back at China with an uneasy sort of squint to make sure that his bluff has gone through, before he gives up and abruptly leans forward to start shuffling through the assorted gifts. Gary isn't terribly invested in reading any of the titles at the moment because he's in the midst of a mild internal panic. Quickly, gotta distract her while he pretends to look interested...
"Your library, huh?" Gary muses through a bright, joking smile. If all else fails, play the humor card. "What's the point of a library if you're just gonna give all the books away?"
no subject
She opts to ignore his seeming dismay for the moment, instead carrying on as if she only heard the joke.
"Sometimes sacrifices must be made. Those who would have hoped to borrow these will just have to deal with it. I hope that you will enjoy the books enough to make up for their disappointment."
If she's being honest, these are some of her less valuable books, so parting with them isn't that rough. It would spoil the moment if she admitted that, though.
no subject
He pauses to actually read one of the titles.
"...'The Eccentric Lives of Victors, Past and Present.'" Oh, wait, that actually sounds really interesting. Gary arcs his brows and pops open the book to skim the inside cover. "The wait-list for this one must've been at least two months."
no subject
"As well as their taste, my clients tend toward a different sort of material, but I felt these might be more enjoyable." Whether or not that's meant as a jab, she'll leave up to him to decide. The fact that her smile doesn't waver at all may suggest that it isn't a hostile remark.
She shrugs her shoulders apologetically, allowing her expression to take a turn for the sly as she joins him in his joking. "If you do not wish to try it, though, I can certainly find you something else. I have some books on dendrology that are a must-read."
no subject
"Nah," he says with an exaggerated wave of his hand. "My skin doesn't get that dry. I was thinking of something with a few more explosions, you know? Explosions make everything better."
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"Do they? I've always found them painfully overdone." She usually refrains from expressing her opinions too early in a meeting, so she tries to keep her voice mild; she doesn't want to put them at odds too soon.
"What exactly is it about them that you appreciate? I highly doubt I have anything on explosions here, but perhaps I can find something similarly enchanting."
no subject
"Oh, you know..." Gary also hadn't expected China to call him on his stated love of all things explosion-related, which makes coming up with a bullshit explanation even more difficult. He mulls over the words like he's chewing on a particularly grisly piece of meat. "...They're, like...loud." It takes him a moment to remember that they're talking about books. "--Figuratively loud. Like bright color loud. And stuff."
no subject
She lets her shoulders slope and nearly pouts, her voice tinged by sadness. "I'm disappointed, then, that I let that children's pop-up book slip by me at the last auction. Perhaps that would have been more suitable."
"I promise you, though, your selection doesn't lack for excitement. Some of our Victors have been quite colorful."
no subject
But at least the book he's been provided tempers his disappointment, and China's comment helps him realize this. This is a pretty interesting read, isn't it? Never would have pegged a book about Victors as something he would want to read, but here we are. Gary's eyebrows arc and he nods his approval. "I guess it is, huh?" He flips through a few pages and glances up. "You know any of these guys? Like, as their Escort?"
no subject
"Unfortunately, no. You all are my first group." She smooths her hair. "I did watch their Arenas, though, and see the coverage of their tours. All quite a sight."
She stops short of mentioning how her family gathered around the screen to watch it religiously every year. Some of these odd Tributes seem like they might be disturbed by the notion, as commonplace as it is in the Capitol, and she wants to tread lightly.
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One of those questions, though, she's happy to answer. "I ran my library--and I still do. I was a collector of sorts, you could say. The work was both very different and very similar to this."
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"A collector, eh?" Gary leans forward, balancing on the backs of his hands folded neatly under his chin. 'Chinhands-ing,' if you will. "Does that make us, like, trading cards? What kind of stats do I have?"
no subject
Despite being unfamiliar in the lingo of trading cards, she'll attempt to play along. "A 6 for wit, 7 for looks, and a solid 10 for personality."
"But I meant more that it requires the same skills of appraisal, analysis, and socialization. If you're to do it properly, of course."
She imagines that's more boring than what he would have wanted.
no subject
"Only a seven?" Deeply affronted, Gary huffs and folds his arms. "Alright, Miss China Sorrows. I want solid tens for all of those stats. I need you to use your skills of appraisanalization or whatever to get there. You can do that, right?"
no subject
"I assure you, I will do my best. I think a hairbrush would do wonders, to start. Perhaps we can liven up your wardrobe too."
I think this is a good place to wrap up!
"Alright, alright," Gary mumbles in good humor and stands, rather abruptly and with renewed energy. The book he grabbed from the table has been discretely tucked under his arm. "Maybe you could make my own wardrobe, while you're at it. My own brand! That'd be neat, huh?"
No time to argue whether or not she has that kind of power--Gary gives her an enthusiastic thumbs-up and starts trotting away to his room to tidy up.
Agreed!
She smiles at his retreating back and waves lightly. "I'll start dreaming up a title for your line right now."