The Tribute Youth Programme: July

[etcircenses]

Who| Adults who act as chaperones on the field trips. Any Tribute character aged 18 and under. This is ICly Mandatory for Tributes under 18 so your character will be there even if you don't tag in.
What| July's TYP round; Summer School Blues, field trips, and more...
Where| A private school building within the Capitol, a waterpark, a zoo.
When| Regular school hours (8 AM to 3 PM) four days a week (Monday-Thursday)
WARNINGS| Mind-altering juice boxes, indoctrination. Place any needed warnings within comment headers.
NOTES| If you would like your character to be caught trouble-making, please contact mods. We are looking for both Mentors to speak of the District they hail from (or represent), and Capitolite characters to talk of Panem's greatness. If you would like your character to stand as a guest speaker for the next round, please refer to this post. The fantastic Tribute Youth Programme uniforms are designed and drawn by Reiko.

The Tribute Youth Programme is back in full force. The Teacher missed you all!

Class will go much like it did before, anthems, uniforms, and all. By now the new badges should all be sewn right in. You still have the opportunity to earn more, and on top of all this, your letter replies have at last come in! Along with all the (questionably subsisting) pet bats promised of Panem Nightly.

This time is extra special, however, for there is a secret surprise planned for next month that the Teacher is preparing for. Something about partners for tents and canoes? Whatever that means. Maybe if you sign up early you'll get a partner you like. And perhaps asking among the adults if any would like to chaperone for the mystery trip.

As for this current trip, those who earned the bonus will get a free ride around the park on one of the elephants, front row seats to a live performance in the aquarium area, and a custom photo souvenir with their favourite animal.

Comments

[inrestlessdreams]

The clerk chuckled tenderly at this, "Don't worry, I have you right here, hold on to my hands and you don't have to fear the water."

And he meant it. James wasn't letting go of Vivi, not only in the literal sense as he was, but in the bonds he'd created here. Would Mary be proud of me? he thought as he helped the mage settle, Could she see this? Am I doing right?

He remembered the letter she sent him, the real one...James, do what's best for you. Was letting go the answer and maybe build a family, or at least alliances?

Back in the real world, Sunderland held Vivi in a way that allowed him to float properly, "See? I got you."

Maybe he could have been a father to Laura.

[steepled]

Vivi shakes off the excess water from his hands before grabbing onto James's (which is pretty redundant considering where they are, but he's all about trying to keep himself clean).

"Thank you, Mister James." It's strange to float and not feel the ground. It's sort of like a float spell...only he needs to get used to the fact that he needs to not rely on a spell to hold him up. The feeling is unusual, but not bad. It helps to know that there's a presence of another he can count on should things go awry though.

"Do you think I can learn without the jacket?" He might have to eventually and he knows it.

[inrestlessdreams]

"Well," James wasn't going to sugar-coat it, "Yes, but you first gotta learn how to float without it. You don't run before learning how to walk, right?"

It was strange to have someone trust him like this, at least in Sunderland's mind. He's proven to be less reliable and more like a nutcase than anything. As disheartening as it was to think, he was headed down a path that would have him expose what he did to Mary.

"I'm sure you'll learn if you keep at it!"

I'm so sorry for the wait OTL

[steepled]

"R-right!" Vivi usually gives off a timid impression but don't put this kid past considering bold decisions. Most of it had been both Puck's and Zidane's influences. They both would've liked this place, he thinks.

"Can I let go? I think I got it." Like a new spell in his hands.

don't worry about it! <3

[inrestlessdreams]

James carefully lets Vivi go with a smile on his face, a real smile and not the tired vestiges of a mask.

"I'll be right here if you get in trouble," he assured and steps aside to let the small mage try a breast stroke or at least a gentle dog paddle. Is this what Mary felt when she had Laura around?

[steepled]

It takes more than just flailing ones arms in the water to swim properly. Otherwise, everyone would start off knowing how to swim. Floating is easy once he learns to relax in the water. It helps to know that he's not alone, especially not in the middle of the ocean or some place worse.

That could happen in the next arena though...and he'll need to be prepared for it.

While he can't reach the bottom of the pool to kick himself off, he extends his arms and pulls himself forward, moving slowly, but steadily.

[inrestlessdreams]

There's something incredibly uplifting for James, to see Vivi start to swim on his own and he steps aside to let the mage carry on. He kept his hands close to the child as he paddled around, "Yeah! That's it!"

Panem may be his new grave but even Sunderland could see how positive this was for his own psyche. He'd do his damnedest to keep this Tribute safe...even if it killed him in brutal ways. He was doing this for himself now.

[steepled]

Keeping afloat is difficult when he's also expelling energy to make himself move, so Vivi appears as though he's going to sink before rising back up again. He stops soon after he feels too tired to keep up with both, making one round back to James. He'd jump if he could, so instead he claps his hands together, eyes brightened at learning something new.

"I did it!"

We can wrap up here, right?

[inrestlessdreams]

James felt like hope and happiness threatened to burst out of his chest after seeing Vivi swim the full lap. "That's right! Good job!" he was definitely proud of the mage to have come along and not just beaten his fears but also learned a valuable skill no matter what happened in the Arena.

He offered with a rare bright smile, "Come on, let's treat you something sweet, like ice cream." For a second, he could hear Mary's voice cheer Vivi along as well.

She would have loved to meet you.