[open] and I know life is getting shorter, i can't bring myself to set the scene

[seestheman]

Who| Clara Murphy and Tom's Angels D10 primarily, but totally down with interlopers popping in
What| Clara's open office hours!
Where| D10's common area
When| After the mini arena
Warnings/Notes| None yet, will add any that pop up!


While Clara would hardly say she's been complaining about having her hand and eye restored to her (because, really out of all the things that have happened to her while she's been in Panem, that's one of the few things she's completely okay with), it's still weird to have them back after almost a year. And knowing that her Tributes have never seen her with two flesh and blood hands and eyes is slightly boggling to think about.

Which is why whenever someone passes through, Clara can be seen holding something in her right hand, whether it's a cold drink, or a pen, or the tablet that she has her meticulously organized notes on D10's amazons and which companies are interested in having them represent their products. It's distracting to the point that, whenever she finally notices someone passing through, she can't help but be slightly taken aback.

"Oh, hi. I was just doing a little bit of work," she says, trying not to come off as too startled. "Do you want to take a seat? We should probably talk."

Comments

[seestheman]

That isn't the response she was expecting. She wants to point out that Tom and Molotov aren't the best people to rely upon, but she's pretty sure that will just make things worse. What she has to do is spin this in a way that will make it seem like it'll benefit everyone involved. "Think of it this way, if you agree to have one strong sponsor, they can help you in and out of the Arena. They could supply you with better food and weapons as well as help you appeal to the public." She smiles, making sure not to appear as sickening sweet at she does when she's in meetings with sponsors to appeal to them. "And I think you'd like this one."

[needlebearer]

Arya wants to respond that Tom and Molotov would be far better than a sponsor for that sort of help, as they know her fighting style well and have first hand Arena experience themselves, so are far more likely to send her things that will be of use. But she knows that Clara has a point - and really she knows better than to say no to free stuff, when it comes down to it.

"Why, what do they want me to do?"

[seestheman]

Clara can't help but hold back a small laugh. "Nothing too crazy, I promise. They just want to take some pictures of you wearing a couple different outfits and holding a fake sword," she says, pulling up the artistic renderings that were sent to her of Arya in various warrior inspired children's clothing holding a sword to show to the girl. "If you don't want to, it's fine, but I thought that this might be a good opportunity for you. Plus, they'd let you keep the clothes afterwards if you say yes."

[needlebearer]

"That doesn't sound too bad," she admits a little reluctantly, hating the idea of having to dress up and pose even if they put her in a full suit of armour to do so. "Can I keep the sword too?" she asks hopefully, knowing she's probably pushing her luck a little there.

[seestheman]

A small laugh bubbles out of Clara's mouth. It's not that she ever really forgets that Arya's just a child, but there's an air about her that sometimes makes her feel older than she is, or at least like she's trying to be. But there's something about her question that just seems so damn young, though she can't quite put her finger on it. "They might. I'm sure they'd be willing to consider it if that's what could make or break having you as their model." Clara shoots the girl a small smirk. "Any other requests?"

[needlebearer]

"Only that..." Arya hesitates, knowing that she would most certainly get a negative response here. "...That if there are any more sponsor offers, Sansa can get the first go at them. She needs them more than me."

[seestheman]

It's a sweet request, one that Clara isn't quite sure that she can control, but sweet nonetheless. "I'll see what I can do," she says, giving Arya a reassuring smile. "If nothing else, I can try to have a meeting with her Mentor and the sponsors and see if they'd be interested." Though there's one little hiccup with that idea. "I'm not sure that the sponsors that want you to be their postergirl would be that interested in Sansa."

[needlebearer]

"She's my sister." She doesn't feel she needs to explain further than that - how she's almost the only family Arya has left, how she knows that Sansa would never be able to survive in the Arena the way she can, the conflict she felt between desperately wanting to win herself and wanting her sister to survive. She just says it as though it's the most obvious thing in the world, and how anyone who didn't accept that would have to deal with her.

[seestheman]

"I understand that." And really, she does. She also understands how fickle the people of the Capitol can be about who they sponsor, even if it's for the most arbitrary reasons. "The problem is that you and your sister are opposites in a lot of ways, the things that sponsors want from you aren't the same things that they're going to want from her. But if I do see any sponsor offers that seem like they'd suit her, I'll make sure to talk to her Mentor to see if he'll chase after them for her."

Which is when something hits her. "Or if anyone would be interested in doing something inspired by the fact that you're both so different from each other. If I found something like that, would you be willing to do it?"

[needlebearer]

Arya nods eagerly. While she'd prefer the offer to go to Sansa outright rather than both of them, it's about as good as she's going to get. "I'd like that."

[seestheman]

"Alright," she offers Arya a warm smile. She knows that it isn't what she was hoping for, but that it might bring Sansa more attention in the long run to start off being so linked to her sister in the Capitol's minds. At least that way she'd have a good chance of being recognized by sponsors.

After all, the Capitol seems to love family acts.

"I'll talk to her mentor and see if we can try to find something together that plays to both of your strengths." Clara lets out a small, soft, almost chuckle-like laugh. "I'll try to make sure that, whatever we find, it doesn't have to involve a dress."