'Cause we all wanna party when the funeral ends and we all get together when we bury our friends

[etcircenses]

Who| TYP Children and You?
What| TYP Children have the opportunity to look around.
Where| The Tribute Tower main floor.
When| Now through the week leading up to the arena.
Warnings/Notes| TYP children showing up early is not mandatory. This is merely an avenue for those NPC players who were interested.

In part with the President’s wishes, the District children are not training or living in the same building, but rather, a refurbished old Tribute tower as was used in the days before Tributes were offworlders of vast number. Mentors, Escorts, and Stylists alike will need to travel to the new building to work with them, then travel back to see to their offworld Tributes. Public appearances are minimal so long as the Tribute is kept busy with training and private interviews. There is, however, a brief chance to meet a few of them before the arena, should you catch them on a visit to the offworlder’s tower, restricted to the main floor. Through this, the lucky few District children able to show are allowed fleeting glimpses in person of those they will be competing with and possibly even a chance to talk to them in person.

Comments

[voiceinthephone]

Gray nodded, "Him and Dixon have survived a lot of things and Firo's as loyal as they come. I wouldn't be telling you this if I didn't trust them with my own life." It was strange enough to think he wouldn't be joining them but for now, Rotor had some allies to search for in the midst.

Phil looked around, as if to try and locate the District 5 mentor before he decided to offer the boy a tip or two, "But whatever happens, do not look back or blame yourself for anything. Please promise me that much, okay?"

He could see that Rotor was sympathetic to people's plights and that could cost him his life. Gray learned that the hard way with Wednesday Addams.

[rotor]

The word "survived" is enough to make Rotor latch onto what Phillip's saying even more than he already is. He nods, making a note to find these people at any cost, because he already feels like Phillip knows what he's talking about and wouldn't lie to him. It might be naive, but he doesn't have anywhere else to place his faith.

"OK, uh, I promise..."

His lip is trembling anymore, but he still looks forlorn, unhappy and hopeless.

[voiceinthephone]

Seeing that sort of hopelessness just wouldn't do for Rotor, or at least that's what Phil thought at that moment. "What say you if I get you something good to eat? Training on an empty stomach isn't very productive, don'tcha think?"

He wanted to give this boy something good, something happy to fight for. He clinged to hope even when things got so dire, Why?Because Phone Guy knows that though he may not see it, everything will turn out okay. He knows his limits and to see this native tribute broke him in ways that reminded him of the murders back home.

"And trust me, holding yourself against a training dummy while weak? Hah, no, been there, done that, got a bruise in the head for my trouble."

Phil's only slightly playing up his clumsier side, because he still remembers Jet Link opening the door and smacking his face.

[rotor]

The last thing on Rotor's mind is eating and food, but he nods weakly, accepting Phillip's offer. It comes from a kind place, even if it's not really one that is going to make him feel any better.

"Uh... yeah, I... I guess. That'd be nice. Thanks, Mr. Grey."

He averts his eyes, exhausted, his flicker of talkativeness dwindling.

"I bet you're glad I'm not in your District. Couldn't get me a Sponsor worth anything even if you were using magic."

[voiceinthephone]

"Not at all, don't be thinking like that," Mostly because Phil would have preferred that Rotor stay home and lived a happy life, with no need for a sponsor to begin with. "I would find you a sponsor, because you'd be one of my Tributes, a-and everyone deserves a fair chance."

Phil learned that very well from Linden: to never favor a tribute above the others and give them all the same attention. Yes, he's friends with Karkat but he knows Luna and Sansa have their strengths and need as much supplies as they can. Maybe he could sneak in a few things for this D5 child. He could talk to Porrim and make sure there was something set aside.

"No one starts out being a star, you know? E-Even Careers have to start from the bottom up. But if there's one thing I can tell ya is: don't do anything you're not comfortable with. Run away if you gotta." But if you survive, the nightmares and regret will eat you up.

[rotor]

Rotor doesn't have a fair chance; never did, since the Arena doesn't favor soft, cowardly boys like him and isn't going to start now. He definitely doesn't have a future as a star, even if no one starts that way, and it's almost just as disheartening to hear Phillip trying to be so kind about something so inevitable and bleak.

"I think I'm gonna spend a lot of time running away. Just like my nightmares, just... just real. I don't know if dreaming counts as practice or not."

[voiceinthephone]

"It does, Rotor, trust me on that," Phil admitted with a soft sigh, "I used to have a lot of nightmares way before I came here. You know what to expect from the mess and you can get away faster." He had to boost Rotor's self-esteem up as much as he can before the Arena, Gray couldn't bear the thought of having such a crushed soul not fight for their survival. He doesn't want Rotor's last memories to be fear-laden. Phone Guy wanted the boy to have some courage and not forget that his life is as precious as those eleven children lost back at Freddy's and the thousands the Capitol has destroyed.

Just because Phil wasn't born in Panem doesn't mean he doesn't care about a native child. And he suspects other offworlders are in the same boat: they can all die and come back but the children from this world do not have the luxury.

"What calms you down, kiddo?" he asked as they walked, "I hum songs I know from when I was a kid or growing up."

Even if Rainbow Connection carried with it a great loss.

[rotor]

Whether or not Rotor feels like he can, he looks like he at least really wants to trust Phillip's word. The words are reassuring even if they're not what he can call self-esteem boosting, but it's clear that he cares, clear that he's trying. That alone means a lot to the child in the strange, opulent land he's found himself in after being told he would never have to come as a Tribute.

"Reading calms me down, I guess. Peace and quiet," he says, sounding somewhat apologetic since that sort of rules out songs. Then his eyes are brimming with tears again, and he's hastily wiping them away.

"M-my friend was Reaped a few years ago. She killed herself with Nightlock berries. It was the worst thing I've ever seen."

[voiceinthephone]

Screw the District divisions, Phil is going to give Rotor a hug and offer a napkin to clear the tears away, "Shh, it's okay, it sounds like you were close but please don't think about how she died. If her passing as traumatic as you say, i-it's much better to remember her in the good days."

Gray felt hypocritical in saying that because once upon a time, he wanted to die twelve times. But it wasn't fair for Rotor to hear that, his friend's memory and his survival depended on keeping hope alive. Phil avoided harsh words but did his best to be neutral, a task that was increasingly more difficult the more he spent time with a Tribute that wasn't his own.

"I suggest you find a spot that's safe a-and quiet for you to think, in that case."

[rotor]

The hug is kind of startling, but in his current state, Rotor actually doesn't flinch away from it if he might if he was a little calmer and more guarded. Something about Phillip feels deeply empathetic, and he soaks it up like a thirsty little sponge as the man's arms wrap around him suddenly and tightly and then offers him a napkin, which he takes to mop away his humiliating tears.

What a good Mentor. Rotor almost wishes he was in 6, even though he knows that things are worse there. At least, he's heard whispers.

"Think about the good days... yeah, I think I will," he croaks, his throat feeling raw. "Th-thanks for talking to me. I don't know if I feel better, but I feel clearer, if that makes sense."

[voiceinthephone]

Phil knows Rotor's chances in the Arena were small but that didn't stop the man from giving the boy some care. He wants him and Maglev to return to their parents, and live out their days. He wants nothing more than to see their parents rush in and hug them, take them away from the Arena.

"That's what a Mentor's for, right?" he nodded as he remembered Linden with respect and even friendship. He remembers the recovering addict, the man's wit, his ability to read his Tributes and the bonds he forged with them. He wasn't perfect but Lockhearst gave Phone Guy someone to look up to. "Be safe out there, I'll cheer you on."

You're a sweet boy, we offworlders will protect you.

[ooc: shall we fade to black here?]

ooc: sounds good! /end

[rotor]

Something about Phillip reminds Rotor of a parent. He wonders briefly if the man has any children of his own; if he does, they're both lucky for having had him, and unlucky for having lost him to fate.

"I... I'll try, Mister Grey," he mumbles. "Thanks again."