thecapitol | [open]

Entry tags:

[open]

Who| Ariadne and anyone
What| Ariadne needs to get better at this Mentoring business.
Where| District 6's suites; the Training Centre
When| throughout the week
Warnings/Notes| none right now

Though she never made a point of outright ignoring people, Ariadne realised at some point that perhaps she had missed something with her latest crop of Tributes. Cinna's comments to her last they spoke rang in the back of her head, niggling and telling her that she was supposed to feel attached to these people in some regard.

She'd always found that a little bit difficult, all things considered; she wasn't the type to get attached to begin with, and when they rotated every time she blinked, despite it not being quite as often as Cinna recalled, it was even more difficult. Who was to say if the Tribute she liked best would disappear off to God-knew-where after the next Arena or not?

But now she was going to make an effort. She spent more time making herself available for the lot of them, hanging around in more public spaces, and endeavouring to look helpful instead of perhaps standoffish or detached as usual.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Have you ever seen Paris'? I wouldn't say that's much more plausible, as far as being able to wear any of it goes," she pointed out mildly, finding Pepper considerably easier to talk to so far than most of those she'd met. "You could probably be in the training centre every single day, but if you don't take a break from it, it won't do you much good. It never did much for me."

"Not yet. I want to go, but Dad can't take the time out of work long enough and really I doubt Tony would be interested in going." Because she would so guilt trip him into it, well the one back home at least. "I just like looking at the outfits I really doubt I'd ever wear any of it."

"I don't like hitting anyone generally, well unless Whitney calls me Tony's pet, then it's on... but really this... I don't know how I'm going to handle it." She slumped into the chair frowning a little. "It's against everything I know."

"If you were interested in wearing it, I'd suggest staying here and trying to get adopted as a Capitol citizen. It might suit you better." Ariadne paused, tipping her head slightly to one side.

"You haven't been out in the Arena yet?" Another brief pause. "It's hard to get used to. I didn't think I could either. It took me a few rounds to be able to manage anything remotely close to what they wanted."

"No thanks. Stuff like that doesn't even look that comfortable. I mean really how's it practical? You can't climb in it, and you have to be a toothpick to be able to breathe in it. I like air a little too much."

She shook her head. "I just got here." She bit her lip. "But don't you die in there? How... Wait probably better if I don't know too much about how they bring you back and if it hurts... Come to think of it I'd rather not know that part."

That drew a little smile out of her. Finally, a Tribute she could relate to a little. "You might need to mentally prepare yourself for some of the things you'll be put in at the parties, then. Our Stylists like things like that," she indicated the magazine by dropping her eyes to it.

A small chuckle. "It's not too bad. It could be worse."

"Ugh, we can tell them no right?" Hopefully yes? "If not I'll just refuse to go to the party. We can do that right?" She'll so throw a tantrum if she has to, who cares if it's childish! "I think I've been lucky so far, other than the skirt being a little longer than I like, they haven't tried to put me in anything too bad yet."

"Right... you dying and being brought back but it could be worse? Wait no I really don't want to know how."

"You can't refuse to go to every party, no." And putting up a fuss would probably turn out poorly, even if their Escort was used to easy-going people. "There are some that are mandatory, for obvious reasons. Crowning Ceremonies and things like that. Not to mention it'll make my job harder.

"You probably don't, no," Ariadne agreed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Well was worth asking about anyway." She did grin a little. "So, what's your job? Thought you were like me one of the tributes."

She grabs her drink sitting up a little straighter taking a sip at it. She's still not sure if she likes it that much, but it's caffeinated, so she'll finish it.

"I'm a Mentor. Close, but not quite. I haven't been a Tribute for the past three Arenas," she replied mildly, shrugging one shoulder in a slight gesture. Her eyes dropped to the drink with mild interest; she tended to be wary of some of the things the Capitol offered them, simply because of the Morphlings.

"How is that?" She asked, meaning the drink in question.

"Ah," She remembered hearing about Mentors from a few people.

"It's a little strange, thought it would be grape soda, it's more like, drinking a cotton candy," She stuck her tongue out to show the color change worked as well. "Might actually be better if there was a little less sweetener, but I wasn't about to try the mocha when they looked at me funny for suggesting three shots of espresso."

Ariadne figured it was sort of a given that she was there to be asked questions and the like at that point, and left well enough alone; Pepper would take the opportunity if she wanted to. "I also have to get Sponsors for the District."

The colour change saw her frowning just a little, almost out of amusement. "Most things around here aren't quite right. If you're lucky, you'll find someone who takes an interest in the way we do things wherever we're from. They tend to make things surprisingly well. Maybe it's just because it's been so long since we've actually had what's the norm, though." That was to say, anything was good when it seemed normal.

"Sponsors..."

"I'm still new enough that I'm willing to try things, though would kill for chili fries. Well like they make in diners back home. Wouldn't know of a good place for late night grease fests if the urge hits would you?" Hey if she was going to allow questions Pepper wouls make sure to get the important stuff out of the way. "Or real New York style pizza? Domino's pizza will work in a pinch though." She thought a second. "Though doubt they have delivery places here do they?"

"So you do better during the Arena," she offered by way of explanation.

Amusement coloured her expression as she regarded Pepper, shaking her head a little, "No, they don't have delivery. You might be able to get pizza, though I'm not sure they would be able to do New York style unless you told them what it was, and then made it for them. I think there is a diner or two that might be a little more authentic than the typical restaurants you find here, but most places generally go for the same spectacle as in everything else."

She gave a nod at the explanation.

"Well I guess I could try to... I don't think I'd like eating the fancy stuff all the time. It would have to get boring at some point right?" She was silent for a moment. "How long have you been here?"

"Eventually. But I think the Capitol tries out enough new things that it never really gets boring. Less interesting, but not necessarily boring," she replied, somewhat amused; it only showed slightly in her expression, however.

"About a year, I think. I've been here since they started bringing people in for the first Arena."

"guess so, but there's something about home cooked now and then, even if living with Dad that was just mac and cheese and hot dogs." Hey, they were usually too busy for real dinners!

"Do you miss home? I'm sorry, probably shouldn't ask that should I?"

"They likely have places that cater to that as well. They're definitely not the norm, but I think I've seen something," Ariadne murmured, making a mental note to go out and see if she couldn't find something like that.

She paused, though, glancing to Pepper curiously. "Yes and no. I miss the people there more than anything else." Arthur. Eames. Yusuf. Even Cobb, every now and then. Not usually, but there was a rare moment when she longed for the easy way he would just let her build.

"I can probably find one." She nodded a moment.

"I... well he's not exactly from my world, but there's someone like someone I knew back home here... Just a lot older. Still not sure what to think of that... or the fact that there's no internet here... How do people communicate... I mean other than face to face. I'm going to get slow on my texting skills."

Blinking thoughtfully, Ariadne let the statement linger between them, ruminating on it. It was sort of strange to think of people being from other people's worlds, but not. The same, but different. But then again, that the Capitol could manage something like that shouldn't have been surprising.

"There's always the network. Not many people use it, but it's an interesting enough way to get to know people."

She's still trying to get over that fact, but she grins a little at the network comment.

"I've been on there. It's weird, but not texting... and my handwriting is horrible!" Hey not like they actually require writing at the future academy. Most people just use their tablets or laptops to type all their notes. If they remember paper and a pen... it's usually for doodling when you're not working. "It also doesn't seem that private... But I haven't been able to check how to change settings." Because she's pretty sure if she could figure that out she'd be set. After all she's usually on the computers in the armory or ~~Hacking~~ Using her dad's passwords to get information from the FBI databases. "For a future world... this place is really low tech. But I haven't seen much other than the capitol."

Edited 2013-06-05 20:57 (UTC)

"Nothing's private around here," Ariadne pointed out mildly, a small smile tugging at her mouth. "If you expected it to be, you're going to be sadly mistaken."

The lift of her brows suggested that that meant Pepper might want to watch what she said about the Capitol, and the Games. "None of us have, not really. Some of the old Victors. I talked to Peeta at one of the last parties - on the yacht, if you were there - and he seems to be the most recent of us to have seen anything."

And even then, he'd made it pretty clear that he had been rushed around.

"Ugh, now that really sucks." She flopped back against the back of the chair she was in.

"I think I missed it. I only got here a few days ago. Though from what I've heard about the parties they sound like they'd be fun for a little while." She frowns at that though. She really wants to see what's past the city.

"So the only other parts of this place we get to see is the arena? That bites!"

It did suck. But saying so with any sort of specifics was never a good thing; Ariadne just agreed with an inclination of her head, a quiet purse of her mouth.

"You did, then. It wasn't too bad, actually - I enjoyed it more than I did most of the others. Timaeus is one of the few Sponsors I'd recommend getting to know, if you can," she offered, "The parties are interesting, at the very least. There's always something new to look at.

"Basically. Between the Capitol and the Arenas, there's usually at least one thing to keep you busy, though."

Pepper nodded. "Well if I get the chance I promise I'll be on my best behavior then. Wouldn't want to embarrass myself or you."

"Guess that's good, that they keep us busy, less time to really think about what's going on."

"I appreciate that," Ariadne replied lightly, glad that she was managing to convince her not to rebel too badly. There were limits to how one could do so, after all.

"It's good for that. And if you develop too much free time, then you're encouraged to pick up a hobby."

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