[open]

[buildingreality]

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.

Comments

[wantsajetpack]

"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?"

[buildingreality]

"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.

[wantsajetpack]

"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."

[buildingreality]

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."

[wantsajetpack]

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."

[buildingreality]

"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.

[wantsajetpack]

"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!"

[buildingreality]

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."

[wantsajetpack]

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."

[buildingreality]

"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."

[wantsajetpack]

"No problem."

She frowned a moment the only thing that interested her... Yeah there was probably no way that she'd be able to get away with her old hobby. "We'll have to see what happens if I get some time then. Right now... I don't think my old hobbies would be welcome here." Not that they were back home and her father would have grounded her for life if he knew about them.

[buildingreality]

"It all depends on what they were, I suppose," she said, watching Pepper for some sign of what they might have been. Frowned upon, perhaps, but beyond that, she wasn't entirely sure. "Maybe the Capitol will encourage a similar outlet."

[wantsajetpack]

"Yeah... I don't see it being a hit around here. Lack of tech and all that." Hey she'd be honest she was a geek and proud of it!

[buildingreality]

"What kind of tech?" She asked curiously. Perhaps there was something Pepper could tinker with; Ariadne found technology sort of fascinating herself, though in the Capitol, it primarily came from how they all got there in the first place, and how all their injuries were constantly healed.

[wantsajetpack]

"Computers, robotics... Though I'm more a software girl than hardware." And hey she was starting to figure out the software Tony uses for his suits. "Internet security."

[buildingreality]

Much like Ariadne's own hobbies, it sounded like the sort of thing that the Capitol wouldn't encourage. At least, not if they weren't on their side. To have that sort of skill roaming around rampant couldn't bode well for them.

Her eyebrows lifted just slightly, interest obvious in her expression even so. "Sounds interesting. There might be something you could toy with, at least. One of the more technological sponsors could give you a job, if you play your cards right after you win."

[wantsajetpack]

"I'll have to check. Right now... I'm still hoping I can just do this." She sat up a little straighter. "I've never really fought anyone before. Swung at them, but never really fought." Maybe she should have fought Whitney and might have seriously hurt her for the pet comment, but that was different, she wasn't Tony's pet.

[buildingreality]

"You get used to it," she replied. "And you learn quickly, or you're dead. It's instinct, most of it - if you can get a decent weapon early on, it'll make things easier. If you can get good supplies, even better. Make good allies, people who won't stab you in the back. Don's one of them; he's good to have around. If you have anyone you've already befriended, make sure you can trust them absolutely."

[wantsajetpack]

"I haven't met that many, but Don seems interesting. I talked with him briefly. And Tony, though he's a little creepy to me, maybe because I see things in him that my friend Tony did... But he's older."

[buildingreality]

"That must get a little confusing," she mused quietly, perhaps mostly to herself. "At the very least, you have some more time to find people. The Arenas help too, when you're thrown together and have to make do."

[wantsajetpack]

"A little, but guess I'll just have to get used to it." She nodded. "I've been doing that, keeping an eye in the training hall for people who might be good allies. I'm good at picking those at least." Tony and Rhodey had been her two best friends for the better part of a year. She figured as long as she kept looking for good people to hang around she might just be able to have some back up in the arena.

[buildingreality]

"That's good. That's a start, if nothing else. I won't be able to do much for you there, but I do keep an eye on my Tributes from out here. If there's something you need, I'll get it to you."

[wantsajetpack]

"There's a way to communicate between the arena and the mentors?"

[buildingreality]

"We watch the Games almost constantly; there are screens everywhere in the Capitol, so it's not that hard to find one that's tuned into a particular District or Tribute," she explained simply. "From there, I can generally extrapolate what someone needs if they've taken to running because they don't have their preferred weapon, or if they need food or medicine."

[wantsajetpack]

"I see. So you'd be able to tell when something's up? That's helpful... Probably a disadvantage if you don't play nice with your mentor though." She smiled. "Don't worry I'll behave."