Just a little tea party - open to absolutely EVERYONE

[riptheseams]

It's not official, or anything. Not at all. But after her recent... experiences... Calico is determined to show anyone who cares to watch her that she can be a good mentor.

So she's set up a tea party in the park.

It's Calico, so it's fancy - and the poor Avoxes she had helping her cart it all down and set it all up certainly seem to think that she's gone a bit overboard for a simple picnic. Calico is studiously ignoring that... and ignoring that some of them had been imprisoned alongside her before now.

There are streamers - glittery, of course, hanging out of trees, and big paper lanterns, lit, quite unnecessarily in the bright sunlight, with battery operated candles. On the floor, rugs, edged in ribbons, and yet more sequins - and in one case, several feather boas - lie scattered, with cushions dumped haphazardly around as Calico grew more bored. A big old fashioned gramaphone is set up - but it's not the source of the music, as Cal has no records. Her little music player is tucked behind it, playing something she heard at the ballet once.

On the food side... well, the table looks gorgeous, decorated with garlands of fake flowers and glittered plates. A large vase of ostrich feathers takes centre stage. There are cupcakes scattered amongst the sequins, highly decorated, of course, and platters of biscuits and little dinky sandwiches with glittered toothpicks through them. Vintage style cups, jazzed up to go with the Capitol exuberance and Cal's own glittery enthusiasm, stand piled in their saucers - the poor avoxes are 'in charge' of the tea. But for those who want stronger, sparkling rose wine stands in buckets of ice and, for the kids, lemonade is ready and waiting.

To occupy the party, Cal's brought a couple of baskets of her scraps, a few half finished shawls and plenty of bangle things so that people can make their own to their taste - they are getting quite the hot commodity in the Capitol now. Threads and needles are available, and even a hot glue gun (operated by battery) stands ready to attach sequins and feathers and whatever else people fancy sticking on their designs.

Anyone and everyone is invited to come and chill - it's a chance to rewind after the Games, for Tributes and mentors and the stylists and the like - and a chance to meet the tributes for any Capitol citizen who fancies turning up. Come talk amongst yourselves, attempt a sponsor deal... or chill by yourself listening to the tinkling music and making some cloth jewellery.

Utterly exhausted (doesn't take much) with all of her planning and setting up, Cal grabs a frosted cupcake and sits down, on a rug with a sigh. After all of her effort, she hopes someone is blumming watching!

Comments

[peacekeeperavox]

The redheaded Avox at the tea setting was doing his job with the usual silent economy of movement, heating cups and mixing the requested blend for each guest, dispensing sparkly little molded sugar shapes and tiny crimson cookies.

Except his hands shook, every time a mentor came near. And he might have even spilled a cup.

[riptheseams]

"Y'alright, love?"

Cal didn't know Darius, didn't know him at all. But she still felt for him. She had been so close to being made into an Avox herself; the poor bloke must have really pissed off the Capitol for them to actually have gone ahead with it.

To keep up appearances, she bossily said, "STOP SPILLING MY TEA, USELESS!"
but the way she patted his hand, just briefly, was her way of indicating that she didn't really care.

[peacekeeperavox]

He actually made a sound, a nervous little swallow of noise, jumpy as a wild animal. But at the pat, he went quite still, eyes flicking up to hers in confusion.

[riptheseams]

What could she say? Awaiting her torture, she had heard other prisoners screaming - and what had scared her more, she had heard the silence when they were returned. And Cal had grown certain that, if they did not kill her, they would certainly take her tongue.

But she could hardly explain that to Darius here, in the open, could she? So she just tried to look sympathetically at him, winking quickly.

"Come. You're too clumsy to hold anyone's tea. You're a blummin' liability. Come an' sit on me rug an' hold me tea for me."

[peacekeeperavox]

His jaw tightened to the point that a muscle jerked, but he nodded, and glanced at the nearest other Avox, another redhead, also borrowed from the Twelfth floor. She didn't acknowledge him at all, but nonetheless moved into his place as he stepped out from behind the ornate table, and began to pat the spilt tea dry while he followed Calico.

[riptheseams]

She hated how they couldn't communicate - how he must HATE her for bossing him about whilst he could only follow dumbly. How he couldn't even tell her to get lost. She grabbed a cushion as she walked back to her rug edged in feather boas, and plopping down on the rug, she patted the cushion, inviting Darius to sit.

"Now, love. I fink you'll be more relaxed sat 'ere, like. Less likely to spill me tea an' all." She winked again. " Can you - er - can yer drink tea, love? Or lemonade? D'you want a cup?"

[peacekeeperavox]

He sank down where she told him to, kneeling on the cushion with his legs folded neatly beneath him and his hands folded in his lap. Head ducked, he nodded to her questions, accepting the offer, but making a choice was a little too much, to difficult.