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

[littlebylittle]

Ayase thought for a moment. "Oh... well, there's a town square that has the mayor's building and most of our main shops, then there's houses around of the workers. Off to the side a bit is where the Victor's live. My aunt and cousin are in the house I got right now."

[savedbyasong]

"Are there lots of victors in your district?" He asked, he was curious, he had found little information on the districts.

[littlebylittle]

"Not as many as there are for 1 or 2," he said. "But we're doing better off than 12. They only have three."

[savedbyasong]

"Katniss and Peeta are two of them right?" Shion smiled softly. "So there was only one before them?"

[littlebylittle]

Ayase nods. "That's right. Just one still living."

[savedbyasong]

"That's not many at all..." He looked down.

[littlebylittle]

"No... But now they can have many."

[savedbyasong]

"Yes, it's different now though. But I hope the districts still benefit from a win." At least there might be some miniscule amount of good in all this.

[littlebylittle]

"We used to get supplies of food for each Victor. I don't know for sure if that's still the case though. I've been here the entire time the new Tributes have."

[savedbyasong]

"Oh." He nodded, "I hope they do."

[littlebylittle]

"Me too. They can always really use more food in those places. They aren't nearly as rich as the city."

[savedbyasong]

"I can imagine." And he could, though he was aware he may be wrong. But in his mind he imagined the districts as West Town, full of despair and hunger.

"So I hope that they still get food, it would at least mean the whole thing is worth something."

[littlebylittle]

"Yeah! And that means you have people cheering you on too. That makes it easier to be in the Arena, doesn't it?"

[savedbyasong]

Not really, but Shion smiled because he didn't want to upset someone who was being nice to him. "It does, it's nice to know that people are happy about what we do." And not just because it was entertainment.

[littlebylittle]

Ayase reached out a bit and put a hand on Shion. He wasn't sure if the physical touch would be welcome. "Everyone thought I was going to die," he pointed out. "Even I thought that. All it took was one fan to make sure I survived. I think having more than one is bound to be helpful too? Right?" He asked. He knew his situation was completely different and unique though. He hoped Shion wouldn't be offended that he was comparing them.

[savedbyasong]

It was welcome, and it calmed Shion. Made him remember where he was and that they were here at this picnic, and he was making a new friend. He smiled.

He wouldn't have thought Ayase would have survived either, much like he doubted he would ever survive long.

"One fan helped you survive?" He asked and nodded, "It definitely can't harm I don't think."

[littlebylittle]

Ayase nodded. "I was really lucky. He sponsored me."

[savedbyasong]

Shion nodded, he had been sponsored for food in the arena, but had died and came back diseased before he could eat it. "He must have sponsored you a lot."

[littlebylittle]

Ayase looks a little embarrassed for a moment. "Yes. A lot."

[savedbyasong]

Shion smiles at him reassuringly. "Did you know him before?"

[littlebylittle]

Ayase shook his head. "No. It was... It was a big surprise."

[savedbyasong]

"Wow." Shion blinked, "Well I'm glad he did." Even if it meant others were dead, it meant Ayase was alive, and that was a good thing.

[littlebylittle]

Ayase nodded, but he was blushing really hard now. "Um... Well, it's my job now to make sure that the Tributes in my District have sponsors too. I hope that it will help me figure out how to convince people. It's a really important job."

[savedbyasong]

"It is, I'm sure you will be able to convince them, and be able to tell them how important it is." Shion said, fiddling some more with the bracelet he was making.

[littlebylittle]

"I hope so," Ayase said after a moment. Then there was a moment of silence, in which he wasn't entirely sure what to say. He didn't think he should be talking about this stuff with a Tribute. After a moment, he latched onto a subject that was safer.

"That's looking really pretty," he pointed out, talking about the bracelet. "Are you making it for yourself or someone else?"