threadthefire | 2st Design [voice]

So, correct me if I'm misunderstanding, but these alterations - they weren't voluntary? You all just woke up with them? Because I've seen fads catch like wildfires before, but this seems a bit much.

[There's a pause that seems as if he's somewhere watching someone pass him by.] You need some color variation in the glint and glimmer, perhaps some subtle shading? People aren't meant to be alabaster-diamond statues, they do have facial features that need highlighting lest they start to look like sparkly lumps. Perhaps the Deities would like some advice for future alterations?

Which brings me to the point of this message...

For those I haven't had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Cinna. I'm a designer and stylist of some repute back home and am looking to build a portfolio here. Seeing as this appears to be the major venue of communication for this place I thought I'd ask if there are any shops available I can work out of. I'd like to come to some kind of arrangement as I haven't the supplies or equipment here to go into business for myself quite yet.

And on a more personal note, Peeta and Katniss, I've found a lovely apartment here in the City proper, with a pleasant view and easy access to a number of locations. It's also quite quiet as there seem to be a number of vacancies nearby... on the off chance you should be interested. Not that your current residence doesn't have its... charm, but the sand does get everywhere, doesn't it?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It gets many places it shouldn't and that's too many places for me. You, evidently have other tastes.

[ If they were face to face, she knows a great deal of what she could say would be, or could be expressed in a look or even a tone with less telling words, but as this is over the network she has to pause, has to consider what to tell him because even though she has come to accept the Capitol does not reach here, the paranoia is old; too deeply rooted to brush off. Aside from that, she feels it's almost unnecessary, maybe pointless even to try to explain herself to Cinna who knows her in ways that can, perhaps account for those explanations already. Katniss chose the forest over the City, fearful at the time of a new set of Games she couldn't begin to understand, and then Katniss chose a four-walled mimicry of a house on the shore, still hesitant to be where the masses thrive most--where to her the most danger is when a curse breaks out that is violent and terrible rather than just garish and an ill-humor of a reminder that some people here are not alive, though they look like they are.

She hasn't explained that yet. But she doesn't understand it herself, so that's probably why.

In any case, she pauses, and in that pause, among all of that, she also wonders if anyone else could show up here. Gale again. Or Finnick who knew her far better than she knew him, not unbelievable considering the Games broadcast but it felt strange. At least with Cinna, the knowing is mutual...or, it feels like it is, for the most part. ]

You knew that before you came here.

[ A remark on the fact that...well, her taste tends more toward the clothes he made her that she could slip under the fence in and hide away into the forest, even in District 12. Though now of course she knows it was never true. They were never safe. Maybe they won't ever be unless...

...she thinks of Gale, thinks of promising to stay.

To cause all kinds of trouble.

Is that what change is?

Trouble, but the kind the people need. ]

I did. [And after talking with Peeta he understands it a bit better than he had before, but he has faith that she's tougher than she looks... or maybe he's just worried that the shack will just blow over in the fisrt bad storm.]

Perhaps I was hoping a little City-life had rubbed off on you. It really isn't so bad. I'm lacking in some amenities I'm accustomed to, but really, who needs twenty-four hour service.

[Cinna does, of course, but he'll learn if he must.]

[ There is a brief pause here, and then she surprises even herself by giving a laugh, genuine. It isn't drawn out by any means but it's there at all, and this is one of many good things Cinna brings along with him. In a way there are too many bad memories couched in around her relationship with Peeta Mellark, as much as the crucial ones of survival, as much as the handful of good ones.

Twenty-four hour service though, really. Though her laugh is done, her smile on this side lingers slightly. ]

You do.

[ And another pause. ]

I would like to see where you live.

[ To know, so she can find him if he needs her...or the other way around. Or anything. This place is another kind of arena, only reliable in its unpredictability. ]

And I'd love for you to see it.

...You know, I may need some assistance with this little fashion venture I'm attempting, perhaps a certain protege of mine would like to spend a day or two in the City with me to help me set up?

~~I don't know what I can actually do, but--~~

A certain protege would.

[ Even if she is thinking exactly what her strike outs say, considering exactly how much of her Talent was created....you know, by him and not her, but part of her would go anyway--to see where he is staying of course. ]

[Oh, he knows exactly what she can and can't do, and while following him around while he negotiates shop space and picks out fabrics might not seem like anything she'd be good at it's entirely secondary to his plans to get her used to the City and its people.

If these are Games, then there are rules to be followed and appearances to maintain. He can't dress confidence into her this time, she has to learn it on her own. Haymitch would be able to explain it, surely.]

Wonderful. You can even stay overnight as we may be working late, bring Peeta, perhaps we can have some sort of celebration.

[ Part of her problem is that of course. Almost she would have been better off thinking of this entire scenario as a set of Games. She understands the protocol there, out of sheer necessity, but time here so far has warped what she can begin to believe about it, in terms of what it is and what it really isn't. Games like those of their Capitol's long-reaching shadow fall into the latter category for the most part, as far as she can tell, but even that's guesswork.

Some of Cinna's plan slips right by her however, all of it really in terms of getting her more comfortable with the City proper, in a way that works for both of them really. That Katniss goes only to see Cinna, is not a problem maybe, because it gets her there at all.

She pauses at the mention of staying over night, that cold selfishness of not wanting to face nightmares alone rooting down before he mentions Peeta. Inwardly, she sighs. Relieved in spite of herself. ]

Were you thinking tonight?

[ The tilt of her head is so pronounced in her tone that it is almost audible. ]

Not necessarily.

[He won't rush her, he knows that will do more damage than what he's trying to repair.]

Besides, we may want to wait for the glare to die down from all the sparkling people. When it's convenient for you, tomorrow, the next day... I'll let the two of you work it out.

[ She swallows a minor discomfort she didn't know was there, and nods even though he can't see it. ]

Okay.

~~Be careful. This place isn't--~~

Maybe tomorrow.

I'm certainly not going anywhere. At least... I don't think I am.

Part of me hopes that---

Even though I know---

And neither are we, as far as we know.

I should hope not. Someone's going to have to teach me how to clean things here.

[He's exaggerating of course, he does know the basics.]

2st Design [voice]

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