#ingrid/lavinia like i said

[foxgirlknot]

thinking about it there's a lot of pairings that last post could be

[falselyprofound]

Y'know what, yeah, gonna ramble a bit more about how my characters got their names because I am terrible with this.

Clarissa Dunst: Bastardization of Larry Butz's pseudonym in the third Ace Attorney game. (Laurice Deauxnim > Clarice Deauxnim > Clarissa Dunst)

Jitendra "Joseph" Prasad: Originally called Josef, after a character I once played in a high school production. Honestly not sure when that changed.

Ingrid Zheng: Bastardization of Incavris, from back when she was a Neopet.

Bee: I straight-up don't remember. I also don't remember why her name was 'Bernie' in earlier drafts.

Marshal Johnson: Named after that guy from How I Met Your Mother who was convinced bigfoot was real. An old game prototype had Clarissa and Joseph make a one-off joke about said character, and then the one-off joke became a character because I overthink my jokes.

Fiona "Finch" Meggins: Megan Finn, from The Wishlist. (Can you tell I designed most of these guys in high school?)

Jack Haas: Designed for an OCT where everyone is a jackass. QED. (The spelling of his last name was inspired by a brand of avocado.)

Lavinia Mortigan (Vinny): First name comes from the Shakespeare character, surname is the goalie from Team Haunted Woods on Neopets.

Vinny's other pseudonyms: Mostly Shakespeare characters (Margaret Claudius, Marcella Costa), though once they get found out they ask whoever's nearby for a new name. (Belladonna, Steve, and - hilariously - Lavinia again.)

Sprocket McKormic: 'Sprocket' is a temporary name used by an amnesiac in Deadly!. ("There's a theory I'm called Sprocket..."). 'McKormic' was suggested by my OCT writing partner at the time.

Annabelle Merlo: Straight-up don't remember, but I know it only starts with 'A' because the Camera Bunker Bat trio were originally named A, B, and C.

Duncan Durant and Isadora Voclain: Those two kids from A Series of Unfortunate Events. ...And therefore a certain deceased dancer, I suppose.

Eldora Doe: I hit 'random' on Death Road to Canada a couple of times, got her first name, then went "hahaha. that sounds like El Dorado."

Jonald Doe: Because I already had Eldora designed and wanted him to be just as stupid. 'Jonald', because I already knew a couple of Johns.

Patricia Sloane: Surname from the protagonist of The Intergalactic Nemesis.

Bernard Warnes: One of the placeholder names in the Monster of the Week scenario 'Damn Dirty Apes'. His maiden name (Nielsen) is because I realised too late I had the opportunity to make the BONE cast have the initials BONE. fml

Alice Benson: I know like three different fictional characters named Alice who are in the medical profession, so when I needed a paramedic for MotW you bet your ass that's the name I chose.

Rockwell Everett: Originally it was gonna be Rockwell Everest, after the mountain, but I typo'd it and couldn't be fucked changing it. Anyway yeah. He's a spelunker. His name is literally Cave Mountain.

Amethyst Orson: Amy Sullivan, from the John Dies series.

Spakel, Twikel: Typos I made in my Neopets's names at age 6 and have decided to keep, because it's funny.

Dylan Swisse: i had a multivitamin on my desk and was very tired.

Lincoln Femurbruch: There was a character in that D&D campaign named Abraham. I was very tired. Surname should probably be Femurfraktur, because her job is punching skeletons

Maya Omai: 'Maya' from Ace Attorney, 'Omai' because it makes her name sound like my, oh my!

Teeth: Originally 'Tief', because Tiefling. Then I went hahahaha that sounds like Teeth and kept it.

Mabel Crake: Originally an Earth Genasi called Marble. Because she was made out of marble. Stunning

Hat: okay, that one's on you guys

Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116: That one is also on you guys.

Cool Ranch the duck: GAY420GAY

[nobodyisneurotypicalinthebureau]

I'm asking so much but I kinda wanna know bureau's reaction to Lavinia SA'ing Jack

Anon, you are fine. I like it when people ask about my headcanons because otherwise, I have no clue what to post.

Spoilers and TW for SA ahead.

Ripley and Ingrid were both very understanding of his situation and even offered him time off to deal with it if he wanted.

Grace was also very understanding.

Carmen went full mama bear mode and literally said, "If she wasn't dead, I'd kill her".

He held off on telling Lars until after Lars had recovered from Angela. Lars immediately treated him to a movie and pizza after he told him.

He also held off on telling Elliot, but this time because he didn't know how to approach the topic with a literal minor. Elliot gave him a little hug afterwards, but mostly because he didn't know what else to do or say.

Dupont ended up info-dumping about the Inca empire or something. Nobody knows how the conversation went from SA to the Inca Empire.

Marina made sure to make a safe space for him to get some therapy and help him cope with the trauma from it.

Jonah also had the same reaction as Carmen, but he also threatened to dig her out of her grave.

I already talked about Michelle's reaction in my previous post.

[dumbledearme]

chapter eight

~~ read Metamorphosis here ~~

The rest of the party was a blur until the moment when the girls were called for the draw. Effie stood at the end of the line, next to Enobaria who flashed her teeth in a threatening way. Plutarch went to the middle of the hall with the others sponsors where a small urn had been placed. Effie glanced around but didn’t see Snow anywhere.

The mentors were called one by one, starting with Messalla Paylor. Under the eyes of everyone in the hall, she went to the urn, reached in and took out a small paper she read aloud: "Red Passion." There was a round of applause, and then the whole process was repeated.

Thirza got Fuchsia. Beetee Latier got Amber to Properzia. Gia's mentor got Slate Gray. For Antonietta was Jade. Judith got the Orange and Hypatia got the Green Asparagus. Aphra lucked out with Violet and Artemisia with Indigo. Cressida got Turquoise. Enobaria the Effervescent Yellow. And then Plutarch walked over there, slithering like a fairy-tale prince, and he was so handsome that some girls actually sighed.

"Pure White," he read on the paper he had taken. Plutarch looked up and stared at Effie. His gaze was so intense that she felt herself blushing. What was he seeing?

All the girls were cheered for and then sent to bed. They needed to rest and prepare for the next day.

"We couldn’t have gotten a better color," Plutarch said on the way up the stairs. "It's going to be perfect. You're going to be perfect."

"White isn’t the best color," Fulvia argued. "She's already so pale, she's going to look like a corpse."

"No," he said. "She’s going to look like an angel." Adding to the effect, he took Effie's hand and gave it a kiss. Then he said goodbye and went back to the party.

"Is that a good idea?" Effie asked Fulvia who shook her head.

"Nothing that fool ever does is a good idea. And somehow... it always works out. If there's anyone who can drink all night and feel perfect the next morning, that’s him. Now go take a shower and go to bed, Miss Trinket. We need you in perfect condition tomorrow. The boys are waiting to help you.”

When Effie returned to the room, Pollux and Castor were indeed waiting for her. They had gotten her a nightgown. She went to change in the bathroom from where she informed them she would only shower in the morning. Pollux helped Effie remove her makeup while Castor brushed her hair. She was tucked in like a child, Pollux massaging her pillow, Castor covering her with a blanket. Effie was immediately transported to the days when she used to do this for her little sister.

The longing was too hard to bare. It was as if Effie was able to survive during the day because she had things to do, but at night, lying in that comfortable bed, she was reminded that Ingrid wasn’t being treated with the same luxuries. What would she be doing right now? Would she be safe? Please, let her be safe!

"Good night, Miss Trinket," said Castor, and he and his brother left. Effie sank into the mattress, her eyes closed, her breathing heavy, trying to control herself as much as possible, trying not to cry.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Effie ignored it, thinking she had imagined it, but they knocked again. Effie got up and opened the door.

"What up, girl?" said Gia holding a thermos. Antonietta was beside her holding three mugs. The were in their pajamas. "Hot chocolate," Gia explained. "Trust me, you've never tasted anything like it."

Effie let them in. "Is it okay you two being here?" she asked.

"Of course!" Gia exclaimed. "No one will ever know. Relax." She and Antonietta threw themselves on the bed and Gia proceeded to pour the chocolate in the mugs.

Antonietta seemed a bit uncomfortable. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you at lunch," she said. "I was nervous because everybody loved you. You know, it's a lot of pressure."

Effie was glad to see that she seemed genuine in her apology. "It was nothing," she said, sitting on the bed with them.

"Wow," said Gia. "Did you see the way she forgave you? Like it was no biggie? That's why she's going to win."

"What? No!" said Effie, who found impossible to know who would win a contest that hadn’t even started yet.

"You believe in your chances, don’t you?" Antonietta asked. "You must find it possible, since you came here. And certainly you’ve received a lot of positive attention."

"So did Lavinia." Effie didn’t want to be the center of that conversation. If they had to talk about someone, couldn’t it be someone who wasn’t there? "And everyone’s still likes her."

Gia raised an eyebrow. "You haven’t spent much time with other girls, have you?"

"I have a little sister."

Gia shook her head. "Doesn’t count. Look, Twelve, what all girls want most in life is for the girl next to them to fall on her face. It's true," she insisted when Antonietta laughed. "And girls always know how to reach their goals. The secret is to know what their opponents' weaknesses are. You, Twelve, feel bad for getting the evil look from your enemies, so that's obviously what they're all going to do from now on. And you, Etta, who doesn’t talk much, they will use words against you. And Lavinia, who is perfect from every angle... Well, everyone wants to be friends with her for now, because if you are on her side she will not destroy you, and as a plus, you’ll appear in all the photos. Is that simple.”

Effie gaped. She didn’t know girls could be so... Machiavellian.

"What will you do?" Etta asked Gia. "To get rid of them?" Her tone was playful, but Effie detected a real interest underneath it.

Gia took a sip of hot chocolate. "Treat them like insects until they realize that's what they are." All three laughed at that. "No, but seriously, just ignore them. I know a girl who gets so angry when she's ignored that she starts to throw things around. It’s hilarious.”

Effie thought that was great advice, the kind of thing Ingrid would have said with her mere ten years of age. Again, trying not to give in to her own misery, Effie focused on the hot drink that immediately lifted her spirits.

"Did you see the President?" Etta asked. "He didn’t dance with anyone. Actually I think he was barely there at all. I saw him once and then he disappeared."

"Yeah," agreed Gia. "He's a bit unfriendly. I was disappointed. I wouldn’t have voted for him if I knew I wouldn’t even get a hello, dog. By the way,” she exclaimed, rising, “you heard the color I got? Gray! What the hell am I going to do with gray? It's the worst color there is!"

"I like gray," Etta said.

"So, trade with me, jade. Goddamn it, blue is more me, you know... Or red! Can you imagine what I could do with red?"

Etta turned to Effie. "Did you like your color, Effie?"

Effie shrugged. Gia grimaced. "You really don’t talk much, do you?" She sighed. "You are definitely going to win."

When Effie began to protest, the two girls laughed at her. A few minutes after the chocolate was gone, Gia and Antonietta got up to leave.

"Good luck for tomorrow," Effie wished them, from the bottom of her heart. If that contest was as important to them as it was to Effie, they deserved, at least, some good luck. The girls said it back to her then headed up the empty corridor. Effie went back to bed feeling much better.

Maybe girls weren’t so bad after all.

She woke when Pollux gently opened the curtains allowing the morning light to come into the room through the large window. Effie wasn’t ready to get up yet — it had taken her a long time to fall asleep and she was still tired, but she decided she shouldn’t argue. She had already denied a bath last night.

The bathtub was prepared with hot water and the brothers stayed in the room waiting. Half an hour later, Effie came out clean, smelling and wearing a super soft robe. Castor dried her hair and tidied them up in an elaborate hairstyle. Pollux continued his work as a makeup artist.

Plutarch arrived a little late, but he seemed energetic and showed no sign of having slept little. Effie wondered what his secret was, for her eyes were still swollen from crying. They brought two boxes: one with the white dress that Effie would wear during the first stage of the contest and another with a simpler dress for the interview that would happen after breakfast.

Downstairs, Effie sat in an armchair to wait for the other girls who were gradually arriving. All of them wore simple dresses but with flaming colors, had their hair well-ornamented and their faces were well-made. The last to arrive was Thirza, who made the other girls wait a good forty minutes for her.

After eating, the twelve participants were taken to a room with a stage where, one at a time, they would be interviewed by Caesar Flickerman. Plutarch and Fulvia were already there, and quickly pulled Effie aside to give her some more last minute advice.

"The interview is worth 30% of your final score," Fulvia said seriously. "You have to do well. This is where the public will decide whether or not they like you."

"Keep your hands on your lap and your knees always together," Plutarch advised. "Head up, Effie. And remember to smile."

Each of the questions Caesar asked was more ridiculous than the last.

What is the importance of the Metamorphosis to our society?

"Metamorphosis helps give opportunities to women, revealing their striking personalities, talents and potentials, and gives them the right to serve the people," Lavinia replied showing her perfect teeth.

"Metamorphosis is a celebration of what is beautiful," Thirza said. "It unites the districts in honor of the beauty God has granted us."

"The Metamorphosis generates awareness of the different ethical and social problems that need our attention, making the candidates into pawns to the alienated public," was Cressida's answer.

Who is the most influential person in your life?

"My mother," said Antonietta. "She is exactly what I want to be in the future: gentle, compassionate, a true epitome of a mother. She is an inspiration and a blessing not only to me, but to everyone who lives in her company."

If you won the Metamorphosis, what would you do with the prize?

"I would use it to open my own business, thus helping my district to have more jobs," Artemisia replied.

If you could live again, from scratch, what part of your life would you change?

"None," laughed Gia. "What makes me who I am are the things that I went through and change any part of it would automatically make me a completely different person."

What would be your best contribution to Panem?

"I would join humanitarian parties, participate in charity missions, give support seminars to others and open doors to contests such as the Metamorphosis, thereby bringing confidence and self-esteem to women who wish to have a professional future," said Properzia.

How would you describe your personality?

"I'm a very simple person," Judith smiled. "I’m happy with what God has given me. I’m an optimist and I come from a large family of loving people."

What is your philosophy in life?

"Remain faithful to my morals despite the insistence of the immoral values ​​that prevail in our society. Respect and earn the respect of others, be friends with all and be loved by God," said Hypatia.

What is the essence of winning the Metamorphosis?

"It’s that the people of the Capitol and of the districts reflect on the person who best qualifies to represent our Country," said Aphra.

What is the main environmental problem we have at the moment?

"Definitely the kind of pollution that progress and technology brings us," said Enobaria, aggressively. "The waste. Year after year, is a perennial problem in all districts where large amounts of water are wasted by those who have no common sense."

If you could do anything, what would it be?

Effie had to think hard about that. All the other girls answered their questions promptly, but the way they spoke was so forced and rehearsed that Effie didn’t believe anything they were saying. (With the exception of Judith, of course.) But that was a serious question and none of the other girls had brought real problems to the surface.

If you could do anything, what would it be?

From the stage, she looked up at the mezzanine from where Snow was watching. He had that same expression of mildly interested he had wore last night. Someone had to make him see, to make him understand and fix the country he'd sworn to protect.

If you could do anything, what would it be?

"Let no one else in this world go hungry or be in any other kind of necessity," she decided, keeping her eyes on the president. "While we here are drowning in the luxuries of the Capitol, there are thousands of people in District 12, and in many others, who’ll have nowhere to sleep tonight, who won’t know what to say to their children when they ask for more food. We have not only been separated by districts. We have also forgotten that we’re all together and if we don’t stay like that, the world will become colder and hollower. All I ask for is one word —understanding. That, even with all conflicts between districts, we can remember, for just one night, that we’re all one family and that we need to help each other." Effie, now excited, stood up. "Look at your neighbor and don’t expect him to come and ask for help. Offer him whatever you have to spare. Forget for one moment the word I. This is us. We are the problem, but we’re also the solution."

And then Effie smiled to the crowd, as Plutarch had instructed her to do, and the effect was immediate.