rutagraveolens | Melody 1 : Action/Voice [Backdated to the afternoon of Wednesday, 12/4]

[Action around the village]

[With the laws of the land already explained by Katniss and the stores in the village pointed out, Rue sets out to do a bit of exploring and gathering up items. Feeling a bad over borrowing some of Prim's clothes, Rue first heads to the clothing store.

The amount of clothes and the different styles are staggering to a girl used to wearing worn, drab hand-me-downs. She takes her time going through the store, feeling all the different textures, admiring the colors. That everything is free is astounding as well; as Rue puts her selected outfits into a bag, she'll look around warily before carefully leaving the store.

Her next stop is the grocery store and the experience is also as remarkable. The rows and rows of food, it's almost too much to take. A single shelf could last a family in District 11 the whole year. Rue takes her time, reverently going through each aisle. Most of the packaged foods in bright colorful boxes and containers are things she's never seen, though the pictures and some of the names are descriptive enough.

After stocking up on food, Rue takes a final trip to the weapon shop. There she'll take her times looking over small knives and any slings that might be around.]

[Action for House 34]

[Once Rue returns to the house, she dutifully puts all the food away in the kitchen. A few things - some candy, a box of cookies, fresh apples - will be placed on the counter with a note near by ("Thank you. -Rue). From there, Rue begins to explore the wonders of the house.

She's never been in a house so nice. The soft carpet, the drapes on the windows (the windows open and close too!), running water, electricity, Rue takes her time marveling over everything. She'll open every door to peek in side. If it looks like a bedroom, she'll quickly close the door. Everything else is fair game for the curious girl.]

[Voice - early evening]

[The journal is a strange, strange thing. A book that can be written into to communicate with others, it's remarkable. Rue spends some time flipping through the pages and trying to familiarize herself with everything before making her first recording.]

Um, hello? I hope this is recording. To anyone that can hear me, my name is Rue! I just arrived. I'm from Panem, District 11. Katniss says I was here before, though I don't remember any of it, so I'm sorry if we've met before and I don't remember you!

[A brief pause as she tries to figure out what to say.]

Um... what's your favorite thing? It doesn't have to be something here, it can be anything you really like. I like music a lot, singing especially. Does anyone else like music?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, it is.

[ Trisha's more than happy to confirm that. ]

There's no money in Luceti, so...the people who work at places do it to keep busy, really. I like to help out around here; there's not really anyone who does so for the grocery, otherwise.

[ Never having seen much food before, though... ]

Well, in this weather...hot chocolate mix might be fun, if you want suggestions.

[No money, but people still work anyway, because they can. It's strange to think about, but it makes sense too. Rue wonders what people can do when they have the freedom to choose.]

Hot chocolate mix? What's that?

Oh, you've never had hot chocolate?

[ Although she'd come from a quiet country village herself, that had been something they'd had. Trisha looks thoughtful. ]

Well, we do have a hot water tap in the back room. Would you like a mug of some? It'd be simple to whip up.

If it's okay. [Rue rubs the toe of her shoe into the ground as she thinks.] Is it okay if I watch?

Of course it is.

[ She earns a smile for the question - though Trisha is admittedly usually smiling. ]

Just this way...the mix is over here, and then we can go in back.

[ Oh, and she will just...lean the broom against the counter here. The hot chocolate is pretty close the the front, since it's more seasonal now, and while there are several flavors...

...for a young girl who's never had it before, it's probably best to go with the traditional kind. And a bag of marshmallows. ]

Okay, right back here.

[ The back isn't very big, but there's a sink and other things, and some mugs in a cabinet. Trisha will just fetch them down. ]

[Rue follows along, noting where the containers and boxes of hot chocolate are.

In the back room, Rue pokes at the bag of marshmallows.]

Are these made from marshmallow plants?

If I remember right, they're mostly gelatin and egg whites. And sugar. Though I think they might have originally been made from the marshmallow plants?

[ Trisha hums, before shaking her head. ]

My husband might know, but I'm afraid I don't.

[ The mugs taken down, she opens the box of hot chocolate mix, and takes out two packets. Tearing the top off one, she pours the brown powder into one mug, then repeats the process with the other.

After that, it's just a matter of using the insta-hot water tap to fill the mugs. Well, and then taking out a spoon, and mixing them... ]

[Rue gives the marshmallows another poke as she listens to Trisha's answer. They're fast and squishy and they remind her of some of the decorations on clothing worn by people in the Capitol.

When Trisha begins making hot chocolate, Rue watches the process carefully.]

Do a lot of people drink hot chocolate mix here?

Hm...I think it's been getting more popular as it's been getting warmer. People seem to drink all sorts of things, depending on where they come from. For myself, I normally drink water or juice or tea. Or hot chocolate, in the winter.

[ She doesn't really do alcohol that much. And after she mixes the drink, Trisha will hand over one of the mugs. ]

You can try it plain first, but if you want, putting the marshmallows in can be fun. They're good when they're a little melted in the chocolate.

[ She's actually adding some to her own, too. ]

Thank you.

[Rue takes the mug and blows gently before taking a tentative sip. It's hot, rich chocolate goodness. She smiles and takes another careful sip.]

It's very good!

Isn't it? It's the best thing for cold weather. Especially after you've been out playing in it.

[ Which she assumes this girl might do at some point, being at that age. ]

People play out in the snow? But it's so cold out there.

Well, they usually have heavy jackets and gloves and boots...to keep warm, you know.

That makes sense. [It's still a strange idea, but even playing is somewhat of an abstract idea.]

I'm not used to all of this snow. Is there a lot where you're from?

Melody 1 : Action/Voice [Backdated to the afternoon of Wednesday, 12/4]

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