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

[rutagraveolens]

[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?

Comments

[voice]

[untrueheart]

The flower? [Her surprise is genuine.] What flower?

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

I guess it's really an herb, but it has pretty yellow flowers. The plant can be used for medicine.

[voice]

[untrueheart]

[Around here, she really does learn something new almost every day. Rue tries to put on a thoughtful face instead of a superior one. Just for this one time, this one girl.]

I am also Rue.

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Oh! [Rue giggles.] I've never met anyone else with the name Rue. It's nice to meet you!

[voice]

[untrueheart]

It is- nice to meet you, too.

[Someone gave this girl her name. Likely her parents. Someone chose it for her.

Rue can't keep it still in her mind, and it bounces around like a rubber ball.]

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Have you been here long?

[voice]

[untrueheart]

Several months. It isn't as exciting as that book makes it sound.

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Really? I think it's exciting being able to meet all sorts of people from different places.

[voice]

[untrueheart]

You didn't travel in your home?

[Neither did Rue, though she might have been expected to if she remained as invested in ballet as she was now.]

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

We weren't allowed to.

[voice]

[untrueheart]

That sounds unlikely. Who wouldn't allow you?

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

The Peacekeepers. They patrol the city and punish anyone breaking any rules. There are tall fences and guard towers too.

[voice]

[untrueheart]

They sound more like...like soldiers, I suppose, than peace-keepers.

[Rue knows the hints of a less than enjoyable life when she hears them.]

Around my hometown is a very tall stone wall with five gates.

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Some were nice, but most were pretty mean.

Were people not allowed to travel where you were from?

[voice]

[untrueheart]

New people arrived all the time. [It's a truthfully indirect answer - her specialty on the topic of how Gold Crown Town works.] I personally had no reason to leave, my school and everything I cared about were there.

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

I guess that makes sense. [Rue thinks about where she would go if she could travel. Maybe District 4 to see the ocean. Or District 7 to see the great big trees.

Her voice softens.]

Is it hard being here? Away from everything in your home?

[voice]

[untrueheart]

Not really. Most of the things I need and want are here.

[Those things are pretty much...Mytho. Having Duck around is nice in the usual perplexing way.]

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Oh, that's good. [Rue smiles, her voice understanding.]

It's the same for me. Though I wish my family was here.

[voice]

[untrueheart]

Why?

[Though Rue has little to wish for.]

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

[Her words are terse.] It's nicer here.

[voice]

[untrueheart]

[Ooh. Struck a nerve, that did. Rue's smile changes at the corners.]

Is it also freer here?

[voice]

[rutagraveolens]

I guess so. [Besides the Malnosso and their experiments, but they weren't directly in the village. They were more like the Capitol, watching, but only interfering now and then.]