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

[It takes closer to ten minutes, but eventually there is a man in a scarf and puffy coat jogging up through the snow to the house's front door, slowing to a stop and giving a few muffled, mittened knocks. There's something surreal about visiting the cute little house right in the shadow of the castle. The thing feels like it should have decidedly more moat, or something.]

[Rue sits up when there's a knock at the door. The door always had to be answered in District 11, so Rue quickly sets the journal aside and goes to answer the door.]

Jack? [She peers up him in surprise before stepping aside to let him in.]

[Oh. Wow. She . . . absolutely is going to just let some random guy off the journals into the house, isn't she. Jack blinks at her in surprise for a moment at that, then half-laughs, waving off the offer and stooping closer to her level against the doorframe.]

Nah, I probably shouldn't. I just . . . well, here.

[Looking back over his shoulder, he fishes around in his bag, coming up with a small, round carton of ice cream and holding it out to her.]

Here. Where I'm from, this is the traditional food to eat when you're sad. And at parties and celebrations too, I guess. [He grins, cold-pinkened and just a bit awkward.] So, er. Welcome to Luceti. Sorry I made you cry.

[Rue takes the small carton of ice cream. It's cold, as ice cream usually is on a cold day and as the name indicates, but it still surprises her a little. It's chocolate, which makes her a smile.]

I've never had ice cream before, but I've had chocolate before and that's good! And it must be good if people eat it when they're sad or for celebrations. [She smiles shyly.] Thank you.

Though you don't need to apologize! It wasn't your fault at all! It was... [Her words trail off. She can't find a way to explain it.] It's okay.

[Ah, success. Rue looks pleased enough with the gift that Jack relaxes in turn, reassured that he is not, in fact, a terrible beast. Or in so much danger of being punched in the face. Or both, really.]

My fault or not, I would be a complete- a really awful person if I saw you like that and decided it wasn't my problem. [He gives a little scoff, slipping between sentiment and almost-teasing before either of them can get too mushy.] And I'd lose the company of a fellow lover of music! Which, let's face it, would be completely stupid on my part.

[Rue smiles again.] I would like to hear more music. It's nice so many people here like it.

Weeellllll . . .

[Jack draws out the word uncertainly for a few seconds, then decides aw, to heck with it. He means well, his housemates are all superbly trustworthy, and there are so many worse things in the enclosure. A bit of friendliness isn't unconscionably weird.]

If you ever want to come listen to some more music, I'm on the south end of the village. House fifty-one. Just send me a message on the journals before you stop by, all right?

Really, I can?

[Rue's face lights up with excitement. It's been an eventful day and it still surprises her how kind everyone is in the village. The fact there's so much music around is even better.]

South end of the village, house fifty-one. I'll remember that.

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

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