Melody 2 : Action

[rutagraveolens]

[Morning]

[Ever since the fireworks the previous day, Rue was on edge. The fireworks were too much like cannon fire, each boom a notification of another tribute gone. That the fireworks were to announce the departure of people didn't help any.

Nor she get any sleep the previous night. Rue dreamed of whippings and executions, a reaping she couldn't escape from, a game she couldn't win. She saw the boy from District 1 - Marvel - raise the spear, throw-- and woke up tangled in blankets on the floor.

Silence surrounded her as she had breakfast in House 34. She left Melody sleeping in her room and made sure her knife was on her before she slipped out for the day.

She did her usual rounds - library to return some books, bakery to pick up a snack, convenience store for a drink - before wandering the south path parallel to the river. She'd never traveled down the road before and was curious where it went. Eventually Rue found herself by the Art Gallery. After some hesitation, she entered the building. It was nice and quiet, peaceful inside. She roamed the gallery, taking her time looking over the different pieces of artwork there.

When she came across Peeta's paintings and found herself staring at her own face, her face crumbled. She reached up to touch the paintings, drawing back she realized she shouldn't do that. The wings were the right color; the yellow of her own feathered wings, the blue of the dress she wore on stage in the Capitol. Her breath quickened and caught as Rue burst into ugly sobs.]

[Afternoon - behind Slash 'n Crash]

[After calming down, Rue went to Slash 'n Crash for target practice. Bow in hand and a quiver of arrows on her back, Rue methodically shot arrow after arrow into the targets. Her aim wasn't the best, but she was still hitting the target each time. She remembered Katniss' lessons as she drew, notched, and shot each arrow.

When she shot the last arrow in her quiver, Rue went to the targets, pulled out every arrow, put them back into her quiver, walked to her starting place, and began shooting again.]

((ooc; Now with links! The first painting is the one of her looking over a puddle and her reflection, the second is her holding a bouquet of flowers.))

Comments

[savedtheworld]

[A certain teen monk is minding the bakery currently - being one of the two primary employees there and current owner by default. One of those jazz records that Rapunzel left around is playing, while Aang is arranging several types of cookies, cupcakes, muffins and other pastries on display shelves.

He perks up when he hears the door open and beams towards Rue from his side of the counter.]

Rue... Hey!

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue entered the doorway and paused to listen to the music. It was nice and upbeat, something she hadn't heard before. Melody would have like it and she wished she'd brought the mockingjay along for company, but it was cold out for the little bird.]

Hi, Aang.

[She replied, voice quiet and managing a small smile.]

Anything fresh?

[kemanorel]

[Keman has never had much of an interest in art. His mother enjoyed it and, magpie-like, used to bring it back to their Lair after excursions into the two-legger world, but it had never had enough of an impact in his life for him to care. Art was for the bored, cruel elves to look at and create while their human slaves suffered.

Still, the gallery is in a part of the village he still hasn't been to, and he's mildly interested in seeing what the people in Luceti produce to pass the time. He's in the middle of taking off his coat and scarf when he hears the sound of someone crying. A small girl, it turns out.]

Hello? Are you all right?

[rutagraveolens]

[At the sound of Keman's voice, Rue nodded and began wiping tears away. Learning how to hide tears was important in District 11; being the oldest of five, it was her job to keep her younger brothers and sisters safe and not upset them even when things were at their worst.]

I'm--I'm fine. S-sorry, sorry.

[She hiccuped out, tying to take deep breaths to calm down.]

[swordprincess]

[Out of boredom, Karla decides to check out Slash 'n Crash to browse the weapons. As she steps out of the building, she hears a faint "thump" noise, so she decides to investigate. There, she sees Rue hitting the target with her arrows, concluding that that was the noise she heard. She steps closer slowly, content on watching her prowess with the bow.]

[rutagraveolens]

[Eyes on the target, Rue didn't notice Karla approaching. Breathe in, hold, release. The arrow flew into the target, a few inches off the bullseye. She drew another arrow and raised it, taking aim.]

[shenevermisses]

[Clove watches for a few moments. Not a great shot, not like Katniss, but there was potential. Especially starting so old.

Which, she found herself thinking, just went to show her district. To think that a child Rue's age was old to be picking up a weapon. Then again, she'd been trained to fight since she was half her age. Weapons training started at ten. By thirteen, students were expected to be specializing.]

Bow and arrow, huh? Are you learning to hunt? Or to fight?

[There's a distinction in her mind, especially for a girl like this.]

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue fired another arrow into the target - not a bullseye, but it is on the edge of the center spot - as Clove spoke . She lowered her bow and stared ahead at the target.

Hunting an animal was one thing. It was for food, and the skins and bones could be used for other things. Shooting and killing a person was different. She wasn't a Career, trained to kill from a young age, taught to find glory and honor in combat. And in the arena, she was ready to do what it meant to survive, even if it involved dropping a nest of Tracker Jackers onto kids only a few years older than her.

But it was different in Luceti. A different game, but she didn't have to fight. No one had to kill here.

Rue drew another arrow and notched it.]

To protect myself and the people I care about.

[Release. Off-center.]

[axed]

[ Look who's in the convenience store, stuffing a backpack full of crap. It's like life in the Capitol all over again, being able to take whatever you want, make off with enough food to feed a hundred starving District kids. The amount of ridiculous and completely unnecessary instant products is definitely a Capitol thing too. She goes for the basics instead -- jerky, a lighter, fruit juice, let's see, what else might she need... ]

[ She rounds a shelf and stops when she sees Rue. ]

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue holds a small cup filled with bright orange slurpie in her hands as she walks, sipping absently as she wanders through the aisle. She only came for the drink, but seeing what's around is a nice distraction in itself.

She stops when she sees Johanna.]

Hi, Johanna. [Her voice is quiet but level, her expression a little tired and lost.]

[painfully]

[He's been avoiding the Art Gallery up until this point. He knows it's there, knows that during his previous stay here in Luceti he'd painted. His Christmas gift from Katniss, the unfinished portrait of herself, is still sitting unfinished--untouched--on the easel in his living room. Truth be told, he hasn't had the heart to pick up a paintbrush since his arrival, weeks ago. Katniss had told him back in the Capitol that he's a painter, but it still feels foreign to him--something he's been told he is, rather than something he knows he is.]

[But something today feels different. Events are spinning into motion around him. Katniss, Johanna. The doctor. He feels off-balance today, and maybe that's why his feet lead him into the gallery, rather than away from it. Maybe it's just an excuse to stare at artwork while his mind is miles away.]

[When he hears sobbing he snaps out of it. It's coming from another part of the gallery, a part he has yet to visit--he hasn't even made it past the first room yet. His feet seem to seek the sound out of their own accord. When he spots the girl he stops, still several feet away.]

Rue?

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue stood in front of the two paintings of herself, small frame shaking as her hands covered her face. She sniffled and hiccuped through her fingers, tears streaming past and dripping onto the floor.

At the sound of her name, her head jerked up and she froze. She blinked tears away and rubbed at her face as she recognized Peeta.]

I-I didn't know y-you p-painted. [Rue stammered out as she continued wiping tears away.]

Morning/ Art Gallery

[bonesandmore]

[He wasn't hiding. Nope. Of course he hadn't gone into the Art Gallery thinking it was the last place that gods or devils or troublesome captains or nosy Vulcans were likely to be. But he would admit he did want some damn peace and quiet after candy cane coated bedrooms, exploding houses, and night terror plagued roommates. The gallery seemed to be good for both, it turned out. Even if he was only casually glancing at a picture here or there.

At least until that sound echoed along the hallways. It had him freezing in his path. He knew that sound. How could he not? Even if it had been months since he had last even had a chance to look at his own little girl, he knew one when he heard one crying.

He didn't think as feet took him toward the sound, and paused only for a moment when he saw the young girl sobbing in front of a picture.]

Hey. Hey there, little Darlin'. What's wrong? [And not to scare her, he approached slowly, the doctor in him unable to not search for some sort of physical injury to explain the tears as he did so.]

Morning/ Art Gallery

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue was quick to wipe her tears away and do her best to stop crying when she heard someone's voice. You weren't supposed to cry in public in District 11. It upset people and was unsightly. She glanced at McCoy shyly as she continued to sniffle, deep breathing turning into hiccups as she tried to calm herself.]

S-sorry for m-making a scene, everything i-is-is okay.

[windandrain]

[Saori occasionally wandered around the Art Gallery during her daily circuit of the village, and today just happened to be one of those days. Most of the art here didn't really appeal to her, though Miyabi's paintings were a notable exception, reminding her of a time long passed. Steve's art stood out to her as well, reminders of an ugly time in her Luceti life. And of course her own addition to the gallery, donated under a pseudonym only Yuuna could truly understand, always brought a little laugh despite the reminder it carried.

It's there, standing in front of the collage of mustached friends and enemies, that she hears the sound of someone young crying. Concerned that it might be serious, she peers around the corner and spots Rue. It's fairly easy to recognize the dark skinned girl from their journal conversation, and she crosses the gallery in a few quick steps, worry in her eyes.]

What's wrong child? Are you hurt?

[rutagraveolens]

[At the first sound of someone approaching, Rue was quick to smother her tears. She took big raspy gulps of air and scrubbed at her eyes and nose with her sleeve.]

I'm fine. [She lied, still trying to take big breaths of air to calm down, keep her face calm and stoic.]

[250mhzwabl]

[Jack's on duty for the house's weekly library run, and is perusing the new arrivals on display near the front when Rue walks in. Smiling, he lifts a hand in greeting, the other occupied with the thermos holding this morning's sugary coffee monstrosity.]

Good morning!

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue managed a smile and waved in return. She slid a backpack off her back and began taking out books to put into the return slot.]

Hi Jack. Anything good upfront?

[wise_maiden]

[The Bakery happens to be next door to the flower shop, so while Rue is exiting, it happens to be at the same time Raine is approaching Azalea, holding a decent sized crate mostly filled with items that would be useful in the shop. The sign is new but very basic until she can get the art club to work on a new one.

Granted there's a little distraction around her expression, as it's been a busy few days mostly since she's been throwing herself more into projects until school starts up again, but she gives a small nod and smile to the young girl she's seen around Luceti lately.]

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue left the bakery empty-handed, a few crumbs on her sleeve the only sign she'd eaten. She returned a bare smile and nodded back at Raine. She'd visited the flower shop before - with how much she loved flowers, how could she not? - and recognized the white-haired woman.]

Um... do you need help carrying things inside?

hope you don't mind a late tag!

[withoutdoubt]

[Rue's not the only one in the library! As she's returning her books, Jude's returning his own. He spots her in line to do so, and walks on over.]

You're returning books too?

Never!

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue looks at Jude and smiles faintly. There's a backpack filled with books currently sitting by her feet.]

Uh-huh. I had a few I forgot to return the last time I was here and I don't want to keep holding onto them since someone might want them too.

[stillplaying]

[She finds her sometime in the afternoon behind Slash 'n Crash, quietly walking from the grocery store back to her house. Despite that she only intended to shop, she carries with her her own bow and quiver. Even if the village is relatively safe, she feels naked without it.

But she doesn't expect Rue to be out here, so furiously practicing with the small bow Katniss had found for her. It's not her childhood bow - Katniss still holds that in hopes of giving it back some day to Henry. But it's a good bow, nonetheless. And the lessons are nice, an easy ritual of a thing that lets them both act as if their lives are something normal.]

Hey.

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue releases an arrow into the target before she looks over at Katniss. She gives a thin smile and nods before she pulls another arrow out of her quiver and takes aim.]

I talked to Peeta this morning.

[The words are flat and matter of fact. Rue releases the arrow and reaches for another one.]

He told me about the Quarter Quell.

[Action, Bakery]

[knightofratatosk]

[There's a blond boy in the bakery when Rue walks in, staring intently at the display case of sweets with a thoughtful expression on his face. So absorbed is he in his contemplation that he doesn't even realize she's there... if he did, he probably wouldn't be talking to himself the way he is right now.]

Cupcakes or pie... I had cake last week, but cake isn't cupcakes. Besides, they're different flavors, so it wouldn't really be like getting the same thing twice in a row...

[Action, Bakery]

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue listens to the boy's musing as she looks over the selection in the display case. After a few seconds, she quietly pips up with:]

A cupcake is easier to carry and eat right away. But if you want to share with other people, you should get a pie.