rutagraveolens | Melody 2 : Action

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Melody 2 : Action

[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.))

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[Rue startled slightly as she realized she spoke out loud.]

...My youngest sister. She's five.

Uh-huh! Hold on.

[Rue hurried over to the door and pulled it open, staying out of the way so Raine could pass through.]

['Neither did I... Katniss told me.'

Rue looked at Peeta with confusion. She knew people could come from different time periods according to what the guide said. She also knew Katniss came from much, much later, from a time where there were no more games. Yet where did that leave Peeta? Or even the Peeta that had been here before?

Rue took a deep breath, rubbing at her eyes and nose a little more. Her hiccups subsided and she peered at him.]

...Did something happen between you and Katniss? I mean... I know a lot happened after... ['I died' are the words that spring to mind, but Rue refused to voice them. She stopped and took a deep breath.] After the Games?

Are you two still... close?

[He can feel the pain rolling off of her in waves. Keman peeks into her mind and sees images he doesn't understand. Tree tops. Bright lights. A girl with a bow.

And the sudden, sickening realization that Rue had died in her home world.

Keman had read in the journal and heard the stories of people who seemingly came back to life, but it's his first time he's personally encountered one of them. He takes a deep, shuddering breath, fighting down feelings of anger and helplessness. She's just a child. Just a little girl.

He takes a deep breath and puts a hand to her cheek.]

I'm sorry. I saw it. I didn't mean to. I'm so, so sorry. It must be very painful for you.

Thank you. [She makes her way in, setting the crate down on the nearest empty long table.] Seems like I had a larger load than I thought.

[Rue followed into the store and peered into the box.]

Do you need help sorting things out? I'm not busy right now. [And a distraction would be nice too.]

[Rue stepped back at his words.]

Saw what? I don't understand what you're talking about.

[Saori studied them, and the girl for a moment. Clearly they were at least related to her distress.]

Yes, it can be. My portraits are like that to me, as well. And they're very pretty, just like you. The painter, Peeta? Is he someone that you know from home? Or someone that knew you here?

We're... we're both from Panem, but different districts. I didn't know him very well, I wish I could have. But now he's here so we can get to each know each other.

[Rue smiled somewhat at the idea. Circumstances kept them apart in the Capitol and arena, but here was a second change. At the least, it's oddly nice knowing she made enough of an impression that he painted two pictures of her.]

Ah. Alright. [She's quick to catch onto the "could". It means that at least one of them is dead. She's encountered a few like that, trapped in this place as some sort of limbo.]

That is nice, definitely. So, I'm going to guess that you've been here once before? Since I remember you telling me you were a new arrival not long ago...

[People are like puzzles for her, and she loves piecing together little bits about them to make the whole thing more clear.]

Uh-huh. Katniss told me I was here before, a long time ago, but I don't remember any of it. I guess it's common, but it's still hard.

[There's an edge of frustration in her voice around the last sentence. It wouldn't have been as bad if she remembered a little or things felt vaguely familiar, but there was nothing.

There was also the underlying fear she would be pulled away again.]

Of course you're welcome to help, if you'd like. I was hoping to get it organized. [She looks inside the crate, and pulls out some small shovels that were near the top.] These along with the other tools can go in the back later - let's set those kinds of items on the right side of the table.

It is common. It...happens sometimes. Just as often, we do remember when we come back.

[Saori's struggled with that for a while now, friends going and returning. She's had just as many issues with it herself

I think this world...plays favorites. It takes some people over and over, even after they leave. And it's a cruel, fickle place.

[Her own voice takes a downward turn as well, a bone-deep sadness that doesn't seem too far from the surface. Thinking about this, and that room. It's upsetting.]

Funny how you just can't stop blathering about the food. Victors always do that, first year in the Capitol. The ones who aren't Careers.

You know not every District gets as much food as others. And it's hard picking and packing food and shipping it to the Capitol, knowing you'll never eat it.

[Rue started pulling shovels, weedpullers, and other small gardening hand tools out of the box. She spent most of her time in the orchards due to her climbing prowess, but sometimes she was rotated into the fields when there was a large harvest. It wasn't as fun pulling weeds or digging into the ground, but work was work and working meant food at the end of the day.]

I'm Rue.

And I'm Raine. [Luceti really is a comfortable place that sometimes she is too distracted to remember that she hasn't introduced herself proper - but one always comes regardless. She pulls out a few packets of yet-unidentified seeds. Although with a side-glance, the girl seemed as near-distracted as she felt.] Thank you for the help. Have you been getting along all right?

[It's not meant to be a prying question, but maybe a stranger's ear would be of help. Even if the ears were as always hidden from view.]

[He nodded at her, eyes searching for some probable cause before he caught the picture hanging on the wall. Oh. He didn't get the significance behind it, but it made a pretty obvious culprit.]

Maybe some fresh air will do ya good. [And because it was fatherly instinct, he held out his hand in an offer for her to take it if she wanted to.] My name's Leonard...[Introducing himself by last name to a kid seemed weird after all.]

[It takes some people over and over. Rue suddenly wonders if she's been here before, maybe before Katniss or anyone else was here, disappeared, to come back. Or if she'll be taken away and brought back. It's a chilling thought and her face crumples into fearful disappointment.]

I don't ever want to leave, Saori. Not again.

[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?

It's nice to meet you, Raine. [Rue pulls out a few more items as she thinks on the question.]

...I guess so. It's nice in Luceti, um, besides the mistletoe that was around two weeks ago, that was annoying. And I'm going to start school too. That'll be fun.

[She smiles a little at that. Maybe it was strange to like school, but with all the different classes offered, it's exciting. It'll certainly be better than learning about the same old Capitol propaganda year after year.]

Okay. [Rue glanced at the pictures then up at McCoy. She managed a smile, though declined taking his hand only because he was a stranger and she was twelve. Twelve-year-olds didn't need handholds. Most of the time. Kids.]

I'm Rue.

[She nods in agreement to the mistletoe being annoying, but her expression brightens as the girl continues speaking.] Oh? I'm glad to hear it. I happen to teach there as well.

[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.

Oh. [He blinks in surprise. And he has a bit of a sad smile; it must hurt to be separated from someone like that.] I bet she's really nice!

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Page 5 of 14

Melody 2 : Action

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Re: Morning/ Art Gallery

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hope you don't mind a late tag!

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Morning/ Art Gallery

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Never!

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