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

[rutagraveolens]

No.

[The response is quick, but she glances up shyly.]

But what if... what if not everyone wants to leave?

[savedtheworld]

[That does give Aang pause. There is one reason he would definitely want to stay in this world, and that's Ikki.

He knows his life will end before she's born. He knows this is the only time he'll ever have in his granddaughter. So he treasures every moment. And while he knows Ikki will be safer at home, that she belongs there, selfishly... he doesn't want it to end.

He looks down towards Rue, looking somewhat glum.]

Not everyone has to leave right away. [He may not know Rue's fate, but he knows that Prime and Clove have both died. He thinks maybe she might be thinking of one of them.] Even if home's where we belong... I think we should have a right to stay here if we want, too. For however long we want. Because... the good thing about this place? Is that it has lots of second chances. Second chances that people need. Lots of people deserve that chance... to really live their lives and be happy. And... I wouldn't want to take that away from people.

[rutagraveolens]

[Prim and Clove, yes, even Cato, but mostly herself. What will happen to her if this place goes away? What will happen to everyone else who can't leave?]

Second chances... I agree. It's nice here, even with the experiments and Gamemakers.

[savedtheworld]

Game...makers? [He blinks for a moment.] Oh, you mean the Malnosso. You're right, this place still has lots of bad things. But I'm glad it still has a lot of the nice things that make life worth living.

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue pauses, realizing what she'd said.] Oh, right, Malnosso. And yeah... it does. Nice things like allies and plenty of food, and nice people.

[savedtheworld]

Yep. Those are all good things, and there's also the good times that come from those things. So... being here is a big mix of things.

[rutagraveolens]

I guess so.

[She takes another bite out of the muffin, some of the warmth a little gone.]

...Can I have another muffin?

[savedtheworld]

You can have as many as you want. [He says warmly as he hands over another.]

[rutagraveolens]

Thank you.

[Rue takes the muffin and does her best to smile.]

I should probably get going.

[savedtheworld]

Right. [He nods.] Take that for the road. And have a good day, okay?

[rutagraveolens]

You too.

[Clutching the muffins in a hand, Rue gives a friendly wave before leaving and going on with her day.]