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 listened to Saori with level acceptance. She knew adults cried; sometimes deep in the night, she would hear her mother crying softly and her father comforting her.

She nodded and did her best to smile.]

Have you seen these paintings before?

[She pointed at the paintings of her done by Peeta many months ago. One picture was of her standing in a field with a bouquet of flowers in her hands, yellow wings on her back.

The other was of her stopped over a puddle, her yellow wings still showing, but her reflection showed a beautiful dress with butterfly wings.]

[Saori looked back, quirked her head and nodded. She hadn't actually made the connection that it was Rue until now. And that drew her up short. That...was interesting. Clearly this girl was caught in this world's game before, and that she knew well was stressful enough.]

I have. They're lovely. And they've been here for some time, too.

[She rises, one hand still on Rue's shoulder.]

They're you, aren't they?

[Rue nodded, short and quick.]

They are. I've never had a picture painted of me before. It's almost like looking into a mirror.

[She reached out and touched the frame again. As beautiful as they were, she couldn't shake a feeling of sadness. Were they painted when she was still in the village? Or had she already left?]

Peeta painted them. He's in the village now.

[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.]

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.]

[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.

[Saori's eyebrow rises slightly, not immediately making the connection. Was this girl's world, without gods and heroes, that terrible? She simply can't fathom not wanting to go home.]

Why not, Rue?

[She can't help it. Immortal minds are so slow to change and adapt at times.]

Because... Because...

[The answer was obvious enough; she was dead. There was nothing left for her outside of Luceti. But she couldn't say that, not to a stranger, not to a god.]

There are people here that would miss me.

[That was honest enough. Here, she could be with Katniss and Peeta, get to know Prim. Even get to know Clove, Cato, and Johanna. Maybe even Effie, though she still didn't know how she felt about the woman from the Capitol.]

[It's that answer, more than anything, that spells out the truth. People at home would obviously miss Rue too, unless Rue wasn't there to miss. Sometimes it takes her a minute to get everything clicking into place. But it does, with that.

Saori's hand reaches out and gives the girl a squeeze on the shoulder.]

I understand. [She tries to make her voice more soothing.]

And hopefully when we find a way to break the cycle we can find a way to send you and yours to a happier place.

[Because even now, Saori arrogantly clings to the idea that they'll break loose. She's stubbornly refusing to consider anything less than a total victory, given time.]

[Another place... was there one out there for them? A happier place with no games, no hunger? According to Katniss, there were no more games, would never be any more games. Her family, if they were all still alive, would never have to be afraid again.]

They need to go back home because things get better and they have to be there for that.

[She can stay here. Or maybe go quietly back into death.]

They do, but what about you?

[She's somewhat accustomed to people from rough worlds wanting to stay, but...it never struck her as a great idea, given the Third Party and the very nature of the world around them.]

Surely you'd like to have a happy life somewhere.

[Rue remembers a conversation with Loki. He was dead - at least so he made it seem like it was - and he wanted to be with his beloved. Assuming she was alive as well, they could go to her world. Or a world of their friends. But Rue didn't have that option.]

I don't know where I would go.

You would be welcome in my world, Rue.

[It's a simple offer to make, and a difficult one to deliver on, but Saori's confidence that something will change at times borders on arrogance. She's every confidence that the people here can find a way to end the cycle, and her voice resonates with conviction.

She does not know the girl that well, but there's something there that reminds her a little of herself, enough so that she feels justified in giving that small measure of kindness. After all, she'd once been a lost child condemned to die by a more powerful hand. And one who's fate had been altered by the myojin of Tenmangu.

Why not another? ]

If that is what you would wish, then I would be willing to find you a place. When the time comes, at any rate.

[Her world. A world where there are gods to look over people, who will do their very best to protect the people below them. They can't do everything, they aren't always there, but at least they exist.

It's as good a place as anywhere else, isn't it?]

Would I really be welcome there?

[It's one thing to make an offer out of kindness, but is there truly a place for her? Would everyone else there accept her?]

Edited 2014-01-23 06:21 (UTC)

[That draws a raised eyebrow, more out of surprise than anything else. Politeness and that sort of thinking were definitely rarities anymore, and it's nice to see. Though her answer is likely predictable.]

Of course, child. I honestly doubt that anyone would think it strange were you to arrive. And if you wished, I could probably get one of my family to take you under their wing, should my home be uninviting. It may not be a very exciting place, but you'd be safe there.

[And alive. And to her way of thinking, at least she's offering the girl some sort of hope even if things don't work out. Yomi's reach is wide, after all.]

[Safe. It's not something Rue's very familiar with. She's safer in Luceti with Katniss, but it's still not a safe place. A place where she doesn't have to worry about games or experiments or Peacekeepers or Malnosso... it's a world she can't imagine.]

...Could I live with your cousin? The one that made music?

[Smiling, Saori nods. Benzaiten. Benten as she called herself, probably wouldn't mind an acolyte or a new student.]

Yes, I think she'd be alright with that. She likes young children as attendants and pupils. Though, she may test your musical aptitude before she agrees. Do you play music? Or sing?

[Rue nodded earnestly, a small smile creeping back to her face.] I'm very good at singing!

Why don't you sing then, show me how good you are.

[It's just because she wants to see Rue smile, of course, it's not really a test or anything.]

O-okay! [Because when a god asks for something, you obey. Rue clears her throat and gives a few coughs before she begins to sing a simple melody. Her voice is untrained and raw, but it's still lovely and there's hints of promise.]

How was that?

[Saori's eyes light up when Rue's finished, because she definitely recognizes talent when she sees it. She lives with Chopin, after all.]

That was wonderful! Benzaiten could help you get even better too. Once you train your voice, you'll be peerless!

Do you really mean that?

[There's hope in her words. It's a truth that may never be realized; who knows how long she'll stay in Luceti, who knows how long all of them will be in Luceti. Maybe Saori will leave. But hope is something to hold onto.]

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