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

[wise_maiden]

Hm? -- Oh, yes, could you get the door for me, please?

[rutagraveolens]

Uh-huh! Hold on.

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

[wise_maiden]

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.

[rutagraveolens]

[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.]

[wise_maiden]

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.

[rutagraveolens]

[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.

[wise_maiden]

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.]

[rutagraveolens]

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.]

[wise_maiden]

[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.

[rutagraveolens]

You do? What classes do you teach there?

[wise_maiden]

Just about all of the main classes, save for music. But if you're thinking of attending, I could set you up with a test sometime before the long break is over.

[rutagraveolens]

What kind of test? [With as shoddy as education in District 11 was, Rue's familiarity with tests was mostly regurgitating facts about how great the Capitol was and the foolishness of the rebellion.]

[wise_maiden]

It's something of a placement test - just seeing how far you are in your current level of study, finding out where you may need improvement, and so forth. Some of it may seem very easy, and some of it you may have yet to learn at all. I wouldn't worry too much about that.

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue shuffled nervously on her feet. Even if it was just a placement test, it felt a little daunting.]

Is it in all of the subjects? Because there's no magic in my world and I don't know a lot about science. They didn't teach it in school where I was from. Or math.

[wise_maiden]

It's just on math and writing and science, but you're not expected to know everything on it, as I said. You answer what you know. Some concepts might be familiar to you even if it's not something you studied directly.

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue nodded slowly.] Do I have to take a test for the music and art classes?

[wise_maiden]

No, not at all. At least, I can only speak for art.

[rutagraveolens]

Oh, okay. When is school starting? If I don't take the test, can I not go to class?

[Unless school already started, then this little Rue is playing unintentional hooky.]

[wise_maiden]

It should be starting again next week, unless something else delays it, like a shift or a blizzard. You can attend without taking the test to get an idea of the classes, but the test helps me when it comes to giving assignments, which is why I like arranging them as early as possible.

[rutagraveolens]

I can take the test anytime this week, whenever you aren't busy.

[Rue peered into the box. Yep, that was everything.]

Is there anything else I can do while I'm here?

[wise_maiden]

Well, the tools do need to get put in the back with the rest. As for school, why not in a couple of days? [At least to give her time to manage any apprehension.] Wednesday or even Thursday should be fine, since I'll be in the building anyway.

[rutagraveolens]

I'll come by Wednesday then. [Better to get it out of the way as soon as possible, right?] And I'll take these to the back.

[Rue scooped up as many as the tools into her arms as she could safety carry and head toward the back room, looking around a bit before finding the other tools. There she began carefully putting everything away.]

[wise_maiden]

Sounds good to me. [She'll start putting away the seeds up front, waiting until Rue steps back into range.] Is there anything else you'd like to know?

[rutagraveolens]

Um... are there punishments if you're late to school?

[wise_maiden]

Disruptions due to an experiment are usually expected. [And considering school is voluntary, and thanks to Gelda's influence, she's had to go easier on them in some ways.] Otherwise you'll find yourself with extra work to cover what you missed -- or interrupted with tardiness.