lucetilogs | Post-Event Reaction Log!

Entry tags:

Post-Event Reaction Log!

Who: Everybody
What: Post-Event Reactions
When: Today (and tomorrow too)
Where: Anywhere
Summary: Most of Luceti was back to their normal selves. Not only that, but they now remembered their trips to other worlds. So how 'bout that?
Rating: Whatever

This is for today and tomorrow, since not everyone will be fully reverted until then. Remember to tag your characters in!

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[Rue is quiet as she looks out at the fire. She gives the rabbits a quarter turn, watching the flames lick at the skin and meat. A long walk in the forest was good for calming down and she's not really mad at Katniss anyway. Katniss couldn't help it. No one could.]

It's okay. I guess a lot of people were affected by the Malnosso.

[She offers a small smile.]

You look nice when you smile.

[But that silly smiling girl in the dresses hadn't been her. Not the Katniss Everdeen whose life had been shaped by one too many horrible events. Both of them know that.

There's not much to smile about in this Katniss Everdeen's life.

She shakes her head. It's nice for Rue to forgive her, even if she can't yet forgive herself.]

Still, I should have known better. [She falls quiet for a moment. She wants to tell Rue more about the experience she's had with hijacking before. Watching Peeta hate her. But she already said too much during the shift. And there's so much she's still trying to shield from the girl.] If there's ever a next time, I promise. I won't doubt you again.

Edited 2012-04-16 20:27 (UTC)

[Rue gives a trusting nod. She believes Katniss, she knows Katniss will try hard everyone if everyone says they can't avoid it.]

People say these things happen all the time.

At least now we know what it's like. [And that's something, no matter the cost it came at.] We know what to look for next time.

We'll be careful. [Rue nods again, then looks back at the roasting rabbits.]

...Katniss? Who is he? Un [She almost finishes the word, but leaves it as a single sound.] Rick? Is he an ally?

[He is, isn't he? Even before the Gamemakers played their little games here, Rick was someone Katniss was actually growing to like.

Maybe he might've even been a friend.]

I think so. He's a soldier. He'd be a good ally to have.

[A soldier. Rue remembers hearing about them from the history lessons about the Dark Days. She wonders what Rick fought in his world.]

He seemed pretty nice. [Even if the shift made people act weird, he had been nice to her when he didn't have to be, and that felt real enough. Rue imagined he wasn't much different even now.] I think he'd be a good ally too.

[She's lucky in one way. She knew him before the shift. Had already decided that Rick could be trusted. So she nods in agreement, slowly turning the rabbits.]

He is. He'll protect you if anything happens to me.

[Because that man who was her pretend uncle Rick didn't seem all that different from the Rick she knew. The connection was different, but he knows now. Knows how important Rue is. Knows what the Hunger Games cost. Even as the memories fade away, there are some that might cling.]

But nothing is going to happen you. [Rue quickly replies, stressing nothing. Even if the Malnosso throw something else at them, they know what to be careful of and what to avoid. They'll take care of each other.]

[She's not as certain. Not after seeing how this last game surprised her. The shift. How easily she was hijacked and refused to acknowledge it, despite knowing the symptoms. Not given her lost days and how easily one awful event might send her back into that depression that had followed Prim's death. What would she do without Rue here to ground her?

It'd be so easy for something to happen. But she tries to remain optimistic. For the little girl's sake. And then she remembers:] Can you turn the rabbits for a few minutes? I need to get something.

[Rue believes because she has to. Even if the odds aren't in their favor - are they ever? - she has to believe they can win this. They're small, temporary games, but Rue's tired of playing.]

Okay. [She nods in agreement, watching the fire and the roasting rabbits. They do smell good, and she's excited over having a rabbit all to herself. That's one thing she can't hate Luceti for; all the food.]

[With Rue left to tend the food, she climbs up the ladder into the treehouse. It's exactly as she remembers it and she wonders how, even for a second, she could have ever doubted that this was home?

She pushes past the curtain that separates their rooms and walks over to the small chest she painstakingly carried back one day. It's a place to store her most special of possessions. Not that any of them have come yet. But it's also a good place to hide things from Rue. She knows the little girl won't ever go snooping.

It's not hard to find what she's looking for. A small bow, carefully wrapped in cloth. Her bow. The first one her father had ever made her. Even the small sheath is there. Perfect for a girl Rue's size. And it's not like she'll ever be small enough to need them again. She has other reminders of her dear father. This one is unnecessary.

She checks on the items before carefully re-wrapping them in the cloth. The chest is closed, curtain put back in place, and she climbs down to join Rue by the fire. Her bundle is hidden behind her back when she approaches.]

[While Rue is an eternally curious, wide-eyed girl in a world where there's so much to see, learn, and do, she is, thankfully, not a snooper. She has younger siblings, she knows how annoying it can be.

Rue sits happily out by the fire, tending to the rabbit. While she waits, she takes out some corn she collected from the grocery store, and finds a stick to use as a spit to roast it on, carefully turning it over the fire. She smiles at Katniss when she comes back.]

I'm roasting some corn too. I hope that's okay.

[The smile is returned easily and fondly. Of course the corn is okay. It's one of those new foods she hadn't ever tried before going to the Capitol. One she was pleased to find easily obtainable here in Luceti. Because corn is one of those plants that taste better grown rather than wild. Not something found easily in the old District Twelve.]

Yeah. I like corn.

[And she means it.

She takes her seat next to Rue again and finally places the bundle on her lap. Katniss strokes the fabric fondly for a second, letting herself remember that night her father had given her the precious gift. She had already accompanied him into the woods lots of times before. Not to hunt, just to swim and gather. But on her ninth birthday, she was greeted with a surprise.

The next two years spent hunting with her father, learning, had both dismayed her mother and made a little Katniss so happy to be alive.]

I have something for you. A gift. [Which means nothing is owed. It's freely given. Something you do for those you love. She holds out the bundle so Rue can take it.] It was made for a girl younger than you are now, but I think it should still work. I was able to use it for years.

A gift? For me? [Rue squeaks out, looking at the wrapped bundle with curious surprise. She carefully takes it, feels the light weight of it, then begins to carefully unwrap it. She gasps when she sees the bow, then looks up at Katniss, her eyes wide with surprise?]

This is for me?

[Katniss nods, smiling softly at the girl as she opens the package. She guesses presents weren't something often given in District Eleven. At least, not presents this nice. Or this dangerous.]

Yeah. It's too small for me to use anymore. But... I think my father would've liked it if you had it. Prim never showed any interest in hunting.

[Presents were a creative matter in District Eleven. A bit of extra food, a lucky charm woven out of leaves or grass, a handmade toy, the occasional and well-hidden slingshot, presents were around, but never anything as nice as a bow. Rue stares at it a little longer before she moves and throws her arms around Katniss in a hug.]

Thank you, Katniss! Thank you, thank you! I promise to take good care of it!

[She easily hugs Rue back, tight and secure. And happy. Happy for the first time all day.]

I know you will. And I'll teach you to use it as soon as you want.

Can we begin tomorrow? [Because as excited as she is to start today, the light will be better tomorrow.]

[It's been a long day, too. Too long.

But at least with a promise made to Rue, she'll keep tomorrow from turning into a lost day. She can't disappoint Rue again. Not this soon.]

Definitely.

And once I get really good, can I go hunting with you too?

[She'd be good at it. Small, quick, clever. Quiet footsteps and sharp eyes. It's easy to nod a yes to that request.]

It's what allies do, right?

[Rue nods excitedly. And with both of them armed, they'll be able to defend each other if anyone or thing comes after them.]

I like that. I like us being allies.

[She chuckles and pulls Rue in for a quick hug.] We're more than allies, little bird. I'd like to think we're friends.

[Rue wraps her arms around Katniss and holds her tightly.] Definitely friends. Best friends?

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stillplaying - 2012-05-30 17:21 (UTC) - Expand

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