Orb Post | RD 14

[rutagraveolens]

[The voice coming over the orb is young and in a state of awe.] There's so much food here! Where does it all come from? There are so many things I've never seen before. I've never seen so much either, not since-- [She stops and there's a bit of silence before she speaks up again, changing the subject.]

What kind of food does everyone like? We had lots of soup back home. Momma would mix things up in a big boiling pot of water, and once it was done, we'd gather round with our bowls. She always made sure everyone got enough vegetables. We got bread and sometimes if we were really lucky, we'd get some rabbit to share. Oh! I had cho-co-late [she works through the word, recalling it from memory] cake once! It was so sweet and it had frosting and pretty flowers made out of icing! I licked every last bit off my fingers, it was so good. Is there any cake here? I hope there is. [Her voice grows quiet, a little in awe of the idea.] Is it true? That if you’re a hero people will give you things? That you can have all the food you want and never go hungry?

[There's another small pause before Rue whistles four notes. No explanation is offered. If Katniss is around, she'll know. She'll know her little ally is safe.]

Comments

[bondsoflove]

Depends on what your role is.

[rutagraveolens]

[Ash lass. That was what the Old Man said she was. Kind-hearted, willing to help, lucky. An ash lass. Unfortunately, it didn't say much toward what she was supposed to do. It was the kind of thing that wasn't as cut-and-dry as a knight or wizard.]

What role do you have?

[bondsoflove]

Knight of Fire.

[He blows a very, very small fireball to demonstrate.]

[rutagraveolens]

[Her eyes go wide at the fireball that appears, giving a sharp cry of surprise and fear. For a second, all she sees is the fireball coming at her, feels the heat as it crashes into the forest and burns around her, forcing her toward the other tributes.

She moves away from the orb as if the fire might leap through and catch her.]

[bondsoflove]

[He puts it out at the sound, raising his hands to show there's nothing in them.]

I won't hurt you.

[rutagraveolens]

[She's a foot back from the orb and continues to watch him carefully as she inches back in.]

How did you do that?

[bondsoflove]

Heated the energy in my lungs and blew it out. [It's a simplistic explanation, but it'll do.]

[rutagraveolens]

People can blow fire like that?

[bondsoflove]

Civilians can't, but I'm not a civilian.

I guess they call it magic, here.

[rutagraveolens]

What's magic? [That expression? Get used to it.]

[bondsoflove]

[...Okay, then.]

Spiritual energy. Molded and used to exceed the limitations of the human body.

[rutagraveolens]

[.........Nope.

Blink. Blink.]

[bondsoflove]

[Well, he feels a little less weird about not knowing any of the mythos of this culture.]

Breathing fire. Making illusions.

[rutagraveolens]

[She's a little lost at the word illusion too, but breathing fire. They'll leave it at that.]

Can everyone breath fire?

[bondsoflove]

[A shade of a smile.]

No. That's unique to my family.

[rutagraveolens]

Your family must be very special. I've never seen anyone breathe fire before.

...Does it hurt?

[bondsoflove]

Hn. We're the best there is.

[He thinks back to childhood and his mother spreading cool ointment over his lips.] Yeah, it can burn your mouth on the way out if you're not careful.

[rutagraveolens]

I bet you must be so good you don't burn yourself anymore.

[bondsoflove]

[A smile.]

Took me a few weeks of practice, but yeah.

[rutagraveolens]

Can you do anything else? [A beat.] I'm really good at climbing.

[bondsoflove]

I'm also good at climbing. My family's known for being adept at battle.

[rutagraveolens]

Your family fights? [Her voice grows a little quiet.]

[bondsoflove]

We have for hundreds of years.

[rutagraveolens]

That's really sad. Why for so long?

[bondsoflove]

[Sad? Maybe.]

It's the way we've always done it.