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

[tenuefarfalla]

There's a bakery near the river that has wonderful cakes.

[The one Cho was living over.]

Are you new?

[rutagraveolens]

[Bakery. That was what Peeta worked in. She remembers Katniss telling her about District Twelve and life back there just as she shared stories from District Eleven.]

I am. How about you?

[tenuefarfalla]

Not exactly. I've been here eight days. Sort of half way in between new and old, I suppose. Where did you come from?

[rutagraveolens]

[Eight days, it's not a long time. At least it doesn't seem very long.] I'm from... [she pauses, not sure what to say. There's Panem, the world she's from, though the idea of being brought here from a different world is one she still doesn't understand.

There's District Eleven, her home.

The arena, the last place she was.

And there's from death.]

...Panem.

[tenuefarfalla]

I don't know where that is. I'm sorry.

My name is Cho. Welcome to Schwanheim.

[rutagraveolens]

I'm Rue. [Schwanheim. Weird name.]

Do you like it here?

[tenuefarfalla]

[That's a complicated question.]

I do. It's a nice place. A little simple, but the locals are well-meaning and mostly helpful. It could be worse, I think.

[Which isn't to say she's not eager to get out of the place, because she is. But she can understand why they're needed.]

No one here will hurt you and you'll always have enough to eat, and if that's ever not the case you just find me and I'll fix it.

[She's got the money and she doesn't need anywhere close to all of it.]

Are you staying in the castle?

[rutagraveolens]

[No one will hurt her and there's always enough to eat... Rue remains skeptical because that's simply not heard of in her world, but maybe she can get some allies here and they can all watch out for each other.]

I'm still here right now, but I don't know if they'll let me stay here.

[tenuefarfalla]

Of course they will, sweetheart. Listen, if anyone ever tells you you have to leave, you tell them that I'm letting you stay in my rooms. All right? They won't argue with you. No one seems quite willing to say no to a Princess here.

And if you don't want to stay there, you can always come stay with us. We've got lots of room and I make the best German chocolate cake you've ever had in your life. I guarantee it.

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue isn't sure what a princess is, but it sounds important, so she simply nods.]

German chocolate cake?

[tenuefarfalla]

You've never had German chocolate cake?

[Actually, considering the earlier conversation about a possible lack of food, that isn't super surprising.]

[rutagraveolens]

[Rue shakes her head.] What makes it different from other chocolate cake?

[tenuefarfalla]

Delicious coconut pecan caramel gooey goodness. You layer it inside and put it on top and then coat the outer edge with the most fantastic evaporated milk whipped chocolate frosting you've ever had.

[There really isn't any way to adequately describe German chocolate cake. You just need to eat it.]

[rutagraveolens]

[That sounds pretty amazing. It's one of the most decadent things Rue has ever heard of. She wonders if that was the kind of thing people ate in the Capitol.]

That sounds really good.