RD16, Orb # 1

[dailybread]

[A young man with bare shoulders looks up at the orb, his face knitted in something like resignation. There’s something metal and sparkly dangling from his fingers.]

Does anyone know how far we are from Panem? The capitol, specifically. [He remembers Katniss’ face, relaxed in sleep; the last time he saw her before getting up to stretch his legs and finding that little blue book.] There’s a friend I’m worried about.

[If you look closely, somewhere in the background of the orb is a large pile of shimmery blue fabric. He looks back up at the orb and rubs at the back of his neck.] And if someone could point me towards a change of clothes, I’d appreciate it.

Comments

[emblazing]

Daenerys Stormborn, of House Targaryen. The Unburnt, Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Shackles, Queen of Mereen, the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, the Rhoynar and the First Men.

[dailybread]

I...don't think I'll remember all that.

[emblazing]

Which is why you may call me 'Khaleesi'.

[dailybread]

'Khaleesi'?

[It feels awkward in his mouth.] What does that mean?

[emblazing]

It means 'Queen' in Dothraki.

[dailybread]

I don't know what a Queen is, either.

[Apologetic.]

[emblazing]

You do not know what a Queen is?
[ she pauses. ]
A Queen is a leader of her people. She rules her country and sees her people as hers to protect. If she is a true Queen, then there is nothing she would not do for them.

[dailybread]

So...like a president?

[Aside from the protection part.]

[emblazing]

..A president?

[dailybread]

A leader of the country. They control everything that happens.

[emblazing]

I would not say I seek to control everything. Certainly not the lives of my people. I am no tyrant.

[dailybread]

Our president does.

[He doesn't know what a tyrant is, but if he did, President Snow would definitely fit the description.] They say it's enforcing the peace.

[emblazing]

Tell me of him. What has he done that brings peace? You do not sound sure in that.

[dailybread]

They take one male and female child from every district, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, and make us fight to the death on national television. It's supposed to be a punishment against the districts for rebelling.

[His voice is dark.]

[emblazing]

[ she looks horrified. ]
They call that peace? That is murder of children.

[dailybread]

[Bitterly.]

They say peace has a cost.

[emblazing]

The peace should have ended with punishing the first rebellion, not the generations afterwards. Then it simply becomes nothing but slaughter.

Is there no one who is trying to cease this from continuing?

[dailybread]

Most of us are too busy focusing on staying alive and keeping our families from starving, or worse.

[emblazing]

..I am sorry. That you live in such a world.
[ dany cannot save every person here. she cannot take them in as if they were unsullied and back to her service, where they at least will live without oppression. she wishes it, but that is a young girl's sentiment, and dany cannot be a young girl. ]
They cannot hurt you here.

[dailybread]

I'm more worried about my friends, at this point.

[emblazing]

Perhaps some of them have come here. Did you..participate in that event?

[dailybread]

Yeah. Twice.

[He thinks of Katniss, of the weight of her head against his shoulder.] I was in the middle of the second when I came here.

[emblazing]

She might have been brought with you.

[dailybread]

My friend?

I haven't heard from her.

[emblazing]

Describe her to me. Would you rather not look at all or try?