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

[shadow_sage]

[Those people are shallow, but they're just ignorant. Arrogant. These...]

They're more like people from a story. The ones that are mentioned a in a line. 'The guard's feet shifted against the stone as he muttered oaths against the weather.' In real life, he'd go home to his family, maybe beat his wife before sneaking out for a midnight tryst with a neighbour...or perhaps he simply goes home and plays a few hands of skyllian five poker with his friends at the bar every night.

Here, he's just a guard. He'll go home, and wonder whether tomorrow he should try scuffing one foot, then the other, in case it has a better effect.

I exaggerate, but I'm starting to wonder by what degree.

[dailybread]

I...don't really read stories.

[shadow_sage]

[A pause as she considers how to reword her explanation.]

Well. They are exactly what they seem to be. Hotheaded guard, or sweet-tempered baker's wife, or utterly foolish king. They have a role and that's what their life is.

So expect them to get offended when you want to wear pants. It isn't what you're supposed to want, so it is wrong. Doesn't fit into their picture of the world.

[dailybread]

I think I understand. [Like the citizens of the Capitol, but even more rigid, and with bizarre social rules to follow.] Thank you for explaining.

[shadow_sage]

I'm sure I made a hash of it.

[She shakes her head a little.]

I'm not going to tell you to just play along, since I'm not. But when they call your something, or say that something is happening, whatever else is going on, they will act like whatever they say is the way of things here. You're a princess. We're heroes. The thorns are evil.

If you at least pretend to follow their views, they'll give you less trouble. Not that they seem to actually give Heroes trouble, mind. They'll simply chide you and make a great many snide remarks.

[dailybread]

[Laughing, nervously.] It's better than the information I had before, anyway. [Which was exactly nothing.]

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.