[It's surreal, still. The notion that Rue actually exists in the here and now, in something that's not a nightmare. Time hasn't helped to make it become easier to accept.
Even surreal, though, it's reality. And if it's reality, then there's one thing she knows. She'd never forgive herself if she failed Rue a second time. It's her responsibility now to look after her, to protect her from whatever horrible things this place thinks is a good idea to throw at her.
To do everything in her power to ensure that she will never again be a piece in anyone's games.
This isn't something she's used terribly often, but today, she feels a need to check in. Just a simple message, in a slightly quiet voice, yet carrying much more intent behind it.]
[Rue answers brightly, eagerly. Glad to hear from Katniss again after knowing her arrival upset the other girl so much, the shock of it. She had thought it best to let Katniss come around and deal with it in her own time.
[She can't help but smile at the brightness and eagerness in Rue's voice. It's just as she remembers what Rue should be. Not the terrified screams that still feature night after night, but a little girl full of life, who loves music and truly brings everything beautiful to mind.
Despite the continued surreality, at the moment, that's what feels tangible and real.]
[It's some delay before she comes up with a response. After all, she hadn't really given much thought to what they would be doing, exactly. Her main concern had simply been Rue. Talking to her, spending time with her. But:]
I thought... maybe I could show you around.
[Not that there's much to show; the suggestion feels stupid as soon as it leaves her mouth. What is there to see in a city where it rains all the time and everything looks the same? Where everything beyond it is nothing but a barren wasteland?]
[A brief, quiet laugh somehow manages to creep in there, accompanying that smile from before. It's been a long time, a really long time, since she's done anything like that, but right now, it comes with ease.]
Good. [And after a pause--] I'll meet you out front?
[And she is, scrambling to shove her shoes on her feet, pull on the blue waterproof coat and go down the stairs, hopping the last three light as a bird.]
[Even if she's practically out the door by the time she hangs up, Rue will beat her there by a few minutes. She has nine flights of stairs to go down, stairs she will insist on taking. (An elevator is always out of the question, if she can help it; elevators tend to remind her too much of the tubes that lifted her into the arena, and should therefore only be avoided.)
But it's only just a few minutes. Before long, she's made it to the ground floor, and once there, it's quick work to spot Rue over across the way. As she approaches, the smile on her face morphs into something much larger, almost like a grin.]
[Rue is watching the stairs and so she spots Katniss immediately when she appears. Her grin is true and strong as she quickly crosses the distance between them, meeting Katniss halfway. Slender fingers flex as if to grasp but restrain for now.]
Hi. You look well, Katniss.
[She does, happier, not so haunted as she did the day Rue arrived. That she's accepted Rue as real and alive, not a ghost.]
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voice;
Date: 2013-02-24 02:06 am (UTC)Even surreal, though, it's reality. And if it's reality, then there's one thing she knows. She'd never forgive herself if she failed Rue a second time. It's her responsibility now to look after her, to protect her from whatever horrible things this place thinks is a good idea to throw at her.
To do everything in her power to ensure that she will never again be a piece in anyone's games.
This isn't something she's used terribly often, but today, she feels a need to check in. Just a simple message, in a slightly quiet voice, yet carrying much more intent behind it.]
Hey.
Re: voice;
Date: 2013-02-24 08:07 pm (UTC)[Rue answers brightly, eagerly. Glad to hear from Katniss again after knowing her arrival upset the other girl so much, the shock of it. She had thought it best to let Katniss come around and deal with it in her own time.
But oh she's glad to hear her voice.]
voice;
Date: 2013-02-24 11:04 pm (UTC)Despite the continued surreality, at the moment, that's what feels tangible and real.]
You doing anything today?
voice;
Date: 2013-02-26 05:40 pm (UTC)[She's smiling at the prospect, wonders what it would be. Rue would be happy with anything, even just to sit by Katniss' side.]
voice;
Date: 2013-03-05 09:49 pm (UTC)I thought... maybe I could show you around.
[Not that there's much to show; the suggestion feels stupid as soon as it leaves her mouth. What is there to see in a city where it rains all the time and everything looks the same? Where everything beyond it is nothing but a barren wasteland?]
voice;
Date: 2013-03-06 07:41 am (UTC)[It doesn't matter to Rue, it doesn't matter that she's already done a little exploring herself, that it rains, that there might not be much to see.]
I got a good coat. [Jesse helped with that.]
voice;
Date: 2013-03-06 05:58 pm (UTC)Good. [And after a pause--] I'll meet you out front?
voice; -> Action
Date: 2013-03-06 08:43 pm (UTC)[And she is, scrambling to shove her shoes on her feet, pull on the blue waterproof coat and go down the stairs, hopping the last three light as a bird.]
Action!
Date: 2013-03-06 09:32 pm (UTC)But it's only just a few minutes. Before long, she's made it to the ground floor, and once there, it's quick work to spot Rue over across the way. As she approaches, the smile on her face morphs into something much larger, almost like a grin.]
Action!
Date: 2013-03-06 10:38 pm (UTC)Hi. You look well, Katniss.
[She does, happier, not so haunted as she did the day Rue arrived. That she's accepted Rue as real and alive, not a ghost.]