stillplaying | Appointment Post!

[She looks around frantically when she doesn't here a response from either girl. Despite the whole in the window, the house looks much like she had left it. Chores had been done, dishes cleaned and breakfast foods put away. No signs of blood or fights within the house. The furniture still looks neat, what's left of Effie's decorations remain in place.

It's confusing and she cries out again:] Prim! Rue! Richard!

[But it's the mockingjay that responds. Katniss swats at it - as much of a fan of the bird as Buttercup is - but then notes the direction in which it takes off. Rooms. She hadn't even thought about checking rooms yet.]

[Though lost in browsing the journal, the second cry from Katniss and the approaching singing of her mockingjay draw Rue out. She quickly ran to the door and opened it, head poking out.]

I'm in my room, Katniss!

[Katniss lets out a sigh of relief. It's Rue and she doesn't sound injured or afraid. There's nothing that sounds all that forced about her reply. That means no droids coming to take her away, no dangerous foes holding her captive.

She hopes.

Her hand still remains on her bow even when she sees Rue peek through the crack in the door. It takes a few more minutes for her to actually calm enough to think rationally.]

The window's broken, Rue.

[Rue opened the door and stepped into the hall. Melody gave a happy chirp and landed on the girl's head, nestling into her hair.]

Oh, that was Johanna. She's here. Didn't you see my message?

[Katniss shakes her head, eyes flickering when the bird lands on Rue's head. Her journal was in her bag, dumped somewhere unceremoniously downstairs. She hadn't checked on it at all since heading out at sunrise, hadn't really seen the need. She'll make certain now to change that and check multiple times while she's out.

Because Katniss? Is not the slightest bit happy right now.]

Johanna? Johanna Mason?

[Rue nodded.]

She's not very nice.

[It's not a statement of damnation, just one of fact. Everyone knew Johanna had a reputation for being vicious. It was how she won. Pretended to be weak, let everyone take care of each other, then she showed her true colors.]

She'll need allies.

[Because even as mean as Johanna is, she's a Victor and this was a game.]

[Well, that settled it. It had to be Johanna Mason. She's not very nice was an understatement, even if she and the other Victor had formed some sort of strange alliance while under medical care in District 13. But that now had been years ago for Katniss. How long ago had that been for Johanna?

Had it even happened yet?

Katniss frowns a little, now looking more thoughtful than angry. Johanna would always be a woman she'd be reluctant to ally with, but...]

Did she mention me, Rue?

[Rue nodded quickly.]

She called you Mockingjay.

[It was a curious name, but Rue let it go as a nickname. She trusted Katniss because she had a Mockingjay pin, maybe it'd stuck. That it was a significant name, a symbol, those she didn't know.]

I told her who else was here.

[Mockingjay. At least that makes Johanna slightly less of a threat. She knows Katniss. Knows about Peeta. It's a slight relief, but only slight. Because she's still Johanna Mason. Still utterly unpredictable in her actions. Who knows what she'll try to start? What fights she'll pick with the people here, with the Malnosso?

All Katniss wants is to live in peace. That's all she wants. There's a good chance that Johanna might not agree.]

...how did she react?

I guess she handled it well. She smiled. [Granted, Johanna had a knife drawn at the moment, but Rue keeps it to herself.]

Why did she call you Mockingjay?

[That she smiled still sounds a little worrisome to Katniss. Johanna Mason might seem relatively sane, but she she's like Katniss in that respect. Good at pretending. Good at convincing others of the same. Is there anyone who came out of the Hunger Games entirely sane though? They might not be as obviously mad as Annie, but...

She sighs. There are things she wants to discuss with Rue and things that she doesn't. The Mockingjay, the rebellion? Katniss' role in it? That falls under the latter.]

It's just a nickname.

Because of the pin? [It's the only thing she can think of. She watches Katniss, waiting for an answer, trusting. They're allies, Katniss wouldn't hide anything from her, right?]

[She hated lying to the girl, even if it was by omission. But how can she explain the uprising to her without going into the details of her own role in it? The Districts might have viewed her as a hero at first, but she eventually showed her true colors. Katniss Everdeen wasn't a hero. Just a selfish girl wanting nothing more than to save her own skin. And those of the ones she loved.

She didn't want to explain all of it to Rue. Not yet.

Besides, the truth was close enough.]

Because of the pin.

[Rue accepts it quietly. If there's more of a story, maybe she'll hear it in the future. For now, she'll take Katniss' lead. She reaches out and touches her friend's hand.]

Is Johanna an ally?

[It's something she appreciates. So many questions from so many people, it's nice not to have to answer more. Katniss closes her hand around Rue's and squeezes it tightly before pulling her into a hug. She's okay. Rue's okay and so is Prim and so is Richard. It had only been Johanna who had broken in. And she hadn't broken anyone.]

For now, yes.

[Rue leans into the hug, holding Katniss tight.]

Okay. Allies for now.

[A pause.]

...Do you think more will come?

[There are people from home that she'd like to see again. Even if just to be reminded that she once had a life outside of Luceti. But Prim was here. And Peeta. She'd be selfish to want anyone else. She was selfish now, wanting the two of them to stay here so much. To want anyone else to come here just seemed wrong.]

I hope not.

[It would be, wouldn't it. Especially if things were better in Panem. Still...]

I wish my family was here. And Thresh.

[As much as she wants to say otherwise, and she wants to tell Rue that she's better off not having them here, she can't find the heart to say that aloud. Since Rue arrived, Luceti hasn't been as dangerous as it's been in the past. But that doesn't mean it'll always stay that way.]

Maybe they'll show up. Others have.

I hope so. It'd be... it'd be nice to see them again.

[It'd be her only chance to. Even if it was just for a bit, it would be nice to see them.]

Do you know how they're doing?

[She knew how to answer part of this question at least. Thresh hadn't made it out of the arena. But Rue must have known that. Katniss had at least told her that she and Peeta had been the winners of the 74th Hunger Games.

But Rue's family? She had lost track of them after the Victory Parade. Hadn't thought to check in on them after the war, too caught up in her own personal struggles.]

I don't. Sorry.

It's okay.

[It was a hopeful thought, but Rue didn't expect an answer. As long as there are no more games, her family will be safe.]

But if they do arrive, I'm going to stay with them. I'll find a house nearby.

[She smiles at that thought, at the girl's hopefulness. She wish that she could share in optimism. But Katniss had never been good at that. Less so as time went by.

So she keeps thoughts to herself and instead just nods.]

I wouldn't hesitate to stop you.

[Rue smiles up at Katniss, her smile hopeful, earnest.]

Are you hungry? I was going to begin cooking.

Appointment Post!

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