23rd Throw - [ voice ]

[shenevermisses]

[After two days of the girl not showing up for lessons and not giving her any warning, Clove went looking. A brief discussion with Twelve, and, well, that was enough.

Of the things left behind, she'd claimed the stiletto she'd helped Rue pick out.

Maybe, in the long run, it was better this way. She'd never had to really use it. She'd never had to put the training Clove had tried to give her to use.

Later in the afternoon, Clove addresses the journal.]

Looks like the Little Bird has gone back to the nest. [A nickname for everyone. Something to make them less than human in the Arena.] The kid, Rue, she's not here with us anymore.

["She went home" would be a lie. For Rue, for her, for Cato... There's no home to go to. There's only death.]

This place really has its moods, doesn't it? Sometimes just sends a lot of 'em away at once.

Comments

[shenevermisses]

She'll be okay, yeah.

[Because that's not hers to share. She talks about her fate, but others'? No. Besides, there's no more pain. Nothing to be afraid of. Whatever happens after death? Rue's fine.]

[withoutdoubt]

[Despite his disappointment about her being gone, he sighs in relief to Clove's reply.]

Well, that's good at least. I'm sure she'll be happy to be back then. [A beat, before he continues.] Are you a friend of hers?

[shenevermisses]

No. We're allies at best, but even that's kind of a stretch.

We just knew each other. That's about it.

[withoutdoubt]

[He's really not sure how to take that... Hm.]

Right. So... I take it you two are from the same world? [If she knows how Rue will be upon returning, then...]

[shenevermisses]

Different parts of it, but -- yeah. We're both from Panem.

[withoutdoubt]

I see. We actually never talked about her world, so I don't know anything about it.

[shenevermisses]

There's not much to say about it, really. [There's a lot to say, but she didn't want to talk. That had been Rue's place, with someone she liked.]

[withoutdoubt]

Really? I'd figure with how different everyone's worlds are, there are loads of things to say about them.

[shenevermisses]

Everyone describes their own world differently, even from other people who share it. The way I see it? If she didn't say anything, I shouldn't either.

[withoutdoubt]

That's fair enough. [It's a good point, despite his curiosity. So he won't push it.

He'd hate to cut off the conversation without introductions at the very least though, so...] My name's Jude, by the way. Jude Mathis. What's yours?

[shenevermisses]

I'm Clove.