Some sand and surf and fun!

[thehighcost]

Who: Death (thehighcost) and Rue (treehopping)
When: Monday, June 28th, 12:00 pm.
Where: The beach!
Summary: It's a beautiful day, and Death is going to teach Rue how to swim.
Warnings: None that I can imagine.

[A beautiful day, and Death needed a break. With so much death and dying going around this city, the sickness was slowly running it's course. She was still working, of course; even when she was having fun, she was always working. That's how it went, when you were an idea, versus a person.

But it was warm, and the weather was beautiful, and it was time to have some fun. She had a big umbrella and towels, and even some buckets for them to collect seashells in. This was going to be great!]

Comments

[treehopping]

[Rue appears running down to the beach, running a little late but smiling as she spots Didi waiting, recognising her face from the network.]

Hi Didi! Sorry I got a little lost, but I found you! [She skids to a halt on the sand a couple feet away and catches her breath.]

[thehighcost]

It's okay! You're not late. [She smiles.] Take a breath, it's okay, I promise you're not laugh.

[She gives a little laugh, gesturing for Rue to follow her as she grabs a water bottle and hands it to her. No one should be without water for even a minute.]

[treehopping]

Thanks! [She takes the bottle and gets it open, taking a swallow.]

It's nice to meet you outside a screen.

[thehighcost]

Isn't it? Sometimes all the screens get so impersonal, and you never really connect with someone until you meet them for the first time. [She bobs, wearing a big straw hat with a wide brim, as the wind whips her hair around.]

[treehopping]

I never used something like an NV before I came here. [She nods.] I think so too, it's nicer. I like your hat.

[thehighcost]

They are a little advanced, aren't they? Like one of those cell phones. I never needed one till I got here, either! [She smiles.]

Thank you. Would you like a hat, too? [She takes a moment and pulls out a cute little hat for Rue to wear, too!]

[treehopping]

I never had one of those either. Those are for rich people. [Capitol people. But Rue smiles back and she looks positively delighted at the hat.]

That's magic! [She takes it and puts it on her head, doing a little twirl.] Thank you, Didi!

[thehighcost]

They are for rich people! Well, not anymore, really. Everyone here has one. You can even have as many as you want. I don't know why you would need more then five, but I bet some people want them!

You're welcome! It looks good on you. [She claps happily.] You're going to need a bathing suit, too... I guess it's time for me to pull out my fairy godmother skills! What's your favorite color?

[treehopping]

I don't know why you'd need more than one. It's silly to want more than you need.

[Rue's eyes widen and she thinks for a moment.] Um, blue!

[thehighcost]

I guess some people think they need a lot of things in excess. Maybe it makes them feel better, to be surrounded by things!

[She taps her finger against her lip, before making a wand.] This is more fairy godmother-ish! Stand still and close your eyes.

[She waves the wand with a giggle, blue light enveloping Rue as she is clothed in a cute blue swimsuit!]

[treehopping]

Isn't that wasteful though? What if there's someone else out there who needs one?

[Rue's eyes might just pop out of her head at this rate! She straightens up, hands at her sides and closes them, wondering if it'll feel weird but... she opens them and looks down, gasps!] You're amazing!

[thehighcost]

Sometimes people donate things. Like clothes, or books, or food. That way, those who need things can get them for free. I think that's nice of people, you know? Sometimes they help those in need.

[She smiles, changing her own clothes into a black swimsuit.]

Now we can really go swimming. You always have to have the proper gear. We're going to take our time getting into the water. It's a little weird at first, but don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you.

[treehopping]

That's a good idea, I wish we had something back home like that.

[Rue watches, then straightens her shoulders and looks determined.]

Okay. It'll be like taking a bath, right?

[thehighcost]

Like taking a cold, salty bath. The waves are what might trick you up, but if you hold onto my hand, we won't go anywhere we don't want to. [She smiles, offering her hand.]

[treehopping]

[Rue nods and trustingly puts her smaller hand in Didi's. It's unexpectedly warm as she smiles.]

Ready!

[thehighcost]

[They only go in up to their ankles at first, letting the water lap at them, before beginning to wade out.]

Brrr! It's cold, isn't it?

[treehopping]

Ah! [She hops a little at first but her smile only breaks for a second. She's used to cold baths more often than not.] Just a bit. [Rue looks down.] It's strange how it moves.

[thehighcost]

It's called the tide. The moon makes the water move in and out in waves. It eats away at the sand... it eats away at everything, given enough time. Thousands of years, don't worry about it doing anything now.

[Once they get a little further out, they can begin to float. Since Rue is smaller, Death only takes her out till she's on her tiptoes, while she tucks her feet under her and floats.]

[treehopping]

District Four is fishing, they're next to the sea I think. They'd have to be to catch so much. In District Eleven we don't have such big pieces of water.

Have you lived that long?

[Rue experiments with this, growing used to the temperature and the feeling of the water moving. She looks delighted.]

[thehighcost]

And you can't really travel, can you? [She shakes her head with a sigh.]

Oh... I've lived for a very, very long time. I do a lot of traveling, too. I like traveling everywhere instead of living forever!

[treehopping]

No, I never travelled. Except to go the Capitol... and now here.

[The slight trace of melancholy disappears as she perks.] It must be very exciting. What's the best place you've ever been?

[thehighcost]

The Capitol? That sounds like it might be exciting. It's a lot different then back home, right?

[She hums.] That's a tough one! One time, I got to go to a masked ball. It was in a place that was stuck in time, in Italy. I got to wear a fancy dress, and a fox mask, and it was so much fun!

[treehopping]

It was exciting, and very big... everything was so... rich. That's what it was like, Rich and colourful. Strange.

Oh I'd like to go to one of those! I'd be a bird.

[thehighcost]

It sounds strange. [She nods seriously.] I like things a little simple, don't you? That's why I try to keep my apartment small. It's just me and my two fish!

[She claps her hands in glee.] You would be a beautiful bird! Have you ever heard of Halloween? In October, everyone dresses up in beautiful costumes, and they can go door to door for candy! It's so much fun, and you get to keep all the candy that you want.

[treehopping]

That sounds nicer. I mean the Capitol looked nice but it felt wrong...

[Excuse me what is this wonderful piece of information!!] Oh no I haven't! That sounds great! I'd definately dress up for that!

[thehighcost]

[She understands, she really does. And she is all for talking about something fun and exciting, instead of something that was painful to think about.]

It's so much fun! You'll see, everyone dresses up and goes to the Underground Mall. And you can never say no to free candy, right?

[treehopping]

No, candy is the best! [She grins.] Everybody can do this?

[thehighcost]

Everyone! Even if you're super old, you can still go around and get candy. I love dressing up, too. I get a mask, and sometimes I wear a hat, or other times I'll wear a big ball gown! You can wear whatever you want. And when you get the candy, you should use a big pumpkin bucket, or a pillow case. That way, you can get the most candy.