[ District Twelve is alight with activity, the reaping day isn't far off which means the Mayor is intent on tidying up the place a little bit. The Hob has to keep its light dimmer, the markets stay full of people, the Seam folks come and go quietly. Little things to help make the difference when the Capitol entourage appears.
Madge has just left Katniss, both of them outside the school compound talking quietly together. They don't talk much, if ever, but Madge will take any friendship she can get. They talk about the Games, Katniss' chances, even Madge's chances. It's not impossible. But that conversation weighs heavily on her mind, so much so that she actually walks too far, ending up in Seam territory, standing out like a sore thumb. She doesn't come here much -- it's far enough from her home -- but when she looks around, sees even the soot that's gathered on her shoes, she turns around to head back. The miners would be breaking soon, and while she doesn't feel unsafe, she knows many have negative opinions about her. ]
[ The closer it gets to Reaping Day, the more somber it gets in District Twelve, particularly in the Seam. Their chances are highest, both to be reaped and to die, and everyone knows it, even if they won't speak of it aloud. They can't, really, lest they be charged with treason, but no one wants to think about their children being taken off to die.
Gale is of the same mind. It's his last year, and his number of entries must be sky-high by now, but knowing it's now or never doesn't ease his mind. It only means his siblings will be at higher risk in the following years, when he can't take out tesserae to support them all, or even hunt as much as he does now. Once he goes to work in the mines, his only day to go out into the woods will be Sundays, and one day is not nearly enough to take care of a family of five, especially when he has to give some of it away in trades.
His brow is furrowed in thought as he heads home today, itching to put his school things away and head out past the fence. His feet move with nary a thought, following the path from memory, and when he's almost there, Gale finally looks up, and freezes in his steps when he sees the mayor's daughter.
What is she doing in the Seam? He knows she's a friend of Katniss, but the Everdeens' place is across the way, not in this area. And she looks like a lost puppy, he notes with a quiet snort.
Well. Can't have someone like her wandering around here, can they? Taking a breath, he decides to approach her, calling, ] What are you doing here, Undersee?
[ She doesn't entirely expect for someone to call out to her, to notice her, as she tries to keep her head down and move just quickly enough to get by. She pauses however when she sees Gale. She doesn't know him that well -- he's Katniss' friend, the one that shows up with her at the mayor's house. ]
I just -- heading home, I was a bit distracted, not paying attention.
[ She keeps her back straight, trying not to show her own surprise at ending up on the Seamside. ] And it's a nice day for a walk. [ Her tone almost begs stubbornness, but she tries to keep it in check, not sure if he was actually showing concern or if that was judgement she saw in his face. ]
No one from town just takes a walk through the Seam, no matter how nice the weather is.
[ He supposes there is the chance that she was visiting Katniss - Gale knows they're friends from school - but she isn't the type to take visitors at home. So there must be another reason. Maybe Madge really was distracted, but how does a townie, distracted or not, just wind up in the Seam?
With a nearly inaudible sigh, Gale looks around to be sure no one else is nearby. He doesn't see anyone in the immediate vicinity, but that doesn't mean anything around here. ]
The Seam isn't safe for townies, you know, [ he tells her matter-of-factly. ] I'll walk you back to town.
[ But only to town, he thinks, not home. As long as she's out of the Seam, it'll be fine. ]
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Madge has just left Katniss, both of them outside the school compound talking quietly together. They don't talk much, if ever, but Madge will take any friendship she can get. They talk about the Games, Katniss' chances, even Madge's chances. It's not impossible. But that conversation weighs heavily on her mind, so much so that she actually walks too far, ending up in Seam territory, standing out like a sore thumb. She doesn't come here much -- it's far enough from her home -- but when she looks around, sees even the soot that's gathered on her shoes, she turns around to head back. The miners would be breaking soon, and while she doesn't feel unsafe, she knows many have negative opinions about her. ]
no subject
Gale is of the same mind. It's his last year, and his number of entries must be sky-high by now, but knowing it's now or never doesn't ease his mind. It only means his siblings will be at higher risk in the following years, when he can't take out tesserae to support them all, or even hunt as much as he does now. Once he goes to work in the mines, his only day to go out into the woods will be Sundays, and one day is not nearly enough to take care of a family of five, especially when he has to give some of it away in trades.
His brow is furrowed in thought as he heads home today, itching to put his school things away and head out past the fence. His feet move with nary a thought, following the path from memory, and when he's almost there, Gale finally looks up, and freezes in his steps when he sees the mayor's daughter.
What is she doing in the Seam? He knows she's a friend of Katniss, but the Everdeens' place is across the way, not in this area. And she looks like a lost puppy, he notes with a quiet snort.
Well. Can't have someone like her wandering around here, can they? Taking a breath, he decides to approach her, calling, ] What are you doing here, Undersee?
no subject
I just -- heading home, I was a bit distracted, not paying attention.
[ She keeps her back straight, trying not to show her own surprise at ending up on the Seamside. ] And it's a nice day for a walk. [ Her tone almost begs stubbornness, but she tries to keep it in check, not sure if he was actually showing concern or if that was judgement she saw in his face. ]
no subject
[ He supposes there is the chance that she was visiting Katniss - Gale knows they're friends from school - but she isn't the type to take visitors at home. So there must be another reason. Maybe Madge really was distracted, but how does a townie, distracted or not, just wind up in the Seam?
With a nearly inaudible sigh, Gale looks around to be sure no one else is nearby. He doesn't see anyone in the immediate vicinity, but that doesn't mean anything around here. ]
The Seam isn't safe for townies, you know, [ he tells her matter-of-factly. ] I'll walk you back to town.
[ But only to town, he thinks, not home. As long as she's out of the Seam, it'll be fine. ]