Act 4

[untrueheart]

[The sun is on its way down, clouds moving to fill in the spaces left by fading light, when a tired, staggering Rue makes her way back home again. At first she can't tell which part of the village she landed in; after a while she recognizes the road leading south and trudges along. She isn't sure whether to be sour or grateful that she has shoes on.

Eventually, after a nice long walk and a thorough freezing, Rue wanders into Seventh Heaven hoping for warmth and relative peace and quiet. Of which there is never any guarantee, an astounding feat for a town so small.]

Comments

[untrueheart]

[Blanketed and holding a mug of hot chocolate in trembling hands, Rue has trouble following once again as Perona arrives and starts chattering. Her eyes widen at the dress, and the other clothes in turn; all she can do is sip her cocoa until the older (?) girl is done.]

Why are you doing all of this?

psst, Perona is 20 per my headcanon, and her b-day is June 7. :B

[hollower]

[Blinking, Perona's smile fades away, and her happy tone becomes somber and serious. Placing the garments back into their respective bags, she leans back in the booth and crosses her arms over her chest.]

I don't like what these people do... It makes me sick. [Kidnapping people, torturing them for no means whatsoever, other than so-called research. Peh, it reminds Perona of some of the world officials back home. Disgusting, miserable excuses for human beings...if they even are that anymore.] Being powerless no matter how hard you fight, and having to something tragic like that...these people are despicable. I hate them. I won't go easily when they come for me.

[Not if, when. Perona knows her luck will wear out one day and they will come. And when she gets back, she expects to be treated just as well. Karma, if you will - a bit of give and take...though she'll take a greater share for herself of course.]

[untrueheart]

I hate them, too.

[Before, it was a background hatred, like the way one hates bad weather or a least favorite food. Now the hatred lives square front and center, and Rue's hands haven't stopped shaking.]

Thank you.

[hollower]

[Perona's not used to being thanked - she never really does things that are worth being thanked. She gives the girl a casual look, and leans back in her seat again with a sigh, waving off the words with a huff.]

Eeh, it's nothing. Just stay warm. [And repay her for this down the road. That's what she really wants.]

[untrueheart]

[Despite how wonderful it tastes, Rue has trouble bringing herself to finish either the soup or the cocoa. The longer she sits there trying, the more her eyelids droop.]

[hollower]

[She can see the girl starting to drift off, and says nothing. There's definitely enough space in the booth for her to lie down and take a much needed rest, and Perona actually did want to have a late lunch at the restaurant herself, perhaps catch up on the goings-on of Luceti as well.

She orders meal for herself, quietly so as not to rouse the young lady, and goes about her business while Rue sleeps.]