xxii. dictated

[heloise]

When does one become, no longer a teenager, but an adult? I heard the drinking of wine will in the future be restricted to those older than eighteen, so does wine make an adult?

And what other licenses are given to someone with eighteen years? I should like to try them all.

Comments

[the_effect_she_has]

Yeah, but there's not ... lover material here. [A pause, because Lucrezia probably has - yeah - hm.] For me.

[heloise]

What makes "lover material"? For you.

[the_effect_she_has]

Peeta...

[She sighed out his name, before shrugging her shoulders.] Or someone exactly like him. Someone kind. Someone strong. Someone who always knows the right thing to say at the right time.

[heloise]

Someone who makes you feel safe.

[the_effect_she_has]

[A quiet nod of the head, while she wiped at her eyes briefly.]

Yes. Precisely. Someone who makes me feel safe.

[heloise]

There are many here who can be that for you.

[the_effect_she_has]

[She looked at the words on the page.]

You don't know me very well ... so I won't dare you to name three.

[heloise]

Perhaps we should first remedy that. How shall we meet?

[the_effect_she_has]

[Both of her eyebrows raise up at that.]

...Well, usually I avoid the castle. I prefer the woods, and the shooting range. But I do like the gardens. [There were a lot of good herbs, there.]

[heloise]

I do too. There is an apple tree near where the rosebushes are planted.

[the_effect_she_has]

All right, when shall we meet by the apple tree? [It sounds like one of the folk songs from the Seam.]

[heloise]

Whenever you like. In an hour?

Switch to action?

[the_effect_she_has]

Sounds like a plan.

[Well, this isn't where Katniss expected this conversation to go ... but what the hell? She needed a break from rebuilding the cabin, anyways.]

absolutely!

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia won't be there in an hour, more like an hour and a half really, dressed in her brightest red and carrying a small basket with a few slices of lemon cake. Her birthday cake, maybe.

She seems to be in no hurry, casting her gaze about to find her newest friend. ]

Re: absolutely!

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss will be there - and instead of twiddling her thumbs, grumping about lateness? She's making the best of her time. Dressed in a leather hunting jacket and boots she had carefully broken in, she had her bow ans quiver slung over her shoulders as she carefully gathered roots, berries and herbs for her dinner. Her dark hair was pulled back into a braid, and she looked as if she belonged in the woods.]

[heloise]

[ Now that is a sight she didn't expect. She has seen warrior women and magical ones in this castle but not one who seems she might find the forest as livable as a proper home. Lucrezia may seem her opposite in this, all groomed hair and silk skirts.

The sight still brings a smile to her face as she steps closer. ]

Are you the girl who dreams of love, or should I say woman?

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss looked up, and blinked faint surprise. The girl who spoke so beautifully dressed the same - but not in the way of the Capital. This was wealth with ... class. She felt Cinna would have approved, of Lucrezia's styling.]

[One corner of her mouth lifted up.] Usually I just dream of a full belly, or other things I don't want to think of.

[heloise]

[ At least she doesn't color her face, with anything other than the amused smile, at the moment. ]

A full belly is a good thing to dream of. [ Figures the girl is a peasant. Peasants are always hungry, are they not? ]

And if not that, would they be nightmares?

[the_effect_she_has]

[Well, that's good. As she's seen green with tattoos, after all.]

Oh yes. Especially when you don't have to fight for food. [Peasants are only hungry because all the good food goes elsewhere.]

Nightmares, of every shape and size.

[heloise]

[ Such as among the trash of the rich. Lucrezia isn't a bleeding heart in most cases but at least she sees no sense in treating those unlike her differently.

She steps closer to the girl and places a hand on her arm to lean in and rest a kiss on her cheek if she lets her. ]

Of danger or of hunger?

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss blinked at the kiss on her cheek -- she only knew Prim who offered such affection, or River. Or Rue. She smiled, faintly uncertain, before she offered a flower in kind.]

Danger. Always danger.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia isn't sparing in displays of affection, nor in smiles, grinning toothily at the flower and making a point of smelling it. ]

But here you are safe.

[the_effect_she_has]

I am, which is ... strange. Back where I'm from, I'm facing my own execution.

[She shook her head.] Funny that this place feels safer than home, but still.

[heloise]

[ She pauses to search her face. ]

What did they charge you with?

[the_effect_she_has]

Killing the President. [A pause, as she took in the other young woman's clothes.] A president is like ... an elected king.