001. Video;

[andproper]

[Prim’s smile lights up when the com turns on at last - although it fades quickly when she turns to face the screen. Wherever she is – wherever that explosion sent her…]

Hello? [She hesitates; but if the Capitol sent her here, they already know who she is anyway. Most people did, anyhow.] My name is Prim. I’m looking for my sister; Katniss. She might be looking for me.

[She hesitates – but you can’t ask to get something for nothing, and respect a response. So.]

It wouldn’t have to be for free. I know a lot about herbs – I could help heal you; if you’re sick. Or pick out herbs for you.

Comments

video;

[andproper]

I don't know; I've only been in district twelve and thirteen.

[video]

[andproper]

So... Time doesn't pass back home? [This is suddenly very important.]

[andproper]

You mean like muttations?

[andproper]

Alright.

[video]

[faustianism]

For those who arrive here. Take yourself, dearie. When you go back home, from what we have heard from those who return, it will be like you never even left. You'll go back to the same moment you were taken from.

video;

[bratziska]

You don't have any idea? [ WHAT ARE THEY TEACHING YOU IN SCHOOL... ]

[video]

[andproper]

Oh. [Her face is expressionless.]

Good to know.

video;

[andproper]

Not exactly. [She's thirteen! And it was a dictatorship.]

[czes]

I've never heard of a muttation. Is that like... a mutation?

video;

[bratziska]

[ ALSO THIRTEEN, but from a modern-day democracy. Alas. ]

So, these two districts, then. How many people were there? [ A beat. ] And how many districts do you know of?

Oops.

[andproper]

Animals that have been experimented on. By the capitol. [Her face is twisted up. She doesn't really like thinking about them.]

video;

[andproper]

There's thirteen; I guess there were a few hundred in both. [But she thinks they were on the small side.]

I saw nothing!

[czes]

Experimented on? [He makes a face as well.] So they... they made them into monsters?

video;

[bratziska]

Your home city was much less densely populated than mine. [ That makes sense, then. ]

Goood.

[andproper]

They do it a lot.

[czes]

That sounds horrible. If these muttations are huge, sometimes towering creatures - or rotted kittens - or rolling blobs of acid, then yes, the Darkness is like that.

In any case, you need to stay indoors after the night sirens, or you could die.

video;

[andproper]

What was yours like?

video;

[bratziska]

The city nearest my family's estate is home to over five million people.

[andproper]

[She nods.] I can do that.

[She can.]

[czes]

Good.

If you're ever lost, scared, confused - or even if you just want someone to talk to that's not a stupid grown-up, you can message me whenever. I don't bother with school or anything, so don't worry about contacting me at late hours.

[andproper]

Thank you. I promise.

[She pauses.] There's schools here?

[czes]

[The fact that she hasn't had access to school saddens Czeslaw, but he covers that with enthusiasm.] Yup! Public schools that everyone has the right to attend... no matter what anyone says. If you're smart and good at studying, I heard you can even get scholarships into private schools.

Did you go to school back home?

[andproper]

[She nods.] I was learning how to be a healer in District Thirteen. But then I got pulled here.

[czes]

Cool! So you know about medicine and stuff? You must be pretty smart.

[andproper]

[She blushes a little, fidgeting.] I know herbs, mostly.