Powder-puff [Ally/Geebs]

With a jolt Nettle can't help but crawl backward from the voice. No, it isn't the stupidity of the voice that unnerves her, it's the voice's familiarity that drives her back. It's a voice that's hard to forget, hard to erase from her mind because it belongs to someone who's her polar opposite; Ally Willics.

Did I slip? Is she serious? Well of course I slipped! Nettle's voices vibrates loudly in the deep recesses of her mind, but she forces a slight smile onto her face and nods. Years of having watched Ally in school reminds Nettle that the Willics' daughter isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, so a nod should be enough to satisfy her curiosity. Nettle's brown eyes can't help but make out the white bag in Ally's mitten covered hand and it only takes a moment to register the obscene crunching noises emanating from Ally's pretty, little mouth. Candy. Nettle's mouth waters a bit. Candy in her household was saved for special dates, like birthdays. The mere knowledge that Ally could afford sweets anytime of the year weighs down Nettle's heart. It's tough the life she leads, but who is she to take it out on Ally?

So the girl was rich, so what? It wasn't Ally's fault that her parents were successful. Sure they could be held accountable for Ally's selfishness, but Nettle was not one to judge a person's upbringing. Her father would rise from the dead and shame her if she ever did. Perhaps the only thing Nettle could truly despise about Ally was her light steps and carefree attitude. She'd never be reaped. If only Nettle could be free of that heavy burden then maybe she too could learn to walk with a spring in her step. Quietly and cautiously Nettle rose from the wet ground and with her free hand she dusted whatever snow still clung to her pants. Nettle stands a bit awkwardly due to the pain that shoots up her spine, but she manages to say a few words.

"I'm alright." As if she actually cared.

Nettle can sense it, can see it in the way Ally is eyeing her. She's sizing me up, isn't she? Well, what was there to compete with anyway? Ally was a symbol of beauty whether Nettle wanted to accept it or not. She was taller, blonder, and could assimilate herself easily within Capitol life. What does she think of me, Nettle wondered. Surely she'd have nothing to say about Nettle's hair or height. No one had anything to say anyway. Nettle was one of those girls who were easy to forget. Nothing, besides her freckles, made her stand out, but was that a curse? Nettle catches the thought and mulls it over in her head until she's satisfied with her response. It doesn't matter, fading into the distance is just fine, for now.

Another idea floats by in her head, this one more reasonable than the first. Maybe Ally doesn't believe her tone. Maybe she can asses that by the way she's standing Nettle is obviously hurt. If she had to guess it, Nettle would figure that her tailbone was bruised. It had happened to her before and the pain felt awfully familiar, just like Ally's voice had been familiar in her ear. The words that slowly pour out of Ally's mouth silence her suspicions. So she didn't believe me. This felt odd to Nettle for she was someone who could handle her emotions quite well. The fall must have unsettled her, or maybe it was Ally's presence. At a loss for words Nettle is relieved once Ally fills in the silence with more chewing. This gives Nettle an idea.

"You know, eating a lot of candy can make you sick."

Although the idea has just come to her, Nettle cannot help but notice the slight queasiness in Ally's eyes. Was she foolish enough to stuff herself with sweets on an empty stomach? Nettle tried it once, on her birthday, and resulted with a stomach ache that lasted two whole days. "Do you feel alright?" she asks hoping these words will dislodge any thoughts of her pain to return to Ally's mind.


OOC: Don't apologize, I liked it :]

A warm feeling settled in the pit of Nettle's stomach. What was it exactly? Oh that's right, victory. Were she of Ally's status she'd probably scoff and kick snow in the loser's direction, but Nettle was not of Ally's pedigree. In fact, Nettle was off the charts, buried deep under dirt somewhere. Her smile quickly faded into a frown while a huge rush of sympathy flooded her body and washed away any and all signs of victory. How could she feel happy about a girl throwing up the colors of the rainbow? That sort of thinking was sick and out of character. Nettle leaped forward and almost lost her balance in the mess of colored snow. Without asking permission she raised Ally's right arm and placed it over her shoulders. Nettle then wrapped her left arm around Ally's tiny waist and step by step lead her toward the paper shop.

"Korey!" Nettle called once she had managed to push through the front door. Not wasting a second Nettle sat Ally down on a wooden stool and placed her packet of papers down on a dusty counter. "Korey!" she called again. It was useless, really, calling out her fellow worker's name. Korey was one of the laziest and undependable slobs Nettle had ever met, but from time to time she enjoyed his company. "What?" came a horse cry from the stockroom. "Bring a bucket over here fast and don't ask questions." Nettled turned on her heels and focused her dark eyes on Ally. "Stay put. I'll be right back, promise."

Nettle exited the shop and ran with the wind at her back. It pushed her forward and within seconds she was in front of Prima's favorite herbalist shop. After discussing her situation and exchanging a few short giggles and all of the change in Nettle's pockets, the owner of the shop shoved a vial of bubbly, gold liquid into Nettle's frozen hands. Nettle yelled a quick thanks over her shoulder and bounded through the frost covered streets until she was once again in Ally's presence. Doubled over with her hands on her slender knees, Nettle lifted the vial out in front of Ally. "Here," she muttered taking short labored breaths, "drink...this."


OOC: Sorry it's slightly godmodded. I just wanted to bring them somewhere else.