(Untitled)

[father_chris]

The jolly man in red is sitting in an armchair, with a large sack, wearing his outfit.

He has a sign on his table.

YES I AM FATHER CHRISTMAS
COME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

It saves time, you know?

[See Back Room post here.]

Comments

[onabirdswing]

"Father...Christmas?"

Rue stares at the sign, mystified.

[father_chris]

Father Christmas waves.

"Hello there."

[onabirdswing]

"Hi."

"Are you from the Capitol?"

'Christmas' sounds like a Capitol name, possibly even from one of the richer Districts. She doesn't know what to make of 'Father'.

[father_chris]

"No, sorry." Father Christmas says. "I live in a little house with my cat and dog and reindeer."

[onabirdswing]

"Which District?"

[father_chris]

"It's in England." Father Christmas says.

"Can't tell you more than that." he adds with a wink. "I'd have people knocking at my blooming door at all hours."

[onabirdswing]

"Where's England?"

The books at Rue's school didn't mention anything about other countries outside of Panem, nor did the teachers teach anything about them. Perhaps whatever catastrophe that destroyed the United States affected countries around the world.

Or perhaps it was just another way for the Capitol to maintain its iron grip on the citizens of the twelve Districts, keeping them as ignorant about the outside world as possible.

[father_chris]

"In Europe." Father Christmas says. "Where are you from?"

[onabirdswing]

"District 11, in Panem."

[father_chris]

"Well you can collect a present here, this year." Father Christmas says. "What would you like?"

[onabirdswing]

She swallows against a lump in her throat as she remembers that she can't go home, ever again. It still hasn't completely sunk in.

"Anything?"

[father_chris]

"Well there are some things I can't bring." Father Christmas says. "Living or magic things, or very expensive things."

Lots of children out there in the world. He can't go around delivering Nintendos to them all.

[onabirdswing]

There's one wish she wants more than anything, but she knows in her heart that it can't be granted.

"I- I like music," Rue finds herself saying. She also remembers seeing a stuffed toy rabbit once in the window of a toy store in a nicer part of District 11, but neither of her parents could ever afford to buy it.

[father_chris]

"What kind of music?" Father Christmas asks.

[onabirdswing]

A shrug; Rue's never heard different kinds of music before, outside of the Capitol Anthem and the little melodies of her own that she's composed. And songs she's heard from the mockingjays.

"I make up my own most of the time."

[father_chris]

"What about one of those mini keyboards?" Father Christmas suggests.