scootch | [video]

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[video]

[The journal clicks to life - shaky at first, then clearing up to show Ellie's excited face.]

Oh man- is this what used to happen during Christmas? The whole surprise-gifts-under-the-tree or whatever... it's kind of late, and yeah, there's no tree, but--!!

[She turns the journal around to show her sparsely-decorated apartment at first, and then, when she fixes it, a big, box-style arcade machine, the game title of "The Turning" splashed across the front in faded letters. It looks kind of beaten up, but not in too terrible a condition.]

Does anybody know about this game? It's supposed to be so cool, I heard all about it from a friend back home. I can't get it to work, though... they're supposed to be plugged in, right? It's in the middle of the room, so the cord won't reach anything.

Can somebody strong come over and help me move it? I wanna give it a try! ...And if it doesn't work, would anybody know how to fix this kind of thing?

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I heard presents are usually delivered by Santa! He comes down the chimmey and leaves presents under the tree. But maybe this is how Christmas is celebrated here?

What is that thing?

Dunno. This is my first Christmas, so... maybe?

Have you ever heard of arcade games? It's one of those.

Arcade games? No, I haven't. [It might be something found in the Capitol, or maybe even District 3, but definitely not 11.]

If you get it working, can I see it?

Sure! You should definitely try it. I was told it's the greatest game ever made.

Do you know how to play it?

Nope! Never done it before.

[Said entirely too cheerfully.]

[Oh well! First time for everything!]

Are those games common in your world?

They used to be. There were whole stores just for playing games like this. Kids would come in and play for hours, or at least until they ran out of money.

[At least, that's how the stories went.]

That sounds amazing! Where did kids get the money from?

[It sounds like the sort of thing they would have in the Capitol.]

From their parents, I guess. When they had them.

[Back then it was kind of normal to have at least one, for the most part. Or so she's heard.]

Oh, okay.

[Rue's voice is a little soft since the idea is pretty foreign to her. They had rations and food lines in District 11 with a bonus given once a month to spend on extra supplies. Money for playing, that was unheard of.]

Do you think there will be more games like that in Luceti?

Maybe. I haven't really been here long enough to know what to expect. But I hope so? I mean, I'd love to play every game I can get my hands on.

I would too. If I see any other games around, I'll let you know, all right? But you have to let me know if you see anything too.

It's a deal!

And you should definitely come over and play it when I get it working, too.

I'd love to! Where are you staying?

Heart building, room 7! Just knock and let me know it's you, and I'll let you in.

Okay! I can't wait! Let me know when it's working!

[Aaaaand a few hours later because Ellie has good luck for once-]

Rue! Hey, Rue! Oh my god, you've gotta try this!

[A response comes ten, fifteen minutes later:]

You got it working?

Yeah! Just plugged it in and it worked like a snap! And it's awesome, for the record. Wanna play?

Yeah! I'll be right over!

[Action]

[Rue leaves a note for the rest of the household before she hurries out, Melody flying along after. Some time later, she arrives at Ellie's door and knocks.]

Ellie, it's me! Rue!

[The door is opened almost immediately, Ellie grinning at her behind it. Inside the apartment, the noise of the game can already be heard.]

Come on in!

Hi Ellie!

[Rue enters the apartment and hurries over to the arcade machine. She stares wide-eyed at it.]

Wow! Did you figure out how to play it? Is it hard?

Kind of! I hear a lot of the old games are tough. Just a way to get kids to spend more money. But it's on free play right now! Someone told me you could do it that way, too.

[She looks at the faded graphics on the panels, at the looping attract video on the monitor.]

It'd be hard getting people to spend money here when there is no money.

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