To the park again [Tori, Luna]

Winter in District 3 was a bit chilly; however, the disruption of natural weather - the pollution in the sky a dangerous hazard that allowed more leeway to the sunlight army - did not give permission for snow to fall on the factory area. One murky ball of light behind the clouds illuminated the sector enough to see the surroundings, but the coldness was always present. During the work week right now, many citizens were occupied in the ways of the machine and production. Only some - those that worked the night shifts - would be at home, sleeping the hours away. Hardly anyone was outside to experience the embrace of winter. Winds were soft through as they caressed through skin, limbs, and other bodies, almost as gentle as pecking kisses - if not for the nibble provided from the cold temperature.

Pystan slipped on a pair of boots, sitting on the front step of an entrance to the mansion. Wrapped around the body was a heavier coat with faux fur trimming. Most of her outfit was of beige or off-white except for the boots - a brown that could be compared to light wood. On the ends of the laces were fluff balls of white, keeping in tune with the cold theme. Cauger watched his sister from behind as the television was running, showcasing the existing Tributes. Overhearing the news, the girl slowed down tying. From mostly the start, the girls were dominating the Hunger Games this year; but, now, the top fives had come on the seventh day, and there were three girls to two boys. Topaz Ross, Nash Harvey, and Takeba Suzumi were the representatives of the Careers, while Joshua Rowan and Anani Petros were the underdogs.

To herself, she had to laugh at the thought of the girls being higher fighting the boys that were under. Irony in the Hunger Games brought out the hilarity of the situation. Today, Luyu Nimmons had died instantly to the hands of who she betrayed, and the betrayed girl, Ember Milan, in return, practically committed suicide - with the assistance of a scarecrow. When her family saw that spectacle, they could not digest the information well; but, they had debunked further pondering that the girl was from District 9. "A District of hunters, killed by something that helps the farmers with their produce. The environment, which is where the hunters do their stuff in. A bit amusing, huh, Cauger?" Pystan only got an agreement from her younger brother before she departed the abode.

Again, in the open, the blond girl walked down the streets, surveying the surroundings. No one strolling down the pavement or asphalt at the current hour. Pystan put up her hood, feeling the chilling winds nibbling at her ears till they reddened. Her boots clacked against the sidewalk loudly; but, with no one to hear the low sounds, the Career girl was practically lonely. She made the necessary turns and steps toward the destination. Silence was not her friend. Sighs escaped from her pink lips, forming clouds of foggy white to the air, her just-as-silent friends for the walk.

Making to the destination shortly, the girl continued walking despite raising a brow to the figure with his back to her, wearing a plain t-shirt. Her shoes crunched on the frosty grass, and she spoke out loud, "Wow, Carter! Aren't you cold in the slightest? I'm wearing one of my heavier coats, and you're just wearing a shirt!" Pystan took a seat at the other swing, swung a little, and widened her eyes as she took a look down. "Carter! Barefoot? You must be really warm then... I wouldn't even dare trying that. I'm cold as is!" She shivered at both the thought and for emphasis.

Pystan continued to swing lightly, hardly enough to propel herself beyond an inch or two of Carter's seat, listening to the blond male. She would nod with each comment said. "Still, though. It's really cold for me. Brr. I don't understand how someone can just forget their jacket out here! Crazy!" At the one thought in her head, she shivered more. Even the coolness of the air made her shudder despite the absolute freeze not being able to penetrate the layers of heavy clothing.

Green eyes looked up to the sky as the conversation continued on. Gray pollution poured out of the factory smokestacks, fogging the air to block out the glorious sun. Throughout the District, tints of yellow splotched among the cloud-like manifestations. Pystan looked at them with little interest sparkling in the eyes. Probably not going to rain today...

"Oh, Cauger? He's fine." She tried to smile a little. "Just the same little brother we both know him as. Always has a problem with me talking to guys. Silly brother. As for me, mm, I've been training, as usual. My chance could be this year, you know." Pystan sighed. "I've also been keeping up with school. That's about it. Other than the parties I have to go to. Which are always fun and full of chatter." Memories flowed in. Another sigh. "Usually fun and full of chatter. Haha."

She swung her legs back and forth, moving the swing a little more but not by much. "It's fine. It's kind of nice to be outside sometimes. It's just been a while since I've seen you. How are you, then? The family doing okay?" Emptiness filled the world they occupied, with not a soul in the park besides them. Pystan felt a little awkward, having been to parties for the last few days. Nothing was bustling or wanting to meet her acquaintance. There was only Carter and the nature.

Small talk was always an activity that Pystan enjoyed engaging in. Easily, she had gotten into telling off the updates of her life, the family, and the world around District 3 - especially the Hunger Games. Naturally, the blond girl had more to talk about and to smile with the subjects on hand. Digression was considered normal and the fuel for casual conversation, and sometimes Pystan did not know that she had changed from topics as switching interests was considered commonplace in her world.

During the one-sided answers, though, Carter had Pystan off. Backfire from the taller blond was fixated on the comment concerning the Hunger Games, and she should have learned not to bring up the topic around the male. Merely, while he made an argument, the blond girl had continued to swing a little and stare at him. Her teeth clenched slightly, as well as her grip on the chains. Listening to the lecture spurned some frustration, but she bit back her overflowing desire to throw her own debate in a spitfire fashion - for now. The one that was so shy at first has changed to have the determination to change my mind. It's a bit strange.

She blinked as Carter drew nearer and started to breathe deeper while going on with the prattling. He's trying to calm himself down. Questions about the girl's care towards the family, him, and her own life were brought up, and the memories of having similar discussions - arguments, included - flowed in through the head, with near-exact results in the end. Hearing this from Carter brought out feelings to sigh the entire words away and shrug them off, but she continued to hear him anyways. One sigh went out discreetly. As his friend, I would just get this again over and over. I get it. I get that I will probably die. It's not that I don't know these things.

Sigh again after Carter had finished. He apologized for his words, even if she was not able to discern if the sorry was truthful or sarcastic. "We're a family trained for the Hunger Games, of course! He would have some similar thoughts, wouldn't he?" She stuck out her tongue and retracted it. "I understand that I might die, but it's been a dream since I was kid. I can't exactly help it." Her eyes went to the skies, and she breathed a third sigh. "At social gatherings, I've seen those few that would have real friends. I mean real friends. But even when the Hunger Games were brought up, they never reacted so strongly. I don't get it! Sometimes, I don't get it! Just sometimes." Pystan looked over at Carter's turned body. "I'm talking about the difference between you and them. I could sense that they were real friends towards each other, but they just didn't talk. You were shy when we met. Now look at you." She gave off a little smile.