far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage]

skylarversion2

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far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage] Jul 6, 2011 21:56:01 GMT -5

Post by skylarversion2 on Jul 6, 2011 21:56:01 GMT -5

She hadn't done much before the break for lunch. Slung blades, tied knots, listened to freaks, judged people by their appearance, chose targets [both other Tributes and targets to shoot things with], mentally discussed strategy, and other things that all related to winning. She was not sure if there was any point, because after all, she was dead. She was not physically, though. She still had a brain and a skeleton and a heart and they all still did what they were supposed to do. But she knew that she might as well consider herself dead, because she was the second youngest tribute there and she knew there was no use in having any hope, because the youngest always seemed to die out first. The only exception came 3 years before, when Aranica Petros won the Games with ease.

But Soyala Delaire was not Aranica.

Her head pounded as she chose her food. A small portion of green peas in some type of broth with a more generous portion of chicken with a ladle of brown gravy drenching it. She loved the way it looked. It reminded her of nature. She always was one to care for animals, and she actually did appreciate the voice in her head for doing that for her, for bringing her to a more in-touch status with nature. But she seemed to have no conscious when she thought of eating an animal, especially when she wasn't the one killing and skinning and cooking it.

Her hands had actually seemed to stop shaking, but the moment was rare. Her hands had been the part of her that had seemed the most scared. Her hands would be the ones holding the knives and slashing them at the people around her. Her hands would be the things that would grip someone's throat as she guiltily drained the life out of another one. She knew that, in the Arena, she would have to do this. Especially if she ever wanted to get out. But since she knew that she was already dead, and that if she was victorious it would be as if she would be coming back to life, she knew that the only good part in her killing others is so that the person that actually did become victorious didn't have kill as many people. Hopefully the person that would become a Victor would be someone with parents and friends, not someone that murdered theirs and never made attempts at making any because of voice that she'd been stuck with.

Her feet glided across the floor, her breath coming out in slow, breathy wisps out of her two nostrils, savoring the smell of the food she was carrying. She sat ion a table, next to a duo of people that seemed to have just sat down as well. Who were they again? She was sure of the District Four boy, Seaborgium or however it was said and spelled, and Aenor, another wacky name that seemed to carry potential. They were going to go far, she could feel it. One was a career and the other volunteered. They always did well. Maybe it would've been a good idea to try to sit with them.

She took a fork and pulled apart a piece of chicken, taking a bite without realizing the heat it carried. She opened her mouth and inhaled sharply, waving her hand towards the heat as if it would cause any less pain. She forced herself to swallow it and took the next few bites with caution, blowing on them before she ate. She had realized just then that she hadn't grabbed a drink, possibly because she was distracted by the two conversing next to her. She got up and wandered over to another part of the room, where the Tributes got the drinks to go with their food. This was the first day of Training, and many had seemed confused when they first walked in. She grabbed some sort of bubbly orange drink and walked it to where her food was, taking a sip as she sat. It fizzled against her tongue and halfway burnt her throat. But it had an exotic taste to it and she quite enjoyed it.

She knew she needed a partner like the people beside her did. There'd be absolutely no chance of coming back to life if she didn't.

[ooc: Nofo and Thundy can join in whenever. :)

Last Edit: Jul 6, 2011 22:02:42 GMT -5 by skylarversion2

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far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage] Jul 6, 2011 23:21:10 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 6, 2011 23:21:10 GMT -5

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Muscle cramping was the least of my worries as I made my way from the training center to the dining hall. Really, I had been working pretty damn hard throughout the given hours across the multiple stations that were offered. I had tried my luck with a blade and discovered so many things I didn't know about the deadly weapons. And after one lesson, my hand had been covered with blisters. The leather handles of the knives and swords were enough to injure me. It made me more worried than I had been before. Although, it was the Games. Everybody would be worried at some point considering it meant life or death. Still, it was only after a bit of training that I had received these blisters. There was so much more that was waiting. So much more practicing was required for me to have some sort of chance in the deadly arena.

Although, the food did help. I wasn't poor back home. I have what I need and even some things I just wanted. However, no matter how good the food was at home, it wouldn't even compare to the worst dish here in the Capitol. I suppose that was my favourite part. It was actually the one good part about this whole experience. That I'd be fed like a king before I'd have to die. Maybe it was to fatten me up before somebody split me open. More entertainment for the people that watched us on TV, I guess. How would I know, I wasn't a Capitolite. My brain didn't work like theirs did. No, instead I feared the Games. I feared every part of it because it was all so tragic and horrible. Because it claimed my friend and now it would claim me. And I doubt that I'd be the last male from District Three that would die in their sick and twisted game.

I tried to avoid the staff around the training center. I suppose the Avoxes are alright. They don't want to be here. They're slaves. However, the Peacekeepers were the ones I stayed away from. I hated them. With every fiber of my being, I hated the officers that were found throughout the vast building. They were doing their job, yes. However, none of them tried to stop this madness. And they treated us like animals. "Take him to the dining hall. It's lunch time." One of them had said to another after I had changed into cleaner clothes. I had decided to leave before the guard could figure out who he needed to guide. I was old enough to do it myself. I was doing it when I was alone in my family home at the age of nine. They didn't care what we wanted or needed. We were just kids that would die in a game. We weren't human beings to them. We didn't matter to anybody.

The doors of the dining hall pushed open as I pressed my body against them. The smell of freshly cooked food wafts towards me, my nose trying to breathe in as much as the deliciousness as it could. I closed my eyes, trying to drain out everything else. It's impossible though. I'm in the room with my killer at this very moment. How am I supposed to forget that? Instead, I push it out of the way and enter anyways. Just stay calm Gage. Go get food Gage. So I did. I moved towards the food counter, letting my nose pick what I wanted. But my stomach took over instead, suddenly feeling to full. I grab a tray and a plate and fill it with a loaf of District Eleven bread. Turning around, my eyes scan the hall for an available seat. Really? Everything is occupied? I think to myself, narrowing my eyes in annoyance.

That was until I saw the open spot beside a younger looking girl. Normally, I would just leave and go eat in my room but she seemed to be friendly enough. And that's when the smell of hot gravy passed by me. Her gravy that was lathered on her chicken had done that. Maybe I was hungry. I was going against my self made rules to ask about the food she had. I took a quick look back at the table of food, my eyes locking on the various things she had. My legs moved slowly as I walked back to the station where I added the same things that the girl had onto my tray. The smell of the pea stew was amazing and I found myself wanting to just sit down as soon as I could. And at least I had a conversation topic if I went to sit next to the girl with the peas.

I made my way over to the table, letting my eyes wander across the room to see the various tributes that were around. And then I was standing right behind the girl. "Uh, hey. Is this seat taken?" I asked, loud enough that so that she could hear. There were two others at the table, although they were at the other end and clearly distracted by each other. But that's alright. This girl was interesting enough. Or so I hoped. "I guess you have a great mind too? After all, great minds think alike." I say with a laugh, lowering my tray a bit so she could see the contents. I just hoped that she said the seat was available. My stomach agreed to by growling quietly. And my legs were starting to hurt to. But at least I wasn't dead yet. That was definitely a good thing. I didn't want to die yet.

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credit to shrimp

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

skylarversion2

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far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage] Jul 7, 2011 2:13:33 GMT -5

Post by skylarversion2 on Jul 7, 2011 2:13:33 GMT -5

She was enthralled that someone had actually approached her, but was afraid that nothing positive would result. She dropped her fork with a clank and pulled her jaw tightly in to her teeth. It had been a long time since she'd spoken to someone without being forced to. She felt her body tense. She clenched her fists and curled in her toes.

There really was no reason for being nervous, it was just a person, but ever since she'd been reaped she'd spoken to more people than she had in an accumulation of 4 years of living in pure nature. Four years, for four years she'd climbed trees and ran around and occasionally forced herself to kill a rabbit, and now she was scared of talking to a human being, probably just as terrified as she was at that moment.

She brought her finger and slid it around her plate, it's polished surface so smooth under her fingers. She listened carefully to the boy's words. "Uh, hey. Is this seat taken?" the boy asked. Soyala hadn't exactly examined him properly, tried to put a face to a name, but the voice got it. Gage Cross. District 3. Obviously male. He was attractive, Soyala knew that. "I guess you have a great mind too? After all, great minds think alike," he added.

Soyala felt nervous as her words came out. "No, it's not taken. You can sit if you want." She watched as he sat, noticing his skin, beautiful. She needed a partner, she would not survive without one.

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far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage] Jul 7, 2011 3:20:54 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 7, 2011 3:20:54 GMT -5

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Her body seemed to tense up at my words. Or maybe it was just my presence. Either way, her mood had changed slightly, I could just feel it. She dropped her spoon back onto her plate before speaking, saying that the seat was indeed open and available. I quietly sat down, placing the tray on the smooth table. I picked up my metal spoon and took a small bit of the stew and placed it in my mouth. The warm liquid heats up my chest and tastes just remarkable while the peas add just the perfect amount of extra taste to it. Really, it was the most incredible soup I had ever had and I just wanted to chug from the bowl. However, I couldn't look like an animal in front of this girl. I wanted to make friends. I didn't want people to think I was insane. Not now. Not while I did have some sanity.

I place the spoon back down on the plate, picking up the napkin that was wrapped around the cutlery to clean off my mouth. Then I turned my head slightly to look at the girl carefully. She wasn't the most beautiful, to be honest. However, there was something about her that was almost cute. And she seemed to be weaker compared to the others. Maybe it was because of her size or because of her obvious young age. Either way, I felt protective over this girl. "I'm Gage. District Three." I state, smiling at the girl beside me. I guess small talk is what makes big decisions after a while. Have to start somewhere. There was one thing that I decided early on. I wanted an alliance. I wanted to be with people I could call friends. And this girl was definitely one who interested me.

Turning back to my food, I took another spoonful of stew, letting the tastes explode in my mouth again. Wrapping my hand around the loaf of bread, I tear off a small piece and dip it in the stew. Who knew what it would taste like. The idea just came to me. And it couldn't taste horrible. The stew was just that damn amazing. I took a bite out of the piece of bread, enjoying the mixture profusely. "Hey, have you tried bread with it yet?" I asked quietly, offering her the rest of the loaf of bread to tear a piece off of. "Don't worry, I just put it on my plate and tore that piece off. That's all." I chuckle, hoping she wasn't some sort of germaphobe. I didn't want to push her the wrong way in fear of being targeted before even setting foot in the arena.

I continue sipping from the soup before I take the first bite from the chicken. But as I do, I nearly faint at the glory that is Capitol gravy and meat. All of it tastes so damn good and I don't want to leave it. I suppose that's why I'm pretty calm. I'm calm because all I've been focusing on is the taste of the food. Which is better than focusing on how I might die. So, I let my mind focus on it and also focus on the girl. I could sense a possible friendship between us, which would mean a possible alliance too. And all we would need were another two tributes to fill my image of a good alliance. But I could start with one. This one. And if not, at least I had a great lunch.

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all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

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far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage] Jul 7, 2011 3:53:32 GMT -5

Post by skylarversion2 on Jul 7, 2011 3:53:32 GMT -5

She slowly became more relaxed by his presence, but she never fully allowed herself to become comfortable. She found herself adjusting her shoulders every so often, because she felt like that might be the normal thing to do. She would reach back and glide her hand down her ponytail, because that's what she thought normal people might have done. And from what she'd seen, some of the female tributes had done that since they'd all arrived. There had to be a normal person there, right?

She forked her way through the peas and the chicken, the fibrous shreds allowing her to know that it was pure. Real chicken. It wasn't fake, which silently surprised her. Everything else seemed to be. The peas were hard to tell if they were fake, though. There'd be no earlier experiences to know what a pea looked like on the inside, and only once before had she ever even eaten one. It tasted bad then -- it tasted good now.

She kept her head hung low as the boy sat down, afraid that she'd let her guard down if she were to look at him for too long. Soyala only glanced every so often, making sure to not let herself get comfortable. She was glad the voice in her head was not bothering her, maybe it was taking a nap. Or maybe it was infatuated with the fact she'd actually found someone to talk to. It really didn't make a difference, though.

"I'm Gage. District Three." Soyala silently wondered to herself why he'd even announced that. Everyone in the whole damn room knew who he was. Just look at him. she thought to herself.

"I know who you are," she spat out, immediately afraid that she'd came off too strong. She sounded like she was being mean. "Oh, s- sorry.."

She finished off the peas and was left with a small amount of chicken. What would happen when the chicken was gone? What would she stare at then? The floor, probably.

She glanced up to the sight of an outstretched hand filled with a loaf of bread, the corners ripped off. "Hey, have you tried bread with it yet? Don't worry, I just put it on my plate and tore that piece off. That's all."

She tensed up again. Was she getting too comfortable, or had the offering scared her? What would a normal person do? Did they take it? Did they decline? What did they do?

Her body took it. Her hands took it all. "Thanks. I haven't t-tried it, but hopefully it tastes good. I'm no.. I'm not afraid of germs.," she said, lifting her head more and letting out a smile. Would this be symbolic? A symbol for a friendship? She wanted it to be. She wanted it to be. She wanted it to be.

She wanted it to be.

Last Edit: Jul 7, 2011 5:50:09 GMT -5 by skylarversion2

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far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage] Jul 10, 2011 16:12:25 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 10, 2011 16:12:25 GMT -5

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Had my life been written like a children's story, it would be quite simple, really. Maybe even a bestseller because of how funny I am. That may sound like something a Career would say but I must insist that it wasn't meant like that. I'm funny because I'm embarrassing and just not the norm. My failures at being social would make most laugh and the stupid choices I make could send most into a riot of joy. People like seeing others in pain, remember? The Games prove that. Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that my character development in said book might shock some. I mean, I was the embarrassing little dweeb from Three who managed to fall for somebody who just ended up dying. Oh, and then there was another girl who managed to steal my heart again. Plus, there was a guy who confused everything else because I had never felt that way towards a male. I didn't feel that way towards him. I didn't. No. But then I was taken away from then and sent to my death.

Except I made a friend then. Whilst my social skills are practically nonexistent, I still managed to make a friend. The smile on her face said that to me. Maybe I was reading into things. Maybe she just smiled out of pity and I took it as an offer of friendship. Could be. However, the look in her eyes seemed to make me think otherwise. I hoped otherwise too. I would need a friend in this arena. I was sure of that. When I looked out across the dining hall, I could see each person bent over me with a knife, ready to make a permanent smile on my face. I wonder if somebody would take that as an act of friendship. I'd hope not. Especially if I won. However, this girl was somebody who wouldn't be itching to kill me. Maybe later on if it meant she would have to die if I lived but for now, we were as close to friends as we could probably get.

I use the term friends lightly. Obviously the terms are different. Let's just get to know the bare minimum about each other so we don't feel sadness if the other one dies. I'm sure that would change eventually. Either I'd cave in or she'd give up. I felt like the terms were something we both agreed upon, without even asking each other about their opinion. Silently, it became my terms. I would give her a name, my District, my age. Hell, I already had really. Would I tell her my favourite color, the things I did at home or exactly what I could do? I doubted it, at least for now. Not while our relationship was still building. I could say one wrong thing and turn her against me and then she'd know my whole deck of cards. She'd know everything that I could do and everything that I would miss. The girl could get in my head if she wished to.

Speaking of the girl, I still hadn't received a name. Trying to remember the reaping recap on the TV was a nightmare. I mean, there were so many kids. But luckily, thanks to the mind that I was given, I could remember a few. Like the boy beside us. He was Seaborgium. Oh and the girl was Aenor. She was my District Partner. I recognized a few by name and a few by District, but the girl beside me was one who rang no bells in my mind. Until I remembered her up on stage. Soyala. The name popped into my head and it felt like everything was lit up. Yes, I remembered this girl. And the knowledge of her name was just another step towards being better friends. Even if she hadn't told me. That might be seen as creepy though so I quietly memorize the name.

She speaks about not being afraid of germs and I smile in response to her smile. Really, that was the first time her face made any other facial expression other than determination. Or boredom. Either one fit the flat facial expression that she did possess. But now, everything changed. It seemed like her eyes lit up a bit and she was slightly happier than before. I liked this Soyala better. The other reminded me too much of me. Before I said that I was tired with being treated like shit. By everybody. That's when I probably developed. So was that the climax of my book? Or will my death be the climax and all the results of that be the falling action. Maybe I'll just die and nobody will care. That would be a great end to my book.

But of course I'm joking. I'd probably be the last inspiration for a book, unless of course I rose above everybody else and won this sick game. I doubted that more than I doubted anything before though. District Three rarely won. District Three rarely made it far too. It was once in a while that you'd see a District Three top ten. Katie was different. She almost made it. So, our luck was done for a bit. But if I could make it far, I'd need somebody beside me to aid me with everything. Somebody to watch my back and somebody to keep me company. Perhaps Soyala was that girl. Maybe she was the one to be there for me. Maybe. Who knew what could happen. But there was definitely no harm in trying. I carefully parted my lips and cleared my throat.

"So, how has your time been here?" I ask quietly, making sure to not start off with a big question. I didn't want to scare her away, I wanted to make her trust me. I wanted to trust her. I was starting to though. Definitely beginning to go in that direction. I trusted her the second most in this training center, the first being myself. So, I wanted her to be my confident in the arena. Maybe I'd find more people to be with. But for now, I just wanted Soyala. "Made any other friends yet? I want an alliance but I'm not sure who to pick." I say with a small laugh, hoping she takes it as a joke. I didn't want to come on too strong. Not yet. I mean, there were plenty of examples of what happened if you crowded another tribute too much. Injuries. Pain. Blood. And ultimately, the ending that none of us want.

Death.

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all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

skylarversion2

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far away from feeling tall. [soyala gage] Jul 10, 2011 19:34:53 GMT -5

Post by skylarversion2 on Jul 10, 2011 19:34:53 GMT -5

Soyala's hands had slowed their shaking. They still maintained a constant jitter, but they had substantially stopped, and she was unsure why.

Her body had loosened up. She still remained tense, but not too tense. She could move her limbs but not fluidly. She was confused. Why had someone did this to her?

She did not mean to let her wall become destroyed, she still wanted to maintain a strong enough wall to not let anyone know of who she truly was. Soyala felt like there was a tough outer core to Gage, and that was something she wanted to find out about. And if he had a tough outer core, she wanted to maintain one too. She had found through observations of people, no matter how rare they were, that people wanted what they couldn't have, and that's why she thought that maintaining a wall could keep Gage close to her. She did not want Gage to know that she had a voice and that this whole situation terrified her. She wanted to make him think that she was fine, that she was confident, even though she was already dead on the inside.

Her head still remained at a downward angle, but her eyes would occasionally flick up to look at Gage. She would glance over to the pair next to her every so often as well, and would even occasionally turn her head to see what was happening behind her, but made sure to keep her head close to her shoulders.

The last few bites of her chicken were savored, eaten slowly. She knew that once they were gone that she would look awkward staring at an empty plate, she would have to look at Gage, she would have to look around the room and seem like she was interested in things. She didn't want that.

"So, how has your time been here?" Gage asked. She cleared her throat and widened her eyes at the same time. How had it been? What? What kind of question is that? she thought. She couldn't say good, that sounded like she was happy to be there. She couldn't say bad, that sounded like she was weak. It was alright, that's what it was. "It's been alright I guess, could definitely be better." She awkwardly attempted to look up and smile, unsure if it had came off as real.

He then asked something else. "Made any friends yet? I want an alliance but I'm not sure who to pick." Her head jerked up, butterflies frenzied in her stomach. Her hands began to shake harder than they normally did. So he does want an alliance. She'd secretly been wondering if he did.

"I don't think you should pick your alliance. I think your alliance should come to you. If you pick, it sort of forces you to like them, and that shouldn't be how it works. Like, I want to align with you, but I didn't pick you."

Had she really just said that?