limitless [galexkatniss/open]

"We just happen to be the best in the District." Jave couldn't help but grin at that, too. Yet he avoided a side comment, for some odd reason, and looked around. Everyone was still busy working and Jave felt like asking a bunch of questions--but once again, it surprised him that he managed to hold back. Strange.

"I'm surprised she didn't attack you or something." Landon said, which made Jave grin again. "Well, she was busy getting branches," he said, glancing back at Jana. "I suppose she had other things to worry about than beating someone up. Although," he added with a playful smile, "I'm pretty sure I would've been able to take her."

Jave tried not to laugh at Jana's next statement. "Is that so. Somehow I find that hard to believe." But he decided to end the conversation at that once Jana turned back to the other guys and ordered them to get back to work. He watched as she pulled the brances onto her workspace and begin to shape them into a tree.

"Yeah Jana's a beast," Jave heard Landon say. "The only one she hasn't put the smack-down on is her old man." That was interesting. He turned to Landon with eyebrows raised. "Really," he said. His gaze flickered back to the project Jana was working for a second, but for once he was curious about something else. "What's her father like then? Is he just like Jana?" Then again the reason could just be because of family relationships or something. But Jave was curious all the same.

For a moment before Landon said anything, Jave watched Jana work. It was actually pretty interesting. Back at home, the only work Jave knew wasn't really molding or carving anything--it had more to do with building and hammering. Then again, Jana's project didn't need that many people. Working on a building required at least three people, and that was the case of Jave's family. Three people.

"If he says anything stupid you have my permission to smack him around." Jave tried not to grin at that, but failed. Still, he had some respect for Landon now. "Jana and him act exactly alike," Landon was saying. "But she's the spitting image of her mother who passed away."

Jave raised his eyebrows. "Really." He hesitated before saying, "Then I guess we have something in common." He said it with a shrug, as if it didn't bother him. And in a way it didn't. He's had 12 years to get over it. "And ironically, I was five as well." Jave, not exactly comfortable with the conversation anymore, turned to Landon who wasn't too busy. "So is there anything I can do? I feel sort of useless just standing here."

Carving or building? The answer to that was easy, but Jave was still doubtful. He wanted to watch Jana work--he'd never seen anything like what she was doing before--but he also didn't want to stand around and simply...watch. Besides, his carving skills were basic. It probably wouldn't be of any help anyway.

Although Jave didn't admit this out loud, he shrugged lightly and turned to Landon. "I suppose I'll help you. Carving isn't really my specialty," he added to Jana, almost apologetically. Plus, he was wondering about Avery, whoever he was. Jave searched the area, glancing at the busy faces. Which one was he? Internally, he shook his head. It looked like he'd just have to wait and see.

Jave hid his grimace well. So he couldn't carve. Big deal. At least he could so something else, right? Besides, he usually left the carving to his father back at home.

He followed Landon to the table, unable to keep his curiosity from showing. While Landon explained, Jave let his eyes get used to the materials. There were the usual hammar and nails of course, and he was better when it came to working on the final stage. The putting-it-all-together portion of the work. Jave nodded. It was beginning to sound better.

"That would be Avery, he heard Landon say, nodding at a boy several feet away. "He's an awesome worker, but he doesn't say much." Jave grinned. So that was Avery. Sure, he looked like somebody he could work well with. He turned back to Landon with eyebrows raised. "So what are you planning on for me to do? Are you guys working on individual parts of the shelf, or are you going to put it all together in one go?" Jave was more familiar with the individual work, but he was also pretty flexible. He had experience in several methods from home.

Jave was reluctantly relieved that they worked as a team. It was the best he could do at the moment. He watched Landon and Avery work for a moment, not entirely sure how to intrude without messing anything up. He wasn't particularly sure of their style yet. Jave scratched the back of his head, feeling slightly exasperated. Man, building was complicated.

His gaze went to the other few pieces of the shelf, waiting to be put in and decided that he might as well go ahead and work. But then Landon said something--that he and Avery would take care of the other pieces and Jave was to nail them down. Jave nodded, satisfied. That wasn't too hard. He waited until Landon and Avery were done with the outer pieces and moved in with the nails. It didn't take as long as he thought it would, fortunately.

"That didn't take as long as I thought it would," he remarked, just because he felt like saying it. Then he let his gaze flicker over to Jana and realized that she was done as well. It seemed like she finished before them, which surprised Jave even more. He'd thought that her project would've taken longer and he had to admit he was impressed somewhat.