Faberge Hops // [District Four]

Name: Faberge "Berber" George Hops
Age: 12
Gender: Male
District/Area: District 4
Appearance:

I'm more dirty than clean one hundred percent of the time. And that's how I like it. My mother used to dunk me -- and I do mean dunk, like full on arm around my neck and plunge me under the jets in our whirlpool tub -- until I was about eight. I think she just got tired of the constant struggle. She's pretty strong, for a girl, but now she'd be no match for me. I'm quick, and I use these little muscles to my best advantage. A lot of that I learned on the streets of Four, while I was picking up dirt and trash. Eventually my parents caved and put me in training, but -- oh, what's that? Just about my looks?

This is so gosh darn stupid. It's like crap.

Mom hates it when I say that.

I guess I look a little like Leet? Everyone says we have the same hair, like our mom's. Curly and blonde. And just because it's long I am not a girl. I just don't want to have to wash it and get it cut. I got pretty regular blue eyes, and everything else is changing right now. I'm getting taller like all the girls in my class. I guess that happens later for boys, which is laaaame. But I'm losing my baby fat, so my nose looks bigger and my ears stick out. It doesn't really matter, as long as I can climb over the garbage bins and up the rope ladders at the training center.

Personality:

My family tells me I'm a rebel, and so I am. You didn't expect deep thoughts from a pipsqueak like me, didja? Well, I got 'em, I just usually don't care about sharing them. School sucks. It's like they try to make it more boring every day. And do I learn anything useful? No. Who cares who won the 44th Games? That was like forever ago. I don't even remember Arbor Halt winning, although I do remember his name because we're tested on it like every other week. Suckage.

Where I learn stuff it's out in the world. When I'm wandering the district, I get it. I understand what's important to people. Some want fish, some want houses, some even want girls ew. Me? I just want to have fun. I love it when the street kids challenge me to a race, or who can tip over the dumpster the fastest, or steal money from a wine-o. They used to ask me to hang out a lot more, until my mother showed up one day and they all figured out I didn't actually live anywhere near the back alleys. I live in one of the mansions.

But my room's a sty. I have to share half of it, but I've managed to clutter up the whole thing pretty good with "potpourri." That's what my Dad calls the cool stuff I bring one. One man's trash is another man's treasure, or whatever. I just think this stuff could be useful some day, and what's the point of putting it in the trash? Sure, it smells a little, but then again, so do I.

I still manage to have tons of friends at school and at the training center. I also have a mess of family, not that they really get me. Some days I wish I was an orphan, free to just roam and collect and trip up my neighbors on their fashion walks. That would be epic.

History:

So I'm part of the Hops clan, right in the middle. There was always someone around growing up, someone to bother until they paid attention to me. Good thing too. I wouldn't trade places with Leet for the world, and not just because he's got a crush on a girl. I don't really get that. A lot of my friends now are actually dating girls in our class, like kissing and gross stuff like that. Give me a half-eaten melon any day, and I'd rather kiss that.

My sisters are okay, I guess. They avoid me. Actually mostly everyone in my family does. My real family is at school, with my friends. We joke during class and get sent to detention and play really hard during recess. I love that. I can sort of feel it changing though. There's so much homework, and the training center is actually hard work now, and people care about how they look and who they're with. It's stupidcrap. Why does everyone obsess about those things? There's so much more to do in the world.

I love the seasons when my mom takes us oyster diving, or when dad takes out on the boat. The ocean is the one place where no one cares if I smell bad, because they all smell briney too. I love shucking oysters and gutting flounder. I'd do that all day, every day, if I could. I'd bring my friends from school along too, because they're mostly still awesome, even if they want to have girls kiss them. I'm sure they'll wise up sooner or later. But until they do, I'll keep inviting them to spar, or to tie the teacher's shoelaces together, or to start a food fight in the dining hall. I'll do anything. Just dare me to.

Codeword: Odair
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