Sage Ripley // D11 // Completed

I REALLY don’t like to focus on my appearance, if you don’t mind. But I suppose if I have to, I’ll do it, if it will make you satisfied. Fine. Um...I’m big. Like one of those career boys you see in the Hunger Games, with hulking muscles and all, only I haven’t gotten my body the same way they do. Last time I checked, which was about a year ago, I’m currently 6’5’’, most of it due to my long legs. Again, big.

My skin is dark, as you might expect, considering I live in 11. I have lots of scars and cuts and stuff from punishment and work. Most of these can be found on my arms, but a few are on my square face. Those are from punishment. I actually have blue eyes, which is pretty rare, and that’s the only thing people seem to notice about me, which I hate. Then again, having blue eyes might be the only thing particularly special about me.

Suppose I should mention my hair while I’m at it. It's short. Are you happy now?

If you saw me walking down the street, or out in the fields, you might typecast me as the strong, silent type, not saying much and is aloof and cold. That's not true at all. I'm very friendly (or at least I try to be) to those who are native to D11. I tend to think the best of people. I don't care much for the peacekeepers, though, but I try to remain civil in regards to them, despite the fact that I secretly loathe them. Doesn't always work though, as I have a bit of a smart mouth, which is hard for me to keep in check. I've had to pay the price time and time again, but my impulses just keep on coming.

I find humor is the best way to deal with any given situation. Although I think I'm witty, I sort of come across as offensive when dealing with sensitive subjects. I can be respectful if I try, though, for a short time. I make friends easily, and look on the bright side of things, even though I know the world is not all rainbows and sunshine.

I'm family-oriented, and fiercely protective of my siblings. When it comes down to it, I probably wouldn't volunteer for them, I'm sad to say. I'm too cowardly for that. But I take tesserae for them, so they have a low chance of going into the games. I think I should be the scrapegoat, because at the end of the day...I'm worthless.

History, huh? What do you want to know? I suppose I'll start from the beginning. My parents, Oleander Ripley and Pandy Lorret, met about 35 years ago, or so I'm told. She worked as a farmhand and he worked in the fields as a harvester, but they met as neighbors. They were probably 11 or so. Anyways, as time went on, they fell in love. And then, several things involving the reproductive system later, they had me. By this time, they were living together and had gone through D11's marriage rituals. Both families were in agreement to the marriage.

I had a pretty normal infancy by all means, but not without its hardships. My mother had to give up her job working on a farm so she could take care of little baby me, which means our family became about 50% poorer. My dad started working even harder so he could care for our family, taking longer shifts. He was pretty much absent from my childhood.

But apparently he had time to make my baby twin sisters, Lyress and Windera. They were born when I was about five years old. My mother went back to work a few months after their births to support us, but not to her old job as a farmhand. She was able to snag a job being a gardener for the mayor of D11, tending to the plants outside their house. I saw her a bit less, but she was still able to watch over us when needed. Around this time is when I came self-sufficient, and protective of my siblings. I claimed myself at the time, to almost be a third parent for them. Did I mention I have a bit of a maternal side? We were pretty happy together with me caring for them (to the best of my five year old abilities) most of the day. Poor, but happy.

But all good things come to an end. 

When I was 7, I had to begin work, as was mandatory for kids my age. My parents encouraged me to work in the orchards, as was common for kids my age, and I did. But I wasn't happy in the orchards. Even then, I was a bigger kid, and terrible at my job. In fact, my biggest scar on my arm comes from an accident I suffered there, falling out of an orange tree. It's no wonder I got moved to do a different job.
I became a harvester when I was 9, and I have been working there ever since. It's given me muscles, and I kind of enjoy it. I've made quite a few friends there, and I've bonded with them over the years. When the Peacekeepers come around and inflict punishment on them, it fills me with rage on the inside, although I'm not dumb or brave enough to confront the Peacekeepers directly. But the occasional muttered comment from me (blame my smart mouth) has gotten me a few scars.

Now that I'm 17, I'm sort of worried about the reaping. I mean, I've taken tesserae for my sisters, so they don't have to. But if I get reaped...let the games begin.