The Morning Run [alexandralini]

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The Morning Run [alexandralini] May 11, 2015 15:09:38 GMT -5

Post by d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel on May 11, 2015 15:09:38 GMT -5

Renly Myreen
Male|Sixteen|D7

"Ock,Ock,Ock" The rather strange noise of the alarm I had created. A wooden cube, with a bird perched on it. I have no idea what type of bird it was, but the metal functions inside of made it's wooden beak bang against the little tree beside it. Creating the tremendous noise it alarms right now. It took me months to make it, my father wanted it sold, I begged that he didn't. It was my personal item, not for the market, well I won that argument anyway. Robbie still lays lifeless besides me, I am surprised how nothing can wake him from his sleeping trance. I have never actually seen him awaken, I hope to never. Well it is 4am on the dot, time for morning jog. Pulling myself from the bed, I'd glance around the room. A great big oak wardrobe, sits besides the door, filled with mine and my brothers clothes. Swinging open the door, I'd retrieve the running gear, old work clothes of my fathers. A short-sleeved grey top and black shorts, which run to the top of my knees. They were once trousers, but slowly they tore, so my mother cut off the legs. I adopted them for my running gear.

Heading to the bathroom, encase the zombie in it's crypt does bat an eye at me getting changed, I'd shut the door gaining some privacy. Standing in front of the mirror, I'd look at myself. Last night I slept in just a pair of grey trousers, the night was rather warm. Staring at my torso, how pale it was, I needed more of the sun. Various scratches and faint scars ran up and down my body, from work and various childhood fights with my brother. Of course he always won. A slight roll of fat laid on my abdomen, how it got there I haven't a clue. Although the outline of my ribs could still be seen. Pulling on the grey shirt, my body was now hidden. Sliding off the trousers, i'd swap them for the shorts, before splashing my face with water from the faucets. Exiting the bathroom, i'd throw my trousers into my room, landing on my bed. A slight stir erupted from Robbie's bed, as his snoring grew ever so loudly. How I'd wish just to wake him up now, how annoyed he would be with me.

Turning my back to my bedroom, I'd walk downstairs.Sitting on a step, I'd slide my brown laced boots onto my feet. As always mother was there to greet me, still wearing her pajamas. A porcelain cup sat tightly in her hand, filled with whatever herbal warm drink she had made.
"What is it this time?" I asked her, the scent quite strong.
"Tomatoes." She smiled, taking a sip.The red fruit staining the top of her lip.
"So basically soup in a cup?"
The woman frowned at my remarks, as she scurried me out of the door.
"Be safe Renly, don't be long. Your father wants you ready at half five this morning." She'd say before shutting the door behind me. It isn't me my father should be worrying about getting ready, it is my brother. I doubt he'd be up at half five. Many workers start at three, or whenever the sun is awake. But my family is lazy, they prefer a lie in. Something I know many would beg for.

Beginning my run, i'd take the usual route. Through the alleys, along the fence. I'd stay away from where the lumbers were working, I know many would find me a nuisance, as I should be joining them. Heading between two houses, I'd keep the steady pace, moving my arms as I got my body warmed-up.

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Last Edit: Jun 6, 2015 13:32:16 GMT -5 by d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel

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The Morning Run [alexandralini] May 25, 2015 22:06:49 GMT -5

Post by alexandralini on May 25, 2015 22:06:49 GMT -5

Sumac Elwin

16 - District 7

There was a simple pleasure in whittling. It was calm, relaxing, monotonous in the best of ways. You would think someone like Sumac, who spent each and every work day, six days a week, doing the exact same thing would despise monotony. But on the contrary. It was comforting. In a world where one might be ripped from their home and thrown into the arena, the threat mounting each year, relying on something to be the same each time was quite the luxury. With each slice of the knife, another shaving, the same size as the rest fell from the chunk of wood in her hands. With each stroke of the blade, the block was slowly and predictably whittled into something beautiful. If only life was as slow and comfortable.

Birds were her favorite subject. There was something very satisfying about capturing motion in something stationary. It was graceful, without having to move. If she had access to any paint, she'd paint her birds, too, but that was something her family simply didn't have the money for. So they were plain, but Sumac thought that lent them a sense of humble beauty. It would have made an onlooker laugh, to see her carving something so small, fragile, or beautiful. Sumac wasn't exactly the epitome of grace or gentleness. She was rough around the edges, jumpy, hostile. She seemed more suited to throwing knives, instead of carving with them. But her small nimble fingers just seemed to have an affinity for this sort of art form, and she'd never stifled it. Sure, she hid her talent. The last thing she needed was for her peers to have something else to pick on her about. But even in secret, she enjoyed it.

Sumac was currently perched among the branches of one of the old elm trees by the fence, as it was her only day off. She was a good ten feet up, but not nearly as high as she would have liked to have been. She felt most comfortable among the upper most branches of the pines in the logging areas, but of course, none of the trees in town were ever allowed to get taller than the fence. If they were to grow taller, it'd be too easy for her and many others in District 7 to climb them and hop over the fence, undetected. They were pruned each year, to keep that very thing from happening.

Sumac couldn't have told you why she was up so early. She had a reason, for sure, but she wasn't about to disclose it to anyone. Ever since the most recent reapings, she'd been suffering from sleeplessness, and found it hard to fall asleep, and then to stay asleep. She had better luck sleeping in the early afternoons, which she only ever got to do on her day off. So for now, she was whittling, and waiting for the sun to rise, so she could finally catch up on the shut eye she'd been missing out on all week. And she'd been expecting this part of the district to be fairly empty at this time, seeing as it was far away from the loggers and factories, but she wasn't going to have ay such luck today. As she finished carving the crest of feathers on the bird's head, she heard footsteps fast approaching. Peering through the leaves of the tree, she spotted someone.

'I think I know that kid,' Sumac thought, trying to place his face with a name. She was fairly certain she used to see him at school, so he must have been her age, or at least close to it. But as he got closer, her face fell, and she scoffed. 'Oh, it's just that pretty-boy kid,' she told herself, rolling her eyes. She did know him. He always seemed to look flawless, which was such an oddity in their district. Lumber was not a clean industry. Most children in the district looked smudged, or just general disheveled or dirty, but he always looked like he spent way too much time on his appearance. Sumac was always skeptical of people like that, especially since she didn't spend hardly any time on her own appearance. 'I'll just let him pass without saying anything. Not like someone like him would want to talk to someone like me anyway." She settled back into whittling her bird as he jogged past, but as she was trying to get the curve of the beak correct, her fingers fumbled slightly. She tried to catch it, but it refused to be caught, and tumbled from the tree, and onto the ground. And unfortunately, landed right in front of Renly.

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The Morning Run [alexandralini] May 26, 2015 14:01:13 GMT -5

Post by d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel on May 26, 2015 14:01:13 GMT -5

Renly Myreen

Give me one good reason why I shouldn't make a change.
District 7| Male | Sixteen

Running for which felt like longer than it should be, my cardiovascular muscles were surprisingly quite high. Simple morning runs every day, something which could give me an advantage, if I was ever flung into the games. Although regularly my mother begged that I never thought about the games but you had to, everyone did. Forever being shunned for my appearance, there is a reason why I also tend to it. In a world where pleasures are rare, molding my own appearance with the simplest of products is the only way I could express myself. Every face in the district is more or less the same as the other, rough, worn and boring. It is my symbol, everyone knows my face, many dislike it but I take pride in it.

Clasping my callused palms, sweat would begin to sweep out of my glands. Spilling out its rays, the morning sun had begun to wake up the world. Looking up to the sky, I’d notice a flock of birds would emerge up below the sun like a small army crusade. I have no idea what type of bird they were but with the ability to just fly away, to anywhere they are a fortunate beast. How brilliant would it be to grow wings and just fly, fly far far away from here. Take my mother with me; the two malicious beasts can stay.

Total opposites, I am sure I must be adopted. My brother Robb, a towering 6 and a half feet tall, I am sure he is tree himself. Arm muscles as thick as trunks, although a tree would most likely have more of a brain as him. Having an advantage over me physically, I am better mentally, although I lack in common sense myself. His brain is regularly tempered with by my father, work work work. Father tries it with me, even though I have a capability of throwing axes and tending to the trees, my brother is far more superior. But I don’t care; I have a far greater interest in my mother’s work. She collects various flora and fauna from around the district and from the market. Crafting them all together, she makes creams and ointments from them. Being her guinea pig for her various aging creams, I know none of them work, everybody knew, even my mother. But it helps the district feel better about themselves and even smell nicer. My mother’s work is a great factor for my appearance, we’re better off than other’s in the district, but we could still have more. Although I know many around the district, lack even the basic of things.

While running around the district, I have met a lot of people and have seen the poverty. Men, women and even children with no roofs over their head, of even a drop of food, I feel sorry for them, unlike many, especially The Capitol. Seeing the reality of life, I thought I must do something to help the less fortunate than I. Sneaking out various wooden carvings we had made, and food I’d dish them out to whoever I see during my running route. They could sell the carvings for some money, to at least feed them for a day. But I know it wasn’t enough, we needed a miracle for it to be enough.

Continuing on with the jog, it must have been at least half an hour now, I was half way through it. Taking to the outskirts of the district, near the fence, I’d pick up the pace a bit, not wanting to be late. Exhaling, the blood would sprint around my veins, working like machinery to get my body to go. How much fun this was, it was a simple pleasure, which had a lot of advantages to it. Coming to a clearing of trees, the area would be dead quiet, just the sound of my feet below me.

Dropping past my eyes, I’d stop, slightly frightening myself in the motion. Looking down to the object on the floor, my breathing would be quite panicky;
“An animate object dropping from a tree, come on Renly it is probably twig.” Picking it up from the ground, a wooden carving, of a bird. Glancing up,there was somebody sat on a branch, with the disadvantage of short-shortsightedness and the morning sun behind the person, I can’t quite make out their face. “ Hello did you drop this?” Hoping for a nice answer.

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Last Edit: May 27, 2015 4:06:11 GMT -5 by d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel

alexandralini
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The Morning Run [alexandralini] May 27, 2015 0:54:30 GMT -5

Post by alexandralini on May 27, 2015 0:54:30 GMT -5

"Damn it," Sumac swore, as the carving tumbled just out of reach and dropped. She scowled down at the tiny object, and let out a heavy sigh. She didn't exactly want to leave her perch to clamor down and get it, but at pretty-boy picked it up, her scowl lessened. She might have a use for him yet. Scrambling down several branched, she hooked her legs around one of the lowest, sturdiest branches, and swung down. She hung upside down by her knees, her long hair falling below her head. Reaching out, she plucked the bird from his grasp.

"I'll take that," she said, flipping her carving knife closed, shoving it into her belt, and taking the delicate bird back from him. Swinging back up, essentially performing a hanging sit up, she gingerly set the bird in her pocket. Standing back up on the branch, she reached out and placed a hand on the trunk for balance. "Sorry about that...er...Remmy, was it?" She still couldn't place his name exactly. It was definitely an R name though, definitely. He probably had no idea who she was either, though; Sumac wasn't exactly the friendliest or most approachable kid in the district. She shrugged, though, not exactly caring what his name was one way or the other. She was about to hoist herself back up into the higher branches, when something suddenly struck her as odd. "Hey, why are you out here so early? I didn't think a pretty-boy like you would be schedules for such an early shift." She glanced at his attire briefly, before quirking an eyebrow. "And if that's what you haul lumber in, man...well, it certainly isn't what I would wear to work." She realized just a tad too late how rude that might have sounded.

d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel
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The Morning Run [alexandralini] May 27, 2015 5:40:09 GMT -5

Post by d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel on May 27, 2015 5:40:09 GMT -5

Renly Myreen

Give me one good reason why I shouldn't make a change.
District 7| Male | Sixteen

Inspecting the wooden bird, it was crafted quite well, similar to works Renly had found in the market. Before he could observe it more, the girl in the tree plucked it away from his grasp. Looking up at her, he’d see her hanging from the branch, identifying her face. She was in his class for sure, the face was familiar, but he had no clue who she was or what her name was. Renly gained a handful of friends from school, he likes to converse and have fun with people.

Taking advantage of this sudden encounter, Renly would take a breather from the run. Clasping onto his knees, he’d let the oxygen run through his body normally again, as he took the little break. Turning his head back up to the girl in the tree, he’d correct her on his name. “Oh it’s Renly… “ Tracing her face through his memory bank of people, he literally had no clue who she was but he had most certainly seen her many times before. It was quite odd for Renly not to know someone he must’ve seen so often, maybe she was one of the quiet ones he wondered. Running his things at the hem of his shorts, the stitching his mother had done had started to become loose, they are a well-worn pair. “Oh well umm…” A slight stutter in his words, “I am just having a jog before work.” Pretty face, girls did tend to admire his face, but never did they say it like that. “ These are just the clothes I run in, I certainly wouldn’t want to work in these.”

((I've decided to change from first to third person. I forever used to writing in third, so swapped it around if you don't mind))

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The Morning Run [alexandralini] May 29, 2015 1:35:59 GMT -5

Post by alexandralini on May 29, 2015 1:35:59 GMT -5

Sumac wasn't usually the type to talk to someone out of the blue like this. She liked to keep to herself most of the time; if she remained anonymous, it lessened the chance that someone would try to tease her and get a rise out of her. And she was honestly usually pretty prickly or hostile when meeting people like this, especially guys. Guys usually tended to be the most cruel about teasing her. So she didn't understand why she wasn't getting that familiar angry feeling in the pit of her gut like usual. It usually felt like acid in her stomach, making her bitter and snappy when she spoke to new people. But today, she was feeling rather neutral. Maybe it was lack of sleep? That must be it, she decided, she must've been slightly delirious from not sleeping well. Either that, or she was in one of her very rare good moods.

And considering who it was she was talking to, someone she would usually stay very far away from, it was doubly strange. Sitting down on her branch and leaning her elbows on her knees, she leaned forward slightly, looking down at Renly.

"Right, right, Renly. I was close. Anyway," she quirked an eyebrow, "running? You'd think we get enough of a workout hauling lumber at work, what with these new increased quotas from the Capitol." Sumac couldn't understand why anyone would want to run in their free time. She was always so exhausted after work and school, she couldn't even imagine trying to jog after that! But then again, he was one of those pretty-boys. The way he looked and acted reminded her a bit of those shi-shi Capitol folks. "But, hey, to each their own."

She stretched her back a bit, as she was slightly stiff from being in the tree for so long. It was then that she realized she hadn't introduced herself. She usually didn't like telling people her real name, as they tended to either laugh or look confused. Sumac wasn't a very popular girl's name, after all.

"I'm Mac, by the way," she said, one corner of her mouth quirking up. It was as close to a smile as she ever got these days.

d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel
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The Morning Run [alexandralini] May 29, 2015 5:48:27 GMT -5

Post by d7m fraser birk ♚ frankel on May 29, 2015 5:48:27 GMT -5

Renly Myreen

Give me one good reason why I shouldn't make a change.
District 7| Male | Sixteen

Placing his foot on the tree, he'd stretch out his aching muscles. Renly by now would be running late for whatever his father had planned for him. Thankfully it was not a work day for Renly but his father always had a job or some chore for him to do. Rarely on occasion did he actually have time to relax and chill out on a day off. Feeling quite rebellious, he decided he may go home later, or maybe just miss the whole day. Renly was used to getting raged at by his father. As a child he would've had tears running down his face and terrors during the night. As he grew older, he got used to it. Although slowly his father was cutting him some slack, as he had his eldest son Robbie as his own prodigy.

Leaning on the trunk, Renly decided to chat with the girl in the tree for a little longer. Renly enjoyed conversing with people, making new friends. Once he settle with someone he'd become a big goofball, he'd been told he had a dry sense of humor as he never knew he was actually making people laugh with his words.

"Well it's not exactly a workout." Although really it was, but in a way it wasn't. Renly enjoyed this time alone and exploring the District. "I like to just venture around the District. I get to say hello to everyone, find out anything that's happening. I get to do all this while getting slightly fitter. It also freshens me up for the day." Rambling on about himself, he'd just stop half way, knowing most people didn't like his rambling.

"Nice to meet you Mac. I swear I've seen your face before, were you in my classes?" Renly wanted the stretch out the conversation a little bit more, he didn't want to go back home.

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