Embry Lake - District 12 (Done)
May 26, 2019 22:00:48 GMT -5
Post by tylerjames on May 26, 2019 22:00:48 GMT -5
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He was correct: Embry made it to his class a good 10 minutes after he class had already begun. His teacher didn't scold him. Perhaps she felt sorry for him, knowing the circumstances of his life that leave him hungry so often. That she could punish him as hard as she wanted and it wouldn't matter because it's out of his control. Or perhaps it's because she has a soft spot for him. You couldn't blame her. Embry was one of those kids that everyone liked. He was always an optimist, full of joy and hope. He was a ray of sun in the storm of District 12.
Embry loves to bring the joy and the hope he feels to those around him. If you were feeling down, you could count on him to lighten the mood with his playful jokes. He was especially good at pranks and practical jokes. Once he has set up a tripwire that sent the teacher's chalk flying off her desk and directly out the window. Another time he had rigged up the textbooks so that they would shoot grass into the face of whoever tried to open it. He never targeted anyone with his pranks; the poor soul who became victim was whoever had the unfortunate luck of stumbling into his trap. Everyone else would be laughing and enjoying the show, their minds taken off of their own troubles even if only for a brief moment. Sometimes in District 12 all you need are moments.
Practical jokes unfortunately were about as productive as Embry could be at school. He didn't care much for the things they taught in the classroom. If he wasn't up to his antics he would content himself with daydreams of plentiful feasts, of being outdoors on a sunny day, of his family all together. Today, he chose family. They were the most important people in his life, the ones who placed true value on him. Sometimes he couldn't help but feel frivolous to his peers. They loved him because he could make them forget their miseries for a bit, but otherwise he didn't serve much of a purpose in their lives, didn't have much to offer them. But with his family he felt valued, important for more than some quick entertainment. He couldn't wait for this day to be done so he could see them.
EMBRY LAKE Male, Age 13 District 12 |
ARCHETYPE
The Trickster. The Comedian. The Jester.
A bit of fun can be enough
to shine a light on even the darkest of days.
The storm had finally passed, and the first rays of sun were emerging from behind the retreating clouds. Embry took a moment to pause and let the sunlight dry him, warm the chill the rain had left. His usually messy brown hair was plastered to the sides of his pointed face, and his clothing was soaked to the skin. It didn't matter to him; he turned his face towards the warm ray, closed his eyes, and parted his full lips into a toothy smile.It felt good after the chill of the rain that had bombarded him thus far on his walk to school. He had once heard that the sun can damage your skin. Give people a kiss of death with no more than a mole or two to show for it. Embry didn't believe that for a second; his bronzed skin was covered in moles and he hadn't died yet.
After a few minutes of basking in the light, he reluctantly opened his brown eyes and returned to his journey. His siblings hadn't noticed him stop and were now a fair bit farther along the road than him. He did a light jog and caught up with them, slightly winded. It's not that he's not in shape; at five feet and five inches tall and weighing eighty-eight pounds he was one of the more athletic boys his age, albeit rather thin. He just hadn't eaten since the day prior, and his hunger had left him feeling tired. He'd eat soon, he told himself. Missing breakfast wasn't new to him or his siblings. But it still made them move slightly slower, slightly more sluggish, and despite leaving their house on time he figured they might still end up being late for school.
The Trickster. The Comedian. The Jester.
A bit of fun can be enough
to shine a light on even the darkest of days.
APPEARANCE
The storm had finally passed, and the first rays of sun were emerging from behind the retreating clouds. Embry took a moment to pause and let the sunlight dry him, warm the chill the rain had left. His usually messy brown hair was plastered to the sides of his pointed face, and his clothing was soaked to the skin. It didn't matter to him; he turned his face towards the warm ray, closed his eyes, and parted his full lips into a toothy smile.It felt good after the chill of the rain that had bombarded him thus far on his walk to school. He had once heard that the sun can damage your skin. Give people a kiss of death with no more than a mole or two to show for it. Embry didn't believe that for a second; his bronzed skin was covered in moles and he hadn't died yet.
After a few minutes of basking in the light, he reluctantly opened his brown eyes and returned to his journey. His siblings hadn't noticed him stop and were now a fair bit farther along the road than him. He did a light jog and caught up with them, slightly winded. It's not that he's not in shape; at five feet and five inches tall and weighing eighty-eight pounds he was one of the more athletic boys his age, albeit rather thin. He just hadn't eaten since the day prior, and his hunger had left him feeling tired. He'd eat soon, he told himself. Missing breakfast wasn't new to him or his siblings. But it still made them move slightly slower, slightly more sluggish, and despite leaving their house on time he figured they might still end up being late for school.
PERSONALITY
He was correct: Embry made it to his class a good 10 minutes after he class had already begun. His teacher didn't scold him. Perhaps she felt sorry for him, knowing the circumstances of his life that leave him hungry so often. That she could punish him as hard as she wanted and it wouldn't matter because it's out of his control. Or perhaps it's because she has a soft spot for him. You couldn't blame her. Embry was one of those kids that everyone liked. He was always an optimist, full of joy and hope. He was a ray of sun in the storm of District 12.
Embry loves to bring the joy and the hope he feels to those around him. If you were feeling down, you could count on him to lighten the mood with his playful jokes. He was especially good at pranks and practical jokes. Once he has set up a tripwire that sent the teacher's chalk flying off her desk and directly out the window. Another time he had rigged up the textbooks so that they would shoot grass into the face of whoever tried to open it. He never targeted anyone with his pranks; the poor soul who became victim was whoever had the unfortunate luck of stumbling into his trap. Everyone else would be laughing and enjoying the show, their minds taken off of their own troubles even if only for a brief moment. Sometimes in District 12 all you need are moments.
Practical jokes unfortunately were about as productive as Embry could be at school. He didn't care much for the things they taught in the classroom. If he wasn't up to his antics he would content himself with daydreams of plentiful feasts, of being outdoors on a sunny day, of his family all together. Today, he chose family. They were the most important people in his life, the ones who placed true value on him. Sometimes he couldn't help but feel frivolous to his peers. They loved him because he could make them forget their miseries for a bit, but otherwise he didn't serve much of a purpose in their lives, didn't have much to offer them. But with his family he felt valued, important for more than some quick entertainment. He couldn't wait for this day to be done so he could see them.
HISTORY
When the school day was done, Embry met up with his siblings and together they made their way through the district to their tiny house on the outskirts. Altogether he had four siblings. The oldest, Burke, was no longer in school. Nineteen years old, he now worked alongside their father in the coal mines. Burke was a man of few words, and now with so many hours of his life spent down in the mines, it was rare for Embry to see him enough to hear him say more than a sentence in a week. He was the envy of his siblings; he had made it through the reaping years in one piece, and could now go on with life without worrying about an untimely death televised across Panem. Well, at least until he has kids of his own.
His brother Farley was the next oldest in the family, and he was Embry's favourite. He was only a few years older at sixteen, and the closest to Embry in age. Farley was very smart in both school and in life. His teachers all loved him, and took pride in the idea that there's still hope for finding success in District 12. But Embry was more interested in his practical knowledge. Farley was the person he knew he could go to with any problem, even ones he didn't want other members of his family to know about, and get secrecy and sage advice in return.
Vance was nine years old, the youngest boy in the family. Embry and Vance don't get along very well; Vance hates the pranks Embry is always pulling. And Embry always seems to be pranking Vance. It's the only time Embry ever fights with anyone. Hey, when you're happy all the time sometimes you need an outlet for the rest of those emotions. Their mom and dad, Farley, and Burke have all tried at various points to get the feuding to stop, but to no avail. The only person who could stop them, even if it's just momentarily, is Sallie.
Nobody dares to fight in front of Sallie. Seven years old and the only daughter in a household of boys. She's incredibly quiet, terribly shy, and quick to burst into tears at the slightest provocation. Fragile. Embry and his brothers were extremely protective of her, don't let anyone pick on her for being so strange. Even on the days when there is little food and everyone is starving, Sallie will get a bit of extra food. She only attends school because she is forced to; every other moment she clings to their mother's side. Embry doesn't know how his mom does it, trying to feed the family, take care of the house, take care of Sallie, take care of a husband she rarely gets to see. She cares for everyone and gets little in return.
That night was the first night in a week that the entire family had been able to be home for an evening meal. Embry was happy to be surrounded by the people who meant the most to him. And together the seven of them split a single loaf of bread.
It was the best meal he'd eaten all week.
His brother Farley was the next oldest in the family, and he was Embry's favourite. He was only a few years older at sixteen, and the closest to Embry in age. Farley was very smart in both school and in life. His teachers all loved him, and took pride in the idea that there's still hope for finding success in District 12. But Embry was more interested in his practical knowledge. Farley was the person he knew he could go to with any problem, even ones he didn't want other members of his family to know about, and get secrecy and sage advice in return.
Vance was nine years old, the youngest boy in the family. Embry and Vance don't get along very well; Vance hates the pranks Embry is always pulling. And Embry always seems to be pranking Vance. It's the only time Embry ever fights with anyone. Hey, when you're happy all the time sometimes you need an outlet for the rest of those emotions. Their mom and dad, Farley, and Burke have all tried at various points to get the feuding to stop, but to no avail. The only person who could stop them, even if it's just momentarily, is Sallie.
Nobody dares to fight in front of Sallie. Seven years old and the only daughter in a household of boys. She's incredibly quiet, terribly shy, and quick to burst into tears at the slightest provocation. Fragile. Embry and his brothers were extremely protective of her, don't let anyone pick on her for being so strange. Even on the days when there is little food and everyone is starving, Sallie will get a bit of extra food. She only attends school because she is forced to; every other moment she clings to their mother's side. Embry doesn't know how his mom does it, trying to feed the family, take care of the house, take care of Sallie, take care of a husband she rarely gets to see. She cares for everyone and gets little in return.
That night was the first night in a week that the entire family had been able to be home for an evening meal. Embry was happy to be surrounded by the people who meant the most to him. And together the seven of them split a single loaf of bread.
It was the best meal he'd eaten all week.
(FC: Alessio Scalzotto)
