Berrium Deep - D10

Berrium was named after her great-grandmother Berys, except they couldn't just use the same name twice, could they? They being her parents. So solemnly proud of dear Berri's existence that they'd forgetten the mockery that came with her name. The joke that was the suggestion, from her evil aunt, that her name should be Berrium Deep. All well and good, until people find out that her family are funeral directors.

Berri is an avid lover of horses. She goes out three times a day to see their own collection of black beauties. She'd feed them, comb them, braid them, speak with them. She'd even hear a few words back, on the quietest of days. She swears it's so. That's the life of a lonely child in District Ten. Many turn to animals, few turn to the animals that have seen death in such opaque realness.

Ms. Deep is a slim young lady of fourteen. She's seen forty-two funerals so far. Her round bright eyes are full of woe. Her placid pallor is often gaunt despite her naturally plump features. She seems anaemic, at times, but it's just because she would rather be outside feeding the horses than inside with her parents. Her clothes seem passed down, as though their family had money at some point. The truth is, funeral directing means keeping up the façade as long as possible. Their clothes aren't theirs, they're the companies'.

She's found no benefit from makeup as she seems quite content with herself. She's self-assured, but shy. She's never charismatic and always cautious. Yet, she knows what she wants. Usually, to be left alone, but should she want the rare interaction of others then she's committed about it. Defiant of her natural self, and altogether approachable to the unattuned.

Her mother and father and very strict parents, but only about certain things. As long as she makes it to work, is present for morning meal, and isn't out when it gets dark, then they're happy to leave her to her own miserable devices. They've been in the family business since they can remember and know nothing aside from. The same can be said for Berrium. The Deep Family aren't named as such for their tendency to place people that low, but rather because their small shack-like ranch sits deeper in the outskirts of the District. Thankfully, it's nothing short of a horse ride away from civilisation. Naturally, since the Peacekeepers wouldn't have it any other way.

Her short hairstyle keeps her looking younger than she is. Her attitude makes her seem like an adult. She's essentially fourteen going on forty. And if she knew anybody except for her numerous funeral-cart-carriers, then they'd probably like that about her. She always thought she would be fantastic at giving advice to those who're grieving. Turns out, she may never get the chance. Her parents do that great a job in their roles that she's done little else than holding doors and bearing palls.

The small death-initiated girl from District Ten has no interest in the Games. If she was to ever be chosen it would be pure dumb luck. She's thought about it. Not volunteering, but thought on what it would be like to be the one to cause the death she's seen. But in reality, she knows that the moment she is around twenty-three other kids, she'd rather run away and never be seen. Just like life for her now.

The future has nothing in store for Ms. Deep. It's all planned. It's all a given. The only thing that may stop it is if the Rose Plague was to return and limit their livelihood once again, with the mandatory cremations and all. Nonetheless, they would adapt. Or rather, they may actually do the opposite; they'd just remain stagnate, waiting for their time to pass on. Berri's at peace with that. She's laid any thought of an exciting future to rest. She instead instils a good life in her horses. They're her friends.