Cedric McMurray: District Twelve

The son of a merchant in District Twelve, Cedric is in marginally better shape than the other children of his District. Though slim, he's stronger than most due to lifting and carrying large, heavy boxes of candles his mother made. He's not very tan; he's quite pale compared to the olive toned children of the Seam.

He's rather handsome, but he has something of a baby face, making him look younger than he really is. Consequently, he looks very harmless. His eyes are a light brown, a few shades darker than his hair, which is the color of light beer and rather scruffy.

He moves quickly and sharply, like a cat. He can be very still when he wants to be, and he has an unassuming look about him.

Quiet, hard-working, and humble, Cedric actually has a few screws loose. His mother is suspected of having killed his father, so that may be where he gets it from. Outwardly, and usually, he's quiet, kind, and a bit awkward. He wanted to be a Peacekeeper, but being from the Lower Districts has made that a mere dream.

Though he would never admit it, there's one thing he loves to do. Fight. This is where the "he's got a few screws loose" thing comes back. Whenever Cedric gets something in his hands that's remotely dangerous (a hammer, a pickaxe, a knife), he goes a bit wacky and starts laughing. And not in an endearing sort of way either.

When he gets his hands on something pointy, shiny and sharp, he starts laughing insanely and goes on a rampage. Underneath his cheerful, awkward visage is actually a madman, and not a harmless one either. He also laughs at the sight of blood, though this isn't comparable to his complete lack of composure with weapons, and he can usually stop himself before he goes completely out of it.

These personas are so different that it's almost like a multiple personality disorder. He's aware of his bloodlust, but is helpless to curb it, and after a rampage will apologize profusely. However, his particular brand of enthusiasm is quenched during the Games. Seeing other children smash and bash each other into little red bits temporarily quenches his bloodlust. For this reason, he eagerly awaits the Games, and is ashamed of it.

Despite his apparent psychosis, he's terrified of his mother, but also a complete mama's boy.

His home life during his childhood wasn't happy. His mother is a devout Irish Catholic, and often sucks the joy out of things with her rigidly religious views. However pious she seems, there's still the rumor that she was the cause of Cedric's father's disappearance and, as it was later discovered, death.

During that time, children avoided Cedric. He created an imaginary friend named Ellie (who exists to this day), and while he never openly got into fights, bad things tended to happen to people who bullied or teased him. Nothing that could be pinned on him, but soon the other children began to give him a wide berth. That was fine. He had Ellie.

Now, with Ellie still devoutly by his side, he helps his mother in her candle-making business and gets into back alley fights for quick money. Many a boy has gone home bloody and beaten because of Cedric jumping them in the shadows. He's particularly proficient with a knife, both in throwing and in hand-to-hand.

Cedric's Theme