Treasures and Nerves (zakattak)

Typhon Reed

Typhon was sitting on the beach watching the boats leave for the morning and letting the autumn winds whip around his face. He was brooding over the fact his father and grandfather had forced him to stay behind this morning. Typhon had a fitful night in his sleep last night and apparently his family over heard. It usually happened around this time of year though, when Reaping Day was so close. Last night he dreamt that it was the 50th Games again with double the tributes. Himself, his sister and his best friend, Avery, had all been reaped for the games. He had woken up screaming and covered in sweat and forced himself to realize it was all just a dream.

Avery. He sat waiting for that silly little red head right now. He figured Avery would be heading out to help them on their boat again today and had to head him off to let him know they were free for the day. Before Avery came into Typhon’s life, he never had free time and spent every minute helping on his family’s fishing boat... well except this time every year when his family usually forced him to take time off. Avery changed that though and was the only person who could convince Typhon to occasionally just goof off for the fun of it. Although, whenever Avery helped out on the boat it seemed like free time. Typhon was always a smiley guy anyway, to help keep his family positive, but he couldn’t help but smile more whenever Avery was around. The guy was so quirky and goofy that there was never a dull moment when he was around. The best though, was that when it was just Typhon and Avery, Typhon felt he could let his guard down and drop the optimistic façade sometimes, and Avery could always cheer him up.

He started thinking about his dream again though and pictured Avery battle scarred in his made up arena. Typhon buried his head in his hands and pressed them hard against his eyes to prevent any tears. He hated Reaping Day more than anything and it was coming up fast. He let out an angry yell as he looked up and sniffled as he wiped his eyes just to be sure they were nice and dry. He stood up, brushing sand from his body; as usual, he was in just his swim trunks. Typhon stretched and turned around to see Avery walking in his usual bouncy way toward him. He couldn’t help but smile.

(( Will you make me a thing for Typhon like you did for Midas too? thanks babe ))

Typhon Reed

Typhon laughed a little as Avery stopped so closely in front of him. It had taken a while to get used to how close Avery would get to him, but as their friendship grew, he slowly started to crave the closeness.

“I’m alright,” Typhon lied with a huge smile, “Just aggravated my Dad is making me take the day off.”

He looked down into Avery’s bright, knowing eyes. Typhon rolled his eyes; Avery would never buy that.

“Alright, alright, damn it… I had a dream last night about the reaping. It was like the 50th games all over again, and well... we both got reaped… I just… I hate…” Typhon couldn’t talk about it any more and just scowled, looking out to the sea.

Typhon Reed

Typhon wrapped his own arms around Avery, returning the hug and pulling him in tighter. He soaked in Avery’s words, but it didn’t easy the churning in his stomach. It didn’t matter whether you signed up for Tesserae or not, all it took was one name to be reaped for the Games. One name.

“Thanks Ave,” he said, running his fingers through Avery’s wavy, red locks. Typhon sighed and released Avery from his tight squeeze and turned to look back out at the ocean.

“Alright, so since we’re not needed on the boat today, what would you like to do?” Typhon with a smile as he stretched his back.

Typhon Reed

Typhon laughed as Avery went on with is list. It was hard not to be genuinely happy when Avery was around. He was the goofiest person he knew, and also the most genuine.

“Alright, Alright,” Typhon said, “Let’s go the square today since you’ve already been diving. I’d like to get my sister a little pick-me-up gift anyway.”

Typhon bent down over for Avery to hop on his back to carry him to town, “come on you, before you get distracted by that shiny object over there…. I’m kidding Avery, there isn’t actually an object!” Typhon laughed as Avery started to look around for the fictional shiny thing.

Typhon Reed

Typhon jumped as Avery ordered him to stop, worrying a peace keeper was about to yell at them or something, but no, of course not. Avery was merely distracted by flowers. It never ceased to amaze Typhon that in this world where there was so much pain and oppression, Avery never succumbed to the horrors around him and retained the life in his innocent little bubble.

He bent down again as Avery hopped back up onto his back giggling. He continued moving onward when he felt Avery’s hands pushing his hair back and placing the flower behind his ear. When he felt Avery’s lips press against his cheek, his stomach did a summersault and his face grew hot.

Typhon fumbled over his words, trying to form response to Avery’s action, “uh-I-what-you-that-… you’re a mess, you know that?” Typhon started laughing along with Avery.

When they got into the bustling square Typhon set Avery down, but the two stayed close together as they navigated the sea of shops. Typhon didn’t exactly have much money, in fact there really wasn’t any in his family to spare, but every year during the Reaping days, he always tried to find some sort of little gift for his younger sister. He lead the way to a local trinket shop, trying to keep Avery from being distracted by everything he kept spotting in the shop window displays.

Typhon Reed

Typhon always forgot how guilty he felt walking through the square with Avery. He knew Avery felt bad about having money when Typhon didn’t, and he knew Avery tried to play that down as much as possible. Honestly, it didn’t bother Typhon at all, and he always insisted on taking Avery into the other shops anyway. Still, he made his way to the little thrift store in the back; he knew that was Avery’s favorite anyone. Plus, he could actually probably afford a gift for his sister among the cheaper items there.

Typhon shook the hand of the shopkeeper as they entered; he knew him pretty well. But the time he had turned back around, Avery was already popping all over the store suggesting presents. He smirked and started following behind him, putting the now misplaced items back on the shelves Avery had picked them up from.

Typhon was a little nervous, all of the things Avery seemed to be picking up were cheap, but still out of his price range. He skirted over to a section with items he was more likely to be able to afford and picked up a small locket. He turned around to see Avery fascinated by some large tortoise carved out of ivory. He walked over to him with the locket.

“Do you think my sister would like this?”

Typhon Reed

Typhon had just finished checking out with the locket for his sister. He hadn’t quite had enough money but the shopkeeper took pity and lent him the rest considering what the next day may bring. If not for anything else, Reaping Day brought the citizens of each district closer together for a while as they shared in the horrors of two children saying goodbye, possibly for good.

Typhon was about to brood when suddenly Avery was on him, shoving a seashell to his ear. He smiled and closed his eyes to listen, but Avery was already removing the shell from his ear and digging through a nearby bowl filled with bracelets. Typhon watched him curiously as Avery scoured over the variety of colors and designs the bracelets wielded. Though Avery swore there was a method to everything he did, it always came across as mostly madness to Typhon. He liked it that way though; there was never a dull moment with this feisty red head.

He was losing himself in his thoughts when Avery snapped him back to reality, grabbing his wrist and tying the bracelet to him.

“Now, no matter where we go, we’ll always have a piece of each other with us! We can never forget each other.”

The words chimed through Typhon’s head and begin to ring over and over as he looked down at his new bracelet. Whether Avery intended it or not, it became just another reminder Reaping Day was tomorrow. His stomach lurched as he considered the possibility of his sister or Avery heading into the arena. He then began thinking of how hard it would be if he was reaped himself and those he loved had to sit and watch. He was going to be sick.

The shopkeeper patted him on the back sympathetically, waking him back up to reality. Avery was already halfway out the door. Typhon shook his head to snap himself out of it and headed off after his companion.

“Alright, how about we stop in that little tea shop you love so much and get some breakfast?” Typhon suggested with his usual charming grin back on his face. He didn’t want Avery to see how tense he was getting about what the next day may bring.