Gabriel Landon (District 11)

Gabriel Landon

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Name: Gabriel Lee Landon

Nickname: Gabe

Age: 17

Gender: male

District: 11

Appearance: Gabriel is short for his age and thickset, standing at five feet, nine inches and weighing just over a hundred seventy pounds. Naturally broad shouldered and stocky, he can easily push a heavy plow through densely packed earth or bear the weight of a hefty bundle of wheat. Though, he's absolutely dreadful at harvesting fruit from the orchards of District Eleven since the slender branches of the trees are rarely strong enough to hold his weight, and he's nowhere near agile enough to flit through the branches like many others do (not to mention heights tend to make him feel a bit queasy). Furthermore, like a young ox that doesn't yet know its own strength, Gabriel is notoriously clumsy, often knocking things over with a careless wave of his arm or tripping over his own blundering feet (which are abnormally large). His hands, like his feet, are over-sized, which make handling small, delicate objects extremely difficult since his thick fingers aren't exactly nimble.

Gabriel's short stature is often a source of great frustration for him, seeing that the majority of people he meets tower over him, so there are definitely times when he wishes that he could somehow be just a few inches taller. Even so, he's fairly content with his appearance and is pretty nonchalant when it comes to getting ready for the day. It's quite a shame really, because if he actually put forth some effort into his appearance, he wouldn't be all that bad to look at; he's quite lean from long hours of laboring in the fields and both his arms and legs are fairly muscular. In fact, if he tried, he might even be able to draw the attention of a few girls for once. Unfortunately, his curly blonde hair is often damp with sweat and unkempt, while his body is almost always smeared in a fine layer of dirt and grime either from working in the fields all day or not bathing daily.

Despite his rather bulky and awkward physique, Gabriel has a quite warm and honest face (even if it is a bit square). His eyes are a deep, earthy brown and are quite round, giving them a rather gentle look and they rest right below a pair of thick blonde eyebrows. While his nose is a little too large for his taste, his wide lips are pink and fleshy. Unfortunately, his broad smile can appear a bit goofy, but it's always genuine and never forced. His clothes aren't exactly what one would call flashy or expensive, but he prefers it that way. Most of them are old, tattered hand-me-downs from his older brother, Jareth, so a slightly too big t-shirt and faded jeans are both common, everyday apparel for him. Though, shoes are quite a cumbersome problem since it's quite difficult to find a pair that fit his huge feet, so he usually just goes around barefoot, which in turn often leave his feet filthy and calloused.

Personality: Gabriel is a simple guy with simple needs. The complications and drama of everyday life are enough to drive him nuts; he prefers for things to be straightforward and clear. Now by no means is he stupid (although, he can be a bit thick); he basically just sees everything in black and white. Although, this can be a problem for him since he's incapable of seeing any sort of underlying motives, so he can easily be deceived. One trait of his that often takes a toll on the patience of others is his outright stubbornness. Once his mind is set, there's no changing it and his resoluteness often leads to disagreements. But his hardheadedness also contributes to his superb work ethic and he rarely leaves a job unfinished.

If you need a truthful opinion or a trustworthy soul, Gabriel is the guy to go to. He's unfailingly honest and even though he tries, he's a terrible liar. Even so, he can be brutal and because of this, he often comes off as blunt or even rude. He's the kind of guy that wouldn't hesitate to tell you he doesn't like you or that your idea is horrible. Additionally, he has a very difficult time holding his tongue and is rather imprudent. He's never been one to think before doing either, so he tends to rush blindly into things. This impulse driven recklessness is what usually gets him into trouble, whether it's spatting out a rude remark to an unfair Peacekeeper or initiating a fight with the local school bully. But if there's one thing Gabriel's not, it's a coward. He doesn't hesitate in the face of fear, but instead drives forward, even if terrified. He may be impulsive and rash, but one thing is for certain: he's brave.

Overcoming past struggles has shown Gabriel that the only way to scrape through tough times is to keep moving forward. He's an optimist with an enormous amount of faith that everything will ultimately turn out for the better. He believes that all hardship must end, no matter how painful or seemingly endless it is. Admittedly, it's a strange outlook for a citizen of Panem, especially one living in one of the poorest districts and some think it foolish, but he remains obstinate in his beliefs.

History: Gabriel is the second born child of Daniel and Juliette Landon. At the time of his birth, his family was quite small with only himself, his parents, and his four year old brother, Jareth. But as the years went on, the family quickly grew bigger. Four years after Gabriel was born, twin boys Warreck and Darren arrived, bringing great joy to the now crowded household. The family was always a tightly-knit one, loving and supportive of one another, although they were never very wealthy (though, they were better off than most). They lived in a crude, five-room house which always felt a bit cramped and they were always dependent on the land for a living.

If the rains fell and the harvest was good, they'd have enough food to last through the winter, sometimes even extra during particularly generous years. But if for some reason the harvest was poor, the year would be a harsh one and they'd be at constant risk of starving. One year they nearly did. It was planting season and Gabriel was almost twelve years old. The workers of District Eleven seeded the fields and orchards, just like every year before, and eagerly awaited the arrival of the rains to nourish their crops. But this year, nothing came. The cruel skies retained the precious, life-giving rain and the once rich and fertile lands of District Eleven were now dry and desolate, bearing nothing but dust. When harvest season finally rolled around, the few spindly, brittle crops that somehow managed to survive were shipped off and sold to the Capitol. Even so, it left little money to go around for the now starving citizens of the district.

That winter was the worst one Gabriel's family ever had to endure. With no money or source of income, they were forced to resort to scavenging, eating anything they could find as they slowly began wasting away, growing thinner and thinner and as a result, weaker. Without warning, Gabriel's mother fell ill. It was only a slight cough at first, but the sickness rapidly grew worse, ravaging her already weak body. She was soon bedridden, deteriorating every day, growing ever closer to death. At this point, the desperate family started falling apart at the seams. There were days when Gabriel and his brothers gave up searching for food that simply wasn't there and instead sat in their beds, patiently waiting for death to overcome them. But unlike the rest of his family, Gabriel's father never gave up hope. He searched for work tirelessly, and always managed to scrape up some sort of nourishment at least every few days to feed his family; even if it was only a single handful of dried beans or a thin loaf of moldy bread. Eventually, his resourcefulness paid off and by some miracle, they survived.

The long awaited arrival of spring marked the end of the famine, and suffering began to lose its grip on the district. The rains returned once more to nourish the thirsty fields and as the land recovered, so did Gabriel's mother. Work and food was once again abundant and that following year, a new child was born into Gabriel's family: a daughter they named Holly. Surpassing this harsh struggle has taught Gabriel to never let hope die, that nothing lasts forever and that eventually things will get better. There are still times when he feels powerless and disheartened, especially at the annual reapings, but he always manages to put on a brave face and attempt to move past it.

Codeword: Odair

Comments/Other: Play by is Heath Ledger

Current Ages:
Jareth- 21 years old
Warreck- 13 years old
Darren- 13 years old
Holly- 8 years old