Kirk Marshall D10 {FIN}

Kirk Marshall
Eighteen years of age
Male
The Tenth district of Panem
odair
Fc is Christopher Masterson
Theme:Wasting Time by Four Year Strong

When not covered in a light dusting of soot, Kirk's curly hair is a dirty blond. When he sweats it has a tendency to get plastered to his head; and due to his work conditions it often is both sweaty and soot covered. His eyebrows are fluffy and sit above his warm chestnut brown eyes. His eyes are said to be melancholy, though he doesn't feel such, the way he stares just makes it look as if he is constantly saddened by something.

Kirk has developed somewhat of a permanent ruddy tan from working the forge and bellows belonging to the Blacksmith he is apprenticed to. Rough hands and callused fingers grip the hammer he uses to pound out horseshoes. His upper body muscles are more developed then his legs, as evidenced by the strength in his lean arms. There is some scruff sprouting from the lower half of his face, forming a scraggly beard and the beginning of sideburns.

Like most in his district, the clothes he wears are primarily made of leather; leather pants, leather jacket, leather belt with an obnoxiously large metal buckle. Kirk prefers dark clothing to complement his ensemble because as it hides the soot stains the best, it means he need not worry about ruining it too terribly.

***

In district ten, many people find that they can relate to horses, talk to them, identify with them when other people let them down. Though he knows how to ride and calm the noble steeds; especially when he has to shoe them, he finds comfort in the methodical usage of his instruments and the sizzle of heated metal cooling in a bucket of water.

Kirk is quiet, and will rarely go out of his to instigate a conversation, though those who do would find themselves pleasantly surprised. Kirk is genial and friendly and has a heart for younger kids. His view of the games is one of a quiet defiance, refusing to watch it in progress, using the time at the forge to create nameplates for the tributes, so that they may not be forgotten;There is a true sense of community in his home district and the pain one feels is often felt by others. Kirk installs the plates above the entrance of his workplace as a testament to their sacrifice.

While at the forge, Kirk can be heard whistling or singing softly to himself, the crisp tone of his tenor weaving through the air in between hammer strikes, paused when he remembers something else that he meant to do. This causes the occasional conflict with his boss, as when he gets distracted, he will usually drop what he's doing and go take care of the other thing, hot tools left lying haphazardly or the fire left roaring when he walks out.

***

Childhood was fairly normal, helping out on the homestead, caring for the horses in the stables, going on cattle drives. As a youngster, he always appreciated the metal-working done by others in the district; going so far as to build himself a tiny mock anvil and hammer out of wood to play with. His father thought nothing much of it until he noticed his son hanging around the nearest forge. The man viewed that profession with disdain and tried to impress it upon him to take up ranching like every other half decent person in the district.

Out of respect, Kirk dutifully listened to his father, he wasn't a bad rancher, he just preferred metal-working. That respect was lost at the age of fifteen when he came home to find his parents in the middle of a heated argument, a fight that only ended when his mother was struck across the face. Kirk later found out fro his mom that the reason behind the fight was his father's admission to having cheated several times over the past fifteen years. No longer caring about his father's opinion, Kirk sought to be apprenticed to a smithy and soon found work.

Now at the age of seventeen, he has spent the last two years learning his trade. He's a far cry from being a full-fledged blacksmith, but the horseshoes he crafts are acknowledged as being quite decent for the price. He awaits the county fair with a sense of achievement and pride in his abilities. Horseshoe throwing is a favorite hobby of his.