Starting Life Where It Ends(Open In-Character Role

He sat down in the old chair and they started to talk. He asked her for her last name and she answered politely, Tanner, Alexandria Tanner. And sure, let me just get the tea ready first." i said as the tea spout began to sing. I quickly took it off the stove, one hand on my towel so it wouldn't fall. I poured it into two small, old tea cups painted with purple lilacs on them. I took two tea bogs and plopped one in each. I handed one down to Gortan.

"So, umm, do you know any better fishing spots than the one I was in?" I said trying to start up a conversation. I took a sip of the tea, I burned my tongue a bit and then remembered that I didn't wait for it to cool. I must have made a silly face because Gortan smiled amusingly. I giggled a bit and poured myself some water to sip to cool my mouth down.

I then remembered I had the towel on and flushed pink again. "Excuse me a second, let me put on a bit more appropriate clothing." i said getting up and trotting down the kitchen to my room who's door was practically part of the kitchen.

I ran through my clothes and slipped on some torn denim shorts and a slightly see through white shirt over my orange and green bikini. I came back out with a brush and a ponytail holder in the middle of tying my hair back. "Better?" I laughed.

I smiled warmly at his complement, "D'aww thanks! Your so sweet!" I said enthusiastically. I sat down and drank my now cool tea. He suggested we go to the farther docks and at high tide. I nodded at his explanation. He then asked to see my paintings.

"Of course! One second!" I rushed into my room and rummaged through the stacks if paper upon my floor that held paint on them. I took out three, one of a single full sitting on the dock out looking the ocean, another of a man in a fishing boat with his hook in the water and fish swimming beneath his boat, and the last one of a water fall in a beautiful lush landscape that almost looked like a rainforest. Then I eyes the one I had made that night and picked it up and stacked it on the bottom of the pile.

I came back out with the paintings and gently placed them in the table in a place where tea couldn't get to them. I hoped he like them, those were my best pieces by far. And I hoped he would treasure the one especially made for him at the bottom. I think that is actually my bet painting, I worked almost 3 hours on it!

"I hope these are ok." I muttered to him awaiting his reaction.

once again, like always, I was overwhelmed with compassion by his complement. No one has ever told me I was a good artist. No one ever told me I was beautiful.

He hugged me tightly and I returned the hug. I smiled as we exchanged hugs and our bodies came together. I felt so safe and comfortable in his arms, he saved me once, and I knew he would save me again as many times as I would become a damsel in distress. I mean, I could take care of myself without him, but he just reassured my safety.

I looked at him and hesitated to speak, mostly because I didn't have many words at that moment. "Do you want to see some more? There just in my bedroom. Oh and by the way, the last one is for you to keep. It isn't much, but I'm hoping you can keep it in the games with you, just to keep you motivated and strong, to remind you of us." I said as we walked into my bedroom. I gathered the pile of paintings and laid them down in my quilted bed and let him have a look.

I nodded calmly and smiled as I grabbed the gently used rod that lay next to my bed along with the two fishing hooks I had. "Ok then, lets go, and you werent rushing me." I said sweetly as I lead him out the front door.

They walked down the stony path and I showed him the shortcut that I had to the beach. "Just becareful of snales and saw grass, oth bite and both sting." I said a bit amusingly along with seriousness. I opened up a piece of towering grass and and stepped in. I carefully avoided the thicker bunches that were saw grass and watched my footing as well. I led him through until we came upon the sand again.

I breathed in a good amount of the salty ocean air. It was so refreshing and to me, it meant home. I leaped from the sand dune onto the finer sand below. Like always, this was the non-populated or industrialized part of the unfathomable beach, and it looked stunning. The early morning waves rolled in gently and refined the sand down to a perfect smooth texture.

"Stunning as always!"

I looked down the beach the opposite direction of where we usually go and I saw a pair of long docks outstretched onto the perfect turquoise ocean. I pointed and looked at him. "There? Those docks looks really long!" I asked covering my forehead with my colorful painted hand to block the sun.

I looked back to him and saw thr he looked like he needed to say something. I didn't ask him to and rather I took upon myself and predict what he would say. I had a feeling it wasn't about fishing or anything. I had seen that facial expression on him when he talked about the Games. He probably wanted to tell me something inspiring like, Your a crazy girl to be in love with me. or even Don't worry about me tomorrow, I will win the games for us, and even if I die, don't fret over it. I'll still be there emotionally and mentally. even his unsaid words created a flame of comfort inside my chest and deep in my heart.

I knew that even if he perished during the games, his soul would still be with me. It would carry me through the long boring days with out him. I would probably have to start working again, and unfortunately that meant passing the victors village. That would stab me right in the heart. The life we never had...

the say went by fast, too fast. Than she would like. He caught about thirteen fish, all a good size, I caught maybe 6, but they were all a good size as well.

He walked me home as the sky darkened. It was a bittersweet moment when we arrived at my home. He took my hand in his and looked me straight in the eyes and told me his mind, he told me his heart. I couldn't stop myself from crying. It just wasn't possible.

I bet I looked pretty weak with tear after tear making its way down my cheek. I agreed with what he said about the kiss. I would never be able to let go. He finally told me he loved me. It was more than I could wee ask for. I wiped away some of the tears before he handed me the fishnet bag and our catch. I almost couldn't grasp it, the only memory I would have if him. And he only had the picture. I let a couple more tears run down my face.

He turned and walked away. I could tell he was about to break down in tears and he didn't want me to see it. I had said no words. Frankly because I felt as if words were not enough to describe what he felt. In my mind, I was kicking and screaming for him to come back.

I walked into my house and dropped the items on the table. My mom came into the kitchen surprisingly not drink for once in her life. I just looked at her and before she could say anything I hugged her and sburied my face in her chest like I did when I was little. "Hes gone mom, hes going to go tomorrow and I can't do anything. I love him mama." of course age had no idea who I was talking about and just rubbed my back not knowing what to do because of her lack in parenting. I looked at her and walked into my room locking my door. I place the paintings on the ground gently and and crawled into bed weakly. I fell asleep easily just because I was exhausted. I had a dreamless sleep thankfully.




The next morning. I arose groggily and looke out the window. I had no idea what day it was at that one in the morning. I walked into the bathroom to wash my face and noticed my eyes were puffy and a bit red. Then I remembered last night. Then I remembered today was the reaping, and I would have to watch Gortan volunteer himself into the capitols twisted games.

It angered me a great bit to think that it was all the Capitol's fault that they were going to bend his mind and take him down mentally. It really hurt me inside. I pulled on the dress I wore every year. Not anything fancy. A simple sundress with blue and yellow flowers and a bow tied around my waist. I put my hair in a high bun and slipped my feet into the matching blue flip flops and walked into the kitchen awaiting my parents, because I had too.

My mother was till obliviouse to what happened lat night and my dad was just hungover and drunk like he always was. My mother smiled at me. You look beautiful she said to me smiling a bit. I smiled back in basic manner and we walked to the town square together.

I signed in with the peacekeepers and took my spot in my age section. I glance over at the boy's section just in time to see him and the other boys his he come up to their spot. I smile at him but I don't think he saw me. It was a grueling wait for the escort to call the names. I crossed my fingers and thankfully they didn't call my name, nor Gortan's, but I know that couldn't stop him. I shut my eyes tightly just wanting it to all be over.

All I could think really, all I cared about, was Gortan Cande. The boy that makes me crazy to be in love with.

<3

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(ooc: if you can volunteer that is)