Auden Ryder - D4- {FIN}

Just like them old stars.
I see that you've come so far to be right where you are.
How old is your soul?

For a moment he just stops. Stops whatever he was doing. Stops smiling, for once, and just looks at himself. Like, really look at himself. The water by the shore gives him a ripply mirror that distorts his features somewhat. But he couldn't ever mistake that face for someone else even if he tried.

Auden's a pretty boy. Always has been and always will be. His chiseled features and strong chin give him that sort of old-war-hero look. High cheek bones give light to his mostly faded grey eyes which are outlined already by his dark-brown eyelashes. His fairly thick eyebrows make his face seem even more so structured.

He has fairly thick, dark brown hair that he likes to run his fingers through. He does it now, making the thick forest bend for a moment only to have the strands fall back into place just the way they were before. It's a sort of habit he has when ever he's tiered or bored. And his hair has a slight wave to it, so it looks fine no matter what. His builds not exactly bad either. Weighing in at about 165 pounds Auden's a pretty lean and fit kind of guy that comes from doing a lot of grunt work at the docks.

Being fairly tan, one might say he is the stereotypical teenage boy from District 4. When the thought crosses his mind he splashes his reflection immediately. Making the water separate his face in puzzle like swirls. He didn't want to be "the stereotype" of his District. No, not like those cocky, big headed, careers. Oh, how they made his skin crawl! Especially that look on their faces when they've been reaped like it's some kind of honor. He would rather be compared to a rotting carcase than them.

And when your needing your space.
To do some navigating.
I'll be here patiently waiting...
To see what you find.

You ever notice how the ocean laughs? It's like a smooth chuckling sound with every tide and wave. Music to his ears. As for the fish, it's almost like they play along. With every graceful and fluent movement, laughing right along with the ocean. Maybe that's why he loves the water so much.

He never mopes around, never cries. He never frowns and at this type of stuff, he never bats an eye. You wouldn't think that someone like him would be all smiles. No one could blame him for being even a little pessimistic. But at every turn he surprises people with his 24 hour bright attitude. He can see it in people's faces sometimes, the way their noses wrinkle in disgust at how he can be so happy. But in truth, he couldn't care less.

It's what he does. He wants to prove everyone wrong. Whether it's making them laugh or just simply walking around with a little grin on his face. If it hurts him on the inside to give even the tiniest smirk, he'll force the brightest smile you've ever seen. He can make you feel like your his closest friend, but in truth you could not know a thing about him. Not even something as simple as his favorite color or even his last name.

Some people, once they catch on, usually view this as a dangerous trait. He could have every bit of precious information from you. Your deepest, darkest, and dirtiest secrets and what would really be stopping him from giving that away for the right price? Now granted, he's a little bit more honorable than that. But you can't trust every friendly face you see.

Just like the ocean. Sure you can have a good laugh and relax for a little while. But eventually the bittersweet taste will rise to your senses and you'll never know when you might find yourself under the surface. Struggling, panicked, and confused. Not quite sure why your there or maybe even what happened. All you know is that you could die, and you'd do anything to get to the surface.

'Cause even the stars, they burn.
Some even fall to the earth.
We got a lot to learn and God knows we're worth it.

Is it an oxymoron to be called a happy orphan? The orphanage so drab and depressing and who else comes along but Auden Ryder. His slight little grin always present on his face and hands in his pockets. Coming closer to the entrance his first memory of the places comes on so strong that he can feel his heart go cold.

It was the first time he had ever cried in front of anyone. When he'd heard the news that his parents hadn't survived the ship wreck he was right dead middle of the district square. He fell to his knees and cried and cried... Then the Peacekeepers took him away. They dragged him to the orphanage and threw him inside the building like meat to wolves. Almost like saying "Here! Take him and rip him apart!"

Auden's name would be entered in the Reaping for the first time that following year. He stood there with all the other boys his age and stared up at the tributes with their cocky smiles. In that moment, something inside him just glazed over. Like a fire smothered into nothing but ash. The next day he was just smiling. No one knew why and to be honest it scared some of the other kids a little.

His first Reaping was the final straw. Everything started caving in at once in his world and finally he just...shut it out. What he feels doesn't matter to him anymore. All he wanted was to be happy like before. And if burying what he feels in a dark hole inside and painting a smile is the closest he's going to get, then it's what he'll do.

Face Claim: Jake O'Connor

B32D2D
EB500E
D98627