Old Traps [Open]

Metropal
Seam Resident

8 POSTS
last seen Dec 26, 2013 19:23:29 GMT -5

Patriot of the Odd

Old Traps [Open] Jan 21, 2013 11:33:41 GMT -5

Post by Metropal on Jan 21, 2013 11:33:41 GMT -5

~~~

About half way back to the large empty house of hers that presided only about a mile from the College, Lani decided that she would try another route. Going back to a house that was empty and hollow just like her was the last thing she needed. It was a monument to bad memories and a shredded heart that would never recover.

The flashing image of a little screaming girl froze her steps in place along the pale grey sidewalk along the backstreet. Only a second later, another image revealed that same girl yanking the television from the wall like a tortured beast; and Lani's arms wrapped around her abdomen and her short nails hooked into her forearms, threatening to break the skin. Then in another flash across her vision, all she could see was the wide arc the set took as is was flung through the window to the empty street two stories below. Her grip clenched harder, just like the shards in the next flash, as the glass exploded around the girl in a marvelous and twisted display. The girl didn't flinch or move or duck for cover. Only stood there watching the glass fall. It was so simple.

"God...please, stop!" Lani pleaded the cool empty air. She was crippled over in a ball with wet, sticky sweat causing her thick sweater to become choking and unbearable, so she tore it off unceremoniously in the middle of the sidewalk and threw it aside; leaving her in only her thin tank-top and pants. Every time her eyelids fluttered close to clear away the images, they reappeared furiously, as if angered by their attempted evacuation. Heavy pants dragged back and forth in her dry mouth, filling her body with fresh air. It took a while, but finally the new oxygen wiped through her mind clearing out most of the vigilance of the flashes. Enough, at the least for her mind to process other thoughts again.

"Why? Why now? I lasted through the Reaping, this is just a stupid alley." Lani thought pathetically, using her gathering strength to push herself to her hands and knees. Yes, being off her meds, she expected this to happen sometime during the day. But, since she had made it through the Reaping, for a moment she dreamed she would be able to make it home to her drug. It was karma for trying to take another route. It was karma for ever thinking she could last a day. She wouldn't do this again next year; whether she got trampled or not...

About ten feet behind, someone let out a clearly intentional cough that made Lani instantly freeze, still on her hands and knees. "Great." A sigh of pent-up anxiety escaped through her lips and she forced herself to her feet in what seemed like forever. She had absolutely no idea how to deal with this. Had this person seen the whole episode or turned into the alley just to find a under-dressed girl bent-over on the sidewalk? What were they thinking? Did it really matter? It might. They might think she was crazy and call a Peacekeeper to send her back to the psychiatric facility. That's the last thing she needed. She just wanted to go home.

"Umm...." The bridge of her nose scrunched up for a second as she tried to think of something to say. Instead, something pathetic cam out, "H-hey."

Last Edit: Jan 21, 2013 16:40:09 GMT -5 by Metropal

Sedge
Hunter

56 POSTS
last seen Feb 18, 2013 20:42:15 GMT -5

Old Traps [Open] Jan 21, 2013 20:10:05 GMT -5

Post by Sedge on Jan 21, 2013 20:10:05 GMT -5

She Does,She Says,She Hears,She Thinks

~Annabelle O'Sullivan

She was in front of me, someone who wasn't unlike I was. Someone who was poor, someone down on their luck, and someone who couldn't quite... function. When she'd crumpled to the sidewalk, I knew that there wasn't quite something right with her, and I figured she could be worth my time. I let a little cough, trying to grab this girl's attention.

I wasn't really much to look at in my current state. My bones showed prominently, and the grime that came from sleeping on the streets marked me as homeless. Should she take a closer look, she may have even noticed the dead veins in my arms that marked my own drug use. Perhaps had I been wealthier, treated better by the district I might have been quite pretty, but poverty isn't exactly stylish.

My words were soft, but audible as I confronted her, "Need any help?"

Those words were something odd to hear in this kind of place. Particularly the third one, "help." You were supposed to care for yourself, not rely on the aid of others. Especially with my own family, my twin and my younger brother: the abandoned street rats of District 6. For years we survived on our own, stealing and doing odd-jobs providing just enough to fill our bellies, and nothing more.

Perhaps it was this upbringing of mine, my experiences that had made me stop to meet this girl. The fact that I know what it is like for others to just keep on walking without a care in the world. So I stopped for her. And maybe it was for me, too.

Metropal
Seam Resident

8 POSTS
last seen Dec 26, 2013 19:23:29 GMT -5

Patriot of the Odd

Old Traps [Open] Jan 22, 2013 16:02:34 GMT -5

Post by Metropal on Jan 22, 2013 16:02:34 GMT -5

~~~

Lani's first observation about the girl that stood before her was the sharpness of her lines. It was one of the things one like her notices when meeting someone she didn't know. Strangely, it was a side effect of her use. She could tell a story about a person's lines. Curving, straight, sharp, or dull. Fragile or strong. It was determined by how one treated their self. For example, when one injects a dose of morphling every four to six hours, the angles of their veins beneath their skin become rigid and fragile. This was something she often saw in herself and it was a stark reality that she hated. It reminded her that she was not capable of living without the drug. Her independence had been taken by a mere liquid.

So, when Lani saw those same lines, yet somewhat lighter, on the other girl's arms, she knew that they both suffered under a similar burden. Whatever it may be. Judging by the straight and narrow bones that were quite visible underneath her skin, it had something to do along the lines of hunger. Though, that could be easily predicted by the level of filth covering her body. One of the street kids that belonged in a foster home. Maybe it was better on the outside. Learn how to take of yourself. Lani would fall apart if she had to live a similar life.

"Help..." Lani highly doubted some random girl off the street could give her the help she really needed. Even the professionals couldn't cure her. It's not like a heart's minute pieces can be put together like everything is fine. The large gaping hole in her chest still remained with all the severed edges still on fire. The fire could be subdued to a point, but it wouldn't ever extinguish. Never. After a moment's hesitation, she finally replied, "It..would be a lie to say no, wouldn't it?"

As always after the calm down of an episode, not only was she physically drained, but emotionally. Her amber eyes showed little emotion to her attempted joke and only a small twitch of a smirk flitted over her lips. The rest of her body sagged as if pulled down by the weight of her lost, forgotten life. What had happened? Why had this happened to her? She was so pathetic and weak. Where was her brother? Why wasn't he here to make her feel strong again? The stupid Capital. Stupid Games. Stupid brother. Stupid rock...

And quite promptly, without further indication, Lani burst into tears.

Sedge
Hunter

56 POSTS
last seen Feb 18, 2013 20:42:15 GMT -5

Old Traps [Open] Jan 22, 2013 18:22:10 GMT -5

Post by Sedge on Jan 22, 2013 18:22:10 GMT -5

She Does,She Says,She Hears,She Thinks

~Annabelle O'Sullivan

Tears, streaming down this stranger's face, and dripping onto the dusty ground. It drew me forward, wanting to comfort her. One foot after another, I softly walked to her, and knelt down to wrap my arms around her, saying nothing. There were no words to say, nothing I could do to make it go away. All I could be for her was there, a touch, a reminder that the outside world hadn't crashed down all around her.

I closed my eyes, and exhaled, lost for a moment in my thoughts. Things at home with the family hadn't been exactly pleasant, particularly with Lexi. I was still worried about what Gus might say when he heard the news. The anxiety was awful, and not something I really knew how to deal with... healthily.

My eyes opened and glanced over my arm, bruised and scarred; the tale of my life told on my flesh. It was something that many may have blamed on the harshness of the Capitol, and things I used to blame on them. Eventually I learned that it was just too easy to blame some far away people, and that it wasn't them who really cheated me.

The girl underneath my arms seemed to need a friend, and I wondered to myself if there was really anything that I could do for her... but was there anything someone could ever do for me? Giving her a little comforting squeeze, I spoke plainly, "You're hurt."

A part of me felt... improved for lack of a better word. Being there for someone was a role-reversal for me; I'd always been the one being cared for. There was a sense of importance here, something that I never seemed to have. All there was, was someone who needed a friend, and I who was prepared to be that.

Metropal
Seam Resident

8 POSTS
last seen Dec 26, 2013 19:23:29 GMT -5

Patriot of the Odd

Old Traps [Open] Jan 24, 2013 15:51:37 GMT -5

Post by Metropal on Jan 24, 2013 15:51:37 GMT -5

~~~

Who was this girl? Lani found it hard to believe that this complete stranger would just come up to a random crying girl and just hug her. Wouldn't she be creeped out and turn away when for no apparent reason the girl burst into tears? Why did she care about this girl when she clearly had her own problems? This girl was pathetic and self-centered and consumed with a grief that should have been taken care of a long time ago. It didn't make sense. This stranger and the girl.

But when had anything made sense? The world wasn't meant too. It was the reason why human beings stayed alive. To see if something that shouldn't happen would happen and maybe it would make them happy. Was this her chance to be happy? Lani was probably just getting her hopes up. That's what made her so easily breakable; putting hope into places where it will probably be crushed.

"You're hurt." The stranger commented, though didn't make an indication of saying anything else.

Hurt seemed to comforting a word for how Lani felt. Something said to a little child over a scrape on the knee or a lost toy. But then again, while sobbing in the arms of this stranger she must have seemed like a child; just wanting someone to be there. Someone to show her that there was a good place beyond all the bad. Her tears slowed till there was nothing left to fall and she knew she should drink some water before her next dose. Though she didn't push the stranger away, because for the moment, Lani needed someone to be there. Be a friend.

"Th-thanks." She mumbled just barely loud enough to here. "I must seem weird. Weird gecko girl. Ha, how frank."

Now she was to the point of just saying personal things to the stranger. Great. How would this street teen know her old nickname? Sure, a lot of people did, but that was usually restricted down to old friends of the family and owners of stores they visited often. Maybe it was because of the overall weirdness of this moment. Because she was exhausted, without morphling, and still having lingering thoughts about him. Speaking of which...

"Umm...I think I should make my way home." The long, lonely journey home to the dark, lonely house. The thought almost kept her from getting the energy to get up, but her addiction was pulling at her nerves. She wouldn't be able to handle another episode tonight. "I have something I've gotta do."