Open ;; That Spring Noon

Of course, being from District Ten, it is common knowledge without needing to be said that Toivo was excellent at math. Sometime he was so interested and focused on the details of a certain problem or logical puzzle, he forgot to keep the big picture in his view. He frowned. Certainly this is what was happening now. It was raining. That was a bad thing. In his mind, he humourously treated that as a negative variable. Secondly, the young Avox was quite far away from Grenshaw's house. While he had a truthful reason to be shopping around at such a strange time, he doubted it would get him far if trouble decided to show up. Avoxes would probably have far fewer rights than that of a citizen. Trouble certainly did decide to show up. It couldn't hardly find a better shape or form than that of a Peacekeeper. Toivo frowned. How bad he must look: an Avox far away from “home” with life-sustaining food and other gizbits on him. He was slowly living up to his nickname “Deserter” that Grenshaw liked to call him with a little sparkle in his eye.

Deserter watched the Peacekeeper’s feet. He didn’t dare look into his eyes. He humbly watched his feet as he scurried off toward the store where the nearly intoxicating scents drifted from. His heart slowed as the Peacekeeper walked away. The Peacekeepers he had the pleasure to come across in his past were pure bully getting paid by the Capitol. No wonder life was such a wreck everywhere. Toivo was at a loss as to what would happen to himself when Grenshaw finally died of old age or whatever hit him first. Only time could tell when that would happen- by then he’d be out of time. He would fight that day off like an greedy old codger.
If Toivo’s heart had slowed down when the Peacekeeper left, it probably stopped for as much as ten seconds when Toivo looked up to see the man coming toward him. He nearly panicked for a moment. Perhaps if he ran away - far away - from the scene, things would have gone well enough for him to... No. That was an extremely silly. It would have made him look even guiltier than he already did. Instead, he waited politely and as sessile as possible for the man to approach him. Toivo did seem to be the target. Maybe he’d ask for some sort of proof that he was supposed to be out. Maybe he’d demand some fictional papers of Toivo.

Imagine the young adult’s mind’s reaction when the soldier merely asked to sit next to him. Like some sort of crazy fangirl, he eccentrically scooted over; that was before giving the Peacekeeper a keen once-over. When people entered Toivo’s mind, their face was not easily wiped from his memory.

Toivo stared at the man. He nearly furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Surely this was a real uniformed man that sat so near to him. It wasn’t very safe to simply parade in one without actually being what you are portraying. Especially this case. The man baffled him endlessly. It was like an equation he could not solve. It tore him up inside with frustration, and yet the Avox could not simply ignore it.

One thing that was fairly confusing was that it was not Toivo’s birthday at all. He had the vague idea that it was a joke, but he felt somewhat guilty, staring at the pastry. It was a general rule that Avoxes were not exactly the most respected people in society. Toivo only truly met the Peacekeeper’s eyes this one time - when he had asked Toivo a question - and simply stared. Surely he was not so daft as to forget that he could not rightfully answer. Maybe this was all a ruse to coerce him into attempting to talk such that the man could mock him for his inability to do such. Even still, he continued to stare, hoping the man would get the idea that it was impossible for him to answer.

[Well, that’s the most I felt was needed to be squeezed out in response. xP)

Toivo smiled lightly at the Peacekeeper's error. In a way, it was somewhat comical. If it weren't real, that was. If he could have responded, Deserter would probably have said something along the lines of "Damn right it was." It would have been in a mostly teasing voice though. Even more, there would be many other things he would say. Things he would whisper. Things that he would scream. Things that he would sing- though he wasnt that great at it at all, in sincerity.

Toivo Alas was not one to daydream so it was practically effortless to pull himself from that silent reverie. This was now. Sure he was a tongueless servant. It might have been better than the hard times at home. Grenshaw had money. And food. With the current status many of the districts were in, food was something that one could not always count on being there. It made winning the Hunger Games even more alluring and having to put your name in more than one for a bit more food was almost worth it. Ah the Hunger Games. Toivo did not miss the feeling of fear that he had when the time for the Hunger Games was near. He did always look snazzy just should the case that he be plucked away from his family arise.

The bags in his hands were constrictive so he put them down cautiously, to the effect that nothing would fall out or get too wet in the rain. The white noise that surrounded him was soothing and the grey sky and cooler temperatures made Toivo think of Feeling much more relaxed, Toivo bowed his head to the man - in a "word" of thanks and then took a bite, and then two more, from the treat. It tasted better than he expected. He wanted to snort it down within a few seconds, but instead ate it slowly so that he did not come off as rude. It also let him prolong the enjoyment. While he say munch, munch, munching, he found it awfully queer that a Peacekeeper would be kind. Or anything even relatively close to it. The only Peacekeepers he had met before this one had been more like snarling dogs and hissing cats than human. They would have been dead-on Careers if they lived in the District. He idly moved his toes around in his shoes.