Ajax Brisby (District 3) [finished]

Ajax has always liked the way he looked, but that’s not to say he was ever arrogant about it. He just goes about his business and lets other people draw their own conclusions. He’s a few fair inches over six feet, which is quite tall for his age, and he weighs about one hundred eighty pounds, due more to his height than anything else. He actually appears quite thin and is built like something of an acrobat. Athletic and trim, his muscles are lean and long and often give the impression that he hasn’t any. His skin is clear and tanned and he has a sharp-featured face complete with high cheek bones. His eyes are a deep, pooling green and almost always appear lit up. He sports downy brown hair, and a few wisps of a beard. His body is spotted with sparse and random burns and similar injuries sustained from welding. As another result of his chosen profession, the skin around his eyes and across the bridge of his nose is usually a shade or two lighter than that of the rest of him, due to his wearing protective goggles.

Generally, Ajax speaks in a lighthearted, pleasant tone of voice, although that can change quickly. A change in his tone of voice is the easiest way to discern his current mood. His voice lowers and tone slows when he’s sad or upset, and when he’s angry there’s even a hint of a growl. Speaking normally, however, his voice carries a low tenor pitch and with a hint of brogue and a touch of drawl. He dresses well, but of his station. Almost all of his clothes are of a dark color and he owns one rather nice vest, a birthday gift from his parents and of the highest quality they could afford. He often wears an armband around his upper arm and over his shirt sleeve. It’s nothing fancy: just an inch-wide band of various scrap metals and bits of wire that he found and welded together. He also has quite the selection of thick, leather working gloves, and he’s usually in possession of a pair of welding goggles.

Most of Ajax’s talents center around other people. He operates best when he follows his feelings and sense of compassion, and allows himself to be sensitive to the needs of others. He is more apt to follow his heart than his head and more often than not allows emotion to overcloud reasonable judgment. He works well with people and enjoys helping others. He is quite idealistic and often disappointed at the lack of perfection in the world. He is capable of considerable human understanding and has a lot to give. Friendship, affection, and love are the three most important things in his life. He dreams of guiding and fostering the perfect family in the perfect home and is quite afraid of ending up alone. Despite his desire to be friendly and sociable he is quite socially graceless, although more often than not his good nature makes up for any accidental offenses he commits.

Ajax has no desire to lead or control others, just as he has no desire to be lead or controlled by someone else. Despite not being vocal nor having the desire to lead, Ajax actually has very well-developed leadership skills and when he talks, rare as it is, people listen. He likes space and time alone to evaluate the circumstances of his life and will almost always respect other people’s needs for the same. Quietly stubborn, if there is something he does not agree with then Ajax will plant his feet and stand his ground. He is generally laconic in his speaking style and usually prefers to observe quietly. Ajax is also quite intelligent and, while not flamboyant or showy about it, he tends to be an obsessive overachiever. The teachers that have had him in class know him as the silent boulder that takes up space at the back of the room who somehow manages to pass all of his tests. While he has managed to keep his temper in check, if pushed hard enough Ajax will exhibit a volcanic outburst. Keep in mind that it does take a lot to make him angry, but when the final straw breaks the camel’s back it breaks it hard. He is also the kind of person to hold grudges and it’s very hard for him to let things go.

While many of his peers might be considered philanderers, Ajax is actually quite pleasant in regards to the fairer sex. He upholds chivalry and honor and would never take advantage of any female. A romantic at heart, Ajax takes the concept of love and friendship very seriously, despite having few friends to speak of. He yearns for affection and friendship, but finds it difficult to open up. Having been seen a certain way for the greater part of his life, he’s unsure of how to go about being himself. It is also fair to say that Ajax values family quite highly. As much as he may clash with his family, personality-wise, he is very protective of them and would likely break the knees of anyone who so much as considered thinking an insult towards the name of Brisby.

Titus Brisby & Tamerlane Deverill fell in love when they were seven years old and, when they were nine, Titus proposed marriage with a ring made out of twisted wires. At least, that’s how the story goes. They did grow up next door to one another, and were certainly very fond of each other from an early age. They were practically inseparable until they both left school and entered the workforce when they were eighteen. Titus worked as a bomb technician and Tamerlane took a job in a factory. They married shortly after, when they were twenty, and quickly returned to being as inseparable as they were when they were children. Both had wanted a large family, but sadly where not blessed with the ability to have one. The birth of their only son was unexpected and regarded as a miracle by their families and friends, and Ajax was shown all the love and kindness in the world.

Ajax had the same life as any other youngster in District 3, and to this day he has no distinct recollection of ever being unhappy as a child. His parents were always supportive of whatever he wanted to do, like when he was four and declared that he was going to be a cat. They knew it was highly unlikely, but did nothing to stop him when he proceeded to walk on all fours and meow at the neighbors. Of course he eventually grew out of that, and turns his attentions to the art of sculpting. Ever since he was young Ajax had a fascination with buildings and architecture, not just the structure of it but the beauty. It was amazing to think that someone took this nasty hunk of crude metal and made something so beautiful out of it.

Sculpting, in and of itself, wasn’t exactly an available career for him, so when he was thirteen he began an apprenticeship at a welding shop. After he proved himself enough for the shop owner to trust him, Ajax was able to take the left-over bits and pieces as his own and would craft small sculptures out of them on his own time, selling them for whatever he could get at the market and giving some away as gifts. His welding skills and craftsmanship has improved greatly since then and now he rarely leaves the shop. On his sixteenth birthday, he was hired part-time and received a rather significant pay raise (considering his apprenticeship paid nothing).

He has been a Hunger Games spectator for as long as he can remember. At first he didn’t really understand what was happening, but when he grew older he found himself to be quite a fan. The mix of athleticism and cunning required to win was awe-inspiring. He’s not heartless, though, and always felt awful when someone got killed, especially if they were from District 3. The fact that they were not considered a Career District while 4 was, was something that did light a bit of a fire under him. Not that he longed for the training, or even to be chosen at the Reaping, but he didn’t understand what was quite so special about fish.

Ajax doesn’t fear the Reapings like some of his classmates and friends seem to. If he’s chosen, then he’ll compete the best he can. That’s all anyone can do, right? Well, and pray they don’t end up dead.

Face Claim: Jordan Nichols