Jayna Tallis [District Four]

The most striking thing upon meeting Jayna is her eyes. Though blue and round, they have a certain lack of emotion in them. There is something cold and slightly frightening if you look into her eyes deeply enough, for you see… Nothing. There is little to no hint as to what she is feeling, and at times, you could swear her mind is already in the Arena, for there is something slightly vicious in her eyes, as though she is already contemplating how to off a threat. Her nose is slightly upturned, and her face is framed by slightly wavy light brown hair, that at times could almost appear blonde.

From years of training, she has some muscles that make her more menacing than her eyes alone. While Jayna couldn’t be described as a female body builder, the handling of weapons and helping cast nets for fishing have made her far from a weakling; as she views it, far from the pathetic little girls in District 1 who only care about makeup and appearances. She could take them down easily. Easy, to snap those little twigs they call arms. Her legs are especially well muscled and toned, from all the exercise they’ve had over the years. She does have rather large feet, which would be the equivalent of about a size 11 shoe. At about 5'7" Jayna is reasonably tall, and at 165 lbs, not one to be trifled with.

Clothing isn’t something that concerns Jayna. She could wear whatever, but she prefers things that allow her movement. She isn’t into showing off her body or flaunting anything that she has, or doesn’t have. Since she spends the majority of her time training for what she views as the inevitable reaping, she tends to wear older clothing that has seen better days – some things occasionally with holes or a few bloodstains, from where she has taken a hit. Though she will wear nicer clothes to the reaping- or anywhere that people of importance might see her – this is only rarely, and only to make her district [and parents] proud. After all, appearances don’t matter – honour does.

From years of training to be a Career, Jayna has simply become hardened and lost empathy for others. After all the killing simulations, and the knowledge that in order to bring honour to her district, she must kill, the taking of a human life means nothing to her anymore. It is simply a fact. While watching the Games, she tends to critique the moves of others- evaluating where they went wrong, what they could have done better, etc. In her mind, she stores these moves and attitudes of others to mentally prepare herself for what she views as her inevitable fate. When Jayna watches though, it is not with the soft eyes of many, who silently pray for those younger tributes, and those who are weak and disabled. No, Jayna watches with the cold eyes of one who could care less of who wins and dies, [unless of course they happen to be from District 4] one that has no sympathy, and indeed, mostly disdain, for those who are in the Games.

Though often seen as cold and hard-hearted, Jayna is extremely determined and hard working. This often comes out in the training center, where she has spent more and more hours the older she gets. She is determined not to be another stupid tribute with nothing to offer but sniveling and apologies toward her fellow competitors. No, this was a Game, these were competitors, not friends and she couldn’t afford to treat them as such. Well, would never, if she ever stepped foot into the Arena. Jayna spends long hours in the training center, perfecting a move until she has it “just right,” particularly if it is something she has seen recently in the Arena. She is not one to be caught off guard. She will know everything there is to know, will touch every weapon, for who knows what could be in the Arena? This is all about bringing victory to her District, pride to her family. Isn’t that what the Games are all about anyway? More food, better housing, the coveted status as “Victor.”

Due to her extreme nature, many people do not find her pleasant to be around. She can be cold, ruthless, and will mock those she sees as stupid. [which is a great deal of people] Whiners, idiots, children who were afraid to enter the Arena – Jayna has no time or patience for these sorts of people. In her opinion, all children should begin preparing in the Arena as early as possible, all for the betterment of the District. Maybe Four would have more victors if people weren’t so soft on their children; forced them to learn Offense and Defense, the proper ways to handle a knife, to block a punch. Most people are, essentially, useless. Now if she could find those more like minded, those who don’t mind discussing the Games in detail, reliving every gory scene only to pick it apart, to examine it – those would be people worth her time.

From the very beginning, Jayna was raised to have pride in her District. District Four, home of the fish. She was raised learning how to pull in a fish net, to gut a fish and cook it for dinner. A delicious dinner, with seasonings, and, if luck would have it, potatoes or rice. Not that Jayna particularly cared for cooking – rather boring, when you could be out doing something more active- but it was useful to know. Useful, as in, this skill, passed down from her parents to her, always ensured there was food on the table. Jayna has never really known hunger, or what it is to go without. Though not as rich as some District Ones or Twos, Jayna sees little need for the luxuries afforded those Districts. What good are the clothes or lifestyles afforded there? None. They serve no purpose except to weaken one’s soul, and distract it from what is really important.

In addition to not knowing hunger, Jayna had never been allowed sympathy for others. Every year when the Games are played on the TV, Jayna sits and watches with her parents [when they are around] who often critique the players. Any time she expressed the slightest bit of concern for someone in the Arena when younger, she was met with, “Weakness, Jayna. What you are seeing is weakness, and their own fault. Do not let their weakness make you soft hearted and weak.” Though difficult as a child, by the time Jayna began her training, this attitude was drilled into her so much that she began to see others as weak, as sniveling cowards who cried and begged to go home when threatened with danger instead of maintaining any sort of pride or dignity. Disgusting.

Jayna’s parents work as most others in District Four do, in the fish catching industry, which, on days when Jayna isn’t training, she does as well. Most days, they go out and return with a small load for themselves in addition to meeting the quotas they must in order to satisfy the Capitol. Jayna is quite adept at making nets to catch fish, often snaring a load and picking off those whose meat is most likely to be juicy and succulent – putting it into a pile directly for her own plate. Her parents, of course, encourage this, as they fully expect their one and only child to be a victorious tribute in the Arena someday soon and she must eat the best she can in order to keep up her strength and health. Most of her parents’ resources go toward making Jayna succeed in her training, so that hopefully she can return a victor, a pride to them and the District.