If There's Anyway You Can Help (Jack Lex)

Of course Matthew gets curious of why the twin's father is in a DC, they wonder the same thing at least once a day. "Not sure happened a few years ago, and our sisters won't tell us younger ones why." Gala explains, she was probably the only one of all the girls who could careless, which was why the tone of her voice didn't exactly match her words. They were probably around the age of eight, when one day they were all walking home as the Thomas sisters always do. Money was tight so they always came home to the lack of parents, but that day they're mother was home just sitting there blankly. It toke a few hours to figure out what was wrong, and a few months of watching their mother just sitting there, with no emotions. Then one night the Thomas sisters were all parentless, though their was no dead bodies to prove it.

At least the next answer brought a distraction from that part of their life. It was easy for Gala to switch topics, but Gwen's mind stayed trapped as always. Every year there's a victor of course, it was just a little surprising with the quell twist, as if no kid could actually become a victor. "Right." Gala responds in between Matthew's pause, he explains about how no career does stuff for pity, and all Gala can think of is the fact he already demonstrated that part. So twelve-yr-olds aren't strong but with the right trainer they can be tough and aim. "Well we're already pretty strong, just need to learn how to aim." Gala shares, figuring it was probably best on account he was their trainer now.

The word professional halts their Trainer, though it wasn't meant as an offensive comment. "I figured the professional trainers were training you and the other careers that actually had a chance." Gala explains, both girls coming to a stop as well. "Isn't training what Careers do if they didn't get the chance to be in the games?" Sure everyone had a little knowledge of what a Career was, but at least for the twins they weren't aware of a lot about it.

Gala bites her bottom lip awaiting for some gesture of acceptance, that Matthew understood she didn't mean to be rude. "So can we start throwing knifes now?" Gwen asks hoping to break the ice, a little giggle follows because usually Gala would slip something like that. Maybe they'd be able to play their favorite game of confusing people on who's who, but then again they probably shouldn't push it was guy. They finally might be on his good side, and he seems like a great trainer. Last think either of them wanted was to do more convincing, or begging for him to just show them how to use a weapon.

"Sorry." Gala actually says something sincere, but after all she wasn't meaning to call their new trainer unprofessional, they were grateful. Neither of the twins were mean girls, despite their occasional jokes. Then suddenly a small smile formed on Gwen's face, and a slightly larger grin on Gala's. "You'll give us two weeks?" Gala asked, her eyes glowing with excitement. Sure Matthew stated for them to give him two weeks in order to give him the title of being professional or not, but they were simply shocked that they may actually receive two weeks of training. Certainly they'd call him the best trainer in the district, they wanted even a false security in thinking training would protect them from the Hunger Games. They'd do anything to protect one another.

Another run around the lap is called, and the girls indicate it's because of the slip of professional, though they certainly didn't mean to be rude. Either way they tried their best to keep up with Matthew for the last lap, like they finally had a big brother to gain approval from instead of all the nagging sisters. Even if they said the wrong thing a few times, it was nothing like practically having to walk on egg shells to keep away from another lecture. But maybe they were all trying to make up for the lack of parents. By the time the lap was over with they were a bit out of breathe though they could run for miles with out a break of a sweat. The need to catch up over-ran them though.

"That's not fair, you're legs are like twice as long." Gwen protested against not being good at sprinting, while Gala stayed quiet because she at least beat her twin by a bit; even if she was hardly comparable to Matthew.

So the knife throwing wasn't going to happen right away, which was probably best. Now that the girls knew they probably had a few days the rush wasn't needed. "What we're good at?" Gala asked rhetorically, both girls looked around for some kind of object that would work for trapeze. Gwen nudges her sister and pointed to the tallest pull-up pole in the gym. It seemed like it was ten feet high, though the twins probably only felt that way due to their tiny disposition. Either way it'd do for a trick or two to demonstrate the only thing they were truly talented at.

Both girls toke opposite polls supporting the pull-up beam and began spiraling up. They each had different talents for their shows, Gwen choreographed everything and was daring enough to trust Gala to hold her up, and Gala's responsibility was keeping enough strength to hold both of them up...hence the reason she was a bit more athletic & stronger. Gwen rested on top while Gala had to show off a bit and exercise a few pull-ups before bringing herself up to a sitting position with her sister. "This is our talent." Gwen explained swinging her legs back and forth with no fear off falling of the scrawny poll. They had been doing this for year.

"Ever go to the circus around here?" Gala asked with a bit of a proud grin. Both girls flipped backwards with some giggles, letting their legs bring them all the way back to the right-up sitting position. Still giggles followed, they no longer got dizzy from spinning, only a light-headness filled them with a light laughter. "We can't do much since this isn't a trapeze thingy." Gala explained, patting the pull-up bar.

"Besides that we've never really used a weapon." Gwen cuts in to finish the explanation.

"But we're fast learners." Gala feels the need to add in. "Wanna see one more trick?" She asks, though it's once again rhetorical because they were going to do it anyways. Gala flipped upside down, having her legs hold her up, and Gwen carefully balanced herself to stand onto of the bar. Being the graceful one she even jump a few times to land on her tippy toes, that was simply a tactic to scare the audience a little bit. On one of the jumps, she purposively goes back a little to far, and falls to be caught by her sister's grip on her arms.

Half a foot off the ground Gwen safely lands, and Gala grips the pull-up bar with her tiny palms and also lands safely. Sure they knew a few other tricks, ones that could bring an audience to the edge of their seats, but nothing that'd help them in the hunger games. "Nothing useful." Gala points out with a shrug, looking at Matthew with wonder on account their talent couldn't be built off of in anyways they knew of.

The look on the Trainer's face as soon as the girls finish is priceless to them, especially after everything that had happened. It actually scared him a little, that one of them was going to get hurt. The two grins were from the seance that he might not actually be all tough. "But we worried you." Gwen giggled, following with her twin giggling as well. It was nice to know he wasn't all cold. Before he seemed like the type to careless if one of them got hurt, maybe he's starting to care.

"And we could push someone out off a tree from really high up!" Gala comments, protesting against the fact that it was as useless as a blind third eye...it at least wasn't that useless. "Except that it's impossible for us to both get reaped..." She shook her head to rid of the thought and move onto the next task. Something that could actually help them if one of them were reaped.

"Thanks." Both of the girls perk up out of that thought when Matthew compliments them on their swinging. After all it wasn't a useless talent, just for the Hunger Games. The grins went down a little when asked about fighting techniques, which had to be none. Heads were shaken no as the response, they seemed to be disappointing their trainer enough with lack of Career traits.

Since they don't have any formal training, their Trainer needs to know where they actually stand...meaning if they need to start from the very basic training which would set them back a lot. If only it was an easier task because it seemed impossible to fight Matthew, even if it was the two girls against him...he's like twice as tall, so to hit his face would be a difficult task. "That doesn't seem very fair, you're like super tall and strong." Gwen points out the obvious.

A nudge of course comes from Gala, wanting to take on the test even if it meant failing. After all a cookie was involve, and those were a rarities to them. With eight girls and no formal income except the circus, basic necessities came first, then the things for the performances, leaving no money left over for treats. "It's a cookie." Gala whispers to Gwen who gives a 'are you serious' look back. How would they possibly take their Trainer though? Get to his level?

Sweeping him like he did to Gwen was impossible due to the different body weights, even if both of them went in for a charge. If one stood on top of the other he could easily knock them over like a straw house. They had to somehow use their different strengths to outsmart him. The girls didn't even have to communicate to get their idea, simply knew what to do. Gala was the better sprinter, and was decently strong though nothing comparable to Matthew. As discovered earlier Gwen picked up how to generally throw a knife with aim.

If done right Gwen predicted if she threw the knife at Matthew and got him to get even a little off balance attempting to dodge it, then Gala could sprint in and knock him down all the way. So that the Trainer himself didn't catch on Gwen quickly grabbed a tiny knife from earlier and Gwen got into position. Once Matthew looked Gwen's way she chucked the knife and Gala sprinted for the fall.

((OOC: This was really difficult to come up with. I was thinking "how the hell are these little girls going to take on Matthew." Hope it's decent.))

When Matthew yells he meant a punch and not with a knife Gwen couldn't help but giggle a little, effecting her concentration on knocking over her target. Still it did work out as planned, even though Gala ends up getting slightly crushed by their Trainer. She was hoping that he'd dodge the other way and Gala could easily jump up and give him a small hit on the face. It was all about the aim, making sure he went the right way, but she couldn't blame her sister for not having perfect aim. After all that was her second time throwing a knife.

Immediately Gwen ran over and gently punched their Trainer's cheek as if it was a nice gesture. "Gotcha." Gwen calls out and both the twins join in on Matthew's laughter. Even if it went completely wrong it was the funniest moment to happen to them since their parents disappeared. Their sisters had become quite serious and strict, so laughing because they couldn't help to felt so great.

"You're heavy!" Gala attempted to get freedom, but the giggles weren't helping. "That wasn't bad right?" She asked with a tiny pride grin, waiting to grow bigger with approval.

As soon as their Trainer says 'nicely done' a proud smile spreads to both of the identical faces. They were awfully proud of themselves even if Matthew wasn't going to be, but it just made it all that much better to get approval. Not being able to communicate, to think extremely fast between the two of them, have decent prediction...though they still needed a bit of work, but that was what their trainer was there for.

Of course a few pointers are still going to be given out, after all it go perfectly. Apparently Gwen was a wuss when it came down to punching, but she didn't want to actually hurt someone's fact...though she probably wouldn't of even if she tried. "Well you told me to not hit you with a knife." Gwen commented back. Gala takes Matthew's offer for help up and practically jumps to her feet with how strong her is.

The fact that they're not going to be in the arena together brings both of the girl's happy attitude down a little; they were so strong and talented with each other, they couldn't even imagine being separated. "Yeah." Gwen sighs with agreement. "We know." Gala finishes with, resisting to sigh like her sister did.

A motion to try again is given, but after the last statement they almost feel defeated. What was the point if the chances of one of them surviving the hunger games seemed so unlikely if they couldn't both be in it. Gala goes in for her best round-house kick, it hardly reaches far above his hip line because of the height differences. Certainly it wasn't even close to how strong one of Matthew's kicks would be, but it was at least stronger then if Gwen tried. "This is useless, we're not nearly as strong or tall as you." Gala gives out a sigh this time. "We've never been trained, except in flips and climbing." She felt the need to clarify though Matthew was probably already aware.

The reassurance of Matthew only trying to find what their strengths eases the twins a little bit, though not fully. There was no time to present disappointment or pity though and they knew that, yet they couldn't help it. In a way it did seem pointless now that the realization only one of them could get reaped was presented. Certainly they were aware, but it effected their confidence. Still they needed to pull both their heads back into the game. "Okay." Gala agrees with a sigh, there was no point in getting frustrated already.

They both listening carefully to Matthew's first tips of fighting without weapons, when to kick and when to throw a punch. It didn't seem like Gala's tiny knuckles could make much of an effect hence the reason she started with kicking. "Are you sure my fist can reach your head?" Gala asked with a light giggle that almost sounded forced, like she was telling a joke but honestly felt like it was impossible. He was a good two heads taller, and his head size not the girls'.

When Matthew mentions that Gwen would be attempting next both of pairs of eyes grew a little. Not over the fact that he wanted to test them both, but the fact he could tell them apart with ease. "You can tell us apart?" Gwen questioned, wondering if it was just a lucky guess or if their Trainer was good at catching on to things. His facial expression clearly illustrates that he had enough with the games, it was time to continue with the training.

Gala was up first, placed her fists in front of her face like she's witnessed professional fighters doing. With doubt over reaching their Trainer's face she went for his stomach, which nearly bruised her knuckles more then the punch given how strong he was. Suddenly she jumped and went in for his face with a hook punch, in hopes it'd catch him a little off guard and she'd seem stronger then her appearance.

((OOC: Sadly one of the twins didn't get reaped, though that means Matthew and them can thread more! But I did get my very first character reaped; little Sophia from District Four.))

Both of the girls crack up for a second as they look at their shoes; it was a small detail that Matthew noticed and they were pretty impressed by it. Even their sisters constantly mixed them up, but that was beyond the point. "Clever." Gwen compliments as her giggles subside, it was nice to not be seen as the same person for once.

The instructions were to only punch Matthew's face, though Gala toke it as doing her best to get a shot at his face. Another proud grin goes to her face when it appears that she did manage to give a little pain. "You said anything goes." Gala reminds him with a smirk and glistening eyes for doing something right, at least to her. Now it was Gwen's turn to give her best shot, show that their Trainer wasn't waisting his time on training both girls.

Being a few yards back Gwen made her way to them, and as if it was a tag team Gala toke a couple of steps back. With the rules being clarified she knew to only give her best shot at Matthew's cheek, like before when they got him to trip, but more then just a kind nudge. She placed her two fists in front of her face as her Trainer and twin had done, jumped a few times to get the motivation. The only trickery they may have was that Gala was left handed and gave a left swing, and despite the fact they were identical Gwen was a righty. She pretended to be left handed as well, then gave her best swing with her right hand. Not as strong as her twin, but it still held a punch behind it.

To no surprise to Gala, Gwen's eyes grew large and curious, a bit ashamed of herself for punching someone. She hated violence to no end, and was lucky enough to not grow watery eyes like she often does seeing someone in pain. Certainly Matthew was in no pain given the twins' lack of strength, but it was still violence. Gwen didn't vocalize her disapproval towards what she just did, just waited for her test results.