//old dog new tricks// [Ella] blitz

Finn O' Brian

I walk into the Training Center quickly. Whats the point of this? I'd win even without training. But mom and dad would never let me volunteer if I didn't go through training. To "dangerous." Even if its obvious who would win. Training makes you better, though/ Good point. Make my fellow tributes die sooner and make it easier for me. I scan the room from the doorway, not much of a different crowd. Just wanna-be careers that would die in the bloodbath. By fellow careers. And the mayor's wife. She's come here occasionally. Most of my family hates her. Well, to be honest, the whole "mayor" family. But oh well. Nothing we can do about it. To bad. I would kill mayor whats his name if I had a f*cking chance.

Standing next to a trident, I pick it up and look at it. Its a nice one. Usually there being used, everybody wants to use them. I don't really need much practice, having fished the best part of my life, but as I said above. Training makes you better. Making it much easier for me to become victor of whatever games I'll be in. My pointer finger feels the soothing coolness of the trident. I set it back down though, my mom told me to try new things. I've tried the trident before, many times. Maybe a bow? Hm. Eh, no. Knives! So much easier to give my victim a slow and painful death. And probably pretty easy, to.

Finn O' Brian

My eyes widen as the mayor's wife, whats her name, I forgot, lunges her trident right next to me. Quickly pulling my hand with the knife back, I look towards her, a slight look of surprise on my face. She's not supposed to do that… Why'd you do that? I question, my eyes narrowed a bit, not in anger, but like, in a bit of a questioning look. She has pretty good aim for a good lady though, to be honest. You'd think she was nearly blind. I set down the knife next to me, the look of questioning not leaving my face. Knew she was an idiot.. Its obvious, really.

Glancing slightly at the knife, I realize there's a small hole in it. Idiot. Now I'll be in trouble for it. Ohhh my face might be red right now. I take a slight breath, and try to keep my anger level down as- well, down as possible if you know what I mean. Hopefully my face isn't red. Don't need to seem mad. No matter how mad I really am. She probably didn't think it through. Why shouldn't you be mad? The mayor would hate me. Duh. So? I just shouldn't be mad! Seems like Finny has a soft side. Shut it. I take one more slight breath and glance more closely at the wife.

Finn O' Brian

I watch as she flips around the trident. She's good at it. I've never tried knives. Ah. Oh well. "Well, are you going to stand there and gawk or are you going to fight me?" she said. Old lady looks pretty confident. Well, obviously, she must know I've never used knives before. I shrug it off before replying, Bring it on woman. I figure I shouldn't say uh, old lady because well… yeah. Not the best idea. My hands already have a bit of sweat on them for some reason. I'm not scared. So this is what the games would be like. But you know the other person wants to kill you. She doesn't want to kill me. Right?

I firmen my grip on the knife before, probably a miss though, swinging at the old lady. What was I thinking? She'll injure me for sure! Years of practice with a trident vs. first time with knives. No guesses there. This sucks. Should have said no. But then everybody watching that I know would be laughing. Me. Scared of fighting. An old fluffing lady! Mayor's wife, nonetheless. I'm not sure if it hit or not yet, though.

Finn O' Brian

I'd be so much better with a trident I mutter under my breath. There so much easier for me. Noticing the woman, who I shan't call old lady anymore, swing the non-sharp end of the trident at me. I mostly dodge it, but it hits me a bit. Probably will give a small bruise. Kinda hurts, to. Luckily for me though, I only lose my balance slightly and don't fall over. Still embarrassing. Who knew old ladies could do that. Well, I heard she actually wasn't that old. Like, 40 or so but still. Older then me. Like, 25 years. Take, give a few. Actually, this is kind of nice using knives. Not better then a trident but still nice.

I loosen my grip slightly as it gets a bit uncomfortable for me. This time, aiming more carefully, and learning that I could've hurt her real bad if I didn't miss, I use the non-pointy part of the knife and swing at her arm. Hopefully it got there this time. Even just a bit, like her. Really anything. It would be nice to just know I could hit something. Seems like knives are harder then I thought. Who knew? It will be nice when I know though, because stabbing all day and stabbing all night is fun. Probably. Sounds fun. My friend likes stabbing… then again, he's a sadisticic psychopath.

Finn O' Brian

I smile in delight as the knife hits her. Finally! Got it. Atleast I know now that I can use knives. And that old ladies aren't as weak as people think they are. Hm. Never noticed that. Well, how could I? Not like I ever fought a woman before! Well, except that one girl but I won and she was my age! I'm to busy thinking about that, and not noticing the mayor's wife set down her weapon. I finally realize it as she launches herself towards me. I fall to the ground, her on top of me. Well, this was a bright idea. I'm much stronger. Obviously. Everyone knows that. Probably even her.

Ow. I don't make a sound though, even if it did hurt. Probably a bruise or two or three on my back now. Thats it. But what should I do? I didn't know what her intentions were. Stupid point. Was she just mad and like, trying to take the knife from me? Or with intentions to actually hurt me badly? I don't know. I don't really want to find out, either. Dropping the knife, my hands ball up into fists and I bring them up, ready to punch her if she tries to hurt me. Hey, self defense. Right?

Finn O' Brian

Finn. What about you Old Lady? I question her. Wait, she's calling me a little kid? That she's going to beat up? Nope. Thats the final straw for me. I hate being called a little kid so therefore, I used my balled up fists to punch her in the gut. Not exactly easy to do it in my position but if its in the face people would notice. Gut… only if she were to wear a bikini or have it with the mayor. Not that the latter will most likely happen.

I pull my fist back. I think I hit her, but maybe not. Probably though. The woman would show it if I did. This is stupid. Mom and dad would kill me. Be so mad at me for doing this. Well, actually, they'd be proud. After all, she is part of the "mayor" family and as I said already, most of my family hates them. Come to think of it, why do they? Atleast I have a reason to. Hello-o-o. Kinda doing this. I think that kinda gives me a reason to not like them. Well, not them, really just the one. I feel a bit of sweat building on my back, for some reason, and a small back ache from well, her knocking me to the ground. Why, why couldn't the floor be like, carpet? Well, no floor in 4 is carpet. Still though. This is the training center.

Finn O' Brian

Oops. Maybe I shouldn't have done that to "Mrs. Perch." This is so going to come back to me. And I kinda feel bad now. So this is what the games are like. Hm. Maybe I'll have to think about that decision a bit more. Just a bit. If I feel bad about this? Taking a kids life would be… just. Yep. I push myself up with my arms and stand up. Checking her over a bit, I realize I hit her a bit to hard. Oopsies. Well, she should've know. She isn't a kid anymore. I'm a bit worried, but manage to hide that expression and over it is a painted poker face. Don't need to show any "emotion." If I smiled, she'd hate me for life. If I frowned, it would ruin me. Poker faces are good. No emotion there. Even if its kind of like a sad face… oh well.

I scratch my arm quickly and wipe some sweat from my left arm. I have a lot of sweat glands there… wow. Just wow. Never knew that. Weird day, huh. To bad I came here. Should've just continued fishing. Like normal. Could've come tomorrow. When Mrs. Perch wasnt here. But I'm here. So yes. Cant change that. I loosen my fists. Didn't notice they were still balled up. Well, until my fingers hurt. Told you people I'm strong. Hurting fingers since whatever year this is.