CAP When the fighting's done (Cameo, Marree)

Maybe it wasn’t the healthiest to look up to two people so highly, but Gala couldn’t help it. Her sisters are annoying and selfish, plus they never even attempt to understand. Matthew and Kyanite on the other hand don’t even have to try; especially proofing this after Gala’s lose. Now though Gala gets to cheer in the stands as she watches her trainer go up against a girl much smaller then him. This time she leaves with plenty of time to make it early, knowing that Matthew has to win, as if he winning it for all three of them.

Was this how it was when Mason and Gala fought? With the height and size being greatly different between the two opponents. The female he was up against at least appears to be Kyanite’s age, though she seems to put up a worse fight then little Gala. Sure a few good attacks, but it appears that Matthew won’t need too much assistances for the nurses when this is all over. In no way does his trainee feel bad, cheering him on the entire time, even if the crowd was overpowering her loudest scream.

“Matthew Dunham”

The announcement causes Gala to nearly fall over the edge she was leaning on, as if the few inches closer could raise her voice higher. He won. Even if it wasn’t Gala, or the final round, he still won, her trainer won. A smile stays plastered on her face as she watches him screaming out to the crowd his victory. If he can be that powerful, then he’ll be able to teach someone to be similar; clearly be shown by her few good hits during her own battle.

With a load of excitement she finds her way back to the inside, knowing her way around nearly perfectly being the third time. Still it seems as though Matthew and Kyanite purposely find a new location as every time Gala has to search. At least within a couple of minutes she spots the two, with the older female pulling away from a comforting hug.

The small career gives a cough to warn of her presents, a smile lingering on her lips because she was able to catch on to anything. “My trainer won!” Gala announces proudly as her grin grows to the extreme. She was ready to jump and down at the fact one of them still won, but she resists. “I knew you could do it.” Why was it that Matthew didn’t seem as happy though? He had won! At least one of them won, and there really is a plus side to only one of them as well; they won’t be fighting against each other. “You okay?” Gala asks with concern replacing her happiness.

I am more than happy to see him standing there and for the brief moment that he allowed me to hug him gently. My arm that went around his neck made him flinch slightly, and I know its from one of the punches, though my words sneak into his ears quickly. He returns my praise with his own unsure tone. That he wasn't as proud. I shake my head. If I was him, I'd be more than glad to take the full praise because I would deserve it unlike having the loss I got. I would have felt nothing for my opponent should I had won against Kay and delt the final blow to her instead of the opposite way. Though, looking at the girl, I can understand the way she would be feeling right now. I understand what it felt like to be Gala. I understand what it feels like to be her. I've been in both of their shoes. It's the aftermath of losing that is the worst. Both the good and the bad that comes with the title. I can't and I won't ruin Matthew's good luck. I can't possibily feel even better than the fact that one of us gets to go on.

Once again though, he proves his strength when I ask if he's hurting and he declares that he's good. I give him a genuine smile and stiffle a small laugh when he mentions she didn't get any hard punches in. My retort? "Well, I'll see about that later on." And I give him subtle wink before someone clears their throat from behind me and I turn to see Gala and hear the pleasantry in her voice. She's so excited that her trainer has made it past the first round and is actually going to the next. I give Gala a grin and watch as Matthew makes his way over to her, but I feel his hand brush up against mine. I want to take it. I want to give him so much more than just a hug around the neck right now, cause I'm just more than happy for him. I'm totally excited to see him this way. Even though he looks worn out, I can see it in his eyes. But, I have to keep it down between us. Not even Gala knows about us, but I'm sure she saw us hugging before she made herself known. It's all in a good win though. Congratulating the winner of the round. Would she expect anything less from me?

AS I stand there, I let my hand touch the sling that cradles my arm and I look to Gala's leg. It must be hard on Matthew to see us both broken like this. Surely though, he sees this as the female race is actually weaker. Does he see me that way as well? I know the conversation we had the other day, he told me I was one of the best female fighters there was, but my battle could hardly show that. Now, I know where my support will be. It will be one hundred percent behind him. Anything he needs, whether it's cheering from the sidelines or a gentle hug after the next round, I will make it my promise to be there for him. I can see he wants this more than ever. This small win has given him enough confidence to go straight to the next round. I'm curious who he'll be up against though. Suddenly, I'm thrust out of my own thoughts when he turns his attention to me, away from Gala for a moment.

"Are you ready to celebrate?"

I nod to him, walking very close to him, and bumping his arm lightly with my arm. "Shoot yeah. Someone in our group had to come out on top. Why shouldn't it be you? Celebrating is what we do best! Just promise me one thing, Matthew?" I turn to him with a harsh stare and look at Gala for a moment before I let the smile appear. "Beat Kayghna's ass for me." I tell him and let my hand touch his as we begin to walk again, only letting my pinky finger, coil around his for a moment.

"So, where are you thinking? You're picking the celebration spot?" I look at both of my companions and let nothing but joy overflow from my voice. I know, Matthew will enjoy beating Kay if he got matched with her, so asking that small favor from his would be easy to fulfill. "Gala, suggestions for what we need to do to the winner?" I give her a wink and wait to see what plans we can come up with.

She bumps into my arm. Not the gentlest of touched but something. I feel the sudden need to touch her and hold her close but right now I won’t allow myself to.
As we walk along the corridor my steps are slower than usual. I’m quite exhausted and starting to feel the soreness all over. Yet I my heart is set on celebrating

I’m glad the girls agree with me on this one.
"Shoot yeah. Someone in our group had to come out on top. Why shouldn't it be you? Celebrating is what we do best! Just promise me one thing, Matthew?" Silently I wonder what on earth she wants me to promise. I hope it’s not so bad. The look to Gala makes me a little uneasy. What have these girls been coming up with?

“Beat Kayghna's ass for me." The Gala adds. "Or Mason's...."
“I promise, twice as bad as you can imagine.” I smirk at her and place my hand on Galas shoulder, who is hobbling along because I actually hope that I get matched with her or Mason.

She lets her pinky curl around mine making me look down for only a second before we part again.
A quick look over to Gala confirms that she hasn’t seen it so I give Ky a quick look.

"So, where are you thinking? You're picking the celebration spot. Gala, suggestions for what we need to do to the winner?" She winks at the younger girl giving me a weird flash of goose bumps. That was hot.
Whatever they come up with to celebrate…I wish little Gala was much older so she could drink and party like the big dogs.

"Well I know we're in no shape for a prank." Gala giggled, which only makes me shake my head.
"Save that for another time...I don't know. All the places to celebrate at I can't go near." The young career sounds really disappointed.

We’ve reached the changing and treatment rooms so I stop for a moment and look at her young face. “That’s okay, we don’t need no public place to celebrate. You two don’t look like you’re in any shape to go out anyway.” I say in a really arrogant voice. It’s easy to point out their shape to cover up the fact that I won’t be dancing around tonight.
Since I’m still only clad in my gym pants and sweat soaked with the addition of a bit of blood smear from my arm I tell them. “I’ll take a shower and get my arm wrapped up. Give me 10 or 15 minutes.”

Somewhere down the hallway somebody calls out. “Good fight, Dunham. Glad you won.”
I nod to him and shout. “Thanks.”
Then I turn back to the two girls and give them a smile. I really would like to kiss Kyanite now. I simply feel like it. Still I turn away and close the changing room door behind me.


The hot water of the shower feels stings my arm at first but then feels mostly soothing: washing away the dirt and grime of the fight, relaxing my muscles but at the same time making me incredibly tired.
I first just hang my head with my hand on the wall but then slide down to simply sit on the floor while the hot water rains down on top of my head. I could sit like this for good.

After I don’t know how long I finally pick myself up and drag my tired bones to the locker to dress. Every move hurts now. The adrenalin wave I was riding has long rolled to the shore, leaving me tired and in pain. Sure I might not have broken any bones, although I’m not certain that all my ribs are intact, but I’m still bruised all along my left side.

Silently I wish that the girls got bored and left so I can simply go to bed.
I roll back my sleeve to examine the cut that Ky left there. It’s split in the middle again but strangely enough it doesn’t bother me. It’s like a secret reminder how we first met.

With my hair still wet but dressed in a blue plaid shirt and jeans that are hanging a little too loose from my hips and a duffle bag slung across my right shoulder I exit and look around for them.

There was a great downfall to be young despite what everyone thinks; more years in the reaping, less knowledge, and hardly any access to anything cool. Especially for a little career who's only two friends were both a couple of years older, not to mention a head taller and much stronger. That was why she stuck around though, as ironic as it sounds. Maybe one day she'd be like them, and if it was possible to take the good parts from each she'd have to be the perfect career. But for now, when it comes to celebrating, she was a bit of a roadblock.

“That’s okay, we don’t need no public place to celebrate. You two don’t look like you’re in any shape to go out anyway.” Matthew doesn't mind the inability to go somewhere his small trainee can't get into. He even adds a little joke at the end to show his lack of concern. That was certainly the old Matthew attitude returning after all these sad days of losing.

"Haha, very funny." Gala comments with a small sarcastic laugh behind her words.

Before any celebration can take place the winner needs a fast shower and change first. His small trainee thanks him in her head, not wanting to actually comment out loud how much sweaty guys stink. Why is it that they give off a worse odder then girls? Either way the victory smell wouldn't be lingering all night. The girls are left in the hall alone, to soak in there lack of winning.

"Lets wait on him, shall we? See what kind of trouble we can get into by ourselves?" Kyanite offers, and Gala nods her head with a giant smile. Of course they weren't going to actually cause trouble, not until they healed a bit. It's still nice to know they share the same interest though. Before Gala would purposely go out of her way not to listen to people, do the opposite of whatever they were asking. Now though, well with only the two older careers, she actually attempts to listen...most of the time. She plots herself down in a seat next to Kyanite, letting her wounded foot swing over the edge.

"Kyanite and Gala?" Someone questions, and the careers look up to see one of the trainers involved in creating the pregames. The younger one nods her head to inform he was correct. "Looks as though the judges were wrong with the amount of pain you girls gave on your opponents...Kayghna and Mason have both stepped down." He informs, making Gala's eyebrows arch inward with confusion. "Congratulations, you're getting a second chance at round one. The fight's in two days." Before they have a chance to ask any questions, the guy leaves.

"The fight..." Gala repeats, unsure of what the exactly meant. All of the matches have been held on separate days. So if Kyanite and Gala were fighting on the same day....they'd be fighting each other. Talk about mixed emotions. Joy over a second chance, but fear over who it was with. The youngster was even willing to fight against Mason again, but Kyanite? Matthew exits the changing room, fresh and clean and ready to celebrate certainly. But instead of the happy faces he left, at least Gala's is completely shocked. "We're back in the pregames." Is all Gala can explain to her trainer.

Gala and I wait for Matthew to do what he needs to while we are left sitting outside to wait. Both of us sit with the first few minutes of it to joke about causing trouble only to suddenly become quiet and listen to the humm of the world passing us by. I casually glance over watching her swing her foot back and forth like a pendelum in a grandfather clock does to count the seconds.

One... two.... three.... fourty-seven... fouryt-eight. My counts don't even reach a minute before someones voice reaches out to our ears. Both Gala and myself look to the man at the sound of our names and he comes over to us. I perk up instantly. Apparently, from the way the man talks, both mine and Gala's opponents had dropped out. Mason, I can understand why he would have dropped out of the competition, but Kayghna? What made her step down? What happened in order for her, after breaking me down, to want to first humiliate me then make me go through it again? It had to be that. She wanted to put me through more pain and suffering and the only way to to do that is to step down and let me go further in the pregames. I shake my head in disbelief and before it know it, the man leaves. I sit there stunned still. My gaze going over to Gala for a moment.

"Can you believe that... is it true?" The realization of what's to come starts flooding in. We have to fight each other. I open my mouth to say something to my friend, but she comes out with something first. "The fight..." I nod to her, showing her that I know what she's thinking. That's when we both seem to notic that Matthew has exited the the shower room, and he comes out looking extremely tired. Tonight, will be a quiet celebration I hope. I know what I felt like after my fight and the same went for Gala. We can celebrate hard tomorrow. Then, Gala let it slip what just happened to us and Matthew's reaction was perfect. I can't help but place a smile upon my face, but fear instilled in my heart.

"This guy came by when you were in the shower. Told us that both Mason and Kayghna had dropped out. The only thing is... both of our fights are on the same day..." I drop the smile on my face and cringe. He tells us of his need to get to the nurse and I keep my mouth shut for the moment until he either figures it out or Gala spills the beans again. I follow behind him until we reach the door to the nurses station and he goes in and sits down as the woman begins to do what she needs to.

"I guess so. Casts. Crutches. Whatever it takes I guess. The only thing is... my opponent is..." I can't say it, so I look over to Gala. I know she'll not want to say it either, but it would sound better coming from her instead of me. I advert my gaze to his arm though, and touch the underside of his arm and stare at the mark that I had left on his arm. My memory of how it happened comes back to me with a grin on my face.

I sit there and watch the young nurse apply some desinfectant and start wrapping my arm wondering what she meant by 'I was hoping you'd come by'. Was she a fan or something? I look up into her face and see her flushed cheeks when she tells me "There, like new. Come back when you need it changed."
A little bewildered I tell her. "Sure."

The Kyanite touches my arm and brings me back to their conversation when the little bubblehead announces "We're fighting each other."
I had a sneaking suspicion that that might be the case but ask nevertheless. "Are you sure? Oh, shit." Is all I can say to this.
For a moment I look at her with concern, then at Kyanite.
"Well, at least you know you're opponent is going to play fair." What concerns me more is that I might be going up against one of them at some stage.

"So how are we having fun tonight? The little one asks so I suggest.
"Let's go to my uncles place. The party house out back."
I shoot Ky a meaningful look because she'll know what I'm talking about.

--
Half an hour later we enter my uncles noble property with the big house, pool and club house out back, where Kyanite and I spend the night after our day in the woods. The water shines azure blue under the pool lights but we keep on walking until we get to the small fun place in the back.
I leave the girls there for a moment to run over to the main house to grab some drinks and food.
Soon I return with a whole basket full of stuff. The bed looks really comfortable right now so I lower myself onto mindful of my bruised ribs and grab a banana and a beer from the basket.

OOC: Up to you whether you want to play this or leave it at that.