Anything you can do... my emulator [Bellz/Marree]

I'm terribly out of practice. Horribly distracted, to say the least. These people here have no clue what I'm going through and how long I've been out of commission. Throwing these knives again, is like old times. Times when things made sense and I was given a reason to participate. The pregames was one of them. Then the games themselves was the second. It is every careers wish to participate in the games and do their family honor by winning in the games. Though, that rarely happens. Out of twenty four competitors, only one will ever win. Only one person will ever come back. With the recent events that has been occuring in my life, it's safe to say, I don't ever want to be reaped. My thoughts go to an image of me holding my baby in my hands and all seems to be right. I don't even know what I'm doing here, with these cursed blades in my hands?

YOu have to keep up the facade. You have future in training one of these younger people one day. You have every chance to change someone elses life but at what cost? They could lose their lives if you dont train them right? I shake that thought when suddenly there's someone beside me. No sooner had my last knife penetrated the dummy, does her's do the same. I give off a nod when the knife gives that definate sound of hitting the target. I see the place it hit. Forehead. Good spot.

I glance over to the girl, and give her a half assed grin, fold up my arms to watch her. Another one of her pretty little blades cuts through the air and stings the mannequin with yet another knife, buried deep within it's stomach.

"Ouch. That would be a sucky way to die, don't you think?" I hear the way her words expell from her mouth, but not directed to anyone in particular. I also notice how they seemed to be loud enough to challenge my own skills. This young girl seems to be challenging me to a duel or something. Her knives are being dug into the same dummy that I'm using when there is plenty more where that came from.

"Perhaps. A little lower, if you wanna try to offend them." I joke, with a devilish tone to my voice. Again, she take another knife out and then cops out an attitude toward me. She's degrading my name and my skills without even saying it. It's just the way her tone is that makes my lips curl downward into a scowl.

-Thwap-

Her knife smacks hard into the dummy yet again, this time the knife is in the chest cavity. The heart. Are you just as heartless, little girl? I chew on my bottom lip, watching her technique. I'm watching her every move at this moment.

"Well, just becareful who you talk to, little one. Talk may be talk to some. But you'd better watch what you say around some people. Most of us don't like smart mouths. Luckily, for you, I'm not looking for an enemy today." I shake my head when she says she's not impressed by my reputation.

-Thwap-

"I've been at this since I was ten. What about you, little adversary?" I ask, hearing as Lance yells out a congratulatory greeting to the newcomer at my side.

"Kyanite... don't let her show you up." I shoot Lance a death glare and handle a knife with my hand. My anger isn't directed toward him, but quite the opposite. I ignore him totally, and keep my attention on the young one.

"I dont' know who you think you are, but trying to show me up like that isn't very impressive. Though, I do enjoy a good game once in a while." I offer up and look to her hand that has that fine red line on it.

"You should get that wrapped up before you continue. It isn't sanitary." I state with a half-giggle. I reach into my back pocket, unsheathing two more knives and bringing them out front and center. I teeter one in my right hand, balancing it out to find the middle point. "I used to play this one game with my boyfriend at the time. I called it, moving targets. Ever played?" I ask, completely terrified that she might actualy want to play. I've opened my mouth though, and even though it wasn't an offer, I'm curious if she took it that way. "See, the point of the game is to actually hit your opponent. Put the blade right into them. It's rather dangerous, if you ask me."

"It's not a joke. You'd do well to watch your mouth around some people." I find myself quickly biting back to her immature tone. I'm not sure where all this has come from all of a sudden. I used to be just like her when I was that age. Difference was that I knew what to say and when not to say it. Words were my weapon though, so obviously, talking back to her isn't going to strey far from where my training began at such an early age. The way she barely gave any time in between one sentence and the next actually makes me pay attention in order to comprehend her unusual sentence structure. She speaks as if she's been raised in a young persons body, with the mind of someone twice her age. If only that attitude didn't destroy it all.

"Playing? Honey, this isn't 'playtime'." I snap out. "Is this all you think it is? That knives are toys? You've got so much more to learn. I'm sorry, but maybe you need a trainer or something. There's more to this than simply hitting targets and simple addition and substraction techniques. The number of years don't mean shit, unless you can back up your mouth with skills."

Lance's mouth is doing nothing but causing me problems with the newcomer already, but I'm not ready to just throw in the towel. She's just a kid and I'm older than her. Not to mention, I'm about to mother one of my own. So, to stoop to her level would be showing her nothing but stupidity. I guess that's where the whole scenario of getting her finger wrapped came from. Who says that to a career?

She ends up showing me her finger where she sucked the blood away from it. The red line is gone now, but the cut is still there. This child has barely lived. This kid hasn't even participated in the pregames and for once, I'm glad that someone hasn't been tainted by the pregames. Their a horrible taste of what's to come to being reaped into the games. I've never been more afraid of being reaped in my entire life than I am now. Still, training is all I have now. With Matthew gone to the peacekeeper academy and my brother, too, I have to safeguard my future somehow. Even if it means continueing my trade.

"Deadly games with my enemy turned boyfriend, yes. We weren't dating at the time when we played that game but neither of us died. A couple of good scars and one hell of a scary night out in the woods, but your young mind won't process that until you've lived." I sigh heavily, because I'm not sure how to really express what I learned from that one game of 'moving targets' that went horribly wrong, yet, right.

"While it would please me greatly to put you in your place, I would rather not spend the rest of my days as an Avox. Thank you, but no thank you..." the only thing at this point that I can think of is that we were never found breaking the laws. We were smarter than that. Without Matthew, it might have been different. If he hadn't of pushed me to keep me going, I would have given myself up and who knows what kind of punishment I would have gotten. Sent off to the capitol to be one of their avoxes, or whipped in the town square. There was many of things that could have happened but the thing was, is that Matthew saved me from all that even if I was trying to save him in the first place. Funny how things just play out.

"I'm sure that you may be better than me now, because in all honesty, my views on the games have changed, but I tell you what, when the pregames come around again, you sign yourself up and become the best of the best. That's the only real way to earn yourself true fame in this district. The last guy who got the fame, ended up dying. So, if you want to run yourself into the ground by proving to be the best - Be. My. Guest."

The glare that I end up giving her actually makes my eye flinch just slightly. It only lasts for a mere moment, but a small grin comes to my face as I take my leave from her side, walking over to the dummy to collect my blades. As I turn, my gaze studies her and the knives in my hands feel so heavy right now. Almost like I should lighten the load and get rid of one, just to see her flinch, right here - right now. I want to show her that age and years of 'playing' don't mean shit when you can't hit another person with the blades.

With a calming demeanor, I get back to her side, and lay the blades at my feet, but keep one in my hand. "So, since your into wanting to be a gamer, and you don't like my own ideas, please tell me what sort of 'game' that you'd prefer to play. Pretty sure, I've played them all, though, to your dismay, I'm sure."

Not quite understanding this feeling that I've gotten toward her, but her whole presence just sends this chill down my back. It's almost like she's hit a nerve that most people don't. I can't fully understand it. "Have you thought about it? The pregames? If not, you should." I taunt her. It would be one hell of a way for her to quickly be put in her place, without it having to be myself to do it.

"Who cares if the guy who won the pregames died? I'm training for the Hunger Games, not Ring around the Rosie. I don't play, I don't pretend. If trying to be the best is going to run my life into the ground, then not being the best would certainly end it." I tilt my head upward at her remark. How stupid is she really? The pregames isn't for sissy's. It's basically the same, but medics bring you back. If you pass the reaping, then what? I go on to recall my own knives from within the dummy, returning to her side and that's when I hold just a single blade in my hand. The new girl beside me is just so aggrivating already. I'm not sure if I am letting it show, but it's not exactly my strong suit to keep my emotions in check anymore. Little sprout is to thank for that. I do, let the breaths come into my lungs and leave at a slightly slower rate to keep me my temper from coming out. She's not pissed me off yet, so there's no need to really go off on her. She's just young.

Then her voice rings out yet again.

And for once, I think I've met my match with this similar weapon: words. I can't help but grin at how much she talks and wonder if that's the way MAtthew felt when I started training against him. In a way, I can't wait... if I ever get to see him again, to tell him that I'm sorry for putting him through what this girl is doing to me.

"Well, let's just hope you die after that long bit of confidence. Show some respect to someone before you hurt yourself. Actually, I'm surprised you found time to breath." I can't hold it in any longer. A small chuckle actually appears. "And you think your body will create any use coming back to us other than to just to tell us that you were nothing but bark? Wise up... get your damn head out of the clouds and think for once. You're little fairytale that you've fabricated into your mind is just that. F.A.B.R.I.C.A.T.E.D." I enunciate every syllable.

The blade that taps against her skins shows me one thing. That she's getting pissed off or something close to it. If she wasn't, she wouldn't be spouting off long sonnets as comebacks. It's almost like she's got something to prove. She has no idea what I've gone through in my life to end up where I am. I am nothing like her. I never had those exact thoughts within my head. I never wanted to decapitate someone and love myself for it. I was doing all my training to protect myself from Jins. I've been tortured throughout my entire life. My motivation to win and suceed and be the best was for my own personal reasons. Not glory like she wants. If that's the way she wants to keep it, by all means. It's no skin off my nose.

"Are you crazy? I'm not stupid enough to do that again. If you want to venture out and play it, be my guest. Find you a friend... or enemy in your case and have a crack at it. Cause see, with age comes wisdom... maybe you'll gain some one day. A challenge though, would be fun. Best set of markings will be able to tell whose training is better. Eight knives. Eight throws. Eight chances to show off in front of a crowd. Loser... hehe - " I leave it open for her to answer. Maybe she'll come up with something fun? I cross my arms infront of my body, a little lower to connect my mind with my growing Sprout. Hopefully, I won't regret this challenge with this headstrong kid.

"I may have suggested the game, but it was only that. A suggestion. Didn't mean that I wanted to play it. That was me trying to figure out how brave you were. Obviously, you've not lived enough of a crazy life yet. Just wait. Your turn is coming." I throw out at her.

Though, another game, a challenge for a duel, seems to hit just the right spot within her devious little mind. A good little game between the two of us and marking the dummies with a point system that would, in total, give us a heads up on whose score would come out on top. For as much as I want to have nothing but fun, when I left open about what the loser has to do, it actually makes me fearful. Not that I'm scared of what she'd say, but rather the task that would follow if my throwing skills are off even in the smallest proportions. Time to put the old wrists back into play.

"Loser gets to kiss my shoes."

"Before or after I sweep you off your feet with my aim?" I taunt her. "Then again, if my aim still takes after my reputation, I guess the shoe will be on the other foot. Same punishment for you, little adversary!"

I bend down to pick up another knife to add to the one in my hand already. My fingers get a feel for the item. The rough fabric, but the light weight. It's been quite a while since I've had a decent challege and what better way to get back into the swing of things? Peyton has such a wicked sense of humor already because her voice reaches out to the crowd of people and their attention is fully on us. This is nothing new to myself. So, I listen and nod my head as she explains about the point system we're going to be doing. The group of people, most of them looking to be my age or older, some of them I've sparred with once or twice before, look at her like she's crazy. From what she just told me, I have to agree with their facial expressions.

She really is crazy. Lucky me.

"Such a demanding little thing you are. Pushy. Picky. Full of pride and prejudice. Whatever will we do with the likes of you?" It's been so long since I've been able to just cop out an attitude like this. For the first time, I think I have a decent challenger. "So, age before beauty, you say? Good. Respect your elders and watch how it's done."

I step up to the plate, and hold the knife in my hand. The blade pointed down with the hilt tightly in my grasp. With a lifted eyebrow, I let the blade fly and with the distinct sound of a 'THUMP', my blade had dug itself straight into the knee. I grimace just slightly, then nod my head. "Not bad. Such a delicate spot to hit. Go for the legs. Take down your opponent. They can't run or hide. Easy prey now. Your turn, my emulator."

Even with a hit as good as a knee, my emulator just passes it off as something so miniscule. Don't she know that if she really wants to torture her victims, then doing it slow and long would be the best way to get revenge. One quick hit won't satisfy her need for blood. I can tell already that she's in it for the fun of it. Her technique is just rushed and not well thought out. Then just as soon as it was over, it was her turn. So, I politely step backward adn allow her to do her thing. She flips the knife up and then catches it. Something I used to do all the time. I'm proficient with my right and left hand. Daring and show off moves in order to impress. It's funny how she's trying to really be like me.

THe knife flies through the air, cutting through the air with wizzing speed and lands in the hand of the victim. Well, not exactly how I pictured her first throw. But, it was just a practice shot again. "Wow. Well, if you want to piss off your opponent, that's one way to do it. Good job, girl." I tease her, chuckling slightly.

"Alrighty, then. Three points for you, one point for me. SEven knives left." I give her a nod. I have no need to say anything more to her and watch her back up. It would be my turn once again and I step up to the plate, shooting her a death glare. "You bet it's my shot."

I pick up a knife, hold it in my hand before doing the same movement she did, but catching the blade part down and throwing without hesitation. A definate 'twack' sounds out, then a sudden pain shoots through my own body. With the knife in the shoulder area, a pang of sympathy pain runs through my own body. "Ouch! That hurts." I say this because I had a knife in the same spot from my game I told her about earlier.

"You're up again. I got a 2 point shot. Lets see what you get?"

As much as my shot hurt, I survived, so her declaring that it was only worth a two point shot would be correct. Surprisingly, I didn't suffer any permanent damages except the sympathy pains for the dummy in front of us. Even like so, her mouth has been shut by my throws. She must know by now that I'm not going to let her defeat me so easily. So, one more shot down, her turn comes back up. I watch her so intently as her mouth stays closed this time. No more insults or anything. The game has lost it's humor in her eyes. As for myself, I can't wipe the smile from my face. Win or lose, I've already won, I feel. She won't take me for granted anymore.

She switches back to her dominant hand, and just like that, the blade is released and shows up into the middle of the dummies head. Dead on the nose and that cheery disposition is clearly showing on her face and in her voice. She's proud of the shot. She's simple ecstatic yet she keeps it on the down low. The nose would definately hurt and I"m glad that I never got hit there.

"Five point shot for me. Six, five. Your shot."

"Impressive. You are ahead now. For how long though, since you finally let that bite come out. Just don't get overly proud of yourself. Worse thing you can do. Say, just to let you know, my shoes were just cleaned the other day. So, get ready to pucker up." I taunt her. A distraction method into my games.

I take my stance and study my target and reach for yet another knife. This time, I let it lay flat in my palm. Weighing my options and my angles. One of the shots I want to show her is how to kill slowly. Somewhere in the stomach. Maybe the groin. The neck would be fun or match her and hit right in the nose. Surely, my next throw will cause her a bit of unease? I take the hilt of the knife and place it in my left hand this time. Ambidexterous in knife throwing and I'm going to let it show.

I throw.

-Thud-

A smile appears on my lips once again as I push my attention over to the blond. "I think that's what? A four point shot? Watch the blood slowly drain from my victim. Watch the life slowly leak away from their eyes? Isn't... that what you were trying to do? I think? Told you, the neck is a viable spot. Top that... nine to six?" I want to give a curse, but I keep my mouth shut. The little sprout doesn't need to hear me curse and I refuse to. Instinctively, my fingers touch my stomach as I wait for her to shoot.