a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC]

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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 14, 2015 1:20:39 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 14, 2015 1:20:39 GMT -5

k i t. g r e s h a m.

It was a simple assignment, or so Kit had been told. He took it in a heartbeat when it came across his desk. See, he was more like a travelling Keeper, never quite settling down in one place. It kept things dynamic and constantly in motion, exactly the way the young man liked it. He preferred not to get too tied down, though deep down he would always be a citizen of District Three. Some things you just couldn't avoid, and whilst he tried his hardest to get away from what had happened in his earlier years, it would always follow him around. So a trip to District Two to help out with an arrest was a gift in disguise; he could go and see the wealthy place, and get a case that was worth handling.

Most of the ones that ended up on his plate nowadays were all rather simple and easy to handle. A robbery or a minor assault. A domestic dispute that was over who had to walk the youngest kid to classes that day. Simple stuff that Kit didn't mind doing, but became boring pretty quickly. And when things got boring, his mind would start to wander into the darker alleyways that Kit Gresham tried his best to avoid. They were dark, and not very nice places at all. Then again, when are they ever? They're fucking dark alleys?!

Word was that the man of interest today had sucker punched the absolute crap out of a Peacekeeper. There was no more explanation, other than the fact that said Keeper now had a broken jaw and was off on leave for the next few months. You have to give the guy some credit, I suppose. Nonetheless, assault was a crime and doing so against a Keeper only stepped it up to the next level. That would mean his alone time in the Detention Center wouldn't be as pleasant as his life in District Two. Although, District Two life seemed pretty good so maybe everything wasn't going to be as pleasant. This poor guy would never see anything better than what he had. That was kind of sad.

He had been given the last known address and all of his information. Odysseus or something fancy, and his last name was the same as one of the tributes - one from District Two, in fact. There was surely a connection there, and so things sort of made sense. Family member gets reaped? Punch the fuck out of a Peacekeeper. I'd do it too. Still, he had to be dealt with. It was about making an example. It had been recommended that Kit kick the door in and drag the man to the center of town, only to put a bullet right into his skull. That wasn't exactly his style, though. Kit Gresham had never killed a man, though he had thought far too often about doing so. It was a weird, blurred line that he sat upon. Luckily, his balance was good. For now.

His fist clapped upon the door of the house, his other hand sitting ready to grab his weapon should it be needed. Ideally, the man would open the door and he could be restrained almost immediately. Ideals weren't always common in Kit's line of work. Alright, show me what you're working with, baby.

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

Knuckles
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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 14, 2015 3:10:52 GMT -5

Post by Knuckles on Jul 14, 2015 3:10:52 GMT -5

[googlefont="Jim Nightshade:400"]

Odysseus Hammerfell-Alezander

It was hard to tell how many days had gone by since the reaping. Almost impossible to keep count when all the sun rises and sun sets blurred into one. But one simple aspect remained the same. On the screen in front of him was a living Orion. Odysseus had watched as his family ran through the games fighting for all they had. Mason was a fighter. He was strong and brave. Orion wasn't a fighter. He never harmed a fly, yet in the same way he's brave as well. To this point he hasn't made a kill. He's helped end the lives of tributes, but none of them fell by his hand until the gamemakers released lookalikes into the arena.

His eyes never left the screen as he watched tribute after tribute fall. Cannon after cannon after cannon. Yet when the cameras returned to Orion he wasn't sure who was who. Maybe that was the point, to distract people. His hands shook at his side as he watched over and over as the career pack of real and fake changed blow after blow. Matching each other one by one, but it wasn't until a sword flew through the air like it belonged to Mason. Maybe Orion had found the Mason living inside of him. He couldn't help the way his lips twisted into a small grin. His word was broken, but as the head from the district four tribute rolled from his body, Odysseus couldn't move. He couldn't think. What has he done?

Taking a deep breath, he moved away from the small screen at home. His arms reached for the comfort of the leather couch behind him as he slid into a seated position. He wanted Orion to become a killer. He wanted him to return home, but not at the stake of betraying who he truly was. Why would he turn on an ally? Didn't he know it as wrong?

Running a hand through his hair, Odysseus tried to hide what was blaring through his mind as word of the mourning echoed across the screen into the eyes of reality. He was obviously hurt, and Odysseus wasn't there to help him. He couldn't do anything for him except silently pray he would return home alive. Maybe the career life wasn't for him, and he was wasting his time trying to train for the games where it would only end in his death. Maybe the fact that Orion was a healer and not a killer had saved him so far. He shrugged his shoulders.

A single tear fell down from his eyes, curved around his nose before dropping silently towards the ground. Odysseus needed Orion. He had nothing left to live for. Not a single person left alive needed him, but he had to be there for Orion. Each day he forced himself to watch the journey of his brother through the arena because who knew if they would ever see each other again in person. Especially since the numbers were dwindling down to almost no tributes left. Come on, Orion, only twelve more to go.

It was a gentle, yet heavy knock on the door that shatter the dream he was living in. Most of the time nobody ever knocks. Running his hand through his hair once more, he forced himself into a standing position. Thousands of thoughts flew across his mind as he raised a shaking hand to wipe the water away as it prepared to pour rapidly down his face. All it took to melt his heart of stone was a couple of simple words. I volunteer. His life had gone from calm and peaceful to complete chaos. A storm grew around him each day tossing him from one place to another.

Reaching towards the door he twisted the handle open, and as he looked down all Odysseus could see was a peacekeeper standing in front of him. His head fell forward in a quick motion as tears sprung from his eyes as the events flashed before him. All he could hear was the horrible crunch of a bone breaking as his fist connected with the face so many days ago. It was time to reap the repercussions of the crime he had committed, but he wasn't sure what was about to take place.

As he raised his head, he offered a slight smile because every single word he thought of caught in the back of his throat vanishing forever.

Last Edit: Jul 25, 2015 13:44:47 GMT -5 by Knuckles

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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 15, 2015 21:10:44 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 15, 2015 21:10:44 GMT -5

k i t. g r e s h a m.

Being a Peacekeeper meant seeing many strange things. Kit had been throughout a few of the Districts on small outings, seeing all that the world had to offer in terms of variety. From absolutely absurd to incredibly sick, there wasn't much that could surprise the young Peacekeeper. Although, he liked to think that there would be something that would top all of the others and go down in the books as the weirdest case he ever had to work. Unfortunately, he would be waiting for a while as the door opened and the man did not have an extra limb or a fetish for eating human feet. But...

"Holy fuck." Only those words left Kit's mouth in a sort of breathy exclamation. The man before him was huge. Incredibly large. And I thought I was tall. Having at least seven inches on the Peacekeeper, the man before him looked to be a force to be reckoned with. There would be a need for a stun gun should he resist. And yet, it looked to be Kit's lucky day as he remained fairly solemn in response to seeing the robotic looking Peacekeeper at his door. Tears seemed to be gathering in his eyes, too, for whatever reason. Jeeze buddy, don't cry on me here.

And then the man looked up with a bit of a smile, one that made Kit feel as if he wouldn't be using the stun gun on an absolute behemoth today. Dammit. That would have been pretty cool to see. I wonder if one shot would have done it. There was a sense of calmness behind the smile, an acceptance. Kit was quite content with seeing it, knowing full well there was no way he could ever hope to fend off the giant that stood before him. David and Goliath? He'd make Goliath look like David at this point. Clearing his throat, however, Kit began to speak.

"Odysseus Hammerfell-Alezander, I need you to come with me. By the authority of the Capitol, you are under arrest for the crimes of assaulting a Peacekeeper. You'll return to the Justice Building with me until you can be transported to the Detention Center for further punishment." It was the official speech, but it always felt fun saying it. Dropping his voice down a few octaves, Kit always tried to seem rather professional but there were numerous times where he'd slip up on a word and just throw it all to the wind and make it up. I don't know if giants speak human, though. Would he get my joke?

He would need to put restraints on, just to be certain that he wasn't the next jaw in danger of being broken. No wonder Calloway's jaw broke; he got hit by the fist of Sasquatch. "I'd rather do this the nicer way, man. I have to put these restraints on you, and then we can take it slow." That was always his preferred method, and he offered it to everybody. Peacekeepers were supposed to be harsh and angry. To Kit, it was pointless letting his emotions control him once again as he'd just end up spiraling as he did before. Keeping a level head and finding the good in people served him much better, and prevented him from returning to the demons he had locked behind closed doors. If all went well, he could get the - giant fucking super mutant - criminal back to the Justice Building safely, and all in one piece. Jaws included.

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

Knuckles
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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 16, 2015 11:52:40 GMT -5

Post by Knuckles on Jul 16, 2015 11:52:40 GMT -5

[googlefont="Jim Nightshade:400"]

Odysseus Hammerfell-Alezander

Throughout his entire life, Odysseus always thought Torka would end up arrested before anyone else. Torka was powerful, and brutal. He was like Mason, except Mason was only interested in becoming the most powerful career around. Watching him fall in the sixty-ninth games was one of the worse feelings in the world. Odysseus was helpless. All he could do was stand there screaming at the screen begging Mason to move. Even after the cannon sounded, he refused to believe that Mason was dead. It wasn't until the box came home with him inside Odysseus finally accepted it.

And now Orion.

Orion volunteered for the games. Odysseus didn't understand. The amount of rage he felt when he walked out of the justice building after saying goodbye to his brother. The sound of the peacekeeper's jaw breaking as he slammed his fist into it echoes through his mind. Yet all that was left was this peacekeeper who had come to arrest him.

He hoped he would get away with what he had done despite the amount of guilt that was eating away at him each and every day. Every second he wondered how the peacekeeper was doing, yet he couldn't find the courage to step out and ask because it would've meant admitting to the crime he had committed. It happened so long ago. The reaping had long since gone by. Orion had been in the games for four days. Almost five. He was at the Capitol for a week. So almost two weeks ago, but it felt so much longer than that.

Each word the peacekeeper spoke was a dagger jabbing deep into his back over and over, yet all the pain went away for only a moment as the last few words hung in the air longer than they should've. The detention center for further punishment.

Inhaling sharply he tried to remain calm to fight against the war raging on inside of him. Turning against this peacekeeper would only cause more problems, but he had to see Orion. He had to make sure that his brother was safe because from the way it looked right now, Odysseus wouldn't ever see him again. Even if Orion won, he doubted he would ever step foot in the district again. Orion, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me.

The smile slowly vanished as he hung his head once more. His entire world was crashing around him, and nothing he could do would change it. Even cooperating with this guy in front of him meant nothing because a far worse punishment awaited him. Biting the inside of his lip, Odysseus fought back the tears threatening to spill down his face.

"I'd rather do this the nicer way, man. I have to put these restraints on you, and then we can take it slow." Odysseus chuckled softly. Perhaps restraints were for the best, but the idea of it made everyone of his hairs stand on end. This is it. I'm going to die. I'm actually going to die. Chills ran up his spine as each word refused to slide off his tongue.

Keeping his eyes fixed on the tiled floor, he finally managed to muster up the courage to speak, and he only hoped the peacekeeper was human and not some foolish robot controlled by the Capitol.

"Alright. Do what you have to do. Just tell me what to do, and I'll cooperate. I'm not going to fight. I have no reason to." Just please don't kill me. I'm not ready to die.

Last Edit: Jul 25, 2015 13:46:48 GMT -5 by Knuckles

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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 19, 2015 19:53:27 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 19, 2015 19:53:27 GMT -5

k i t. g r e s h a m.

There had been many times where Kit found himself in a wrestling match with a criminal he was apprehending. Any time he ended up at their door, they would usually either run directly at him with hopes to knock him down and run, or they'd retreat into the house to hide. Every time Kit would win, but mostly because he was given the tools to do so. It tended to be pretty hard to fight back when they have both a stun gun and an actual weapon on them and they're perfectly capable of using it.

With this man, he would take six gunshots and three stuns. At least in Kit's eyes. If normal criminals were cats, this man was a bear. Okay, he's tall. Now let's get to the point. There was a clearing of the throat from Kit after the man finished speaking, his head nodding in acceptance. There was no doubt he was content hearing that Odysseus wished to keep things simple and as friendly as possible; he wasn't exactly feeling the whole running thing today. Plus, you just ate before you came here and cramps are a bitch.

Kit stepped forward, putting the ties around his wrists and tightening them so he couldn't get out. "They're not too tight, right? We're good?" This was the usual for Kit. He preferred to be polite, treating them just as he hoped they'd treat him back. After all, he was almost in their very shoes had he not fought to clean himself up. All it took was one wrong misstep and then everything tended to fall into place. Really, the system was to blame more than the criminal. Sure, punching an enforcer of the law was a pretty big mistake and Odysseus kind of screwed up there. But there was surely a reason behind it. The Detention Center would seek that answer out. With violence. Maybe I can get it nicely?

Guiding him down the stairs, he observed the man and thought of the tribute with the same last name. Definitely related. That's probably why. Boom, look at how good of a detective you are. Damn Kit, you're impressive. He kept a hand against Odysseus' arm, only gently and not gripping it as most would. Odysseus could walk on his own alongside the Peacekeeper. Hell, if Kit had it his way he'd want to sit on the giant's shoulders to see how tall he could get. You're too much of a kid. To distract his brain, he decided to ask some questions. "Why don't you have any reason to fight? With your size, you could probably take anybody before they realized it. Not that you should." Just shut up and let him answer.

"Is it because of Or- Orion?" Kit wasn't exactly in the position to offer deals, but he found that his voice was listened to quite a bit. One of his captures had killed two men who attacked him on the streets, even coming to Kit in the square to confess his actions. Having spoken to the assigned officer in the Detention Center lessened the beating that the man had; instead of losing his tongue or a limb, he was hit continuously until he lost consciousness. Silver lining? He still has all his limbs. If Odysseus continued being this way, a word would definitely be put in. Maybe he would escape an absolutely horrendous torture session. Probably only a slightly horrendous one.

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

Knuckles
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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 19, 2015 23:09:59 GMT -5

Post by Knuckles on Jul 19, 2015 23:09:59 GMT -5

[googlefont="Jim Nightshade:400"]

Odysseus Hammerfell-Alezander

His entire world was falling. For the first time in his entire life, Odysseus wasn't sure of of himself. Deep inside he wanted to wake up from a nightmare, but each time he opened and closed his eyes, the peacekeeper in front of him never moved. It was real. Who knows what would happen to him once he reached the dreaded detention center. Rumors spread. He hoped they were only rumors, but who would lie about such a terrible place?

The peacekeeper placed the restraints around his wrists. It was for his safety as well as the safety of this man in front of him. At least he wasn't dragging him around like a sick criminal. Odysseus made a mistake, and he knew it. He knew that punching a peackeeper was wrong, but it was in the past. No matter what he did he couldn't change what had happened. It was stuck, and with each passing second it was slowly molding him into a different being.

"They're not too tight right? We're good?"

All he could do was nod his head. Talking was becoming such a challenge. Why would this man listen to him? Would he even understand the war raging on inside of him with each passing second? All Odysseus wanted to do was run towards the television in the house and see if Orion was alive. Not knowing what was going on was hard for him. His mind raced. Who would greet Orion if he returned home? The only known answer to the question stung like thousands of bees stinging him over and over again. He felt like he wouldn't ever see Orion again. It was rare for someone to return from the detention center even if they were innocent.

Odysseus was far from innocent.

The hand of the peacekeeper rested against his arm as he guided him away from his house. His heart leaped into his throat pounding rapidly. All he could hear for the moment was the rhythmic beat of his heart echoing through his skull. The rest of the world was a blur. All he could imagine was the eyes of those around him fixed on him as he was led away. He was a criminal, and he had to pay for what he had done. But he was afraid. Every warning sign was pinging in his mind. Trying to change the subject in his mind, he began counting the number of steps he took. It wasn't much, but it offered the distraction he needed.

"Why don't you have any reason to fight? With your size, you could probably take anybody out before they realized it. Not that you should."

A simple question stopped him.

"Is it because of Or- Orion?"

It felt like a sledgehammer made contact with his gut. Stomach acid flew into his mouth as he leaned forward. The tears sitting on the brim of his eyes slowly began sliding down his face. Odysseus had lost the battle. Strength was no longer on his side. "Why do you care? No matter what I say, it's not going to change anything." His voice cracked as he spoke. His entire body shook as he fought against the sobs threatening to erupt past his lips."Orion.. He pretty much told me that I was best off without him. He told me that he wanted to die to rejoin Mason, a brother who died in the previous games."

It was so much more than he could ever imagine. Losing Mason hurt, but not knowing the fate of Orion was slowly tearing him apart on the inside. It was slicing away at him piece by piece and it had only been a few moment since he stepped away from the games, but in those few moments so much could change. Odysseus knew that. It must look foolish seeing a seven foot career crying as a peacekeeper led him away, but in this moment it wasn't about proving anything to anyone. All he wanted was the chance of returning home to district two one day so he could either talk face to face to Orion, or pay his last respects. That was his goal. It's what he wanted.

"I really fucked up. Hitting that peacekeeper."

Last Edit: Jul 25, 2015 13:48:18 GMT -5 by Knuckles

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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 20, 2015 15:45:11 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 20, 2015 15:45:11 GMT -5

k i t. g r e s h a m.

Kit would sometimes remember the day that he knew Emi was going to die. He'd play through it all in his mind, remembering that exact moment when everything clicked together and he fully realized she wouldn't be around for very much longer. The pain would return and his mind would drift off into the darker corners that he so often avoided. Were he not constantly relied upon, Kit would have lost himself long ago to that pain and sadness that had once governed his life. Now, however, there were expectations and things that he had to do for others. It helped keep him grounded, in a way. He hoped he wouldn't lose that any time soon.

As a result, he knew exactly where Odysseus was coming from. He knew that feeling of having lost a loved one and then realizing you'd lose another. And in Kit's case, he lost a third too after finally finding the happiness he so desperately desired. If anybody could understand the sort of things Odysseus was dealing with, it was the Peacekeeper that was currently walking him to prison. That's probably why the man's accusation that nothing would change hit Kit a little harder than it probably should have. He liked to pride himself in how he was kinder to the citizens, looking out for their best interest just as much as he looked out for himself. "Because I can see why you'd do it. Plus, Calloway is an ass hole so you picked the absolute best Keeper to hit." He hoped his slight joke would ease the man's nerves a little more.

He spoke more, his emotion clearly beginning to come out. What made it worse in his case was that his loved one, this Orion, wished to die. I know that feeling all too well. "I have been in your place before. You have to accept that he's doing what he wants, even if it may hurt you in the process." In Kit's eyes, it was a selfish act. He wouldn't ever say that, though, just to make sure he didn't get a nice punch to the face after insulting the giant's brother. He cleared his throat and his voice grew more serious as he spoke. "There's never a proper way to prepare yourself for grief. You just have to worry about yourself and how to better ready yourself for the future."

The streets weren't awfully busy and so they moved throughout it with ease, though they still had a fair ways to go before they arrived in the Justice Building to get Odysseus transferred to the Detention Center. "I really fucked up. Hitting that peacekeeper." Maybe it was true, to a degree. He did get himself a sentence that not even Kit could have erased. All he could do was pass on a good word to say that Odysseus cooperated, one step better than the majority of other criminals he arrested. But at the end of the day, he could have done a lot worse. Kit had. "Man, I would have probably done a lot worse if I were reacting to the same thing. Seriously."

He wasn't sure if his contributions were helping, but Kit's hope was that he could help settle down the man's mind as he had to prepare to face difficulties he had never experienced before. There was no doubt that he would be tortured in the Center; he also would probably not have access to information on his brother. They'd likely tell him that his brother died, showing him fake video footage to contribute to his torture. It would be hell. Nothing could really get him ready for it. But Kit wanted to make a change if he could. He would have appreciated having somebody do the same for him during his time of need. "Your brother looked strong and tough to me. There's still a chance, so never forget that."

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

Knuckles
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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 22, 2015 14:40:51 GMT -5

Post by Knuckles on Jul 22, 2015 14:40:51 GMT -5

[googlefont="Jim Nightshade:400"]

Odysseus Hammerfell-Alezander

The walk of shame was a very puzzling situation. This peacekeeper was extremely different than any peacekeeper he had ever seen before. This man leading him towards his fate had a heart. He cared when others didn't. It made the walk of shame easier, yet it never took away the fear lurking inside his body. Odysseus was terrified of the punishment awaiting him. It was all he could think about. It invading his mind. It tore him to pieces, yet he tried to remain strong. Behind the tears his mask slowly fell away. Perhaps the situation was for the best, but only time would tell.

"Because I can see why you'd do it. Plus, Calloway is an ass hole so you picked the absolute best Keeper to hit."

It brought a goofy grin to his face as a small chuckle fell from his lips, but it never took away the pain living inside of him. This man of law was distracting him taking his mind off the current situation, but it wouldn't change what happened. His future was carved into stone from the moment his fist connected with Calloway's face. Part of him wonders what Orion would've done had he saw him reacting. Would he realize how much Odysseus cared about him? Would he realize the amount of pain he put him through? It was questions like these that haunted him in his darkest hours, and now they're flying forward. Choking the life from him.

Hearing someone had been in his place kind of made him feel at ease, but nothing would change. His fate was etched into stone now. "There's never a proper way to prepare yourself to deal with grief. You just have to worry about yourself and how to better ready yourself for the future." Those words were true. Worrying about the things of the past would only destroy him worse than it already has. Odysseus had to move on, but the future scared him. The rumors he heard echoed through his mind. A rumor was a rumor, and he refused to believe any of them because rumors weren't always true. But it was the simple talk of the inhumane torture that stuck with him.

Each breath caught in the back of his throat. He couldn't breath. Couldn't think. Couldn't do anything except follow along with the peacekeeper. It wasn't much, but each individual step felt like it took an entire lifetime. Time stood still, but thankfully he wasn't alone. Why does this peacekeeper care to talk to him? Why wasn't he violent and angry? Why was he telling Odysseus these things? It only reminded him that even behind the robotic uniform and mechanical motions every peacekeeper was human. They all had a heart.

"Your brother looked strong and tough to me. There's still a chance, so never forget that." Maybe it was true, but he didn't know his heart. Orion had a heart of gold. He wanted to save everyone. He was a healer. He said he wouldn't kill anyone. He promised.

"How can I accept his decision? How can I ready myself for the future? I'm never going to see him again. Even if he wins, I'll probably never step foot in the district again. At least I probably won't be alive." His voice was much calmer than before as he tried masking the pain. Maybe he could get away with it, but big brother was always watching. Inhaling sharply, he looked around once more. "I'm never going to be ready for this. For 'further punishment.' But I want to ask you a question." He paused knowing good and well that he want in any position to ask questions. Not when the man could quickly change.

"Why are you trying to help me?"

Last Edit: Jul 25, 2015 13:50:01 GMT -5 by Knuckles

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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 23, 2015 21:36:40 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 23, 2015 21:36:40 GMT -5

k i t. g r e s h a m.

Kit had only a few memories of how it felt to live a life filled with love. His childhood was but a distant memory at this point, one he often times pushed further and further away because of the pain it brought about. Memories of Emi and their child were the only things he could reminisce to but they tended to bring about more emotion than he could confidently handle. It had been far too long since he had ever felt that unspoken bond that transcended everything. There wasn't a single person in the world who he could find himself having trust in, and not a single person who returned the favour. In Kit's eyes, he was entirely alone since losing Emi. She was the last piece of love in his world and it had all been torn away.

There was a difficulty for him in stepping into Odysseus' shoes. Sure, Kit would have punched the absolute crap out of anybody if they were entirely deserving of it but everybody knew that as much of an ass as Calloway liked to be, he probably wasn't meriting it in that moment. That click in the brain for Odysseus that directed him from intense sadness to absolute rage was one that Kit couldn't quite associate with as he had no reason to fight for anything. I don't know what's more sad; he is losing the only person he loves, but I can't even find anything in my life worth caring for. It was a dark thought that Kit immediately dismissed from his brain, but the after effects lingered. It was a truth he unfortunately knew, one he didn't quite enjoy.

At the end of the day though, Kit knew he would have stormed through thousands of people and would have taken on the entirety of the District with nothing but a stick if it meant seeing Emi one last time. That feeling was enough to put him into the mind space that Odysseus was in, and it brought an extreme amount of pain to every ounce of his being. It felt as if he was physically hurting as his feet carried him forward; every inch of him ached beyond any comprehensible amount. In that moment, Kit knew exactly where Odysseus was and it clarified everything within his brain. That's what differentiated him from most Keepers; many joined to be cruel and have power but he did it to be a positive influence in a world overcome with darkness and negativity. A one man mission to bring light to the world? Great, I'm basically fucked.

Odysseus was visibly emotional, though he did a remarkable job of holding most of in. To most he would seem slightly stressed, but Kit felt as if he knew him at this point and could sense the torment going on up in his head. He probably pictures every single way that Orion could be killed. Constantly playing in his brain - a montage of his brother dying. Even that thought brought shivers and seemed too much for Kit. The memories of seeing Emi's cold and lifeless corpse was enough to make him emotional, let alone more violent ways of death. And on top of all that, the giant would now have to deal with his arrest and what loomed in the future. Kit had only worked a few of the interrogation sessions and he always ended it with retreating to an office and downing some whiskey to dull his feelings and eliminate the taste of bile in his mouth. He had done stuff that he never wanted to do. I've yet to kill someone. That's when I'll have lost who I am.

Expressing his thoughts, Odysseus was clearly not expecting to make it through the interrogation. Most did, but they often times were locked up for far longer than they needed to. Even if he were to survive through the beating, make it out of the Center alive and then make it home all whilst Orion survived to the end of the Games, it was highly unlikely they'd be allowed to interact as much as they used to. Criminals weren't welcomed in Victor's Village, Kit imagined. Something about "purity", although what differentiated those murderers from the ones that did it off television screens? But then the question came from the man, and it made Kit truly think. What do I hope to accomplish? It was even more unlikely that Kit could alter the man's future with the Keepers; they liked to hold grudges and Calloway would surely have a hand in who would beat the sense out of the man. And yet here he was trying to offer words of wisdom to, for all intents and purposes, a criminal. But the answer was rather simple.

"We all fuck up sometimes, Odysseus. Some more than others. That doesn't mean you deserve any less of a chance for redemption as I might, or as any other person in this world might." It was a simple concept. Everybody was equal in the world and deserved an equal opportunity to prove themselves. Even if you tripped and fell, you could always stand back up. "I lost my parents, and then I lost my wife and our unborn child. I was you after those times, but worse." He could remember the nights he spent drinking and using drugs, often engaging in underground fights to raise more money for his proclivities. "I was into bad shit, man. I cleaned it up and moved forward. I don't go a day without remembering my Emi's face, but there's nothing I can do to change what has happened." Orion was likely to die. It was almost inevitable at this point. The odds weren't exactly in his favour. And should he manage it, he would return as someone completely different. Killing changed people. I hope I never face that change.

"I'm helping you because you deserve it, I don't want you to fuck up again, and you're not a bad person. But I'm doing this because Orion wouldn't want to see your life go to shit. It's never too late to piece things back together."

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

Knuckles
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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 25, 2015 15:08:50 GMT -5

Post by Knuckles on Jul 25, 2015 15:08:50 GMT -5

[googlefont="Jim Nightshade:400"]

Odysseus Hammerfell-Alezander

Horrifying thoughts controlled his mind. It felt like an enternity had gone by. Each step took forever. Slowly the world moved around him as he tried to keep up. Every single word was a punch to the gut, yet even the idea of stopping fled away as quickly as it came. Odysseus didn't want this peacekeeper to think he was resisting even the slightest. He had given so much to a helpless career when other peacekeepers would've taken him with force. A break from the harsh world was nice, but each step brought him closer to a lifetime of pain and suffering.

He knew right from wrong, and he knew that every wrong had some sort of consequences. It was how his parents raised him. Even adapting to the career way of life growing up became one where his morals and values rested in the back of his mind. A grey line separated everything. A loophole to get around a wrong-doing. Even Torka knew right from wrong, but most the time he refused to do right in the eyes of the law. Orion knew the consquences that came with the games. He knew that killing was one of the worse imaginable things in the world.

Was Orion capable of ending the life of another? Could he survive the guilt it would send through him? It was simple questions that nobody knew the answer to. Orion, I need you. I need you. Please don't leave me. Please don't die. Orion was destined to die. Destined to spend the rest of his life living in the games. Could he make it?

Odysseus felt tears stinging his eyes. Surviving alone wasn't possible, and he knew the detention center could end in his death, or him becoming a Capitol servant for the rest of his life. Punching a peacekeeper was a crime. It was wrong, but would the pain he felt during that time make him stronger? Would it justify the mistake he made? Fuck. Nothing will ever make up for it.

He wasn't sure why, but this man of law made him feel a bit better. His words weren't harsh and judgemental. They were polite, kind, respectful. He was treating Odysseus like another human. Another person deserving of a second chance in life, yet it wouldn't fix what had gone wrong in his mind. The words of wisdom constantly ran through his mind over and over mixing with the imagines of a dying kid bleeding out on the ground. Don't keep your promise, Orion. Come home.

Where had he gone wrong?

Yet each time the arresting officer spoke, Odysseus found himself lost. Everyone makes mistakes. Not a single person in the world was perfect, and it was the simple reminder that brought it to reality. Every single person deserved a second chance. Even the worse criminals in history. He knew getting on the right path was important because sliding further away from destruction.

"I lost my parents, and then I lost my wife and our unborn baby. I was you after those times, but worse."

Odysseus felt his heart drop deep into his stomach. His parents were still alive. They were still breathing. He couldn't imagine what it was like losing a wife and an unborn child because he hadn't been there. Odysseus hadn't ever felt love from anyone outside the family. But he had lost Mason, and now he would probably lose Orion. The thought of losing Orion tormented his soul. It made him feel numb. Like nothing was ever going on. Like the world was still spinning while leaving him behind. Odysseus couldn't bring himself to look at him.

"I was into bad shit, man. I cleaned it up and moved forward. I don't go a day without remembering my Emi's face, but there's nothing I can do to change what has happened."

Knowing that someone else, a man of law, had fucked up brought a sense of relief to him. All he had to do was step back onto the path away from desctruction and agony. And there wasn't anything that could change the past. Mason was dead, and not even the Capitol scientist could bring him back to life. His body was rotting away. Odysseus prayed Orion would return home breathing. Please Orion. Please. But if he didn't, then he would have to let their memories live through him.

The keeper was right. Orion wouldn't want Odysseus to ruin his life. And changing his life wasn't too late.

"Maybe this is a good thing." He paused for a moment. "Getting arrested." A small smile spread across his lips for a moment. Who would've thought getting arrested was a good thing? For Odysseus, he could use it as a way to fix his life. To get back on the right track. "It's not going to be easy, and I'm never going to be prepared for what will happen to me, but I can't let this hold me down forever. Orion would want me to be happy. He would want me to carry on with life. I can't give up. It would be a disgrace to them. Orion may not even die." He could be dead right now.

It felt like the entire weight of the world lifted from his shoulders. Odysseus would hold onto to the memories of Mason, and the memories he shared with Orion thus far to get him through it. Odysseus knew he could survive. He could make it through whatever they put him through in the detention center with the help of his family. It's never too late to start over, and that's what he would do.

"I never thought I'd do this, but I want to thank you."

lest we forget [the characters]

credit to Zoe

∂αмєη
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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 29, 2015 16:17:20 GMT -5

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 29, 2015 16:17:20 GMT -5

k i t. g r e s h a m.

A boot collided with his chest, knocking all the air from his lungs. Kit struggled to take in oxygen, a groan emanating from his parted lips. The man that stood above him had a grin spread across his face, the bottle of golden liquid hanging loosely in his left hand. A gurgling sound came from his throat, and then a glob of spit projected towards Kit's face, landing squarely upon his cheek. "'Ey fuck face, better keep away from me next time, aye?" After a swig from the bottle, the last of the booze dripped into the man's throat. With a swing, the bottle collided on Kit's shoulder, shattering into bits that sliced across bare skin on his face. The man chuckled and then stumbled away, clearly content with the damage he had caused.

Kit was unable to move, a rib or two being broken for sure. He looked around at all that he could see: the darkness of the night made the interior of the abandoned building far darker than during the day. Kit knew very well that a certain group of kids liked to hang around these parts, but he ventured out anyways in hopes of finding a new trip worth paying for. The powder he had purchased last week wasn't quite cutting it and was quickly running out. He heard footsteps approaching, and panic surged through him. And yet they were light footsteps, not from a man. He was sure of it. Eyes turned upwards to find the source of the steps and fell upon an innocent face with sparkling green eyes. "Are you okay? Can you walk?" That had been the day that Kristoff Gresham met Emi.

The ache resonated through his ribs as he recalled the moment he first saw her face. Every moment with her rushed back to him and he could feel a familiar sting at the eyes. The soft skin of his arm began to sting too, the various tracks seeming to come alive as he recalled back to the bad days of his life. Never again, you promised her. She wouldn't want that for you. Kit lived the majority of his life for his lost lover, knowing full well that she was guiding him in life and hoping he made the right decisions. He believed that she would always be with him in some way, and would know if he slipped up in his promises. I can't let her down. His last promise to her conscious self was that he would do good for her. It was a promise he would have to keep.

Odysseus was in a similar position. He, too, had a loved one that expected him to do something with his life instead of wasting it away on the easy path. At the end of the day, it was far simpler to get into the negatives instead of working for the positives; Orion wouldn't want that for his brother, or for anyone probably. At least according to the way that Odysseus spoke of him. He seemed like a kind man, one that was not built mentally for the Games. Most of us aren't, though. Anybody that went in would come out a changed person; not all of the Victors could handle that change. Kit knew for a fact that he wouldn't have been able to take all that guilt. It would have lead him to taking his own life, or putting his anger elsewhere. A dangerous outcome that had become impossible with his ineligibility. And yet twenty-four kids still face that fear.

Odysseus was speaking of the benefits to being arrested. While, yeah, it wasn't exactly the best thing to happen, he was correct in realizing that good could come out of it. A lot of people that witnessed the horrors of the Detention Center would find themselves less likely to commit any more crimes in fear of being sent back. It was a system that was almost too perfect. Fear was the strongest emotion besides love, and the Keepers liked to use it a little too often. Perhaps it could keep Odysseus from doing bad things again. And he really seemed to be comfortable following that path of light that Kit wished for him. It was all he could hope for for the giant he was guiding to the Justice Building, now only a few blocks away. They would be there soon, and Odysseus would be sent to his punishment for a period of time. That was the part Kit disliked the most; he never quite knew what happened to the people he arrested after he dropped them off. He knew what they faced, and had been the Keeper to give it to some prisoners, but he never knew the endings to the stories he had heard from citizens he escorted.

"I never thought I'd do this, but I want to thank you." The words struck a chord with Kit, and a smile crossed his face. This is why I do my job. It's not the power, the weapon, the security or any of that. It's knowing I can try to make a difference. His eyes met with the Justice Building's walls, knowing they'd only have a few more moments together. "It's your call now, man. Do something to make your brother proud, no matter where he ends up. Make him proud. That's all we can do." Kit wanted nothing more than to make Emi proud, to make her happy that she had loved a good man despite all of his flaws. He wanted to be everything for her, as she was everything to him. "All we can do is make the people we love proud to say they love us back."

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

Knuckles
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a gift at the door; [odysseus/kit] [DC] Jul 29, 2015 21:04:27 GMT -5

Post by Knuckles on Jul 29, 2015 21:04:27 GMT -5

[googlefont="Jim Nightshade:400"]

Odysseus Hammerfell-Alezander

He walked a lonely street. One many people have gone on before, yet finding a soul to speak about the horrendous time spent behind bars was impossible. The place was cruel and violent, but it was set to keep the laws in order. To keep people afraid. To keep them on their toes as they try to step across the line into the dark side of the world. In a world such as this there wasn't a grey area. It was white and black. There wasn't an inbetween. Each person chose a path as either innocent or guilty. The innocent never stepped across the line, and the guilty teetered on it for a while before finally stepping over. Odysseus wasn't prepared for what Orion had done. The words he said still bounce through his skull. He wanted to die. He wanted to be with Mason again. It was hard for Odysseus to except. It was hard for him to move on knowing that he would lose another person he cared deeply about. Sure, he had Derek, but Orion was blood related, and watching him suffer because of his wish to die has become torture.

In a way it became funny. Odysseus was torturing himself by living in guilt and gried and anger. His insides were melting away. His will to survive was slowly slipping out of his control as the games carried on and on. Each time Orion tried to fall away somehow, Odysseus couldn't watch. He couldn't watch as they held on. He couldn't watch as the beasts of the world tried to take him down. Demons lurked inside the arena, and they were slaughtering everyone in sight. All he could think about at this very moment was Orion. Was he still alive? Had he survived the horrendous traps and tributes placed before him? Has his cannon sound and Odysseus missed it? He had no way of knowing. Nothing to tell him Orion was alive. Nothing to tell him that the person he held onto fell away and was prepared to come home in a box. It could already be happening, and he wouldn't know. His heart shattered into millions of pieces over and over. It took over him. Turning the giant into a demon set out on a path of destruction. One he was prepared to walk. One that would've meant his death.

It all changed the moment the peacekeeper knocked on his door.

A man of law saved him. He showed Odysseus the light in the time of darkness. That at the end of this dark tunnel he was traveling through, a better ending was near. All he had to do was reach for it. No, the walk wasn't going to be easy because whatever was awaiting him grew closer and closer. It haunted his thoughts worse than the thought of Orion dying. It tormented his soul knowing that they would torment him in the most uninmaginable ways. His screams would fill the air, and it made him unaware of what was really happening. Yet the simple reminders from the arresting officer has kept him on track. It has kept him moving long after his brain has shut down although each step felt like an entire lifetime. They drug him away from the comfort of his house along the streets of district two. But the peacekeeper beside him has given him more than anyone has ever given him in his enitre life. This man has given him hope. A spark has been ignited inside him, and it's up to him to keep it going. Odysseus had to fuel it. He had to keep focused on following the right track, but right now the biggest obstacle standing in his way had almost reached him.

His eyes rested on the justice building, and he wanted to turn and run away. He wanted to escape the grasp the Captiol had on him, but it would only make the entire situation much worse. Cooperating wasn't going to help him, and he knew that, but fighting would make it worse. Odysseus had built trust for this man. In the few short moments they were together, he became close to him. It was nice having someone talk to him. Someone to keep him calm. Someone to take away the fears lurking inside him, but right now his heart sunk into his stomach. Reality slapped him across the face leaving him broken. Tears stained the corners of his eyes. "It's your call now, man. Do something to make your brother proud, no matter where he ends up. Make him proud. That's all we can do." Odysseus was alone. The peacekeeper couldn't save him. He couldn't change the fate that's been written for him. He couldn't do anything anymore. Odysseus looked around as he took a deep breath. Only he could finish the story. Only he could find the fight inside of him to keep himself going. "All we can do is make the people we love proud to say they love us back."

The world stopped moving. All time froze, and in this moment it was only him. Just Odysseus. Nobody else mattered. Nobody would take away his future, and nothing would change what he had done. Tears slowly streamed down his face as he turned to face the peacekeeper one last time. It was nice to have this man arrest him. It was a life changing moment to walk down the streets with him. When he finally saw the light, the entire world clicked for him. In every person was a heart waiting for love and comfort. Odysseus needed the comfort this man of law gave him. He needed the strength. He needed the reminder that Orion would want him happy. That Mason wouldn't want him living like this. Odysseus couldn't fuck up anymore. He couldn't ruin the way he was traveling. In the end only time would tell if this moment changed his life forever. He took another deep breath as he stood in front of the doors to the justice building. Would he ever see this place again? Would he ever return to pay his respects to Mason? Would he live to see Orion fight another day? He didn't know the answer to the questions, but the one question he did know the answer to was who he'd live for. Odysseus would honor Orion. He wanted to make him proud.

"That's my goal. To make Orion proud to say that he was related to me. To make him proud to tell the world that I'm his brother. I will live for him. For Orion and Mason."