one of us [thad/love]

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kap
Retired Staff

6,037 POSTS
Pronouns: they/them
last seen Jul 4, 2024 19:59:43 GMT -5

trans rights are human rights <3

one of us [thad/love] Jun 8, 2021 20:03:29 GMT -5

Post by kap on Jun 8, 2021 20:03:29 GMT -5

"Stand up
or die on your knees."
-----
The training center was the ideal place to fine-tune my skills. Sure, I've been an athlete my entire life. I can run. I'm surprisingly agile. I can tackle the morons who get in my way, but I'm not exactly a fighter. At least, not with weapons. I've thrown a good few punches in my day, but never a knife.

I start by focusing on the other tributes: seeing what they're doing could help me out later. There's one kid in particular that stands out to me. He's an upper district tribute, according to the number on his uniform. District Two, to be exact. I figure that he's probably a career, as many from One, Two and Four are.

If he fights like most careers do, then he's probably the model of what my brother Harmon always dreamed to be. Well, other than sober. Harmon's hardly ever sober.

I approach the guy.

"Hey Two, you a career?" I ask. "Man, if you are, my brother Harmon would love to be like you, although perhaps a bit more stoned. He's usually high to some extent. Come to think of it, I wouldn't have minded getting some career training if I could have."

I'm info-dumping again. Shit. Shut up, Thad, shut up.

"Sorry, uhm, anyway, I'm Thad. From Ten. You?"

-----

lyrics: "One of Us" by Fever 333

pogue
Graphics

1,889 POSTS

Pronouns: He/Him
last seen Aug 16, 2024 17:29:16 GMT -5

Is she trying to interrupt our henna session?

one of us [thad/love] Jun 8, 2021 23:03:25 GMT -5

Post by pogue on Jun 8, 2021 23:03:25 GMT -5

C A L L U M

L O V E

His fingertips wrap tight around the handle of the knife as he swings, quickly adjusting his stance as the trainer dodges backwards. His heart pounds and sweat drips from his forehead as the buzzer finally hits zero, muscles finally easing as he steps backwards and out of the ring. "Nice job, Love. Make sure you're-"

"Watching my guard, yeah." He finishes, and the man in white nods in approval.

His form was sloppy, that much he can recognize. But he can't blame himself, not yet, letting his eyes scan across the training center and taking in each of his fellow tributes.

He's got a lot of prying to do and not enough time to do it, too little time in the week to make sure most of these people are wrapped tight around his fingers and drowning in hopeful ignorance. It's why he has to fight back a smile when Thad Pepperwood saunters up to him with all the innocence of a newborn fawn and vomits out his entire life story in the spaces between them. Love twirls the knife between his fingertips as Thad speaks, nods along with the words as if he can relate. It's only when Thad dives headfirst into his family troubles that Love replaces the inquisitive look on his face with a somber smile, drops his gaze and pondering a memory that isn't even there for a moment before meeting Thad's gaze again.

When he finally finishes Love places the knife on the table to his right, wiping the sweat from his palm and focusing all his attention on his fellow volunteer. "Career through and through." He starts, voice somber and injected with false sadness. "I'm Love." He says, shaking the boy's hand before continuing.

"I'm uh-" He matches the stammering of Thad's words with his own, mirroring everything he knows Thad can relate to in his words. "I'm sorry about your brother." He continues.

"My dad, he... well, I know how you feel."
Locked gaze, sad smile and crocodile tears brewing in his eyes.

A little white lie slips from his lips, and ripred it's sweet.

kap
Retired Staff

6,037 POSTS
Pronouns: they/them
last seen Jul 4, 2024 19:59:43 GMT -5

trans rights are human rights <3

one of us [thad/love] Jun 12, 2021 7:57:44 GMT -5

Post by kap on Jun 12, 2021 7:57:44 GMT -5

"Stand up
or die on your knees."
-----
The guy I'd approached confirms his career status. I suppose I should've known by the glinting blade he'd had in his grasp moments before. He held it quite well, from what I could tell, or at least knew how to use it much better than I would have. His name is Love, and to be totally honest, I would never have guessed that. To me, it seemed like he would've had a name that was a bit more... tough sounding— more intimidating, I suppose.

Nevertheless, he seemed kind enough. He shook my hand, and then continued on to voice his concern and condolences about Harmon's addiction as if he were consoling someone who were mourning the loss of a loved one. He mentioned something about his father, saying that he knew how I felt.

It made me feel sorry for bringing it up. I realized that I should probably apologize and change the subject, at least a little bit, especially if we were getting into the deep stuff right away. It probably wasn't smart of me to share what happened in my home life with a future opponent, but that's just the way I was— a talkative over-sharer.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up. I didn't realize it'd be a sensitive subject," I explained. I tried my best to think of a way to change the subject, but apparently, I wasn't too good at moving away from the topic of family.

"Do you have any siblings, if you don't mind me asking? I'm just curious. I've got four brothers, which can get a bit chaotic at home, but helps when you need some extra teammates for a game." I tried my best to keep it lighthearted, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to keep it that way.

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