garden of iden.— [abel/iden]

[Deleted]

I was doing decent on my mission to meet all of the careers. Not sure how I was doing on the front of getting them to like me but hey, one thing at a time. So far I had met Arc Mer. And I just saw Iden from Two lifting weights. Perfect. I had a plan and everything. Go over and just start talking to him casually, a little guy to guy gym talk. Simple, right? At least it was supposed to be simple. Everything didn't quite go as I had planned.

I started over to him and the weights to talk to him, but then I just stopped. Iden was shirtless, for starters. I watched as the sweat dripped down him and his muscles tensed, flexing as he lifted. The way the light shone on his tanned skin emphasised his six pack and pecs. His bright blue eyes really added to it all. It was distracted in a gay way, I'm not gay, maybe just from an aesthetic point. Or maybe his muscles were simply intimidating to me. Either way, I stopped going towards him.

But I couldn't back out now. He had already seen me walking towards him, as though he is some tanned God sent straight from above, and I couldn't just turn around. Luckily, I was ready to work out since I was planning on training regardless. My only option was to start lifting weights myself. I had lifted weights before, but usually with Cain there to help spot me. Plus, I didn't have the best form. I hoped I could at least fake it long enough to not draw any suspicion. And I tried not to look at him.

Due to having lifted before, I somewhat looked like I knew what to do and knew what weight to grab - even if it wasn't a lot. I tried to glance over to Iden to watch his form - but I didn't want to risk getting distracted again so it was just that, a quick glance. I tried to imitate his stance combined with what Cain had told me over the years. But, I knew my stance looked wonky. He knew my form looked wonky. Everyone knew my form looked wonky. And honestly, I was just trying to waste a little time until I had an excuse to leave.

[ table by kaitlin ]

[Tom]

Training is his lifeblood.

Pascal's instilled habits in his training regime which have followed him into the training center. Being unable to lift weights and practice with every type of weapon on earth has made him grow unhinged a little, but as soon as he could train, he did. The sweat and pumping of blood through his body made him feel alive. The feeling of straining the muscles he has makes him feel better about everything that's happened to him. Iden's confident in his capabilities, especially after seeing some of the tributes from the other districts. Some of which had not much to offer, but he didn't mind having fodder. The faster he got to the crown, the better off he would be.

Lifting weights wasn't usual for every tribute, but he definitely didn't expect anyone to interrupt him after walking in the first day with a healing black eye. The glare he's thrown as some of the tributes not doing much to stop people from reaching out to him, but he could handle teenagers all trying to get along before having to crush some skulls. A silence fills him as he lets his biceps strain from lifting the dumbbell up in simple bicep curls. Over and over again, until the Eleven male steps into the room. Blue eyes following carefully with a small glare, but he doesn't mind showing off to the lower districts, especially since many of them were inferior to the upper districts. Showing them how they wouldn't stand a chance at all, crushing their dreams from the start.

Eleven stops coming closer as Iden smiles subtly to hide the fact he's noticed the guy. For a moment, Iden is going to find some peace in lifting weights, but instead, he watches Eleven move over to grab his own dumbbell. Staring at the lower district, he finds himself confused at what the guy is even doing. The form is all off and Iden swears the guy is going to hurt himself. Rolling his eyes, he breaths the words loud enough for Eleven to hear. All of it comes out in an annoyed huff as he sets down his own dumbbell carefully.

"Ugh, Twinks."

Standing up, he wipes sweat off of his brow with his discarded shirt. Sweat glistening from his chest knowing he looked better than most. Annoyance is plastered across his face, but a smirk starts pulling on the edge before he steps closer, letting himself come closer. "Okay, Eleven, let me help you. You're gonna hurt yourself otherwise." Stepping even closer, he moves his arms around the guy's elbows, pushing his feet a little more closer to shoulder width with his own foot. Leaning over the guy, he knew what he was doing. If he could fluster Eleven, then it'd end up working in his favor more. Moving closer to Eleven's ear he whispers with the deepest and quietest voice he can as he motions for Eleven to lift the bar up.

"Good boy. Don't want you hurting yourself before the games, unless..."

The smirk on his lips continues to be filled with a fire as he stares into a mirror, the closeness was definitely closer than he intended, but he didn't care. Eleven would be nothing more than a corpse to him within a week or so. Might as well enjoy the chaos he can bring during his time in the training center.

"...that's what you want."

[ table by kaitlin ]

[Deleted]

I was trying to ignore him, pretend he wasn't there. Instead I was focused on any distraction, any reason I could come up with to leave. I would have to try again later. I hesitated and so as far as I was concerned, this interaction was over. I don't know why I got so lost looking at him, but I didn't like it. I knew it didn't mean anything, but it left me feeling sinful for some reason. Like I was doing something that I shouldn't have been doing. Like I was feeling feelings I wasn't supposed to feel.

I could feel his eyes on me, glaring, annoyed. I was worried I had already ruined the chances of getting on this careers good side. I thought for a moment he had an issue because of Six last games. But Six never interacted with the girl from Two and in his fight against the career pack him and Love Bellisario never even touched each other. In fact, no one touched Love that fight. So what was his problem? Iden Averill was not an enemy I wanted to have.

I was tempted to ask what his issue was, but I was smarter than that. That would be begging for a fight and the dude showed up with a black eye. He'd have no problem beating my ass. I know the Peacekeepers here favor the careers, and they don't know that I wanted to be one of them - that I spent years wanting to be a Peacekeeper. If we got into a fight, they'd be more likely to take Iden's side. I couldn't rely on them for protection from him, my best choice was to pretend I didn't notice him.

But then, I heard something. For a moment I thought I imagined it. And then after I verified it was real, I struggled to figure out who it was directed at. It couldn't be directed at me, could it? Why would it be? I hadn't said or done anything to him. Plus, the statement would just be plain inaccurate. Even if some of the guys at school liked to joke around and call me that. He said, "Ugh, Twinks".

And sure enough, he was in fact talking about me. I watched him set down his equipment and come my way. I felt like a prey being circled by a shark. But when he wet to wipe his sweat? I couldn't help but stare. His face was so chiseled, like some sort of sculpture almost. His eyes, even while glaring, were so easy to get lost in. And again, those muscles. They looked so strong... so damn strong. He was intimidating, and maybe a little something else too. In a weird way I was excited, probably my fight or flight instinct.

But, the fight never came. He was offering to help me, well at least pretending to. I started to shake my head, deny the offer for help, but he continued regardless. I swallowed as he got closer and closer, I was watching him like a hawk. He was watching me like a hawk watching a rabbit. Silently, I felt him move my body to the correct position. I could hear his breathing, and wondered if he could hear mine. I wouldn't be surprised if he heard my heart beat. For some reason it was pounding out of my chest. The sound of my own heart was almost deafening to me.

Good boy.

The moment he said that, I froze. I felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment and struggled to find any words. What was he trying to get at? What did he mean by me getting hurt? Was he just trying to mess with my head? Because if so he was doing a damn good job at it. I felt my breathing quicken as I fumbled, trying to find anything to say. There went any attempt at trying to seem at all confident in front of this guy. I should have left when I had the chance.

"I uh um my name's Abel - not Eleven, just Abel... what are you getting at? With that comment? You couldn't hurt me if you tried, Two."

[ table by kaitlin ]

[Tom]

Taking control is all he's ever wanted.

Holding power over his own decisions and never letting people push him around like an avox with no tongue. Silence becoming more deafening than the marbled walls of a rich home, staring emptily as a family never meant to be his. Blood tainted through the years of standing in uniforms, pretending he doesn't have that dreaded man's blood running through his veins. The world looking down on him as if he were nothing more than a mangy mutt on the streets. Fingertips bleeding from being bitten to the nubs, left through feeling like an imposter in his own skin. No longer a boy who desperately wanted to cling onto life, but Pascal's smile kept him alive for this long.

No one else would get to push him around anymore. No one else gets to tell him what he can and can't do. No one gets to question his capabilities. Iden Averill was going to be crowned whether he had to rip kids to shreds with his own hands, leave nothing behind but the carcasses of the unworthy. A new world for his own taking stood before him and no one would stop his reach for it. So when the twink decides to get nervous, but also defiant, Iden couldn't let him get away with it. "I uh um my name's Abel - not Eleven, just Abel... what are you getting at? With that comment? You couldn't hurt me if you tried, Two."

Eleven, no Abel, would regret even crossing him. The teasing air leaves his throat, almost clenching with a tightness that burns through him. His eyes following the weight which looks correct now in the twink's grip. Iden doesn't even move as he let's his smirk rise with a bit more tension, dripping in venom. Abel had already made the mistake of falling into his grasp like a python with it's prey in it's tight embrace, all that's left is to squeeze and break them. A feeling of anger boiling along his chest as he is silent for a moment before he starts speaking.

"You're going to regret your words, Abel."

Not giving Eleven a chance to react, Iden grips the boy underneath his armpits, lifting him up as if he weighed nothing to him. Fingers gripped tightly into the fabric of his shirt, until the weight is snapped forward harshly. Shoving Abel into the wall, ignoring the thud of his body as he presses tightly into his form, unafraid of what the twink could even do. His eyes darkening more than before, almost with a certain amusement, but anger underneath it. Moving forward, close enough that his breath is a small breeze against Eleven's neck.

"Don't you dare question me, Twink. I don't like brats."

Another rough shove as he pulls back even more, glaring until he a smirk pulls across his lips until he pressed back in even harder, shoving Abel back into the wall. His lips curling up in a teasing way, breath on his ears as he continued. Brats like Eleven deserved a bit of fear before the games. Lower districts were meant to be nothing more than trash beneath their crowns. Two may have not had as many victors, but careers were above others. Abel from Eleven would be a corpse within a week or so. Iden might as well have some fun before he has to snap his neck later.

"I could easily hurt you. Make you beg for mercy."

Control. He had all of the control here.

The crown would be his.

"Wouldn't that be fun, Abel?"

[ table by kaitlin ]

[Deleted]

Before I knew what happened, I was against the wall and the weight was dropped on the ground. Normally I'd be quicker than that, I'd have a better reaction. But, Iden was damn quick and I was still recovering from my concussion courtesy of Fray. He was right about something, I definitely regretted my words. Instantly. My breath felt trapped in my throat and I was scared to move at all, as though even breathing would result in death.

Suddenly I felt like I was back in Eleven. A few years ago I was feeling brave. Pa had a bad day at work and was pissed. My siblings were smart and avoiding him while he drank. But, I wanted to watch TV in the living room where he was. Sometimes when he's mad and drunk, he likes to try to scare us kids. I think he finds it funny. Well I told him to fuck off that day. I never stood up to Pa since.

And right now? I felt the exact same cocktail of fear and regret I felt the moment I told Pa to fuck off for the first and last time. The fear of knowing I went too far. The realisation that I had no clue what would happen to me. I felt like my life was moments from being cut short. Where were the Peacekeepers? They were supposed to be everywhere to prevent something like this from happening. He slammed me against the wall again, still no Peacekeepers. Still no help.

I was shaking. The last time I was so scared I shook was with Cain in the Justice Building. I remembered what happened then, something called a panic attack. Something that never happened before. Was I going to have another one? I couldn't, not in front of Iden of all people. I felt too scared to speak, too scared to even look at him in the eyes. Pa sometimes said looking at him in the eyes was a challenge. What if Iden saw it the same way? I just had to get out.

Then I realised he wanted me to speak. He asked me a question. Everything felt like a blur and my head was throbbing. It hitting the wall probably wasn't great for my concussion. I needed to apologise and apologise quick. I wasn't going to beg or grovel, I had too much self respect for that. But I'd apologise real good. But that twink comment... It made me feel weird. I needed to stop that from happening again too.

"I'm sorry alright, y'all! I'm real real sorry! I didn't mean to disrespect you or nothin'! Just let me go! And I'll leave, go back to my apartment like this never happened! Besides, I'm not even a twink. A twink has to be into guys and I'm straight."

This whole time I had been trying to cover up my speech pattern, something I learned about in middle school called "code-switching". I didn't think sponsors would take me seriously with a countryboy way of speaking. But now? Now I could give less than a shit about what anyone thought of the way I spoke. My brain was preoccupied with trying to get out of this situation. It didn't care how I spoke or how pathetic my apology sounded. It just wanted out.

[ table by kaitlin ]