solace {Lillybird & Vallen}

[Knuckles]

A sigh of relief, it's all it takes for him to finally set the pieces of scrap metal and wire down. Tinkering around at the trapping station has definitely proven worth his time, but Vallen hasn't learned a thing. Now that time is running out, he wants nothing more than to try to learn some last-minute skills that may just save his life. But knowing where to start is almost impossible because everyone is becoming so much better than him, at least in his own mind as the reality of everything slowly starts setting in. Dying terrifies him, and maybe if that motivator would've entered his brain so much sooner, Vallen wouldn't have spent all the time working on worthless things.

Moving away from the trapping station, he slowly starts walking around taking it all in, yet he hasn't a single clue where to even begin. The obvious would be learning how to hold a weapon, but at the same time, he knows the survival stations are just as important. Maybe someone can help him.

Unless I'm too far gone.

Training time is coming to an end, and right now the only thing he can even begin thinking of is how much he's lost out on. Time moves so quickly. Seconds tick by faster than ever before, and maybe it's just the simple fact that he's stuck in doors almost all the time, but soon the outdoors awaits him, at least that's what he imagines.

Stopping at different stations, he watches the different trainers teaching anyone who wants to listen to them, and he tries to pluck up the courage to ask one of them for assistance, but his voice falters. It fails him every time he needs it the most because he missed out on learning how to properly communicate with anyone around him. Sometimes it seems as though the words come easy, but most of the time, it all seems so far gone. Even saying the simplest word becomes too much of a hassle which always sends him running away with his tail tucked between his legs.

And that's when he sees her, and his eyes are wide watching her. Sometimes it seems almost impossible, but maybe that's from the days they've spent in the training center. He doesn't know much of her, but he wants to learn from her. Hopefully she's willing to guide him, but plucking up the courage to even begin speaking those words becomes a battle of its own.

Just breathe.

Exhaling sharply, he slowly walks up towards her making sure he's careful to stand far enough away so that he doesn't startle her, he tries figuring out what words he wishes to say. A simple introduction would do.

"Hi. You are very good at this."

Yeah, that's perfect, but it doesn't help that he's trembling from head to toe as the words escape his lips.

"Where'dyoulearnit? Iwanttolearnit..." The last question and statements comes out as one word, but he just hopes she's capable of understanding it.

[kaitlin]

[D6f Carmen Cantelou [aza]]

lillybird ludwig.

I'm trying so hard not to think of home, but it's almost like when you try to push it to the back of your mind, everything starts to remind you of it. The spotlights bright like Five's summer sun, setting ablaze my heart and running me into a haze-fuelled mindset of immorality. The whispers from other tributes feel like those of strangers on the streets who know of me by face but never name; they warn each other to keep me close because that's how an enemy should be held. Even in these knives, I am met with my own breaking reflection, a stark reminder that I am the monster that put myself here and I only have myself to blame.

Intuition gone and innocence in pieces on the ground - when I catch my own eye, I feel the weight of my broken promise like it is bigger than the entire world. I don't let it crush me, I can't and I won't, because even though it hurts, it lulls my anguish with the chanting of his name: Marcus. And I realise, that even though I am possibly the most stupid individual alive for putting myself here, I can reverse that and make it out. I can keep that promise, after all.

I work alone in the training centre, using the precious time I have left to try and better myself in preparation for the arena. Alone amongst the sea of tributes who will soon come down onto me like torrential rain, I shine like the blades I flip between my fingers. They twirl between my hands, glinting in the light as they move and slice through the air and through the words of a boy who speaks with a fragility that a blade could tear up in an instant.

"Hi. You are very good at this. Where'd you learn it? I want to learn it." He says quickly, like time is running out. His frank nature catches me off-guard and I drop the knife on the floor. The metallic sound booms from below.

"Thanks. My friend from home taught me how to do it, obviously I've still got some learning to do myself..." With a sigh, I bend down to pick up what has fallen, the blade scratching against the floor as I swoop it back up. "It's about keeping a rhythm with your fingers, like you're playing an instrument, I guess... I don't know, it takes practice. I can't tell you how many times I've nicked myself trying to get it right."

I had to steal some plasters once whilst learning how to do it with Marcus. Somehow, he always got it right and I'd be the one struggling. Some things never change.