A Wooden Siren Philosophy (open)

[Prince Inigo]

Takeba Suzumi

Clean blue washed up on shore, producing foam along the sandy beach. Bright rays of light struck the seashells and sand to glitter the shore. The smell of salt was ever present yet seemed stronger in the morning. White birds cooed over the body of blue with its hardly-detectable crashes, reflections of the avian creatures and puffy clouds on the surface. Spears, nets, and fishing line interrupted the true flow time and time again. No signs of future bad weather showed; the course of the day would be placid and serene.

Water swishing and sloshing below the hard wooden port gave more to the feel of calmness. The dock was relatively new but the color of the boards made them appear old as the days of North America. They creaked; they were rickety; they were stable, nonetheless. Sixty people could be support fine on the harbor.

Finely-shaped legs were still over the pier, pressed tightly against one another. Wood shavings fell to a small lap not covered well by black fabric. Delicate, slender fingers caressed a shaved-off block of wood and a dagger snarling its teeth. The handle had the shape of a dragon spitting out the jagged blade, the grip the back of its neck. Dim purple eyes concentrated deeply into the wooden block in imagination of the animal it would shape into. Her face was neutral, emotionless. To the left of the girl were an assortment of knives and tools in a nice, brown leather kit.

A simple hum was emitted from the purple-haired girl during the whittling process. She had not a care for any person listening in. Today was a good day for her hobby.

[gxk]

Naida Gardez-

Naida walked down the pier slowly breathing in the smell of the salty ocean air. She had a lot on her mind and though taking a walk make help to clear it. She had around her neck a leather string with an older looking spear tip hanging from it.
Naida noticed someone humming up a head. The girl seemed to have purple hair, that wasn't something you saw everyday, but somehow seemed to work well on this girl. It looked like she was whittling something. Naida smiled softly, it must be a nice skill to have, the only thing she was really good at was fishing. She was pretty close to the girl now on her walk, she didn't want to disturb her by saying hi, but she didn't want to startle either.

[Prince Inigo]

Hands fiddled and fondled the block, eyes concentrating deeply into the image in mind. Refined accuracy was coupled with perfect precision. A shred each was thin as a hair strand.

Abandoning fixation for newness, however, the girl's ears perked to approaching steps. Her hands ceased any activity. In her thoughts, she immediately deemed herself rude for gaining the desire to turn to the sound's source. With hesitation, she began whittling again, more shedding falling to her lap like autumn leaves. She breathed deeply, sighing calmness.

[gxk]

Naida-

It looked to Naida like the girl had most likely heard her coming so she mine as well introduce herself. "I was just taking a walk, sorry if I disturbed you. I'm Naida Gardez."
Naida's gazw shifted to the block of wood, "Your really good at whittling, I don't think I've seen anyone as good at it as you." She smiled hoping she didn't scare the girl since she still had her barbed fishing spear strapped to her back, not that it was an uncommon sight in District Four but still.

[Prince Inigo]

Purple eyes shifted to the newcomer as hands froze in place. She shook her head. "You did not disturb my procedure, so I quite fine." A fake smile of reassurance formed. "It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Naida Gardez. My name is Takeba Suzumi."

She took a look at the wood and said, "I thank you for your praise; however, my skills are not refined to shape intricate figurines and works of art. I still have yet no complete mastery over imagination and delicate curvature." Takeba noted the spear. "May I ask if you are a fisher; and, if you are, are you well-skilled in that profession?"

[gxk]

Naida-

Naida smiled softly. "I guess I'm pretty good at fishing, I've been feeding my younger siblings and making a living off it for 5 years now. My older brother was even better though, he's the one who taught me everything I know." She glanced over her shoulder at her spear. "Your whittling is still far more impressive than being able to catch fish though. Just about everyone in District 4 can fish." She laughed lightly. "It beautiul out today hmm?"

[Prince Inigo]

Takeba widened her eyes. "I find you being able and skilled enough to ensure your family has food on the table and selling excess impressive, in of itself. A five-year period encompasses nearly a third of my life. It is natural to learn from elders and significant older figures. You will eventually acquire the same level, or even more, of skill and intelligence your brother had obtained in his life."

"That statement may be true; however, all people in the world have a hobby or a different skill to distinguish themselves from the masses. I have my wood-carving, knowledge of anatomy, and have fiddled with some aspects of medical treatment. I am sure you have your own skills and attributes that allow you to be a rose in a meadow of grass." Takeba smiled a small smile.

[gxk]

Naida-

Naida smiled. "The only thing I take pride in other than my fishing is my swimming and diving. I was taught a little bit of healing by my brother as well." Her fingers grazed across the spear tip on the necklace she wore.
"Jellyfish stings are my specialty as far as healing goes. I figured learning how to treat them would be helpful living by the ocean." She chuckled lightly. "If it counts for anything I can tell you the age of the jellyfish and what kind it was by the sting. I'm sure the more you keep whittling the more you'll improve until your creations are look almost alive."

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Nathan

"Just about everyone in District Four can fish." I disagree. I hear the voices of two people as I surface for a breath and then dive back under. These few days, I've been practicing my swimming. I need to get better at it or else I'll never fully contribute to the workforce here. Too bad no one needs agricultural skills. I would be one of those people in District Four that can't fish. I can barely handle a net without getting tangled.

I kick, glide, and come up for another breath of air. "--Beautiful out today, hmm?" Now this, I can agree with. It's not so hot that I'm being boiled alive in the water, but it's warm enough so I don't freeze.

Sun beams that bounce off the surface of the water blind me as I come up. It's still a little early in the morning, but at least the sun's up now. I've been up since before sunrise, practicing before the day starts. This is pretty much the only time I have to myself--work takes up my mornings and school or training, my afternoons.

Vanessa couldn't come with me today--she had to go with Mother to the District Square to shop for some new shoes. I don't think Leila would ever come with me. She's more like Enna, on the quiet side and not too eager to try new things. Father's at another meeting for the newcomers. It's harder for him and Mama because they don't have as much time as I do to learn to swim. For now, they get jobs like sorting or counting or calculating, which is what they did back in District Eleven.

I paddle to a dock a little further from where the two girls are and haul myself up, dripping wet. Is this the dock with my stuff? A glance tells me no. Oh well.

I climb out, shake myself off, and hurry to the dock where I stashed my stuff--a towel and a change of clothes. My arms are a slight bit sore so I swing them. This swimming can be quite a form of exercise. It looks so easy when other people swim, but why is it so difficult when it comes to me?

The dock on which my stuff lays is the one beside the one on which the two are having their conversation. I quietly get my bag. The towel lays on top--I grab it and wipe my face off. Then, I dry myself off and slip on my shirt. My shorts are okay enough, not too wet, so I just leave them be. I stuff the towel back into the bag and lay down on the dock, soaking in the warm sun and drying naturally. Where to now? I don't have anyplace to go; everyone's busy at home, I'm bored, it's a Saturday, no school, no work, nothing. I suppose I shall stay for now.

[Prince Inigo]

"Swimming at excellent speeds is impressive and useful as well. It is never good to underestimate those qualities." Takeba blinked her eyes, a bit curious of the subject at hand. "Jellyfish? I find that a peculiar subject of study, but excuse myself for my rudeness. I am sure that knowledge is extremely practical, especially in this District."

Her eyes cast down to the shaping figurine. Currently, the wood block was a blob with a crudely-shaped head. A couple touches would turn the head into a distinguishable hawk shrieking with eyes a-glaring.

"Whittling is a hobby with a couple benefits, compared to fishing and underwater intelligence. What I can basically think of is that I could form a simple plank into a makeshift knife or some other tool. Time is spent preciously and consistently when forming an art piece; you cannot rush perfection."

She brought up, almost forgotten, "Ah, indeed the day is beautiful. I like when the ocean is calm and the birds coo."

Takeba grew alert of interrupted splashing sounds distant out in the water but could not detect the presence or reason for such noise. She looked left and right slightly in each direction, almost like a simple shake of the head, slow and exact. Seeing and hearing nothing of importance, she ceased her search and returned the attention back to Naida, internally scolding herself of poor manners.

[gxk]

Naida-

Naida laughed, "I had no interest in jellyfish until I was stung on the leg by one. Whittling could defiantly be a helpful skill to have in case of emergency." Naida whistled a soft tune, a lullaby her brother used to sing. "Yeah, the birds are so sweet to listen too on days like today. It always amazing me that they know of storms and changes in the ocean far before we do."
A bird whistled back the rest of the lullaby. "My brother used to sing that a lot. So a few of the birds picked up on it."

[Prince Inigo]

"I suppose so. If you say whittling is impressive, perhaps you should take up the hobby as well." Takeba continued, "Birds are intelligent creatures, I agree. Though each one is different from the next, they all have their wits to learn new chores and have their capabilities to interpret the nature around them."

The girl listened to the tune, intently. She was a bit surprised that a bird reciprocated the rest of the melody. "It seems that your brother is a great man, but it is strange that you use past tense when you regard him. I hate to assume; but, if I may ask: is something wrong with your brother? You do not have to answer the question if it makes you uncomfortable. I would not feel right in making you so."

[gxk]

Naida-

Naida gave a pained smile. "His name was Raiden. He died about 4 years ago. He was the male tribute in the Hunger Games that year. He was so close to coming home then he got killed. I was only 11 when he got reaped. The peacekeepers had to pry me away from him." She touched the spear tip on her necklace, "This spear tip was his. My parents are so busy and my dad hasn't been doing great so I've been raising my younger siblings. It was awful, when he was reaped, I wanted to take his place but I obviously couldn't being only 11 and a girl." Naida looked a little pale remembing watching her brother die on national TV. "Don't worry about asking about it though, it helps me to talk about it. It's just even though it's been 4 years my mind replays the event over and over again every night."

[Prince Inigo]

"I may not be able to fully understand the pain, but I can understand the concept of letting a significant person die." Takeba looked down, a seemingly calm sadness. "I apologize on hearing about your brother and of your misfortune. Your family had suffered a heavy blow in its character."

She set the figurine at her lap with the wood shavings and placed the knife next to her. "The loneliness and pain must have been astronomical, much like when I suffered for the death of a friend. Sickness granted her an early eternal dream. I do not wish of you to become what I have already changed to."

Takeba suddenly but slowly rose from her seat, turned to Naida, and gave her a hug. Remembering quickly, she said, while letting go, "Ah, I apologize. Am I making you uncomfortable?"

[gxk]

Naida-

Naida smiled when Takeba hugged her, "No it's fine, it actually makes me feel a lot better. I'm sorry about your friend. My two younger siblings weren't as close to my- our brother so I think it was not as hard on them but still not at all easy. I'm terrified, my younger sister is going to be 12 for the next Hunger Games. If she gets chosen of course I'll volunteer for her but I really don't want to die, I must sound like a coward. My brother went without a single complaint or tear, just a hug for each of us. I think when they sent his body back was the worse, it made his death suddenly so real." She looked out at the ocean, the calm water reflecting the sun.