Cookie hearts <3 Ree/Fearless

[[Ree]craft]

Delphine Kinkade

It was a pretty normal day. I started off by making a batch of cookies. A few people came in and looked at the goodies in the glass case, but then they left without buying. That's pretty typical. No one really has the money to buy most of the stuff, but it's fun to look. Sometimes I wonder if I'm wasting money on flour for some of the fancy cakes or pasties. I probably am. Right before they go bad, I have to take them out and we eat fine for dinner.

Today's batch of cookies made, I have nothing left to do but sit behind my counter. I pull out a battered old book and leaf through it until I'm at page 129, where I left off. It's a pretty stupid book about a pretty princess who feels lonely and depressed but meets some gorgeous prince, but finds out he's actually evil and trying to steal her magical pegasus. Of course it ends with a poor good looking boy rescuing her and the pegasus and her realizing she loves him even though she used to always ignore him, etc. It was my favorite book when I was a child though and I associated it with some very good times, and therefore I still enjoyed reading it.

After a chapter, however, I put it down and realized I couldn't get away with another day of not cleaning this place. As my brother had left the room he'd even noted how greasy the counters were, and he was what you'd call a slob who doesn't notice details like that.

I bring out my ratty cloth, wet it and put some precious soap on it. The counter really was disgusting. It's almost impossible to get some of the stains out and when I finally get to cleaning the glass on the display case, half of the soap is gone.

I clean the windows, and the tables and chairs. I put the dirty dishes from this morning's baking into the sink to soak. I clear out all the staling food and rearrange all the baked goods to look more appealing.

I'm sweaty and dirty now from waging war on the small room. Now it's me who's dirty and not the room. That's always how it goes. But I can't leave to shower. There's no one to look after the shop. My father decided to go cut down trees today and my mother's at the market to get some more flour.

I smooth out my apron and wash my hands, retying my hair in a small bun. Feeling accomplished, though tired, i sit back down and pick up my book again. Just as I flip to the right page though, the door opens and someone walks in.

[Fearless]

I have had a very rough day today and decide to waste time at the nearest bakery. Cutting down trees, lets say i cut down four, is really hard work and i have many blisters on my hand that ooze blood most times i work without gloves. My axe is pretty old and has very little use left. Maybe if i work up enough money i can get a new one.

Anyway, back to the bakery. I really wished i had the money to buy the goodies that let you reach Heaven. I probably do have enough but i don't wish to spend it on such a silly thing, or at least a silly moment like this. I walk down a gravel road and head to where the bakery lies.

I have my axe in my backpack,just lightly hanging out, and some throwing knives, just incase i get into trouble. I also have a few cents that i can't buy much with. The day is not over and I need something to do. Where was I going? Oh right, the bakery. My mind is too tired to think.

I walk into the glass door and find the handle. When i open the door, my nose swells with joy and i have many happy thoughts in my head. I was reaching my own Heaven of joy, to a world without imperfections. But i have to find my way back down to Earth, to finish my many goals to an unachieved life. It was like i forgot everything.

My name is Alainia Arbol. I want to be a lumberjack. Thoughts of the Hunger Games scare me. I love pets, such as animals that scurry on the ground, big or large. My life is fine but boring. I work with my dad in the forests beyond the back of my house and split wood, chop trees and throw axes/knives.

I slowling lower my head and think my thoughts of my life. I look up to the counter to see someone waitning for me, or whoever else was in the store, I look around to see the bueaty of cakes and pastries, with some fresh baked cookies. My mouth waters. Stay on Earth I think.

" Hello" I say with a slight smile.

[[Ree]craft]

Delphine Kinkade

I put my book down again and debate asking if I the customer wants anything. However, they like everyone else who walks in is probably just looking. I sit still and try to maintain a friendly face. It's better than sulking behind the cover of a little kid's book at any rate.

I watch the girl's face a little anxiously, wondering if she liked the foods or not. Evidently she did. She had this wistful sort of expression on her face that I recognized immediately. Yes she certainly isn't here to buy. Just to look and smell and wish.

Whenever someone really poor and hungry comes in to look I always feel like I should give them something free. Sometimes I even do when they're particularly hungry or unhappy. And sometimes, I admit, when it's a good looking guy.

Not that I'm hoping to marry one of them or something. None of them probably note me for anything but nice, and I like my home here. Nonetheless I have fantasies that I try and repress because I know they'll never come true and they'll just bring disappointment.

I'm snapped back to reality when my customer says "Hello."

I smile at her warmly. She looks like a nice girl. Maybe I'll give her a cookie or something. Better not to, though. Flour is expensive. "Hello. How may I help you?"

I note the axes and knives sticking out of her backpack. She must be a lumberjack like mostly everyone in the district. Her hands, like every other lumberjack's hands are callused from gripping the wooden handles all day. And the knives? I can't think of an explanation for that except she likes assassinating people (which I find unlikely) or she uses them to chop down trees (which I also find unlikely). Whatever the reason is, it's her own reason and I should pry. Unless of course she does like to assassinate people in which case I would have to tell the peacekeepers. Or at any rate, I would certainly not give her a free cookie.

[Fearless]

I watch the girl, holding a book I cannot iddentify, and make out the words that are on her lips. "Hello. How may I help you." She sounds like a regular store-person. I'm pretty sure she lives here, because i've never heard of "the place where the baker lives", but I watch her eyes stay on me, but not on my eyes. It was my backpack.

This girl obviously noticed my axe and throwing knives. It must seem probable that i'm a lumberjack-trainee, like most people in District 7, but throwing knives is a gift that i got, and I'm in love with every knife I touch. What an odd combination, throwing knives and an axe. I wonder if anyone else in D.7 can throw knives like me.

"Not an ordinary customer, eh? I say like a sly cat, aproaching the counter. "I'm guessing you'd expect this, people come in with no money, hoping to get food from this delightful heaven. But i'm here, well, for the heck of it. Get rid of that place we call home, and, oh. Excuse me! Mind me, darling. Your cakes and delicous cookies have taken me from Earth, abducte my being. What a shame, though. Spending money for such things people want but not buy. Should've been a lumberjack, or just throw your life away in The Games. Just the thought chills me. What's your skill? Alainia Arbol, District 7. Knife and axe throwing. Can you picture that on television? How 'bout you? Name, District, Skill. Easy-peasy. Then comes the threat. Would you be ready?"

Boy, the way I change to every subject. Curse of my mind. Why am i speaking so, so, inviting? I don't know this girl and i'm sure she doesn't know me. Let's hope she's a fighter. So sad to waste a human in the Games, just a girl dying in the Bloodbath, can't get much fortune. Let's give her a chance.

[[Ree]craft]

Delphine Kinkade

As I survey her I notice she's surveying me back. My distinct discomfort at that realization is only lengthened by her next speech.

"Not an ordinary customer, eh?" she said. After this I didn't catch much that made sense. Let's see... She's here just because, and I expect people to come in here not to buy. Well, that's true enough, I suppose. And now it was a shame I had a bakery, hm? Spend money on the materials so that no one can buy them. She asks me a string of questions that are half related... and not related at the same time.

I pause, unsure of what to say in return. Always think before you talk. Once words come out of your mouth you can't press the undo button no matter how much you wish you could.

"I'm Delphine," I say, smiling a little icily. "And I bake things because I enjoy it and also because the people who can afford it, at least, can enjoy it also. It's not a complete waste of time, or, actually, money."

I stop and take a breath. Deal with one thing at a time. I'm not sure how I feel about this girl. I can't say I find this girl very flattering or exactly (from lack of better word) nice, but I don't know if I'm offended by her or not. What she said could be taken in many different ways from mean to flirtatious. I'll just stay neutral.

"I'm sorry to say though, I don't have any more chances to throw my life away. You see, I'm too old to go into the Games now," I say shrugging. "My skill? Well, baking. I know I'm not very impressive, but I enjoy my life."

That pretty much sums me up. No special talents, just an average person with an average life. And I've learned to accept that and enjoy life the way it was made. I don't understand all this rebel hate towards the capitol. It's not worth it. This is the way life is. I'm not saying don't change anything, I'm just saying don't hate them when you don't plan to do anything. If you are courageous enough (or stupid enough) to do something, then just do it without all the high feelings. Hate and strong emotions just get you into trouble.

[Fearless]

As I stop thinking about the stupid things I have just said, I realized she i saying something back.

"I'm Delphine." Okay, I got her name. How wonderful. After that she's saying something about the Games and her baking but I realized how badly I just dissapointed myself, and everything I said was rude. Figuring that she hadn't had any recent customers, I start to think i'll buy something. But then this "Delphine" would probably tell her family about the creep that came in the bakery. Oh well, life's tough.

I begin to put an expression of total shock on my face and start to back up. I grab my axe, just tugging it makes it become loose. I fiddle my hand around at the bottom of it untill i find something meaningful, that we all need. I walked to the counter with one fist balled with a secret content. As i watch the girl, I can tell she'll be scared. My axe is drooping on the floor, not in any shape to attack right now. I put my dirty fist onto the counter and drop the secret onto the cold tile, revealing what was once hidden. I walk away, turning slowly, halfway to the door.

I left this girl at least 3 quarters of the money it is to buy flour, or anything cheaper.