searching but not finding [[Jack]]

[semper]

Devroux Southern-Hymn Creighton

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Though it's absolute bullshit to kill someone just for stealing food for people to survive, I knew Jack was telling the truth. Peacekeepers these days would use anything and everything against you in order to get to torture you or kill you. Even if it's just for standing by the District fence and looking out into the woods, I'm sure they'd twist that into something devious so they could hurt you.

It was obvious that telling me this was hurting him and I wanted to pat him on the shoulder or something to comfort him, but I didn't know what to do. I've been living by myself for so long that I never had the chance to deal with anyone that's emotional. But instead of me doing anything, Jack comes over and puts his own hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him as he tells me something, to which I nod in reply. And though he said that they were all outcasts here, none of them were Avoxes. Damn, even among misfits I'm a misfit. Oh well.

I got up and followed him down the ladder, feeling awkward as I came into the room with the rest of the family. I don't know if they were looking at me, but I felt like I was being stared at as I turned around to face them. Jack introduced me, also adding in that I couldn't speak and that they could probably guess why. Well, even if they didn't believe him, they'd probably soon notice how slow I take to eat even soup and how difficult it was. It's really hard not to notice, actually. I hesitantly went over and sat down beside Jack, looking at all the faces of his family. I didn't want to bring them any trouble with the Peacekeepers... helping an Avox, especially one that's been in the DC and should really be at the Capitol, could result in some serious punishment. From Jack's story, I highly doubted they wanted another run-in with those wretched "keepers of the laws." Hell, I know I wouldn't want to if someone of my family had been killed by them. I made a silent vow to leave Jack and his family alone as soon as I could so that they wouldn't get in trouble because of me.

I looked up at Jack's mother and nodded, giving his parents a small smile.



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[Jack Lexington]

My mother is serving everybody before she takes a bowl for herself and sits down. We all wait for each other and then she actually smiles at Devroux. My dad watches her in worry, then gives me the eye but remains quiet until we're almost finished. The meals is simple. The stew is made from potatoes, beans and some sort of bark that my mother pickles before she uses it in the soup. It taste remotely like chicken- with a lot of phantasy.

"Did you like the stew?" My father asks even though he's worried.
Then he gets up, collects our plates and brings them into the kitchen. Quickly mom follows and I know that they are talking about what to do with the young man I so generously offered a bed even if it means trouble for us.

When they come back my father sits down again and explains. "Jack. I'm assuming your 'friend' is running from some sort of trouble. You know we can't afford loosing another son."
My heart stings at his words. But he is right. We've gone through so much and I am the only one in the family who is still making money to pay for food and everything else.
"I'd actually prefer him to leave." Then he looks at Devroux and nodds. "First thing tomorrow morning."

I smile as if I've just seen Santa Clause and drag the avox up to my room.

[semper]

Devroux Southern-Hymn Creighton

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Jack's mother smiles at me and so I smile back, not wanting to give off the impression that I wasn't greatfull for their hospitality. Being a wandering Avox, I was extremely lucky if I happened to come across someone kind -- and not to mention brave -- enough to allow me to stay in their home for the night and give me food. There was nothing like a good, warm meal on days where you've done nothing but meander around, looking hopelessly for something you'll most likely never find. Yeah, I was disappointed, but it wasn't the end of the world. I doubted that Lily would get reaped, and even if she did, I still had Colton. But... if she was reaped, I'd never find Colton. Oh boy.

As soon as the bowl of soup is set down in front of me, I can't take my eyes off of it. As the delicious aroma rose up to my nose, I was suddenly very aware of the gnawing, painful emptiness in my belly. It took all I had not to just dive nose-first right into the soup. It looked and smelled so, so, so incredibly good.... I waited until everyone else in Jack's family began eating before I picked up my spoon and took the first spoonful of the liquid.

I can't even begin to describe how wonderful that soup was. Because I hadn't eaten well in quite a long time, I knew I had to have a slow intake, but it was just so good... Needless to say, the bowl was empty faster than I had wanted it to be. I was full, though, so there was no need for seconds. I was perfectly content.

In response to Jack's father's question, I smiled again and nodded, bowing my head forward in my own way of respectfully saying thanks since I couldn't do it verbally. However, that smile soon faded as soon as I heard the man's words. I wasn't running away from any trouble! I was only looking for people. Avoxes were always stereotyped to be the rough and rugged ones, always getting into trouble and wrecking havoc. I was not a stereotypical Avox. I learned my lesson. All I wanted was to live as normally as I possibly could, but that was a long shot. But I knew where the man was coming from, after having heard Jack's story. For a moment I think that I'm going to be kicked out right then and there, but he says I have to leave tomorrow morning.

I've got an actual house to stay in for the night.

A very broad and sincere smile draws across my face one again, and it was obvious by my face that I was extremely grateful. I barely had time to give another small bow before Jack dragged me back up to his room. Damn, I was so excited. No bugs, no threat of being ambushed in the middle of the night, no threat of starving wild animals. I was still grinning like an idiot when we got up to his room, though I wasn't sure what we were going to do.


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[Jack Lexington]

"There!" I motion for my matress on the floor. "You can sleep in my bed and I'll sleep downstairs in my brothers old room."
From my dresser I grab a shirt and toss it to him. "That's clean."
Then I nodd. "I'd like to learn a little more about you. It'd be nice if you told...wrote down some more about you."
Of course I'm being very nosy but I've never met somebody like him before and I especially want to know all about different districts.
"Do you have any information on other districts? Are they like ours? Have you actually been in the capitol? What's it like?" The questions keep bubbling out of me like a fountain so I have to stop myself to give him some time to reply.

[semper]

Devroux Southern-Hymn Creighton

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Jack motions to the mattress on the floor and suddenly I can't take my eyes away from it. An actual mattress. As stupid as that sounded, I can't tell you how long it's been since I have slept on anything but the ground. Well, there was Lily's house and Luk's house, but besides that, this mattress was like seeing the Sandman himself after not sleeping in a year. So not only did I get a warm, filling meal, but also somewhere good to sleep.

Don't think for one moment that I wasn't concerned about where Jack was having to relocate to. He said he was going to stay in his brother's room, but wouldn't that be hard for him after what had happened? Well, I wasn't sure. I didn't want to ask for fear of reopening an old wound, so I stayed quiet. He then tosses me a shirt, saying that it's clean. Damn, today just keeps getting better and better. Food, a bed, and now clean clothes. I looked back up at Jack, smiling with sincere appreciation. It didn't even bother me to answer his question about me. I didn't care much about letting him know my personal life. He had already done so much for me, it was the least I could do to answer his questions.

I turned around and set the shirt down on the mattress, then went and got the notepad again. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I held up a finger to tell him to wait just a moment, and then I began writing.

From what I remember of D11, it looks just like this district. Just a lot more trees back home because we worked orchards mostly. I was just in D5 a short while ago while looking for Colton and Lily, and that district's now all smoggy and I could hardly breathe there. I think they're doing something with oil now, but I'm not too sure. I haven't really been to any other district long enough to know what it looks like. The Capitol is huge. Everything is colorful... purples, pinks, blues, reds, everything's so vibrant that I couldn't believe my eyes at first. Every building's a different color. And they have these... these "cars." They're like trains but only one rail car and it can power itself. And it makes noises at you if you touch it in the wrong spot. There's so many people there, too, but no one gives an Avox much attention, and if they do it's usually bad. They don't like us there other than to serve them. But Luk wasn't like that. He was my master and the one who helped me escape. I kinda miss him....




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[Jack Lexington]

With great interest I read everything he writes while he's still scribbling.
I want to shoot another thousand questions at him but know I'll have to give him a break.
So I only ask one thing - the most important thing. "Are we all their slaves?"
I already know the answer to this question. They demonstrate to us what we are to them by reaping us teenagers and making us kill each other.
For me it's so unbelievable that here in front of me is a guy who has seen many different districts. Until now I thought it's barely possible to climb the fence to the neighboring district.

"I'll let you get some rest, Devroux. Have a good night. I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Night!"

With these words I climb down the ladder to the ground floor but even when I climb into the bed down there I can't get the thought out of my mind. 'What would it be like to travel to other districts...see the people, produce, houses, landscapes."

That night I dream of hiking over snow topped mountains far, far away.

[semper]

Devroux Southern-Hymn Creighton

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When he asked me that one particular slave question, I paused and then looked up at him. What was I going to say? I was an Avox, so it's a given that I'm a slave. But Jack? Normal, friendly, hard-working Jack? I didn't want to tell him that all the work he did wasn't even for him, but I didn't want to lie to him. But I figured the answer was obvious because of the Games. But what could I do? I only slowly nodded in answer to him.

Jack, as if he had figured it all out without me saying anything, suddenly told me goodnight. I made a small noise and waved to him as he disappeared, and then I was alone in the room. I set the paper and pen down beside the mattress, sitting back further on the bed. The shirt he had given me was clean, and though I would love to use a clean shirt, I was leaving in the morning, so it would probably be better to not get it dirty. Picking up the shirt, I folded it as neatly as I could and set it beside the pen and notebook. I then take off my shoes and socks, place them down neatly, curl up on the mattress, and before I know it I'm fast asleep.


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[Jack Lexington]

When the rooster in our backyard announces the arrival of the new day my snow covered mountains are gone. I roll over but can't go back to sleep knowing that we have a visitor upstairs. So I rub my head, which makes my hair stick up in all kinds of directions and roll out of bed. I only pull my pants on before I head outside to collect some eggs for breakfast. The morning air is still quite chilly so I hurry up, grab four and head back into the house.
I should be more polite but I'm curious so I climb up to my room and look whether the avox-what a strange name- is still asleep in my bed.

Downstairs I hear the door and wondere who but me is up this early, maybe my mother?

[semper]

Devroux Southern-Hymn Creighton

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It was the best night's sleep I had in a very long time. I can honestly say that I think I slept like a rock all night. My dreams were all sporadic: one moment I was with the Uprising, planning a foolproof attack on the Capitol, and the next thing I knew I was holding Colton in my arms, his little face smiling up at me. The last dream put me in both a sense of ease and anxiety. Ease because I had finally found who I was looking for, but anxiety because I haven't found him. But we'll find him soon. Jack said he would help, and I trust the guy. Hell, he and his family were kind enough to let me stay the night with them, so I didn't want to put it past him to not help me, as selfish as that was. But you have to understand that searching an entire country by yourself is very, very, very painstaking. Any help I can get is like a blessing from God.

As I wake up, I roll over onto my back and stretch out my stiff limbs. My elbows and ankles crack, sending a short lived jolt of pain through my limbs, but that all faded as soon as I settled back onto the bed. I didn't want to get up, but Jack's father wanted me to leave sometime this morning and I didn't want to press my luck. Mumbling sounds that would've bee incoherent words if I had a tongue, I brought my hands to my face and rubbed it, wiping the sleep from my eyes. It was still early, but hey, I felt so rejuvenated that it was crazy. Turning my head to the side, I was surprised to see Jack nearby. A smile crossed my face and I waved at him, sitting up on the bed and crossing my legs.

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[Jack Lexington]

"Hey. I didn't intend to wake you up. Did you sleep well? I bet you did!" He must have slept like a baby judging by the look on his face. His look that was so much on edge when I first met him had disappeared and made space for a content look.
Downstairs I can hear the water boiling. "I've collected some eggs from our hens and am boiling them so you can take some bread and eggs along. My parents won't let you stay for breakfast but that doesn't mean you have to go hungry!"
I wink at him and hand him a few clothes from my brothers. "Here, take whatever you want of those. They used to be my brothers. Sams might fit you. He was just as skinny as you are."

Again I hear a sound downstairs but no voices, which is starting to worry me. My parents would have called us by now.

[Serenity]

OOC: I guess the loud noise is my entrance sorry it took so long to get to.

Tallulah Poseidon

Standing outside Jacks house with my only white dress on, I fiddle with my mother locket, rubbing it between my fingers. Why was I nervous? Was it because Jack hadn't shown up for Naim yesterday? Tapping the hard metal with my fingernail, I hear the tick, tick, tick of the clock inside it. It was quite a locket. Gold lookig but, not worth much money, a clock but, too small of a clock for anyone to regularly steal a glance at the time from. It was ideal, no one should want to steal it.
Debating whether or not I should knock I raise my hand , a gently fist forming of my hand. Don't do it, Tallulah... He's probably asleep-- That's when I hear Jacks voice upstairs. Jack talks to himself? Or is someone else there? That's strange. I had just seen Jacks mother and father, walking about to heaven knows where. I had stopped for a quick hello before continuing. They hadn't said anything about someone else being there. I press my ear to the door, trying to remain quiet. Who was there?
Straining my ears too much, I accidentally pop my ears and am granted a moment to wince. My toes squirm a little in my black flats, one of the only shoes I own. My feet weren't used to being all locked up in a shoe.
Giving up, I finally give in and knock. It isn't too loud but, just loud enough Jack stops talking. It was only one know, I should have done more, one knock makes me feel arrogant for some unknown reason. "H-hello? Jack?" I call, curious. Originally, I was here to pay him for Naim. He usually came by, even after breaking her. I don't think I called loud enough so, after a moment, I knock again, twice this time, trying to break my strange one-knock habit.

[semper]

Devroux Southern-Hymn Creighton

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I couldn't help but smile at Jack. Of course I felt fantastic! I got to sleep in a bed, for Ripred's sake. A real bed. I felt like I could run all the way to the Capitol and back and still have energy to spare. And, good Ripred, even though I wasn't allowed to stay for much longer, he was going to give me food before I went off. I seriously needed to repay Jack and his family sometime. Maybe I could make them something... but I'm terrible at making things. Well, maybe I could work for them some? Hmm, I'll ask him that soon. But when Jack offers me some of his brother's clothes, I felt it wasn't right to take them. I know he was just trying to help, but it felt wrong taking something that belonged to a beloved sibling who was murdered. I reach over and take up the pen and notepad again, writing down a few things.

Thanks, but I feel that it's wrong to take your brother's stuff. And I want to repay you somehow. You're honestly the nicest family I've ever met, and I really want to do something for you and your family in return.

I set the pen down and hold the notepad out for him to take, but the sudden sound of knocking quickly takes up my attention. My head snaps toward the entrance to the room and a panic grips me. What if it's a Peacekeeper that found out I was staying here? 'Well then just give yourself up without a fight. Don't get Jack and his family in trouble, whatever you do.' I glance back up at Jack, wondering if I needed to hide, or anything.


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[Jack Lexington]

Carefully I place Sams clothes no my dresser and tip toe to the door motioning for Devroux to hide under my covers.
Then I take a deep breath on hope that whoever is standing on the other side of the door it won't be a peace keeper. I've heard of random checks and if they have suspicions they are allowed to enter peoples premises as well.
My hand wraps around the door knob knuckles turning white as I open it a gap. Scenes of my brothers public punishment replay in front of my inner eye. All he did was steal some food. I'm hiding an Avox. They'd probably kill me on the spot or take me to the detention center to let me rot. Too bad my door doesn't have a lock.

On the other side of the door is, to my relief, nobody else but Tallulah.
Quickly I pull her inside and close the door behind her.
Embracing her in a hug I place a quick kiss on her cheek. "Thank goodness...it's only you!"
I'm probably not making any sense so I tell my visitor. "You can come out."

[semper]

Devroux Southern-Hymn Creighton

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My heart started racing. What if it was a hoard of Peacekeepers outside just waiting to tear into the house as soon as Jack opened the door? They could easily take Jack down, along with his whole family, just for hiding a runaway Avox. And it would be all my fault. The Lexingtons were kind enough to let me stay, but I should have left quicker. There was nowhere to escape, so I did as I was told and hid under the blankets, trying to make it look like there was just a heap of trash rather than a human being underneath.

The silence and anticipation was just killing me. I stayed as still as humanly possible, feeling all my muscles beginning to tense up and ache from not moving. How long was this taking? A minute? Ten minutes? Hell, I could end up under these blankets all day. But wasn't that how people suffocated? I thought about making a little peephole, but that could give myself away. Better not try it.

Finally I heard Jack saying something, quickly followed by "you can come out." I pulled the blanket off my face, welcoming the rush of fresh air that came with it. My eyes quickly turned to see that a girl had entered the house instead of a Peacekeeper, and I was filled with relief. I sit up on the bed, not really knowing what else to do.

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