-OuTsIdE tHe CrOwD- [Mark/Jade]

[Lenoura]

...I could Really use a Wish Right Now...

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People didn't know what torment was, and nor did they ever want to discover it. It was a terrible feeling to feel helpless and it wasn't as if Kelsey couldn't do anything about it, because she definitely could. Outside her home in the forest she was a savage, and focused huntress. Nothing scared her and once all of her senses were taken over by instinct, she turned into a creature of the night. Kel was largely to thank, but even Kelsey knew that she was born to hunt and fight. Not in school though, Cee Cee happily added. Here you have to be kind and accepting. Forget accepting, Kel spat, the kids here are absolute pricks. "Stop fighting you two!"

She had done it again; yelled during the middle of class. By now most were used to Kelsey's odd antics, but the bullies she was surrounded by only enjoyed watching her make a complete fool of herself. "Miss Paine," her teacher spoke with an air of impatience, "please settle down. This is the fourth time today." Of course the entire class began to laugh and someone even threw a paper ball, which lodged itself into the huntress' crimson hair. Forget these jerks, Kel snarled, we'll cut them up when the bell rings. Although Kelsey always carried a small knife on her person wherever she went, she never really allowed herself to be overcome entirely by Kel, because Kel would make her use it.

As if by some miracle the bell rang and school was out of session. There you go sweetheart, Cee Cee cooed, now you get to go home. Grabbing her canvas messenger bag Kelsey draped it across her left shoulder and quickly exited the school building. It was hard enough having to spend several hours there every week, so once she was free she took no time in trying to get away.

Stepping outside she could feel the chill of the winter air against her freckled cheeks. Perfect weather for a hunt, Kel jubilantly thought. Despite the cold, the skies were fairly clear, and hunting in the cold always seemed to give Kelsey a rush. The thought itself seemed to envelope her, and it was because of her lack of attention that she didn't seem to notice the group of teenagers that congregated around her in the middle of the town square. Oh my goodness, Cee Cee shrieked in complete horror.

When she heard her, Kelsey stopped mid-stride and focused on the faces surrounding her. The bullies, her mind quietly thought. Pull out your knife right now! Kel's strong and vicious voice scared Kelsey and she dropped her bag in response. "What a baby," the blonde spoke with a condescending tone, "we haven't even said anything yet." Kelsey hated that girl more than she could begin to describe. Ever since her childhood Aurora always seemed to want to pick a fight with her. And now she has friends

The gray-eyed girl watched in horror as the group began to close in around her. Her pulse was racing a mile a minute, but Kel was keeping her calm and collected. Focus Kelsey, her tone was steadied with a hint of hatred, we're going to end this.

As quickly as one boy had pounced Kelsey's fingers were wrapped around her knife and she side-stepped taking her blade and slicing the boys left tricep. He let out a painful grunt and immediately recovered. She dug her leather knee-high boots into the ground and doubled back for him, striking him in the chest with the blunt end of her knife, knocking the wind out of him. He fell to the ground and remained there gasping for air. A crowd began to form.

The huntress turned around to face her other two attackers, Aurora and a red-headed boy. People in the square began to shriek; not because of the fight, but because of the feral snarl emitted from Kelsey's chest. Kel was in control, and Cee Cee closed her eyes, waiting for it all to be over.

OOC: Sorry for the wait Mark! I had internet problems yesterday, and finally just got it fixed. I hope you enjoy the post!

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[Mark Mollove]

Jade Starr

After school Jade went into the town square to get a few groceries for his uncle. He knew the brewer wouldn't hesitate to sell to Jade because he was his best customers. He never did support his uncle's drinking habits but if he didn't take care of the house and get food and booze for his uncle, he'd probably be on his own.

Suddenly there's a commotion in the street and Mark hears a few shouts ring out. There's trouble and someone has to do something. Mark knows that this is the time of day when almost all the peacekeepers are changing shifts at the PK Headquarters, so chances are, none are in this area. Jade exits the store and finds four bullies from school attacking that crazy blond haired girl, Kelsey.

Jade wasn't there when the fight started but he knows Kelsey isn't crazy enough to start a fight. Even IF she was being picked on or bullied. Jade is about to intervene when he notices the knife in Kelsey's hand. A Knife? Does she know how much trouble she could get in for having that in the town square?? Jade enters the fight from the other direction, punching one of the boys right in the nose, breaking it just like Larry (a PK Jade sometimes trains with) had showed him. As he nears the raging crazy he can hear a yelp from two blocks away signaling that the Peacekeepers are nearly here. Jade brings his hand firmly down on Kelsey's wrist which dislodges the knife from her hand.

Jade knows the only way to save everyone involved is to cut Kelsey, and make it look like she stole the knife. So that's what he does. When the Peacekeepers arrive on the scene, they find Kelsey who is being mobbed by a gang while Jade is only a few inches from the edge of the mob trying to pull a kid off of the pile.

They conduct a brief questioning about what happened and when they ask Jade, he tells them what he believes to be true, with a few minor adjustments... "So you see Larry, how I believe it started was that red headed girl was simple walking down the street when she was jumped by that group...Well, I don't know if this counts as a motive but those kids are pretty well known as bullies, you've probably had an issue or two with them before, and they pick on that redhead because she has a mental problem...Yea, there was a knife. I had pulled it out of the redhead's hand but I'm positive she didn't start with it...Because she has a few cuts on her own body and while she does have a mental disorder, she's not dumb...Yes, that about all I know Larry. If there's anything else you want to ask me, you know where to find me."

Jade knows that while he's just another citizen on District Nine he is also the Peacekeeper's little spy. They rarely question his loyalty and often treat him as one of their own because it would be impossible to find someone more loyal to the capitol than Jade, even among the Peacekeepers.

Jade watches as they release Kelsey and a few of the bullies and he slowly and carefully follows Kelsey for a few blocks before attempting to talk with her. Hey, Kelsey! Wait-up. What HAPPENED back there?

[Lenoura]

...I could Really use a Wish Right Now...

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It had all happened in a blur. Kelsey's mind was far from distraught, and Cee Cee had done all she could to shield the huntress from the chaos that unfolded in the town square.

All the red head could remember was taking down one boy, and watching another join her side of the fight. He had cut her, which literally confused the crap out of her, then broke someones nose. To no surprise peacekeepers descended, blowing the entire thing out of proportion. It was just a usual bully encounter; what had gone wrong?

She sat during her interrogation rubbing at her left wrist. The boy had literally used all of his force to pry it from her hand. Her bracelets covered most of the emerging bruises, but it didn't necessarily matter. Her skin was light enough to make bruises appear easily, and she was used to it. Most of the animals she hunted like to put up a fight. As the peacekeepers hounded her for answers, Kel forced her mouth shut. The cynical girl refused to let Kelsey incriminate herself and Cee Cee was already far too busy trying to keep her temper calm and collected. The boy that had joined explained it well enough.

And then, without even realizing, she was walking away, back home. It was as if she were a zombie. Her backpack was once again slung over her left shoulder and she refused to take in her surroundings. It was hard for her to cope with the fact that things had gotten so heated. Her right thigh burn with such an intensity; the cut the boy had inflicted bled slightly. I should have snapped his neck, Kel spat. Kelsey herself was astonished that Kel hadn't forced her to fight him. What he did was uncalled for, even if it had saved the entire situation.

The huntress could hear him calling after her. It took all of her effort to avoid him, she had absolutely nothing to say to him. How does he know your name? Cee Cee's question had stumped the red head. She really had absolutely no clue how he knew her. Kelsey was sure she didn't know him. Or maybe she wasn't paying enough attention.

His voice was irksome and she deduced that if she didn't reply he would only keep baiting her with the same questions. Turning around the gray-eyed girl focused her gaze into the boys eyes. She made sure to let him know that she did not appreciate his company at the moment. "I don't really know what happened back there. I was dealing with the normal bullying everyone seems to subject me to, and then all of a sudden I'm being ganged up on." The adrenaline in her body made her voice quake and crack and she tried with valiant effort to calm herself. "It was fine until you had to jump in and throw everything out of whack. Thanks for the cut by the way. I'm sure my thigh really appreciates it. Why did you even jump in?"

It was as if venom were pouring from her mouth and she couldn't stop. She knew it was all Kel's doing, she always controlled her moods so well. Feeding off of negative energy was what Kel lived for, and when given the opportunity, she could turn Kelsey into a monster.

Staring once again into the boys dark brown eyes, Kelsey immediately recognized who he was at once. "Jade," it came out like a hiss. The same name that was linked to her mother; the woman who had abandoned her when she was only four.

[Mark Mollove]

Jade Starr

Jade was quite shocked. First he saves this girl from combat and then bails her out from the peacekeepers and yet she's not even grateful. Jade wonders for a moment if she even knows who he is when his name is spat out like poison. Like he did something wrong. "Waoh, sorry. I was just trying to help back there but I guess you really don't want too much help huh?"

Jade steps away and turns around when he stops looking over his shoulder. "I thought you were different then what everyone else said you were. I mean, people all say your a crazy jerk. I didn't want to believe them but now I guess I'd kinda agree. Sorry I saved you." Jade sighs before turning away.

Jade begins thinking to himself as he walks away about how she is probably a very lonely girl. Her mother left and she spends all her time alone, with nothing but her thoughts for company. Jade walks to the streets end and he never looks back toward the girl with the red hair.

[Lenoura]

...I could Really use a Wish Right Now...

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His words cut like knives, stabbing at her core. Kelsey wanted to take everything she had said back. She wasn't normally this mean, but she normally didn't speak to people either. Placing her right hand on her thigh she noticed the injury no longer hurt. It's because what he said hurts more. Cee Cee was right. No cut could compare to the things Jade had just said to her. I hate myself.

The redhead stood there, frozen. She had no clue how to salvage the situation, nor did she desperately want to. Who cares what he said? Obviously he thinks you're a nut and wants nothing to do with you. Kel's words hurt even more than the boy's had. Why was it that everyone thought she was mentally deranged? Yes she had voices in her head, and yes she talked to them, but it wasn't as if she couldn't function in society. Everyone had their own quirk. Kelsey's just involved two people inside of her brain. Was it really all that bad?

You need to do something sweetheart. Cee Cee's comforting words helped tame the fire burning within Kelsey. He was trying to help you. Despite how Kel felt about it, Cee Cee did make a valid point. Jade wasn't out to get Kelsey, he only tried to save the situation; even if it meant cutting her thigh. Don't you even da.., but before Kel could finish her command, Kelsey was off running to catch up with Jade.

"Jade, please wait!" She was at his side in an instant; running was something she was great at. Her eyes burned with an intensity, the green almost appearing neon, as she stared at his face. "I know you were just trying to help, and I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me back there." Of course she knew it was all Kel, but she didn't feel like bringing up the voices in her head.

"I know the things people say about me, and well I just assumed everyone felt that way, even you. My defenses were up and I just wanted to get away as quickly as possible. I really do want to thank you for helping me." Moving in front of him so as to keep him from walking she stood with her head facing the ground. "You're probably the closest thing that I have to a friend."

She twiddled her fingers together before adding, "Besides the voices of course."

[Mark Mollove]

Jade Starr

"Besides the voices of course." So the rumors were true...she really was a nut case. But then again, Jade had never been the one to judge anyone, with the only exception being people who openly rebelled against the capitol.

"It's ok," Jade nods a little, indicating that he understands a little. "I'm not really liked too much either. Almost everyone in the districts thinks I'm crazy for wanting to become a peacekeeper...I'm often called a goodie-two-shoes. Kinda hurts a bit but you get over the name calling after a while right?" Jade gives a small laugh.

The girl seems a bit uneasy and Jade notices that her cut in the leg is bleeding just a little bit and yet the girl doesn't even seem to register the pain. Jade holds his lower lip between his teeth and he looks back up at Kelsey. "And I guess I should apologize for stabbing your leg. It was the only way I could think of to make it seem like the knife wasn't yours. Now they can't prove who had it to begin with...all they know is you had it at one point and I took it from you. To try to stop the fighting of course." Jade feels like an idiot rambling on about things and before he can open his stupid mouth and say something else he steps toward Kelsey and gives her a big hug.

---

I'm really sorry that took so long, my internet has been offline for a few days and I got it back online this weekend but all the work I had to do kept me from this post until now But all is fixed. I'll do my best to post at least every week unless I let you know before hand...promise!