Fish out of Water (Angel4030)

[thatirishguy]

Tom trudged slowly from his intellectual oasis, the public library, on his way to his regularly scheduled beating. He had combat training five days a week and hated every minute of it. Every other day he had to be forced from his haven of books and scrolls by the promise of more severe beatings if he did not attend. And he did attend, every day, for all the good it did him. Still he was overpowered by larger, stronger, more aggressive teens who had an innate bloodlust that Tom simply did not possess.

Nonetheless, here he was again, standing outside the entrance to the arena, on the brink of what would surely end with a night of him nursing every appendage he owned. Sighing, his head hanging low, he pushed open the great wooden doors. Peeking up just to see his way, he was met by a barrage of stares and smirks from his peers; some younger, some older, all infinitely more muscle-bound than Tom. The majority sat around on the sand of the amphitheatre cradling their weapons like little children, whetting their edges and shining up their hafts. Some had already started slicing up a dummy that had been lying about like it was made of margarine. Tom simply sidled past them all, trying his best not to make eye contact with anyone and slumped down in a corner.

[angel4030]

Thoughts: Blue & italicized
Speech: White & "Quoted"
Narration: Normal

Aurora felt a small smile tugging at the edge of her lips as she carefully played the smooth and familiar guitar in her arms. Suddenly, her bedroom door opening pulled her from the soothing music and back into her far from soothing life.

"Aurora! You're going to be late for training if you don't hurry up," her father began when his eyes fell on the instrument in her lap and quickly narrowed. "And put that godforsaken thing away. You're mother is having guests over and if she gives a tour of the house, we don't need them seeing that....that thing!"

Clenching her fists, Aurora pushed down the fury that bubbled underneath her indifferent exterior. With a sharp nod, she turned back to the instrument and carefully began putting it into its case. Of course, wouldn't want to be late for another 'wonderful' training session and we certainly don't want others to think of our family as anything but perfect, Aurora thought sarcastically as she pushed the guitar under her bed. Glancing at the clock, she realized that she really was late and quickly grabbed her shoes and yanked them on before hurrying out the door.

Aurora was not in a hurry because she wanted to go to training. She simply did not want to disappoint her father anymore than she already had. By playing an instrument, she had already clouded his view of her with disappointment. No need to cut the final tie between her and the only parent whom she could get along with. Approaching the looming building, Aurora felt her usual, hard mask of indifference settle on her face. She did not really care what the others thought, but made sure to take precautions so that they never knew how she felt, unless it was anger of course.

At least it's good for something Aurora thought as memories of how she always let out built up anger on the dummies in training. Sitting on a bench across from the training building, Aurora took the time to lace up her training shoes properly. As she was finishing, Aurora noticed a boy slowly making his way up the steps and into the building. She had seen him only a few times before in training, but it was enough to know why he would be so reluctant to enter. At least I'm not the only one who doesn't enjoy this.

Pulling back the door, Aurora ignored the sea of eyes now fixated on her. She focused her attention instead on quickly yanking her hair into a ponytail and finding a place to sit down. Aurora could not help the small smirk that appeared on her face as she noticed the wide and disgusted looks from most of the girls, at her careless hairstyle. We don't all obsess over hair and makeup Aurora thought towards them before finding an empty area and sitting down with a bored expression. She found herself sitting away from the main group and closer to the boy she had seen enter moments ago, but Aurora's attention was soon caught by the last entering figure. Here we go Aurora huffed to herself as the instructor entered.

*****Done*****

[thatirishguy]

Italics - Speech
Bold - Thoughts

-----------------------------

Tom didn't even notice the girl enter the arena after him, so engrossed was he in the grains of sand between his feet. He didn't know why he was so disinterested in his physical training, he supposed it just wasn't in his DNA to be combative. Tom wasn't ashamed of who he was, but he often thought of how much easier things would be if he had grown to be one of the brutes surrounding him that he so despised. For one thing, he wouldn't be ostracized by his parents to the extent that he was now. Currently, they hid their son from the view of society as much as possible, doing their very best to avoid being seen with him around town, god forbid he may sully their reputations. Tom preferred to stay in his room reading anyway, but he'd like to feel some form of love from his parents.

It was only when his peers rose up in unison as the doors opened once more that Tom's head rose from between his knees to see the instructor enter the arena. A Peacekeeper by the name of Moriarty, he held a confident swagger and showed it in his strut through the mob of teenagers clamouring for his attention. Holding his helmet by his side, emblazoned with the emblem of the Capitol, he wore his raven-black hair in a tight ponytail, contrasting strongly against his unblemished, uncreased marble white uniform. Amongst these youngsters, he looked like a demigod; the few imperfections that his face had were ignored by the smitten girls, his bulging arms holding the boys in awe. Despite himself, Tom was impressed by the man's physique every time he saw him. He was never one to actively seek a girlfriend, but still Tom found himself becoming jealous over the horde of fawning girls that Moriarty seemed to accumulate wherever he went.

Unexpectedly, the Peacekeeper made a beeline for Tom, swatting aside the others. Looking the boy up and down, almost disgusted by his entirely inadequate build, Moriarty spoke.
"Gunnarsson, isn't it?"
Not waiting for a reply, he continued, eager to move on as quickly as possible.
"Yes, I'm washing my hands of you. You're utterly unteachable. Just do yourself a favour and try keep yourself in some semblance of fitness, would you? Do some sparring with...uh...her," he said wearily, waving in the general direction of a girl who sat on a bench nearby, before wandering off to begin a session on the various methods of decapitating someone.

Unsure what do what of his seemingly being rejected, Tom rose to his feet and ambled over to the girl who Moriarty had gestured at, the one with her hair in a messy ponytail. He'd seen her about before, she was pretty, he supposed. He didn't really consider himself an expert on the female body form. After what seemed like an eternity of shuffling, Tom arrived at the bench and fixated his eyes on a particularly rusty nail that poked out of it.
"Uh, hi, I'm...uh...Tom..." he muttered, scratching the back of his head awkwardly so his hands didn't just hang lamely by his sides.

You really suck at this, you know that?

-------------------------------

Out of character: I just realised that I've been calling my char Tom the whole time, when his name's Carl. *headdesk* Whatever, stick with Tom. xD

[angel4030]

Thoughts: Blue & italicized
Speech: White & "Quoted"
Narration: Normal
*****

Aurora found herself staring at the far wall of the training arena. Banners lined the wall featuring a picture of each Hunger Games victor from the district.That's all life's about at our age right? Training to become one of those banners or die trying, Aurora thought with an un-amused scoff. The Hunger Games never truly interested Aurora. Twenty-four kids, ages twelve to eighteen, killing each other, nothing about that seemed 'entertaining' to her at all. Aurora's father, however, found the Hunger Games fascinating. He was the only reason she was here, but there was only so much she was willing to do for him. Aurora refused to volunteer for the Hunger Games even though her father had begun to push her more and more.And yet, I'm the weird one, Aurora thought, mentally rolling her eyes. Aurora always found herself being the one sitting alone at lunch, working on school projects alone, and spending free time in a secluded place. This was the only way, however, Aurora felt she could breathe. Around anyone in the district, she had to keep her guard up so that they wouldn't bother her, bully her, or see how truly different she was. Being different was almost as bad as placing a giant target on one's forehead.

Playing an instrument, having little to no interest in training, and preferring to be in a quiet place alone rather than in a group of chattering peers. Yes, she was the odd one out, but strangely this didn't bother her. As far as Aurora was concerned, as long as they didn't bother her, she wouldn't bother them. Of course, if one were stupid enough to get under her skin, they would feel the wrath of her temper. Although she only stood at a mere five feet two inches, Aurora could cut anyone down a few notches just with her quick comebacks.Of course a good kick to the leg also does the trick, Aurora snickered to herself.

Suddenly, Aurora heard the instructor begin speaking to someone and by the sounds of it, he wasn't praising the person. Realizing the less than kind criticism wasn't directed towards her for once, Aurora lost interest and resumed her thoughts.After this 'fun' training session and once Mother's guests are gone, I can start writing my new song, Aurora began to plan.If Mother and Father go out like they usually do, I might even be able to sneak out and find someplace outside to work on the song, Aurora realized happily when suddenly the shuffling of feet in the arena sand caught her attention. Keeping her distant and oblivious appearance, Aurora listened to the footsteps. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw a figure slowly approaching where she sat on a bench. Hoping they were simply passing by, Aurora ignored them and stared back at the sick smiles of past Hunger Games victors.

Please keep walking, please keep walking, Aurora silently began to plead. She didn't need someone challenging her in a match or lecturing her about whatever she was doing wrong. Ugh, of course I wouldn't have such luck, Aurora nearly groaned out loud as the figure she could barely see paused next to her. Aurora tensed automatically, ready for either the bored voice of Moriarty, a high pitched squeal from one of the other girls, or the gruff, leaking with arrogance voice from one of the hulk-like boys.

"Uh, hi, I'm...uh...Tom..." Aurora heard the voice begin that obviously belonged to a boy. Glancing over, Aurora discovered it to be the same boy she had seen entering the arena before her. Aurora couldn't help a small smile forming on her face at how unsure and awkward the boy looked and Aurora almost felt bad for being so tense and unwelcoming. Almost. Aurora didn't really know this boy so why should she be nice?Trust makes you vulnerable and vulnerability will get you nothing but a severed limb, another horrific injury, or worse, Aurora reminded herself, quoting word for word the advice her father had given her the first day she began these awful training sessions.

Taking a quick look around, Aurora realized that the others had begun training in their assigned pairs or with the instructor, Moriarty. A small smirk tugged at Aurora's lips as she watched the other girls practically hang off every word the instructor said and they even hung off of him, literally. She had never understood the obsession all the other girls her age, even older, had with Moriarty. Sure, he was the typical, perfect, arrogant guy, but this was neither impressive nor attractive to Aurora. Aurora never really pays attention to any of her peers, much less the boys, but she had observed enough to know they all were the same: arrogant, brutal, and most importantly untrustworthy. Hmm, those girls may be even more untrustworthy, Aurora mused to herself as memories of watching the other girls cruel personalities at work ran through her mind.

"Bubbleheads," Aurora muttered dismissively about the girls before she realized that she had said it out loud. Quickly snapping her mouth shut, Aurora turned back to the boy, Tom.

"I'm Aurora." she finally said."I'm guessing we're partners?" Aurora questioned although she already knew the answer.Well now he probably thinks I'm retarded, but honestly who doesn't give me a weird look or whispers about what a freak I am? Aurora mused to herself. Standing up and pushing an escaped piece of hair out of the way, Aurora eyed the boy and took a closer look. He was obviously several inches taller than her, but of course who wasn't? Aurora wasn't ashamed of being 'petite', as her mother called it, but her lack of height had not proven to be much of an advantage yet. He had a much leaner build than any of the other boys who were currently hacking away at each other in the arena. Finally, from what she could tell, Aurora doubted he was as brutal as them either.Of course, Aurora thought,looks can be deceiving.. Subtly stretching out her muscles, Aurora prepared herself for the worst.

*****Done*****
Out of character: Haha, yeah I was wondering about that. I wasn't sure if I had read his bio wrong or what, but ok.