Sawdust [OPEN]

[Robot]

Caela swept down the rotten old workbench in the family home quickly, throwing the yellow power of sawdust and wood chippings into one of the sacks. They would sell it later, to the peacekeepers, to the market. Whoever would buy it. Even though it was relatively easy to source in every nook and cranny of District 7, people still seemed to want to buy sawdust. For reasons even Cae didn’t know.

‘I’ll be back later!’ She yelled to her mum who was in the next room, selling an item to a customer, they had arranged earlier that she could go out today, to investigate what was in the market this week. She needed a new knife, that was for sure, but she couldn’t buy them at the market, they were deemed a risk, and she would have a dozen peace keepers piled on her before she even got out onto the street. She would have to buy it at a proper shop, one that cost too much. No, she would have to deal with what she had at the moment.

Stepping outside, she shoved her hair into a quick ponytail before running down the small stairs which led down onto the main street and began to head towards the market, making a list of what she needed in her head. Bandages, fruit.. it was logical things. Bandages because Cae had recently cut herself yet again on a shard of wood whilst she was trying to fashion it into something to sell. Fruit because… well.. because it would make a nice change from the usual stuff they ate.

She entered the market. The one allowed by the peace keepers that stood where the reapings took place every single year without fail. Rain or shine. Snow or hail. It would never be called off. Caela could remember standing here a little earlier that year, watching some boy and girl recognised from school being chosen to represent there district. Not like they had a choice. Her head in thought about the games on every evening that they would have to watch soon, she began to look around for anything that caught her eye.

[mrcolin]

Paul wearily walked into the market. he couldn't be distracted by the oddities and other things among the piles of junk people were trying to sell. Pushing himself passed a few peacekeepers he tried to find one shop that could sell him some food he could actually afford. Paul was usually short on money but today especially, he had to buy two lunches. One for him and one for his buddy Troy who forgot his lunch. Trying to avoid the feeling of him wanting a pocketknife so he could carve things in his free time he reminded himself what he needed and pushed on until he found a stand.

As he stepped near he noticed a girl eying each thing curiously as if trying to choose the best thing to get. He quickly broke the concentration on her and looked for two things he could afford. As he grabbed a apple to check it's freshness the whole stand of apples fell down. He knew that embarrassment wasn't the worst of problems when he heard the familiar sound of peacekeeper boots walking towards him.

[silentwhispers]

Liyra stared into space as she finished cleaning her dishes from lunch. She had always zoned out during chores, but it was also very lucky, because if she didn't she'd never get things done. But it was also harmful, since she kept thinking of her past. She buffed up, rolling her shoulders and closing her eyes. C'mon, Liyra, get over it.

She opened her eyes and grabbed her red plaid shirt, pulling it on and buttoning it as she was decending the rotten stairs of her home. Liyra's blonde hair instantly fluttered behind her in the breeze, but she merely threw it back and kept a steady pace towards the market. She needed to look around, get out of the house for a bit. A grin crossed her profile as she approached the merchants door. She opened it carefully, as not to make any sounds, and slipped in quietly. She strolled through the racks and the shelves, but the gleaming knives caught her attention. She looked up and saw another girl browing the collection, and she smiled. Looked like she wasn't the only one out for today.

[mrcolin]

Paul knew what was coming as he felt the gloved hand on his shoulder. He instantly stoof up and turned around.

"Causing trouble are we?" the peacekeeper demanded.

Before he could respond, the peacekeeper jabbed his gun's barrel into Paul's ribs. Paul began to walk away but that notion stopped. The last think he saw before going into unconsciousness was the peacekeeper's gun's stock coming full force to his face. The last thing he heard from the peacekeeper was something along the lines of, don't you leave when I ask you a question.

It seemed like forever. Paul could only think in his current state of being. Why would he do that? The peacekeepers he knew were strict but not as brutal as that. Then a thought came to his head. The blasted President must've switched them to enforce the law more! This was Paul's last thought before succunbing to the dream state of unconsciousness.

[deks]

Dekota was tired, well nothing new there. After a long day of school and then work, his back and legs were sore and he was bone weary But, today he had finally gotten his back pay and his brother had gotten some odd jobs to contribute to the food money. So here he was with a full wallet looking for some half way decent food for his family and hey if he was economic he might even be able to by a new book from the pitiful little book shop. His book collection hadn't seen a new entry since his father died, but he always saved a few pennies every pay day, and today was a good day.

"A lot of people in the market today" he said to no one in Particular. He started over to an apple stand thinking "apples are always good" when to his surprise some guy walked to it and knocked the whole thing over. Apples rolled everywhere. Always the opportunist he Glanced around for peace keepers. To his delight he noticed that they were all focused on the poor fool who had knocked over the stand. Picking up three apples he hid them in the secret compartment his dad had made in his old leather satchel. Thinking to himself. Well, today it appears the odds are not in that poor chaps favor but one mans misfortune is another mans opportunity. Better not press my luck though the peace keepers are all stirred up and i do not envy the head ache he is going to have. With that he disappeared into the gawking crowd.