Gangnam Style // {Shiv}

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

Some of them want to use you, some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused

Jaguar had come to the Olympics prepared. Several suitcases overflowing with outfits, lessons from a stylist in One, and cash to spend. She was in Four to make an impression to remind people that the Morenos could kick ass no matter where the Games took place, from an arena to the open sea. She had studied the roster on the train ride between districts, and wasn't at all surprised to find that most of the competitors came from the fishy district. Home advantage, right? But what did surprise her was the average age.

Despite inviting athletes up to age twenty-four, most of them were still reapable. She could only imagine the mayhem if an Olympic medalist were to be reaped. They would be assured sponsorship. Not that she had to worry about such things; she was on the verge of being too old for the Olympics themselves and had long ago aged out of the reaping qualifications. Still, to be eligible for some way to bring her family glory was good enough for her. And she was disappointed that many of her older adopted siblings had foregone the opportunity, although some of the under eighteeners had signed up.

Really there were so few "old" competitors that she began to focus on them. And of course there was none more impressive than Shiv Creel. Not a lot was written about him in the official documentation, but it was enough. A photo, a sprinkling of data about his birth and childhood activities, and just a brief synopsis of his relationship with his brother Razor. She'd been curious given his age and striking looks, but the fact that they had both sacrificed brothers to the arena made him all the more intriguing.

Jaguar had found someone to sink her claws into.

She came off the train with a mission. After signing the official entry documents and storing her outfits, Jaguar made her way around the village, flashing her oversized grin at the volunteers from Four. Of course the rooming list wasn't public, but a few winks here and a kiss on the cheek there got her far. It was still early the first day of the Games when she came to Shiv Creel's door. She'd tightened her curls so that they bounced around her cheekbones, and chosen a high necked, whimsical piece as her debut outfit for the Games. Both of her sports - boxing and individual sabre - weren't scheduled until later in the week. She had time, even if Shiv didn't.

But damn it all if she was going to let someone else scoop him up. She brushed her mascara-darkened eyelashes one last time, and then knocked on his door. "Hi," she offered, her voice deep and light and enthusiastic. "Jaguar Moreno. Just making the rounds and wanted to introduce myself. You're Shiv Creel, right?" She glanced down at a paper she clutched, which had nothing more than her own rooming assignment, but might as well have been a list of tributes athletes on his floor.

banner credit: lillianporter
lyrics: marilyn manson sweet dreams

[charade]

To say that Shiv was conflicted would be an understatement. When the Olympics had been announced, he had signed up without a second thought, leaping at the chance to both possibly get some honor, and keep a watchful eye on his districts rising stars. But now, he harbored a few misgivings. The first being, why would such a event be allowed to take place? The answer was a simple one, if the time was taken to think about it. Only the career districts were allowed to compete; something to remind the other districts that they were less than adequate. At least no one was required to die. It was that and the lack of a train home that kept from just skipping out on the whole thing.

The events he had chosen to compete in were similar; the sabre and the foil. Just one of the many skills that he had taken upon himself to take seriously in honor of his late brother. It was hard to forget that the sword had been Razor's choice of weapon in his last fight, the blade with which he had killed that Aenor girl and maimed Lethe Turner for life. A nod to his efforts, and but one of the many changes Shiv had made with his life in the past four years. At twenty-four, he was among the eldest of the competing athletes; a small assortment in of itself as most of his fellow competitors where far younger, at the age where they didn't even need to shave and could still get sent to the arena.

But there were well-known faces around the Olympic Village as well. Both recent career victors were already involved in events, Topaz Ross and Julian Bryze. If ever there were victors commended for their blood lust, it was them. Other, semi-famous people could be found too. Several children in the Moreno brood were wandering about and others, that Shiv did not the patience to recall. The Moreno's were an interesting games obsessed family if the interview he had watched during the quell and the recent games were any indication. To be sure, they wanted a victor in the family An understandable goal, though he found it a little odd that they were willing to adopt dozens of children for the sole reason of training them.

As he pondered all of this, he lay on the bed his Village room had come equipped with. It was a quaint little thing in a section of housing near an intricate saltwater fountain made to look like a trio of mermaids chasing a sleek looking swordfish. There didn't appear to be any rhyme or reason for how the rooms were assigned, but his was painted a nice shade of silver, the newly created three ring Panem Olympics Symbol above the door. Shiv had not packed much for the week, just an assortment of sleeveless shirts and plain jeans. To tell the truth, he had been unsure what to bring; after all this was the first time he had ever ventured out of his home district, and he had never seen a beach.

It was his business to go swimming when he got a chance.

Everything he had brought was still tightly bunched into his suitcase at the foot of the bed, and he had yet to work up the motivation to do something about it. Knuckles rapped smartly on his door, causing him to sit up halfway and look at it questioningly. Was someone lost? Were there roommates? Was someone just messing with him?"Hi," began a decidedly alluring female voice. "Jaguar Moreno. Just making the rounds and wanted to introduce myself. You're Shiv Creel, right?" A Moreno. They certainly were involved in everything. Making rounds to introduce herself? Maybe that's how they did things in one.

She knew his name too. Guessing that with all of the information available for the entrants it wasn't too hard to find people, he nevertheless wondered what her reasoning for coming to see him was. Letting out a large breath, he rolled off of the bed and walked over to the door. "Uh yeah... that's me. One second."Gripping the doorknob, he opened the entrance to reveal a pretty and petite young woman batting darkly hued eyelids over startlingly blue eyes."Jaguar, I presume?" His voice came out just a bit more huskily gruff than he intended as he leaned on the frame with his arms crossed.

"Just getting friendly with the competition?"

Taking a moment to sweep across her form with his eyes; which wasn't that hard as he had a good deal of he noted the nice figure she had underneath the elegant dress she wore, and the mischievous look on her pale face. So far, he couldn't think of anything else to say. Why would she seek him out? A thought crossed his mind of the only similarity he could think of off the bat. Razor. Reyes. Jae. Is this what this is about? ... Nah. Couldn't be. She's cute though. Are all girls from district one like this? Thought they just dressed them up for the tribute interviews.Raising an eyebrow as he awaited a response, he gave a nonchalant comment."Nice dress."

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

Some of them want to use you, some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused

She heard him. The way he moved, the languidness of his movements he unlocked the door. And she was not prepared. Yes, his bio had included a photo, but it was grainy and even if it had been perfectly in focus would have never done him justice. Shiv was the sort of man you had to see in person to appreciate, to understand the width of his shoulders, the slant of his eyes, the roundness of his bicep. She wondered, fleetingly, if Razor had been like that too.

But then she forgot all about the would-be victor in the face of the raw power that Shiv radiated. Jaguar's eyes widened as he opened the door, but she replied smooth as silk. "Like the predator," she purred, and then managed a smirk before reordering her thoughts. She'd always been a bit of a suit chaser; she wasn't about to let a man undo her. Well, not her composure anyhow. Jaguar brushed a hand over her throat, reminded herself of her racing heart beat, and brought it down a few notches.

The gesture ended with a hand on her hip, cocking it to accentuate her curves. "You might say that," she hedged. Was she sizing up the competition? Certainly. That had been the plan. But the plan was ever evolving, and that wasn't exactly true any more. She didn't have as much to lose now as she had before her nineteenth. If she wanted to have a bit of fun, who was to tell her no?

And oh, she thought Shiv Creel would be fun.

She offered him another fleeting smirk. "Looks better on the hanger than off but I thought I'd give it a twirl. You want to invite me in?" She lifted a brow, the smirk disappearing. It wasn't as coy. In fact she definitely meant it as a challenge. Easier to test the mettle of a person in close quarters - preferably somewhere they felt falsely safe - than in an empty hallway.

banner credit: lillianporter
lyrics: marilyn manson sweet dreams

[charade]

Who was this girl exactly? Many were the paths that failed careers took later in life, and he was still attempting to figure out what hers was. "Like the predator" she had spouted demurely, before sliding her hand across her neck to end on her hip. There was certainly a predatory catlike grace about her mannerisms, something that he had to appreciate. If you're going to be named after an animal like that, you might as well commit yourself to the designated role. The playful smiles that occasionally crossed her face before sliding off could be considered dangerous.Cats always play with their food before sinking their teeth in. Good thing I'm not a mouse."Looks better on the hanger than off but I thought I'd give it a twirl. You want to invite me in?"

The way you talk, I'd think you meant for it to look better on my floor.Biting back that sharp retort, he inclined his head towards the inside of the room and pushed the door open wider."Why Ms. Moreno, If I didn't know better I'd say you were trying to seduce me." Shutting the door after her entrance he shot her a bewildered glance as he sat in the chair next to the desk that the room had provided."I didn't know anyone would be interested in social calls at this event. Make yourself at home."

Turning to the desk rather abruptly, he picked up and thumbed through one of the Olympic brochures, his eyes resting on the page that listed all the events that would be held within the next couple of days, before staring at her and commenting nonchalantly "I'm going to be taking part in some of the swordplay myself. One of the few things I feel I'm not rusty at. Can't teach old dogs like us new tricks. Or... cats in your case." A pet peeve of Shiv's was the dreaded awkward silence, and so, rather than having to face deafening silence, he continued speaking as he leafed through the pamphlet.

"Never thought I'd see the day the Capitol would encourage inter-district unity. If only for a little while. Once the next games start off everyone will be back to baying for each others blood. Especially as the career districts have been doing a whole heck of a lot better the past two years or so. You think you know a person, but disagree with their choice of favorite and you'll get a knife in the back. So easy to get...detached and forget about the families when you have nothing to lose but an argument or a bet. People like us know better though...right?"The hints he dropped in his monologue were subtle at best, but he hoped that she would pick up on a few. If she wanted to talk about something else, he wondered if she would remain mature.

For he wasn't a kid anymore.

True, he had been rather immature a couple of years ago, but seeing the only kid that he knew denied a chance to mature, just had had a way of making him grow up. The leaflet finished, he tossed it back onto the desk and brought up one leg, resting his ankle on his knee and sitting back in the chair with his arms folded. Shiv had half a mind to call her out on her intentions, but he just couldn't be sure. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he felt that she was up to something; there just wasn't a valid reason for her visit that he could think of. Other than...Getting friendly with the competition? or looking to remove some? A dark thought, but what could he say? Old habits die hard, and he was cynically slow to trust people.

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

Some of them want to use you, some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused

The door closed with a click, and it surprised and delighted her. It was strange; though he hadn't so much as reached out to shake her hand, Jaguar felt electrified in his presence. And the idea of being in a locked room with Shiv Creel was positively titillating. She'd initially come over to size him up, to see what it looked like to be actually, in blood, related to a tribute. But oh, this was so much more delicious.

With her plans derailed, though, she wasn't quite sure how to guide the conversation. Jaguar took a quick peak at her nails, black as obsidian, picked at the edge of one while she considered how to play this. She flashed him a cheshire grin. "Whatever gave you that impression?" She asked, wide eyes, the paragon of innocence for a split second. And then she slowly lowered herself onto the edge of his bed, her sculpted legs bending one over the other, fingers pressing into her dark nylons at her thighs.

"And it's always good to blow off a little steam, before swordplay. Or other physical activities,

[/color]" she purred, greatly encouraged by the cat reference. And then he talked, and talked, and talked. About interesting things, to be certain, but it left Jaguar bewildered. Was her skirt not short enough? Her nylons not dark enough? Perhaps she should have unbunned her hair, or let her nails grow, or used a little more lipstick.

But then, she really hadn't been planning on sleeping with Shiv, until the moment she'd seen him. And it was more than the cut of his cheekbones, or the scruffiness around his face, or the way his biceps and pecs moved against his shirt. No, it was in his eyes, the ghost that she only felt a whisper of. There was something about recognizing a brokenness in someone else that made them attractive.

Still, she wasn't quite sure how to deal with this sudden mood shift. She wrapped her fingers around her knees, given the illusion of modesty, and did her best to meet his gaze when she spoke. "We should. I can't vouch for the rest of my... siblings, though. It's not really the same for us as other families.[/b]" And she didn't know if the Morenos' adoption policy was common knowledge or not outside of her district, but she didn't really want to get into the details of it. "I'd like to think inter-district respect is possible. No knives here," Jaguar said, and lifted her hands, splaying her fingers and then wiggling them for good measure.[/size][/blockquote]

banner credit: lillianporter
lyrics: marilyn manson sweet dreams

[charade]

The way Jaguar sat on the edge of his bed gave Shiv the impression of a china doll, though he was sure those dolls never wore as much make-up, nor looked so demure. She was enticing to look at, but throughout his mini speech, he didn’t pick up on anything other than guarded playfulness. This Moreno gal was not really interested in talking. Blowing off steam? That usually meant a tumble between the sheets; a horizontal tango to the rhythm of panted gasps and the beat of squeaking bed springs. Shiv smiled softly, remembering all the trouble he had gotten into when he was still in school and the only thing he had to worry about was a shouting match with the rest of his family and the eye-catchers and well wishers that populated the schools and the gyms.

Where had it all gone wrong? Why were so few of the people he had grown up with happy and healthy? Part of him had been hoping to run into a few friends at this event, but there were no familiar names to be found on the registry. Growing too old to be a trained celebrity killer seemed to leave many people with needing an outlet for problems. A few of his old group had become peacekeepers as soon as they were old enough to apply, finding a career where the skills they had learned could still be of use. Those were the lucky few. The others? Some had settled down to breed vicious careers of their own, but the majority were at a loss for what to do with their lives.

He knew of one friend that had overdosed on morphling, and of others that truly did nothing but sit around the bars and moan about the state of things as they drowned their inadequacies in alcohol. Shiv had been among the last gathering of people, and likely would still be on the road to becoming his father if not for Razor’s death. A life among the enforcers was not what he wanted either, not after what they had done to his family. This self-improvement of his had wrought a different man than what he had thought possible; a man that could make something of himself if he continued to work at it.

It couldn’t have been that different for for the voluptuous Moreno from one.Maybe she searching for something too. Something she had yet to find. "We should. I can't vouch for the rest of my... siblings, though. It's not really the same for us as other families." It never was , was it? Even as the victors were tied together by a kinship only they knew, so were the ones that were left behind “I'd like to think inter-district respect is possible."/color]More like inter-district relations.he thought with a smirk. He had had some experience with her type of girl when he was a bit wilder. Pretty, petite and likely lethal. Rubbing his temple, he got up and walked over towards her, intending to bring her intentions to light. It was a pleasant distraction to say the least.

Tripping on the bag he had left there earlier, he was almost launched towards her, putting his hands out to steady himself, he bore her down onto the bed in surprise, but recovered, even letting out a small chuckle.With one elbow resting on the bed to put his hand on his cheek and the other just inches away from Jaguar’s shoulder, he arched a brow in mirth as her eyes stared up at him.“Shouldn’t have left my suitcase there.”Was it his imagination, or could he feel her heart beating faster? This wasn’t what he had meant to do, but it could work just as well, Jaguar certainly seemed willing enough. Nay, perhaps she craved it.

“Well Jaguar, I think I have you at my mercy. Why did you really come to see me hm?”

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

Some of them want to use you, some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused

She saw Shiv coming, and Jaguar felt the thrill twist up her spine. She held her pose, a piece of prey caught in the predator's gaze. That is, until said predator tripped all over himself over an object he'd clearly placed in the room of his own accord. Jaguar stiffled a laugh - barely - her fingers running over her glossed lips in an effort to keep them together, pursed. She had a great laugh - and knew it - but now was not the time. Now as the time to stay still, to play it safe, to be accommodating.

But Mr. Creel had more surprises up his sleeve. Er, lack of sleeve. He came down in a tumble, just how she liked it, and without any effort at all, Jaguar arched her back and fell onto the straight, unforgiving bed. He was more of a gentleman than she was used to, laughing and propping himself up instead of pushing her into the stiff springs. She appreciated that, as much as it also frustrated her. Jaguar shrugged the shoulder in question, drawing it closer to her face, to her mouth, which she turned towards her own flesh as she spoke. "Forget about the suitcase," she said, her heart in her throat, in her mouth. He was so close and so breathtaking.

Up close it was more than just his features. Yes, his eyebrows were sharp and tapered. Yes his eyes were intense and pure of color. But there were secrets stamped into his face, into the already forming wrinkles. She wanted those as much as she wanted his flesh. Jaguar was a greedy girl, after all.

Tentatively she lifted her black-coat nails, raising her fingers to the flop of his hair. She pushed the strands that had fallen over his forehead back, let her fingertips linger over his scalp and the outer edge of his ear. Her eyes had drifted to her fingers, to watching his skin, the little flinch of the shifting of his eyes. But when he asked her what her motivations where, her gaze flickered back to his.

"I honestly can't remember," she whispered, frozen by his gaze.

banner credit: lillianporter
lyrics: marilyn manson sweet dreams

[charade]

Shiv would've laughed heartily at the situation if he wasn't sure that would lead to things taking a rather unpleasant turn for the worst. Multiple shivers crawled down his spine as she ran her fingers quizzically across his face. She appeared to be entranced, mesmerized even.Heh. I haven't tried to go around chasing skirts since I got out of school. And now I have a skirt that for some reason is chasing me instead. What did I do to merit such attention? Not knowing what Jaguars motivation was irked him to no end, though what stance she was currently in spoke volumes. Having a Moreno in his bed was not something he had intended nor expected from an event meant to show the non-career districts that they would never come near the strength and skill of the favored few.

Her reply to his question was somber, a whisper that tickled his ears and his sensibilities. Either she was intent on keeping her ruse going or she was a natural blond. This reminded him of several things, the first being a girlfriend he had had around six years ago. A pretty thing but empty-headed when it came to anything non-physical. Of course, he hadn't been dating her for intelligence; typically, many boys of that age were just as shallow as the girls they complained about or pined after. The relationship had ended poorly, as she had eventually tired of his verbal abuse and the constant whining about how his little brother was the family favorite and how he'd never amount to anything.

Just another one of his many youthful regrets that he worked hard to overcome. He internalized most things now, which may not have been the most healthy of things to do with the burdens he carried, but it was the best thing he knew how to do with it. Shiv refused to drown his woes in drink the way he used to and the way his father had done; he could see no real reason to. Everything his father had done to deal with his own pain had no real effect on anything. All the alcohol did was suppress things for a time. In the morning, you would be the same person, with the same problems plus a hangover. It was the same with any stimulant. It left you in the same place, only with less awareness of your surroundings.

Several months before the 58th reaping, Shiv had discovered that his brother was dealing with things in a self-hurting way as well; a small supply of morphling had turned up when he had been ransacking the house to find some extra cash. Even at the age of nineteen, Shiv had never wanted to try the substance, having seen what it could do to even the strongest of people. Hypocritical , considering that he smoked and drank but that was how he felt all the same. He disposed of the stuff, and never told Razor that he had found it. They may have been constantly at odds and often fighting with each other, but he didn't want his brother to get in trouble for hurting himself.

Headstrong and prideful as his brother was, they were, well... brothers. Shiv made fun of him for his obsession with skincare products, and in turn was made fun of for his smoky smell and stained teeth. There were occasions where they got along, normally not the times Shiv had him in a headlock during the career training their father imposed. No, the only times they really bonded was when it came to girls. Whereas Shiv was suave and sure of himself, Razor was overly cocky ans generally chased the girls away. Which is why it came as such a surprise to him when in front of the entire country his little brother seemed to fawning over a blind girl from a lower district for a couple days.

Even worse, after she was killed by the boy from three, Razor appeared to occasionally talk to himself. It was things like these that taught lessons to Shiv. Never let yourself be alone. Human contact, though less preferable to some was something that was needed on a daily basis. That, and that an attraction can be made in the unlikeliest of places. It was not up to Shiv to question that which was taking place, but to make the best of it. Most people live life on the path set before them. Too afraid to explore any other option, But once in a while people like Jaguar or Saskia come along and knock down all the obstacles in the way. People who despite their own faults, spark something better in the other.

That is what Saskia Hamilton did for his brother. She challenged everything he thought he knew, and left him searching for something more, for something greater than himself and his own wants and needs. Though he may only have known her for two weeks, It was clear from the teary night he spent alone that she had had quite the effect on his young mind. Could this Moreno girl do the same for him?

Only time would tell.

Grinning roguishly at the petite young women looking up at him, he leaned closer to whisper something of his own in her ear. Perhaps she really didn't know why she had sought him out, or was simply hesitant to reveal it. In any case, shiv decided this was not the time to look a gift horse in the mouth. Whatever her reasons, Shiv now believed that now was the time for action instead of more words. Did not actions speak louder?

"Ms. Moreno... Jaguar. I...I'm not sure where this is headed. But I'm willing to find out."The words were breathed softly, intently and just above the merest of whispers and when he stared into her eyes again, he paused for just a moment to quickly wink.

That is, before he lightly kissed her on her pouting lipstick covered lips.