The Branches Hanging Over Me {Luke--Blitz}

[laphae8ash]

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"The least you could do was not smell like a f-cking ball sac when you come over." Alder laughed as she climbed out the window a six pack in hand. Beer was the one thing she didn't scrimp on, and seeing that she didn't even pay rent to her parents and worked full time helped keep her pockets a little more lined than some others. Granted most the time she'd toss a little over to Cedar to help with the girls. Make sure they had enough food, clothes that fit, it wasn't like she made it obvious, but she hopped Cedar knew if he ever needed anything --for him or them-- that all he had to do was ask.

She could see his fuzzy hair and her face broke out into a grin as she balanced on the heels of her feet and scooted down next to him with a sigh. Cracking open one bottle and handing it to him before opening her own, the statisfying hiss letting loose like a 100 pound weight off her shoulders. "What is it, ten years we've been hiding out up here? Eleven? Still amazed this roof hasn't caved it." Her head rested on her shoulder as she took a long swig, her eyes glancing over the cabin a couple hundred yards away. "Reaping's coming up, you ready? I'm hoping Teak gets out of it. He's only got this one more left after this." She'd already started thinking about the ritual, they'd done the same thing every Reaping morning since their first and would keep doing it til Euptellea was out safe. 7 more years. Thats all they had to get through. Taking another long drink she cracked her neck before resting it back against his shoulder.

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Cedar Birling

The Big Guy
Thinking about things
Mouth words
Other people’s words
Awesomesauce

Cedar lifted up his arm and sniffed at his muskiness. The funk that came from him wasn’t that bad, he’d at least remembered to shower the other day. Sometimes it was easy enough to forget when he was spending day after day in the deep woods, marking trees, cutting branches, and staring at the monstrous things they were hauling in their smoke belching trucks. He leaned back on the roof, one that caved just a little bit further, now that he’d gained a few pounds in the last couple of years. It wasn’t quite like when they were fifteen, and he was tall and skinny, and she was a wisp of a thing. They were two oaks filling out, their branches and roots stretching out a little further than before.

“Good to see you too butt-face,” He took one of her choice selection of beers—she was always so good at finding stuff that wasn’t too bitter—and gripped the cool bottle in his hand before placing it between his legs. He was a little more tired than usual. Euptellea hadn’t let him get away without telling a few bedtime stories, looking up at her with one of her eyes—the other lazy and wandering off to the left some—whispering, you won’t go just yet, will you?

[/color] He took a long chug and swished it around in his mouth. “Yeah… it felt like it was just yesterday when the last one came around…” He thought of Amadeus and Jana for a moment—one a lackluster death, the other impressive—but shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t like to think of the games—he didn’t like to think much of anything—and shifted in his spot on the roof.

“The girls have been acting up a little bit lately,” He took a sip of his beer and held it against his chin. “Eup’s eye is all crazy again… I think that thing might be magic,” He said with a smile, playfully holding a hand up to his face and moving around his right eye. “Like, I think it might be able to tell the future. Think I should ask it to point out who’s going to get reaped…” He says, ignoring that Holly’s going for her second reaping, Cherry for her first.
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[laphae8ash]

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"Maybe we could get her a patch? Kinda like that kid who lost his eye last game? He looked kinda cool, maybe she'll like it?" Alder wasn't trying to be rude she was just thinking of a way to make things easier for poor Euptellea. Out of all the girls she was the most...special, and Cedar always did so good at making her feel like she was just as wonderful as every other girl. "You know you're really good with her, she's lucky."


We all are all. Taking a long drink Alder chewed on the inside of her cheek. "We're all going to be fine though. We are every year....you still want me to make breakfast for the girls? I figure I can fix their hair up nice and stuff considering you don't even know how to braid." A laugh slipped out as she have him a nudge in the shoulder. He doesn't even have a clue how much he makes me smile. Even with that stupid beard. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she swirled her bottle, before laying back looking up at the darkened sky. As much as I hate to admit it, things are along going to get worse with all the girls being in the reaping. His dumbass better not take any extra tessarae out on them, he can't be in that position yet.

"Seriously though, don't do their hair. I'll take care of it."

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Cedar Birling

The Big Guy
Thinking about things
Mouth words
Other people’s words
Awesomesauce

Cedar put a hand over his eye and stared back at Alder. “Ahoy thar matey, this is the S.S. Birling, where we reserve the right to make mincemeat out of losers and set sail for the edge of the world,” He blinked and in another minute shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think she’d go for it, Euptellea seems like the type to get sea sick, I don’t think she’d ever make it as a pirate.” He says it as though it’s almost a serious notion, and rubs his chin a few more times for good measure.

“What do you mean I don’t do a good job on their hair? They always look beautiful!” Cedar thinks back to the last time there was a special event—one of their cousins had gotten married—and the girls had been done up in a bows with that let some of their hair out and down the sides. It was just so hard when he had such fat fingers to tie them properly, he figured no one would notice a few strands slipping out and down the sides. Or the face that they weren’t wearing the same color socks. Or that they wore hand-me-downs that either let them swim in fabric or were patched to kingdom come. It wasn’t like he was taking any real offense, though.

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“The more you take care of stuff, the less I’ve gotta do, except be as totally awesome as I am now, which I’m the king of,” He wiggled his eyebrows as he took another sip of his bear. Alder was good like that, she never seemed to mind that she was helping his sisters. He liked the little things that she did, whether it was holding Euptellea’s hand as they walked to town or fixed them oatmeal for breakfast when he had to go deep into the woods, super early. “You’re really good at… little things.” He lets out a burp that rattles the night air and grins. “How about your brothers, what are they gonna do after the reaping?” [/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size]

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“The more you take care of stuff, the less I’ve gotta do, except be as totally awesome as I am now, which I’m the king of,” She giggled as he raised his eyebrows,“You’re really good at… little things.” sometimes there was just too much about Cedar for her to deal with the seriousness of life. Sometimes she wondered if maybe, maybe she should just pack up all her stuff and make herself at home at his little cabin. Except he doesn't like me like that, I'm practically like his sister. If anything he'd make me his maid. She rolled her eyes and finished her beer as he let out a blech that could probably wake up the girls, before take another one and cracking it open and handing it his way. “How about your brothers, what are they gonna do after the reaping?”

Alder gave a shrug. "Probably just going to join the crew. Teak's got talent to climb and cut and Culler's good with numbers, maybe he'll join management like me...if he gets ahead though cause he's got a schlong and I don't I'll punch him in the face." One too many times had Alder found herself in the same job while other guys who were less qualified moved on. If Culler join the crew there would be trouble in the Peavey family.

"Cedar, you doing okay?" she cocked her head up at him. "You've been working a lot lately, are things alright over there? You know I could try to pull some strings and get you on a closer crew." Somtimes she couldn't help but worry that he was over doing it. Trying to be a replacement dad, do everything at work, keep the smile on his face. Sometimes she knew that he wanted to say more but never did and we don't keep secrets.

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Cedar Birling

The Big Guy
Thinking about things
Mouth words
Other people’s words
Awesomesauce

“You know girls aren’t ‘spoda be good at math and stuff,” Cedar took another long drink of his beer. “It’s ‘cause all the blood rushes from your head to the baby maker, you can’t be expected to know numbers and figures all the time. It’s like, science, or something.” All of this was said completely seriously, bless his heart, though the little smile at the end of it should have told Alder all she needed to know. Cedar saw her as one of the smartest—more so than he would ever be—out in the woods for the logging industry. She had an affinity for boss-type stuff, things that would never interest Cedar in a million years. He was more content to have a saw in his hands and to climb than have a clipboard and pencil to scratch out numbers.

He was the type to stop and see the caterpillar crawling on his old, brown leather gloves and be mystified by it. Or to just stare out from the top of the trees, looking off at the distance of the mountains, thinking how lucky he was that this was his life. He didn’t take it for granted, and never wanted to. There was something special about the fact he got to spend so much time outside, rather than cooped up figuring out figures and boring himself into the grave. If he had to do that he might as well have been reaped—no sense in living if he wasn’t going to get to greet every morning sunrise and smell the pine needles in the air.

“I’m doing just fine… they have me out deep in the woods, you know, marking up the big ‘uns we got to get down for some special stuff for the capitol…” In truth they had given him an assignment to find the best trees for a furniture company’s project. He could tell the ripest, best aged tree from a sample of its bark and the quality of its flora. But the wandering deep into the forest, where creations from the capitol lurked and the unknown was just a few steps into the distance, it all unsettled him. He worried about all the time that he was spending away from the girls. They were still too young, in his eyes, to go without someone at home for very long.

“I just wish that Cherry would settle down some… she’s been spending a lot of time with some boys from school… I don’t let any of them hang around are place, but that means she’s always over there. She gets back about the same time that I do, and who knows what kind of stuff they’re teaching her.” He shrugged his shoulders and finished off the last of his first beer. “She’s a smart girl but… you know how it is. You know how the guys are around here…”

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“I’m doing just fine… they have me out deep in the woods, you know, marking up the big ‘uns we got to get down for some special stuff for the capitol…” Alder could feel the wind go out of her. There was too much at risk the deeper you got in the into the woods and having her best friend be the one out there didn't sit right. Maybe I ought to talk to the Foreman...he could probably get Cedar on something a bit safer, something where I...I mean the girls she reminded herself wouldn't have to worry so much.. She could feel the warm buzz of the beer floating through her as she took another swallow, but before she could mention anything Cedar continued, “I just wish that Cherry would settle down some… she’s been spending a lot of time with some boys from school… I don’t let any of them hang around are place, but that means she’s always over there. She gets back about the same time that I do, and who knows what kind of stuff they’re teaching her. She’s a smart girl but… you know how it is. You know how the guys are around here…”

Alder wrinkled her nose and handed him another bottle feeling her hand brush against his. "You are one to talk. I'm sure you've got tons of ladies just lining up over there once the kids are asleep." She gave a sarcastic giggle. "But no, seriously, she'll be okay, I'll have a talk with her...and if you need to I'll make sure she's home before you. She needs limits Cedar. You don't want her like that girl from the last games." It seemed like the lower the district the less likely girls were to know that keeping their legs shut was better in the long run. At least until they were out of that f-cking bowl.

She snuggled in a bit closer to him as the chill of the night began to set in. Summer was coming to a close and soon the leaves would fall and snow would cover the land like a blanket. Those were the days where Alder was home hours and hours before Cedar, being she could bring some of the paper work back to her little apartment. Normally she'd stop over at Alder's and keep an eye on the girls til he got back, but it seemed that she was going to have to be even firmer about the rules. Not even going to debate her getting snowed in at a boys house. Not an option at all.

She could feel his heart beating deep inside him. Pumping a stead thump thump as she finished off her second beer. "Cedar, you want me to stay over with you tonight? I'll make the girls breakfast so you can get out there a bit earlier and come home to help me talk to Cherry?"

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Cedar Birling

The Big Guy
Thinking about things
Mouth words
Other people’s words
Awesomesauce

Cedar shrugged his shoulders at her suggestion of having other girls over to the house. Between working out deep in the woods, chasing around the girls to make sure they were behaving, keeping the bills paid and refrigerator stocked, there simply wasn’t time to hunt for any women. Not like any of the ones that he worked with were particularly attractive; there was Big Madge, the older woman that hiked out with him into the forest, and Ruth, a snaggletoothed and gray haired woman that he was pretty sure could have lifted Cedar over her head if she wanted to. In recent memory he hadn’t so much as spent one messy night with a girl—maybe a few kisses here or there—but the past few years had been more about making sure the girls had what they needed.

Just about the only time I’ve ever spent with any girls is with Alder,

[/color] he mused as he knocked back another beer before letting out a belch. With a sideways glance he ran a hand behind the hair on the back of his head. Not like… well, not like…[/color] He shrugged off the notion about their evening rendezvous, which helped him clear his mind. She had a way of doing that, anyway, with her biting sarcasm and strong sense of what to do. When his mind was boggled she helped put the pieces back together. Feels almost like family, anyway.[/color]

“Yeah… could use a girl’s voice when talkin’ to her… sometimes I just don’t know what they’re thinking… giggling and sayin’ stuff about boys it just…” He chewed his lip. He wanted so badly to protect them from everything—all the nasty boys that would try to look up their skirts and put hands on them before they were ready—he would crush anyone’s neck that even gave it a thought. “There’s only so many times when I can yell at her to not be an idiot before she stops listenin’ to me.”

When she suggested staying over to cook breakfast, Cedar had to surprise his smile. A pretty lousy cook (burning most things that he tried to make for the girls) it was all he needed to here. “Oh yeah, that would be awesomesauce!” He grinned as he finished off yet another beer. “They’ll love that! That’s so cool man, you have no idea…” He moved to wrap an arm around her shoulder. “You’re just… awesome, you know?” [/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size]

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Cedar ripped out another burp and Alder couldn't help but give him and shove a chuckle. The buzz of the beer was starting to set in as she opened her third and final bottle and gave the last one to her best friend. "Ripred, you're going to wake up the girls from here." His hand ran through his hair as he chewed on his bottom lip, “There’s only so many times when I can yell at her to not be an idiot before she stops listenin’ to me.”

She rolled her eyes, yelling wasn't going to work with a girl like his sister. She needed someone to lay down the law and stick to it, not cave like the cuddley teddy bear Cedar was...but he did the best he could and she couldn't blame the girls for taking advantage of it. A lot of people too advantage of his kindness and it really pissed Alder off, he was too nice of guy to be worked the way he was. Even though he's blown off every instance I've tried to make something of this.

Alder hated to admit it but there was something about Cedar that she wanted to make this more than just...this. A smile spread across his face at her suggest and she couldn't help but grin back. They finished off their beers and she felt his strong arm wrap around her and she couldn't help but snuggle in closer. Teetering the line between drunk and sober she felt her heart flutter when he told her, “You’re just… awesome, you know?”. It might have been the booze, or the chill of the autumn air, but the blush in her cheeks was given a boost at that moment. You're awesome too Cedar, you're more than awesome. I just wish you could see it as well.

Her fingers slide down and laced through his as she leaned against his chest. It was comfortable with him. Like it had been from the first day they met, it was almost as if they fit together but they couldn't figure out how that worked. "We should head on over soon, we all have to be up early, and if I drink anymore beer I don't think I'll be able to stay up on the roof much longer." she laughed remembering the time when she was 17 and they snuck out to drink on the roof and she fell off shattering her wrist. It still had a funny click when the weather got cold, and the pain wasn't something she was looking at ever dealing with again. "Want me to bring anything special over? I've got a bag of chips someone brought into work and I swiped."

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Cedar Birling

The Big Guy
Thinking about things
Mouth words
Other people’s words
Awesomesauce

When Alder pressed closer to him he couldn’t help but grin. The two of them were such good friends, it felt like nothing had changed since when they were teenagers. Nights spent on the roof, goofing on other people, talking about life—he hoped things would never change. Life was easy enough for him then, even with the threat of his sisters getting reaped, living out in the woods. But the moment changed when he felt her hand against his chest. He narrowed his eyes as the gears turned. This wasn’t so much a touch of friendship. It wasn’t the gentle poking they gave one another, or the tiredness after a long day, wasn’t it?

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No, this was something different. She leaned in closer to him and Cedar tensed some. What did it mean for him that she was acting this way? He gave a grin as he held her warm body. It did feel nice against his. And after a few drinks this felt more comfortable than he had ever thought before. Could it have been that tonight something had changed between them? After all this time, he hadn’t ever noticed what she really meant, coming over and helping with the girls. But it was better for him not to think what it meant… better for him not to notice what was really happening. She was just going to come over and sleep like she always had, right? And in the morning they would grumble and groan about trudging off into the forest while having to leave the little ones behind. He wasn’t going to tell her no, anyway.

“Oh yeah, we should head over…don't worry about bringing anything, you'll be fine...” He glanced out into the darkness towards her house. He started to move from the top of the roof toward the edge. “Let me help you down and then the two of us uh, we can… get some sleep before we have to be up in the morning.” He gave a grin, his heart pounding as he made his way down to the ground. They moved down slowly and carefully, so there wasn’t any chance for a fall. In another moment he made his way back into the house, carefully cracking the door to make sure he didn’t wake any of the girls. He moved slowly toward his room, adjacent to the girls’. He was sure Alder would be back soon, and then the two of them could get settled for bed. She’d sleep out on the old couch like she always did, and he’d fall asleep in his parent’s old goose down mattress. Right?[/color] [/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size]

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She could feel him tense under her and for a fraction of a second she wanted to pull back, push him away, and forget how she had felt for so long. To yell at him and tell him that she forgot she had a date tonight, and that Jeffrey from the plant had been asking her out for weeks, but Alder couldn't. Cedar was the one she wanted, and she had to at least test the waters. The beers had loosened the reigns on her feelings and it was do or die. Whats the worst that could happen.

“Let me help you down and then the two of us uh, we can… get some sleep before we have to be up in the morning.” He shimmed down to the ground giving her a hand as she followed him, before they went sneaking off to his place. Cedar was a few steps ahead as he quietly opened the door, slipping in and checking on the girls before hiding in the room he had made his own. Standing in the living room Alder looked at the sagging couch where she had curled up alone so many times, her eyes flicking towards the door where she knew Cedar would be. Just go in, ask for a teeshirt, cuddle into his bed do something to let him know. Don't let this slip away. You can do it. She chewed on her lip before giving a sigh and knocking on the door and stepping in.

"Something got spilled on the couch. So I thought maybe I could stay in here with you? Besides its kinda chilly out and I...well yeah." She looked at the ground and gave a shrug as she slid out of her shoes. "you don't mind do you?" She stepped closer to him, the space between the two nearly gone, as she tilted her head up. "Don't hog the covers though. Or I'll kick you out of bed.

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