wild tranquility ~

[Lukas Kage]

Even for a boy who was used to the cold, the morning was chilly. The mist settled along the shore as he trotted, shirtless and carrying a lightweight bag of live bait, hooks, and weights in one hand, and a fishing rod in the other, the line dangling behind him as he let the staff rest on his broad shoulder. His hair was a mess since he had just woken up, and his denim shorts were on at an awkward angle where one side was slightly lower than the other, something he could easily fix. When he woke up, he saw how beautiful today was going to be, despite the possibility of clouds overhead, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to try catching a ride on someone's boat. It had been months since he did such a thing, and he had personal reasons not to. One was taking care of his mother and their friends with hard work, and another was because it reminded him too much of his father's boat. However, today, he was looking forward to just having fun and being out on the water, no matter what.

However, upon reaching the docks, he noticed that he was very early. There weren't many boats that had set out, much to his disappointment. The boy was rather impatient when it came to boats and fishing, even the possibility of swimming. He was a boy who loved being out on the water, in it, or around it, and he couldn't imagine living somewhere without water. Maybe his father went there because he felt the same way about it, but wherever he went, his own son didn't know. That was the purpose of his hard work and trying to make friends in high places, doing favors here and there and helping out the elderly for some change. As determined as he was at working and making success, he was still a boy who needed his daily dose of fun and relaxation.

Since he didn't see anyone at the docks, and knew that it would take a while, he figured that he could turn back and head home, another day to try again. However, as he turned around, he heard a noise and looked up. In the distance at the end of the pier, there was a young man who appeared to be preparing his boat. Glee filling up in the boy's chest, he darted downhill and across the pier toward the man. The man was someone he had never met in person before, but he had seen the adult around and was slightly familiar with him. At once, without thinking, he spoke in his native tongue and asked if he could ride out with the man. “Posso andare con lei, Signore? Lavorerò per voi, anche pulire la vostra barca e tagliare il pesce. Voglio solo uscire in barca, sir.” When he realized his mistake, he facepalmed and gave a nervous sigh. “Ride out with you, no? I work for ride?”

|| tag: panama tomlinson || word count: 500

[Anna Banana]

It was to early for Panama, even earlier than he usually got up. The cold ocean breeze blew against his body causing a chill to run down his spine. He knew he had to get a head start on the other ships though, he didn't have any sponsors or special fishing spots, it was just him and his small ship and crew. Standing up near the mast of his ship he surveyed the small ship in it's entirety. It wasn't much to look at but it got the job done for him, at least he had an income. Moving below decks he checked his store of hooks, bait, and wieght, a look of exasperation crossed his face as he found that his stores were dangerously low. Barely enough to last the day, and if today was a good haul than he definitely wouldn't have enough. Taking a small note pad out of the back pocket of his pants he wrote a quick note to himself to remember to get more supplies, and have one of his crew members be in charge of the supplies.

Walking back to the main deck he began to adjust the rigging along the aft side of the ship. A calming mist had settled around the docks as the early morning sun met the cold earth and water. Visibility was still good, but it gave a sense of mystery to the world around him. Everything seemed to be only a ghost of it's real existenct, surrounded by the clinginng mists. Now was not the time to admire nature, he had to prepare his ship for launch. As he moved from one part of the ship to the other he became aware of someone running along the docks. Turning around he caught sight of a boy he had seen wandering the docks several times before in the past. He would wander around searching for a ship to crew and help out with the days work. The boy was a hard worker, he knew that much, but he hadn't been around as of late, perhaps some family business to take care of. Either way the boy walked aboard the ship and asked Panama if he could help, or at least that's what he thought he asked. The boy spoke in his native tongue, and Panama was unfamiliar with most of the language.

The boy must have seen the confused expression written across his face, because he facepalmed and spoke in broken english. A small smile crossed Panama's face, he had been correct in assuming the boy wanted to crew the ship, and who was he to deny him. The boy was an excellent mariner, he knew his way around a ship, and best of all, he had supplies. He nodded his head at the boy, and brought his arm around him inviting him onto his ship. "Your welcome aboard my ship kid, the more hands the better. I need a new good crew member anyways, and you look like you would be perfect for the job. My name's Panama by the way, Panama Tomlinson, I've only been a captain for a little while, but I'm confident in my abilities. Than with you on board I think we could make a pretty good team."

Looking around the ship once more he set back to work preparing for the days work. He decided he would let the kid get used to the ship, figure out where everything was. Just like most of the districts fisherman he was probably deeply independent and would prefer to figure things out for himself, and he respected that.

[Lukas Kage]

The boy patiently stood there as the young man studied him from head to toe, not a stern smile on the child's face. In the time he spent trying to find work, he learned that it was best to appear professional and friendly than to just look friendly. Despite the fact that he mainly wanted to get on the boat to have some fun out on the water, he meant it when he said he would work as to pay for the ride. Looking quite serious, he didn't even flinch when the man finally agreed to letting him on the boat. When the man, who called himself Panama, turned away for a brief second to speak to a crewmate about the boy, the boy couldn't help but to urge a silent cheer as he clenched his fist and gleefully triumphed.

Once Panama looked back, the boy stood up straight with his arms at the side, standing as tall as he possibly could, and looking quite serious. However, he couldn't help but keep the innocent smile, which stuck on his face, and, somewhat, revealed his excitement. As the young man walked away to tend to the rest of the crew and the small ship, the boy looked around and began studying what would be his domain for the next few hours. It was a decent ship that didn't need much in repairing, and it felt homely under his bare feet. It reminded him of his father's ship but he tried not to think too much about that. Putting away the fishing pole and bucket of fishing essentials, he brushed the grime off his hands on his denim shorts, having dug for earthworms earlier today and not finding the time to deliberately wash his hands. He looked for Panama, ready to work.

It did not take him long because he heard commands being given to the crew. Upon arriving at the scene, he learned that the captain was giving away assignments. The man had explained to the boy that he had only been captain for a short amount of time, but the boy would have thought otherwise from the man's authorative behavior. When it was the boy's turn to be given an order, in the captain's usual manner that he used with the rest of the crew, the boy was instantly confused and it showed, when he reached to the back of his head and scratched through his hair, chuckling nervously. He understood most of the common language, but not when it was spoken so quickly in a normal fashion. When he had a chance to talk to Panama, he edged closer to the young man and tugged him on his muscle shirt, trying to catch his attention. Obviously concerned, he reached to the back of his hand again and scratched through his hair as he tried to speak the district's common language. “My... work, what I do?” He felt bad because he worried that Panama would render the boy useless now.

|| tag: panama tomlinson || word count: 500

[Anna Banana]

The boy seemed pleased by his acceptance to the crew, even though his body langauge didn't say it the look in his eyes said otherwise. He remembered a time when he got excited over working on board a ship in his younger days. Now his life was full of debt, work, and far to much stress for someone of his age. Turning away from the boy he watched as his crew walked on board the ship, three boys around his age and a girl one year younger than himself. They were each well qualified to crew his ship, and knew the frame of his ship inside and out. He called over his best friend, who acted as his first mate, and explained the new crew member's presence aboard the ship. In truth Panama would have taken the kid on board anyways because he reminded him of himself.

Once the situation was explained the first mate spread the news to the other crew members who looked over briefly at the newcomer. Turning around to face the boy again he began to wonder what job he could cover, he had a slight build, but it bellied a hidden strength he felt. He could probably handle the fishing lines cast near the bow of the ship once they reached the fishing spot. Pacing up and down the ship he began to rapidly issue out his commands to the crew members, with each command the corresponding crew member went to work. Finally his eyes settled upon the boy, who wore a confused expression on his face. He didn't make much of it though, and turned his gaze away from him. Soon though he felt a tug on his shirt, and looking down saw the confused expression again. Than it dawned on him that he couldn't understand what he had said. He was given confirmation when the boy asked what he could do.

Smiling at the boy he moved his arm around him and let him away from earshot. Sorry kid, I forgot you don't normally speak the native Panem tongue. Just stick by my side for now until we get to the fishing spot and than I'm going to have you cover the lines we cast from the bow. It's not a tough assignement per say, but I don't want to overwhelm you with work on the first day. I figure we start there and than you work your way up. By the way, I don't think I caught your name kid, I'd like to know for when I give a crew report to the Peacekeepers I can list you.

He put his hand on the boys shoulder and watched his crew members set about their work. There really was something about the kid that reminded him of his own youth, and he didn't want to let go of that. He knew how hard it was to find work, and how hard it was to take care of a family. The difference now was that he almost never saw his family, what with all the work he had to do. A small smile crept onto his face as he glanced back down at the boy, and he squeezed his shoulder gently.

[Lukas Kage]

It had been a while since the nervous boy had worked on a boat, but he was introduced to the crew and considered everyone trustworthy, he began to find relief. It wasn't uncommon for him to get nervous, especially about strangers he barely knew. Once he was permitted to do something he enjoyed doing, including even work, he would get along with anyone. The boy wasn't the kind of person to get into violence unless it was absolutely necessary. Soon, he would have to adapt to it to ensure his own survival should he join the dreadful games, something he had been trying to do for the past few months. It was important to him.

As he finally managed to catch up to the captain and learned of his potential duty when the time would come, he nodded briefly though it was evident from the expression on his face that he had to struggle with understanding the man's language, even though he was surrounded by it every day. His own family spoke the other language more frequently and there was rarely any of the common language being thrown around in the house, so the boy didn't know much of it. Someday, he would learn but for now he was satisfied with the way things were.

While he waited patiently for his job to come aboard, he twitched uncontrollably from a breeze that sent chills down his spine. Though he was used to the cold, he knew it would be colder out on the water, so he began to look for something to use in keeping him warm. When he couldn't, he turned back to the man, having stuck by his side for the majority of their sailing, and tugged on the man's shirt once more. “Avete un'altra camicia o un mantello che posso prendere in prestito?” Then he struck himself in the forehead with his palm, realizing his common mistake.

When he tried to find the appropriate words to explain what he wanted, he realized he didn't know the exact term for the shirt. He muttered to the man and accidentally pronounced a certain word, “I need shit.” Then he realized that wasn't right and struck himself in the forehead again. “No,” mumbled the boy as he tried to remember but then he gave up. However, he was a quick thinker who could usually find a solution within seconds, and looking at the man was the solution. The adult was wearing it, after all. Quickly, he pointed at the muscle shirt and then to himself.

|| tag: panama tomlinson || word count: 425