On the road to recovery (Marree)

[*]

Kalina had flinched to his touch and even when he gently pulled away the color of her shirt, she closed her eyes from the effort and because he was glancing at her skin. Embarrasment flooded her face, but when he mentions that it'll bruise she mentally cursed herself. How was it possible to keep the bruise covered to keep it from her parents prying questions of how she got it. She didn't want to have to explain the details, but even if her sister was to know, would she keep it to herself? She replaced the peas back on her shoulder, feeling the cool beans pressing against her shoulder. It was a welcomed feeling to have it cooling the warmth that came with the redness.

Then Kalina laughed to Tyler's accusations. She couldn't beleive the way he was reacting to it and even so when he mentioned that a tool belt being his uniform. "That was not stupidity! Honestly, Ty... It would be a story for my little sister. She beleives in that kind of thing. I may have to change around some names, but I can already see her eyes lighting up with the story I bring home to her. Besides, Tyler... ever heard of those stories and their endings? Happily, ever after?"

Kalina makes a flirty grin to him, before he mentions his next sentence; one that has her wondering and wishing. Her mouth opens to say something but she waits. Unsure of what would happen next, but that's when she placed her hand on his face and he showed her exactly what the fight brought for them. Kalina felt his tongue on her lip, then as they kissed, so much more than before, her eyes closed for the length of time they found themselves lost to each others will. Kalina's hand wrapped around to his neck, her fingers stretched out, still as the intimate kiss was broken for air. He mumbles something, causing her to make a noise, something that sounded like 'huh'. Downstairs, the noise catching Kalina's ears as she hesitates to think of what would be coming next, but the voices were outside.

"I think he's leaving Ty. Do you think he'll be back?" Her voice comes over with concern and she pushes herself more against Tyler, pulling her feet up on the couch, bending them just so and drapes her arm around Tyler. Time seemed to stand still. Her breathing becomes normal in his protective arms as she closed her eyes. It was so sudden how just after this short of time, she found herself this comfortable in his arms. Was it fate? WAs it something more? The word girlfriend started playing in her mind. She never mentioned anything of the sort to confirm it with him, but would now be a good time? She opened her eyes. Her gaze going upward to meet with his.

"Hey, Ty? Before... when you mentioned me being your..." She started, but it was so sudden that a loud pounding came to his door. Kalina seemed to grip Tyler tightly for the moment. When did the man come back? Seconds ticked by. THen another round of hard, pounding knocks came to the door. Who was it?

[Knuckles]

It's been a long day so far. Nothing interesting has happened, and all I want to do is go back home, lay down in bed, and fall asleep. I hate not having anything to do. I get bored easily. Yeah, there's usually the unruly citizen somewhere, but everyone around me seems to be behaving. Is it because they know I am a peacekeeper? I mean, I'm in uniform and everything, so everyone who can see knows I'm a peacekeeper. I just want to keep the peace. I don't want anyone to get in trouble or anything. I want them to know how much they are loved because the Capitol loves them very much.

It's amazing how people act out against the Capitol. Nobody wants to love them back. I love the Capitol. I want to be loyal to them, and I'll always be loyal to them because they helped me. They make sure I have food on my table, and a roof over my head. I also get the honor of punishing the unruly citizens. There are a lot of people who refuse to follow the laws. It's sickening. I'll never fully understand people, but it's not my job to understand them. It's my job to make sure they keep the rules, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure that happens. I'll make sure toe doesn't cross the lines.

A person stops in front of me. He seems out of breath like he's been running for a really long time. His face is red, sweat drips down his face, he can barely open his mouth to say anything, and I find it funny. I've seen the people that want to report crimes. And they run for hours, but I don't understand the running part. It can get a person there faster, but it doesn't do much good because it's near impossible to make out what they are trying to say. All I can hear is him gasping for air as he spits out words at me. He reeks of alcohol. A smell I hate.. It takes everything I have to not laugh at him and send him on his way because he's wasting my time.

"Follow me." I hope he leads me somewhere worthwhile because I don't have time to play these childish games. I just want to get back to my job. I want to sit down in the bakery eating as much bread as I can, but I have a job to do. I have to follow him to see what's going on. If this is a sick joke, he'll be the one paying. I'll make an example out of him. I'll make everyone know what he did wrong. He continues gasping for air as I follow him. I want to see if he's okay, but he keeps going on. It's like he's on a mission to show me something. I sigh as I follow him. Out of everything I could be doing right now, I'm following an old drunk man. What have I got myself into?

He stops in front of a house. If I wasn't paying attention to him, I would have ran right into him. It would've been funny in a way, but it would hurt my pride. I'm the best of the best. I follow the Capitol's every will. It's the right thing to do no matter what. I grew up training for the hunger games. I wanted that honor of fighting in the arena for district two, but that day never came. I was supposed to volunteer, but that didn't happen. I didn't want to volunteer myself for a death sentence. I wanted to be reaped for it, but it never happened. I became a peacekeeper to keep serving the Capitol because its the easiest thing to do.

"In there. They attacked me." I look over at him hoping he's telling me the truth. He has to be. Why would he tell me otherwise? I stare at him as he tells me everything that happened. From the break-in of his house, to fighting with another male, to a female stepping in and attacking him. An evil grin grows on my face. "If you are playing jokes on me, I'll make you wish you never met me." My voice is harsh as I walk up to the door of the house. My heart races fast as adrenaline starts surging through my veins. I stop at the door and pound my fist against it as hard as I possibly can.

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Ooc: my one post for today. I'll see you all asap. Real life comes first, and I apologize....

[Jack Lexington]

OOC: Ems, it's the old, drunk, neighbor who went to get the pk. He started the fight though..or it could be the other neighbor, who interfered...there was no kid in the thread.

"Good for him to get out of here. I hope he'll not come back but he lives here, so yeah...he'll probably be back sooner or later." I shrug because there's nothing i can do about it right now.
Kalina is visibly relaxing now that the fight is over and the old man left our house. It's nice to have her next to me though. The fight did have something good. I think it might have brought us a little closer. Just like the storm.

When I look into her eyes I can see that there's something on her mind. She soon lets me know by asking whether I meant that she's my girlfriend although she doesn't explicitly say the word.
"My girlfriend?" There's a sparkle in my eyes when she's got that bit of a worried, hopeful glance on her face. I let her guess for a moment and then ask.
"Would that be okay for you?" There's a smirk on my lips as I lick them.

Suddenly our romantic moment gets interrupted by a hard knock on the door. The old fart is back.
"I can't believe this guy. Back this fast for more?" I ask rather loud not wanting to open up because it will scare the pretty brunette.

The knocking doesn't stop, so I ready myself for yet another fight by grabbing the crutch near the door when I make my way over there to open up.
With more force than necessary I pull it open to give my neighbor a piece of my mind when I come face to face with a uniformed peace keeper.
'Holy shit, did he call the pks on me?' shoots through my head.
I soon get a grip on myself and use the crutch to support my broken leg.
"How can I help you, sir?"

[*]

Kalina nodded her head. What Tyler said was true. Even though the thought of him not coming back was wanted, he did have residence downstairs in his own apartment of the house. The prospect of him coming back to hound him and her again was slim though. Tyler had made sure of that. It was his actions that protected her against the man and now, still wrapped up within his arms was comforting. How many times now, had she been comforted within his grasp? She mentally sighed. It was a dream. It had to be, but then again, with the throb beneath the bag of vegitables that told her that it was all real.

Then her question arose and ended quickly, leaving the end of it open. She didn't want to assume anything to embarrass herself if she was thinking too much into it and it wasn't what she was hoping for. Then again, he finished her sentence for her. She nodded slightly, noticing right then and there the twinkle in his eye about the situation and question. She felt her muscles tugging at the sides of her mouth and waited. He deliberately was making her wait. His answer though, sent a chill throughout her body. Once again, he made a motion with his mouth, and she felt the want to taste his lips again. To have that lip to lip contact like before, but the knock kept her from moving closer to him.

"HOpefully, he'll just go away." She wanted to be optimistic about the problem, but when it didn't, Tyler got up. He was angry once again. He was ready to defend himself yet again against the man who'd done so much damage to the both of them both physically and mentally. Then Tyler opened the door, not to reveal the old drunken man, but a peacekeeper. Kalina jolted where she sat, unsure of whether to join Tyler at the door who was now bringing his crutch down to stabilize him. He no longer was about to go after the man. Kalina waited.

[Knuckles]

It's been one of those days where everyone is annoying the daylights out of me. I wish people would learn to follow the law because it makes life so much easier. It makes my life easier. I've been dispatched to many places to intervene, and at times I feel it's near impossible. Everyone that breaks the law should be sentenced to death, or worse, forced to become an Avox and serve the Capitol that loves them so much. The Capitol gives them everything they need to survive. Food, water, a roof over their heads. What more do they need? I just want to sit down, drink a cup of tea, and relax, but I'm standing in front of this house because an old drunk man led me here.

I pound on the door over and over again. Nobody is answering and it's making me angry. I'm wasting my time. I shouldn't be here. I look over my shoulder and glare at the old man. "Is this a sick joke?" I turn back to the door pounding as hard as I can. I just want to see what's going on so I can go mind my own business. I have a duty to preform. I have to keep the peace and make sure those who break the law suffers the punishment they deserve. Everyone that goes against the loving Capitol should be ashamed on theirselves. I don't understand why people break the law. I just don't understand it anymore. I pound my fist against the door one more time louder and harder than I have done before.

The door opens before me, and a guy appears holding a crutch in front of me. My eyes widen as I stare at him. He looks like he's gonna attack me. I place my hand on my gun prepared to fire at this idiot if needed. One thing about it, I wouldn't regret shooting someone. It would rid the world of another criminal, but shooting unjustified would cause questioning to arise; however, he's standing here with a crutch ready to attack me. "How can I help you sir?" He lowers the crutch. I don't move my hand away from my gun though. A woman is in the house with him. Oh great just what I need. A crazy guy with a crutch, and his woman. I walk through the door and stand under the roof.

"I was minding my own business when I was anonymously given a complaint. A fight that happened. And I was led right to your door. So would you mind telling me who you were expecting since you attempted to come at me with a crutch?" My voice is harsh warning him to not step across the line. "I must say, it mustn't have been me because you know what happens if you attack one from the Capitol. Even threatening to attack me like that should be good enough reason to send you to the detention center. Don't you agree?" I ask half smiling. I love watching people break under pressure. I want them to know that I'm not around to make jokes. I'm meaning serious business. I want to get to the bottom of this, and I want to know what happened.

I stand at the door waiting to for them to invite me in. I don't want to be rude and invite myself in, but I'm getting frustrated by standing here. I sigh waiting for an answer. "Or better yet, I can just question your lady friend that's standing inside here. I'm sure she'd give me honest answers because lying would only cause much more trouble. The choice is yours, and don't keep me waiting much longer. My patience is wearing thin."

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Ooc: written from my phone. Sorry for the delay, just been very busy with real life.

[Jack Lexington]

The adrenalin returns to me when the peace keeper is telling me that he's been tipped off about the fight by an anonymous person. So now I'm under investigagtion , great.
With a frown I listen to the government official explain his business and because of my somewhat aggressive way to open the door he sees me as a thread.
To indicate I mean no harm I step aside and place the crutch back in the corner where it was previosuly sitting.
"I'm sorry, sir. I mean no harm to you. In fact I was just trying to protect my friend."
Behind the uniformed man I can see the old guy peeking around the corner as if I couldn't spot him there.
"I bet you that anonymous call came from the guy behind you." I point at him because he should be the one on trial here, not me.
"C'mon, in, please." even though the man's mere presence makes the hair on my arms stand up I invite him in to show politeness.
"I'm glad you came so we can set this straight. "
Hobbling back over to the chair I only turn my back on him for a moment. I wouldn't be the first one to get shot in the back by one of these fine specimens, if they think they've caught a bad guy.
"My neighbor has been harassing my friend for days. Today he threatened her and even laid a hand on her so I stepped in...and now..." I shoot a glare at the now empty hallway. "...he's trying to turn this around on us...ask Kalina...ask the other man, who lives in the apartment across the hall."
I'm pretty sure that soon I'm not going to be the one in trouble.

Next to me Kalina looks pretty intimidated. No wonder. First the fight, then a peace keeper. Her face has ost most of its pretty color.
I place my hand on hers to give her reassurance, then look back at the man.

[*]

In fact, I was just trying to protect my friend.

Kalina sat on the couch, completely stunned to see the peacekeeper at the door instead of the old drunken man. The options began to weigh in her mind when Jack spoke to him and they talked to each other. The situation just went from bad to worse in such a short time. Everyone knows that once a peacekeeper gets involved, that usually someone will end up paying. Hadn't Tyler and her been through enough? Even when the Peacekeeper mentions he was tipped off by someone about the fight, did this peacekeeper automatically assume that they were at fault before he even arrived? Was he already biased against the person who came to get him? Kalina felt her face pale, her skin began to become cold when she stood to meet with Tyler. The thawing bag placed on the couch. He attempted to reassure her by holding her hand, but she felt her pulse quicken when the peacekeeper asked for the truth from her as well. What was she suppose to say against the man who already seemed to have a peacekeeper on his side?

"Sir, I... Tyler's correct. He started harrassing me the other day when I came here. He's harrassed the entired house. Then today..." She folded her arms up into her body. The memory very much still alive, but would it be enough? "He grabbed me... tried to shove me out of the house and Tyler defended me. It was Tyler who was protecting me from him."

The old man in the hallway suddenly came into view, and he stared after Kalina. His face sunken with hatred. "She attacked me, sir. This guy and her, both of them. I was only trying to defend myself. They were double teaming me after they came into my apartment. I might have had a chance against just him, but she's came after me, too. I was only doing what someone would do in that situation. Being outnumbered... Then he attacked me with a baseball bat! A BAT! Can you imagine? They need to be locked up. Look at what he did to me!"

The drunken fool stumbled in his step momentarily before he pulled his shirt off to reveal a rather large discolored bruise across his shoulder area. He was going for proof if the light redness on his face wasn't enough from the hits he took thanks to Tyler. Kalina looked at his shoulder with a harsh stare. She could sympathize with him. Her shoulder, without the coldness on it, throbbed painfully. She shook her head.

"Sir... Tyler was only defending me. He was hurting me... he wouldn't let go." Kalina felt her eyes well up, but she kept her composure the best she could. She wasn't sure what was going on in the peacekeepers mind. What awful punishments he was already cooking up for her and Tyler, should he beleive this old man. What proof could she show to tell him what happened was the truth against this man's well told lies. She glanced to Tyler gently turning to him, her head leaning into his chest, her back facing the peacekeeper and the old man.

[Knuckles]

My hand remains frozen on the gun. I'm not afraid to shoot anyone around me. I'm not afraid to shoot the gun into the air to scare them. It wouldn't be the first time. I stare at the man in front of me. My patience wearing thin. I listen to him babble on about how the old drunk man attacked them and he was acting in self defense to protect a friend. I can see that happening since the old man is drunk; however, the old man has been beaten with obvious marks. I look around keeping an escape route in case they are trying to trick me. An escape route is always needed. "I'm glad you came so we can set this straight." This is going to be a he said she said type event.

I look at the guy behind me wishing he would have ran away, but the old fool just stood there like he wanted to see the outcome. He wants to see the problem being solved. The only problem I see is this is just pointing fingers. I look over at the girl waiting for her explanation as I walk into the house. I want to know what's going on so I can get on with my business. I just want to drink a nice hot cup tea to drink the evening away, but these idiots are ruining my day. The lady tells me what happened and both of them are accusing the elderly man of harassing and attacking her. It's two against one. He probably had no choice since the fight was uneven. I walk around the table as I look at them waiting to hear the truth as to why I've been sent here. Right now I'm in the presence of liars, and my patience is wearing thin.

"The both of you know your side of the story. I need to get his side of the story so I can settle this in a friendly manner. It's easier when nobody gets hurt. Am I right?" I want to know more about what's going on. I turn to walk out to get the old man's story when he appears yelling. I take a deep breath as the grip I have on my gun tightens. I'm prepared for an all out war between the three of them, but that won't be happening. I won't allow it to happen. The old man starts showing his bruised chest and ribs. The lady starts talking again trying to defend herself against the accusations. I can feel the tension rising in the room as I feel control about to go out of the window. I quickly pull out my gun and stare at them preparing myself for this moment.

"You, go wait out in the hall! I'll speak to you in a moment. Just wait and I'll be there. Don't move from the hall. If you leave, you'll be arrested for obstructing justice." I point at the old man telling him to wIt in the hall. All I want is for peace to be kept, and it was going well until he walked in screaming. Drunks. I point the gun over at the other two. "Now, one at a time, without any interruption, calmly tell me what happened. I don't want none of this he said as said stuff. I want the truth. I don't want any lies. Do you understand?!" I put the gun down by my side. I don't want this to get out of hand. I just want to get this figured out because there is obviously a problem here. A problem that I'll prevent from escalating farther.

"I don't want to be forced to harm you, but believe me, I'm not afraid to. I won't be played for a fool, so someone should start talking. If you have a witness. It's best if you," I point at the man that was going to attack me with his crutch, "will inform me of where this person is located. Do I make myself clear?"

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[Jack Lexington]

When Kalina talks about the old guy harrassing her I can see how uncomfortable she is getting. It's like she has to go through it again and it makes me angry all over, especially since it is the old man, who is now trying to put the blame on us.
'What an ass' I think to myself but try to remain calm on the outside.

Just when I think I can remain calm he has the audacity to step into my apartment and claims that we cattacked him teaming up and went after him.
"Then he attacked me with a baseball bat! A BAT! Can you imagine? They need to be locked up. Look at what he did to me!" he puts his bruise on display.
This is when I blow my top and get right in his face. "Maybe you care to elaborate on why I went after you with a bat?" I point my finger at him. "He grabbed Kalina and hurt her. he wouldn't let go until I made him!"
My tone has calmed down quickly again once I adress the peace keeper.

"Do you think I'd be going after anybody just for fun like this?" I motion for my broken leg, which would be an obvious reason not to get into any fights because of the clear disadvantage it presents.

I'm glad that the peace keeper commands my neighbor back out of my apartment because I hate having him in here so close.
It satisfy me when he gets threatened with jail time.


"Now, one at a time, without any interruption, calmly tell me what happened. I don't want none of this he said as said stuff. I want the truth. I don't want any lies. Do you understand?!" The keeper says, which is one of the calmest announcement I've ever heard from one of his kind. he seems the reasonable type.

"Let me get the witness...if he's home."

A little later I come back with a dissapointed look. "He's left. Probably annoyed by all the fuzz the old man is causing."
Before I can close my door our last neighbor, the woman, who lives opposite of me shows her face, tired as usual without any make up and her hair in a birds nest fashion.
"What's all this noise about. One time Mr. Drunk doesn't cause a stink you do..." She comes barging in but then notices the peace keeper in my living room.
"Oh, what's this all about?"

With a sigh I greet the woman in her fifties. "Good thing you're here. Can you tell the gentleman here who is always causing trouble in our building.
She points to the hallway. "He's always groaning and moaning and harrassing somebody."
I'm truly relieved that she backs up our story and give Kalina a reassuring look, telling her that we'll soon be fine.

[*]

All the while when Kalina was trying to defend herself against the old man that had came into Tyler's apartment, Tyler tries to give a reason as to why he has the bruise but the peacekeeper only makes the man leave. He threatens the old man though with jailtime should he evade the situation. Kalina rubbs her arm with her hand, then places the hand at her shoulder. She flinched slightly but kept her eyes on the peacekeeper.

The peacekeeper asked for the witness to be brought forward and he alway wanted a calm explaination from the both of them. Tyler agrees with the idea of having the witness and he disappears through the door to go retreive him, leaving just her and the peacekeeper together. Now would be the time to talk to him, then? Tell him, what had happened?

She cleared her dry throat. "Sir, I'm not sure what happened here before I came, but I assure you... we did nothing wrong. The other day I came here to meet with Tyler. He had just got home from surgery on his leg, as you seen. So, the other day I brought some things with me to his place here in the old house. I knocked on the old man's door to find out where he lived and he was rather rude, slamming the door in my face after telling me where he lived. Not soon after, he came barging up to Tyler's door threatening us. Tyler opened the door to explain... and so did I, and that was the first time he laid a finger on me. Shoving his finger on my shoulder, then slamming the door open." She pointed to the wall behind the door at the small dent in the wall.

"I came back today and he was waiting on me when I walked in. He verbally harrassed me before I even reached the stairs then Tyler was going to defend me against his words. That's when he came to the stairs and grabbed me, trying to shove me out the door. They started to fight when Tyler tried to make him release my arm." Kalina pulled up her sleeve a bit, revealing the red finger like marks on her upper arm. "I'm not sure what happened after that, cause I was going to leave, but then They had disappeared into his apartment. The old man had Tyler pinned... so I tried to help out. That's when he got a hold of me. He was going to hurt Tyler... then the rest of it is kinda a blur. The bat didn't only get the old man. The man moved and..."

Kalina tilted her head to the side a bit, pulling the collar of her shirt to the side, revealing the same looking bruise on her shoulder as the old man had on his, only her's wasn't as great, but still swollen and discolored. "YOu think I would be defending Tyler if he was at fault? With the same injury as the man? I told you... Tyler only tried to defend me. To get that filthy drunken man's hands off me." She shuddered then suddenly as she finished telling the peacekeeper her side, Tyler walked in with grim news. He was gone. She pulled the collar of her shirt back to where it was and folded her arms up. Then the voice of a woman chimed in. Luck was on their side as a woman came in, backing them up with the same story of the harrassments. Kalina looked to Tyler, seeing the look he gave. Would her story and this woman be enough to get this man out of their building? To save the residence any more ill words from the man?

(OOC: Sorry it took so long... exams and stress this week. My apologies)