I need a freaking cup of coffee (open)

[shrimp]

Will Atlas

One good thing about being an insomniac, you always made it to work on time, sometimes you'd even arrive early enough to get on the boss' good side. Not like he even had a good side to begin with. To him, workers just got in the way of things, fighting and injuring themselves, causing chaos everywhere they went.

But still, a boss has a heart, no matter how deep it's buried in a large, sweaty man who needs to go on a diet.

So why not try to unearth it by merely showing up sober, early, and non-threatening?

There's just one problem.

The boss isn't like Will. He doesn't stay awake all night wondering how to survive the next day, or how to live with a secret that just eats you alive; The boss sleeps 'till noon like the big and lazy pig that he is.

So therefore, Will had plenty of time to hang around the marketplace, just waiting for some idiot merchant to leave something of worth sitting on a table like a sitting duck. Then when the moron would turn around, poof! His stock would be gone, just like magic.

Only it's not magic, it's just pure observation and quick hands.

No one notices the teenagers, and no one would, if they knew what was good for them. With the games nearing, everyone was beginning to become uneasy, brawls broke out almost everywhere: In the factory, the pastures, even in the tenements, where unfortunate bystanders would rush to the apothecary, their heads bruised, their eyes dilated and their legs broken and battered.

With his eyes shifting left to right, Will hunted for his prey.

There! One of those idiot bakers had knocked over a whole carton of clothes, and the two merchants were lashing out at each other. They weren't paying attention to their inventory. Who would know that a loaf of bread would go missing during the scuffle?

Quickly, Will made his way through the wave of merchants that were quickly joining the fray, snuck a loaf into his jacket and slipped away. He ran towards his apartment building, which was six blocks away, pausing only to examine his catch.

He could smell the cinnamon inside; His mother's favorite, she'd like it for sure.

He looks up, towards the tenement buildings, hundreds of them, squished together behind a cracked, grey slab of concrete that could barely be called a sidewalk. There's a small park on the othe side of the street. Its contents are browning grass, a rusted old swing set, and a bench.

Will remembers this park. He used to always come here whenever his parents fought. But now, he doesn't go here anymore.

He wanders into the park, and sits on the bench, looking at the dead lawn. It used to be green, lively and fresh. But the city has no use for greenery.

[[Ella] -- gone until 10/25 D=]

OOC: Hey ^^ Hope you don't mind me joining...x)

kirin youngblood.

Freedom comes in all shapes and sizes. But to me, it came in the form of a dirt trail leading into a patch of trees.

It was early. Way too early for me to be up, but late enough for me to break into a nice pace without yawning like a creep. I kept at that pace for awhile, wondering when I'd have to be home before my parents found out what I'd done, pondering on the many jobs I would have to work the coming afternoon. And then, of course, my brother's welfare. I was thinking about that as well.

Sure enough, I managed to get myself out of the trees and into a familiar area. I could see the dead grass scattered about, as if some giant had come around and trampled all over it. Even the trees were sagging and old and broken. Nothing like the trees I'd just come from. Nothing like the trees that surrounded the hidden path a few miles down from my farmhouse. The park of District 8. How nostalgic.

I slowed down to a walk, tugging at my black T-shirt that had once belonged to my brother. It was still slightly big on me, but I was growing into it. But then the T-shirt was the least of my worries. There was a boy. A boy, sitting on the bench in the dead park.

"Why," I began slowly, "are you at this particular park at this hour?" Once those words had come out though I immediately regretted them. Stupid. Stupid and reckless. I didn't even know this guy, though he did look around my age, possibly older. And he didn't look particularly dangerous. Still, I'd been stupid enough to act rude, and now I'd have to face the consequences. If, of course, there were any to face.

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[shrimp]

OOC: Ello, I don't mind at all This thread will just take place b4 the thread he's (will) already involved in, is that ok w/u?

*Switching to 1st person*
I sighed. Why is it that one must scrounge around for the smallest morsel in order to survive here? It's ridiculous. Of course, I'd rather buy the bread, but right now I don't have the money. And my mother... well, she's too high to really care about where the bread came from."Why,"

I practically jump off of the bench. I hadn't been expecting anyone to be here this early in the morning. But still, I should be more cautious. I'm probably not the only insomniac in District 8.

"are you at this particular park at this hour?"

The girl finishes her sentence. She's staring at me in a defensive manner, like I'm going to attack her any second. But she shouldn't worry. I don't bite.

Right now, I'm in a somewhat playful manner, which is odd, because I'm a relatively serious person. Maybe the adrenaline rush isn't quite over yet.

"I'm doing what most normal people do at a park; sitting on this park bench, staring at the dead grass, how 'bout you?"

[[Ella] -- gone until 10/25 D=]

OOC: Uh huh, perfectly fine ^^

It was so late, it was early. I looked around nervously, but not nervously enough for the boy--let alone anyone else--notice my expression. I strained to keep my face impassive despite the fact I knew what he was thinking; I'd already been too defensive. And besides, the dark sky with the brink of light in the distance? That just made things even more eerie.

I took in a deep breath and faced the guy once more. "I normally don't just sit around when I go to a park, actually." The words spilled out of my mouth, uncontrolled and reckless once more. But this time I kept my face normal. His own words were strange--too calm and too casual. Weird. "And I doubt people go to the park right now."

There. I'd made my point. For a brief moment I considered telling him my name. After all, he was definitely an insomniac. I wasn't one myself, although I was known for staying up very late--or early--in my family. It was moreso from habit and determination than natural-born skills. Even so, I kept my mouth shut. If we were going for introductions, I was going to make sure he was to say them first.

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[shrimp]

"Well yes, that is true. Lots of people go on the swings, or climb a tree. But I prefer to just sit. And for the timing, well, let's just say that I have an odd schedule."

The bread in my jacket's large and bulky, causing discomfort when I try to move around. I'd better be careful so I don't squish it. Then it'd pretty much just have been a waste of time.

She's still staring at me. I'm pretty positive that she didn't expect me to be here. Well, I doubt that anyone expects me to be here.


"So, I'm guessing that we're neighbors. Ms. Neighbor-person, why are you here at this hour?"

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[[Ella] -- gone until 10/25 D=]

This guy was strange, I noted to myself, but no stranger than me. I felt suddenly sheepish and suppressed a grimace. Here I was again, being hypocritical and stupid. This situation was definitely messed up. Why in the world was I even talking to him right now?

"My name isn't Neighbor-person," I said automatically, even though I was positive he already knew that. "It's Kirin." Then I paused, briefly, before adding, "And yours?" We might as well got to the naming already. He could call me Neighbor-person, but I had no substitute for him. I sucked when it came to names, although remembering them was easy.

Still, I decided to answer his other question. "I'm here because I couldn't sleep. But I'm not an insomniac." That was vague enough.

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[shrimp]

"My name isn't Neighbor-person, it's Kirin."

Kirin, that's a pretty nice name. Sounds a bit like Karen, but much cooler.

"And yours?"

Before I can respond, she speaks again, saying[/color= "I'm here because I couldn't sleep. But I'm not an insomniac."

I smile. I wonder why she immediately defends herself, denying that she's an insomniac. Well, if she isn't an insomniac, why is she here? It can't be for a really good reason. I mean, I'm an insomniac, and I'm not here for 100% good purposes.

"I'm Will, and I'm here because I'm an insomniac. Ha, sounds like it's from an Insomniacs Anonymous meeting or something, if something like that exists."

I mutter that last part under my breath. She'd probably think I was crazy if she hear me say that.

She's a very defensive girl. At least, she doesn't want to tell anything to strangers. I respect that. Shows that she's got some street smarts. Or maybe her parents told her, I don't know.

I stare at the grass. It's dry, and crackles under my feet. The crisp early morning air does nothing to move this lifeless body of plants under this bench.

No one takes care of this park anymore. The flowers have withered, the trees look like they're sick, and the swings are all rusted. It wasn't always like this. At least once a week, I would come back here, and the leaves would be gone from the ground. The swing would be the same vibrant red that it always was. Now, the floor was covered in browning leaves, and the red swing was now also closer to a brown.

This whole park could be described in one word: lifeless.

No one comes here anymore, well, except Kirin and myself I guess.

"You know, this place used to be green. And the swing over there, it was a bright red, free of rust. I guess no one really cares anymore."

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