Working [open]

[Koda]

On this particular day the sun was blaring down on the ground, and to Koda it felt like it was focusing on him. This was the twentieth day of straight heat and clear skies. The lack of rain fall only made his job harder. Leaning over the well, Koda pulled on the rope and heaved the bucket of water out of the pit to join the other one he had already filled. Each bucket was filled with several gallons of water and were both placed by their handle on a long wooden pole. Koda bent low and lifted the pole with considerable effort and put it over his shoulders. He titled his head back, taking a deep breath, then began to walk with the tremendous amount of weight on his shoulders. Such physical activity was probably unheard of in the Capitol. For Koda it was an everyday task, one he put up with and never complained about. For a 14 year old the strength needed would be amazing, but Koda had been doing this for years and his broad shoulders could handle the weight.

He walked along a game path through the sparse amounts of trees, passing along a grouping of cotton fields. In the fields several labor's were busy at work filling their baskets with cotton balls. Other people had it easy. Well, not easy, bet better off then him. Koda worked for a small farm family near the outskirts of the district. They were a poor family lacking some of the much needed materials to keep up their farm. That's where Koda came in, doing anything for the family they themselves could not do.

"Koda!"

A small girl came rushing down the path, circling around Koda as he flashed her a grin. It was one of the farmer's daughters.

"Hey Lindsey, you being good?"

"Of course!"

They talked as they made their way to the Bringingham's farm. There was no proper irrigation system working it's way out this far in the district and no nearby well. The water Koda was carrying was for the two horses the family had. He had made several trips that day to make sure they had a good supply of water. No matter how many trips he made in a day he could never get enough water to water the crops, so it was entirely dependent on rain. What they needed was a nearby well or something, yet they would never be able to afford it. The Capitol would never finance anything out this far, so an irrigation system was impossible.

He made it back to the barn and deposited the water in the barn, then stood outside in the sun, wiping his brow of the sweat as Lindsey went running back to her small family home. It was hard work, but he needed the money.

[cinder]

Dittany was running an errand, a huge basket of pears suspended by one arm, another basket with plums. She had been feeling extremely over-heated by the time the baskets were both empty. Sh wasn't sure, but it seemed she'd stopped at five farms within the last hour, and was finally on her way home. It was a still, hot day--the type that made you wish, no matter how horrid, that you lived in the Capitol.

She nearly jumped as she walked by the boy. A little younger than Dittany, but certainly able to throw her across a room, she stared at him, her eyes wide. Dittany could have sworn she'd seen him before, maybe even talked once or twice in her short life, but there was no name to put to his face. She cleared her throat and was about to talk to him, her tongue dry she licked her lips and set the baskets down. "Hi," she said, "Sorry, I didn't see you there--would you like a free pear?" the last part she added as the boy looked ready to collapse. Dittany bent down and picked up the last of the pears, two. Perfect! she thought. One for her, one for a stranger--Dittanys good deed of the day.

She held the fruit out to him and smiled with her eyes. When food was offered to you, in a poor, not-so-well fed District, you usually took it but some people were just weird. Dittany knew a few people would ask if there was poison in the food if they knew you'd give a truthful answer.

[Koda]

Koda put his hand on his forehead to shade his eyes, allowing him to look up at the sun. The heat is always worse around the end of the day. He let out a sigh and lowered his head, looking out across the drying crops. No matter how much he worked he couldn't do enough to protect the Brimingham's farm. He'd do his best but at this rate the Capitol would buy out the land for other purposes.

He didn't see the girl until she was already passing by him. He must have surprised her since she stopped suddenly and looked at him. It was a weird glance, especially to Koda who usually didn't attract much attention. She recognized her as the fair skinned (by district 11 standards, especially compared to Koda's tanned skin) girl who usually goes around selling fruits.

He eyed the pear she offered him and then looked at her smile. He had never been offered anything free before, which was an oddity in such a poor place. Only then did Koda realize how parched her was. He hadn't realized it during his work but now that he was standing still he realized how weak his body felt. Dehydration was dangerous, and even the fresh pear would satisfy him. He'd never accepted any handouts as of yet though, he wasn't about to now.

"Thank you," he said, tilting his head in recognition as he took the pear and fished through his pocket. He hardly had any money, but he pulled out the few spare coins he had and held his hand out to her.

"This is all I have, sorry if it's not enough."

[cinder]

Dittany pursed her lips. In a poor District like the one she lived in giving things for free was nearly unheard of, not taking money when offered wasn't considered kind--it was crazy. Secretly Dittany thought she was better off than most people of her beloved District Eleven, she picked fruits, she sold them, she got by. Maybe she was a little skinny, but that was fine. Dittany watched the Hunger Games just like everybody else, and knew in the Capitol being skinny was fashionable, something weird yet appealing to the teen. The people who were skinny when times were good, wouldn't suffer as much as the people who had grown fat and soft when bad times came again.

Logical. Logic, logic, logic. In Dittanys mind, as long as she was almost well-fed she could help others out. Brushing her hair away from her face, Dittany daintily picked up two of the four coins. She had said it was free. She had meant it. Her grey eyes were cast downward, she smiled, "I'm Dittany," she said. The pear she had kept for herself had already been slipped into a small bag she had tied around her waist. It would be dinner, or maybe late lunch--depended on if she thought she could survive the heat all the way back home.

The sun really was hot. A trickle of sweat went down her back and Dittany nearly groaned aloud. She hated the warm weather, sure some fruits were best in this weather, but at least when it was cold her body was numb. During too hot days like this one, Dittany was painfully aware of her slow, lazy body. If the world had to end in either fire or ice, Dittany would choose ice.

[Koda]

He felt a twinge of appreciation as she cherry picked two coins out of his hand. Koda had spent enough time in town to know fruit cost a lot more then what she took, mostly because he would eye the fruits stands with a growling stomach and despair at the price tags. This girl was different from the rest, he knew that for sure. In District Eleven not everyone was on comradely terms, mostly because of the severe poverty and hunger. Despite all the crops people still died of starvation here. It was meant for the Capitol, not them, and they would have to buy their own over priced crops and foods in town that the Capitol deemed they could have. With things so bad people get edgy with one another. It's kill or be killed, figuratively, much like the Hunger Games represented that divide literally.

"Dittany," he repeated, thinking of the medicinal plants. Koda may be a farm boy but he was knowledgeable in practical things, medicinal plants being one. He had no access to a library or any resource area, but his father who lived in the Capitol (despite how much Koda despised him) insisted on sending him books to 'educate' him. Koda grudgingly admitted it helped him, but would never say it out loud to anyone.

"That's an interesting name, my name's Koda," he said, unable to help smiling as she smiled herself. Koda didn't meet many kids his own age. Dittany looked to be about one or two years older then him but he was still just as tall, if not a little taller then her. He didn't go to school, instead working all day every day on the farm. No one ever objected. The only time he would communicate to kids his age was during harvest time when everybody was out of school for mandatory work in the fields.

He bit into the pear, savouring it's freshness. He never really had a chance to eat something other then bread or water and the occasional meat or fruit he could scavenge, so this was a delicacy to him. Dittany looked like she was ready to keel over from the sun, Koda couldn't help notice, so he asked her to wait a minute before he went into the barn, picked up one of several canteens an filled it with the water he had just taken from the well.

"Here, consider it my thanks," he offered, extending the canteen towards her.

[cinder]

"You've already given me money, no need for water," she said in a voice bordering on scolding the nice boy. Secretly Dittany was thirsty, but she knew if she relaxed now, she would need to eat too, and sleep and end up coming home very late. She resisted the temptation to take the water, in this case it was hypocritical of her, because she had a reason behind why she refused the drink. Or--thats how Dittany saw it.

She looked at Koda, her grey eyes friendly, "By the way nice to meet you Koda, I rarely meet people who know what my name is," she said. Dittany was a name often considered some form of the name Brittany. She was very impressed with Koda's knowledge of her names meaning. Dittay highly doubted even her sister knew what her name was.

She smiled at the boy. He didn't seem to have any baskets to sell anything to the farmers, and Dittany was pretty sure he wasn't an occupant of any of the farmhouses. It was a mystery to what he was doing here right now. She also for some vague reason could have sworn she had seen him with a little girl earlier. Maybe hes visiting distant family... she thought. That didn't sound right either. Dittany would just have to ask him later.

She looked up to see a mockingjay flying low i the sky and smiled as she watched it. Mockingjays were beautiful mutts, the best, really. They were helpful, pretty and seemed to like Dittany's singing. She caught herself starting to hum an old song her sister and mother had once sung to her when she was just a little girl. Those were the days...

[Koda]

Koda shrugged when she turned down his offer of water and drank some himself. The water felt like heaven going down his dry throat. He sighed when he finished and attached the canteen to his belt. She looked like she really needed some but he wasn't going to question her reasons. Koda hadn't meant to show off or anything when he recognized the meaning of her name and the bridge of his nose went red when she brought it up, not that it was really visible because of his tan.

"It's just one of those things you happen to know," he played it off. He was going to say goodbye to her and go into the barn when her attention was caught on a Mockingjay that was gliding overhead of them. He looked up as well, smiling at the bright bird. He always admired the birds and their songs were very useful during harvest time.

Koda looked at Dittany when she began to hum a soft song for the the bird. He couldn't help but notice she had a great melody in her tone, even when she was just humming. After a few verses the bird picked up the song and sang along with her, flapping and circling several dozen feet ahead of them.

"Beautiful," he whispered, before quickly realizing what he had said and clearing his throat. That was embarrassing, he lamented sadly just as the little girl, Lindsey, came out of the farm house and towards them.

"Koda, my father says we can't have dinner tonight," Lindsey pouted as she came to his side and tugged at his wrist. Then the girl noticed Dittany, her mouth opening a little as she listened to the hum. "Lady, you have a pretty voice."

"Here Lindsey," Koda said softly, giving her the Pear Dittany had given him. Her eyes lit up and she accepted it without question. She skipped back to her house, probably to show off her pear to her siblings.

Koda sighed and turned to Dittany, the smile he had worn replaced by a grim frown. "Look, I hate to burden you since the day is almost done and you probably have places to be, but I would be in your debt if you could tell me where I could find any food," he asked. He was assuming she knew some good places considering what she sold, but he was only guessing. He couldn't stand to let the Brimingham's, especially Lindsey, go to bed with no food again. He was all to aware of what hunger did to a family...

[cinder]

Dittany smiled as the mockingjay sang her song and then flew off upon the arrival of a small girl. She knew this to be the girl Koda had been walking with before, and was mildly amused when she called her lady. She blinked and looked at Koda as he trailed off. Looking for some food... Dittany pondered it for a moment then sighed. "A trade. A bit of water in exchange for this pear, and Ill take you back to my place--theres a few apples about to die. Not the best quality, but nobody in my household really likes them--you can have them," she said. To think the truth, her older sister actually loved apples, but being pregnant and all Ashes diet had changed rapidly.

The sun was at its peak, by the time they got to her house she was sure it would be cooler. Dittany could help Koda out, then take a break--sit around and do nothing. Oddly she wasn't even hungry now. Dittany knew the reason behind it was that she had stuffed herself with too much good food that morning. She had expected to be out a lot longer and have no leftovers by the time she was done with her sales.

Things had changed, all Dittanys day plans had changed when she had decided to jog instead of walk to a few houses. It was nice actually, she had managed to gain a few hours in the process. Too bad its like hotter than its been for years... she thought. Just Dittanys luck...

[Koda]

When she agreed to exchange some water for the pear and a few apples, he enthusiastically agreed. He filled up a canteen for her to drink from since he still thought she needed water immediately and filled up however much more she asked for in his gratitude. He followed her steps through the fields just as the sun was reaching it's crescendo of heat. He wiped some sweat from his forehead and was trying to stop himself from daydreaming of going for a swim in the stream.

He didn't have any time to rest though. He had to get some food for Lindsey and her family, then he had to be concerned about what he and his family were going to have that night. Koda wasn't sure if it was one of his strengths or weaknesses that he was compelled to help everyone he knew to the fullest extent, but either way, it was always tolling on him.

"I'm sorry for bothering you with this," he said again as they reached her house. They had made a fair exchange but Koda couldn't stop himself from apologizing. It was just in his nature to do so. "The Brimingham's are like my own family, I couldn't let them starve."

[cinder]

Dittany gave the boy a strange look then raised her eyebrows, "You're talking to the girl who just nearly gave you two pears. Of course I understand, I hate watching people starve or even knowing its happening," she explained. Dittany wasn't going to go into detail, her older sister turning away a girl she had known from school four years ago. Scared Dittany not feeding her, and finally finding her near death behind their house--sneaking her food... trying to help. But not succeeding. She shivered, Ash had gone outside then told Dittany to stay inside the rest of the day as she removed the body. Dittany knew it was the girl, she knew it. That was what it was like, ever after Dittany had sworn to never wait that long, to wait until food would only make things worse.

She walked and hummed, trying to be fast but also not impatient. That was Dittany, never doing anything to the extreme, only partway. She had helped the starving girl, but not enough, she would give Koda food, but know in her heart it just was never enough. Clearly, in her head was a picture of the four apples still on the tree, and three on the ground. It wouldn't be enough to help Kodas, 'family,' but it would be enough (she hoped--some families had extremely large amounts of children, something she refused to ever let herself do)

Looking back at Koda she stopped, waited for the boy to catch up to her. They were in front of her house, but the apple tree was in back. "Just a moment, the tree is out back but let me check something inside," she murmured than disappeared inside. She searched for more food, and successfully found a few strawberries and some grass. Fruits always made grass taste a lot better--people half-starved would eat nearly anything, but this would be nice. She went out back, looking for Koda...

[Koda]

Koda understood that Dittany was loads nicer then most folk, and wasn't trying to offend her with his apologies. He had never met anyone willing to go out of their way to help him which made him a little nervous, he didn't know why. When they were finally outside her house he realized it looked a lot like his. Dittany was in the same economic situation they all were, despite her generosity. Koda couldn't suppress the guilt he felt making her do this for him, but kept the urge to say 'Sorry' down.

While Dittany went inside, Koda circled the house and went around back to where she had said the Apple tree was. It was amazing to see a fruit bearing tree still have it's fruit. Usually the food is picked clean off the branches before it's even ripe by those that are starving. He wondered to himself how Dittany and her family, whoever she had, managed to protect their tree.

He grabbed the trunk of the tree and pulled himself upwards, propelling himself with his back feet. He reached out to one of the lowest hanging branches and pulled himself up on to it. Koda loved climbing tree's ever since he was a little boy. It was one of the sole forms of entertainment he knew. Now that he was older and a lot stronger from his days of toiling in the fields, he was able to climb to the top of the tree's without fear and view the skyline.

He settled on the branch and poked around at the apples, making sure not to break them off their stems. They looked fresh and ready for picking. He wondered how many he should pick. Obviously only a few, as this was not his apple tree. Only the minimum amount he needed, like one for each person. He wouldn't pick one for himself, of course, since Dittany had already let him try a pear. He saw her come back out looking for him, and he called her name, waving from the tree. Then he saw the stuff she was carrying.

"You're being way to kind to me," he said. "I don't want to run you out of food."

[cinder]

Dittany smirked as he spoke then yawned. "No, its fine, my sister is pregnant and the boy... hes rather well off, or as much as one can be around here," she commented. Growing up, 'around here,' was to Dittany the biggest challenge life could offer except maybe the Hunger Games. Thinking of the Hunger Games made Dittany mentally shudder. She hated watching them, and knew they were to start all too soon. Getting a great televised view of people you know, dying was something Dittany utterly loathed. She had watched a friend die only a few years ago, Chad hadn't even had a chance though, that year had been brimming with Career Tributes. It was just a feeling, but this year Dittany was sure there wouldn't be as many as the previous. The year before there had been a few fights as Career after Career hunted each other down. Picking off the entertaining, fun Careers before going for the weakling lowly District Tributes. It had made Dittany sick to her stomach, and she was pretty sure the Capitol hadn't been happy either. That made Dittany cheery, but the twenty-three lives guaranteed to be lost every year was just horrid.

She set the food on the ground before sitting herself down next to it. The walk had been long and Dittany had hated every step. All she wanted know was to sleep! Glorious sleep where dreams of another world came to her mind, and the cruel, cynical side to her up and vanished. Thats exactly what she needed right now, to rid herself of thoughts and memories of Hunger Games. Starvation. Runaways. The worlds pressures were starting to upset Dittany far too much to be good for her health. She looked at Koda, "I'm exhausted," she said and grinned. It seemed funny to her that only walking around and selling stuff had made her so tired. What an odd thing.

ooc- i ish tired... -dies-

[Koda]

He listened as she talked about her family. He noted that she didn't mention her parents, though he wasn't going to ask her about that. In District 11 tons of things could have happened to them and Dittany looked tired. Why burden her with bad thoughts? Koda reached for an apple and plucked it from it's branch, examining and shining it. It looked so good and he knew he was hungry. He wouldn't eat any of it though. Maybe he could buy some food later in town, or at least whatever was left. He sighed as he picked the right amount of apples, one for each members of the Brimingham family. It wasn't a lot in comparison with how many apples were growing on the tree.

He was pulling the final apple to him when his step on the tree slipped. He fell backwards but luckily caught himself with his legs hanging from the branch. The apples dropped down on to Dittany who had just told him how tired she was. He was hanging upside down from his legs, his shirt falling down a bit. He knew he should be embarrassed for what just happened yet he found himself struggling to hold in a laugh.

"My bad," he managed to say, giving her an apologetic upside down smile.

ooc: i am to, Im going to sleep

[cinder]

Dittany grinned. She was tired, and didnt feel like holding back her laughter. In a depressing ,starving district if you had something to laugh about--why hold it in. Joy was such a rare thing to find in everyday life for two struggling kids. She grinned and tossed one of the apples up and down. "Jeez, Koda--trying to kill me with my own apples? Thats low..." she teased. He had seemed to be in pretty deep thought before... and Dittany knew it had been an accidant, but she still laughed and teased him. She layed her head back in the dying grass. Stilll laughing though.

The teen sat there and waited, her grey eyes tearing from laughing so hard. It was a nice thing to do, Dittany vaguelly wondered why she hadnt ever tryed to be nice to anybody else for awhile. It was a gift that kept on giving, be nice, be treated well, and on and on. She finally stopped, breathing hard.

ooc- no muse for happy-Dittany

[Koda]

Koda laughed as she did. He couldn't hold it in, and there was so little to laugh about so letting it out was relieving. His sides started to hurt and he realized if he didn't pull himself up he would fall on top his head. He pulled himself up with effort into a sitting position then dropped down to the ground beside Dittany.

"Death by apples, what s sad way to go," he joked, calming down as he started to pick up the apples around the tree that had scattered in many different directions. Koda didn't have many people to talk to in his life considering his situation, constantly working. He didn't even know people his own age, so it surprised him a little how he warmed up to Dittany. It was just nice to have company for once.

"Is your sister around?" He asked curiously, for no reason in particular as he searched for some of the missing apples.