The yard (Semper)

[Jack Lexington]

Matthew Dunham

"Get it right this time." There's a deep frown on my face when I try to figure out the connection diagramm my father has drawn, which I am supposed to build now. For some reason the power won't drive the small engine though. A smack on the back of my head tells me to get started and think harder. Instead I grit my teeth and stare at the piece of crap I've built.
Over and over I try to figure out what doesn't add up, form his plan to my work but I can't find it.
"I can't. I don't know what's wrong. I built it exactly the way you drew the plan." My voice sounds a little insecure right now, which is not usually the case but I'm at wits end. I've graduated a year early from high school because I was so bright and maybe because they wanted to get rid of a trouble maker, but I can't figure the little piece of engineering, beginner level, out.

My dad's blue eyes sparkle when he starts to grin. "Exactly!"

I look at him not understanding what he means. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Look at it! Just open your eyes, Matthew. The mistake is in the diagramm." he laughed loud and hard at me making me real angry. Why does my father test me like this? Why does he show me how much better he is? Can't he just teach me like everybody else?

"I can't be your fucking apprentice!" With force I know the small spools, wires and engine off the table when he stopps laughing.
"You're just playing mind games with me! Laugh at somebody else!" I shout angrily and before I can shove my own dad I turn around and stomp out of the office while a few workers watch me.
The door gets the full force of my anger as I smash it behind me.

Fuming I walk across the yard to the trash cans where I pull a cigarette from my pocket to calm down.
Just then I see a young guy jog across our property. Another person who think he can just walk anywhere and maybe steal the valuable parts we store outback in some containers.

And suddenly my anger get's taken out on the guy. The rock next to my feet makes a perfect throwing device. With full force I launch it across the yard at him as I holler. "Get off our property."
I swear I didn't mean to hit the guy...

[semper]

Mahogany Booker

[/color][/size][/font]

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that I can confess

[/i][/center]

I don’t quite know how long I’ve been walking. I’ve never been to Two before, and the first thing I do when in a new district – as is tradition – is find a bar. I’ve been sober for a few days and that’s longer than I’d usually like to be on this side of reality; not only that but my leg is sore from rubbing up against the wooden cup of my peg leg. A limp has started affecting my gait and I start to hobble slower, and slower, and slower. A low grumble escapes me and I rub my face, lurching sideways every other step, trying to keep as much weight off my gimpy leg as I possibly can.

Along the way I stop someone and ask them where the nearest bar is and they point in the general direction. I give them a nod and then hobble away a bit quicker than before with the goal of alcohol getting closer and closer. Between me and my destination stretches a yard that I don’t really give much thought to – it’s just a plot of grass so I don’t think anything of it. A little grin comes to my face and I wobble through the yard, spotting the bar off in the distance—

Someone yells and then something strikes against my head, knocking me completely sideways and onto the ground. ”Ow!” My hand shoots up to where I had been struck and I rub it, propping myself up on my elbow. My eyes narrow and I immediately find the person who threw whatever it was. ”Well I was about to get off the property until you threw whatever it was at me.”


((I HAVEN’T WRITTEN MAHOGANY IN LIKE THREE YEARS ALSKGLGSKLH PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THIS POST))

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[Jack Lexington]

With the unlit cigarette hanging loosely from my lips I watch in horror how the rock flies across the yard and hits the dumb intruder right in the head. A second later the guy hits the ground.
For a moment I feel fear replace my anger because I'm worried that I might have killed him.

The cigarette drops from my lips as I start running across the yard.
By the time I reach him he's propped himself up on his elbow, which makes me breath a sigh of relieve.
'Thank goodness I haven't killed the burglar.' Shoots through my head. I'm more worried about getting in trouble than hurting him though.

Staring down at the guy I make sure there's no blood before I allow my anger to return.
"A rock, you dumb ass. I threw a rock."
My arms are crossed in front of my chest because this scrawny, half starved scare crow doesn't stand a chance against me if he chooses to fight.
"Were you about to steal parts again?"
I now reach down to grab him by the shirt and pull him to his feet. He seems strangely wobbly, maybe because I hit him in the head, which irritates me briefly.
"I've had it with you!" He must be the guy who's been stealing our relays for a while. Who else would dare to set foot on my dads company's property?


OOC: Don't worry, I've never played Matt so...

[semper]

Mahogany Booker

[/color][/size][/font]

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that I can confess

[/i][/center]

I continue to rub my head, muttering under my breath. I haven’t done anything wrong, have I? No, I was just passing through a stretch of lawn, nothing illegal or even provoking. But this guy – whoever he thinks he is – is the reason I’m now stuck on the ground until I either drag myself to a tree or just take about ten minutes to get myself up off the ground. Great, just great, I’m stuck here now with this blundering idiot. I exhale sharply, groaning. And all I wanted was to go drink.

”No shit it was a rock,” I grumble dropping my hand to the ground. The guy takes a defensive stance and already I can tell he’s blaming me for something. You don’t just look at someone that degradingly and not have a purpose for it. ”Steal parts? Parts of what?” The confusion in my voice is evident and causes the tone to strain. I look up at him with a bewildered expression. ”This is my first time ever in District Two, and do you honestly think that, even if I did steal something, that I could even get away fast enough?” I thrust my hand out to gesture to the wooden extension of my stumpy leg. ”I was just heading over to the bar and now, thanks to you, it’ll take me a solid ten minutes to get up. So if you’ll excuse me, I need to crawl over to a tree.” Without even waiting for any kind of response I hoist up to my hands and knee and begin to awkwardly crawl in the direction of the nearest tree. ”If you don’t believe me then you can be so kind as to accompany me to the bar and see me on my way.”

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[Jack Lexington]

For a moment I just stand there and my anger changes to confusion. Did I really get the wrong guy? The man on the ground looks pretty pathetic to me as he points to his leg. Under his pants I can catch a glimpse of what seems to be a wooden leg. I've never seen such a thing. Most people I know have two good legs and if they don't they have a prostetic one that looks almost like a real one. After all we're not in one of those poor starving districts here.

His statement about the 'first time in district two' confuses me even more because he's surely not a peace keeper and they are the only ones who are allowed to travel among districts aside from the victors of the games.
"You can't fool me. Stop talking bullshit! First time in this district...you don't exactly look the victor type!" I snort with a mock grin..

Narrowing my eyes I return to my previous accusations. "Don't play dumb. You know what parts!" Most likely he's been taking them at night and then sold them on the black market. Electronics are a good source of money and this bloke looks desperate enough.

"You're not getting away this easily." I state matter of factly when he starts crawling away towards the property line. To underline what I said I giove him a shove with my foot. After all he's trespassing.
"You know what you get for trespassing alone? Bout a week in the dc."
Before he can get any further I decide that it's time for him to face my father, who owns this place, so I grab him by his jacket and haul him to his feet. "Need help getting up? here you go!" With strong arms I 'help' him to his foot and then grab him by the back of his neck.
"You're not going anywhere, pal. You're coming with me!"
A moment later I drag him across the yard to the factory building.

"Dad?"

A few men hear my calling and start coming outside.

My dad's large frame appears behind them. I'm his spitting image with the broad shoulders and tall frame. Only his face is older and his hair grey.
"Who is this?" He frowns at me wondering why on earth I'm not working.
"I caught him in the yard. I think he's the one who stole the parts." Clapping my hands together I try to get rid of the dirt from his clothes.



OOC: feel free to leave out the bottom part if you want to react!

[semper]

Mahogany Booker

[/color][/size][/font]

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that I can confess

[/i][/center]

I swear, if I roll my eyes any harder at this guy they’re going to pop right out of my face. Is he really being serious? I snort and huff. ”I’m not a victor and your deducing skills are horrendously remarkable.” The sarcasm in my voice is so think it’s almost dripping off the words. ”Have you ever heard of a wanderer?”

That doesn’t appear to pacify him – he starts accusing me, calling me out for “playing dumb” and I do my best to simmer down the anger that’s starting to boil up. How the hell am I even going to try to get through this guy’s thick skull? He’s obviously dead set on bringing me, the fake criminal, to justice, and he shoves me over onto my side again. This time I just lay there and glare up at him, setting my jaw tightly. He threatens me with the detention center and I scoff. ”Oh no, prison!” I know I’m trying to be way over dramatic about the situation; I raise the back of my hand and press it to my forehead as if I’m in distress about a week in the detention center. He then hauls me up by my jacket and I teeter for a few moments before getting my balance. ”Oh why thank you.” The feel of his hand holding my neck so tightly makes me want to squirm, but if I do that then I know I’ll just topple over so I stay still, hobbling along beside him as he calls out for his dad. ”Meeting the parents already? We’ve only just met – I mean, I know I’m attractive but, seriously, we should get to know each other a bit better first.”

Obviously my humor isn’t getting through to him so I take it upon myself to chuckle at my own jokes. People start coming out of the building, all of them bigger and bulkier than me so they’re pretty intimidating. But I can’t run so whatever they’re planning to do with me I know I can’t escape it. Then an even larger guy steps out from behind the rest and I can only imagine that this is the guy’s dad. They look like the spitting image of each other so I think I can safely assume it. The son explains to his dad that he thinks he’s caught the thief. ”Your son’s great at problem solving,” I say. ”Not only that but I just met him only a few minutes ago and we must have fallen in love instantly because he’s already bringing me to meet you. I was on my way to the bar when I saw that beautiful face of his and I thought—“ I grabbed the son’s free hand and tugged it close to my chest in a dramatic fashion ”—oh how I must get to know him!”

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[Jack Lexington]

The strange looking dude with the spiky, black hair mumbles something about 'a wanderer'. Since I'm not familiar with the term I automatically think about hiking up mountains and shrug. "Yeah, so what?"

His sarcasm isn't completely lost on me however. Maybe I'd even find his remarks about meeting the parents funny under different, friendlier circumstances. Here I only feel that some robber is ralationship jokes about me. Since I haven't even had one girlfriend the thought about people thinking I'm dating this guy doesn't really flatter me. Whether or not I like guys, I don't even know myself but this jerk is not going to determine that for me!
"You're the last person I want to get to know better. You stink!" I wrinkle my nose.

the joke is pretty lost on my dad though, who gives his a glare that could have killed a lesser man, then casts a bewildered glance at me. Whether he thinks I actually know this guy or is simply trying to tell me that he thinks I'm way out with my accusations, I'm not sure.
”Shut the fuck up,” I say. ”I'm not in love...“ Suddenly he grabs my free hand and tugs it close to his chest.
Of course I jerk it back instantly and use it to shove him a foot away from me.
"Get your filthy paws off me."

My father steps forward and gives him the once over. "Smart lip you have on you, young man." He cocks his head to the side, which tells me he's thinking about something. While everybody stands and waits with interest what's going to happen my father notices the leg and smiles. "I don't think he's the one who's taken our parts because there were two even footprints around the yard. He walks with a limp.

My eyes fall on his feet and I must admit that dad's got a point. What a smart man.
My father positions himself in front of the intruder and raises his chin. "He's trespassed into our property though, which we could report or.." He lowers his voice and looks him straight in the eye. "you could cut all the trash talking and work for us today and tomorrow. That'll settle things."
"What?" I look at my father bewildered but swallow the rest of my sentence when he glares at me.

[semper]

Mahogany Booker

[/color][/size][/font]

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that I can confess

[/i][/center]

”Well no shit, dude, I’m a wanderer, I live on the streets.” Really, by now this guy’s obliviousness to my status is getting almost annoying. But I keep up the playful act, hoping that it’ll get me somewhere – preferably away from this guy and his dad and that band of brainless brutes.

Well, grabbing his hand seems to do the trick. He jerks himself free of my grip and shoves me away, demanding that I get my “filthy paws” off of him. I stumble a good bit, of course, but ultimately I keep my balance and remain standing up, thank Ripred. I shift my weight onto my foot, though, taking it off the peg-leg and giving my leg stump a chance to rest.

His father steps forward and eyes me, probably doing a few of his own deductions. I stand as still and lax as I can, looking the man right in the eyes whenever I get the chance to. A smile comes to my lips when he mentions that I’m not the so-called thief that his son labeled me as. My attention then turns to the son. ”Smart man, your dad is. I see where you got your deducing skills.” Just as sort of the punch to the joke I lean back to balance myself and lift my peg-leg off the ground, wriggling the muddy end in the son’s direction.

The dad speaks again and I can’t hide the shocked expression that comes to my face. ”What?” I say it at the same time the son does and, despite the amusement it should’ve brought me, I take a melodramatic stance. ”I’m just trying to get to the bar, can’t I just be on my way? Feel free to even accompany me there – maybe after a few drinks this’ll all just blow over. C’mon, man, you look like someone who could loosen up with a few beers right about now. A good way to start off the morning, yeah?”

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[Jack Lexington]

MATTHEW DUNHAM

Of course the guy stresses how smart my dad is, which has the connotation of me not being the smartest tool in the shed. An insult, that never fails to get to me. I am pretty smart. unfortunately i haven't figured out how to controll that short fuse of mine and put my brains to work properly. In school I did very well, in real life...not so much.
"Shut your fucking trap." I come back at him giving one last warning by my father shoots me a look that says it all. He will not tolerate me starting any fights on his property.

Instead he tells the 'wandere', whatever that means, to settle his debt by working for him. The young guy seems just as stunned by my dads proposition as I am and answers something about going to the pub instead.

"I don't drink." My father growls. "Never." His voice is now low an dangerous. He doesn't like people who piss around, which I know very well.
His workers and I start forming a circle around the wanderer to let him know he's got no other option.
"Word of advice...take the offer." I lean towards him with a cocky grin. "Not that I think you'd be of any use...but better than a kick in the ass, ain't it?" I look at the others because I've earned a brief laughter.
"You have ten seconds to decide. Clock's running." My old man says and turns to leave.

[semper]

Mahogany Booker

[/color][/size][/font]

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that I can confess

[/i][/center]

The kid snaps back at me in a rather harsh tone, one that makes me put on a mask of hurt. ”Boyfriends don’t talk to each other with that language, don’t you know?” The emotional trauma in my voice is fake but very evident and dramatic. I don’t know why this guy’s all uptight anyway, it’s just a few harmless pranks I’m pulling on him. Maybe he’s the one that needs a drink or two. Hm, perhaps I could talk him into drinking with me later.

His dad answers, low and dark, that he doesn’t drink. Oh, well of course. The grin does not fall from my face even as I notice the guys surrounding me. Do they really think I can run away from them? They’re sorely mistaken and it’s almost comical how they think I’d try to escape. I can’t even walk fast. My fake boyfriend’s words sound close in my ear, saying that it’d be best if I took the offer. I cast a glance back at him as if he’s stupid I’d even think of not taking it. I want to drink, yes, but I’ve gotten into a mess that I can’t get out of because I can’t run away.

”You have ten seconds to decide. Clock’s running.”

The dad turns to leave and I lift up my wrist as if there’s a watch on it while I count down the seconds. ”Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.” I lower my hand. ”Well, seeing as you guys are all so incredibly smart to block a one-legged man from running away, I believe I’ll stay with you lovely lot for the day. And yes, it’s quite better than getting kicked in the ass, as a matter of fact.” I cast a glance back at the guy who caught me. ”You are all so kind that I will grace you with my presence for the remainder of the day, doing odd jobs and supervising and cheering you on as you valiantly charge forth in your tasks, completing them fully and with pride. Now, go forth, boyfriend! Show me to my station!”

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[Jack Lexington]

The way this guy is talking really rubs me the wrong way. He sounds stuck up and full of himself when he should be submissive. Everybody here knows that my dad doesn't appreciate this kind of behavior. Not from his workers and not even from 'temporary stand ins'.
His expression is hard when he once more turns to the young man and explains. "Sometimes it's better to show some respect, young man."

His voice is so full of sarcasm and arrogance that I can feel that old familiar anger surge through my veins. I've always had a hard time containing it but I've promised my dad to keep my fights and rage fits out of his company.
So I stand there with my fists balled, teeth grit and angrily glaring at the one legged shithead.

”You are all so kind that I will grace you with my presence for the remainder of the day, doing odd jobs and supervising and cheering you on as you valiantly charge forth in your tasks, completing them fully and with pride." I hear him say, which brings on the question how on earth I'm supposed to get through the day with this kind of talk an no way to vent. Maybe we should send him on his way immediately.
Then he finishes off with "Now, go forth, boyfriend! Show me to my station!”
Holy shit, that guy has nerves. Did he really just call me gay?
"Did you just call me a fa$?" I quirk my brow and then turn to my father. "May I?"
Without waiting for an answer I spin around and hammer my fist straight onto his nose.
"Just a friendly touch from your boyfriend."
Then I grab him by his jacket to drag him over to the entrance.

[semper]

Mahogany Booker

[/color][/size][/font]

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that I can confess

[/i][/center]

Did he really just say what I thought he said? ”Sometimes it’d better to show some respect, young man.” But what were they doing to me? Not showing any respect! None of them even thought for a second that my story could hold any bit of truth and that really aggravates me. They were bashing me and labeling me as something I’m not and they shrugged off my reasons.

But, really, a thief is obviously the one with only one leg.

The amount of ‘are you fucking kidding me’ I put into my groaning is absolutely intense. If I rolled my eyes any harder at this dumb lot then they’d pop right out of my face. The kid pipes up again, though, with his squeaking and annoying voice, asking if I had just called him some awful name. ”No I didn’t, all I said was that you were m—“ A fist collides with my nose and the force of the impact sends me rocking backwards, falling onto the ground because I couldn’t keep my balance. Already I can feel blood gushing out of my nose and I let out a pained ”Oww, geez!” while brining my hand up to gently prod at the affected area.

The guy grabs my jacket. ”Well if you’re this rough out of bed I can only imagine what it’s going to be like in bed.” It’s a terrible joke but it’s all I can say aside from just damning this kid to hell for busting up my nose. The blood covers my hands now as I try to stop it but that’s just futile. ”What do you guys even do here? Am I going to be working with what you guys so wrongfully accused me of stealing? Ohh, maybe I’ll just steal some more.”

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[Jack Lexington]

To punch him in his nose has only half relieved the irritation I'm feeling because of this strange guy. Even with a bleeding nose he won't turn down the sarcasm. What an idiot!
"You'll never find out." I growl at him just to make sure it's getting into his thick skull that I don't swing that way. "Stop with the remarks or I'll knock your front teeth out to match your nose." Everybody who knows me is aware that this is not an empty thread and he should have caught on to it by now.
"No, you'll be working with stuff that you can steal as much of as you want to."
I drag him inside the main factory where most of our production is going on. Next to every machine are huge waste bins filled with sharp pieces of broken glass, excess plastic, ruined parts...it's all heavy and dirty.
"You can make yourself useful by taking these out into the yard where I spotted you. on the far left are the large waste containers."
I clap him on the shoulder and nod at the workers, who are working on the machines and are wearing goggles and ear protection. It's loud and unpleasant in here. Good place for me new friend.
Before I go I look at him to make sure he's not trying anything again and then pull a tissue from a dispenser, which I hold out for him to wipe the blood from his nose and maybe stuff some in there.
"Roll it up and stuff it in before you bleed all over the floor."

[semper]

Mahogany Booker

[/color][/size][/font]

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that I can confess

[/i][/center]

I don’t even have a legitimate reason for bugging this guy anymore – he’s just getting madder and madder and I find it quite comical. My nose hurts like hell, though, so I know now for certain that he won’t be afraid to throw more punches. I need to watch my mouth, honestly, but how many people have I come across that reacted this violently to my jests? Very, very few, I can tell you that. This is the first time I’ve ever been slugged on the face; I raise a bloodied hand up and stroke the little tuft of beard on my face. ”Well, whatever you do, don’t mess my little beard up.”

The guy drags me into the factory – or whatever it is – and I can see that there’s quite a bit of production going on. I don’t know what it is but it’s very mechanical and rather loud. My face twists up with the thought ’well the noise is rather inconvenient’ and I try to catch up to him, hobbling along on my peg-leg. I should have known that he would have me doing the dirty work: he says I’m to take the bins out into the yard and toss the trash away, and so of course the bins are chock full of all types of things that can cut me up. ”Oh, goodie,” I mumble, reaching over to take a bin. Luckily the thing has wheels on it or else there’s no way in hell I’d be able to move it. I carefully take hold of the rim and start to pull on it when the guy comes back with a tissue and hands it to me. ”Oh, thank you, you’re so kind.” I give a stupid grin and shove the tissue up my nose haphazardly. Then I wriggle my eyebrows at him. ”I’ll see you later, lover boy, alright?”

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[Jack Lexington]

I can't believe this guy. Here I am overcoming my usual inhibitions to be helpful and actually bring him a tissue and what does he do? Keep mocking me!
My face turns into one angry glare as I grab his arm to hold him back.
"What's with all the mocking and insults?" I really can't stand his type of humor, if that's what it is. Maybe it served him well so far but in my vicinity it will only cause him pain.
"Stop that crap or I'll beat the shit out of you." I warn him with as much seriousness as you can imagine. "You know I ain't joking, right?"

My grip loosens on his arm before I give him a slap on the back. "Now go on and do your slave duty, cleaning lady!"
It's actually fun to see that somebody other than me has to do the shitty jobs around here.
After all I signed up to become an engineer, not a cleaner.