Return to Innocence // Galen

[Angora Blackwell]

The nimble fingers that Angora possessed worked on one of many new Peacekeeper uniforms. One of the women was deathly ill and even though she was still at work, she was moving exceedingly slow. Orders were starting to get backed up, which meant that all hands were on deck. Breaks couldn’t last more than ten minutes and that was if you were lucky enough to get a break. Angora wasn’t one of the lucky ones. She had been sitting in the same seat since she got out of school and was working her fingers to the bone, or at least that’s how it felt. They were starting to ache but she knew she needed to push on.

Her aquamarine eyes scanned the room and came upon a boy she’s seen at school. She never really spoke to him and she had had no idea that he even worked here. Her eyes only lingered on him for a few moments before returning to her work. So much needed to get done and Angora knew she wasn’t going to be leaving the factory until late. A sigh escaped past her lips at the thought of all the homework she still needed to do. She wondered if she would even be going to bed tonight. This wasn’t the first time that Angora needed to step it up at the factory and work on homework through the night. On days like that, she was maybe lucky enough to get two hours of sleep before school and one time, she didn’t get any sleep at all. She had merely finished her homework, got dressed for school and left her house. That was probably the worst day she’s had to face so far. A part of her knew there would be more like that, though.

Angora looked over the, now, finished peacekeeper uniform, pulling off any loose threads and cleaning off any dirt that was on it. Once her inspection was over, she went it off to another worker to inspect it further. If Peacekeepers received a uniform that was damaged or dirty, the factory would have hell to pay. She could really only recall one time that had happened and it was when Angora’s mother was a young lady. Thankfully, no one has had to experience another incident like that in quite some time.

Now that the uniform was finished, Angora took a second to sit back in her chair and stretch a little. Her fingers, back and neck were killing her and her stomach was beginning to growl. She couldn’t wait for the factory whistle to sound, signifying the end of a very long day. As she sat there stretching out her battered limbs, she looked back over at the boy with the dark hair.

[Deleted]

( G A L E N . C R E E D )
x BIO x

Galen hadn't gone to school. He had been up all last night wandering the district. It wasn't entirely his fault. The factory had asked some people to stay later last night and then usual and he had been one of them. Just some readjustments on some uniforms that were special ordered for unique measurements.He had left late but found that he hasn't tired so he had wandered around the district. It was always different at night. Knew things came to life while the buildings and noises of the day slept peacefully.

Sleep didn't come to him until the beginning of sunrise and Galen had just plopped down under the tree he was near and gone to sleep. He didn't care about going back or anything. Being outside was peaceful to him. It wasn't until about midday that he woke up. By that time school was almost over so he just went home, changed his shirt, and arrived at the factory early. The assembly line seemed a lot slower than usual though he wasn't exactly sure why. Not that he really cared. He just concentrated on the seam of the sleeve that he was sewing onto a long sleeve shirt uniform.

The assembly line on his right was carrying peacekeeper jackets from the line of people that had just finished checking their quality to further down the factory where a bunch of younger girls where packaging them into boxes to be shipped on tonight's train. No one was paying attention to the little corner where he was sitting and the normal noises of the production line were drowning over any sound that was coming from his area. But just to be sure, he took a quick glance around the room to see if any faces were looking at him. None.

Galen quickly snatched one of the jackets from the assembly line and shoved it into his already open backpack. It was another piece to the uniform he was collecting at home. An entire peacekeeper's uniform to remember his working at this factory. It also might be fun to wear sometimes. He zipped up the bag and quickly resumed his work with the sleeve of the shirt. Galen felt suddenly uncomfortable and shifted his eyes away from his work to look directly in front of him. A girl that he recognized from school was staring directly at him and he could tell from her face that she had seen what he did. Shit.

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[Angora Blackwell]

Angora's eyes grew a little in size as she saw the distinctive white jacket slide into the boys bag. She had never seen anyone steal anything, besides the unknown man from her childhood. Angora quickly turned her head away, biting her a lip a little as she did. Maybe she should say something. No, that would mean that boy would be beaten in the town square. She thought for a moment then looked back at the boy. Angora wanted to walk over to him and scold him for what he had done. Why? It was because she didn't want to see him wind up like the old man who stole a loaf of bread. He had been beaten in front of everyone, just for stealing a small bite to eat. Angora could only imagine what would happen if the authorities had found out this boy had stolen a peacekeeper jacket. She shuddered at the thought.

Angora turned back to her work, finishing up the last uniform of the day. A few minutes after she was finished, the whistle blew. It was time for everyone to go home and get some much needed rest. Angora's mother, who shared the same eyes and mouth, gave her daughter a tired smile. The wrinkles near her eyes were becoming more prominent everyday. People in the district always told Angora that she looked exactly like her mother when she was in her youth. The only difference was the color of her hair. Her mother had a mop of dirty blonde hair, while Angora was a brunette like her father. "Come Angora, I have a few alterations to work on when we get home. Can't keep the peacekeepers waiting."

Angora nodded and started to walk with her mother. She turned her head to look back at the boy and stopped. "I'll be home later. There's something I have to do first."

Her mother, with her brow raised, nodded and made her way home. Angora, on the other hand, stood outside the factory and waited. The boy was sure to come out at some point and that's when she would speak to him. It seemed like the best plan, in her mind.

[Deleted]

( G A L E N . C R E E D )
x BIO x

The girl's eye shied away from his own. She had seen and he knew it. He looked back down at his work and stared, tensed up. Galen waited for a few moments for the girl to tell on him. He was expecting commotion. More peacekeepers. Another visit to the whipping post. But the factory kept up it's usual busy noises and there was no disruption. He risked another look at the girl. She was continuing to work on her uniforms. Galen let out a a small sigh of relief and dedicated the rest of his time to working on his uniform.

By the time that the bell rang to dismiss everyone, he had finished two shirts. People started to file out of the building and Galen stayed behind. He waited until the girl left the building before he started to pack up all of his things. The peacekeeper jacket moved around in his bag as he hiked it up onto his shoulders and walked out. The doors pushed open easily and a cool wind met his face.

"Ooof. I'm sorry." He ran straight into someone standing outside the doors that he didn't see. "Sorry. Sorry. Oh." Galen looked into the eyes of the girl that had watched him steal the jacket in the factory. Reflexively he pulled the straps of his backpack closer his body. Galen ran his hand through his hair and laughed nervously. "Um, hi. Sorry."

ooc: this was real bad and im sorry

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[Angora Blackwell]

Angora raised a brow at him for a moment. He had kept on saying 'sorry.' The first time was probably for running into her, but what about the other multiple times? She had a feeling she knew why he was saying 'sorry' but didn't really understand why he thought he needed to. It wasn't like he was stealing from Angora. It was more like Angora would have felt horrible if he had gotten caught. There was no way he could possibly know that though. They had never had any contact prior to this and Angora doubted that he could recall her father being whipped in the town square. "For what?" She started.

She pointed a finger at this backpack. "For that? Or just running into me?"

The brunette wave a hand in front of her face and hurried through her next comment. "No matter, just follow me."

Angora didn't say another word, she just walked off. Turning her head, she held up her finger and beckoned him to follow her. If she was going to speak to him about stealing the uniform than she needed to do it somewhere quiet. God forbid anyone hear them. If a peacekeeper or even the boss caught wind of the stolen uniform, they both would pay. The boy for stealing it, and Angora for being a witness and not alerting the proper authorities.

Once they were out of earshot, she turned on the boy and shook her head. A part of her wanted to tell at him, but that wouldn't do any good. He'd probably just look at her as if she was some nutcase. Hell, Angora would look at herself like that if she was in his position. Instead, she quietly asked why he did what he did. She had a feeling this answer would be something like, "I don't know," since he was a teenage boy. The brunette with the bright blue eyes often found that boys her age were pretty worthless. They never seemed to be able to conduct themselves well around her. They were always so goofy and childish. It was rather unbecoming. Hopefully, this one would be a little different. Or at least give her a proper answer.

ooc: No dear, you're fine and I apologize for the late post. Lots of stuff happened the past two days -.-

[Deleted]

( G A L E N . C R E E D )
x BIO x

"For what?" The way that she had asked the question had seemed so innocent that Galen almost believed that perhaps she hadn't seen anything that happened inside the factory at all. What that hope died quickly once she continued. "For that? Or just running into me?" Her slender finger was pointing to the backpack slung over his shoulder. He felt himself cringed visibly. But why did she wait out he for him alone? If she was going to tell surely she would have done it by now and he would have met a dozen peacekeepers upon exiting the building. "I was-", but she waved him silent and spoke firmly. "No matter, just follow me."

Without so much as another word, the girl turned and walked away, gesturing over her shoulder for him to follow. Galen was extremely confused, but shoved his hands in his pockets and fell in line behind her. The girl was a few inches shorter than he was, and slender in frame. She was small but that wasn't exactly uncommon in District Eight. Galen was one of the few in the district that were probably well fed and his legs were toned from all the running he did. He knew that she was the same age as him because they were in the same grade, but he didn't know her name. He didn't talk to much of anyone at all. It was a trait that had stayed from his childhood.

After they had walked for a couple minutes behind buildings and down the darken sides of the street, the girl slowed down and turned to him. The lighting was different here and he was able to see more of her face. He had never really looked at her before, or anyone that he didn't talk to. She was pretty. The hair pulled back from her face sharpened her features and he noticed that her eyes were blue. Was she going to turn him in? The girl shook her head in what he assumed was disbelief or maybe even disappointment. She asked him why he did it.

What was there to say? It was because he had to, he needed to. A peacekeeper's uniform: it would be the ultimate token to remember how his family was ripped apart. How the peacekeeper's took his father from his home. They caused his mother's death, his sister's abandonment. Why? Because his father was wrong according to society, but was he really? Galen had to be careful about what he said. Recently, he had been conflicted about where he stood in association to the Capitol, but once he found himself taking a job at the factory where they made peacekeeper clothing he knew. This girl might turn him in. He knew nothing about her and so he needed to be careful.

Unfortunately, he was a horrible liar. "I had to." For a moment it seemed like that was all he was going to say. He didn't know himself that this was going to be a confession. "I have to remember what they - the peacekeepers, the Capitol. What they took from me. I wasn't supposed to be like this." Galen paused to take a breath. He couldn't reveal all of his secrets. He wasn't supposed to be saying any of it. But something about the girl's blue eyes told him that she wasn't going to tell. Even if she believed him or not. The next confession was a whisper. "I almost have an entire uniform. It might be beneficial one day."

Galen had learned a lot in the years since his father was taken. His sister had chosen to advantage to the Capitol in search of their father and he had disagreed with her method to join them after what they had taken. He had chosen to fight. And he had been able to make contact with the growing rebellion. But that wasn't something he could tell anyone. Galen was still just a sixteen year old boy in District Eight. But he had hoped maybe he could help from here. "You weren't supposed to see. Please don't tell."

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[Angora Blackwell]

He had to? Did she just hear him correctly? Angora raised a brow at him, unsure of what to say. Thankfully, she didn't need to, for he had spoken again. 'I have to remember what they - the peacekeepers, the Capitol. What they took from me. I wasn't supposed to be like this.' As the words hit her, she felt a pang of hurt rip across her chest. Angora's eyes dropped to the dusty earth as she recalled her father being whipped in the town square when she very little. She could imagine the blood running down his back, making small puddles onto the ground. She winced at the thought.

The only thing Angora could think of for months after that event, was the fact that it was her fault. Of course, her parents always told her it wasn't but she knew...she knew it was. When she was little, Angora had gotten a peacekeeper very angry with her. He had threatened her, which caused Angora's father to lash out. In the end, he was the one getting the lashing. The pain of that horrific memory brought a tear to her eye. It trickled down her cheek, leaving a clean line where dirt had once settled. Bringing her hand up to her face, she quickly wiped away the lone tear, hoping the boy didn't see.

The boy said that the uniform may be beneficial one day. She couldn't see how, unless he was planning on escaping the district dressed as a peacekeeper. As the thought crossed her mind, she lifted her brows in amusement, thinking how it might actually work. It was a dangerous idea, but the odds may be in his favor if he could play his cards correctly. It didn't matter though, it was a silly thought that swam through Angora's head for the moment. It would probably never happened. No one has ever attempted anything like that and no one ever would. It was just a fantasy, one that Angora wish she had the courage to try.

The way he asked her not to tell was rather cute. As a matter fact, he was rather cute. His dark hair and eyes. Angora, at one point, caught a glimpse of his lips and how perfectly shaped they were. Angora tried to smile at him, but figured she had probably failed. The memory was still searing in her brain when she finally did speak."Don't worry about it," she started with a slightly shaky voice. "I won't tell a soul."

Angora leaned against the wall of the closet building and let out a small sigh. She stared at the nameless boy for a moment. "My name is Angora, by the way. I'm the girl that lives in the "Peacekeeper house."

A few people that she went to school with, always seemed to remember her based on her living arrangements. Angora's mother was well-known in the district as the woman who did alterations on the peacekeeper uniforms. Naturally that meant that peacekeepers were constantly walking in and out of her house. In return, people in the district starting calling their home the 'peacekeeper house.' It wasn't until Angora started school that she heard children refer to her house in that way. When she was little, she didn't mind but as she grew older, it began to annoy her. A boy at her school once asked her if she had peacekeepers for friends and that was probably way her father never got in trouble. If he only knew the truth, he would know how stupid he sounded.