An Afternoon Break (Pogue and Emsrocks)

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Hammil's stormy grey-blue eyes seemed to almost wander as he walked through the middle of the district, a large amount of his father's money in his hand as he made his weekly trip to the market in order to get food for his family. He'd stopped bringing his mother with him weeks ago. The people here didn't seem to understand what was wrong with her. Or, at least, the younger generation didn't. He'd walk through the square, his arm hooked with his mother's as she rambled on about random things. People would stare, they'd move out of the way much like the people did when a person was reaped. His mother had eyes that seemed to stare through you instead of at you, and he had to admit it didn't help much when he was trying to buy things from the stand-owners here. I miss her too much A sudden sadness seems to wash over him as he stops in front of a stand that is selling loaves of bread, their color tinted with a light green as a result of the seaweed in it.

He must have been standing there for quite a while, for before he knew it the stand-owner was calling his name, his tone annoyed. "Hey! You gonna just stand there or are you going to buy something? You do this a lot more than i'd like, Hammil." Hammil's eyes seemed to refocus, a wavering to them as he looked up at the man. "Right... Sorry. Three loaves please, Kestrel." Hammil said, more mumbled if anything. The man nodded once, giving Hammil an odd look for a moment before handing him the bread and shooing him away.

Hammil merely nodded in thanks, before he continued on to go to another stand. In exactly one hour he was to be back at his house and ready for training with their private instructor. He had an hour to himself. To be alone. To do whatever he wanted.

[Knuckles]

Mizar Roxen

Normally, I don't go to the district square because it's always packed with other people I don't want to be around. I hate being around others because it's always a mess, but here I am standing in the middle of the town square looking around like an idiot trying to decide where I should go. Usually, I would come with my sister because she knew where everything was. I only went with her because I needed to know where everything is, but I never figured it out, and now she's gone. It's my fault she's gone. It's my fault she's not here anymore. She left because of me.

I sigh as I look around at all the different shops. Many different items are being sold at each. Some have fish, some have rolls, and others have items I would love to get my hands on if I could afford them. My eyes scan the area wishing that everyone would go away. I hate being around these people. Most want me to train, but I won't train. I refuse to train. I'm not going to train anymore because it's not worth it. Why train for death, when I can die any time? Why train for something that I never want to experience? It's pointless if you ask me.

I walk away from all the shops unsure of what to do. I need her to be with me. I need my sister, but the anger I have towards her for being a coward and dying keeps it from happening. I can't draw her near to me with the anger that I feel. I hate it, but nothing will stop it. I don't want to hate her, but I do. I was supposed to leave first. Not you, me. I was supposed to die, and you were supposed to be able to go in life happily, but you left me.

I take a deep breath prepared to leave the square when I notice a boy, appears to be about my age, sitting by himself. I tilt my head sideways. Part of me wants to run away, but the other part wants to go talk to him. Slowly, my feet move me forward, and I stop when I'm beside him. I kind of don't want him to notice me, and I can be on with my day; however, wouldn't that be rude? "Hello." My voice quiet as a mouse as I don't want to alert everyone.

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][bg=Grey]My thumbs twiddle back and forth as I sit there, my legs pressed to the ground and my head down, the warm loaves of bread resting against my leg and releasing a plethora of nice-smelling odors that travel up to my nose, partially ruined due to the salty smell of the water around here. That was one thing I always hated, the smell. It reeked, and no matter how many times you'd shower or bathe, it'd still be there, swirling around you and clinging to not only your clothes, but your skin itself. Though, after quite some time one's nose can get used to it, in fact, it doesn't take much time at all, considering kids, adults, and any person of District Four spent all of their time near the water or swimming. However, my mind is not on the salty smell of the district, not now. No, instead it has turned to that...to that side. I can't stop it, I can't delay it, it just comes forward whenever I have this time, this time to myself. And today, it's managed to yet again grasp the memories of my mother, of my siblings. I can still remember when Thatch was born, and how happy I was that I was going to have a baby brother, more so that I was going to be a big brother to him. We'd be close, we'd be more than brothers, we'd be best friends. "Ha, what a dream that turned out to be." I think to myself as I sit there. Now look at us two, we hate each other, we despise each other. It's sickening. All because of this... This training. All because of my father. Without realizing it, I sigh loudly to myself, and unknowingly to the girl that has stood in front of me now, her voice quiet and as if she didn't want to say hello in the first place. A quick wavering of my eyes can be seen. Short, and nearly unnoticeable, but it's still there. It's then that I realize that she may have taken offense to my sigh, perhaps she interpreted it as me not wanting to talk to her. But it's anything but that. In fact, i'm more grateful than anything. When I go into that state, I don't know, there just always seem to be people who snap me back to reality, who let my mind push back those thoughts for another time. Like an endless cycle, almost. "H-hello" I manage to reply to her, my tone just as quiet, if not quieter. "I'm sorry, we're you siting here? I'll move, hang on-"

[Knuckles]

Mizar Roxen

Why am I standing here trying to talk to someone? Why am I not trying to run back home like I should be? What am I doing? I feel myself staring at him unsure of what to say or do. I can feel my heart racing under my chest as I try to think of a way to possibly escape, but I keep my face straight. I'm good at keeping my emotions to myself, for the most part. I absolutely despise people know how I truly feel. I hate it because it's not me. I'm supposed to be happy. I'm supposed to be outgoing and friendly, but since Muscinda left, my entire life changed. I'm not that person anymore. I hate it. I hate everything about life, but I know that life will be okay.

A long sigh escapes his lips, but it doesn't matter. I'm used to people not wanting to talk to me. I'm used to being alone with nobody to care about me. My own sister left me. My own sister that said she'd always be there for me left, and I hate her for that. I hate her for leaving me alone, and I'll not train to keep her memory alive. "H-hello, I'm sorry, we're you siting here? I'll move, hang on-" My skin jumps when the boy in front of me speaks. I slowly try to calm my racing heart as I turn my head to face him. Does he want me to go away? I can go away. I can just go away like my sister did. It doesn't matter to me anyway.

"No-no I wasn't sitting here. You don't have to move." I shake my head. He was here before me. I don't want him to move. He didn't take my seat. I'll just leave. "I-I wasn't sitting anywhere. I was just looking around the different shops trying to find something to take home." I take a breath as my words erupt off my tongue faster than I planned for them to. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. I slowly lower my head hoping he doesn't notice. Good job, Mizar. You ruin everything like always. You ruined your sisters life, now you're going to ruin your own life. "I'm Mizar by the way." I hold out my hand hoping he'll shake it. I've always been told it's polite to introduce yourself to everyone.

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][bg=Black]For a few long moments the two of us simply stare at each other, neither of us saying anything. Well, I was more waiting for an answer than actually just staring at her. I can't read her at all. Normally I was pretty good at those types of things. Facial expressions and all that stuff. But she... She must have been actually good at being...what was it called? Stoic? I'm halfway through getting up before the girl actually speaks. "No-no I wasn't sitting here. You don't have to move.". I look at her for a few more moments before I nod slowly. "Oh, okay." I say quietly, remaining standing. "I-i'm Hammil. Hammil Algirdas." I reply to her, shaking her hand gently. I awkwardly scratch my head for a couple seconds before I look back up at her. I was supposed to be good at speaking to people. I'd done it at so many dinner parties my family had hosted before. And yet, this girl didn't speak formally like them. She was reserved when she spoke, almost like she was afraid or hesitant to speak to me. It was a nice change, actually. A nice change from the formal and dignified talk of my father's friends. "So uhm, what were you looking for from the shops around here? I can help you find something if you want...". I say to her, before adding. "I have about an hour to spare before my training anyways."

[Knuckles]

Mizar Roxen

When life turns upside down around you, most would just give up. My life turned upside down around me, and I did give up, but I met someone that tried to turn the world around for me again. I met him at the beach. We fought about training, and he made me realize that I shouldn't be training just for my sister. I don't want to train, but I was training to keep her alive. She left me; therefore, I shouldn't keep her alive. I wanted to train to go into the games because I wanted to die to be with her. I wanted to be with her because she's my twin, but I was miserable.

A hand meets mine shaking it as I turn my gaze back towards the boy I was talking to. "I-i'm Hammil. Hammil Algirdas." I enjoy seeing people being shy because I'm shy, well, I pretend to be shy. I don't like talking to people. It would be nice if nobody ever had to talk to anyone. That was my sisters job, not mine, my sisters. I place a smile on my face trying to look friendly, and I want him to know that I appreciate his company, and that he's talking to me not just blowing me off like a lot of people would've. "It's nice to meet you, Hammil."

Why am I talking to a stranger? It's amazes me what can happen with a few small words that's being spoken to someone. It never ceases to amaze me because life is always worth being strong, and friendly. "So uhm, what were you looking for from the shops around here? I can help you find something if you want..."I have about an hour to spare before my training anyways." One word slices through my skin like a sword slicing through the air. Training. That word caused me to fight with that guy I met at the beach that day.

I crack my neck before looking at the ground. I'm not here to fight. I don't want to fight with anyone. I just want to get home fast. I raise my gaze looking back at him unsure of what to think. Training. Why would anyone train? I trained because of my sister. I shake my head slightly. "Well, I'm supposed to bring dinner home, but I left the list at home. I don't know what to get now, and I don't even know where to begin." Why did I come to the square? Why am I here? I don't know. I don't even want to know. I just want to go home and lock myself away in my room forever.

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My hand stays in hers for a few moments before I release it, both of our hands falling to our sides. For a moment I thought I had lost her, as her head, more her gaze had shifted away from me. I definitely knew that look. She was thinking of something, probably something deep or personal. I didn't know. All I knew was that me shaking her hand had seemed to bring her back, her gaze once again resting on me.

""It's nice to meet you, Hammil."

A small smile comes across my face as she speaks. It was nice to meet someone...normal? No, no one was really normal. No one fit into the mold of what was completely normal. I guess the word I was looking for was different. Fun to talk to.

I raise an eyebrow as the girl's head suddenly goes to the ground. Did I say something wrong? Did I just ruin what could have potentially been a friendship? An actual relationship with someone? I'm about to open my mouth to ask her if shes okay before she speaks.

"Well, I'm supposed to bring dinner home, but I left the list at home. I don't know what to get now, and I don't even know where to begin."

I small smirk comes across my face as I cross my arms.

"Oh, I can definitely help with that. Come on, i'll show you around." Out of habit of going to the shops with my sister I grab Mizar's arm tightly, about to start dragging her before I realize that it's not my sister and I let go, my face turning bright red and my arm snapping to my side. I awkwardly scratch my head before quickly apologizing.

"Um, i'm really sorry. I didn't mean to grab you like that. I'm used to having to drag my little sister around. I'm really sorry." I say awkwardly, continuing to scratch my head before I turn to walk towards one of the stands, hoping Mizar will still follow me.

The stand is lined with a myriad of different fishes and seafood as well as the green tinted bread that district four had. It really was amazing, and everything was always so fresh. It's prices though were another thing. It was steep, very steep if you didn't have the money to pay for it. Not once did the thought cross Hammil's mind that Mizar might not have been able to actually pay for it. Perhaps it was one of the many flaws the boy had.

[Knuckles]

Mizar Roxen

Every time I would go shopping, I made sure Muscinda would come with me. She was the one that always remembered what we were supposed to get. She remembered everything because I hate shopping. I just want to go home and rest. I don't want to worry about anything except starting a new life. I was convinced starting a new life would be nice, and at first I was kinda weary, but I think it's the best way to go. I need to be happy for myself. I don't need to be training constantly for something I hate, but I know that if I was ever reaped for the games, I would make sure I died in the arena. I would make sure I was never able to go home because I'd finally have a way to be reunited with my sister.

"Oh, I can definitely help with that. Come on, i'll show you around." He grabs my arm like I'm a little kid. I cock my head trying to figure out what he's doing, but I know from all the times I was younger. He's trying to drag me along, and I don't really care if he does drag me along because it'll be easier for me, but he quickly lets go of my arm and his face turns bright red, and it takes everything I have not to smile. "Um, i'm really sorry. I didn't mean to grab you like that. I'm used to having to drag my little sister around. I'm really sorry." I wish I had someone to drag along with me. I could have dragged her out of the water, but I didn't. I was glued to the ground unable to move.

"Oh, don't worry about it. You're fine. No worries at all." I try to place a smile on my face because I want to let him know that it really is alright. I follow him as he walks towards the different stands one of them holding all kinds of fish. Fish is something that I always love. I want to be a fish. I want to swim with the fish because it's amazing. I like eating fish because that's basically all we have to eat. Seafood. Seafood is a luxury though. Something I never have unless I catch enough fish to take some home for me. I run my hand through my hair as I stare at the fish. "It would be nice to have this much fish at home. It would be very nice." I continue to run my fingers through my hair as I shift my weight around unevenly.

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My face is still a little bit red as we stand in front of the fish stand. My head down and my eyes slowly scanning the assortment of seafood. I can't believe I did that. It was so embarrassing.

"Oh, don't worry about it. You're fine. No worries at all."

I breathe a sigh of relief on the inside as she says it's alright. It wasn't, though. It was still embarrassing. I look to the side just in time to see a smile on her face, and i'm assured that it really is alright. I return it with a small grin of my own, before I quickly turn away. I'm about to ask her if she's going to get something before she speaks, and a terrible sense of guilt and shame comes over me.

"It would be nice to have this much fish at home. It would be very nice."

The blood rushes from my face as she speaks, and I turn away to hide it. I hadn't even realized, I hadn't even thought of the fact that the girl wouldn't have enough money. Was she offended? I would be. Yet another mistake that i'd made during this short interaction. What was wrong with me? I'd always denounced my father's way of flaunting his wealth with dinner parties and public displays of buying something expensive, and yet here I was doing just that, and even worse I had made Mizar uncomfortable in the process, I could tell from the way she was standing.

"I-i'm sorry. I didn't realize... I'm sorry. Um... Here, hang on." In a desperate attempt to try to make it up to her I buy a large fish, fresh and good-looking. Taking the fish I look at it for a moment before I offer it to her, a weak smile on my face.

"H-here. It's really good. Like, really good." I say weakly, the fish still in my hands. I didn't know if she'd take it or not. Maybe she wouldn't. I hoped she would. I felt terrible.

[Knuckles]

Mizar Roxen

The quick change of his demeanor when I tell him not to worry about it brings relief inside me. I don't want him to feel uncomfortable around me. I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable around me because I want to be comfortable. I struggle to remain comfortable when it's obvious the other person isn't. It's always been something that I struggle with, but I try, and I seem to be getting better at it; however, it'll always show. It'll always show no matter what I do. It happens at the worse times possible, but that's just the way life is. Everything goes wrong at the worse times possible, and there isn't a thing anyone can do about it.

"I-i'm sorry. I didn't realize... I'm sorry. Um... Here, hang on." I stare at him as he stutters his words. Part of me wonders what he's doing. Have I made him nervous? Have I done something wrong? Why is he acting like this? It amazes me how strange this guy is acting. I've never been one to pick up on different reactions, but I can tell he's obviously not thinking right, and that's not even the worse of it. I watch as he buys a fish before turning around to face me. I can feel the muscles in my face twitch as I stare at him. "H-here. It's really good. Like, really good." I want to slap him as he holds the fish out in front of him, but I resist the urge.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly take the fish from his hand as I place a large smile on my face. It's a fake smile, but I try to make it as genuine as possible, and I believe I am doing a good job. I've always been good at showing fake emotions because it's what I've been trained to do. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the act of kindness he has done, but I don't need the help. I've been capable of providing for my family for three years now without any problems, but it doesn't stop it from being hard. "Thanks. You didn't have to do that, but thanks." I shift my gaze from the fish back up to him hoping everything will remain okay.

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