Next time >just< K n o c k [Skitz]

[[nyte]]

count 343

tags Skitz, ship building

status complete

I nod at Henry, biting my lip. "I-I'd be honored". My heart is pounding in my chest, though there is no explanation as to why it should. I take a breath, looking at him with apprehension before removing my hands from him. Iris, I remember reading about that in school. A goddess who carried messages back and forth between the gods. Excitement floods through me. I try to ignore the selfishness. If I were to get caught, I'd leave father alone. Without my help. But, it's about damn time I do something for myself.

I deserve this. I tell myself. I do. Its me. My decision. I'm 16, I think it's due time I be a bit selfish. My eyes glance at the charm bracelet hanging loosely around my wrist. It was my mothers. The only thing left of her. Dad had insisted I wear it, he'd spent his whole paycheck to get it fixed. I couldn't refuse, even if this formed no attachment with my mother as he had hoped. I look up finally, ripping myself from my thoughts.

I look up at this boy. He was beginning to become less of a stranger to me, though i had only known him a few hours. It was the dead of night the first time I'd met him, now I noticed the sun was beginning to rise. It's strange how few words let you draw your own conclusions about someone. This boy was different than any other, of that I was sure. His mystery only drew me further into his charm, this boy he was a heart breaker. Or, he could be. Cute, yes, but an option no. Still, I can't help but smile as I thought of the adventures that awaited me. Maybe my decision was rash. Hell, I know it was. But I'm not one for strategy or thinking. If this works, good, if it doesn't, it's my fault. No one will be help accountable for my decisions but my own.

I hope I never grow to regret those words.


Narration
"Speech"
Thoughts

[Gone5eva]

Her fingers felt warm in his hand, and the male could not help but grin at the thought of his family growing, especially with the girl he now led through the streets of the stirring district. Parents woke their children for school, as dawn glowed across the horizon. A fresh layer of snow blanketed the streets, where the men stepped outside with thermouses full of coffee. Occasionally, one heavily clad man would watch the boy and the girl as they fled deeper into the heart of seven, shaking their heads, wondering what their life could be like if they'd taken Henry's initiative.

But he seemed to ignore them, keeping his head up, his eyes forward as they entered the industrial part where children were warned to never play, where occasionally a cold body would be pulled from between the pallets in the warehouses. He led her down a cold alley, glancing over his shoulder for any workers. "Don't tell anyone about it, alright? It's dangerous enough as it is." He pulled her through a rusted bit of chain link fence, tugging his newest charge inside.

His heart always raced when he pried away the paneling of the rotting building, and he nervously ran a hand through his dark locks as they squiggled inside the tiny space. "I know it doesn't look like much, but... This abandoned warehouse is our home."

They stepped into the building, lit currently only by the bit of sky that peeked from high above through rotting planks of wood, but if one looked around, they would notice a plethora of cushioins and even a string of holiday lights surrounding the circular area made by pushing shelving units together. "Each person has a bedroom, if you will. See those sheets?" he pointed around the room, guesturing to the ratty fabric hanging above each of the units, smiling happily. "Everyone gets their own space. That includes you. All the open curtains should be avaliable- It doesn't look like much, but it's yours, and it's warm. We should wait here for the others to arrive."

[[nyte]]

count 272

tags Skitz, Ships are building, LBH

status Complete

He leads me through the district, my home. I've always lived so secluded, heading only from the market to my house literally my whole life. I couldn't help but look around in awe at everything that I'd missed in my sheltered 16 years. " "Don't tell anyone about it, alright? It's dangerous enough as it is." I resist the urge to roll my eyes. He obviously wasn't a law abiding citizen. I wouldn't tell a soul, I was never going to. And I didn't need to be reminded that I shouldn't tell anyone either. I decide to hold my tongue, hoping that this stony silence was enough to answer his statement.

We enter an area laced with danger signs. I remember vague stories whispered in hushed voices by my brothers about bodies found here. And while deep down in my subconscious I knew that I should be afraid, this boy's company gave me a sense of security. Perhaps more than I'd like to admit. We finally turn down a dark ally way. My heart pound in my chest as anticipation builds within me. What behind the doors we now stood in front of? What kind of organization lay just out of sight.

He opens the door, leading me inside. He mutters something about it not being much, though I am far too awestruck to truly listen. I see an area with a ragged sheet drawn back. I wander over, running my hand along the curtain. My eyes are wide with wonder, I feel like a child once again. "Can I have this one?" I speak quietly, looking back in his direction.

[Gone5eva]

He laughed, his voice a deep, throaty purr. "Of course you may." He watched her, arms gently crossing over his chest. Her area was a small shelf, about three feet tall, six feet long, and five feet deep, with a twin sized cot mattress placed upon the shelving unit. Henry let her explore, instead, choosing to stand beside the entrance, waiting for his family.

The world around them woke, the district rising with the sun as slowly, others began trickling in. He nodded to each of them as they wandered through the living space, and to their own sheltered bunks. He waited, and counted until every one of his gang were in. Some bumped fists, some offered high fives. Others ignored him completely, too tired to move.

It was not until the last exhausted member wandered in that he finally abandoned his post, stretching his lanky form, collapsing on the largest pile of sheets and pillows in the direct center of the living area. It was his nest, naturally.

He began prying off the layers- first his heavy over coat, the ebony scarf, his black sweater, until he remained in the cargo pants and tank top he'd left in. He dragged a heavy bundle of blankets over his chest, and pried off his boots, stretching along his bed, dark eyes staring at a hole in the ceiling where the off-white sunlight filtered down.

[[nyte]]

count 432

tags Goodbye

status complete

Does - Says - Thinks - Hears

I run my hands along the thick concrete. Delicate fingers tracing the cracks in the walling. I can feel his eyes on me, rested on my back. For a moment, I wonder what he sees. I wonder what it would be like to be in his head for a second.  I can almost see the half smile that plays across his face. And suddenly, I am aware of the silken fabric that hugs my skin. My hand traces the curve that adorns my figure, almost self consciously. My heart begins to pound, inching it's way through my chest and up to my throat, with every nervous beat. 

Pretending to be completely entranced by the room, my room, I battle the urge to look towards him. My hair weighs against my shoulders, falling in strands in front of my face. The wind outside, throws itself against the worn walls. Bending down, my thin fingers reach outwards, taking a woolen blanket in their grasp. It's coarse and thick. I can almost feel it scratching my skin while it wraps me in a warm, restless embrace. Fear, like sharp knives begin to pierce my heart. 

I am a broken girl. 


I was nothing for so long. Nothing more than an extension of my father. Someone to serve him and do as he said without question or reason. Of it's own accord, resentment begins to bubble within my pounding heart. It feels as through it is beginning to whither where I stand. How can I hate my own father when he has done nothing to me, when I had brought this fate utterly and completely upon myself. I wasn't the one who left father by himself, with only the likes of a newborn for company. 

She had. My mother, no, the woman who had birthed me. She was no more than a mother to me than an incubator, emotionless, heartless, dead. In the dim light, the dull bronze bracelet laid upon my olive skin gleams. Almost like polished gold, though that was nothing my family could have afforded. The only living piece of her left, and perhaps what had kept me tied to father. Slowly, I set down the wool, carefully working the metal coil off my wrist and setting it upon the gray fabric.  It is carefully wrapped and placed the side of my bedroom. 

My legs, so long crunched underneath my small frame straighten. I work up the courage to turn towards the mysterious man once more "Saying goodbye." I explained, my voice as meek at that of a church mouse. 

[Gone5eva]

His lips formed into a thin line, his dark eyes worriedly looking the newest addition over. "You are free to come and go as you please, so long as you check in and let someone know you're still alive and free." he said to her, his quiet voice only a few decibels louder than the sound of woolen blankets shifting as he threw them away.

His form cracked and creaked as he rose, bare feet carrying him to the lonely girl. Calloused fingers brought themselves to rest against Albany's pretty cheek; her soft skin seemed cold to the touch, and somewhere within the pit of his stomach, Henry felt the urge to comfort the girl. Not the way he cared for the younger ones, how he'd rub their backs and brush their hair, but something more.

This was something deeper. Strong arms wrapped tightly around the girl's shoulders, tugging her into his grip. A nervous twinge hit his chest, and after only a moment of awkward embracing, he released Albany. Just as he was about to apologize, Henry caught himself- he had done no wrong and there were no good reasons to feel such guilt. He was only attempting to make her comfortable after all.

He tangled his index finger in a lock of her ebony hair and gently tugged at the curl, watching it bounce back into place like a child with a new toy, curiosity burning deep in his heart. "You're entirely free now. You never have to go back, you never have to see them, unless you want to." His gaze fell, pushing into her dark pools of color, hands once more rising to pet her hair. Beams of sunlight shone high from overhead, casting their heavenly light upon her skin. She looked magnificent, like a terrified angel.

A shaky sigh slipped through his lips as his gaze softened, and he gently pulled away from the depressing contact. In that moment, Henry's mind began to rationalize- You've only just officially met her, she doesn't know you, you can't take care of her, she probably hates you, and on and on his list went. Goose pimples rose on his flesh from where he touched her, and he found himself biting the inside of his cheek to offset the feelings of warmth that shot up from his gut.

[[nyte]]

count 336

tags Feels

status complete

Does - Says - Thinks - Hears

I collapse in his embrace, my head resting lightly upon him. "It's different." My voice is little more than a whisper. My eyes rise to meet his, sending a shiver through my body, physically shaking me. "All my life I've been told to be someone else. And you come here, you break into my house and I..." My voice trails, my teeth rake against my lip. "I've known you for so little time, yet I feel you've seen more of me than anyone." It's a battle within, the pure tension that lay between us broken by our closeness. One hand takes the fabric of his shirt between my fingers. The other runs along his arm. My eyes open and close rapidly, imitating that of my heart's beat. I had barely met this boy, I knew little to nothing about him.Yet I felt as though, in this moment, I knew everything I needed to. I knew that it was me who was wanted. Not a carbon copy of someone who's life I had taken 16 years ago. The difference in our height was almost comic, yet I loved it. I loved how everything felt with this man. Henry. What a name, what a beautiful name, what a beautiful boy. I couldn't stop myself as my feet pushed themselves off the floor. My hand is pulled away from his arm, instead mirroring that of his on my cheek. My lips, wet from the tears that had been falling freely meet his. Gently, fearfully, as fear of rejection prods at my subconscious. I'm terrified, both at his reaction and the pure lust that overcame my being. You don't know him.The doubt threaded in and out of my mind, replaced only by the pure warmth that spread through my body the longer my lips touched his. They were rough, like him. He was sweet, and soft, yet so callous and harsh. Like nothing I'd ever felt before. 

This was not love, not yet. But just maybe, it was better. 

[Gone5eva]

Say Something...

For that moment, time stood still.

His hand locked into Albany's dark hair, contrasted with his pale skin. At this exact moment in time, nothing could rip him away from this point in his life. It was one of those split seconds with potential- he saw himself in twenty years, married to this girl. Even aged, she still remained strong with a child attached to her leg- blue eyes and black hair.

Pride swelled in the male's chest, and as he drew Albany closer, he felt a spark of pain around his heart. This girl was magnificent, beautiful, gorgeous. All of these things and more all at once. The experience was humbling, especially since he still resembled one of the rats who occasionally crawled in from the outside seeking warm shelter.

They separated, the male trembling as shiver upon shiver slithered down his spine. A hand separated from her hair, slowly lowering onto her cheek. "Don't cry..." he whispered- not the most romantic thing, but the inflection of his voice and the tone of his words carried more weight than he probably knew.

Gentle hands tugged the girl closer, until his lips rested lightly against her forehead; not a kiss, simply contact. Henry thought for a moment as he cradled Albany, gently exhaling with his blue eyes closed. "You have all of eternity to show your true colors to the world." he whispered after a long, long period of silence. "I've seen those colors- and I think they are absolutely stunning."

He offered a careful kiss between her eyes and pulled away, gently stroking her fingers as he went, leading her to the messy nest he'd so haphazardly thrown together. It was her choice- she could leave, go to her own bedroom if she wanted that space to be her own, or she could stay with him in a warm embrace.

Honestly, he hoped she chose the latter, just so he weren't completely alone. The reaping was soon, and truth be told? It was his last one. He was eighteen, young, reckless, but old enough to know it was the end if he went. He would never return to district seven, and he wanted to die himself if he had to die at all. For the girl, time really could be endless.

But not for Henry. The upcoming week would choose his fate.