On The Sidelines (Marree~Jeran)

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Vanity Pryce
Age: Eighteen
District: Two
Company: Baby Brooklyn

A small, chubby hand and a weak hit jerks Vy awake with a groan. "How did you get out of your crib?" She mumbles staring at the only thing bright enough to stand out against the dark night, baby blue eyes that belong no other to Brooklyn. A giggle is the baby's only reaction as she brings up her tiny palm once again to awake her mom. Vy has better moves then a two-year-old though and quickly catches her wrist before another pathetic slap makes contact. "You should never be a career." She jokes as she pulls her offspring onto the bed with her. There's no way Vy would allow such a thing though, Brooklyn will stay as innocent and naive as possible. Fighting will never be her goal, though she'll most likely be witnessing them her entire life. As long as a scratch doesn't reach her.

As Vy's eyes adjust to the pitch-blackness her eyes settle upon the crib that's be located beside her bed for over two years now. Maybe it's time to move Brooklyn to a normal bed given her constant success of breaking out. Just like her mother. Despite not getting an undisturbed sleep for years, Vy gratefully snuggles up to the little one, hoping to get in a few more hours before training. Once eight o'clock hits Brittany will take over, refusing to ever take the nightshift. As she closes her eyes in attempt for just a little bit more slumber, Brooklyn's familiar whine fills the air.

"You're such a night-owl." Vy complains with a mocking whine, moving her little girl to be cradled in her arms. The knowledge that Brooklyn will most likely keep her up all night creates the most heaviest eyes. If only the rugrat was as sleepy to. For a few minutes Vy attempts the steps that have always soothed Brooklyn to sleep: a gentle rock, pat on the back, a loud hum, she even brings out her pathetic attempt at a lullaby. The more she tries to get the little one to sleep, the more she refuses with a growing cry. "Damn you!" She accidentally slips her anger a little to loudly. Surprisingly Brooklyn goes silent though, knowing that she had won once again.

By now the room's fully lit up even without a light being turned out, Vy forces herself out of bed disappointed. "Early training it is." She sighs heavily at the clock reading that it's only 3:30, but at least that means a completely empty gym. As Brooklyn's grown older her diaper bags shrunk, and Vy's never been the type to need a lot of time to get ready in the morning. By 4 they're already within the gym, and sleep has yet to even visit the baby girl. Maybe a career gym's not the safest place for a toddler, but Vy's not the most intelligent. None of the weapons are within the little one's grasp and that's good enough for her.

Ever since Brooklyn was born, and keeping her teen-mother up all through out the night, she's been introduced to the training gym. Never with the sun up though, as she didn't want to risk exposing she has a kid. Of course they've been caught often by other careers, but every time Vy pulls off the baby sister card. The one joy about career's, they could careless about looking into that stuff, and none are smart enough to see their very-close resemblance that screams they're more then sisters. Even though she's avoiding Brooklyn following in the footsteps of training, knowing how to protect herself is something different. Not to mention something needed when located within a district.

"Good job." Vy laughs as Brooklyn does her typical monkey-see-monkey-do act. Once she learned how to walk she's been trying to copying every move she witnesses from someone else. The small toddler actually has a hint of concentration upon her innocent face as she stares at her tiny fist ramming into the punching bag. The heavy bag hanging from a sturdy rope doesn't even budge from Brooklyn's lack of muscle. "One day." Vy reassures as she directs the small eyes away to get distracted by something else. "My turn." The laughter continues as the simple movement pulls Brooklyn to the mirrors on the far side of the gym. Knowing she'll only have a minute or two before the little one demands for attention once again, Vy goes straight to beating the punching bag as if it was her most hated enemy.

[*]

The moment dad got home, he laid right into me. His heavy voice badgering me about Kya not being up to make the food and about me not doing as I was told with her training regiment. My sad attempt to making supper is probably what started it all though. When he walked through the door, I had nothing but a few steaming vegatables in three seperate bowls and some warm bread right out of the oven sat on the counter.

"What? You really want me to make something I have to cook from scratch? That's Kya's expertise." I press at him, and give him a plate as his harsh glare comes over my face and down to my hands. I've already started to flex my fist up a bit, but after todays excitement with Matthew, I'm on edge. You better not start, old man. I think to myself once again. He's quiet for now when he snatches the plate from my hands as he starts scooping up the vegitables on the plate then reaches for the warm bread. His grubby hands get ahold of two rolls and he puts them on the surface of his plate. His face is anything but grateful. I can't help but watch him closely from the corner of my eye when he sits down at the table.

"Where's Kyanite?" His eyes seem to be set aflame when he asks about my sister's current location. Though, I refuse to answer his question right off. Instead, I pile up the vegitables and grab the same number of bread that my dad did. I make it a meal. Without hesitating any further, I let the plate come into contact with the table rather roughly and sit down, not going for the fork at all. My dad, on the other hand, seems unbothered by the fact that I've refused to answer his question.

"She's in bed sleeping still. She's sick dad." I come out with more than just a whispered tone. The fork is suddenly within my right hand as I use my left hand to reach inbetween my legs to grab the chair and pull it closer to the table. I let the fork scoop generously at the corn several times before I stop and stare at the man in front of me. "Doctor came by, gave her some antibiotics and some pain medicine. I know it's going to cost..."

"Cost? Your damn right it's going to cost. Money that can be used elsewhere in your training. I told you she would be fine. I told you to make her work it out. Sweating it out will cure anything." He barks out as he rips into the bread. "You may not care about training anymore, but I'll be damned if I let her go to waste like you."

I jerk upward in my chair as it scratches against the floor creating a harsh noise that I barely even recognize. I know for a fact, I'm about to snap right now and the more I stare at him and his uncaring demeanor, I walk away from the kitchen table and stop at the door frame. "You're going to kill her one day, just like you did mom that day."

I bolt through the doorframe and turn to the left going down the hallway until I reach the stairs and take them quickly. I hardly recognize how I'd managed to get to the landing before I look down at Kya's door and sigh. With a heavy heart, I inch my way down to the door and pause as my fingers linger on the wood. "Kya?" I whisper out. I wait to see if she'll answer, but when her voice doesn't reach my ears, not even in the smallest amount, I push my way through the door slowly and walk into the dark of her room. There's hardly any light in here, except for a small dim bulb in the lamp beside her bed that barely even tells me that she's under the covers in that bed. A cough reaches my ears, as well as a slight moan and I feel a ton of bricks being hit against my chest.

"Kya? I'm sorry your sick..." I let my voice linger quietly as I sit on the edge of the bed with my back facing her. Another cough. A much more weaker cough this time. I can't help but drop my head down and rest my head on my hands that's being supported by my knees. The palms of my hands rub furiously all over my face, rubbing my eyes as a last resort when I turn around and place my hand on her cheek. "Still so warm, sis. How did you get so sick?"

I question her but I don't expect an answer until I hear her voice crack. "Lu..cky, I guess." I feel nothing but pity for her. I remove my hand just enough to move it to a different spot on her face and let it rest against her forehead for a moment when she elicites another word. "C.. cold."

I look down to the end of the bed and grab the second comforter I put on her bed earlier in case she needed it and I can feel the bed vibrate with her chill. I get up, and fix the blanket over her body and take my leave from the room.

Hours pass by as I lay in my bed, my mind drifting in and out of sleep for quite some time before I jump out of the comforts of my bed and go to the closet for some clothes. Training clothes. I'm not really one to spend my time wasting it, so I dress quickly and look to the clock and see that it's almost four in the morning. Just enough time to hit the gym for two hours before dad needs to wake to get ready for work. Just enough time for me to get to the gym and do what I need to in order to release some of this tension building up between dad and me. Before I leave the house, I stop by Kya's room once more, whisper that I'll be home later, and take off in my truck to hit the gym.

I stop in front of the training gym and jam the truck into park and sit there for a few minutes letting my mind settle. It doesn't do any good to go into training angry or upset so, a few minutes of staring into the darkness seems to help. Exiting the vehicle, I never even look up to notice that the lights are on in the gym. I've also never notice how quiet it was this early of a morning. I glance at my watch and see that it's just twenty minute after four. I grab the door and enter only to hear that someone's already hard at work on one of the punching bags. That sounds like a wonderful idea. Can't punch out the old man, but I can always imagine it. Almost as good without the satisfaction. Who is here though?

I wonder more inside and see instantly the child that's near the blonde haired woman going at it with the punching bag. It's all I can do to stop and stare at her shear determination to make sure to take whatever frustrations she has out on the inanimate object. I nod my head and start walking again.

"You know, children realy shouldn't be in here, Miss. It's dangerous." I let my voice carry out with my deep tone not worried to hide the pitch that echoes. I just want to make sure she hears me. I take no time at all unzipping my jacket just to let it drop on the floor and walk to one of the equipment closets, pulling a pair of boxing gloves out.

"What are you in for?"

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

The loud slam from every time Vy's knuckles come into contact with the punching bag brings a loud echo that fills the room. When she was younger nothing was able to disturb this concentration as the world stops around her. Now her ears are always sharp for any baby noises though. Before her eyes would stay upon her target at all times, but now they're searching around even when Brooklyn's not around. Of course she's already made plenty of mistakes with the baby girl, but now with two years of experience she has it down packed. As for any other noises though, she's some how found a way to mute those. Especially when it comes to not expecting company at such an hour. Six in the morning's usually when the earliest of the birds come out, not currently though.

Every chunk of seconds she gazes into her side view to see Brooklyn still preoccupied with her adorable reflection. How much longer will Vy have before the little one raises questions and taking her to the gym becomes to risky? Probably shouldn't be a concern with only one year left of being a career, what's in store for them after that. It's hard to imagine a different life, but it's not possible to freeze time nor would she want to. Somehow she pulls off a good few rounds with a distracted baby, so much her knuckles are even pulsing in pain. That feeling's greatly missed though and she actually cherishes it, she doesn't stop.

It's not Brooklyn to pull Vy away from her training, but actually another voice. "You know, children realy shouldn't be in here, Miss. It's dangerous." An unfamiliar voice fills the large gym and stops Vy's abuse to the punching bag. Of course she doesn't recognize it, all her old friends were left with the move. But who the hell was a stranger to give advice? Her eyes dart over to male she's already determined is too cocky for her liking, just off of one sentence. No wonder she now lacks friends.

"Good thing she's a toddler then, huh?" Vy replies with complete sarcasm and a lack of interest in a guy that goes by the rules. Even Brooklyn notices the new arrival and turns from her reflection to greet them with a giggle and a wave. That horrible tittle Miss rings through her ears as she rolls her eyes at the only other person that would train this early. Without another word she returns back to her fight with the swinging bag.

"What are you in for?"

Apparently the lack of company within the gym leaves the guy with only two options for a conversation, and one wasn't the best at communicating back...with Brooklyn being a bit more social and likable. Maybe a change would be nice though, even if he did start off wrong in Vy's book. A break from baby-talk might be a nice change though. "She forced me." Vy gestures her head over to the baby who's now resulted to sitting on the floor as she attempts to figure out her reflection for the millionth time. Only more sarcasm flows from her lips though, she didn't realize the difficulties of an actual serious answer. Did she care though?

Was she being rude as she gives half-ass answers and keeps her concentration upon her punching bag? Most girls would drop what they're doing if an attractive boy was talking to them, but boy's are retarded. For some odd reason Vy decides to take a break as she retrieves her water-bottle and actually takes a good look at the guy. Once again her eyes roll at the sight of yet another tall, built career. If only Brooklyn wasn't here, because immediately Vy has the urge to proof her strength. Partially this is due to the surprised look she often receives when people realize they've underestimated her strength. No fighting though, this guy doesn't even appear to be a threat.

"You?" Vy comes around to finally returning the question and she follows with a gulp of water. "I don't really see people this early, must have realized that the early bird may get the worm, but career's don't eat worms." She shrugs and slightly chuckles at her own joke as her eyes go back to Brooklyn. "She likes worms though." She points to the little one with another attempt at being funny.

[*]

The pair of boxing gloves look enticing to work with at such an early time today. My knuckles have had no contact with any surfaces since earlier when I got to jab them into the shoulders of that guy that my sister likes; that 'Matthew Dunham'. I rip open one part of the velcro and watch her for a few moments when she retorts my accusation about children being in the gym. She refers to the child as a toddler, but to me their all the same. Drooling little bodies that like to squeal with joy or stink at certain times of the days. I've never been around kids and neither has Kya so, any experience with them is void. Though, I do smile at the young one when she mimics around the mirror at herself. How interesting it will be to be a child with no thoughts. No fears. No emotional or physical setbacks to life. It's just simply being free to do whatever they want without fear of punishment. They have it so easy. Wait till you grow up kid.

"Toddler? Child. Baby. Anyone under six don't need to be in here anyways, though, at least she's not in the way. The gyms not crowded so, she'll not be underfoot." I say and stuff my gloves on my hands, pulling the straps to a close around my fingers that are just simply itching to be hitting something. I've got so much pent up stress right now that if I dont hit something, dad will be the one with a blackened eye or a bloody lip. Moving out will be the highlight of my life when I join the peacekeepers academy soon. My main goal is just to get out of the house, though, that still concerns me with Kya. Dad's not one to take much care toward either one of us when it comes to health. He's used to the old school way of working out a fever or something with training. Forces us to keep fighting through the pain and illnesses to keep us going and strong. This time, I feel he may have taken it too far. I'm sick of him. I'm sick of his ways. He'll pay. The minute I become a peacekeeper, he will know what it feels like to work through the pain cause he's going to feel nothing but that.

"what are you in for?" I call out to her and walk nearer to her, passing up the toddler and raising an eyebrow at her, barely lifting my lip to give a small smirk of a smile and turn my gaze back to one of the unused punching bags. The rough fabic looks so enticing to hit with my bare knuckles, but I'm not looking for much pain today. I've had enough. Though, the moment I touch the glove to the punching bag, the blonde woman with the kid replies.

"She forced me." I cock my head to the side, looking at her as if I didn't beleive her. How could a baby force anyone to do anything other than feed it or change it? How did the child force her to 'train'?

"That doesn't really seem logical. I'm guessing she don't even talk? How in Panem, did she 'force' you to train? It's in the middle of the night?" My curiosity takes over as I bend my knees just enough to go ahead and start working out some of the hatred through each punch. A few heavy, labored breaths come on each time I connect the glove to the bag, my eyes afixed upon one tiny thread that's holding together a single stitch. My gaze is unwavering when I hear her ask me the same question I did her. Though, she's taken to refreshing herself with some hydration. I pause when my glove hits that single thread that I've been staring at and I hold on to the bag to get it to stop swaying.

"Me? Just destressing before I punch out my old man for his stupidity." I'm not going to lie. Not to a total stranger that I'll probably never meet again. Whose to say she'll even be listening to me when she's got her kid her or whoever the child is. That brings up the question that has me wondering since the moment I laid eyes on the kid. "What? You got babysitting duty?"

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Six years old. The age strikes Vy as she could never picture a child that young being in here to train. All ages under eleven, a reasonable age to make such a decision, don't seem to belong. Maybe for an older sibling to watch over, or get self-defense, but anything else. Even the careers with the thickest skin must have pity for the little ones that don't belong. She shakes the thoughts away and returns her thoughts back to a harder impact with every push on the bag. Some people do start that young though, Brooklyn never will though...and apparently she's out of the way and not likely to get stomped on.

"Do I look that irresponsible?" Vy questions with a disturbed face. Thanks for pointing out the obvious. As if she'd ever let a baby run around a bunch of deadly careers in training. "Maybe stupid?" She actually gets a little offended, but reminds herself not to; what a perfect giveaway of who the mom is. She can play off the overprotective sister at least.

The sarcasm over the baby forcing her to come to training isn't fully understood by the guy. Vy's unable to hold down a laugh as she watches it go over his head and he even has to pause for his reply; "That doesn't really seem logical. I'm guessing she don't even talk? How in Panem, did she 'force' you to train? It's in the middle of the night?" Apparently he doesn't know sarcasm or children, either way it gets Vy cracking up even more though this time she actually tries to hide it. Maybe this guy isn't as much of a jerk as most careers as it appears that the female's taking the D-bag role. Damn, a good fight would be perfect right now...though a random giggle from a distances away reminds her that's not happening for a few hours.

"Actually she has a bit of a vocabulary, she's twenty-five months." Vy shares though immediately cures in her thoughts because only parents say the month. Anyone else would sum it up to two years old, especially by this age. They don't understand the major growth a month can do, especially in the brain. Usually Vy wasn't around anyone with Brooklyn as her baby-shift was always kept to the home. Of course she'd get lucky enough to run into someone. Guess they're gonna have to move as she's already blowing it.

There's a small chance that he'll just not caught on to it, just like with the sarcasm. The shift over to what brought him here is just the thing. Just stay on this track. "Me? Just destressing before I punch out my old man for his stupidity." He's so straightforward, but it's hard to believe there's actually still a respectable male out in this district, and a career as well? Or maybe he just trains. A random chuckle comes from Vy as she realizes she's summing all of this up from his desire to punch his father. She couldn't help but relate though.

"I can understand that one." She explains her laughter, actually not wanting to sound like a complete ass hole. A slight grin grows upon her face while she internally praises herself for saying a sentence that didn't have sarcasm or complete rudeness covering it. In a way she's even agreeing, that's a first as well. Guess she'll have to makeup for her kindness with some more sarcastic remarks. "I won't really listen but you can tell me if you'd like, might help." Sour and sweet all wrapped up together, though the sweet's more for comical purposes.

"What? You got babysitting duty?"

Damn, Vy's still unable to stray from that conversation. "Something like that..." She starts off with to figure out her plan of approach. It doesn't take long as she completely rejects the idea of the truth. "Mom takes day duties, I take the night." Somehow she gets around not completely lying. Only mom, not Brooklyn's, or Our, just mom. Hopefully this is the end to his the end to his questions.

"I'm Vy by the way." She actually takes initiative to introduce herself, another rarity she's only bringing out for the most desperate of times. Bluntly she stares back at him, waiting for his reply..."She's Brooklyn." She informs afterwards, her eyes falling back over to her little girl. To no surprise she's simply passed out in front of the mirror, she's always made the entire world her bed. Wanting to at least appear responsible Vy goes over to retrieve the sleeping baby, gazing up at the clock during her travel. 5 O'clock. "Typical." She mumbles as she scoops up the rugrat. If she was alone she'd leave Brooklyn there, not wanting to risk waking her up, but this time she lays her comfortably on a bench. Success, she's becoming a heavier sleeper as she gets older.

[*]

Already, this woman's already defended what I just said about having children in the training center, now she questions herself in a manner that I have offended her. My only reaction is a mere head shake when she suggests that she's stupid. "I never meant for you to take it that way, my apologies. Just watching out for the little rugrat." I casually let my voice ring out but before I can start pounding away on the bag, she has yet another comment to something else that I said. I must not be doing well tonight to speak to people. Has my old man pissed me off that much that I'm taking it out on everyone else... or just her? I hold my position on the bag though listening to her talk about the child's vocabulary and her apparent amusement for what I said. I don't get the joke?. However, my response to that is that I simply pass it off by hitting the bag a few times before it becomes still.

"I can understand that one." Connecting with others along the lines of family problems never has occured with me before, not even me telling what I was here for. Though, without even trying to hide it, I tell her straight up that my old man is the entire reason, and a small bit of it unspoken about being worried for my sister. She don't need to know, even when she tells me that I can tell her if I'd like too. I throw my hand into the bag again, making the noise echo throughout the very vacant gym. I give my head a very noticable shake without it showing too much enthusiasm.

"No can do. Personal family issues equals personal business. Sorry. I don't usually discuss my homelife with anyone." I tell her without even thinking about it. But while I don't discuss my personal business with anyone, I'm curoius if she might, so I try to keep her talking because it's actually calming me a bit to have someone to talk to that isn't badgering me to train or make my sister get up when she's running a fever and seriously ill.

"What? You got babysitting duty?" I keep the punches rolling now, one after another waiting for her voice to come across the way to tell me to stop barrating the bag long enough to hear her. She does with very little information at first. She then claims that the mom gets the day shift while she gets the night shift. I raise an eyebrow to her adn once again hug the bag to keep it from swinging too much.

"It seems like it would be the other way around. The mom would get the night shift instead. I mean, don't you... obviously, have to get up with the kid? Seems like a hassle and a bit too much interruption for sleep." My shoulders go up and down quickly mocking the form of not caring too much. Sleep for me right now must be like for her. Non existant. I'm also pretty sure that she don't have the problems that I have at home.

"Vy? It's quite nice to be meeting you." I tell her without a smile, but my voice is welcoming and calm. Then she goes to introduce the toddler that had suddenly became quiet for some reason and when she mentions the child's name, I see how she's suddenly passed out to the world. That, by itself, for some reason brings a smile to my lips, though It only shows outwardly as my lips moving upward.

"Leaving so soon?" I say as she gets up to pick the child up but instead of wrapping the child up to take her home, she merely places her on the bench. It's an interesting sleeping spot, but not that it would be as comfortable as a bed, though the child was content just in the floor sleeping.

"Not a care in the world. Lucky little bugger. If I decided to just drop down and snooze here, people would have different opinions of me." I turn my attention away from the woman and start hammering the bag. Once again, I aim directly for the stitch I had my eye on earlier. That small run that has started and soon it'll have to be covered with duct tape in order to be kept usable.

Once. A big huge huff of a breath comes out, with my forehead wrinkled up in concentration.

Twice. I grit my teeth and purse my lips against the force I'm pushing toward the bag.

Third time my glove hits it with so much force, I see the small stitch snap and the run opens up just a tiny millimeter. It's not much, but when I see the progress from that one hit, it sends this little stamp of approval in my head. Now to just apply that to my old man, and Kya and me won't have to worry about him harrassing us any more. I hope Kya's doing alright still. I glance up at the clock seeing that it states its just five after five, I can get a little bit more training in before I need to be back at the house to check on her and make sure my old man isn't forcing her to move from that bed. My sights are placed back on the blonde as I recall her name being Vy and I remember, all too quickly, that I didn't offer up my name in return. I mentally curse myself.

"Sorry for my rudeness. The gloves are a distraction from the now. It's Jeran." I figured that I'd get out of having to introduce myself like a little kid to someone knew, but I guesss growing up will never change. Meeting new people is mandatory and thus, introductions, are just a way of life.

"Peacekeeper academy. Heard about it before?" I question her all of a sudden for no reason at all. I guess I'm trying to strike up the conversation about it to a complete stranger before I lay the news out to my father that I'm joining it. I watch the woman with curiosity. She don't have any obligations other than babysitting her sister, so, maybe it's my way of asking if I'd see her around more often.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

For some reason it appears anyone of the teen age are simply obnoxious humans. In some ways Vy's unable to even exclude herself as she's unable to respond to anything with a serious attitude. But for some reason the guy, that just so happens to come to the gym at such an odd hour, holds decent respect. He apologizes and explains he's looking out for the little rugrat. There's really no one else that holds a soft spot aside from Brooklyn within Vy's heart. That's a nickname she often uses for her daughter, and some how has her calming down over the misunderstanding. How odd, usually she'd prefer staying on people's bad sides. This career doesn't act like the rest one bit so far though.

There's a certain way a punch come in contact with a punching bag out of anger different from when it's only for training. It's clear that what ever has brought this stranger to the gym as well is out of something built up...even more so then Vy. He explains that he's unable to discuss what has happened. Didn't he listen to the part that she wasn't going to listen? Okay, maybe that was more sarcasm. After all if someone's so hurt they need to vent to a random person she's not going to be a complete ass hole. He's right though, who wants to give away to dark family stuff?

"Like I said I wasn't going to listen..." Vy feels to the need to clarify. He's been nothing but kind yet she's still unable to completely rid of the attitude that's been implanted in her through her young mother. "But I..." She cuts herself off with no desire to once again say I can relate. She follows his lead with returning to the punching bags. He even apologized again for not wanting to share yet she responded with being a jerk. It takes someone with a decent personality for her to realize this, even after eighteen years.

It is the other way around. But of course Vy doesn't actually say so. Somehow she's successfully convinced him into believing Brooklyn wasn't hers, even after all of her mistakes. Still he has questions on the odd shifts, and comments on how it must effect her sleep. "No kidding." She replies back with a chuckle, once again avoiding the main point. She shrugs it off though. "Brittany doesn't wake up easily." Was she suppose to be going with the sister card? Automatically she calls her mother by her real name as she has been since the age of fourteen. As if she was ever a real mom anyways. "I mean she's my mom to." Once again she gives a shrug as if it'll also shrug off the conversation. "I just don't see her that way." Was she really being that truthful. All she wants now is to get off this stupid topic.

It's far out of the ordinary to come across a career with manners, but he even gives the polite nice to meet you. The way he says it though, is even sweeter. After all of the sarcasm and rude remarks he's still being kind? She's unable to not feel obligated to tone it down. With a couple of seconds of eye contact she returns the smile, though her gaze quickly turns to her sleeping baby.

"Leaving so soon?" The question brings the faded smile back upon Vy's face as she cradles her toddler her in arms. Did he really want her to stay? It is nice having good company, with the only other pleasant person slumbering within her arms.

"Just making sure she doesn't become underfoot." Vy jokes but this time her voice isn't a bit cold. Why was the idea of someone enjoying her company effecting her so much?

"Not a care in the world. Lucky little bugger. If I decided to just drop down and snooze here, people would have different opinions of me." The last comment brings out a loud chuckle from Vy as she pictures seeing him sleeping upon the floor like a toddler. As for the first part, it brings her staring upon the innocent being in peaceful sleep. No care in the world. Exactly how Vy wanted to make it, and how she plans to keep it.

"I can imagine." She keeps her eye upon the sleeping baby curled up on the bench. After a small brush to move the blonde locks away from the round face, Vy returns herself back to the world of training. "How lucky is she right?" She pulls herself back to acting like the sister and not the mother. Not that it's very possible, but she may have a chance of a friendship on the line. Him finding out about Vy's real position of being Brooklyn's mother will blow that though.

For the third time an apology arrives from the guy, but at least this time it's followed with a name. Jeran. It's nice to finally know, and Vy gives a small grin and nod for the appreciation. "I wouldn't say you're the rudest in the room." Vy actually admits to her bad behavior, though not fully. Still Jeran's the last person to be apologizing over his rudeness. "Brooklyn's pretty harsh." She still follows it up with a joke. How respectful does someone have to be to not get complete sarcasm? She's unable to resist as it comes naturally.

"I'm enrolled." Vy shares as she goes over the small mat area to stretch. By the looks of it Jeran's probably signed up as well, or maybe he's a rebel that's planning on blowing it up...that's highly unlikely though. "Don't tell me I'll be see you in class?" She pulls a cocky grin upon her face at the stupid humor. "Honestly you don't really seem like the type." From her point of view peacekeepers are the worst of them all, no where near decent people. For a change one trains before her by the looks of it.

[*]

"I can imagine. How lucky is she right?" I hear her tell me before I start berrating the bag again. Though, there's something in the way that she moves the hair away from the child's face that makes me wonder if that's the way I treat Kya. She's very protective of the child I can see, and she loves her very much. There's no doubt about that. For only a moment, I watch her out of the corner of my eye then the take my anger out on the bag, proving to myself that I have the sheer determination to do what I need to in a moments notice. Just one more second and I would have been out the door before Kya's voice would have reached me. That one word. Don't... Matthew would have been beaten black and blue by the time I'd gotten done with him and it would match the color of Kya's lips when I found her. That would have been a wonderful sight to see. That would have done me wonders to make sure that he would never hurt her again, though, I've taken care of that problem. He will never see her again, if I can help it.

My apology doesn't sit well with Vy because the moment I try to make up for not giving her my name when she had so graciously given me hers, she throws it off on the child that's being the rudest around the gym. I push my head against the punching bag and chuckle, hiding my smile. Only a moment later, I lean up from the bag and cross the distance over to her while she's on the mat stretching, meeting the two gloves together and hitting them a few times. "Your sister's name is nice. But... her name don't suit her though if she's suppose to be the rudest around these parts. Brooklyn just sounds too cutesy. Brook... would suit her better to make an impression."

Am I flirting? With her? I raise one side of my lips upward in a half smile fashion before taking a moment before asking her about the peacekeeper academy. She's quick to answer me though telling me that she's enrolled. That's wonderful. I guess I'll be seeing you around then. How quaint.

"Don't tell me I'll be see you in class? Honestly, you don't seem like the type." I raise my head up, making my chin prominent in my features before nodding my head, and I reach to the velcro on the gloves to take them off, one by one. As soon as my hands are free, I put them both under my left arm and cross my hands over my body and step my feet outward and apart to support my build.

"Type? You mean to tell me, I have a type?" I'm curious, a devious little smirk coming across my face to that question that she says to me. I want to hear this. "Go on, Miss Vy... what is my type? Who am I to you? What do you see me as?" I have got to be joking. I am flirting with her now. I play it off though. I stare at her with this intensity like I'm boring a hole through her head. Watching her every move and facial expression. Waiting...

Day 3: 554 PAT

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Usually sarcasm goes straight over people's heads as they take everything way too seriously. Out of everyone it's the career boys who understand it the best, most of them find it comical as they relate to their own language, others find it completely annoying. As for Jeran though, even being an obvious careers, at first the deceiving tongue slides past him. At least he doesn't realize it and take offense like the majority. By now Vy has her newly met company running out the door in frustration as she laughs away her chances of ever having a social life. For some odd reason he's not ditching though, and his respectful personality doesn't slip for a second.

The next joke is actually caught by Jeran causing a slight chuckle to reward Vy's ears. It's always a blast to be a smart ass, even when no one understand and she's the only one laughing awkwardly as the rest stay baffled. Something about actually getting laughter from her attempt at being comical forces another giggle to escape Vy. Sharing the enjoyment of a joke is actually just as fun, who would of guessed.

Possibly they share the same training routine because Vy finds no other reasoning for Jeran to be crossing the decent distances to the mats. The gym's wide with plenty of space, but every area has their certain activity. One wouldn't stretch where other's are sparing or lifting weights. Instead of going in the motions of loosening up his body he stands there, with ease and a sense of purpose, and opens his mouth for a response. His attempt at following in the sarcastic manner brings more light giggles upon Vy. Apparently Brooklyn's too sweet and Brook sounds more bad ass. It's cute how he tries and she's kind enough to cover her lips, and for once she's consciously avoiding being mean.

"Duly noted, I'll make sure to save her reputation." Vy gives a little hint on how to properly bring out a slick tongue though she doesn't directly give the tip. What was it about this guy that she actually cares to not be seen as a complete bitch? She didn't like it, and at the first clue she decides to stop. The last thing she needs is personal relationships screwing up her life, and that's any form including friendship. With being so close to giving up that Brooklyn's actually her kid, no chances need to be taken. His half-smile's so warming though and even forces a smile upon her own face. Don't do this Vy, she has to remind herself as her expression quickly shifts.

The shift in conversation towards the Peacekeeper academy's perfect as it stays away from any chances of flirting. Especially if she'll be seeing this guy on a regular basis, nothing can happen. Of course she finds the one loop hole by referring to Jeran as a type. It's just much easier to place everyone within categories, to have a better idea of who they are and where they come from. Over the years she's discovered even stereotypes can be deceiving, but still it's difficult for anyone to not generalize people by their first impressions. As for the type that peacekeepers hold? Ruthless, disrespectful, egotistical and simply rodents to society nearly as much as the capitol itself. Exactly why Vy's enlisted but is baffled to discover Jeran is as well.

As if Vy was referring to his strength he strains his posture and broadens his shoulders to appear larger while he questions his type. Now he's the one with a cocky grin as he asks Vy to explain his type. The long-gone attention has a smile playing upon her face as she tries to resist the dorky expression her face is threatening. Typical. She has to remind herself as she turns her head to wipe away the silly grin. It's just the everyday career player wanting some action, ignore it. Before Brooklyn Vy was given this attention constantly. She's not nearly as attractive as the other girls, but she's apparently easier for a guy to handle, and back then it wasn't difficult to get her in bed though...After having a baby all that's changed though. Flirting's out of the question, let alone anything else.

"Don't worry Pal, I wasn't talking about your muscles. If anything you're too built to be a keeper." The last part didn't come out at as planned, and Vy internally slaps her forehead, which is probably written all over her expression. "As for type?" She sizes him up and allows the grin to return, she has to make up for her last flirtatious mistake. With a gesture of thinking and looking up at the ceiling she actually takes the time to filter her words...sort of. A player? A typical guy though at first he proofed to not be? For some reason those thoughts aren't vocalized. "I just met you, how am I suppose to know? You're typeless." That's not what she expected to say, but for some reason the need to not be a complete dick to this guy still lingers. Though she lacks a true point in doing so she turns away from Jeran and lets out a heavy sign. She gazes her eyes around the room as if that's her purpose for turning, something new to do. Avoiding this flirting thing's surprisingly difficult as her heart's longing for any sort of affection. Not the time though, as if there ever will be.

Just as always her heart skips a beat at the sound of a stirring Brooklyn, afraid that she's returning from her slumber. She's not though, just a shift in position as she snuggles up once again. That's why she's unable to flirt. After countless numbers of boys she's been with, that one mistake completely takes over. One Brooklyn's enough, even if she's the best thing within this district. "Any siblings on your side?" She feels the need to ask, with a bit of guilt over the typeless comment. WIthout explanation she returns back to the bags that have only just stopped swinging from their previous attacks.

[*]

"Too built to be a keeper? Really?" My head moves upward a couple of times to emphasis my curiousity of why she mentioned that I would hardly be peacekeeper material. How can anyone be too built? One has to be in top shape in order to be a peacekeeper and I've done everything I can to make sure to keep up those appearances and she's dissing me? Unless.. did she just let slip that she was actually looking at me in that way. I feel a smirk coming across my face as she tries to keep the charade going and to cover up that small bit of her noticing me. By now, I'm all too ready to take a shot at her again but I keep my posture and my cool. "First, I'm too built, now I'm typeless. You women change your mind too much."

I state that with a hint of humor, although I'm not sure it sounded like it. Humor isn't my forte and normally, Kya would tell me that no matter what, my tone is always either threatening or just bland. What is this woman's opinion of it? Does she take me as being harsh or too bland? But more importantly, why do I care? Watching her turn around after her comment she sighs. So, she is bored with my tone, so I know better than to egg it on any longer. Once is my limit since she's obviously not in that mindset to flirt back with me. Perhaps, the mood at home is causing me be thrown off from trying anymore. Though, I can't help, while she's turned, to appriciate each curve of her body, letting my eyes linger just a little longer on that one area, until she turns. My eyes divert away quickly in hopes she didn't notice, but if she did, I wouldn't deny it. For the first time, I feel as though I should be finding that someone to be with. My sister did, though, I wish she'd have waited until she was past the reaping age like I am. Or rather, was going to.

With this woman standing in front of me, I may be fighting against my own advice. Who cares. It's your own advice. Follow or go against it. You do as you want. Just as soon as she turns back to me, her gaze is suddenly going to the kid again. Watching her be so jumpy with the little girl is curious how she flinches with every movement the child makes. Without notice, there's a sudden chuckle from me.

"Nervous she's going to fall off the bench or something? Don't fret. Best to start getting little bumps and bruises the younger they are. She'll get used to it once she starts training. Besides, kids are alway falling out of bed. Never hurt any of us. A bad dream or just simply a wild sleeper... it happens to the best of us. Geeze, overprotective sister much?" I have to wonder where that last bit came from as she goes back to swinging at the bag, but for some reason, I want to talk to her more, because I've already taken my mind off of what's going on at home. I take the bag with my hands and steady it for her as I bring my head around to one corner to watch her just as she asks a personal question.

"Yeah. One. A younger sister, though not quite as young as yours over there sleeping away. She's the reason I'm here. She's ill." With my own heavy sigh, she hits the bag with such force making me take a step backward to accomadate the movement without me expecting it. I'd rather not have her asking any more questions that may lead to why I'm really here, so I change the subject back to something we've already got in common. "So, what's your deal with the peackeeper academy? Why you joining? Parents making you or it is a personal choise like mine? I plan on making a name for myself. Joining the ranks and advancing up from there. Heard about the classes they are going to be offering for us? Think you'll be able to deal a punishment to some lowlife? Cause, I can't see you doing that."

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Maybe the too built to be a keeper comment didn't come off as a flirt as much as Vy feared, or Jeran's just as bad at flirting as she is. He questions her words, surprised by them. Sure there district has the best keepers of them all as they're trained here, but over time most of them sink into their depressing lives and lose themselves physically...at least it appears that way to Vy who'd take the career side over a way against the keepers any day. Without the goal of one day winning the hunger games, becoming victor and living like the best of the best, there's really no point on staying on their A game. When training's just beginning they're still fresh career's though, still Jeran seems like the type to have better things to do with his future. He shouldn't be stuck like Vy with no other jobs to strive for due to her poor education. Why'd she care so much anyways? If he wants to be a peacekeeper as well, why should she care?

The typeless remark is simply to get any signs of flirting off of the table, but it seems to do the opposite effect. For the first time in Vy's life she's related to other Women, and how they all constantly change their minds. Any other female may take this as another flirtatious move, but it's the wrong one for someone like Vy. "I think you may have me confused for someone, because you're act is overplayed." She turns around just to find Jeran's eyes quickly darting away. Really? Now he's checking her out. So much for this guy not being a typical male career. Luckily for him the toddler distracts Vy from simply punching the guy to illustrate how unlike the female population she really is.

Immediately Vy's posture goes higher and stiff, with her fists balling up tight, when Brooklyn and training's mentioned in the same sentence. There's never been a worse fear within the blonde then protecting her daughter from following in the family footsteps. For a second Jeran turns into her mother, threatening to turn Brooklyn into a career due to her lack of getting into the games. Her hand only budges for her side slightly as she resists resorting to violence as she always does. This isn't her mother, and Jeran probably has no clue of the line he's clearly over crossed. Instead of directing her anger in the wrong direction, she returns her fists to the bags, knowing they're the only appropriate things to punch. "You have no idea." She mumbles on her way. If it came down to it she'd risk her life without a second thought to save the little bundle of giggles.

Change of subject is desperate, because one more wrong slip from this guy may bring a large black eye upon his pretty face. Since Vy's relations are clearly here, it's Jeran's turn to share any information about his family. He also has a sister, though not nearly as young as Brooklyn, and her illness is the reason for him being here. "That's normal." Vy states questionably, because wouldn't he be more useful at his sister's side instead of knocking around some punching bags? "So you only train at odd hours when she's sick?" She teases, her attitude lightening up from his mistake of mentioning her little sister becoming a career. His grip on the heavy bag actually greatly helps her hits as he keeps it steady and in place.

The conversations returns to the peacekeeper academy, a nice safe topic as long as it doesn't stray again. All at once Jeran spills the questions and a little bit about himself as well. He wants a name for himself...Vy can certainly relate to that one as she's contained a reputation since the beginning of reaping age, maybe even before that with how young she started training. Then he goes onto the classes, and how one involves punishing lowlifes which he doesn't see Vy doing. She doesn't either, with as gutless as she is when it comes to beating someone up it's completely different when they're tied down and unable to fight back. Still someone reading her doesn't fit her too well, so she doesn't vocalize her agreement.

"Really, you don't think so?" She questions with a smirk, she's not going to play predictable. A small chuckle escapes as Jeran's pushed a little backwards after an unexpected harsh punch against the bag he's keeping a hold of. "Guess you're gonna have to wait and see if we get any classes together...as for why I joined." She shrugs and takes a second to decide on going with the truth or some more lies. With a predication she may be seeing this guy around a lot, she decides to actually go with honesty. "Last year to volunteer, so if I don't get chosen I need something to fall back on...typical right?" She rolls her eyes at her and finally steps back from beating up the bag. "You wanna switch?" She offers the kindness back and is even willing to take his position of holding the bag.

"So you think you'd really be able to torture someone that's tied up?" Vy randomly strikes out the question that's been playing on her mind since Jeran brought it up. With only three hours of sleep within the last day the exhaustion kicks in with only a yawn as she takes her place with supporting the bag.