PKA: Fresh Term (Open to plot members)

[Jack Lexington]

I'm so ready to ruffle this chicks feathers even if that means dropping my boxers just to embarass her.
She takes it pretty cool though, suddenly all calm and nice after the verbal spanking from Tyren. She even offers to leave and takes the wind right out of my puffed up sails, darn. I don't know how she does it.

Alex has seemingly not taken any notice of all of it by the looks of him up there reading something with his big glasses. Smart guy!

Now I stand there in my boxers, covered in combat scars all over my left side, and watch HER take her clothes off, too. She's wearing enough to cover up anything that could be interesting and around her knee is spot a brace that covers whatever Kyanite has left her with. Good gal!

I just shake my head at the chick and fish for my uniform shirt making a mental note that Vy has a very vulnerable spot at the moment.

Before me or her can get our pants on the door swings open and one of the peace keepers marches into our room strutting her stuff.
Even though Vy and me would make ideal targets for criticism right now she goes straight after Tyren.
"Captain Lussa, ma'am!" Alex finally opens his mouth. "Nice of you to grace us with your presence."
I try to get my pants up quickly because she surely doesn't want to see me in my underwear, which would not really earn me any bonus points.
That woman is not interested in me. Instead she shouts at Tyren. "Scars. Shave that face and report to my office."
'Scars'...did I earn him that nickname? Unlucky guy. His are so visible to everyone while mine can easily be covered up by long sleeves and pants.
But what does she want with him.
"What did you do?" I whisper to him.
"Clean it!" She demands and parades around the room clearly making a statement. I try not to watch to curiously but fumble around with the buttons on my shirt. Hopefully Vy will keep her darn mouth shut as well.

[Anatra]

After turning to glaring down Alex, she states firmly; "Shut it." To him. Ouch. Being all nice on your first day rarely got you points, so I didn't bother with it. I seen the way the Lieutenant smirked at Alex when he saluted the last time. "What did you do?" Matt whispers over, barely heard and only just by me. I shrug at him, which gets a look directed right at me. "Did I stutter?" She likes to get right in my face like she knows who she's talking to but doesn't give a care in the world. She's fearless. Exactly what a Peacekeeper should be. This is likely more of a wakeup call to some of us, to get us used to be put down and shouted at.

Obedience.

She turns to Matt, who's just slipped on some pants just in time. "Not fast enough, cadet." She turns on her heel, standing in the middle of the room. "The next time I see skin where uniform should be, it's a hundred press-ups." She looks at Vy. "And not girly ones." She says snidely, but doesn't direct much attention towards the fact. "I'm here to let you know that your first course starts in two days and that those of you who had chosen the fitness option are to turn up at 7am sharp in the gym, where you will be allowed into the sparring arena. You will be observed, no uniform required but nothing that may improve your chances besides medical implements."

A moment later she leaves.

"Oops." I say with some humor as though I didn't care. "What do you think you're doing talking to her like that? She's the captain." Alex says, concerned that I may have gone insane. "It's alright, calm down." He sighs at me, fetching something from his bag. Two things, actually, now that I see them. A razor and shaving cream. He throws them at me and I grab them. "She was serious?" I question him. "Obviously, that's why she said it." Now I sigh, going to the bathroom to shave.

A few minutes later and I come out clean faced, to my disappointment. It makes me look younger, and shaving around those scars can be difficult work.

W O R D. C O U N T : 379

N O T E S :

[Jack Lexington]

"Not fast enough, cadet." I freeze as her voice is now directed at me and stare right ahead letting my arms drop to my sides.
That wasn't so bad' I think when she explains that next time it'll be a hundred press ups.
Vy also gets her part 'not girly ones'. I can't help but shoot her a look from the side when the peace keeper isn't looking.


Then I straighten up again to listen to her instruction about the gym.
"You will be observed, no uniform required but nothing that may improve your chances besides medical implements." She says. I know who needs some medical implements. Now I really turn my head to the girl.
Once she's out of the room I make sure to quickly dress up completely, close the rest of those buttons with my thumb and ring finger, which I've gotten used to now. The print on the back of the shirt has my name "DUNHAM" and for once I'm proud of it because people around district two will know it, which gives me a certain standing.
I might not have won but I did make myself a name.
By now I'm not that unhappy about second place anymore.

The brothers discuss their facial hair for a bit while I try to fiddle the belt through the loops of those slacks.
Before Tyren comes back I ask Alex.
"When do we find out who we're going to be sparring with?" It would be advantageous to know beforehand to watch these people closely.
"Which discipline did you choose? Let me guess...rule books?"

[Taggerung]

This town is colder now, I think it's sick of us
It's time to make our move, I'm shaking off the rust
I've got my heart set on anywhere but here
I'm staring down myself, counting up the years
XXX

Justin's eyes watched as the drama seemed to just unfold like a book in front of him. This woman, and the man who seemed to be good friends with the two brothers. At least, he assumed they were brothers; the backs of their uniforms both displayed the same last name. Could be a fluke, but he doubted it. He moved a little off to the side so he wasn't standing directly behind the female anymore, afraid that he would end up in the crossfire if the two started a brawl in the middle of their dorm room. He definitely wasn't going to end up in the middle of some random-ass fight on their first day. Especially one in which he felt so much like an outsider in.

His head turned towards the first male to greet him, before glancing once more around the room as he offered the floor, and a switch. He didn't suppose the floor would be too bad of a choice, considering there was carpet, but... Then the woman spoke up again, offering that she didn't mind the floor. Before Matt and her started another small quarrel. Justin sighed a little, shaking his head. This room was so full of drama, he could just feel it emanating and growing thick in the air. Did he really want to be in a room so full of tension? There were other rooms down in the hall, right?

Besides, this group seemed to know everyone else at least a little. Even if it was a bad experience of a meeting. He felt out of place, and honestly? He didn't want to end up playing any sort of 'nice guy' who broke up the fights that they ended up getting into. Tyren seemed to be good at breaking them up, anyway, not necessarily in the nicest ways, but hey. Whatever worked.

“I, uh... I think that maybe I'll just, y'know, find another-” Justin paused as he heard bootsteps, the door of the dorm room suddenly filled with a female peacekeeper, bringing in the air of perfect authority. She seemed to make a b-line straight to the only one who had said anything to him, her voice harsh and firm, taking nothing but the correct answer from anyone. In fact, she even snapped at the brother who had greeted her properly.

Her orders rang through the thick air, hanging there for a moment before dropping. She addressed everyone directly, really, except himself and the female that now stood as undressed as her enemy counterpart. Not the best place to be, honestly, as your Commanding Officer comes in. Then she turns on even the girl. Eventually, though, the woman left, a quiet sigh passing through the quiet young man. She didn't seem to have noticed his unfinished looking appearance.

“Well, then. Anyway, yeah. I'll... I'll just find another room,” Justin said, adjusting the bag that still hung from his shoulder. “It's really no big deal. There's plenty of rooms, and honestly, sleeping on the floor is terrible. I'll see you guys in training sometime.”

A wave to them all, and he was out of that room, taking in a deep breath. He was sort of glad to be out of there. And that he didn't have to spar with any of them. Fitness wasn't really something that he had chosen to sign up for. After all, all the exercise and training he'd done before still left habits behind. He still ran, he still trained every night. It wasn't like he didn't know how to do everything he was sure they'd make him do anyway. He was far more interested in the rest of being a peacekeeper, all the other things they did; law studies, arrests, searches... those sorts of things.

Justin turned a corner, forcing himself to come out of the wanderings of his mind. Spying an open door with the lights on, he wandered over to it, poking his head in curiously to see if it was empty or not. He saw only one person in there; a male, dark hair and still in civilian clothes. He sat on the single bed in the corner. There was a set of bunk beds in there, and they looked like they hadn't been claimed yet. Drawing in a breath, Justin stepped around the corner and into the room, his voice raised in greeting for a second time.

“Hey. Anyone claim those bunks yet? The last room I found already had all beds taken,” he spoke, questioning the other, hoping that there was still room. He honestly didn't want to bunk in a room alone. That would just be intimidating. Besides, if he made a mess, it was always nice to have someone share the blame with...

Steady feet, don't fail me now
Gonna run till you can't walk
Something pulls my focus out
And I'm standing down

_{795 werds}

[[ Sorry for taking so long. I work 10hrs/day 4 days a week, it's super physical work, and it takes a toll on me sometimes. x_x I moved Justin so he wasn't just awkwardly in the corner anymore. ]]

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Just as Vy's maneuvering a pant leg around the stupid brace one of the authorities arrives into the room. At least her previous tensions drops because she already has a few tallies to why she should be dropped all together. Quickly she buttons up her pants and throws on her uniform shirt as to not draw any more attention to herself. Luckily Captain Lussa turns her own attention over to one of the guy's Vy has yet to formally introduce herself to...she's pretty sure he hasn't done a greeting either though. "Nice of you to grace us with your presence." But he does seem fond of the Captain, and somehow the blond's able to hold in a chuckle. Though he's probably just being polite, she's unable to resist thinking he's actually flirting with an older rank. Is that allowed? By the Captain's reply, Vy's mind goes off into the gutter, the smallest grin playing on her face that otherwise is cold and serious.

Sure enough the first inspection is already taking place, and after only a mere ten minutes to Captain's expecting no trace of dust or filth anywhere. "Clean it." She demands, and somehow Vy's mouth actually stays zipped. If the order was directed towards the only female cadet to do the cleaning that'd be impossible, but it's told to all of them. What's a little cleaning? She's used to it with a toddler that makes a big enough mess to make one think a tornado has gone through the house.

Of course the fact that the Captain has walked into half-naked cadets doesn't completely slip from the conversation. A threat arrives of having to hundred press-ups if skin where a uniform should be is shown again. Is that like push-ups? And does she not expect them to change in their own room due to the opposite genders? It's the peacekeeper academy, not an immature over-night camp of kids. Still Vy manages to keep her trap shut the entire time. "And not girly ones." Eventually someone's firmly directed towards Vy, and as insulting as it sound she still stays silent. Mentally she pats herself on the back because she'd certainly love to show how well she can do non-girl press-ups.

Finally instructions are given and the Captain's out the door before anyone has a chance to speak. That's probably best, she doesn't seem to want to hear anything nice, let alone a sarcastic tongue. The first course starts in two days at seven am sharp, that's easy enough. No uniforms, and they'll be sparring. The grin that Vy's managed to hold back this entire time finally lightens her face once Captain Lussa is out of the room. Immediately her eyes find Matthew at the idea of getting to spar someone, maybe she'll be so lucky. With lack of desire for another stare off she quickly averts her eyes back to her bag, stuffing the clothes she was perviously wearing into it. Slightly she listens into on the boys are talking about, though her mind easily wanders off to what Brittany and Brooklyn must be doing right now.

"See ya..." Vy pulls out kind words before the guy that walked in after her then leaves to search for another room. Did the bickering really get him to leave? A chuckle escapes once he's clearly a distances away. "Guess we scared him off." She jokes with a small glance over at Matthew. To her this is simply hilarious because this minor argument feels nothing compared to an actual career fight. "Or I did..." She adds with a shrug and no care of taking the full blame. As long as her strength isn't being tested or a challenge isn't brought up, she could careless of what other's say or think of her.

[Anatra]

"When do we find out who we're going to be sparring with?" Alex is asked whilst I'm in the bathroom, the door ajar so I can at least hear. "No clue. I think it's their aim to keep us in the dark."

"Which discipline did you choose? Let me guess...rule books?" I hear Alex's laugh, "No, I'm going out into the district to actually arrest somebody." He says though I can tell he means it with a slant of hostility. There's so much tension in the room, or at least for Alex and I. It warps things sometimes, and makes us more volatile. At least he made it seem like he was joking by laughing. It'd take an observational person to notice he meant ill by it, I think. Matt was right though, Alex is completely hooked on the rules. It's likely the only distinct way him and I are different. I like to be myself whilst he still likes to be somebody else's view of himself. It's actually quite a big difference but it changes few things besides the future, and where we want to go with our lives. It will likely not be together which is a worrying thought, but one that won't be accompanied by the rest of my family.

Whilst taking away each follicle of facial hair from my face, to my disappointment, I reassess what I said to Captain Lussa. "Nice of you to grace us with your presence." It was so sarcastic as well. I don't regret it because this talk that I'm going to have with her will likely be nothing but an addressing of my attitude, I hope. I haven't got any assumptions to assume from, so I'll have to cope with the situation when it happens.

Done. I pop my head round from the toilet door, since I don't have my shirt on, and inform them. "I'd better go see what Lussa wants. I'll be back soon." I'm not sure how many of them care, but I presume at least Alex to, maybe Matt. I really don't know about Vy, she could be thinking anything. The concept of her is completely foreign to me, I've never knew a single full-on masculine woman at all in my life. Maybe the idea of her as a friend would grow on me over time. Or maybe we're simply not compatible.

I come out and quickly slip on my uniform shirt and readjust the tie to fit. Quickly, I leave the dorm and go straight down the narrow hallways which get more and more narrow the higher you go. You could fit two people side by side once you reach the offices which are on the second to highest floor, around fourth I'd say but I didn't count. 'Cpt. H R Lussa' it says, plastered on the door on a rich silver strip. I open it without knocking and she's there at the desk, the light coming in from a window behind, addressing the chair that I should probably sit on. She seems to be completely ignoring the fact I didn't knock, and didn't salute. And didn't even ask to take the seat which I am now slipping into. It's a black fabric chair that is more square than rounded. Her desk is not wooden but Capitol white, going with the general theme of the whole building, white and black - with red decor.

"Nice of you to grace me with your presence." She repeats to me, addressing me more than repeating it literally. "Ma'am." I say to her, finally getting some kind of formality to the way I speak. There's a reluctance to my voice, and if she was going to notice anything that would be first on the list. "You can skip the pleasantries in here, at least when the Lieutenant Commander isn't around. I'm Captain Hannah Lussa." I feel a bit strange about being told her real name. I'm never going to use it and I know that, she probably does too. "And I'm-" She cuts me off, "You're Cadet Tyren Orca." I look quizzically at her with a brow raised yet she continues. "I can't call you and your brother both Cadet Orca. So, you're scars." I let out a sigh that shows my unaccepting nature to the name, but she doesn't look to care. "What did you need?" I ask with a casual voice since she said to skip the pleasantries.
"You think you're so tough, don't you?" She questions, with narrowed eyes and no smile. "I-" She cuts me off again and I roll my eyes privately. "You think you're the big man." She pauses, studying me though I feel she's done that already. "I'll tell you what Scars. You forget that your father did well here, because that has no effect on how you're treated." I let a quick silence build. "Yet here we are." I say sarcastically.

I need to stop with the sarcasm and her face lets me know that. "I knew your father briefly, did you know that?" She asks me as though she's trying to score points. "He doesn't speak about you if that's what you're wondering." I retort. The room is warm and tense and I can feel it is no different to the cadet dorm downstairs. Constant toying with words but no actual result but hard feelings and boiled blood. "I don't care, I knew him. He was a great man." I tilt my head, "Still is?" She looks puzzled. "Once a Peacekeeper is no longer a Peacekeeper, he or she is no longer a Peacekeeper, Scars. There's a difference between us in here and them out there." She tells me, pointing out of the window briefly and subtly. The obviousness of that statement is overlooked by the likes of me, who takes it more as a different way of emphasizing that the Peacekeeper are different from normal people.
"Tell me," She begins. "Do you plan doing well here?" Her question seems stupidly outrageous. "Yes, and I guess I'm sorry for all the lip." She smiles. "Well we all have a time when we transition from role to role. You'll adjust. Thankfully we know more about you than the others so you have that advantage for now." I am once again taken back by her words. What does she mean? "Because I'm Francis' son?" She shakes her head. "No, because he gave us more to work with, with you." I let out a grin. I'm not sure exactly what she means but I know I'll probably find out in the weeks to come. "You're dismissed, Scars."
"And don't give me lip in front of the others again." She warms me with seriousness.

I can see now that her method is not by being intimidating when it comes to closer relations with Cadets. Relations is a bad word for this, more like acknowledgements of existence. I leave the room knowing that I at least performed well in that little interview. I know for a fact there was more to it, and that the Lieutenant Commander put her in charge of sorting me out. Not Alex though, just me. It grabs my curiosity and makes me think about it for the whole walk back. I open the door to the dorm again and return to the scene as though I'd never been out. "A shave for that?" I sigh. "Not worth it."

W O R D. C O U N T : 1228

N O T E S :

[Jack Lexington]

It takes a while for Tyren to come back. In the meantime I straighten out my uniform, which will take me a while to get used to and then shove my bag into one of the wardrobes on the side of the room near the window.
"I'm going to take a walk around. Alex. let#s go." I tell the other Ocra just to get some space between me and the girl before I tear into her. I hope he'll come but if not it#s all the same.
"We'll be back in a few."
I then march out of the room as if I own the place with the dark haired fellow in tow.

Outside we have a look around to figure out where things are situated like the mess hall, the gym and class rooms.

A few ready made peace keepers march by in a routine that looks like they've practised it for a long time until it looked this perfect.
I stand there with my hands in my pockest wrinkling my brow and ask the guy next to me. "Is this going to be you, one day?"
I doubt it'll be me.
Then I sit down on one of the steps and ask him. "What does she want with Tyren, any idea?"

[Anatra]

"I'm going to take a walk around. Alex, let's go." He informs me. I can tell in his voice he means nothing ill by it. This is good, a time for me and him to get to know each other a little bit, though he practically knows everything about me already. Not what I'm like though. "We'll be back in a few." He says. We're on our way out and I take the jacket I brought with me. If we're going for a walk and it takes us outside, I want to be in something warm. He looks like he's on some kind of mission, walking broad-footed and sure of himself. It feels reassure to be in the company of somebody with confidence like that, not that we have anything to fear especially here.

We get outside and into the main courtyard of the premisses. As we look out towards the gates from the doors of the main building, we see the mess hall on our right, which is a one story building, but long as to fit the tables in. The gym and training hall is it's own building as well to our left, though the top floor, of three, connects to the main building by an indoor tunnel bridge. All of the classrooms appear to be inside the main building that we just came from. I feel the cold nip at my skin lightly and I appreciate my own thought of taking the jacket.

Peacekeepers march by us as we take a seat on the steps. They're cold to sit on. "Is this going to be you, one day?" He asks, which is a question I've known the answer to for a while. "I hope so. I'll do my best. You?" I return. I'm not sure about him, his reaction to Vy wasn't at all Peacekeeper-like. I wouldn't judge him on that though, especially since the same girl managed to piss even Tyren off. Tyren, the conversation draws to him. "What does she want with Tyren, any idea?" Good question, I think privately. That's something I should be able to answer. "Honestly? I'm not sure. It could be the way he spoke to the Captain, or it could be because he didn't shave." I pause briefly because he probably knows all that anyway. I try to think of something logical. "He... could be getting a lecture about our dad." I'm not sure whether he knows, so I add; "He's a peacekeeper. Or was."

I feel as though I have some questions of my own. Tyren and Matt are mates now, I get that, but... "You've been around Ty more than me recently. Has he ever been like that before? All angry?"

W O R D. C O U N T : 450

N O T E S :

[Jack Lexington]

My butt#s getting pretty cold while we sit out here watching the troups march by. Better than inside with the girl who broke my girl friends arm.
Max seems pretty sure he'll become a peace keeper. At least he sounds devoted.
"I hope so. I'll do my best. You?" He asks me, which is a really good question and 'just here for the thrill' might not be the best of answers.
"Still trying to figure that one out myself." Is a better answer. Closer to the truth.

When we talk about Tyren I find his attitude compared to my half nudity or his stubble not a likely option.The dad situation however.
"He's your father, too." I mention the obvious.
"Does he want this for you?" If he only was a peace keeper there must be a reason why he's not anymore.
"Why did your old man drop out?" I wonder even though it might be an inappropriate quetsion.

I blow out some air and watch it travel away as a white cloud. This will be our new home for a while. Reminds me a lot of some sort of prison, not that I've ever been to one but I could have easily endedup in one when I shot Jins.Good thing nobody ever found out, not even the girl I was trying to protect.

Max tears me out of my thoughst with his question about Tyrens anger. I just smirk at him and shake my head wrapping my arms around myself for some warmth.
"Anger? Have you seen an angry guy before?" I can't beleive these Orcas. they are the calmest Guys I've ever come across.
"And no, man, Tyrens so relaxed you'd think he's stone half of the time. This was the first time I've ever seen a spark. He can be determined but not angry."
At least that's my take on things.

With that I get up brushing some ice off my slacks.
"I could use a cup of coffee."
On my way I'm mock saluting the marching pks that have long passed us.

[Anatra]

"Still trying to figure that one out myself." He tells me whilst we sit on the steps. Although it is strangely prison-like, this place does feel as though I belong to it. It's a safety to be here, from hunger and from attack. Not that I'd have to worry about those things, but the confirmation is valuable. "He's your father, too." He mentions as I suggest something to him. At first I thought he was just being smart. After a small amount of thought, he's actually not and he's pointing out that I would be in there too. Now it's got me all curious and I want to know. "Does he want this for you?" He asks. "Of course," I begin, but I know it needs explanation. "He wants anything that gets us somewhere. He's been handing us those papers for two years, we just didn't pick them up and sign them until now. Pregames, and all." I try to mention it as little as possible, unaware to the state he's in about it. It's been ages since the pregames, I think the less I mention it now the more of a distant memory it'll soon become.

"Why did your old man drop out?" I pause briefly before answering, weighing the trust. No harm, I estimate. Matt seems like a good man, not somebody who'd use this against Tyren or anything like that. "His dad died, so somebody needed to hold the business up. Uncle Mike and our dad joined and made sure it stuck." I pause yet again. "Our dad is somewhat known to most of the higher ranks here. He likely taught them. That kind of thing makes me and Ty nervous about being here." I think to the nicknames Lussa had for me and Tyren. Scars and Glasses. Glasses isn't half as bad as Scars, and I've already took the glasses off, and left them in the room for lack of any use for them.

"Anger? Have you seen an angry guy before?" I nod at him. "And no, man, Tyrens so relaxed you'd think he's stone half of the time. This was the first time I've ever seen a spark. He can be determined but not angry." He's not seen Tyren on his bad days it seems. "Try stealing Tyler's dummy, we'll see how determined Tyren is then." I laugh to lighten the mood a little. "I don't think I've really seen proper anger. Not the red eyes and the tensed muscles at least. Careers get angry all the time, but it's never real." I may be scared of being angry. The consequences never seem positive.

"I could use a cup of coffee." I nod at him once more. "Consider me following." He pulls a mocking salute and I smirk.

W O R D. C O U N T : 450

N O T E S :

[Jack Lexington]

On our way in I think about his words for a moment. The anger’s never real.
I think he’s very wrong about that. As soon as I start head butting with someone I get that strange aggravated feeling in my stomach or chest, somewhere in there and it boils up so quickly that a lot of times I can’t contain it. That’s one thing I’m worried about here. It might get me kicked out. So it’s not something I’m about to share with Max.
I did have one really bad moment of anger but it was much more than that because it was the sort of anger you hold and not let go of until it’s resolved. It was against Jins, who’d been harassing Kyanite. That anger only got resolved because I shot him and he suffered. Then it was replaced by fear for her safety. What a deal.
Inside the large mess hall there are a lot of empty clean tables and seats. Probably enough to seat 100 people.
“Wow.” Escapes me before I approach the long row of galss panels where will get our food. Next to it are a few coffee machines.
I insert a coin and press a button to get the weakest, cheapest coffee of my life.
With a look of disgust I add a ton of sugar and taste it just to cringe. “Great, don’t take the coffee.”
Then I walk on over with Max to grab a seat near the window where we can overlook the yard.
“Did your dad tell you what’s going to happen here? What they are looking for? Or not looking for?”

OOC: Max looks like a real badass in that pic. Inspired by deadfall?

[Anatra]

(Written from phone, there will be many spelling errors, I'll sort it when I get home)

We walk into the mess hall and the smell of mediocre meals and the stillness of a well disciplined amount of peacekeepers. Not many are in since it is early, just the occasional higher rank that happens to be getting their breakfast. Him and I get to the coffee machines and he's in front in the small line with me behind. "Great, don't take the coffee." He informs me and I smirk. "Ha, good call." I say, slipping my cup under the hot chocolate machine instead.

He inquires about my dad and whether he'd informed us of anything. Any hints or pointers. "Dad has always been serious with us. A firm hand and no messing about. You'd never step out of line because you'd never forget it." I nod my head.

[Jack Lexington]

While I sip on the awefully bad coffee and cringe each time I shake my head.
He seems to talk about his upbringing in general.
“No, I meant about the training here. Did he tell you what you should do in order to pass or what to avoid?” I wrinkle my brow at him.
Out of the corner of my eye I watch some older men and women in uniform have a conversation over a not very appetizing meal. Discipline is what comes to mind first when I see them. They eat sitting upright with no elbows on the table. They speak in hushed voices and look very stern.
Two of them get up to carry away their empty trays. They look at us for a moment. It must be clear that we are new here considering our age and that they haven’t seen us before.
One of them is a women in her mid twenties wearing the same uniform as the others. She’s got her hair in a bun and briefly stops at our table.
“New cadets?” She asks without a hint of wonder.
“Max Ocra and Matthew Dunham.” She recites our names as if they were part of her daily lecture.
“The big man’s son and the famous career. How nice of you two to join the chorps.” She offers us a smile that makes me wonder whether she’s being genuine or just pulling our legs.
She briefly knocks on our table and then walks on. “I will see you in class, cadets.”




OOC: Introducing my pk!

[Anatra]

“No, I meant about the training here. Did he tell you what you should do in order to pass or what to avoid?” Ah, right. I must have misunderstood him. "Oh, sorry." I pause to recall what my dad actually said.

"So you're definite about being one of them, then?" He asked me and Tyren as we sat on the sofas in our living room. "Absolutely. Without a doubt." I told him, Tyren followed with "Pretty much. If not that, then it will help me become a trainer." Pretty much didn't ring true in my dad's ears. "Well, you know what I always say. Peacekeeping isn't like keeping people in line. It's tough, brutal. Ruthless until the last inch of disloyalty is ironed out." He paused then, and leaned in. "But being me, I can tell you a thing or two." He returned. "Don't piss off the LTC. Don't start fights. Don't try to make people like you." His list went on for a little bit longer, listing more obvious things. But finally, he said something valuable. "Know that being a Peacekeeper isn't about killing, or winning. It's about doing what has to be done when few others can."

"He said a lot about it actually." I told Matt, sipping from my drink which is only just cool enough. "Since my dad used to be one of the more better fighters, he knows what the LTC is looking for in the fight." I wonder how to word it. "If you imagine a Peacekeeper going to arrest somebody. They don't act fully defensive or offensive. I'd suggest showing that you can do both when necessary." I nod at him, thinking to myself of how basic that advice was. "It's not about winning, though. They expect us all to be capable of stabbing things, but it's the ones who can stop a stab that usually do better."

“Max Ocra and Matthew Dunham.” Max? She's clearly got me mixed up with my cousin.
I let it slide since there's no use correcting her, she'll find out soon enough. “The big man’s son and the famous career. How nice of you two to join the chorps.” Here we go, more acknowledgement. As much as it is good for people to have known my dad, it just makes it feel like it isn't my journey. That they already know me as somebody else, through somebody else. “I will see you in class, cadets.”

She leaves with a knock on the table. I smile at her just because I should. "Got my name wrong." I shrug it off. "Dunham?" I realize. "I knew a Dunham in school." I feel a bit odd for randomly saying that, because it was random. I wonder if he went to any of our schools. "Did you go to the local school, or one of the outer ones?"

W O R D. C O U N T : 473

N O T E S : Nice character! And yes, inspired by Deadfall a lot

[Jack Lexington]

I’m a little startled by the pretty peace keepers sudden attention. Seems like we’re better known that we’d like to be. Being anonymous can be great in a situation like this. On the other hand it can’t hurt that they know my fighting skills (if you leave out that great loss).
My eyes briefly grace her shiny brass name tag. “Strong” I try to remember the name, which should be hard. What a name for a peace keeper.
Once she’s gone I return my attention on Alex.
“Yeah, Max is the one who was mucking around with my girlfriend.” I neglect to say we weren’t together at their birthday party.
“The school in the West End.” I briefly state wondering what Dunham he might know since I don’t have a brother. Maybe my sister? She’s a few years older than I am.
“First name?”