That's what friends are for, right? (Anatra)

[Anatra]

---

Tyren Orca

---

There's only so far somebody can push you before you are forced to change your mind. Tyren's limit is large. He's stubborn, a trait that runs through a lot of the Orca family. "That's just the point though Tyren. We took him out. If you weren't there, he might have killed one of us and would still be walking around. YOU made a difference in our lives!" He's pulling on the right string here. This is probably the only way to get Tyren to do something - to make him feel ultimately guilty that he wouldn't be there. "You're not a coward. I shouldn't have said that. You're anything but a coward. I just wish you could see that. You're strong and you kept your calm when I was just ruled by my instincts." His pleading doesn't stop. Tyren's mind has took three circles. The first, when Matthew mentioned that the criminals out there did all this. The second, when Tyren was called a sissy. And now, because he knows that Matthew didn't mean it, and is just stressed out from his injury. Tyren needs to remember, and relate how when he was injured, too, he wasn't able to be his normal self for a while. To face anybody new was a challenge. The whole process can knock somebody's self confidence, and Tyren is usually full of that. He likes to believe he can do anything, normally. Perhaps, his confidence has been knocked again.

"I'd better go. I wanted to thank you but this is...I don't know...crap." Instantly, Tyren stands. "Don't." He looks to the ground briefly, but then back up. "I can't let you leave like this. Sit down, we'll sort this." Hopefully, Matthew wants to. If not, he can have his space, but Tyren doesn't want anybody to feel alone right now. If it takes it, he'll go back to the peacekeeper academy out of reluctance. This is usually the part that Tyren offers to go to the bar to sort it out, but drinking with an injury like that is out of the equation for Matt. For that, Tyren needs to think of a proper, sober way to sort this one. It's a mess, it really is. Matthew's messed up about it, Tyren's messed up about - or so it seems for the two of them. "I need you too. I just have my stupid ways of showing it. I'm not an external person, Matt." His voice calmer, away from the snapping raspiness of earlier. "If you need me there, Matthew. I can be there. As long as we are in it together, because I'll need somebody who isn't trying to beat me all the time." With that, Tyren refers to Alex. It's stressed him out a little more than he'd like. It's a little thing, but somewhat simple. Alex and him are growing apart. Each have their own room in the house, yet Alex decided to join rooms with Jasen, one of the others. It's a mess, too. Tyren's been forgetting about it. It's a natural thing. Everyone was usually surprised about their closeness, which only made it more likely that they'd start to split.

Tyren pats Matthew's shoulder in the same way that Matt would to him. Something he's noticed unconsciously, it seems. "Don't feel like I'll never be at your side, mate. It'll never be like that. You're a brother of mine."

[Jack Lexington]

I feel like I've overstepped this invisible boundary between us. Therefore I should really go before he kicks me out. That's the last thing I want so my hands on the door when he stands up as well and tells me not to leave.

"I can't let you leave like this. Sit down, we'll sort this." I turn around and almost grin at him because this sounds so much like Kyanite. There's Tyrens inner girl talking to me. He's so soft. I love that about him because he's cool enough so he doesn't have to keep up a tough facade.
I bit my upper lip with my bottom teeth sucking it in slightly before I start grinning.
"Aight." Then I drop my hand from the door and nod.
"Do you know how sweet you just sounded." I can't help it but it's not meant as an offense. "That's what I like about you man. You got this really nice core to you."

Against all odds he goes even further than that. While I lean my back against the door frame he says. "If you need me there, Matthew. I can be there. As long as we are in it together, because I'll need somebody who isn't trying to beat me all the time."
This is a strange statement. I'm competitive but not towards him anymore so he can't be talking about me.
"Who's competing with you?" I wrinkle my brow because it could only be our room mates or Jeran.
"Jeran?" I don't think he'd have a problem with his brother since they're made from the same stuff. They read each other like a book.
"Whatever it takes to keep you there."
Somehow I'm starting to question whether I should really pressure him so much to be at the academy against his will. It's not what a friend would do.

he steps up to me and pats me on the shoulder just like I did before. It's a friendly touch, one we wouldn't allow each other before. It's very personal for me.
"Don't feel like I'll never be at your side, mate. It'll never be like that. You're a brother of mine."
"Wow." I'm speechless. I don't have a brother but often wished for an older brother to have my back or a younger to to mess with and teach some things. Here he is...offering me brotherhood.
A smile spreads on my lips as I cross that invisible barrier that's been between us so far. Acting on an impluse I pull him into a hug.
"Thank you....brother."
Then I hold him at an arms length and look him in the eyes. "That means a lot!"
My chest tigthens with the emotion that suddenly fills me. My own sister walked out on me, my mother deserted me. My real family feels like I'm more of a burden than anything and here he is, Tyren, offering me what my real family is not willing to give.
I'm getting all choked up and actually have to avert my gaze before trying to hide my emotions behind a smile.
"Hey, stop fucking with my head." I joke.

[Anatra]

---

Tyren Orca

---

He grins a little, seeing that Tyren wants to keep him here to sort whatever the real problem is. "Aight." He says, calmness able to seep through. "Do you know how sweet you just sounded?" He asks, somewhat rhetorically, Tyren assumes. "That's what I like about you man. You got this really nice core to you." Tyren nods at him, a bit of sustained contact with his eyes leads him to think a bit deeply about what had just been said. THat's what I like about you, he told Tyren. He won't understand what that truly means unless he were to ask, but that's not what he's wanting to talk about. It brings around other things to keep reminding himself about, though. "Who's competing with you? Jeran?" He asks, as Tyren mentions that he doesn't want to be competing with anybody any more. "Nah." He fails to admit the real problem to him. It's partially because of the awkward, tenuous bond that is slowly unweaving between him and Alex. "Whatever it takes to keep you there." And with that, Tyren can only bring himself to a warm smile and a nod.

When Tyren brings himself to admit that Matthew is like a brother to him, or at least he feels that way, Matthew himself grows speechless. "Wow." Is all he can muster, at first. When he comes in for a hug, though, Tyren can only accept it. Not that he wouldn't want to. The pair of them need this as much as the other. "Thank you....brother." He says. It's a strangeness, but not unwelcome, to have somebody this close. Close as in mentally. Physically, Tyren isn't all too bothered right now. They could be across the room and he'd still know what it means. It's a shoulder-friendly hug, rather than the kind of couple would give, anyway. The bond they have is special. It's one of union through hardship. A coping mechanism that has flourished into much more. That's when he holds Tyren at arms length, and looks on at his brown eyes with his own. It's sentimental. Not too sentimental, but it's a place that few friends would go. "That means a lot!" He admits. Tyren isn't first to avert his gaze, though. It's Matthew. It's understandable. "Hey, stop fucking with my head." He jokes. "Well, don't expect to be called son by my parents any time soon."

This time with Matthew has been quite vital for Tyren. He would never show it, but he needed the sense of security in order to go back to the peacekeeper academy. It felt like a heavy veil over his eyes. He couldn't see through the negativity, so he needed somebody to guide him through it, apparently. Matthew just did that, intentionally which makes it even more warming for Tyren. It's a brotherly act, to bring him through the darkness like that. It's like helping somebody through the woods who doesn't know their way, but with more resistance because the center of the woods is so beautiful. But once on the outside of it, they'll be safe - secure. Away from the dark branches and poisonous leaves. The thousands of bugs, eating at their lives. Once they're out, they would allow themselves reason to explore everything rather than be secluded by boundaries. It's what the district would be like without a fence.
Like anybody remembers it is there. Nobody ever talks about it.

"Well, brother," He reiterates Matthew. "Take this." He reaches into his top for a moment and pull from his neck the dog tags that his uncle gave him at the party, his eighteenth. He undoes the tying, and pulls one of the two tags. 'Orca' written upon it, and nothing else. He holds it out in his hand at stomach height. "We'd best clear out of here. My parents may start to get suspicious." He chuckles aloud, heading to the door.

[Jack Lexington]

Tyren's not telling me who his competition is, only that it isn't Jeran. That would leave Vy and his brother, which I doubt.

The hug we share is something new to me. I spontaniously initiated it but it's a gesture I don't do a lot. I'm not that kind of guy, all huggy and touchy. But in this case I felt an urge. I think by know Tyren knows that there's nothing sexual about it even though I keep pulling the gay jokes on him. I have a girl friend and he knows it.

As we look at each other from a very close distance the moment becomes a little awkward. Who knows what soembody who simply walks in and doesn't know our story might think?
"Well, don't expect to be called son by my parents any time soon." He lets me know and I nod pressing my lips together.
"Yeah, your mother doesn't seem to think I should come here." It bothered me a little to see the look she gave me. Who can blame her? I don't really care about her opinion though. I care about Tyrens.

"Well, brother. Take this." Tyren says before he pulls the dog tags that are danglinga round hi neck from under his shirt. I've noticed them but never asked about them. Now that he hands me one I take a closer look. The imprint reads his name.
I take it from him and close my hand around it.
"Is this like our engagement ring?" i can't help the joke because things are getting very up close and personal here, which makes me a little uneasy.
What if I let him down? What are the expectations that come with this brotherhood?
"I guess I'll try my best not to let you down," is all I can promise for now because anything else might be too much.
"We'd best clear out of here. My parents may start to get suspicious."
I nod at him and clear my throat. "Yep. let's not go there."

I let Tyren walk out the door first and then follow him down the stairs. Down is easier than up.

Donstairs I can hear some rattling of pots and pans from the kitchen so I briefly poke my head in to say good bye.
"Bye, Mrs. Orca."
Then I follow Tyren to the door where it's still raining buckets.
For a moment I hesitate because I don't want to get soaked but at the same time I know my father's gone to work so I'm not going to bother him.
"I'll see you around." I tell him unsure what his plans might be before I zip up my hoodie and pull the hood over my head.
Then I step outside under the roof of the front porch.

[Anatra]

---

Tyren

---

The sentimentality of the morning has been a surprise to Tyren. He can sense, somewhat, the distaste that Matthew perhaps has for all of the more emotional moments that they've shared just then. It's not like them, usually, to talk about things like that. It's not an awkwardness, but more an insecurity about it. There's something risky about talking about emotions, with anybody. "Is this like our engagement ring?" He asks, though. Had to go there, didn't you? Tyren chuckles mentally, not externally, to himself. "No, it's something to prove I've got your back, and you've got mine." Tyren has the idea that one for him, and one for Matthew, will make it more definite for them. Plus, he wants something for Matthew to have, to remember him by just in case he does go and get himself brainwashed into a peacekeeper, despite the attempts at saying it isn't for him - he knows it is. "Yep. let's not go there." He says, when Tyren speaks about his parents perhaps getting suspicious. A little joke, though, there's nothing harmful about it. His parents wouldn't get suspicious, they probably barely care who he wants to sit and talk with. They understand that this big house isn't the best conductor for privacy.

He walks himself down the stairs behind Tyren. He's keeping up well, so it must be easier for him to get down the stairs rather than up them. His endurance has always been good, Tyren would feel. The scent of breakfast escapes from the kitchen that's connected to the living room, where the front door is. "Bye, Mrs. Orca." He calls over to Tyren's mother. Cecilia is a clever woman, but she just can't figure Matthew out. Maybe after all, he is just a friend to Tyren, for her. But in order for her to believe it, she'll have to see it. "Bye." She calls over. She's a stubborn woman, but the smile on her face is not necessarily recogniseable as fake.

Tyren opens the door and a rush of cold hits him. "Wow," Matthew goes out onto the porch which has a little roof, but only just. "I'll see you around." Tyren shakes his head, reaching for his big waterproof jacket from the coat hanging. "I don't think so. Not letting you walk home in this." He has a grin on his face. The car keys are in his jacket's pocket and he takes them out and presses the button that unlocks the car. He doesn't give Matthew an option. There's no need to, you can't just decline.

He opens the car door for Matthew on one side and then goes over to his side. He doesn't wait for Matthew to get in once he's opened the door. All part of the plan.

If Matthew gets in, Tyren starts the engine and backs up. "Anywhere specific that you're headed to? Home?" He asks, a brief amount of curiosity. Maybe he's actually going somewhere decent. "I'd tag along if it was fun, but your house doesn't have a pool." Tyren chuckles, though the weather contradicts everything he says, about the pool. It's not the weather for it.

[Jack Lexington]

A gust fo cold, wet wind greets me once I steps outside. I slip my hand into the pocket of my jeans and place Tyren dog tag inside so I don't loose it. It's a precious symbol of our friend ship.

I look at the grey skies that are letting a good amount of cold rain fall today. It's unpleasant but rain never hurt anyone, right. So I step off the porch and mentally prepare myself for the long walk home. Hopefully I won't catch a cold. That could be bad because all that coughing would still hurt...or maybe give me pneumonia. Since when do my thoghts go in these kind of directions.

Behind me Tyren calls out. "I don't think so. Not letting you walk home in this."
I turn my head to see him put on a raincoat and juggle some car keys in his hand. The keys to a real car...a luxury.

The car is sitting out front in the rain but Tyren even goes to the trouble to open the door for me. Good thing he doesn't call me Milady.
"Are you sure you don't want to propose to me?" I give him a cheeky grin before I slip inside of the brand new vehicle that still smells like plastic.
It's awesome. I run my hand over the controlls in the dash board. "What are all these for?"

In regards to his question I shake my head. "I have nowhere I need to be. I still have three days sick leave until I have to go back to the academy."
"I'd tag along if it was fun, but your house doesn't have a pool."
A pool. Is he serious? Does he not remember what happened in a pool last time?
My smile becomes forced as I look at him and eventually have to avert my gaze because I suddenly feel weak. He only mentions a pool and I know I'll carry this around with me for a while.
So I let my gaze drift out of the window at the street.
"No, I don't have a pool."

Clapping my hands on the dash board I tell him. "Just go. If you can't come up with anything else, drive me home."

[Anatra]

---

Tyren Orca

---

Sure enough, he accepts Tyren's little demand to which he'll give him a lift home. It's a quaint little custom for Tyren, and he feels as though it is well deserved because he is after all his friend. "Are you sure you don't want to propose to me?" Tyren sits down in the car just as Matthew gets into. Once the doors close, all noise from the outside seems to shut off completely. It's a nice car. "Positive." He says, wanting to cut the jokes about that topic from now on, it seems. Of course it is in just taste, but Tyren's thoughts don't want to spin around the curiosity that Matthew could want anything remotely unwanted by Tyren. It's never a knowledge that he'll have about Matthew unless he asks, and asking isn't what he's going to do. This is the way he'll avoid it.

Matthew's hand runs along the dashboard that has a few buttons. One for the wireless radio and the others probably for air conditioning and heating, that sort of thing. "What are all these for?" He asks, as though he's never seen them before. Tyren looks to his left with suave. "Why don't you find out?" He says, hinting probably to the roof that can fold backward, easily making the car a nice convertible.

Tyren mentions a pool. It hasn't occurred to him in the slightest that pools may trouble any of those from the events they witnessed. It just isn't something he has a fear of anymore. If anything, conquering his fear has been the only thing that has happened. He used to be scared of drowning, but he's proven to himself that he's a capable swimmer, even in that heavy vest that he stupidly wore. If he'd have taken that off, he'd likely have run out of time to save Gala. "No, I don't have a pool." He says. I know, that's what I said... Tyren thinks, clueless to the idea of a fear of pools, or water for that matter.

"Just go. If you can't come up with anything else, drive me home." He sounds perhaps a little tense in the words he uses, but maybe that's just him. He's never been the best at transferring his true meaning through certain words, not like Tyren. The ignition is sparked and he drives the car out of the drive and onto the long road that seems to stretch on for quite a bit. "Alright." He says simply.

As they get onto that long road, he decides to bring up some conversation. He may as well. It's something he's been meaning to mention for a little while, that wasn't necessarily the biggest deal of all, and especially given what happened last time...
"I was wondering, Matt." He begins, spotting a medium sized box on the dashboard which he reaches for. "I have a few cousins, but one of them is turning eighteen soon." He continues, looking into the box which is a glasses case, that has the glasses that belong to Alex which were a gift from Max. The ones that got smashed in Max's pocket when he was pushed against the wall at the last party. "You know the drill. An Orca grows a beard, there has to be a party. It won't be as grand as last time, though." He puts them on to test their fit. He's just fooling around a little bit, not wanting to be all serious. "Plus, I'm sure he'll have a few tricks up his sleeve. He's a proper career, unlike us. He won't just have a birthday and not expect some fighting." He squints a little at the road ahead, since the glasses kind of make it a little blurry but he really doesn't mind because it's so empty right now. "I'd say, if there wasn't at least four broken bones, it's a dull affair. You?" Tyren asks rhetorically. "Point is, I should always invite my best mate along. So if you want to come to another one of those pointlessly expensive parties, then feel free to let me know. It's in a month or so."

[Jack Lexington]

As we drive along I ask Tyren about the massive amounts of little shiny button in the dash board.
"Why don't you find out?"
He's driving fairly slowly because the road is wet and rain pouring down hard.
"Okay." I nod and push one that could be the stereo. Sure enough a soft tune comes on which makes me wrinkle my brow.
My fathers work truck doesn't have these kind of gadgets, maybe because we're not as wealthy at the Orcas or because it's unneccessary in a work environment.

"What;s this?" I curiously ask and push another button when suddenly the roof above our heads goes sliding back and rain hits our knees and then faces.
"Shit, shit." I exclaim and wildly starts pushing random buttons, which turn up the sounds, move the side mirrors and the hazard lights until I finally get the right one to close the roof again.
"Almost turned your car into a swimming pool. Is this really yours? Like an 18th birthday present?"

On cue he tells me.
"I was wondering, Matt. I have a few cousins, but one of them is turning eighteen soon."
The way he's fiddling around with the glasses makes me slight;ly nervouse but I won't let it show.
"You know the drill. An Orca grows a beard, there has to be a party. It won't be as grand as last time, though."
"Would yous top that? Do you need glasses?" My voice becomes a little higher when I tense up. "I've just gotten out of the hospital. Give me those." I grab the glasses from him because I'm pretty sure they belong to Max aka Mr. sexy glasses.

"Plus, I'm sure he'll have a few tricks up his sleeve. He's a proper career, unlike us. He won't just have a birthday and not expect some fighting. Point is, I should always invite my best mate along. So if you want to come to another one of those pointlessly expensive parties, then feel free to let me know. It's in a month or so."

I cast a glance over at him and nod. "Sure...drinking and broken bones sound like fun."
It almost makes me a little sentimental that he chooses me as his friend to come along.

I just remembered something.
"Oh, now that you mentioned that. Thanks to you and the others I get to celebrate my 18th birthday next weekend. If you care to have a beer with me? No party though. My folks aren't like yours." I sigh because I really don't feel like throwing a huge party when I'm not well yet, plus it would only be my father and me.

I motion for Tyren to take a right.
"I'll show you a place I like to hang out at."

I direct him through the streets of our town until we pass the large factory of my fathers company. The sign on the side reads "Dunham engineering" I don't pay any attention but make Tyren drive to the back alley where a small older home is located near a field, which used to be my grand fathers.

Since it's still raining cats and dogs I pull my hood over my head and run to the door to fiddle for a key hidden on the ledge above it.
The creaking old door gives way and we step inside the old house which isn't furnished except for a few chairs and a table, my heavy bag, an old fire place and bowls that are supposed to collect rain leaking through the shingled roof but are already overflowing.
"My kingdom." I declare. "Only Ky knows this place...and now you."

[Anatra]

---

Tyren Orca

---

"Woah, woah." Tyren chuckles as rain splashes pathetically on his legs and head. Everything seems to get attention from the rain for at least a couple of seconds before Tyren slaps the right button again, restoring everything to normality it seems. "Almost turned your car into a swimming pool. Is this really yours? Like an 18th birthday present?" Tyren nods at him, still wondering why he took the glasses away from him, and why he was getting angry about it... He can't figure out Matthew sometimes, this is one of those times. "It's not mine." He almost laughs a little. "I just drive it because my dad is too busy to need it right now. Do you really think anybody can afford cars for their children?" Tyren begins to wonder how rich Matt thinks he is. He's not that rich at all, not recently. It's been a slow decline, but nevertheless it is one. It's mainly because a lot of the Orca children aren't necessarily going straight into work within the company due to their age. Next year is when it'll all boom up with money. They'll be nineteen, and have no choice.

"Oh, now that you mentioned that. Thanks to you and the others I get to celebrate my 18th birthday next weekend. If you care to have a beer with me? No party though. My folks aren't like yours." A beer in contrast with a huge party. It's a beautiful difference that Tyren really respects him for. He doesn't want all the hype and all of the drama that comes with the parties, and neither does Matthew it seems. If only Tyren could have had just a calm beer for his birthday. That's what he would have liked. "You know what, that actually sounds better." He admits to Matthew. "I really don't like the attention that comes with parties. Everybody acting up, dressing up and playing up, or around. I'd rather sit down and have a chill night."

"I'll show you a place I like to hang out at." He motions for a right, and Tyren takes it. Whilst Matthew leads him to the place, he sees a sign "Dunham Engineering" and can't help but spark a curiosity.

The car comes to a stop. "My kingdom." He says as they enter. Tyren takes in the environment but he's not impressed, if he's honest. It is Matthew's kingdom, though, so he will pretend he's thinking on the sentimental side. It is a bit strange, to be taken to a place like this without any knowledge of it prior. What does Matthew plan to show him? An empty house? "Only Ky knows this place...and now you." Tyren looks around, perhaps a little too unimpressed. "I must be missing the throne, or something..."

[Jack Lexington]

Tyren tries his best to look interested but I can tell he doesn't see the beauty in this old house with the rain coming in through the gaps in the roof.

"I must be missing the throne, or something..." He states which makes me grin because he took it so literally.
I slap him on the back.
"Look closer....there's a punching bag...an old sofa..." I laugh out loud before I give the bag a slight tap.
"This used to be my grandfathers home." I let my eyes roam around and the poor state it is in right now. There's even one window broken by a stone most likely.
"I come here when I want to be alone, when I need to time away from people to think or to punch my buddy here."
I turn back lightly leaning my wet back against the old rough leather.
"Wanna give him a go?"

Then I motion to a set of gloves and wraps that are sitting on a turned over crate in the corner.
"It's all yours since I'm not in the right shape yet."
It's hard to admit but I know Tyren won't use it against me. Not like any of his cousins.
"I like this place because it's so quiet."
Then I stand back with my arms crossed over my chest wondering what my friend will do and whether he can appreciate my liking of the old house.

[Anatra]

Tyren Orca

No more gas in the rig
Can't even get it started
Nothing heard, nothing said
Can't even speak about it

The place looks quite worn down. Tyren is used to buildings that are used but this one is more than that. It's almost as though it is abandoned. Surely, he has a gauge to how old it is. It looks quite dated. There's nothing particularly modern about it. For that, Tyren quickly finds boredom in the way it smells. He's not a judgemental person, but it's simply not the most interesting thing he's seen, ever. Matthew is definitely into the more sentimental gestures such as this, taking pride in something old. "Look closer....there's a punching bag...an old sofa..." He mentions, Tyren's gaze looking around more so now. He sees the punching bag, hanging from a hook on the roof. He observes how it just rests there solitary among the oldness. Taking in how it's similar to the house itself in this district. Just waiting, collecting dust perhaps. It's disturbed as Matthew taps it. "This used to be my grandfathers home." There's the sentimentality that Tyren had expected from Matthew. It's good to know that his intuition was correct. "I come here when I want to be alone, when I need to time away from people to think or to punch my buddy here." By buddy, he clearly hints towards his leathery friend, not the short haired, literally short Tyren. Five foot seven. It's pretty short. Especially in comparison to Matthew, who seems to always be the taller one. The stronger one. Is he the smarter one? Tyren doesn't care to know.

"Wanna give him a go?" He asks, motioning his hand to the gloves and wraps across the room, upon a small crate that's overturned and clearly out of any proper use. Tyren curls his lips in thought, wondering whether he should or not. It's still the morning and he's barely even fully awake. Due to the changes in his aspirations, gym, training and exercise have not had the same appeal to them. "It's all yours since I'm not in the right shape yet." Tyren raises a brow at Matthew. It's understandable that he wouldn't want to go ahead and use anything strenuous. Tyren sees nothing wrong with using the boxing equipment, but then... why would he? He wonders briefly, lips retiring from their clear thoughtful gesturing, why Matthew would perhaps want Tyren to give it a go. Probably because he wants Tyren to see that his way of appreciating things like this, the smaller and finer things to his own personal life. "I like this place because it's so quiet." He says, as though he had read Tyren's thoughts. "I was about to ask." He nods. "It's definitely quiet." He mentions. "It'd be a shame to spoil the peace and disturb the dust with the sound of glove on leather." He says, turning to take the wraps first. He doesn't plan on putting the gloves on. There's nothing about those gloves that make sense to Tyren. Why add to your hands when in a real fight, you won't even have those stupidly large tools?

He wraps the fabrics around his keen hands. His hands are rough. They were once used to hard labour. Him and Alex used to work on construction sites for the firm. That was when they were around sixteen, seventeen maybe. Alex still does it from time to time, just for a bit of money. Tyren stopped. He's become a lot more lax recently. Things have thrown him from his usual self to which perhaps he needs to relieve himself of the prior stresses.

He throws a punch at the punching bag. It's tough, but worn. The punches hurt, but that's good. He starts off slow, light and not necessarily enthusiastic. "You planning on beefing me up or something?" Tyren asks.

Out my life, out my head
Don't wanna think about it
Feels like I'm going insane
Yeah

[Jack Lexington]

It't not hard to tell that Tyren doesn't know what to do with this place that I value so much. No wonder. For him it's just and old hut. For me it holds so much sentimental value because it belonged to my grandfather and I came here when I was only three years old, it's my hide away and a place I remember private moments with Kyanite by. To Tyren it's none of that.

I try to explain what this place means to me and Tyren gives me his opinion. "I was about to ask. It's definitely quiet." I can tell he wants to down grade it more but is holding back, probably because he can sense the sentimental value it holds for me.

Putting both hands in my pockets while I watch him take the wraps I feel the small metal plate that has his name engraved in my left one. What a nice gesture to share his present with me. That means something.

"It'd be a shame to spoil the peace and disturb the dust with the sound of glove on leather." He chooses not to use the gloves.

"Trust me, it's used to being disturbed. I come here a lot." I smile at him.
"Every time I want a work out with noone around, every time I'm frustrated or simply on the lunch break from work I beat the shit out of the old bag."
No wonder I'm pretty good when it comes to fists fights. The bag doesn't duck but it knows how to take a hard punch.

Crossing my arms in front of my still aching chest I lean my back against the wall in one of the spots where the paint's flaked off ages ago. Tyren's giving the bag a few light taps. He's so different from me. I'd tap it a few times just to dance around it on light soles and then hammer my fist into the old leather as if there was no tomorrow. That's why I need the gloves. I'd break my own hands if I didn't use them.

"You planning on beefing me up or something?" Tyren asks and I can only shake my head.
"Looks like you need it, slacker!" I comment on his current state. When I first met him at the center he was a lot buffer and in better shape.
"Have you worked out with chocolate cakes lately?" I tease him a little although I'm in no better shape from sitting on my butt for two weeks.
"Or has a girl been on your mind?" He never talks about this sort of thing so I'd like to tickle some information out of him.
"I'm pretty sure there are a few girls calling your home to get a date with you!"

[Anatra]

Tyren Orca

If a lion, a lion roars would you not listen?

The room is so tranquil. There's light stretching in and hitting off some floorboards, and Tyren can see the dust settling slowly through the atmosphere in between the light rays and the ground. "Trust me, it's used to being disturbed. I come here a lot." Why? Tyren asks himself internally. Why would you need to come here often? He must get angry a lot. Tyren knows that already though. All too well, in fact. He doesn't like Matthew's angered side. The redness that ripples through his face, that perhaps only Tyren sees. The way his voice escalates and builds. The way he can stand tall over people. It's not comforting. It's not friendly. There's something else though, that keeps their friendship from tilting during those times. It's like a brotherly bond. It has been defined, even now by the item that is oh-so-important, sitting in Matthew's pocket. Tyren has the other piece, the piece that has his name on, around his neck. Matthew's piece merely says 'Orca'. Something that could be seen by others to be an arrogant choice on Tyren's behalf. It'd be like Matthew handing him a certificate saying 'Congratulations, you're a Dunham'. But it's more sentimental, coming from somebody with an uptight family of many members. None of which are apparently stupid. If they are, they're cast out. Like Joe.
But that's not a thought Tyren will keep for long.

The wraps are on tight, and light taps are being made. Tyren comments on the fact that Matthew could be beefing him up. "Looks like you need it, slacker!" He says in return, joking Tyren hopes. "Have you worked out with chocolate cakes lately?" The voice of his is almost to an irritation. It's harmless poking, but Tyren doesn't like it all too much. "I've had good reason." His voice is a little assertive. He doesn't mean it, but it comes out like that. He gives a little smile after it, pausing the hits. A moment later he presses a hard hit right into the belly of the punching bag. Matthew pokes on to a tickle almost. The irritation is there, but it's all in fun. That's what a tickle is, anyway. Matthew is just coaxing information from Tyren like any friend would want. "I'm pretty sure there are a few girls calling your home to get a date with you!" What does he mean by that? Tyren quizzes Matthew privately. His hits stop again, with him giving Matthew a look of 'Excuse me?'. "I thought you knew." He begins, leaving it for a good moment, getting some more hits in. "I'm not a dating kind of person." He states. "I was thinking of giving Vy a try, you know. Then I wondered who'd really be on top in that relationship." He chuckles to himself at the thought of it. "You and Kyanite are great to each other. I wish I had someone like her." He suggests. He doesn't want to push a boundary. He doesn't care either way, because right now there's no angry Matthew in sight. If he gets mad because a friend compliments his choice in ass and eyes then he's getting it wrong.

"Alex found himself a girl though. I thought she was like, fifteen, when I first seen her. Turns out she's eighteen as well. I guess I'm all alone here." He hits harder on the punching bag. "It's Adina, that girl from the Academy. To think two hopeful Peacekeepers would get with each other. It's quite funny because it'll fail for him in the future." Tyren speaks as though Alex was an enemy. That he can see the faults in his stars and he doesn't care to realign them himself. He's letting Alex fall into that little situation because he knows for a fact that if he tried to counsel him on it, nothing will come of it. Alex would just ignore him, like usual. He has to learn from his own mistakes, apparently.

"I'm just gonna wait it out. She'll turn up one day." He says. Finally, Matthew can hear these words without having to second guess them, perhaps questioning himself on whether Tyren is even telling the truth. This is the truth, and it's all coming out at once. "Screw you, Dunham. You just brought me here to reveal secrets!" He jokes, smacking the punching bag hard. "Reveal yours. It's not all about me, come on."

If a child, a child cries would you not forgive them?

[Jack Lexington]

Slowly my friend starts circling the old heavy bag that my father used to train with when he was bare knuckle fighting in the underground fights as a young man. I never do these fights because they aren't legit in my book plus they are forbidden. I wouldn't have risked being kicked from the career program or peace keeper academy just for that.

Ty stops his motions when I ask about girl friends. It's a valid question since Kyanite has become a big part of my life outside my training and I've noticed that he seems a little lonely.
"I thought you knew. I'm not a dating kind of person."
I'm not sure what that means? Does he not want to be with a girl? Does he not like one night stands or is he simply not interested in the female gender whatsoever. Is he gay maybe and I didn't know it all the time I've been joking around?

"I was thinking of giving Vy a try, you know. Then I wondered who'd really be on top in that relationship." He continues and I laugh because this can only be a joke. Who would want to give Vy a shot?
"Miss butch?" I grin as I let out a nasty remark about our room mate.

"You and Kyanite are great to each other. I wish I had someone like her." He's absolutely right about that. We are great for each other, which is absolutely unlikely that any girl would be great for me.
"Yeah, it's really strange isn't it?" He can't know what I mean by that because he hasn't known me that long.
"I'm not sure what you know about me but I used to hate girls before I met her. I mean I still do and Ky and I didn't exactly get along at first."
I pull up my sleeve to show him the mark that her knife left on my forearm.
"She threw two knifes at me the second time we met...I'm not showing you where the other one hit me. But somehow we found something in each other that we could relate to. I never had that with a girl before."

I really hope he'll find a girl as well. Especially now that his twin brother met somebody. As Tyren speaks I can hear a somber tone in his voice...it sounds like regret to me.
"It sounds like you don't like him having a girl friend."
Crossing my fingers I hold them out. "Aren't you like this anymore?"
The two twins used to be very close. Now, not so much any more from what I can tell. I never see them together anymore.

I can tell my friend's becoming a little sentimental because he tries to distract me.
"I'm just gonna wait it out. She'll turn up one day. Screw you, Dunham. You just brought me here to reveal secrets!"

"ReveHis fist connects hard with the bag again while I shake my head laughing. "I guess so. It's a special place. You find out all about the person you're with. What do you want to know?"
While he circles and punches the bag some more I push myself off the wall and join him giving the leather a few bare knuckles light taps.
"I don't know....what should I tell you?" I punch it harder once but the tightening muscles put too much pressure on the wound in my chest and make me cringe so I stand back and rub the sore spot.
"I can't loose...I' suck at that. I hate all girls, except for Ky and Gala, because of my stupid sister who won't even talk to me any more." I leave out the mother who abandoned my family when I was a toddler.
"I'm smart as fuck as you might have noticed." That actually sounds like a joke so I quantify. "Graduated from high school a year early....what else do you want to know?"
An open, nice smile greets him because I appreciate this bonding time with him. Right now I'd tell him if my bits were tiny as marbles.

[Anatra]

Tyren Orca

If a lion, a lion roars would you not listen?

"Miss butch?" He mentions. Tyren lets slip a chuckle, reminiscing on old times. The times in which the pair of them went drinking, laughing and joking. Slowly getting over whatever was left from the hospital. Now, they're just best friends. It's almost like nothing had every wrongly happened for them, or to them. He and Matthew are inseparable like brothers, but it comes at such a huge cost for Tyren. Anything good is never easily won. "Yeah, it's really strange isn't it?" He comments about Tyren's suggestion that Kyanite and Matthew are a great pair. It is true in every way possible. Especially from Tyren's perspective. He's seen ups, downs, but still they stick true to themselves. There's nothing distasteful about their relationship that he can see. He wants the same for himself, but it's not jealousy that he feels, never. Not for them, and not for Alex and his girlfriend. It's the genuine fear of being left behind. Before long, and everybody knows it, somebody will end up having a child. Whether it is indeed Alex and his partner, or maybe it'll be Kyanite and Matthew. Somebody will. Tyren loves children. He's always wanted one, two maybe even three. Just like his parents had three. It's just a matter of finding that right person. He just can't. He's been so preoccupied. The Games, the Academy. There's no room for anything any more. But Alex could do it.

Really strange, isn't it? Matthew said. Tyren thinks he understands why it would be strange. Matthew has always said how he's never got along with girls, never been able to understand them which makes it difficult for him to find somebody he likes. Kyanite, to Tyren, was apparently an exception. "I'm not sure what you know about me but I used to hate girls before I met her. I mean I still do and Ky and I didn't exactly get along at first." Accordingly not, though.

"She threw two knifes at me the second time we met...I'm not showing you where the other one hit me. But somehow we found something in each other that we could relate to. I never had that with a girl before." - "Your ass." Tyren guesses, hitting the punching bag with force now that slowly brings beads of sweat to his forehead. "Have you ever found a friend without throwing something at them first?" He asks, honestly. It's true that he threw something at Tyren first. The spear. Tyren hasn't seen Matthew become friends with anybody who he hasn't had a fight with yet.

The conversation switches straight onto Alex. Tyren's heart, where everything anybody ever feels emotionally, sinks briefly. The beats are more heavy. It's a touchy subject, but one that he's been meaning to tell somebody. He's been trying to hint it to Matthew for a little while, but it's never been appropriate. "It sounds like you don't like him having a girl friend." Tyren stops hitting again, his head looking down as he thinks a little. He's never thought it through what he actually feels about it. He's just felt it and moved with the motion. "Come to think of it... I don't." He says, shaking his head a little, looking up now. Matthew holds out his crossed fingers. "Aren't you like this anymore?" And that's when Tyren blinks a couple of times, because he has to say it. He has to think about it. He can't avoid it, and now he knows. "No." He shakes his head a little. "No, not anymore." He starts hitting with full force now.

"Screw you, Dunham. You just brought me here to reveal secrets!" Tyren says, jokingly of course. "I guess so. It's a special place. You find out all about the person you're with. What do you want to know?" Tyren's thoughts track around the brief thoughts that perhaps he wants to know more, but he'll never know where to start. "I don't know....what should I tell you?" Tyren has a couple of things in mind actually. Just curiosity peaking through. "I can't loose...I' suck at that. I hate all girls, except for Ky and Gala, because of my stupid sister who won't even talk to me any more." Tyren tilts his head a little. "Your sister won't talk to you? Why?" He asks, though it's probably not his place to ask. It's exactly the same thing as Alex though, just a different life. "I'm smart as fuck as you might have noticed." Tyren holds in a laugh. "Right, sure."

"Graduated from high school a year early....what else do you want to know?"

"Got kicked out more like it. Nobody can mix mental strength and physical strength..."

"There was one thing I guess I could ask though. It's simple, but I've been wondering because I lose track myself." He pauses a little but then just heads straight into the question. "How much of my family have you seen? I need to know because... It matters who."

If a child, a child cries would you not forgive them?