Things don't always stay the same ;; Kyanite/Mason

[*]

I don't know how I am going to handle what's to come. So many emotions are running through me of being happy but also sad. There's positives and negatives to every situation, but I just assumed that I would have been a little older before all of this was to have happened. Then again, I didn't think it would. Not now. Not when I've still got two more reapings to get through. I'm not even sure of what I'm suppose to be doing now. Am I suppose to be staying home? Hidden from the rest of the district or just taking the bull by the horns and not allowing anyone to taunt me? A child just wasn't part of the plan right now.

"Kyanite, what are you waiting for? Throw!" Someone near me jarrs me out of my thoughts enough to handle the knife in my hand a little, but in truth, keeping my game up now is just not really part of what I need to think about. Though, I always seem to think better when I'm busy doing something I love, or used to? Does all of this training really have a purpose now? What am I going to do if I am reaped? How will Matthew deal with this?

"Okay, I'm throwing. Keep your panties on." I shake my head and grip the knife in my hand as tight as I can. I glance at my knuckles right before I throw and notice the white that shines through. Am I that tense? Why can't I relax now? I need to. I know I do... Without another thought, the girls voice says it again, and out of anger, the knife soars through the air and just grazes the head of the dummy and falls to the floor, echoing the clang of metal against ground. I turn harshly to the girl. "Damn it. I'll throw when I'm damn well ready to throw, okay? Quit rushing me."

I can't stand the stress running my life. I bend down and pick up the last three knives and walk past the girl beside me, the one waiting to challenge my shots and leave her with a confused face to cope with my leaving her high and dry. I don't even see how I've managed to make it back over to the weapons table, but the knives that I have in my hand are quickly discarded on the table as I turn to leave.

I halt.

Dead in my tracks, I halt because the sight of someone makes me have flashbacks from the pregames. Someone that tried to help me the first time I had seen him, then the next time he tried to strangle me. Just like Jins did. Just like my mortal enemy that is currently locked up and away from me. What about him? Why isn't he the same? My breaths hitch and for some reason, I can't seem to make my feet move. A hand slowly goes toward my stomach for a breif second. It isn't just about me anymore. My safety has to be thought of first before anyone else now. Question remains though about this guy. Is he still a foe?

PAT - 533

[Cato]

"Dialogue"
"Hearing"
Thoughts
Narration

I can feel myself slipping. After my disastrous relationship with that Tornhell girl, I now find myself on a journey. I feel some obligation to redeem my soul. Her presence changed so much about me and now there isn't much left that I recognize of myself. She ruined me. Before I had been a dangerous individual, yet that isn't the case anymore. If anything, I have been tamed. Just thinking of it disgusts me. That's why I'm in the gym right now. To regain some of my loss muscle mass and back in shape. I will not be hindered by anyone ever again. If I see anyone make the attempt they will not live to tell the tale. My life is consumed with grief and pain after the breakup. I had been so sure of that relationship only to be played. That is why emotions are a weakness. Distancing myself from everyone will be the only way to protect myself.

The weights in my hands make themselves known when my hands scream in protest. I drop them on the ground in slight pain. I just don't know what direction my life will head in. Quite obvious to me should be the path of the career, but is that all I want now? There is no denying my more peaceful life had been relaxing. It turned out to be a nice break from my addiction to training. Deep down inside of me lurks the bloodthirsty animal that had been part of me before. My intent is to rip out the good and replace it with the animal. I don't want to suffer through another period of peace. I tried my hand at peace and that life isn't for me.

When I turn around someone standing in the distance catches my eye. I vaguely remember that face from a long time ago. Flashes of a hallway and my nose being broke pass invisibly in front of my eyes. Kyanite. Her boyfriend Matthew set up the games and my kindness got my ribs broken. After that fiasco, I never saw that grew again at least until now. I make my way toward her not entirely hostile or friendly. When I get closer my eyes fall on her stomach. Could she be pregnant? "Look who it is. Miss Kyanite pregnant huh? Things sure are not the same around here." I try to control the anger I had for her, but I'm not entirely successful. I'm not so heartless to harm someone who is with child, but to be around someone that I associate with bad memories probably isn't the best idea for self control. Of course I'm looking to get rid of that.

[*]

Seeing this person from the past has me itching to run. Thing about it is, I'm not sure I can. I've had so much drama going on in my life from the moment I found out that I was expecting. Even before hand when Jins had taken a turn for the worst and attempted to kill me and two of the closest people in my life. Gala is doing well now. Matthew still has trouble from where he was stabbed, but me? Mine is all in my head. The visions and nightmares that refuse to leave me. Although, time can heal wounds, it can only lessen the things that I see. The images from the past and what happened that day. Thoughts of my mother are still as clear as day from when my breaths ceased until I was brought back to the living. For some reason, Mason's bringing those images back. Not his face, but his hands. Those hands that clasped around my throat. It's what Jins did to me and I'm suddenly terrified of this guy in front of me. What's to stop him from hurting me now? Would he do it no matter what? Even after so many months that have passed by, is he still wanting to harm me as well?

"Look who it is. Miss Kyanite pregnant huh? Things sure are not the same around here." The first thing I do is look at him weirdly? How could he know? Am I showing that much already? Im only... a few months along? Then again, I've not seen him since I had been working out and kept myself in a thin, physically tip-top shape. I immediately take a step away from him as he nears me. There's this instinct inside of me that's wanting for me to flee, but my heart is telling me to stay. I'm wanting to know more of why he's even attempting to talk to me. Why does my mind and heart have such a conflict?

"It's none of your business what's going on with me, and I would appriciate it if you wouldn't raise your voice. Rumors are hard to get rid of." I bite back for some weird reason and in a way, I refer to myself as to not being pregnant. I can't tell if his words are a taunt or if it is just his usual way of speaking. I just know that I'm not going to stick around to find out if he continues to talk to me like he is. I shouldn't have to deal with him and I know if I happen to mention this meeting to Matthew, he's going to have a feild day. "Things always change though. Have you? Havn't seen you since you ran out shortly after your match..." In a way, it's my way of bring up what he did to me. It makes me wonder if he regrets that day or if he's going to throw it up in my face. I glance around the gym to the people who take no notice of this interaction.

PAT - 516

[Cato]

"Dialogue"
"Hearing"
Thoughts
Narration

"It's none of your business what's going on with me, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't raise your voice. Rumors are hard to get rid of." Ah the bad blood is still very much thriving between us. Like me, Kyanite must remember what I did to her. The pleasure of having someone's life in my hands made me feel so powerful. Everything happened too quickly that day for me to completely recall what happened. This meeting further proves the bad blood won't disappear. I don't know if playing nice is in my system after the suffering I went through. Her attitude doesn't help much even if it's justified. Its been too long to know if Gala and Matthew are still close to her, but I still feel those three are friends. I wouldn't mind giving Matthew a few punches to his nose.

"Things always change though. Have you? Haven't seen you since you ran out shortly after your match..." She does remember what happened then. The match with Gala is still fresh in my mind. Hurting someone so small at first proved difficult, but after my own injuries the choice of fighting back had been made for me. To the outsiders the match was close, but in reality it was over in seconds once I fought back. For Kyanite to say I ran out after the match is ridiculous. We both know the crowd would have assaulted me for hurting someone that young. The tournament was over for me. Better to let someone else win instead of myself decimating the competition. I can't be beat in a fight. No one in this district will ever be on my skill level with weapons. I may be cocky, but I have every right to be. If Kyanite wants to piss me off well this will be one short meeting.

"Oh I remember that match. I broke that little girls ribs didn't I? I bet everyone in that place thought she'd beat me. If you're training for the games there is no room to be nice and that's exactly why I did what I did." The need to explain myself just happened. I'm sure she'll think I'm a cruel person for hurting someone, but that's what happens when you sign up for danger. If that had been the games the little girl would be dead in seconds if matched up with someone like me. The only reason she wasn't dead happened to be that the fight wasn't to the death. "I'm just as dangerous now as I was back then. I'm sure you will find that I'm much different, but in a more sinister way." If she thinks I'm still cruel then so be it. I want to mess with her a bit before revealing my past if things don't turn hostile.

[*]

A biting attitude for someone whose done me wrong in the past, with no respect for the now. Why should I give him anything but what he gave me last? Though, for some reason, I know I shouldn't try to egg it on. Not with Mason, of all people. He's shown that he's a formidable enemy. Is he an enemy? Still? After all of this time, is Mason still the same guy who tried to hurt me? It is still daunting to be meeting him here, but hopefully with the array of people that are around us, he'll not give in to temptation to start a fight. I'm more worried about the saftey of the precious cargo I carry to fight with anyone or jeapordize myself. If he knew, he would use it against me as he has already shown only moments ago. My goal is for him to just forget what the thinks he sees. Time to turn the tables on him and bring up something for him to counter.

My try to bring up the past about the last time we met, is spot on. He immediately bites back with a remark about what 'really' happened that day when he was beaten by my little friend and then tried to hurt me because he was too proud to accept defeat. He was a coward in my eyes. A coward and a bully and I've had enough with bullies for the rest of my life. I can take him, I know, if only...

"You really think that would have happened? Those people in the stands were expecting a fight. Little kids die all the time in the games. Twelve and thirteen year olds. They are no different then the older ones that get killed in the games. Pre-games are no different. It don't matter who wins or loses, but it's how you come out. The audience was in no way going to dismember you for winning against a little girl, but you lost. I don't understand why you can't come to terms with the fact that you lost because a kid was better than the mighty Mason." I snicker at him. I shake my head.

"I'm just as dangerous now as I was back then..." I roll my eyes. There's no way I'm buying this load of crap that's coming out of his mouth. I find nothing dangerous about him. Stupid maybe, but not dangerous. He's no more a threat then Matthew is to me.

"All bark and no bite, is all you are right now. Why not show off what your trying to inflate?" I let my gaze wander to the knife throwing area as the person collects her knives and stares at me talking with this guy. Her eyes narrow at us, but I quit looking at her and go back to Mason's cold features. Wrapping my arms in front of me, I hold my stance. "How dangerous are you with knives now? Or, I forget? What weapon are you even good at?"

PAT = 503

[Cato]

"Dialogue"
"Hearing"
Thoughts
Narration

"The audience was in no way going to dismember you for winning against a little girl, but you lost. I don't understand why you can't come to terms with the fact that you lost because a kid was better than the mighty Mason." I don't know what fight she remembers, but I beat Gala. Nearly lost due to having such a soft side to me, but the moment I got over the mental barrier of hurting a kid it was over in seconds. Cracked one of her ribs if my memory serves me right. I pulled out of that idiotic pre games bullshit because of revenge from the older friends of hers. They wanted her to advance not me. I refuse to play nice anymore. Nice guys always finish last. "I lost? You must have a terrible memory. Why don't you ask the healers from that arena. They're the ones who patched up that girl's cracked ribs." I'm not so sure why I feel the need to remind Kyanite this. She must be trying to insult me. Well its worked so far.

"All bark and no bite, is all you are right now. Why not show off what your trying to inflate?" Easy for her to say. She must be stupid to think I'm weak. I've had it with women messing with my brain. First that Tornhell girl, then the Blackmore one and finally Kyanite with her reappearance. Am I marked? Am I slowly descending into the depths of insanity? It sure seems like it with what has happened to me. "How dangerous are you with knives now? Or, I forget? What weapon are you even good at?" I'm terrific when it comes to the mastery of weapons. Only a few can I say truly challenge me. She wants me to use a knife? Or some other weapons? She will not expect my show of brutality. A simple attack on a dummy will not suffice. Only a living breathing target will.

With that, I walk to get a knife. My eyes scan the room for a victim. Anyone in this room including Kyanite should feel my wrath. I exclude her so I can force her to watch my victim cry out for help. I don't mess around when it comes to weapons. With a minor sigh of frustration, I grab the nearest kid within proximity to me in a chokehold. With my knife holding hand, I leave a gash open on the kid's cheek. Screams pierce my eardrums, but a smile forms on my lips. I release my hold on the kid and watch him run for dear life. I return to Kyanite's gaze with a ice cold glare. "Think I don't mean business anymore? In the games there is no such thing as cowards, honorable, or even nice people. In the games there are two kinds of people. The twenty three dead and one alive."

[*]

Biting off more than I can chew. I chuckle internally to what I subject Mason to. Telling him that he's nothing more than just words and telling him to show me what kind of a big dog he's claiming to be. Little did I know, that he'd actually do it. I didn't think he would. I figured he'd just stomp on out of here like a mad little pup but he don't. Hes severe when it comes to his attitude and that vibe that I'm picking up from him is now starting to tell me how dangerous he really is going to be. Not only do I have my life to think about, but also of the life that's growing inside of me. That's when I stare into his eyes. That darkness that wants to overtake him like a demonic possesion, is seeping through his skin.

I'm worried.

His actions are one that take me by complete surprise. At first, when he reaches for the knife, I automatically get into a stance to fight, but I keep my hands low enough to protect my abdomen. There's no way to predict what he's going to do, but I know I'll have the reflexes to deal with him. So, watching his eyes, I see him looking around. Is that a tactic to throw me off? What is he looking for? What is he going to do? With a low threshold, I tense up ready to act upon his sudden movement. Only, he don't touch me at all. He literally avoids me as he reaches out for some defenseless kid walking by and takes the knife he just occupied in his hands to slice the skin on the kid's face.

My mouth drops and I'm taken aback three paces. The scream from the kid jars me tremendously. From one moment to the next, I begin to shake my head. "You..." I start to let the words pour from my mouth but he takes up where my voice left off.

"Think I don't mean business anymore? In the games there is no such thing as cowards, honorable, or even nice people. In the games there are two kinds of people. The twenty three dead and the one alive."

"YOU'RE CRAZY, MASON!" I scream at him. I know my voice echoes throughout the entire gym, but if the people didn't hear me, I know they heard the childs scream from moments ago. I'm bringing attention to his person. I'm letting others know of the lunatic in the room who just random acted out against some kid younger than me and cut him with the knife. My eye's glance down to the droplets of blood the kid left but my direct line of vision never leaves Mason in whole. Instead, I point a finger at him.

"How can you do that? You are not in the fucking games? You are a lunatic... you should never have been able to get away that day you hurt me..." My first thoughts are to go for a peacekeeper, but also, my mind is screaming for Matthew to appear, whereas I know he won't. He's at the academy, but one simple phone call would take care of that.

PAT - 539