for the v a g a b o n d s // [Marree and Loki]

[sbeeg]

Clayburn, Cassius

Rubbing the back of his neck, the Peacekeeper looked out over the pier watching all the citizens make their way towards the grandiose stadium. The Panem Olympics, for only being in their second year, were very popular but for the Clayburn they were an extreme pain. District Four was already the most densely populated of the districts and then to add an extra chunk of people in to compete was a nightmare. He had extra patrols out all across the district, and heavy guards at the park and contestant's village but even that was not enough sometimes. The memory of the last Olympics made him frown. They were had been a bit of a mess and the man still had a scar across his knuckles from punching some District Two kid in the teeth. Got a warning strike for it but the incident faded into the background. Like all the others.

There would not be a repeat of those events this year. If he had to clock someone in the face he would drag them in an alley first like a proper law enforcer. Out of the sight line of peering cameras. Those were pesky little things too and made his nights awfully boring. Too many people out and around, more lights than usual keeping everyone in the spot light. It was only for a week or so and then everything would be back to normal. The usual rotting stench of fish and unbearable humidity.

Brown eyes scouted the pier, hands folded neatly behind his back. Not a single violation would be tolerated today, not with the mayor and all of Panem watching his smelly little district. No littering, loitering, or looking wrong. That's Cassius' motto. However, not a single person had stepped out of line yet. Despite the large influx of people they were all well behaved. No contraband, no traitorous talk, he hadn't even heard anyone complain about the weather yet. His fingers itched to grab his nightstick, his teeth pressed firmly together as his frustration built inside his chest. Come on, let him have some fun. Not a riot or anything, just some punk that needed some sense knocked in them. Anything to cure this utopian dry spell of crime.

[Loki]

Devilyn had been practicing his swimming, stroking against the waves in the ocean, spending a good couple hours in practice for his swimming events later, and preferring to swim in the sea than some perfectly manicured pool in the village. It's not like it was illegal or anything. Frowned upon by some of the local old folks who said there were monsters out there just waiting to snatch up a swimmer, but not a crime. As he stroked along he wondered if he actually had a chance to win. That would be extremely sweet, and was a pleasant fantasy to accompany him while he swam. He wondered if anyone would bet on him to win, too. He hoped at least maybe his uncle might. It was time to head in and get some lunch, though, so he swam into the boat slip and used the ladder to climb up to the pier, where he'd left his towel; he started walking toward the boatwrights shop as he dried himself off.

It was disconcerting to see a peacekeeper standing on the pier, and as he approached he nodded politely, since he had obviously seen the man and could not just wholeheartedly ignore hie presence as one usually did with peacekeepers. He was just going to grab a sandwich and then go up to the Olympic village, the sight of the peacekeeper making him think of skipping lunch altogether, as he already had butterflies the size of seagulls in his belly, over competing, and the law enforcement presence only made him more nervous, though scanning his mind he couldn't think of anything illegal he had done, lately. Not outside of his own thoughts, at least. His thoughts were usually quite shocking and often illegal.

[sbeeg]

Clayburn, Cassius

Brown eyes narrowed in on boy who was making his way up the pier. The kid's gaze flickered around avoiding the peacekeeper's and he seemed tense. It had been a slow day and Cassius finally found a citizen to push around for an hour or so. Slipping his thumb between his belt and waist, Clayburn stood up straight and started towards the boy, putting a finger in the middle of the kid's chest to stop him. A quick sweep of the kid and Cassius began to smile. He looked like a good kid but the nervous type. The kind that might cry if he started accusing him of some pretty nasty crimes. Running his tongue over his teeth, Clayburn pulled his jacket back to show off the cuffs hanging from his belt and the nightstick in its holder.

"Citizen, state your name," he said, trying to keep the grin from spreading beyond the corners of his mouth. The longer he can put off stating a crime the more freaked out they get. Sometimes they'll even confess to things Cassius had not even noticed. He wondered how long he could watch this boy wriggle under his gaze before he confessed to stealing a piece of candy when he was four or something.

[Loki]

Stopped by the peacekeeper, Dev immediately experienced two strong emotions, fear, and hate. Here he was being detained from going on his way for no damn reason, something he found typical of peacekeepers. He struggled to keep his expression blank and not show the fear or the loathing. The man asked his name, and he had to answer, and he did, replying in his best imitation-of-emotionless voice, "Devilyn Rain." He forced himself to look straight at the peacekeeper, and it was hard to do that, and hard once he'd done it, from letting the gaze become a glare. He wanted to ask what he'd done wrong, but he knew better than to say a thing. He stood passively and looked at the peacekeeper and wondered how the asshole was going to mess up his life now. Given his luck, he'd probably get shot or something for absolutely nothing. He sighed, softly, expecting the worst.

[sbeeg]

Clayburn, Cassius

"Devilyn Rain?" he rolled the name around in his mouth, remembering every syllable. All these water names in District Four, so repetitive. Everyone is a Waters or a Rain or a Sprinkle or a Hurricane. In District Two they had real names, but Cassius had not been back there in a very long time. Taking in the boy again, memorizing every feature of his face and every cowlick in his hair, Cassius pulled his shoulder blades together showing off his height compared to the Reaping aged kid. "And what exactly is Devilyn Rain doing on this lovely afternoon?"

It was not a lovely afternoon. It was hot and incredibly humid. Hardly any breeze was washing in with the tide and Cassius was sweating through his uniform. Still he held his ground, boots planted on the boardwalk and eyes pointed down at his mark. He was being too kind, the kid was just fidgeting he wanted him to squirm.

"Surely nothing that would dishonor the Capitol or his district, right?" he said, fingers lightly touching the cuffs at his side making them jingle.

[Loki]

"I'm just getting ready to up to the Olympics, I'm swimming in two of the races," said Dev, quietly. Showing fear would be like poking a vicious dog with a stick, and, showing anger probably even worse, so, Devilyn tried to keep his expression and tone neutral. "You're right, sir, I am certainly doing nothing that would dishonor my district or the capitol." On this occasion, this is an entirely true statement and probably comes off as honest. He HAS done things that could certainly be said to be directed towards dishonoring the capitol, mainly occasional graffiti, and of course in his thoughts he's planned full scale rebellions, but no one knows he has done either of those things. At just this moment, Dev is innocent and eager to prove it.

[sbeeg]

Clayburn, Cassius

A small snicker escaped his lips. He couldn't help himself. Watching this poor citizen proclaim his love for the Capitol- even Cassius didn't enjoy the Capitol's rule and he doubted this little snail of a person did either. "Oh, you're in a race" he said, his voice curling up into a mocking tone. "Are you gonna win a medal and show it to your mommy?"

Chances were the kid's mom had died long ago. The life expectancy of district citizens were fairly low, especially for women who go through child birth. So many orphans and not enough reaping spots in Clayburn's mind. So, citizen Rain, what are your favorite things about Panem and President Snow's glorious rule?"

Clayburn wanted to make the kid wriggle like one of the half dead fish gasping for air on the pier. He wondered how long he could keep the kid stopped before he slipped something traitorous.

[Loki]

"Probably not. I don't show anything to my mommy," answered Dev, blank expression on his face, to the inquiry as to whether he'd win. The peacekeeper went on to ask what his favorite thing about Panem was, and it wasn't hard to answer honestly: "My favorite thing is the beautiful ocean we are privileged to enjoy here in District 4. And how peaceful it is, of course." He even smiled, a little, as he answered, as if just the thought was sufficient to make him wax blissful. And then, attempting to hide his nerves, Dev asked, "Are you enjoying your time in District Four?" Probably what worked on teachers (asking them a question,) might not work on a Peacekeeper, but, then again, didn't the man have to answer rather than say nothing and appear to be dissatisfied?

((OOC: Sorry this was so late!))

[sbeeg]

Clayburn, Cassius

Cassius' lips twisted into a frown. This kid wasn't breaking. Maybe the old Peacekeeper had lost his touch. It's probably all the time he spends in the Detention Center with all those shaken up citizens that are as strong as an egg shell in the interrogation rooms. Out in the open like this was a different story. Well, if you can't find any drama and you can't make any you can image it. Cassius has beaten his fair share of citizens after inquiring what they were looking at. Kind of cliche but it works if you really need to wail on someone.

The kid, Rain, smiled at him and Cassius' threw his arm out grabbing the boy's chin and yanking it up.

"Are you being smart with me?" he yelled. Others on the pier started making a large path around them. Most of them know what happens when you interfere with a Peacekeeper on duty. "Come with me, citizen."

The Keeper grabbed the boy's wrist and started dragging him down the pier away from the ocean and away from the Olympics center. Cassius wondered if he would cry if he missed his race. He hoped so.