{Chained to Run} --ArcxMuffin Blitz--

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

Gentle fingers spread across the stinging flesh, frown across his jaws. A low curse makes its way through his lips. If rain causes his appendage to sting, the strain and pressure of the snow outside sends waves of fire against his skin.

His hands clutch and grip at an orange, white-capped bottle, withdrawing two ivory colored, oval shaped tablets and popping them easily in his mouth. He takes them dry, no water whatsoever, and allows his hands to fall back onto the bleachers after they draw away the bottle into his crimson colored flannel.

Not two weeks back yet, and already every class of his is full- there's a waiting list to take first aid, and though he's thankful because it means more hours and more pay, Mohs finds he would rather be at home to keep an eye on the three boys. While he himself was never a problem child, he doubts his mother's strength of will to struggle against three more mouths to feed.

Not to mention the creeping guilt snaking down his spine, but it's okay- it's fine, really.

Between sessions, his gaze lifts and rests on those struggling against other trainers, other students, other demons. Once upon a time he used to be one of those strong-armed muscular boys, absolutely beaming with confidence and justification, though now, with his leg made of plastics and body aching roughly ninety nine percent of the time, he struggles just to get from one place to another.

A cold cup of coffee rests on the bench beside him, and his fingers dip t lift it. Icy eyes close as he leans back and downs the entire thing, an empty ebony mug clacking back onto the hardwood, angry, final, like the gavel of a judge.

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

ufuoma northrop

The ever-lasting horrifying work of the devil remains inside his bones as they ache from working, the swinging of a sword and the tying of knots causing his hands to burn and he doesn't like any single moment of it. There was never a moment where releasing the weapon or knot he would be sad with it, he never wanted to continue on training because he knew himself that he would never go into those games. Andrew would never let himself fall into their trap destined for death and it would hurt him to see that happen to so many others.

He would make his way to a bench, rubbing his hands together and cringing at the pain that inflicted upon him.  There was another male there, Andrew remembered seeing him around every so often but he never got to know him. This might be a good chance. "Hey, uh, is this seat taken?" The male raised an eyebrow as he hovered over the bench, hoping for a chance to talk to someone that seemed normal.

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

The weight causes the bench to shift ever so slightly while a limber hand quickly moves away the coffee mug, and Mohs glances at his newest companion- he's seen him around, but he's never been on one of his rosters. One of those meaty kids who thought they could get far with the strength of their blade alone, he suspects judging by those pulsating biceps.

"Are you alright? that looks painful." he murmurs quietly, his fingers falling to the kid's wrist, rough fingertips lightly grazing his skin. Half-expecting the Career to rip his hand away, he moves quickly. Crimson palms greet his eyes, and Mohs cringes slightly- they've got him working on rope then. Fuck he hated working the knot-tying and wall-scaling.

His left hand flies to his pants pocket, and carefully he removes a small white, cylindrical tube, resembling chap stick. A thumb flicks the pale cap away, and he offers it to the male, with instructions- "Smear it on your hand and then rub it in with small circles. It'll stop the burning. It won't heal it right away, but it'll definitely stop the pain and make your hands a little more dry."

He's honestly surprised they gave the kid a break- or that he wanted to take one. It must have been a safety issue. The trainers probably thought he'd fall the full twenty feet. Though the center has training mats, Mohs recalls having to pop more than one shoulder, elbow, finger back into place because of slippery digits.

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

ufuoma northrop

"Are you alright? that looks painful." Ufuoma had shrugged while looking down at the bench, not really knowing what to say once he had sat down. Though, he appreciated that the other didn't freak out about him sitting down with the other. He liked that the other had shown some sort of effort in caring in what had happened to him which had earned a real thought of respect from him. The male had watched as a hand shot down the others pants pocket and took out a small, cylinder tube. It was white and almost resembled chap stick in a way. The cap on the tube was flicked off and handed to him with instructions given.

Andrew would follow those instructions immediately despite not knowing the other male well enough well enough to know if it was some nasty trick or not. Though after following the directions quickly and rubbing it on the designated burns on his body a small sigh escaped his lips from the male as the pain had started to slightly slip away. Closing his eyes he'd nod and smile, turning towards the other and knowing the first thing he'd have to say. "Thank you, I definitely needed that..." He'd glance down at his wrists; mainly referring to the knots that had been wrapping him earlier at the station.

There was no given to him that he could take a break, he took it himself because he didn't even want to be there anyways. He only trained so his parents would notice that he had been doing something and not bug him to start working more. 

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

He offers a rare smile, and leans back into the bench, his cane falling against his thigh. "No problem. I'm Pro-Mohs Aurum. I teach First Aid." Once upon a time he was a stickler for titles, but now he can physically see the difference between himself and the rest of the students. He doesn't need to flaunt 'Professor' everywhere anymore.

"Maybe you should step into my class sometime. You don't have to do exclusive weapons training." he says offhandedly, grimacing as one of the many students falls flat on his neck. Instead of rising and flying to the girl though, he remains sitting as she hauls herself up with help from her trainer. His hand rises instead, for the tube of burn relief, if Andrew so wished to give it back. "Even if you don't go into the games, First Aid training comes in handy in real life. One of my students saved a kid from choking a few years ago." His eyebrows lift as his head falls back, gazing overhead at the painfully bright, fluorescent lights.

He isn't one for conversation, and he's sure it's blatantly obvious, but ever since Se- He shakes his head to rid himself of the thought. He needs more coffee- though it's like sludge. Anything to keep his mind away from the life of a kid he couldn't save.

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

"No problem. I'm Pro-Mohs Aurum. I teach First Aid." Andrew would nod, having taken the station when he was younger and remembering the male slightly from those days. He didn't remember much else about the male besides that. "Maybe you should step into my class sometime. You don't have to do exclusive weapons training." That would cause a small nod to come from the male. "Thank god if I do, my parents are horrid." He said with a sigh, referring to his parents making him take the entire training business when he isn't going to ever throw himself into those Hunger Games, there was no way he would fall under their spell.

"Even if you don't go into the games, First Aid training comes in handy in real life. One of my students saved a kid from choking a few years ago." The male would nod, knowing that this was also very true because there might be that one person on the street that would be in trouble and he could save their life.

Though that involves bravery independence, fast thinking. None of these would fit the definition for Ufuoma Northrop.

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

Mohs doesn't know what else to say and instead turns slightly, looking the male up and down. He doesn't recall the face, but then again, unless they were troublemakers, he doesn't really remember any but his favorites. He's quiet- for a Career. Most of them are more than willing to flex at you across the room, but this boy- he's hardly said more than three sentences to Mohs, and it draws him slightly on edge. Septys was that way too, and he ended up sliding farther than any of his other students thus far.

The man is lucky- his parents never forced, never pushed. They were always supportive, even just after the accident. His mother whispered hushed words of encouragement while his father wordlessly escorted him to appointments and for the first week and a half of his work, the training center.

Mohs lets his hands fall back into his lap, saying nothing, instead, staring absentmindedly down into his cup while another hand gently rubs his thigh at the crease where limb and plastic meet. He could really use another cup of coffee.

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

Andrew hadn't been thinking much, but he looked over and saw the male looking at him up and down- probably trying to figure out or remember who he was from his classes. This was something that was normal for him unless he saw the other classmates goofing off, because of his fake personality this was the only time he had to relax and actually be himself without anyone bugging him. The male didn't really know what to do as he ran through his hair. Andrew had saw the other repetitively look down at the cup in his hand causing him to laugh slightly, raising an eyebrow and asking with a slight smirk. "Looking for some more in there?" The male hoped this wouldn't be seen as rude.

He was also hoping that he'd be able to find a friend in someone for once, though the concept seems much too foreign to become real.

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

Mohs snorts, the grin resonating all the way back to his ears. "Wow, I actually haven't heard that one before. Yeah, I think I need more coffee but it's all the way in the damn staff room and my leg is bothering the piss out of me." He braces himself and seizes the cane, carefully rising to his full stance. "I had a runner get it for me last time and let me tell you- twelve year olds do not make good coffee. Why don't you come with me and I'll make you make it, eh?"

He starts the long, arduous process, his foot nearly dragging on the ground as he moves. He's nineteen, but the way his joints and bones creak and ache, one would think him far, far older. Fuck snow, fuck rain, fuck weather in general. All of it is too much to handle, too sickening without the pills clutched in his pocket but they haven't yet kicked in and he can't take more, not yet, not unless he wants to fight an overdose.

Who will there be to heal the healer?

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

Andrew had been satisfied with his success in making the other laugh, happy in his attempt being successful. "Wow, I actually haven't heard that one before. Yeah, I think I need more coffee but it's all the way in the damn staff room and my leg is bothering the piss out of me." The male would nod, smiling softly due to the laugh of the other. He liked the laugh that was found from the other's voice. The male had grabbed his cane and seemed to brace himself before standing up. He felt bad for the other, having so much pain at such a youthful age it seemed. "I had a runner get it for me last time and let me tell you- twelve year olds do not make good coffee. Why don't you come with me and I'll make you make it, eh?"

Andrew laughed slightly, speaking for himself with a shrug. "I've only made coffee three times and it was for my mother, all when I was younger so I'll go ahead and test my memory of the practice." He would nod slightly before following after the other slowly, understanding that he should be going slowly due to the disability of the other. The male wanted to frown slightly due to the pain the other has to endure, for he wondered what had caused this pain in a body that should be joyful and full of youth.

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

He grins again, though it could be considered a grimace as he limps past sword fighting, beyond knot-tying, far away from hand to hand combat. Once upon a time many moons ago- something like that, that was the station he always wanted to man. The feeling of nothing but your own reflexes, your own body weight, it was absolutely exhilarating, but now he was lucky if he could make it out of bed without having to stop because his leg twinged.

Painfully slow they move, arriving at the emblazoned "Staff Only" door. He pushes it open halfheartedly, and slips inside, offering a glance back at Andrew. "I've only made coffee three times and it was for my mother, all when I was younger so I'll go ahead and test my memory of the practice."

"Hmn. You're starting to make me think we should hire some private baristas. Maybe if we bring another victor home-" he stops suddenly, the stiffness in his chest radiating through his body. He shivers, shuddering painfully as he stops and lifts his head. "Yeah, the coffee is over there." he gestures towards the beat up counter top, carefully easing himself onto a ripped couch.

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

The male followed after without a problem, respecting the other throughout the steps they took to the door and he'd slip on in after the other halfheartedly opened the door. He would listen to the other upon hearing his voice awaken and words erupted from the other's throat. "Hmn. You're starting to make me think we should hire some private baristas. Maybe if we bring another victor home-" There was a sudden stop as Andrew watched the other, a stiffness filling in the others chest and then he shivered and shuddered somewhat painfully as he lifted his head. "Yeah, the coffee is over there." The male would look over at the direction the older had pointed in, causing him to move over to it with a small frown upon the sudden stop of his speech.

His mind was flipping through the possibilities, the causes for what might have caused it when his mind landed on the memory of this years Games, where we had come third place this year to a district that had won the last two before this one. Andrew snapped out of his thoughts as he realized what he was here to do.

"So how do you want your, uh, coffee?" He wasn't completely familiar with the vocabulary of coffee, however he does remember the directions very clearly from the days he had to make the coffee for his mother. Andrew looked over at the male with a raised eyebrow in questioning.

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

"Black, and strong. So that means use basically the entire scoop, please." He adjusts himself on the couch, lifting his false leg onto the arm, and collapsing back into the awful flower-patterned thing. "Make it a scoop and a half please." he adds as an after thought, lips pursed as he ponders and thinks quietly, adjusting his body to be more comfortable though he struggles.

A moment passes and he lifts his head to glare at a clock on the wall- twenty minutes left until the next class. He wants to groan but stays quiet, an elbow lifting across his eyes. "Anything you're struggling with training-wise? I was pretty good back in the day." An up and coming career with his life cut short by an axe.

He should have been brilliant, he should have gone in the games instead of the child who ended up taking his place, but instead, he cowardly let Septys go in his stead and now he's dead.

No, Kit's right- that isn't his fault.

He sits up, putting pressure against the offending limb, hugging it close to his chest as he watches Andrew make the coffee, eyes alight with curiosity. "Feel free to take some if you'd like."

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

"Black, and strong. So that means use basically the entire scoop, please." The male would nod slightly, being silent himself because he didn't quite know what to say through his actions as he did what he remembered as he followed the others directions of the scoop and then hearing the readjustment of a body on furniture. "Make it a scoop and a half please." The male added a half scoop in and starting the coffee up to let it brew and do it's thing, leaning against the counter as he ran his hand through his hair. The male didn't know what to think personally, however all he knew was that something along the lines of success will never pass through his life as he's a failure; he knew this and knew this as a child.

"Anything you're struggling with training-wise? I was pretty good back in the day." The male heard him ask, causing him to list the few things he focus on but next to the occasional first aid station. "Uh, I normally stay with the same things which is normally fencing, wrestling, knot tying and rock climbing. Though here and there I take first aid classes." The male noted, looking over at the other with a small smile appearing upon his face.

"Feel free to take some if you'd like." Andrew would shake his head slightly, declining the offer easily. "I'm not really a coffee person, though thank you for the offer." He would smile softly.

[Muffinface]

I've Been Sleepless at Night

"Uh, I normally stay with the same things which is normally fencing, wrestling, knot tying and rock climbing. Though here and there I take first aid classes."

Ahhh so he did look familiar for a reason. The pressure seems to ease the ache of both limb and heart, and with his head on his false knee, Mohs allows his gaze to wander across the male's torso, and his strong arms. He can't recall ever looking that way- particularly before the accident, all muscles and no strength.

"You should think about throwing spear lessons in there somewhere." He takes rock climbing- that comes as a slight shock, but not as much as his next statement.

"What? You don't like coffee? You must not have it fixed right then. Pour yourself a cup and watch me do magic." He throws his leg over the edge of the couch and manages to stand with the aid of his mahogany cane, slipping to the counter top. He drags packets of sugar from below, and dips around the male to the small fridge, digging around for milk.

"Black coffee is an acquired taste but this- Capitolites will pay ten bucks this shit so make sure you don't go giving my secrets away."