Gods and Monsters {Ahmanet/Jarvis}

[kap]

"Welcome to a new world of Gods and monsters."

Being a creature of the streets isn't where I expected my life to bring me, but it has, and I've learned to enjoy it. Ever since I murdered my baby brother, and spent time in the Detention Center, people thought I was insane. They were right. I'm completely insane, and I'll revel in that for the remainder of my time on this wretched planet. I killed my brother so that my parents couldn't love him more than me, but when I got back from my punishment in Panem's version of prison, they were gone. Dead. Deceased. Had kicked the bucket. Whatever term pleases you most. Regardless, without them around, I was brought to foster homes, all of which I was kicked out of over the years due to violent behavior. Now, I live as a homeless individual, and it doesn't bother me one bit.

I steal for a living, taking things from those that I believe don't deserve them. Today was no different. Taking my time to get changed into the other of my two pairs of day clothes while hidden in a back alleyway, I thought about what I would be prying from another person's possession. I certainly could use some more food. After all, my breakfast had been out of a dumpster this morning, which certainly wasn't my favorite. Occasionally, a boy by the name of Bryan Samuels would bring me food, but I hadn't seen him in quite some time. Therefore, I would have to get some myself. Then, right before I started walking down the street to find my target, I put on my favorite necklace before heading out, which was one I had stolen from a local jewelry store when the shopkeeper was on lunch about a month ago.

As I ventured down the street, I got both looks of disgust and looks of concern from people who saw my raggedy, dirty clothes that I was wearing. There was nothing I could do about the quality of my clothing, though, as there was no real way for me to clean it, and I didn't have any cash to buy more. Ignoring these people, however, I just kept making my way along the sidewalks of District Six. There were a few people I recognized, but more often than not, I didn't know any of the people I saw, and they didn't know me.

After a little time walking, I saw a boy, likely a year or two younger than me, sitting on the edge of the sidewalk, fiddling with something in his hands. I couldn't tell what it was, so I wasn't going to just swipe it, but perhaps if I got him to like me enough, and it was something of value, he'd just give it up to me. It was unlikely, but always possible. Therefore, I approached him. To some people, I was a goddess for my talented thievery and bribery skills. To others, I was a monster. What would this boy think?

"Hey, what's up?" I sat down on the sidewalk next to him, and looked at his face. I didn't recognize him, but he didn't seem like anyone I should be afraid of. Then again, there isn't much that scares a God or a monster.

[mat]

[googlefont="Merienda:400"]

♚jarvis♚
i want to take over the planet

♚♚♚

"But Pepper, I don't wanna go with-"

His words were cut off by a very angry and impatient brother.

{"Mother, I promise I won't let him out of my sight. And I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."}

Clever spoke, and with every word brought Jarvis's tantrum within his mind to boil. Jarvis wanted to go out of the house, run some errands for the family. He just couldn't sit around day and night in a house of people who think he is crazy. The only way he was allowed out of the house was if he had Pepper or Tony or Clever or Slack go with him.

After Clever invited himself, Jarvis pulled back from his offer to walk around District Six. The pain of being around his brother's snickering laugh drove him nuts.

{"Jarvis. You wanted to go and now you're going to go."}

With Pepper, it was as if he spoke to a wall. Never listening to a word he says, treating him like a child, refusing to acknowledge his independence. Jarvis wanted to be a normal kid, every bone in his body did, but with his family parading around him day and night, it seemed impossible.

Clever grabbed his wrist and began to tug on it. Jarvis took a few large steps before finally meeting pace with his brother.

The monster he knew as his big brother practically dragged him a block and a half away from their house before letting go.

{"Go do whatever the hell you want, Jarvis."}

"But where are you-"

{"Doesn't matter where."}

"But Pepper said-"

{"Who the fuck cares about what she said? I'm going to party, you're going wherever you want."}

Clever turned back, reaching into his pants pocket. Out with his hand came a shiny white crystal with such a size that it could fit in the palm of his hand. Jarvis took it from his brother.

{"Now don't tell, and do whatever you want."}

Clever walked away, and Jarvis walked in a direction away from him.

~~

Jarvis let his feet travel blocks and blocks away until he was in the middle of an unfamiliar place. The streets were rustling with people walking this way and that, talking and laughing and some even crying. He let his feet rest as he sat on the curb of the road.

He took the shiny object out from his jacket and now in his hands. He'd never seen it before, and he was glad to call it his own. The only question was where Clever got it, and that was an answer he didn't want.

Jarvis bounced the crystal from one hand to the other, letting it twirl. When the crystal hit just the right angle, the light reflected itself and beamed into his eyes. To him, this wasn't just a toy. It was a prized possession, and quite a numberwang one at that.

It brought him so much amusement, so much so that the confused looks from the judgemental people of District Six were minimized beyond any comparison.

He continued to play with it until someone approached him, sitting beside him on the sidewalk.

{"Hey, what's up?"}

He didn't make eye contact. Instead, he just stared at the shoes of the people walking by.

Say something, Jarvis. Anything. It's not often that you make friends. Do it.

"The sky's up. I'm up if you mean awake. I guess you are too then.." His words were accompanied by an awkward chuckle. Every word brought more nerves to the table. He held his crystal as if it was his lucky charm, but nothing was lucky enough to help him.

"Sorry, I'm not good at talking to people. I hope you don't mind." And with every word now brought more embarrassment.

"You're probably creeped out now." He still stared at the road, holding onto his crystal as if it was the last thing standing between himself and a waterfall of tears of shame.

[kap]

"Welcome to a new world of Gods and monsters."

The boy was funny, or at least trying to be. He seemed a bit odd, but that wouldn't deter me from the task at hand. It didn't seem like he was taking his eyes off of the crystal in his hands anytime soon, though, so it's likely I'd have to find a way to get him to give it to me. I'd never met the boy before, meaning I had no idea how he'd react if I just straight up took it from him. Then again, since there were very few people I did know, it meant that my targets were usually unpredictable anyway.

"The sky's up. I'm up if you mean awake. I guess you are too then.."

I let out a small laugh in return, just to make him feel better, despite the poor quality and cliché nature of his joking.

"Sorry, I'm not good at talking to people. I hope you don't mind."

I used to be bad at talking to people, too, when I was younger. Nowadays, however, I'd consider myself quite charismatic and capable of quite a bit of manipulation when necessary. I'm rather talented in the art of trickery. Then again, I am a thief.

"You're probably creeped out now."

I couldn't prevent myself from letting out a small chuckle at the boy's comment. Ahmanet Oasis, creeped out by something? People and things didn't creep me out, I creeped them out. I could scare away some people just by looking at them a certain way. Then, I gave the boy the most innocent-seeming smile that I could. I wanted to seem friendly, if I was going to have any chance of getting something out of him.

"No worries," I told him. "Trust me, it takes a lot to creep me out." That was the truth. "I'm Jane, by the way. What's your name?" That was a huge lie. I'd never even known someone by the name Jane. I'm Ahmanet Oasis, and nothing would change that. This boy, however, didn't need to know who I really was, on the off chance he'd heard about me before. After all, not everyone like a thief and a killer.