Odd One Out

My name is Ember Taft and I have a talent for trouble...

[embertaft]

Do Your Worst | Embart |

[bartholomew-williams]

The Boy Wonder chuckled at Ember’s answer, in the dark counting cannons. " Capitol’s version, huh?" he smiled, even though the question was more of a rhetorical one. He saw her look away, but he just kept staring at her. With every word Ember spoke after that, Bartholomew knew he must have been blushing.He wanted to cover his face, completely, but he settled with scratching the top of his head and roughly running a hand through his hair. He shook his head, looking down at the elevator floor." It’s different when I fight, but," he paused, looking back up at Ember. “I haven’t seen anyone else around here, more deserving of my charm. Just saying." he ended with two random words and shrugged, so she wouldn’t linger on the words too long. " You’re right though, I shouldn’t be so distanced from you. Especially when we’re allies." He lingered where he was, unsure if he should do what he was thinking. Suddenly, he quickly stepped towards Ember. less than a meter away from her. " How’s this?" he asked softly, being so close to Ember. " Still don’t bite?" he edged her on, still watching her eyes. The elevator stopped. The doors opened and Bartholomew slowly backed away, smiling widely. " Ladies first." he gestured towards the doors.

[embertaft]

Trying to ignore the slight burning in her cheeks at his comment about no one else deserving his charm she denied herself the eye contact she so deeply craved. As he stepped closer she tensed, a small smile on her lips. Well this is what she had asked for after all. He was less than 3 ft away from her and she could tell her was there without looking. "How's this?" Nodding she waited not trusting a verbal answer for now. "Still don’t bite?" She was about to turn and face him when the elevator chimed and the doors opened. Stepping out first she turned to wait for him. As he joined her she stayed slightly behind for a moment, leaning close to his ear she whispered a few quick words before picking up her pace and walking ahead. "No biting. Not yet." As she looked over her shoulder she stopped and smiled. "Are you going to train with me or are you going to leave a girl all on her own in a room full of weapons? Those things could kill a person you know."

[embertaft]

Do Your Worst | Embart |

[bartholomew-williams]

Bartholomew tried to sleep again after taking a shower, but he couldn’t. Instead he’d thrown his shirtless self on the bed and sighed, staring up at the ceiling. After staring at nothing for what felt like forever, he pushed himself up and jumped off the bed. He let his body fall to the ground as he placed his hands and feet down in a push up, position. Placing his left hand behind his back, he began lowering then pushing his body up. As he pushed, he thought of what he was really pushing for. The Victor’s crown. Showing everyone back home that he could do it. He was just as important as Celeste. Then he saw her eyes. And her red hair. Ember-District One’s mentor called out his name and he fell apart, as he lowered himself. He balled his hand into a fist and banged on the floor once, before getting up, dressing himself for more training, and finding the voice.

He knew he was saying something, but as Bartholomew walked to the door, he ignored him. " I’m going to training, see ya," he simply replied on his way out, throwing up his hand for his mentor to see. He was still hollering something about interviews when the door closed behind Bartholomew’s already walking body. He pressed the number 1 for his floor, waiting impatiently. When the elevator doors opened, he froze at the sight of Ember. The same way he did, a few hours ago. The doors started closing and Bartholomew threw himself between the doors, to stand in front of Ember. " H-Hey Ember…" he said, smiling. “Oh, shoot, right…" he turned around to press the training floor button, but already the door began to close and move again. Awkwardly, he stood back from Ember, giving her more distance and standing across from her. " It’s nice-it’s cool to see you, again. You’re heading to training too?"

[embertaft]

Seeing the way he practically flung himself through the door Ember had to stifle a laugh knowing that laughing so soon in such an awkward meeting, was a fairly bad idea. Hearing the same small stammer from earlier as he spoke she couldn't help the small smile. It was almost endearing to see his unease. Almost. "I see you still have that same charming way of words that you possessed earlier. Nice to know I won't have to worry about being entranced by a resident Wordsworth." Looking at him for a moment, she watched him take a slight step back. "Yep, couldn't sleep. I figured I may as well do something productive rather than lay on the sofa in the dark and count cannons. You know, the Capitol version of counting sheep." Shrugging she looked at the door and then back to Bart. "So Boy Wonder, is that charm of yours the same when you fight or is your cute awkwardness just a special treat for me? Because I can't believe that you, a Career would be so distanced from me otherwise. You can stand within a meter of me Bartholomew, I don't bite. Not hard anyway."

[embertaft]

Do Your Worst | Embart |

It had been less than 24 hours since Bart had attempted to bash down her door, hollering about showers. The memory of waking up to that made her smile. It had been a surprising introduction to say the least and made for a memorable moment. Ember was more than intrigued by the boy. In just that short time the two had found out more about one another than most had with Ember in years. Somehow, sharing information with him had been easy and far less worrying than she would have thought. But not only had they met, but they had also made an agreement. To be allies. For Bart to go against the Career and meet her in the arena. It would be interesting to say the least, finding one another in the still unknown terrain. For now, she walked out of her flat once more closing the door behind her and stepping onto the elevator. Pressing the button for the lowest floor, she waited as the doors closed. She was still tired, her sleep having been ended abruptly by Bartholomew's banging, but training demanded her attention. She had been going over this thought when the elevator slowed and the doors opened. Looking up and seeing the number 1 light up on the list of buttons she realised this was not the lower floor. Letting her eyes drift to the doors she saw the figure stepped forward into the elevator and she smiled.

[jaxondistrict9]

The Tale of Two Victors |Jaxon + Ember|

[jaxondistrict9]

Jaxon was impressed. He expected something like cause you told me to hit you. “Very good.” He stood there for a second unsure of where to go from there. “Your reasoning is solid and a strategy you are going to want to stick with. Go with what you believe over what you know. Sometimes your guy outsmarts your brain. But…” Jaxon paused. Still considering whether or not to share this next bit of information with her. “If you want to use your brain. Here’s how. Do you know what a pressure point is?”  Jaxon’s entire style of fighting was based off of the body and of pressure points, they were extremely helpful in combat and if he even showed Ember a few she would be much better off. 

[embertaft]

Taking his compliments and comments she was glad to know that her gut instinct hadn't been totally wrong. At least she knew how to stand, how to bluff and as a next step, how to run. When Jaxon talked about using the brain she listened carefully, far more interested in relying on a logical strategy rather than instinct. The topic he brought up was familiar but not in the way Jaxon might assume. "Um  I know what it is back home. A point where thing connect, a natural weak point. But how does that help here? This isn't mechanics."

[jaxondistrict9]

The Tale of Two Victors |Jaxon + Ember|

[jaxondistrict9]

Jab to the stomach. Carter called out from inside his head. I see it! Jaxon called back. He stepped forward, into her blow. He took the strike full force. It hurt but it would not stop him. He laughed as he stepped back, “Very good,” he applauded her, “Now tell me, Red. Why did you hit me there?” It was a simple question but it could have so many different explanations. He assumed she was just hitting to hit, and that was where he would correct her. 

[embertaft]

She hadn't expected him to move forward into the punch, but the minute she felt the impact she stopped, stepping back. He applauded the blow and he didn't seem hurt but she still felt a little bad. When he asked the next question she had to think about why. After a moment she answered hoping it didn't sound stupid. "Well i know if I hit you on the side I risked getting pulled over, or you dodging. But I thought if I aim for the middle, then you moving might mean I hit your side or wind you. I'd have a better chance at hitting you I guess. But I wasn't really sure if that would work. I just sort of hoped."

[jaxondistrict9]

The Tale of Two Victors |Jaxon + Ember|

[jaxondistrict9]

Jaxon knew she was going to follow his advice. He had his strong side open to her and he knew she had done the opposite. “Okay stance is good. I would say you look intimidating to me,” he tried not to chuckle at her, “Next part. Hit me. Charge me. And hit me.” Jaxon smiled at her, “I’m not kidding. I’ll be fine trust me. Some of these tributes have taken knvies at me,” he thought about Farren, and smiled bigger. “Hit me, and make it count.” Ember seemed as if she would make it far, and he wanted to give her the best chance he could, because a fair fight was all he believed in. 

[embertaft]

She waited while he spoke, glad that the stance she'd taken was alright. It was a little odd to her at first, but she guessed getting used to it would take time. Smiling at his words she shook her head, there was no way a small brightly hair coloured girl looked powerful to him. When told her to hit him her smiled faded. As much as she was okay with fighting, the idea of hitting him seemed oddly wrong. "But this isn-" She was cut off as he spoke again telling her he'd be fine. "Okay. But I don't like it." Looking at his stance she could only guess one of two things. He was either protecting his weak side of his strong one. But how do you hit a person. She could punch but that was it. Realising that stalling wasn't going to make it any easier she stepped forward aiming a punch to his stomach.

[jaxondistrict9]

The Tale of Two Victors |Jaxon + Ember|

[jaxondistrict9]

“What I’m trying to say,” Jaxon sighed at his failed metaphor, “Your opponents will be dumb. Nervous. Stressed. You have to be smarter, faster, strength has nothing to do with it in the end. Now here,” Jaxon stepped into the nearby ring and stood off to one side. “Stand across from me, and get ready.” Jaxon stood there, arms up in a fighting position. “Just stand there, as if you want to fight me, that’s all I want to see.” Jaxon had no idea why he was showing kindess. Something about this girl made him want to help her. As if they belonged to the same group, or circle, but he had never met her, nor did he know her. It puzzled him greatly. 

[embertaft]

Jaxon's second tempt at explaining made more sense to her, and she found herself nodding. Staying where she was for the moment, she waited while he stepped into the ring and told her to make it look like she wanted to fight him. Smiling she walked, to stand opposite him, taking a similar stance to his, keeping her weaker side open hoping to use the bluff he'd been talking about. "Okay, I realize I won't look intimidating, but fast I can do. I've had practice." her mind momentarily going back to running from peacekeepers. Focusing back on Jaxon, she wondered why the boy was telling her all this. She was curious but she didn't ask. Ember knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[jaxondistrict9]

The Tale of Two Victors |Jaxon + Ember|

[jaxondistrict9]

“With just that knowledge you can win a fight. Using your opponent against themselves is how you lose. It is a bad idea to expose your weak side that is correct but at the same time your opponent will always try to hit your weak side. If I stood like this,” Jaxon angled his body at her, arms up, keeping his left side, his stronger side away from her, “You would think my left side be my weaker side cause I’m shielding it from you. But if you step in to go for it, I could easily use it against you and as you step in take down your weaker side. It’s all about playing the bluff. It’s basically a game of cards, it doesn’t matter what is in your hands just matters what the other players think is in your hand” 

[embertaft]

Listening to what he had to say, she found some comfort in his words. At least she knew enough to possibly win a fight. Nodding she made a mental note to practice this if she ever go to spar with someone. Stepping back a little to look at how he stood instinctively guessing his weaker side was away from her. But as he carried on explaining she had to laugh. "Okay. Admittedly I did think that the weaker was the one facing away. So had this been a fight I would definitely come out worse for wear. But I think I get it. If I play the bluff, then its like they'll underestimate, and target my 'weaker' side." Moving to walk past him she shook her head. "The card game analogy is a little lost on me though. I never play. But I get the concept. I think. Thanks."

[jaxondistrict9]

The Tale of Two Victors |Jaxon + Ember|

[jaxondistrict9]

“You’re just trying to make me look like a cocky asshole,” Jaxon laughed as she mentioned hand to hand combat. “I don’t want to spar you, especially if you are bold enough to say its your weak spot. But I would love to give you  a few pointers. I love a fair fight and hand to hand usually comes in handy in fights. Especially if you run out of arrows. So tell me what you exactly know about hand to hand?” Jaxon smiled this was his specialty. He could show her everything he knew nd she could be unstoppable, he wouldn’t do that but he would teach her enough to stay live long enough for him to kill her. 

[embertaft]

It was reassuring that Jaxon wouldn't put her to the test just yet. As much as she wanted and needed to learn, the thought of sparring with someone was still off putting. "Alright, a few pointers would be great Jaxon, thank you." Smiling she carried on beside him trying to think of what exactly she knew about hand to hand. "Well, honestly I don't know a lot. I know to keep my weaker side defended. And to look at the other persons body language and the way they stand to see how they are going to go at you, or what side is their weak one. But that's about it. Nothing about the actual moves." It wasn't much, but then she'd never really had to use it when running from peacekeepers.

[jaxondistrict9]

The Tale of Two Victors |Jaxon + Ember|

[jaxondistrict9]

“You can call me Sir, or Jaxon but it’s really up to you.” Jaxon smiled at her trying to cancel out his little episode. She was very sure of herself. She could have been a victor herself if was not around to get in her way. Too bad she would have to die, she was very pretty. “Bows get boring Red, What’s something you’re not good at?” He teased hoping to show off his ability in something else. 

[embertaft]

Shaking her she watched him, not sure whether to amused or annoyed. He wasn't one for straight answers this Jaxon. Putting the bow back she went after him, having to run slightly to catch up. "Fine, Jaxon it is. And something I'm not good at. Well the immediate answer is hand to hand seeing as I favor distance. But the trainers are never free so yeah. Hand to hand. I'm terrible." trailing off she realised that maybe telling him this was a bad idea. But if needed be, she could bluff right? Lie about having told him a lie. Looking up at him she smiled, wondering just what he would think about her admission.

[farren-rogers-blog]

Well then you’re not a very good listener. Just because I didn’t volunteer doesn’t mean I don’t want to be a part of this. Let me say this clearly: I can’t wait for the Games. So good luck claiming self-defense in there.

[embertaft]

Thanks for the pep talk sweetheart, but honestly in that arena I wont be claiming anything but the title of victor.

But if you're a good little girl I might let you get to the final 8. Just maybe. If you don't get in my way.

[farren-rogers-blog]

Trouble, huh? I told you shooting peacekeepers was a bad idea. I’m the one who’s being positive.

[embertaft]

Well I didn't shoot them till after they started chasing me. So I'm claiming self defense there.

And you're being positive. Just how exactly are you doing that? A minute ago you were stating how you didn't want to be here.

[farren-rogers-blog]

So did she do it? Did she kick you out? I didn’t volunteer, okay? I was chosen and I’m thrilled to be here.

[embertaft]

She probably would have, if I'd bothered to go home that night. I ended up with a spot of trouble.

Well, at least we both share the whole 'being picked' scenario. Though I prefer a more positive outlook on the subject.

[farren-rogers-blog]

You’re saying you did it to be special? Don’t you remember where we are? Every single person in the Capitol has some bright, stupid color on their head.

[embertaft]

No, I did it to make my mother hate me and kick me out. My hair's been like this for years.

I never really planned on coming here to be honest. Not all of us are homicidal maniacs you know.

[farren-rogers-blog]

I know what dyeing is. But why would you pick such an obvious, unnatural color? And, no thanks. I’ve already spent too much time with District 3.

[embertaft]

Because, picking such a boring, natural colour is well boring.

Do I strike you as the kind of person who likes to blend in? Because if I do then I'm obviously not trying hard enough.

[farren-rogers-blog]

“Weapon of choice.” All the untrained kids say something like that. But, no, the only thing that confuses me is still just your hair.

[embertaft]

Really? We're back to the hair again?

Honestly Farren, if the concept of dyeing hair confuses you, then you may want to spend a little more time with the kids from Three. You never know, their intelligence might just help you out.

[farren-rogers-blog]

Oh really? You said you liked bows, you never said you were an expert. You should try being a little clearer when you talk to people.

[embertaft]

Well it wouldn't be my weapon of choice if I was bad at it now would it?

And maybe I don't want to be clear. After all I'm confusing you and its proving to be quite entertaining.