sinking ship (open)

[night]

The boat was going to sink soon. They'd had it since before mother died. Father had spent all the repair money on alcohol. But that was to be expected. The money Anya lived off of was the money Anya made from selling a few extra fish on the side. Not too many, or Father would notice. Anya was smart. It wasn't much. A meal a day. But she did it herself. On top of training, on top of being one of the very best district 4 had to offer. Anya needed no one.

She patted the boat's side as if to thank it for not sinking while she was on it, then proceeded to tie it up. Then she sat next to it, on the dock, and unwrapped her single meal for the day. A half loaf of bread, a few slices of turkey, and an apple greeted her. Anya set them up in front of her in a just so fashion. This was the one part of the day she enjoyed. Food time. But just when she was about to take her bread, a clumsy foot stepped on her lunch -- only the apple was spared. Anya remained still, "I hope you know you're paying for that." She said in a chillingly calm voice.

ooc:not great.

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[Alyssa :)]

Ben looked down at what he had just stepsd in. He stood in silence as the girl complained at him. Slowly his blue eyes rolled as he used the dock to clean off his shoe. Then very casually he looked at Anaya with a raise eyebrow. So someone was going to speak up for what they believed. "Oh am I know doll face?" he asked slyly.

He ran his long fingures through his blond hair while looking at her excuse for a boat. "How am I paying for that? Is some girl gonna beat me up?" his voice loaded with sarcasm as he ran his hands acrossed the boat. It looked to be a rather old boat that had been on the sea for years. He honestly liked old boats like that but only if it was in better shape.

Carelessly he dropped down besides her and let his feet hang of the edge. Rudely he picked up her apple and rolled it between his palms. He had been described as a flirt before but didn't let that get to him. A slick smile appeared to be glued on his face as he looked back at the rather harmless looking teen. "I'm Ben by the way. What does your name happen to be doll face?" He held the apple out for her to snatch back or at least attempt to. Today was going to be another fabulous day before he set back out on the seas to fish.

[night]

Brilliant sea-green eyes narrowed into a harsh glare. She very nearly flinched at the words 'doll face', grimace growing more prominent with each word Ben said. She sighed deeply, though, because she wouldn't be like Father. No. Anya's temper would not boil over within seconds. No. She would never be like her father. She had to be calm. Clear. Cool. Like the water she loved so much.

"You're going to pay with money." Anya said. "And that can be before or after some girl beats you up." Her voice, cool, was slow. It enunciated each letter, each syllable, carefully, perfectly. When he picked up the apple, it become clear that he had no idea Anya was a Career. The lean muscles and circles under her eyes weren't enough. Quick as lightning, she reached out and hit the bottom of his hand, the one holding the apple, and snatched it from the air when it flew from his grasp.

"It isn't dollface," She wrinkled her nose, "I'll tell you that." Anya took a big bite out of her reclaimed apple. "Anya Weston. You can call me West."

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[Alyssa :)]

Ben carefully let his eyes trace over every inch of her face. It was interesting to see how his words were effecting her. Anya didn't seemed to like being called doll face. He smiled because he knew how he would push her buttons. Then she said he would be paying in gold. Yes. He would pay her with the money he had gotten from his catch a day ago. Slowly he leaned back onto the docks post as she made it clear that she would fight him if he kept offending her. She even took the effort to make sure each word was clear and crisp.

"Oh all right doll face I'll pay you but certainly that isn't the only way I can make it up to such a beautiful face." He commented in a smooth tone. A quick hand had stolen the apple back and he was amazed about this. Now he was tempted to get the apple back but left it be. Wonderful she's fast and has attitude. He made a mental note quickly before she started speaking again.

She had a pretty name. One in which he hadn't heard before so it certainly wasn't going to be easy to remember. Although on the other hand her nickname, West, would be but that didn't do her any justice. "Someone is a bit bossy huh doll face?"

[night]

It wasn't often that Anya interacted with living, breathing creatures other than fish. And even then, they were only living and breathing for awhile. Anya couldn't help from grimacing as dollface was repeated, and by then it was clear that this Ben character was calling her by that name simply to bother her. She could tell by the way he looked at her like he was studying her expression, the smiled. She turned away, pursed her lips, decided to try and keep from making unhappy expressions for the next couple of dollfaces. Sadly, though, it wasn't as if she interacted much with other people. She used to be able to lie pretty well. Not anymore.

"I think I'll just take the money." She said dryly, though she wasn't quiet sure of what Ben could possibly be implying. "That was all my food for the day." Anya frowned.

She couldn't help grimacing again when she heard it. Dollface. No. If he were Anya, her father would hate that. He would already be fighting this Ben character. Then again, he would also already be drunk. And she was neither her father or drunk. "Bossy?" She repeated, flatly, "No. Someone likes to get things done in a timely manner. Pleasantries are for people who have nothing else to fill their time with. My time is valuable." She told him matter-of-factly, rather surprised at all the words that came out of her mouth. The last few conversations she'd been in were screaming matches with her father. And those always ended in physical confrontations.

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[Alyssa :)]

Annoyance, maybe anger was pulsing off Anya in waves. Ben had accomplished the complete opposite of his goal. He sat looking at the water. This was odd. He had failed at attempting to be a flirt. What was wrong with him today? She only wanted the money and not anything else. Normally he could sway someone into going to the market or out to fish. Silently he dug through his pockets to fish out the money he'd give her. Gold. The only thing he didn't need wile he was out at sea. Fish were his company and any other creature that lived off the ocean.

He wished he could just live on the ocean and never have to return back to his house. Though he'd probably miss his sisters and his parents after awhile. The gold touched his finger tips and casually he wrapped them around the cold textured coins before taking them out of his pockets. "Sorry." He muttered before silently he laying them on the dock while listening to her lecture.

Odd. Over all odd. The last person who had lectured him was his father but that was because he had slapped a girl. He'd gotten mad and slipped up. Thats what he was one big slip up. "Well you have a fire that I haven't seen in most girls in a long time. Nice to see that a fire still lives in someone West." He replied after her long chain of dry words. Though despite the dryness they had sunk in. She was just another person working to survive and probably had some sort of trouble at home. Maybe she didn't. Assuming was bad and he certainly shouldn't assume anything.

[night]

Anya wrinkled her sunburnt, slightly freckled nose, taking the cool coins in her left hand and sliding them into her homemade, ratty shorts' pocket, leaving one in her palm and keeping it there, rather enjoying the feeling of having money. It seemed to be a little more than she needed, but Anya wasn't going to argue. It wasn't often that she had more money that what was necessary, and even then, it wasn't often she had any money at all. Most money went to her father and he proceeded to spend the money on booze. "Sorry. He'd said. Anya pulled herself out of her thoughts, holding the coin up in between two of her fingers and gesturing to it, "It never happened." she was good at pretending certain events had never happened.

Anya frowned at Ben's 'fire' comment, unsure as to whether she should take it as a compliment or as an insult. She decided on a former, but did not thank Ben. Anything that she could thank others for, she could do herself. Her father had told her that. It was the single piece of advice from him that she had taken into consideration. So she gave a simple nod of thanks, instead. "Good to hear." She mumbled.

Still, Anya couldn't be entirely rude. It was the thought of her mother, darkly beautiful, that kept her from ending the conversation there, even while the thought of, God forbid, Ben recognizing her as a victor sat in the back of her mind. "Are you a fisherman? I've never seen you on the water before." She asked, though her voice very much conveyed her disinterest. It was a constant war in her head: be like Father or be like Mother?

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[Alyssa :)]

It never happened...but it had. Ben rolled his eyes at her attitude toward the whole event. Clearly he had stepped on her only meal because now she had a pocket full of gold while his was empty. Lazily he flicked a marble from his pocket into the water. A small splash and then ripples. Ripples that would eventually disappear into the vast body of water in which they arose from. It was sort of like her attitude. Silently he studied Anya with steel blue eyes. For some odd reason she looked familiar. Oh well clearly he was just imaging things.

She nodded her head and said something not even close to along the lines of a thank you. He bit his lip trying to avoid snapping at her. Normal people said thank you for a comment. Simple as that. Clearly she either had no manors or thought she had to big of an ego to even say thanks. He let out a snort in annoyance and looked at the water. Casually he pulled himself away from the docks edge. There was no point in sitting around talk when he could get out on the seas and start fishing. He stood up and looked at her again.

Thats it! He knew where he had seen her before. She was a victor in one of the games. He listened to her questions and leaned against the post. "Yes I'm a fisherman and I go far out on the water." Was his reply as he looked along the chain of boats. Then he took a couple steps back. "Later Miss Victor." Then slowly he walked down the dock until he had to stop and tie his shoe.

[night]

Anya would have been fine with leaving the conversation where it had ended. She would have actually, maybe, have liked it. There was something about being all on her own that was incredibly comforting. And familiar. Something about the loneliness reminded her of something she had forgotten. But she could not, she could not, let some other person, some stranger, remind her of the Games and then just walk away. Anya jumped to her feet and jogged after Ben. "Miss victor? Miss victor? What's that supposed to-" She spoke furiously, waving her fists, but she cut herself off. She knew exactly what that was supposed to mean -- it was pretty self-explanatory. Oh, she could just hit him! Pre-Games Anya would have, too. But she'd had enough of those things for awhile. Anya wasn't sure how to say what she wanted to say: don't you dare talk about those Games, don't you dare mention my victory, don't you dare make me remember! It would seem rather odd, though, if she were to say those things.

People already thought she was off. She didn't want to make them think she was crazy, as well. Besides, her thoughts were far too personal. Anya was cold and she had always tried to maintain a certain amount of distance between herself and everyone else. "Don't talk about that. The Games. Not to me." She said, suddenly breathless from the short jog over even though she was more than in shape. Not only did she hate remembering, but it had taken a lot of work after the initial victory and the victory tour to blend back into the District 4 crowd. He was not about to ruin it for her.

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[Alyssa :)]

Ben listened as feet hit the wooden dock's panels at a consistent jog. Clearly their conversation was not finish. Slowly he rose back up after his shoe was fully tied and just in time for Anya to catch up. She clearly wasn't to happy that he figured out who she truly was and crossed his arms. Eyes narrowed in confusion as she trailed off from her sentence. From the sound of her voice and the sentences that flooded out of her mouth, she never wanted to be in the games let alone come out alive. He put his hands up in defense and took a step back. Crossed the line is what he did. "Well that is what you are. I mean honestly any teenage boy would admire your strength and cunning skills that kept you alive. I'm sorry if I offended you in some way or another." He commented.

Why was being a victor so bad in her eyes? Most people would love it because they had money and didn't have to work. Although she was a worker in the district just like himself. Don't talk. There was so much he wanted to say but really didn't want to end up being punched. She would be one to throw a punch or two at that. So awkwardly he sat there tapping his foot looking at her. Why was she making such a big deal about this? He had no idea but he did find her weird after talking to her for the short period of time.

[night]

Anya frowned. "That is what you are." The words rang in her head over and over, never stopping. It was true. She was a victor. Which was good, yes. It was no position to be ashamed of. On the victory tour, she'd been almost proud of herself. But that faded when people stopped cheering at the sight of her. And quick. The money didn't run out. Distracting things to buy did. And soon she couldn't distract herself at all. Working on the old boat didn't help. Training with and training the other careers didn't either. Anya could only distract herself from her being a victor when she and her father were fighting -- so she kept the beat-up boat, continued going home, never shared a penny of her victory money with her father.

"Accidentally." She mumbled, recoiling when Ben put his hands up as a sort of defense, bright eyes suddenly distant and cloudy. Accidentally, she was a victor. An accidental victor. It was no accident that she was in the Games, themselves. "That's kind of you." She murmured. It wasn't really cunning or strength. Maybe a little. Anya had trained for the Games for most of her life. Mostly it was a friendship that sprung up at the worst possible time. But soon, Anya regained her old, cold, mean composure, pushed her shoulders back and stood up straight, looked Ben straight in the eye with a clear, cool, green gaze, "That's probably true," She declared haughtily, "It just wasn't a particularly fun bout of Games, understand?" Anya widened her striking eyes and nodded, putting an emphasis on 'Games' because calling them games was tauntingly cruel. No one would guess they weren't fun -- Anya was a smirker, smirking whenever her hand was in the air, held there as a winner, a victor, smirking at crowds and smirking at cameras. "And eternal fame and riches run out a little faster than you'd think." She added, face blank.

They were awful. Not until she was actually in the arena did she understand. And her fellow tribute, Boy, as she called him in her head, her friendship with him had been the only one she'd ever really had. Anya couldn't speak for anyone else, she didn't know if anyone watching had picked up on the friendship and attachment. A girl like Anya was born to win the Games. Cold. Distant. Outwardly mean. A hard worker, a harder trainer. Leave it to a boy like Boy to ruin all of that.

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[Alyssa :)]

There was an awkward silence that Ben didn't like. So like any idiotic could who would later acquire arthritis, he popped his knuckles quickly. Each join released a loud pop and a sense of relief. Casually he placed his freshly popped fingers in his pocket and looked at Anya waiting for her to speak again. She was unique. The way her eyes seemed to change intensity when ever her thought process changed. Or at least that was the only thing that made sense his Ben's little girl obsessed mind.

Accidental. She was an accidental victor. How was that even possible? He didn't have any idea how anyone could be an accidental victor except maybe for Haymich but the drunk from District 12 that had fallen off stage one time. That was pretty funny. Although Ben really didn't remember much about the games then because he wasn't interested in people killing each other. "I never said the games were fun." He protested at the end of her speech. Still unclear as to how she was an accidental victor.

He pulled his hands out of his pocket and took several other steps backwards. Then he took three step forwards and repeated. "Just because your eternal wealth and fame disappeared doesn't mean you have to put words in my mouth." He stated boldly. Certainly he wasn't going to let her twist words to her satisfaction. He didn't even care at the moment that she could put his life in a world of hurt. Nobody just assumed the flat out mean of his words.

[night]

The corner's of Anya's pale pink mouth pulled downward into an unhappy frown. What Ben had said did not convey what she had meant. But Anya wasn't about to say, I hate thinking about them. It makes me sick. Not a chance. Looking weak was not something Anya could afford. She was a tough girl, she could act it now. Not talking civilly to another human in over a month was no excuse for not acting the way she always did: cool, calm, and composed. She placed her hands on her hips, glaring into Ben's blue eyes, "Do you really think that if they weren't fun to experience, they would be fun to think about?" She said in an impatient, dry voice, raising her dark mocha brows as if to punctuate her sentence. "It seems to me that if a victor," the way she said 'victor' made it sound almost as if she were mocking her own position, "kindly asks you not to mention the Games or her winning of the Games, you should kindly oblige."

Anya grimaced, looked away from Ben and at the horizon, where the sea met the sky. It was almost intriguing. Everyone else walked on eggs around her -- oh no, here came Anya Weston, victor, if we talk too loud she'll either crumble into a million pieces or rip our throats out -- and here he was, demanding she not put words into his mouth. "That's not what I meant!" She said stubbornly, emerald eyes turning fiery. "I'm just saying. I'm in no position to be envied." She added, more quietly. "That can't be difficult to understand. Right?"

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[Alyssa :)]

Clearly Anya was going to argue with everything Ben said. He took in a deep breath while looking at the ground. Arguing. It was a pointless act that every girl seemed to excel at. That was a fact that he knew because of all his sister. He had so many of them and they were always fighting over something. To prevent for fighting anyone he put his hands in his pockets. He didn't want to hit another girl and be punished by his father again. The last time was terrible but earned him his current job so it wasn't as bad. He bit his lip and looked back up at Anya with his steel blue eyes. "All right. All right. Calm down I'll stop bring it up. My gosh you're as bad as my sisters." He muttered crossly.

Well there he had gone and did exactly what he hated people doing. Putting words in others mouths. How could he be so stupid when it came to conversations? He pulled a hand out of his pocket to run it through his light blond hair before putting it back. "Look I'm sorry okay. I'm a stupid guy who makes stupid makes over stupid things." He spoke flatly shifting his weight to his left foot. He didn't want to freak her out anymore because it was pointless arguing with any women.

[night]

Anya raised her dark brows again. So he had sisters. People with siblings always made her wonder. Boy had had lots of siblings; he was one of the poor, big families. One of the only ones. They usually seemed to be more giving and far more forgiving, more caring. They usually had all the qualities Anya had missed out on. So yes, hearing Ben had sister was surprising, but she wouldn't comment on it. Instead she pursed her lips, decided to make a dry joke, "Probably worse." She raised one brow to see if he would understand or even think it was funny; in her experience, she hadn't been particularly hilarious. Her jokes, which were often not even considered jokes at all, were mostly dry and mean.

"I won't argue with you over that." Anya said, "But it's you and everyone else so don't feel too bad." Well, look who was on a roll today! She would regret the entire conversation tomorrow, when she was back to being entirely alone, but for now some tiny part of her needed human contact.

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