Post by Lucius Crane on Apr 1, 2015 22:06:12 GMT
It was a nice afternoon, a bit on the chilly side, but the sun was shining brightly and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. A kind of day where you only needed to throw on a simple jacket to be able to still enjoy the outdoors. It wasn't exactly custom to give the older children recess outdoors everyday, but these past few days and the next few weren't exactly "normal" days. The children were all filled with extra energy and excitement from the games and it was hard for them to get through a day filled with lessons before they would be let out to continue watching or to reenact past or create future scenes from the games with each other. Although they wouldn't admit it, the teachers couldn't wait to be free of teaching long enough to talk to their colleagues about everything that had been going on and everything that was going to come over the next few days. There was much talk of the favorites, mostly the careers of course, they were the big and strong ones who actually looked like they had a chance. They were the fun ones. There was very little loud talk about the ones like Matthias apart from people speaking of how he had no chance. Talk that Lucius really didn't want to hear. He didn't want to hear any of it really. He didn't want to watch or listen to, let alone participate, the conversations or the little games the others were happily playing.
That was why he had settled himself down in the grass against the old shed that he could only assume held the landscaping tools that made the outside of the school look just as fancy and nice as the inside did. It was a very nice and well designed building as the majority of those in the capitol were and of course Luc was probably one of the only children that really ever thought about things that way. Surely at least a couple of the adults did, probably more so than any other children, but it was something that Lucius could appreciate. He could appreciate the beauty in things. He was lucky to live where he did. The capitol could be a beautiful place, especially with the water and mountains that surrounded the place. Before he just appreciated the beauty in where he lived, not really thinking about the other people in Panem. Did Matthias and Rue go to a beautiful school? Probably not. Did they live in lovely homes? Again, no, he was sure the answer was no. Did they live on breathtakingly gorgeous land? Not exactly he would assume. But there was beauty in Matthias' home. It was shown in his pictures. Different landscaping. Different things to make it look nice, but it did or at least it did in the pictures. It was also shown in his heart. He wasn't a killer. He wasn't a jerk. No, if he had been it would have shown through by now. Rue's home he was less sure about, but she was a beautiful young lady so there had to be some beauty in her home. She was lovely inside and out. Something had to make her that way.
The real question was, would it be possible to capture all that on paper? He would certainly try. He pulled his sketch book and his pencils out from inside his black coat, adjusting his favorite scarf around his neck a bit differently so that it kept him warmer and didn't hang down over the paper and block his drawing. He took a moment with his icy blue gaze just locked on the blank paper, not thinking, but imagining how Rue's home would look. How Rue would look in her home. Then he started to draw it. He started to put the image he got in his mind down on the paper, no longer paying much attention to his surroundings. He was in his own little world now, no, he was in his version of Rue's world now and it didn't matter that there were children all around him screaming and pretending to murder each other the way the tributes did things in the games. He didn't notice the three boys who had spotted him and were approaching him.
The three boys were well dressed and well groomed as one would except from the capitol children, but they had that look to them. That thug, jerkish look. The two boys in the back were identical in appearance, the only thing really setting them apart was that the boy on the left was wearing a blue coat, while the one on the right was wearing red. The twins, Titus and Timon, came from a more middle-class family, middle-class for the capitol anyway. They were still far above everyone in the districts on that scale. Tall, athletic young boys who always seemed to have endless energy. Not the brightest in school, but they were smart in other ways. Very much followers they were always following around the boy who was walking just ahead of them with a devious smirk. A wicked child named Cyprian.
It was crazy how intelligent the boy actually was when he applied himself to things. If he didn't have that "I am too cool for school" sort of attitude then he could very well have the highest marks in the class. He was the type of kid who could fail every assignment simply because he didn't feel like completing it, but ace every single test without having to even study. He had the ability to be a very successful young man, but why would he want to do what everyone back home was expecting of him? Where was the fun in being a goodie-goodie little geek boy? That wouldn't make people give up their perfect seat in the classroom. That wouldn't make kids give him their special little dessert that was packed in their lunch. It wouldn't allow him to get everything he wanted. Kids wouldn't "respect" him as he said. They wouldn't fear him as Luc did and knew everyone else did. Typical school bully and unfortunately Luc was the weird kid who didn't have any friends and preferred to sit and draw instead of pretend murdering his classmates. There was also the fact that the three boys were obsessed with the games and Lucius happened to have a major inside to everything.
"Oh Luci!" Cyprian started in a sing-song voice, the wicked smirk and the devious look in his deep green eyes only growing stronger as they finally made it over to Lucius. Lucius looked up from his drawing with a deep frown, his eyes moving from Cyprian who stood in front of him to Timon and Titus as they each took a side of their larger leader, basically surrounding him. He felt a wave of fear and uncertainty rush over him. What could they possibly want? Why weren't they off playing around with the other children? Why come and speak with him? He didn't speak. He couldn't speak, but it didn't matter since Cyprian decided to continue on anyway, giving more insight to the reason he was even over here.
"Since when does the innocent Lucius Crane participate in the games? I thought you were too much of a little baby to do anything like that." Cyprian questioned and taunted as was his usual fashion. Lucius wasn't really sure what he was talking about and his fearful frown turned into one of deep thought and confusion for a moment before he shook his head. "I don't know what you are talking about." he managed to mumble, but it only made Cyprian roll his eyes and the twins chuckle. "You know what he means!" Titus informed him. "Yeah, the letter and that silly little drawing!" Timon continued. Lucius stared at them, now knowing what they were speaking of. The drawing he and his father had done for Matthias when Seneca sent him some item. He hadn't expected that to come back at him like this. Why did it even matter to them? He just shook his head and looked down, rolling his pencil between his fingers as he just hoped that they would go away if he didn't speak. No such luck though.
"A stupid drawing isn't going to help that kid you know. He's pathetic. There is no way that he is going to win. Everyone knows that." Cyprian continued. "Everyone knows that, that Reko guy is going to win. He is totally badass and he is going to kill everyone. It's going to be epic. Why would you even think for a second that, that kid has any chance? Even with yours and your father's help. I can't believe your father was even dumb enough to sponsor him. Snow won't be happy. I wish I could be around for that." he kept going and Lucius was only growing more and more upset. When he started to speak of his father and Snow he had, had enough. "Shut up. Just shut up! We can sponsor anyone we want and he's a good guy! He deserves it more than anyone. You have no idea what you are talking about so just stop talking." Lucius snapped, but immediately regretted the moment of anger and frustration when he saw the way Cyprian was staring him down.
Cyprian, Titus, and Timon all kept their gaze locked on Lucius, only making the boy feel more and more uneasy the longer they stared without actually speaking. After what seemed like ages Cyprian let out a sort of odd laugh that sounded more like a grunt. "He's pathetic. He is pathetic just like you are. Guess it makes sense that you and your daddy like him so much, but you made a huge mistake by helping him out. He doesn't deserve to win. Pathetic freaks like you only deserve one thing." Cyprian spoke in a very harsh tone before glancing over to Timon as he pulled something out of his pocket and held it over to him. "Go unlock the shed." he gave his "friend" an order and Timon nodded obediently before taking what he was given and moving around the other side of the shed. Cyprian looked back to Lucius with a smirk, but didn't explain.
"What do you have here, Luci?" Titus asked, reaching down and snatching up the sketchbook before Lucius had a chance to keep him from taking it. He looked at the picture for a moment then looked down to Lucius again, grinning. "Who is this girl, Luci? Luci has a wittle girlfriend now?" he jeered. Cyprian grinned with amusement and took the sketchbook from Titus. "Well isn't that just precious?" he started, then laughed. "Too bad he is probably just stalking this poor girl. That or he is just making her up in his head." he added, making Titus laugh and nod in agreement. Lucius shook his head and reached to take it back. "Give it back, please." he said, his tone not really demanding at all. He was really just begging him.
Cyprian pulled the book out of his reach when he grabbed for it. "Oh what, this? You want this back." he asked, cocking his head to the side a bit. "I got it!" Timon's voice came from around the other side of the shed as the sound of the door opened. He glanced toward where the teachers were, but they were so deep in their conversation that they had no idea what was going on around them. Lucius stood slowly while Cypian wasn't looking, but he didn't move fast enough to grab it before he looked back. Cyprian chuckled. "Come get it then." he challenged with a shrug before he moved off toward the shed and moved inside, tossing it up onto one of the higher shelves before stepping to the side. "Go on Luci. Go get it." Cyprian said. "Fetch boy. Fetch." Titus added with a grin after following the group over.
Lucius hesitated, but his sketchbook had a lot of drawings in it that were important to him and they were letting him go in and get it. He would just have to figure out how to climb up the shelves to actually reach it. He looked between the three of them and then moved inside the shed, thinking for a moment before he started to climb. Cyprian motioned Titus inside with his head and then looked to Timon. "Watch the door." he said quietly, the other twin nodding before Cyprian followed Titus inside. He motioned to Lucius and the two went over, grabbing him and pulling him down hard, causing him to let out a pained yelp when he hit the ground, just as Timon closed the door.
Timon leaned back against the door quietly, relaxed at first until he listened to everything that was going on inside the shed. He could hear what his brother and his so called friend were saying. They were taunting Lucius. They were mocking him as if the physical blows weren't enough alone. At one point he heard the ripping of several bits of paper. He could hear Lucius' cries and pleading for them to just stop. It almost made him feel sick and he was glad when the teachers finally called them all to go back inside. "Guys, it is time to go in." he said, opening the door just a crack. "Better hurry." he added, stepping to the side now as he waited just a moment before Cyprian and Titus came out. "Come on. Let's go." Cyprian said, starting to run back over toward the group that was gathering to go in, Titus and Timon following.
Lucius lay curled up on the floor of the shed still, tears falling down his cheeks and his entire body shaking from the pain and fear of it all. They had been careful not to mark up anywhere visible. Cyprian knew that drill all too well. The bruises and markings wouldn't be visible to anyone, but the pain was still there for Lucius. He was surrounded by the shredded bits of many of his drawings, the sketchbook tossed into the corner now, looking like something that had been pulled out of the trash, not something that the child held so dear. He stayed still like that for the longest time, afraid to move, in too much pain to move, and unsure of what to do. Telling anyone would just cause more problems, but he couldn't just go back into that building and act like nothing had ever happened. He couldn't just go home either. He didn't want to speak to Cade about what had happened. He couldn't go running to his father at work. No, he had a place he could go.
He slowly and shakily got to his feet, looking around for a moment as if debating if it was worth picking up the bits of paper. It would be impossible to get it all. Instead he picked them off himself and grabbed the sketchbook itself, tucking it into his coat before moving outside. No one was around at least. Everyone had gone in to resume classes for a bit before he would be lunch time. He could just go and that was what he did. He walked slowly and carefully off school grounds and through the streets of the city, trying his best to avoid people. He was still crying and if anyone saw him they would question it and they would drag him back to the school. Thankfully no one did or no one cared enough to stop him on the streets. He entered the little park, the little bit of nature inside the city, and headed to the small man-made pond that his father used to bring him to so that he could feed the baby ducklings when he was a kid. It was peaceful there. It was pretty. He sat himself at the waters edge, wincing the entire time at the pain that shot through his body whenever he made even the slightest move.
Lucius had dealt with the bullying for being gentle and different for years, but they had never gotten physical with him that way before. He wasn't sure why they even had this time. He had spoken with his father and stood up for the kid that no one else would. They were giving the innocent kid a shot. This Reko that they spoke of was obviously a career. He had training. He had the skills and the mindset to survive something like this, but he wasn't a good guy. He wasn't the boy who had been deaf and thrown into the games against his will. He wasn't the boy who liked to draw. He was nothing like Lucius. Reko was more like Cyprian, willing to hurt anyone to get what he wanted. But his drawing to Matthias hadn't been pathetic and useless. Sometimes a little morale boost could get you through something way more than a physical item or physical skill. Sometimes people had a better chance at fighting and winning when they had a real reason to fight. When they had something that was extra special and amazing to look forward to in the end. Matthias had that. Reko had riches and Lucius of all people knew that being rich did not equal being happy.
He hugged his knees to his chest despite it causing him more pain. He wanted to be small right now and this was the best way to do it. He simply rested his chin on his knees and stared over the water, thinking about things. He didn't know what to do or what he could actually do. He couldn't keep it to himself forever. They were going to call Seneca when they realized he wasn't in class anymore. He would be interrupted at work and he would be incredibly upset. Maybe he would come looking for him or send Cade to drag him back to school. Luc didn't want to go back. He didn't ever want to go back. For now he would "enjoy" not being there and instead pretend that he was somewhere other than the capitol. Somewhere beautiful and peaceful and nice.
That was why he had settled himself down in the grass against the old shed that he could only assume held the landscaping tools that made the outside of the school look just as fancy and nice as the inside did. It was a very nice and well designed building as the majority of those in the capitol were and of course Luc was probably one of the only children that really ever thought about things that way. Surely at least a couple of the adults did, probably more so than any other children, but it was something that Lucius could appreciate. He could appreciate the beauty in things. He was lucky to live where he did. The capitol could be a beautiful place, especially with the water and mountains that surrounded the place. Before he just appreciated the beauty in where he lived, not really thinking about the other people in Panem. Did Matthias and Rue go to a beautiful school? Probably not. Did they live in lovely homes? Again, no, he was sure the answer was no. Did they live on breathtakingly gorgeous land? Not exactly he would assume. But there was beauty in Matthias' home. It was shown in his pictures. Different landscaping. Different things to make it look nice, but it did or at least it did in the pictures. It was also shown in his heart. He wasn't a killer. He wasn't a jerk. No, if he had been it would have shown through by now. Rue's home he was less sure about, but she was a beautiful young lady so there had to be some beauty in her home. She was lovely inside and out. Something had to make her that way.
The real question was, would it be possible to capture all that on paper? He would certainly try. He pulled his sketch book and his pencils out from inside his black coat, adjusting his favorite scarf around his neck a bit differently so that it kept him warmer and didn't hang down over the paper and block his drawing. He took a moment with his icy blue gaze just locked on the blank paper, not thinking, but imagining how Rue's home would look. How Rue would look in her home. Then he started to draw it. He started to put the image he got in his mind down on the paper, no longer paying much attention to his surroundings. He was in his own little world now, no, he was in his version of Rue's world now and it didn't matter that there were children all around him screaming and pretending to murder each other the way the tributes did things in the games. He didn't notice the three boys who had spotted him and were approaching him.
The three boys were well dressed and well groomed as one would except from the capitol children, but they had that look to them. That thug, jerkish look. The two boys in the back were identical in appearance, the only thing really setting them apart was that the boy on the left was wearing a blue coat, while the one on the right was wearing red. The twins, Titus and Timon, came from a more middle-class family, middle-class for the capitol anyway. They were still far above everyone in the districts on that scale. Tall, athletic young boys who always seemed to have endless energy. Not the brightest in school, but they were smart in other ways. Very much followers they were always following around the boy who was walking just ahead of them with a devious smirk. A wicked child named Cyprian.
It was crazy how intelligent the boy actually was when he applied himself to things. If he didn't have that "I am too cool for school" sort of attitude then he could very well have the highest marks in the class. He was the type of kid who could fail every assignment simply because he didn't feel like completing it, but ace every single test without having to even study. He had the ability to be a very successful young man, but why would he want to do what everyone back home was expecting of him? Where was the fun in being a goodie-goodie little geek boy? That wouldn't make people give up their perfect seat in the classroom. That wouldn't make kids give him their special little dessert that was packed in their lunch. It wouldn't allow him to get everything he wanted. Kids wouldn't "respect" him as he said. They wouldn't fear him as Luc did and knew everyone else did. Typical school bully and unfortunately Luc was the weird kid who didn't have any friends and preferred to sit and draw instead of pretend murdering his classmates. There was also the fact that the three boys were obsessed with the games and Lucius happened to have a major inside to everything.
"Oh Luci!" Cyprian started in a sing-song voice, the wicked smirk and the devious look in his deep green eyes only growing stronger as they finally made it over to Lucius. Lucius looked up from his drawing with a deep frown, his eyes moving from Cyprian who stood in front of him to Timon and Titus as they each took a side of their larger leader, basically surrounding him. He felt a wave of fear and uncertainty rush over him. What could they possibly want? Why weren't they off playing around with the other children? Why come and speak with him? He didn't speak. He couldn't speak, but it didn't matter since Cyprian decided to continue on anyway, giving more insight to the reason he was even over here.
"Since when does the innocent Lucius Crane participate in the games? I thought you were too much of a little baby to do anything like that." Cyprian questioned and taunted as was his usual fashion. Lucius wasn't really sure what he was talking about and his fearful frown turned into one of deep thought and confusion for a moment before he shook his head. "I don't know what you are talking about." he managed to mumble, but it only made Cyprian roll his eyes and the twins chuckle. "You know what he means!" Titus informed him. "Yeah, the letter and that silly little drawing!" Timon continued. Lucius stared at them, now knowing what they were speaking of. The drawing he and his father had done for Matthias when Seneca sent him some item. He hadn't expected that to come back at him like this. Why did it even matter to them? He just shook his head and looked down, rolling his pencil between his fingers as he just hoped that they would go away if he didn't speak. No such luck though.
"A stupid drawing isn't going to help that kid you know. He's pathetic. There is no way that he is going to win. Everyone knows that." Cyprian continued. "Everyone knows that, that Reko guy is going to win. He is totally badass and he is going to kill everyone. It's going to be epic. Why would you even think for a second that, that kid has any chance? Even with yours and your father's help. I can't believe your father was even dumb enough to sponsor him. Snow won't be happy. I wish I could be around for that." he kept going and Lucius was only growing more and more upset. When he started to speak of his father and Snow he had, had enough. "Shut up. Just shut up! We can sponsor anyone we want and he's a good guy! He deserves it more than anyone. You have no idea what you are talking about so just stop talking." Lucius snapped, but immediately regretted the moment of anger and frustration when he saw the way Cyprian was staring him down.
Cyprian, Titus, and Timon all kept their gaze locked on Lucius, only making the boy feel more and more uneasy the longer they stared without actually speaking. After what seemed like ages Cyprian let out a sort of odd laugh that sounded more like a grunt. "He's pathetic. He is pathetic just like you are. Guess it makes sense that you and your daddy like him so much, but you made a huge mistake by helping him out. He doesn't deserve to win. Pathetic freaks like you only deserve one thing." Cyprian spoke in a very harsh tone before glancing over to Timon as he pulled something out of his pocket and held it over to him. "Go unlock the shed." he gave his "friend" an order and Timon nodded obediently before taking what he was given and moving around the other side of the shed. Cyprian looked back to Lucius with a smirk, but didn't explain.
"What do you have here, Luci?" Titus asked, reaching down and snatching up the sketchbook before Lucius had a chance to keep him from taking it. He looked at the picture for a moment then looked down to Lucius again, grinning. "Who is this girl, Luci? Luci has a wittle girlfriend now?" he jeered. Cyprian grinned with amusement and took the sketchbook from Titus. "Well isn't that just precious?" he started, then laughed. "Too bad he is probably just stalking this poor girl. That or he is just making her up in his head." he added, making Titus laugh and nod in agreement. Lucius shook his head and reached to take it back. "Give it back, please." he said, his tone not really demanding at all. He was really just begging him.
Cyprian pulled the book out of his reach when he grabbed for it. "Oh what, this? You want this back." he asked, cocking his head to the side a bit. "I got it!" Timon's voice came from around the other side of the shed as the sound of the door opened. He glanced toward where the teachers were, but they were so deep in their conversation that they had no idea what was going on around them. Lucius stood slowly while Cypian wasn't looking, but he didn't move fast enough to grab it before he looked back. Cyprian chuckled. "Come get it then." he challenged with a shrug before he moved off toward the shed and moved inside, tossing it up onto one of the higher shelves before stepping to the side. "Go on Luci. Go get it." Cyprian said. "Fetch boy. Fetch." Titus added with a grin after following the group over.
Lucius hesitated, but his sketchbook had a lot of drawings in it that were important to him and they were letting him go in and get it. He would just have to figure out how to climb up the shelves to actually reach it. He looked between the three of them and then moved inside the shed, thinking for a moment before he started to climb. Cyprian motioned Titus inside with his head and then looked to Timon. "Watch the door." he said quietly, the other twin nodding before Cyprian followed Titus inside. He motioned to Lucius and the two went over, grabbing him and pulling him down hard, causing him to let out a pained yelp when he hit the ground, just as Timon closed the door.
Timon leaned back against the door quietly, relaxed at first until he listened to everything that was going on inside the shed. He could hear what his brother and his so called friend were saying. They were taunting Lucius. They were mocking him as if the physical blows weren't enough alone. At one point he heard the ripping of several bits of paper. He could hear Lucius' cries and pleading for them to just stop. It almost made him feel sick and he was glad when the teachers finally called them all to go back inside. "Guys, it is time to go in." he said, opening the door just a crack. "Better hurry." he added, stepping to the side now as he waited just a moment before Cyprian and Titus came out. "Come on. Let's go." Cyprian said, starting to run back over toward the group that was gathering to go in, Titus and Timon following.
Lucius lay curled up on the floor of the shed still, tears falling down his cheeks and his entire body shaking from the pain and fear of it all. They had been careful not to mark up anywhere visible. Cyprian knew that drill all too well. The bruises and markings wouldn't be visible to anyone, but the pain was still there for Lucius. He was surrounded by the shredded bits of many of his drawings, the sketchbook tossed into the corner now, looking like something that had been pulled out of the trash, not something that the child held so dear. He stayed still like that for the longest time, afraid to move, in too much pain to move, and unsure of what to do. Telling anyone would just cause more problems, but he couldn't just go back into that building and act like nothing had ever happened. He couldn't just go home either. He didn't want to speak to Cade about what had happened. He couldn't go running to his father at work. No, he had a place he could go.
He slowly and shakily got to his feet, looking around for a moment as if debating if it was worth picking up the bits of paper. It would be impossible to get it all. Instead he picked them off himself and grabbed the sketchbook itself, tucking it into his coat before moving outside. No one was around at least. Everyone had gone in to resume classes for a bit before he would be lunch time. He could just go and that was what he did. He walked slowly and carefully off school grounds and through the streets of the city, trying his best to avoid people. He was still crying and if anyone saw him they would question it and they would drag him back to the school. Thankfully no one did or no one cared enough to stop him on the streets. He entered the little park, the little bit of nature inside the city, and headed to the small man-made pond that his father used to bring him to so that he could feed the baby ducklings when he was a kid. It was peaceful there. It was pretty. He sat himself at the waters edge, wincing the entire time at the pain that shot through his body whenever he made even the slightest move.
Lucius had dealt with the bullying for being gentle and different for years, but they had never gotten physical with him that way before. He wasn't sure why they even had this time. He had spoken with his father and stood up for the kid that no one else would. They were giving the innocent kid a shot. This Reko that they spoke of was obviously a career. He had training. He had the skills and the mindset to survive something like this, but he wasn't a good guy. He wasn't the boy who had been deaf and thrown into the games against his will. He wasn't the boy who liked to draw. He was nothing like Lucius. Reko was more like Cyprian, willing to hurt anyone to get what he wanted. But his drawing to Matthias hadn't been pathetic and useless. Sometimes a little morale boost could get you through something way more than a physical item or physical skill. Sometimes people had a better chance at fighting and winning when they had a real reason to fight. When they had something that was extra special and amazing to look forward to in the end. Matthias had that. Reko had riches and Lucius of all people knew that being rich did not equal being happy.
He hugged his knees to his chest despite it causing him more pain. He wanted to be small right now and this was the best way to do it. He simply rested his chin on his knees and stared over the water, thinking about things. He didn't know what to do or what he could actually do. He couldn't keep it to himself forever. They were going to call Seneca when they realized he wasn't in class anymore. He would be interrupted at work and he would be incredibly upset. Maybe he would come looking for him or send Cade to drag him back to school. Luc didn't want to go back. He didn't ever want to go back. For now he would "enjoy" not being there and instead pretend that he was somewhere other than the capitol. Somewhere beautiful and peaceful and nice.
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