eyes open [hey this is open too]

Swan's eyes scanned the training gym as the tributes scattered into different stations. Really, she didn't have any idea on where to start. Sure, she wanted to talk to one of the careers eventually, but she didn't want to start now. The tribute wanted to wait until she didn't have to showcase her skills (or lack of them?) to anyone. Swan assumed she had the mental part of the games in the bag, but the fighting was something else.

Finding the melee station, Swan surveyed the weapons. Swords, spears, and other assorted weapons gleamed in the bright lights. However, it was a simply dagger that caught her eye. The blade was about eight inches long, and it fit well in her hands. She turned her eyes to the training dummy, wondering how to asses the situation. She had watched the demonstrators earlier, but thought simply stabbing a piece of rubber couldn't be that much help.  

Yet, she decided to try. The girl gripped the dagger and began stabbing, taking shot at the shoulder, then the leg, and basically demolishing it. Swan let all of the frustrations of the reapings, and everything she tried to keep concealed in her life out, and threw it all at the training dummy. After a few minutes, she looked up and saw slices, holes, and even missing chunks in the rubber. Her eyes wide, she almost had forgotten what she did. Swan hadn't ever been one for violence, but she found herself smirking at the dummy now. If this was what it felt like to attack someone, she found it to be a good feeling.

Swan spun at the voice, seeing the girl from two standing and looking at the wrecked form of the training dummy. Her lips curving into a smile, she laughed along with the girl. "Thank you," the tribute replied appreciatively, trying to contain her glee. Swan hadn't expected to talk to the careers until later, but it seemed that they came to her.

Her hazel eyes flicking to Lori, she smiled once more, lowering her arm from her fighting position to her side. "I'm Swan," she said, holding out her free hand for a handshake. The girl desperately hoped that she could make it into the career pack, considering that all she had to do was watch them and most of her problems would be solved.

She was still shocked that the girl came to her, wondering if that was a good or bad thing. Hopefully it meant that Lori either saw something in her, or maybe she just wanted to get into her head. People from district ten weren't often associated with those of the higher numbers.

Swan took note of Lori's comments, knowing she'd hold it in the back of her mind in the arena. Anything was possible there, and she knew she would have to fight someone eventually. Flicking a golden curl to the side of her face, she smiled at the girl from district two once more. "I'm sure they'd love a poetic career," she replied somewhat sarcastically. Most times, the tributes from the higher districts were simply killing machines, without much of a personality.

Feeling the other tribute's eyes on her, Swan stiffened. She wanted to prove her worth, and hoped she could manage it. "It's actually easy, living on a ranch," she muttered casually. "How about you?"

Swan had figured that Lori was from a better off family, just by the way she talked about everything. The girl felt like she was at a disadvantage for not being trained, but really, she had to believe it was anyone's game. When asked about if she was worried, Swan simply smirked. "I think -" Swan began, before being cut off by the district seven boy. She raised an eyebrow at him as he listed off a few facts, leaving her in a disagreeable mood. The tribute was about to snap something back, but it seemed like Lori was already working on that.

After Lori corrected the boy, another came over. Did everyone just barge into conversations? Swan wasn't impressed with the tricks that he did after correcting Lori. Glaring at the boy's bow, she turned over to Lori and Preston's conversation, flicking a curl behind her. Swan smiled at the girl's comment, knowing that it was actually true. Being smart was okay, but you had to have some strength to fight with. Smiling at the district seven boy, she nodded. "Yeah, pushing it back gives your hair more volume, might want to mention that one to your stylist," Swan said a matter-o-factly.

She noticed the girl from one attacking a dummy with her bare hands. A kick to the groin might've been obvious, but she watched the rest with interest. Swan knew she should take mental notes on the things that other tributes do, especially a career; they won for a reason after all. She watched as everyone left, leaving her alone with the district one girl. Walking over to the other tribute, Swan extended a hand. "I'm Swan, from District Ten," she introduced, a smile on her face.

occ: sorry i had my internet taken away by my parents for a while

Swan smiled as the girl, Lola, introduced herself. She seemed to be a softer person than Lori, and then she made the decision to ask for the very thing she had wanted since stepping into the training gym. An alliance. "Precisely, I mean, you or Lori have such a higher chance than, say, someone from district five or six," the tribute added, her eyes finding a particular dagger. It's blade was curved, resembling a twisting river, only even in it's turns.

Watching as Lola began using a sword, she raised an eyebrow. It seemed like that wasn't her strong point, even as she attempted to use it. However, you can't be an expert at everything, and Swan was just happy to see someone as lucky to be so prepared for the games. "Hm, interesting..." she muttered, selecting the dagger off the rack. "This one's kind of different? Not your typical weapon..." Swan continued, making her way to an unharmed dummy.

Slashing at the jugular of the dummy, just as Lori had told her too, she side stepped and sunk the dagger into it's fake flesh, and then twisted it. Smirking, she turned back to Lola. "But just as deadly... kind of like me," Swan commented, running her finger along the edge of the curved blade. "Would you consider me a worth ally of the careers?" she asked with a quick raise of her eyebrows. "To have full access to everything I offer..." Stepping at Lola's dummy, she sliced it's head clean off with a swift motion.