itinere | open | birds flying high, you know how I feel

No more snow means the city of Itinere has come to life. It's kind of a relief after the perpetual snow that never went away, that never changed or melted or looked anything but perfect. After awhile, perfection became a worrisome thing. He was glad it was Springtime, or that it seemed to be Springtime. It just added more life to everyone and everything. Itinere had needed this.

Derek, in one of the better moods that he's been in in awhile, has gathered a bunch of roses to take to all the employees of the rec center he owns and runs. He walks around the building passing them out to each and every employee with a little added flirtation and a charming smile that he's all too adept in giving. His friends used to say how unfair his smile was in that it was almost too charming. He would counter with the fact that he got it from his mom, nothing to be done about that.

He even keeps one of the roses for himself before he gets to his work for the day. He takes it to his office area and lays it on his desk before checking the schedule of classes for the day on his laptop. Quickly, he changes into some sweatpants and a tank top and then goes out into the main area to see if anyone needs any help with their work outs or classes or in setting anything up.

Yep. This is bound to be a good day.

ooc: Derek, having touched so many roses, is going to be affected. He may or may not feel the affects of them with others. Just let me know if you're open to it. There's a description of the rec center HERE. And if you want to plot something heavy, I have a comment HERE.

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"Yeah. You could start up a clinic. Study up. There's a bookstore that's supposed to have every book you could possibly think of." Derek, of course, thinks it's admirable that Prim wants to be a doctor. It takes a special kind of heart to do that kind of work.

There were a lot of bare bones businesses around Itinere. It was a complete city, after all. The rec center hadn't been here. Derek had sort of dreamed it up for something to do one night. And the next morning directions had been laid out for him to this place by the apartment complex. He'd found this place and taken up running it.

It could be pretty weird how the city seemed to anticipate the needs of its citizens. Not so much being watched, as both sentient and empathic. Derek had never said aloud that he wanted to work at a rec center. He had thought it. Then he had taken the initiative to get the place going. He figured all Prim would need to do was the same.

"What makes you wanna be a doctor? I mean, usually people are inspired by something or someone to do that kind of work."

Prim chews her bottom lip for a minute. She wouldn't mind working at a clinic or apothecary, but the idea of starting one herself while she's still learning makes her nervous. "I guess, so. But I think I'd feel better if I had someone to learn more from first." She isn't completely incapable, but she definitely still thinks of herself as a student.

His question makes her tilt her head just a little. "My mother is a healer," she answers, her voice proud. "Her family owned an apothecary in the better part of our District. She taught me everything she knew. I was just learning how to be a doctor before I came here. I just really want to help people. That's all."

"Ah, I get that." He tells her with a nod. He had no idea how old Prim was. But she had that air about her that made it seem that she had had to grow up too soon, way too fast. Derek didn't need to be a profiler to be able to read that off of her. It was just a part of who Prim was. He wished he knew some doctors here she could study with. But he didn't. All he knew was sports medicine and even that was very limited.

For all he knew, Itinere had a hospital. It was a full city, after all. He'd just (thankfully) never had to make use of it and didn't know where it was.

He has to smile a bit at that because he can relate to it all too well. "Same reason I decided to go into law enforcement. Cause my dad was a cop. I get it." Derek wanted to help people too. It was in everything he did, from his work in the FBI to his helping out at local youth shelters and such.

Panem had done that to most of the District children, even before the rebellion. Now it might be different, but it's probably still just as difficult. Prim is happy to be here, but she often worries about the others stuck there, her mother, Gale, Peeta, Gale's family... She doesn't know their fates and it makes her worry.

"I guess I still have some looking around to do," she admits with a wry smile. "I hope there's someone here I can learn from. If I find a good place to study, I'll let you know." Mostly because he seems to have taken on the role of big brother and she'd want him to know what she's up to.

"Yeah, you should take a look. There might be a clinic or a hospital. Some place." Derek says, and yes he is genuinely interested in Prim and how she's doing. He'll be glad that she's decided to check in now and then and let him know how she's doing. That big brother roll is something he's good at.

"And if you're ever interested in any sports, this is your place." He says, gesturing around the rec center/gym. He was pretty sure he had dreamed this place into existence.

"I guess I'll look around today," Prim says, imagining what might be out there. It might be good to at least find out if there's anything decent around, somewhere she can learn all she needs to.

Sports might not be Prim's thing, but she can appreciate it. Plus, if it has an archery range, she knows Katniss will like it. "Does it have a place to practice archery?" she asks curiously.

"Yeah, we got some targets back in another room." He adds encouragingly. Because of course Derek thinks she's asking for herself. His brows are arched high, eyes alight with encouragement and curiosity.

"That a hobby or...?" He asks.

Prim shakes her head. She's not the type at all. "No, my sister is an archer. I thought if she could find somewhere to shoot, she might feel better about being here."

Not that Katniss feels bad about being here, it isn't Panem, but Prim wants to help her settle and find something familiar anyway.

"I'll bring her in sometime to see if she likes it."

"Yeah, bring her in. We've got a whole room of targets for shooting and knife throwing... whatever." This place had everything Derek could have asked for. It was honestly as if the place had read his mind.

"Archery though... that's a skill I never picked up." Not that he had ever tied. But still. He was interested enough in it. "Maybe I should give it a try. I'm always up for learning new things."

"She might be willing to teach you," Prim offers. "You can ask her sometime. She's really good."

Archery was her sister's best skill and Prim doubts she won't be willing to share her knowledge with one of her sister's friends.

"I'll see if I can bring her in soon. When are you here?"

"I'd be good with that. Got nothin' but time here." He says with a nod. "I'm usually here every morning at least 'til noon. Just to make sure things are running smoothly."

As much as it bothered Derek to be here alone, it was nice in that there was no immediate danger, the people seemed to be decent, and he had all the time to do and learn new things. "Honestly, I'd never have time for any of this back home. Work took up all my time."

"Then I'll bring her in some morning," Prim promises with a smile. "After she's more settled." Asking Katniss to do too much too soon would be a bad idea.

"I was learning to be a doctor for the rebellion. Living in District Thirteen meant I had all my time planned out for me every day." She gives a little shrug, a look of soft determination crossing her face. "I didn't really have free time there. Here I've got so much time and almost nothing to fill it with. It's completely different."

"Sounds like you need to get involved in something." Derek says, knowing how hard down time was for him. That was why he had dreamed up the rec center. That was why he had immediately known it was for him. No matter how strange this place was in how it could read what the people wanted and needed, Derek needed this. He needed something to keep him busy. And somehow, Itinere had made it happen.

"I'd offer you a job here but I know you wanna check out the clinic or hospital or..." He shakes his head. He has no idea what the City has in that regard. But he knows she needs something to do just like he had needed it. She just had to take the initiative to make it happen.

He arches his brow and grins at her. "I could teach you to shoot some hoops."

She really does need something to do, though the idea of finding a hospital or apothecary is definitely helping. As soon as she leaves or maybe tomorrow sometime, she'll be heading out to look for one. Until then, she could use something to occupy herself. The offer has her tilting her head a little.

"Shoot some hoops?" she echoes questioningly. That's not a phrase she's ever heard before.

open | birds flying high, you know how I feel

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