[ti]Invite[/ti]Guess Who Couldn't Think Of An Adequate Title // Evelyn

Jax smiled as Evelyn took a seat near him, nursing a cup of coffee herself. It was an authentic gesture, one that he hadn’t seen in many other Districts. This part of 7 looked and felt like a community. Perhaps it was because during the war, everyone was too concerned with survival to consider much of anything beyond getting through each day. Now, people were rebuilding their homes and their factories and their lives. The edge was taken off everything, life settling back down to something that looked like everyone’s best guess at normality.

He watched her from over the rim of his cup, settling back into his seat a little more. ”People are finally letting themselves relax,” she said, and a corner of Jax’s lips turned upward. If that and his dreamy vision of the District were true, then he wouldn’t be here in the first place. Most were relaxed, as Evelyn said, but not all were. The coffee shops and cafes looked average and harmless, but he knew that behind closed doors, citizens were still harboring resentment towards the Capitol. Some hadn’t accepted defeat and were not ready to resume life as usual. It was his job to sniff those people out, so why was he here, speaking to a girl that pretty clearly seemed to be out of any rebel group?

Jax liked her smile, the way that she made two cups of coffee and took a seat automatically. He liked the blue dress she wore and the way her blonde hair looked against it. He also enjoyed this small talk. It allowed him to, in her words, relax. She wasn’t a target. Besides, who said his deployment to 7 had to be all work and no play? (His commander.)

”Yeah,” he confirmed with a nod. He remembered her name since the first time he heard it. Her name tag made it easy enough, but he was also required to remember the names of those who he met with always. Even so, he smiled back. ”And you’re Evelyn?” he asked, taking another sip of coffee afterward.

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Evelyn’s smile reminded Jax of a Sunday in the summer. Warm, peaceful, still. He wanted to bask in it. “Hm, probably longer in here though, right? It’s too beautiful to stay inside all day,” Jax told her. Cutting down trees wasn’t easy or fun by any stretch of the imagination, but Jax loved being in the forest during the day. It was so still and calm there, the exact opposite of everything the Capitol was.

As soon as the calm, peaceful feeling had settled, it lifted. Evelyn was out of her chair and to the door, yelling at some man. Jax’s first instinct was to whip out the gun he carried in a deep pocket in his pants. Guns, along with all other weapons, were illegal in the Districts. Jax’s weapons were for defense, though, and not to be used unless it was totally necessary. Jax wasn’t sent as a soldier but as a spy. Still, he didn’t like the situation one bit. He stood up from his seat, crossing his arms and standing tall as he watched very closely.

To his surprise, Evelyn completely held her own. She backed the other man into the wall. At her first words, Jax tensed up a bit. Of course, it made perfect sense that someone as radiant as her wouldn’t be single. Jax didn’t expect it to sit so poorly with him, though. Evelyn was a pretty thing in an ugly place, but somehow he felt attached to her nonetheless. Jax sat back down but continued to watch as the man hugged her and presented her with a green jewel. Jax couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes. Evelyn wouldn’t believe the necklaces he could get for her in the Capitol.

As Evelyn returned, Jax tried to make himself straighten up. Evelyn was just a waitress who was being friendly to him and doing her job. She didn’t owe him anything or have any feelings. Even if Evelyn was interested, Jax couldn’t get involved. He’d be out of the District as soon as he determined that he’d thoroughly assessed the environment.

He took another sip of the coffee, letting it scald the tip of his tongue. Jax eyed the necklace around her throat. “Pretty necklace you’ve got there,” he told her. “Nice of your boyfriend to buy it for you.” Jax kept his expression and tone neutral, as if he didn’t really care one way or the other. He still was quite annoyed with himself for bringing it up though. Jax knew he should just finish his coffee and return back to his apartment for the night, leaving Evelyn and any ideas he had about her behind.

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Jax waited for Evelyn to answer, completely annoyed with himself for hanging on to the words that left her mouth as she spoke them. Jax was also annoyed with the feeling of relief that washed over him when she gave him his answer. A brother, not a boyfriend. He felt himself relax ever so slightly into his chair, the tension in his muscles that he hadn’t been aware of easing away.

Jax sat his cup down on the table between them, curious at her mentioning his leaving. Travel between or out of any of the Districts was illegal without the Capitol’s approval. In some of the other Districts Jax worked in, he knew people who routinely traveled to the skirts of their District for food or other resources. It wasn’t his job to report small crimes like that, though. In his opinion, some of the Capitol’s laws were too strict. On the other hand, though, Jax caught a trader in 11 who traveled into 8 and 12 to sell guns and ammunition. That one did get reported.

“You two seem really close,” he said with a smile, “that’s nice. Sounds like he’s traveling a lot though.” Jax kept his tone nonchalant and conversational. He sincerely doubted that there would be any real information of interest in Evelyn. She seemed like a totally normal citizen of District 7 - no plans to rip the Capitol apart brick by brick. Still, it helped him justify seeing her by bringing in the tiniest hint of his job.

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“Six brothers,” Jax echoed. “Wow. I can’t imagine growing up in such a big family.” He was born the only child to his parents. After he was born, having children was going out of vogue in the Capitol as everyone started to feel the first threats of impending war. Not many people were interested in bringing a child into the uncertain environment.

Jax nodded at her mention of his work. “Yeah,” he said, nodding, “gotta work where the money is.” Jax often cited that as his reason for packing up and moving town to the people he’d gotten close with in an area - he’d found a better paying job on the other side of the District and was moving there to pursue it. That would probably be his excuse when he had to leave 7, too. For a single moment, Jax wondered if he would be having that conversation with Evelyn at some point.

He titled his head to the side a bit as he looked at her. “Traveling for work isn’t fun, though. Must be nerve wracking for you.” There still wasn’t a final body count for the war. So many people seemed to just vanish from the Districts - no body found, never heard from again. Even though it had ended, the fear was still likely present.

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A corner of Jax’s mouth curled upward. “Really? You think so?” Before he was sent undercover into the Districts, he’d fought in the war. Toward the end, as supplies dwindled and funs broke and jammed and ammunition ran out, more the of the combat became close range. Jax had slammed more people into the ground than he could possibly ever count. “If I were you,” he told her, “I wouldn’t be willing to place that bet on such a pretty face. Turns out that swinging an axe all day long really does wonders for the arms.” Jax could feel himself starting to edge over some imaginary line he’d drawn separating his work and his personal life. He laughed quietly and leaned back into his chair, relaxing further. Jax promised himself not to edge any further with her for the rest of the night.

Jax nodded sympathetically. “It’s easy to get caught up in your work,” he affirmed. The first time Jax was sent into the Districts to start his new line of work, it was proposed as a single mission that was supposed to take place over 3 weeks tops. A year and a half later, he was still on the job. In that sense, it was good that he didn’t have anyone back at home waiting up for him.

Jax glanced out the window, noticing how low the sun was getting in the sky. It would be dark soon, and he was supposed to send a report in to his Commander by the end of the day on his findings for the week. Jax slipped a few coins from his pocket and laid them on the table. “Well, it was nice talking, but I’ve got to get back for the night.”
He stood up, looking at Evelyn again before leaving. “Have a good night, Evelyn.”

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Jax returned to his apartment, still unable to think of the place as his home. It was small, dimly lit, and sparsely furnished. He spent the least amount of time there that he could possibly get away with. While he was there, he spent most of the time lusting for his apartment back in the Capitol. What was the use of having a stunning bachelor pad if he wasn’t able to use it?

Jax went to the shelf on the back wall and picked up a book from amongst one of the stacks there. Jax actually enjoyed reading every once in a while, but this specific book was not for pleasure. He took it to the kitchen table with him and sat down. At first glance, the pages looked terribly water damaged. Jax pulled out his pocket knife, then slid the blade down the exact position that allowed him to open it. The book was actually not a book at all, but rather a container for a different book. Inside the hollowed pages rested his log for his observations in the Districts.

With a sigh, Jax removed it and began to flip through the pages for the past week. He was tasked with making a report for the last week in the District. Across the spread for that time though, there was very little he could give them. It had been a very slow week, too slow to warrant Jax’s staying there if the lack of information persisted. But 7 was a relatively pleasant District, and he was sure that there was something lurking beneath the surface. 7 had been very actively involved in the rebellion, and ideas didn’t die out overnight. It was just up to him to find those final strands of resistance that we’re right beneath his nose.

Jax finally pulled out the small phone that shared the space with his notebook and hit the single button that allowed him to contact the Capitol. The phone rang in to one of the databases. Jax, along with all the other rebel spies, reported their common findings there where they were complied and analyzed. ”Jax Funen, #48 reporting for week 38 in District 7,” he told the operator. Jax paused, glancing over the mostly empty pages. ”No major threats to report.” Jax flipped back to the spread from the week before. It was more of the same - almost nothing. He tapped a pen on the blank page, searching for something to give the operator. ”Contact established with a local… yes. Mhm. First name Evelyn, last name unknown. Blond hair, dark eyes, probably around the age of 20. Works in a coffee shop in Sector 3. Uh… mentioned 5 brothers?” Jax heard typing from the other line. Jax tapped his pen on the pad while he waited for the response. When it came, the pencil fell out of his hand.

”Jagger,” he repeated. ”And one of the six is… yeah… Elias Jagger. Holy shit.” Jax was quiet for a moment. ”Looks like I have my work cut out for me this week.” Jax closed the phone and replaced it in his stash. He stared at the cover of the “book” and tried to process what he heard.



A little while later, Jax decided to leave his apartment. He’d spent the last hour planning as much as he could for the impending information collection. The words on the pages before him were starting to blur - he only had so much work he could do at once. Jax needed a break, so he changed into clothes he hadn’t been out logging in and headed to a bar downtown.

Jax had only been to the bar two times since he’d been in the District. He drank responsibly but still worried that while intoxicated, he might let his guard down a little too much.

Still, one drink certainly wouldn’t hurt him too much. Jax walked to the bar, relishing in the nice warmth the evening still offered. Once there, he went straight to the end of the bar and ordered a whiskey. As he sipped, he thought about Evelyn and her family, about what it might mean for his work there. He had to somehow find a way to find out more about the Jaggers.

Without thinking, Jax allowed the bartender to bring him another glass. Since he already had it and it would be on his tab, he decided to drink it anyway. Halfway to the bottom, he felt himself warming up and brushing the line of tipsy. Wanting to preoccupy himself with something other than the thoughts of work, Jax decided to scope out the room, perhaps to find a girl to chat up.

Instead, he saw Evelyn as she walked through the door. Her face had been in his mind for the evening as he deliberated about his predicament. Now, she was entering the bar and looking right at him. All Jax could do was offer a half smile.

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Jax mirrored Evelyn’s smile as she approached him. ”That kinda day,” he affirmed as she sat down beside him. He sat his whiskey glass down onto the bar. ”Good thing you aren’t definitely tempted,” Jax told her, grinning, ”I never said anything about fighting drunk.” He’d done that before, of course. One of the reasons Jax didn’t drink frequently was simply because he did not like the loss of total control over his body. In his new line of work, though, alcohol was prone to get people talking. It was one of his most valuable weapons when trying to collect information.

Jax decided that he would use the night to find out about Elias Jagger from Evelyn. There was associated guilt, of course, but the information could be so valuable. ”Since you’re here, I should probably mention that I’m surprised to see you out. Figured this wasn’t your scene.” Jax leaned back in his seat to look at her. It was strange to see her out of the uniform he was familiar with and in her own clothes. He liked the change. "Any other bold claims you can make of things you can beat me at while we're here?"

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Jax smiled inwardly at the sight of a scowl across Evelyn’s face. It was on expression he hadn’t ever seen on her before. He then laughed out loud at her suggestions. ”Book club for sure,” he told her, still laughing. ”I definitely wouldn’t put money on the likelihood of there being “Evelyn, the Dancer” or “Evelyn, the lightweight champ.”” Jax spent a good amount of his time trying to figure other people out. It was an important part of his work, reading people. Evelyn struck him as a homebody.

Jax grinned at her assertion. ”Oh, is that a challenge?” He leaned forward, getting a little closer to her. ”Something you don’t know about me - I’m horribly competitive. Doesn’t matter what it’s about, I’m just addicted to winning.” It was one of the first honest things Jax told anyone in the District about himself. He was a master at making up quick lies and stories and making them convincing. It was rare that he said something truthful about himself in conversation.

Jax turned to the bartender. ”Two beers,” he told the man. He looked back to Evelyn. ”Time to see if you’re worth your salt, sweetheart.”


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”Lyn the Dancer?” Jax echoed. ”Wow,” he affirmed, ”sure that’s a sight to see.” He paused for a second, grinning as he looked at her, ”Might have to adopt that nickname for you though.”

Jax smiled as she mentioned her family again. She didn’t seem to keep their existence to guarded, like her brother wasn’t on the Capitol’s most wanted list. Getting information a little later in the night would be easy.

His competitiveness came from his father who was a new money family in the Capitol. His dad busted his ass to get where he was and raised Jax to have the same hardworking spirit. Not that Jax could ever tell Evelyn that.

Almost as soon as the drinks came, Evelyn started drinking. Much to his surprise, she emptied her glass just before he did, the clink of her glass hitting the table sounding just before his. ”Damn,” he said, looking at her, ”True to your word, Lyn. My pride’s wounded. Still, though, I’d say that I am clearly the most horrible between us. I know - and I know this for a fact - I can absolutely kick your ass in arm wrestling.”

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