A person would think the rebellion hadn't even happened.
Capitol residents, in all their colorful splendor, walked down the streets with their strange pets and flying drones as they had for many decades. Some made small talk, and even tiny bursts of laughter could be heard as a joke was told here and there.
But it was all tainted. The laughs were nervous, the walks scattered with fearful trembles.
The Capitol had fallen. The rebels effectively owned Panem now, and nobody knew what lied ahead. In hushed whispers, those of the Capitol could only speculate. Would they start up a new perverted inversion of the Hunger games, where only children of their city would be forced to participate? Would they be exiled from their homes? Or would they all simply wake up one day to see the toxic bombs coating the Rocky Mountains in thick, poisonous sludge?
And it was anything but quiet. The rebels owned the city, but the Capitol's Peacekeepers were beyond fanatical. The rebellion was being forced to go building-by-building, cleaning up what resistance remained. When they found an "occupied" building, the titter-tatter of gunfire would flow out into the streets. People would stop in their steps, turning toward the sounds of battle. It would end one of two ways: the gunfire slowly winding down, or a fireball erupting over the skyline of the glittering city as the rebels just destroyed the building with explosives.
And when it was over, the civilians would go about their day as if nothing had happened.
Telly McMallenchire nervously paced down the clean streets of the Capitol. In one arm was slung her purse, accented with glowing lights of blue and cyan. Her pet dog, Ceaser, poked his head out of the purse's hole.
Ceaser began to growl. The little dog spotted one of the many rebels now patrolling the street, assault rifle slung under her shoulder. Her dark vest and dour expression was a stark contrast to those around her, and Ceaser didn't care for the unfamiliarity. He began to yap at the soldier, not stopping as the rebel neared.
"Shhhh!" Telly warned her dog, but Ceaser wouldn't shut up. The rebel continued to near them, and Ceaser only got angrier, baring his tiny teeth at the stranger.
The rebel was only a few feet away now. With Ceaser's outburst, she was surely to be shot in the street. Without any route of escape, Telly broke down and began to weep, her cries joining her dog's barking. After a few moments, the gunshot ending her life did not come, and she looked up with makeup-stained eyes to see the rebel not readying to kill her. Instead, she had passed Telly entirely, though not without shooting her a dirty look.
As the rebel retreated, Ceaser's barks stopped and returned to low growls. She soon realized that other people were staring, and she quickly recouped. Picking up her purse, she stood up and began to walk towards her favorite fashion store. At least something would go right today.
Rounding the corner, her heart sank. Crashed straight into the front of the store was a hovercraft, smoke still pouring out of the downed ship's engines.
She spotted one of her friends, Mary Goodsong, looking at the carnage as well. Though she meant well, Mary was probably the walking stereotype of a ditzy Capitol girl. She walked up to her side.
"What happened?" Telly asked.
"Peacekeeper hovercraft, I think. They shot it down while it was trying to escape the city."
Mary let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "I just don't see why they can't go out into the mountains to sort this out. All this fighting in the city is rude! Don't they know we're busy people?"
Telly fought the urge to smack her upside the head.