He's the Capitol's boy.
Disclaimer: I only own my original characters. Suzanne Collins owns the Hunger Games and its characters.
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Day Two: The Capitol
"Verina! Verina Calder!" someone yells at the very second that my foot touches the platform. I recoil, not fully comprehending why my name is being shouted but then I remember -these people love the Games. They wait for them every year and then watch children kill each other. They relish in the violence, the gambling and the sorrow of the districts. Then, once it's all over, the Victor is their new pet.
"Look! It's Arno Firth!" the people of the Capitol swarm our train at the station, flinging roses and flowers and even golden coins.
"FINNICK ODAIR!" the girls squeal.
"Meek and mild, Verina." he mumbles in my ear, his strong hand grips my shoulder as usual. I'm only 5'5 so his 6'3 height dwarfs me. He is as godlike as the Capitolites say. I'd be crazy to deny it. We are led into a large building and take an elevator to the floor called REMAKE. Mags ushers me out of the elevator and we stop in front of three strange looking Capitolites. The one on the far left is extremely tall and thin with a long pointed nose. It's skin is dyed a light red and it has gold hair and large gold earrings. The one in the middle has pale green skin and a large gargoyle-ish face. The final one is a woman who is entirely blue and has green strawlike hair.
"Verina, your prep team. Pricker, Giorgian and Serenn. Your stylist Deremone will be here shortly." Mags says this quietly and she kisses me on the forehead, signifying her leaving me here with these people.
"Mags-"
"Don't worry. You're fine with us." Serenn speaks up, shaking her strawlike hair out of her yellow eyes.
"But we must get to work." Pricker says, leading me down a hallway with lavish red carpet and golden wallpaper etched with the designs of the districts.
"She's not as bad as they usually are." Giorgian quips as he unlocks Female District 4 Tribute Room and thrusts me inside. Pricker quickly spins a chair into a table and beckons me over. An assortment of beauty tools lie around as if this was an operating room. Gadgets and bottles of product that I'm sure even people in District 1 and 2 don't know the names of litter shelves with their glowing presence. Everything, in fact, seems to have a glow. A Capitol glow. Finnick Odair has a Capitol glow. It's kind of a dingy District Four-Capitol glow, but a glow nonetheless.
"Alright, girly. Strip." Serenn says, tugging at my light blue reaping dress. I can't even begin to complain because soon my prep team is remaking me form head to toe as Deremone, a nice man with pink everything and pale skin, finishes up my chariot outfit. His goal is to make it look less fierce due to Finnick and Mags telling him of our strategy. When the costume is finally on my pristine, hairless body I am thoroughly impressed. Orange and glimmering, my costume literally glows. A turtleneck, full-length gown met with innocent big blue bubbles on the sides of my eyes and down onto my cheeks and my deep red hair curled in cute ringlets down my back. I am fully aware that I am a goldfish, however the art form that is my chariot garb is enough to overlook that.
"Wow. It's perfect, Deremone." Finnick says and I jump at his voice. My stylist laughs and runs a hand through his pink hair, blushing at the sight of Finnick. Mags claps with a wrinkled and wry smile. I'm not exactly sure as to what Deremone and Finnick's relationship entails but I'm fairly certain it is one-sided and nondimensional.
"Your chariot awaits, milady." Finnick says with a smirk and motions to the door. I roll my green eyes and remain silent. In truth I am extremely nervous as we enter the tunnel filled with horse-drawn chariots. I quickly discover that Arno is dressed similarly and our chariot is covered in blue satin and seaweed.
"Sugar cube?" Finnick offers a white cube to me which contrasts greatly with his tan skin.
"Sure." I say with a smile and I indugle in the sweet treat.
"You know, aren't they for the horses?" I ask, attempting to make conversation but I am interrupted by a harsh squeal.
"Goldfish!" the District 1 female tribute laughs, blonde and gorgeous just like every District 1 female tribute ever.
"You're one to laugh!" her male mentor exclaims. He's blonde and very muscular and I recognize him as one of the Delorean siblings, a pair of brother-sister victors who won back-to-back Games. More importantly, the District 1 girl is obviously naked underneath gold paint and silver sparkles. The same is to be said of her district partner. It's fairly obscene but thankfully, no one is really looking. I'm not sure if it is to try and deflate the large District 1 egos or just because it isn't very fun to look at. Arno, however, seems to be fine with staring. I quickly add 'pervert' to my internal list of everything that is wrong with my large, yet dim, district partner.
"Gloss. Pleased to see you again." Finnick says, helping me atop my chariot and handing me another sugarcube.
"Pleasure is mine." Gloss says with a smile. "Can you believe these stylists are STILL getting away with just throwing District 1 in paint and glitter?"
"I can believe it and so can your sparkly downstairs." Finnick counters with a wry smile. I let a giggle slip. "First time I've ever heard you laugh! Maybe I should be funny more often." he winks at me.
"Oh you dreaded lady charmer." a high voice says. Johanna Mason in all her glory approaches. She casually leans on my chariot. "TREES AGAIN. I have trees for tributes. I was a tree. District 7 is lumber WE GET IT. Oh poor thing, you're a goldfish..." she says glancing up at me.
"It's a hard knock life." I say with a shrug and a smile.
"I like her." Johanna tells Finnick. "Keep her alive for me."
"Will do."
