That evening:
I am followed back to my hotel room by Tigris and my stylists; Daphne had vanished off back home as we finished up at the mall. The mall, where to begin with that place, I expected it to not be dissimilar to the markets back home, with traders shouting for attention and displays of all kind of exciting goods. What I found was completely different, each shopkeeper had their own small shop, separated to others by walls and glass. In the centre of the whole complex was a great dome made from green glass. Under it sat two dolphins that every few minutes would spurt a stream of water straight up into the air, much to the delight of the children watching and myself.
As we wandered the shops Daphne pointed out the cinema which was placed up a long golden staircase. She told me about all her favourite stores, where was best to get a haircut, or the best hot chocolate in town. There was nothing about that impressive structure that she didn't know, making me wonder if she was raised there.
Tigris and Daphne took me into more shops than I could count and I tried on three times that number of dresses, finally buying around ten.
"But I only need one for tonight" I told them, much to their amusement.
"Yes but we need to decide which one" Tigris had told me as if it was the most obvious thing in the world
She lays out her top five dresses on the bed and we look them over together, all the time she is discussing the materials and the colours. Who knew there were so many words that meant pink? Finally she decides the deep cerise one would be perfect for tonight, mature enough to show I'm no longer a child but still playful enough so I am not thought of as dull. As the three blonds fuss over my hair I look at myself in the full length mirror and feel run my hands around the centre of the dress where several strands of diamonds have been embedded into the corset portion drawing attention to my chest. The dress is paired with some black heels that lift me several more inches off the floor, making my already gangly height even taller.
Soon enough I'm declared perfect and bundled downstairs into a waiting car. "The others are already there, awaiting your arrival my dear" Tigris tells me before I have time to realise I'm without any of my fellow victors.
Once we arrive at the palace I'm asked to wait for my arrival to be announced before I make my grand entrance. As I wait alone I realise how nobody is ordering me around anymore, I'm being asked for my opinion on dresses and if I'm willing to wait. Maybe they do see me as an adult now, or maybe they're just scared of me.
"The Winner of the 39th Hunger Games and tonight's Birthday Girl Diamond Gray" I'm not quite ready for the announcement expecting to have to wait a few minutes more. I blink as the grand doors in front of me open and the lights of the party shine into my face. Before me steps out Caliax, he extends his hand to me and helps me down the stairs.
"Perfect" he whispers to me as we reach the bottom of the stairs "they love you already" he passes me over to a man I don't know, who begins to dance with me.
"May I ask with whom I have the pleasure of dancing" I ask the man, not quite sure if my wording is right. I really need to get used to all this formal stuff.
"Names Bernard Wellington-Masters" he replies in the usual capitol dialect, "I've just been elected to the Gamemakers council"
"Congratulations" I reply, knowing this is the proper reply but not really caring. "I hear that's quite an honour".
"It is my dear, and I must say it has its perks" He looks down at me, or should I say he looks down my top and smiles giving me a shiver down my spine.
The song ends and I give him a curtsey and he returns with a bow, "Until later my dear" he tells me his eyes not moving from my chest.
"Until later" I reply moving over to the bar where an Avox passes me a glass of something.
"Not bad" Silk appears beside me and orders what I'm having; I take a sip, it's sweeter than the Champaign from earlier, and stronger too.
"He crept me out" I tell her,
She smiles at me and takes a sip of her own drink "there's more where he came from dear, you just have to take it as it comes. And behave like a lady." She sighs and looks over the dance floor where her eyes light up "Roland" she breaths placing her empty glass on the bar and rushing over to greet Rock.
I finish up my own drink and am set upon by two young gentlemen. Both look remarkably similar with cropped cream hair and unnatural sparkling blue eyes. One however is sporting a nose ring and the other a single gem also in his nose.
"Diamond Gray, it's a pleasure" says the one with the gem "My brother and I are big fans"
"Thank you sirs" I reply, "May I ask your names as you already know mine"
"What a lady" laughs the one with the ring "But I bet she's wild in the sack"
The other brother laughs at this comment "Names Castor and this is Pollux, Our uncle is the new Head Gamemaker" this comment is supposed to impress me or make me suddenly aware of their status as if I wasn't already fully aware I was nothing to them. Their attitude told me that much.
"I've not had the pleasure of meeting him yet" I reply
"He's working tonight" Pollux tells me "but you have us Diamond" he offers his hand and I reluctantly take it, one dance each I tell myself.
Many dances later I finally escape the brothers by excusing myself to go to the bathroom, I sit on a couch while an Avox hovers around the corner by a selection of perfumes, mints and other toiletries.
"Diamond there you are" Brandi comes through the door, two glasses in her hand, she hands me one and I drink. I'm becoming accustomed to this alcohol stuff, it blurs the real world a little.
"I've just been dancing with those wretched boys" I tell her "Can't you all leave me alone a while"
"Sorry darling, it's your big night. Which means you have to run around making everyone happy while they have all the fun"
"But those boys" I shudder "the way that looked at me, the way they acted like they could share me or something." I pause "They look at me like ... like there sizing me up before a purchase"
Brandi looks away and blushes, "If that's what they want dear"
"Is that what will happen to me then? I'll be whored out to the Castors and Polluxes of the capitol"
"Who... What?"
"What?" I sigh "Yes I know that word, for years until my father told me the truth I'd assumed that's who my mother was. Some poor desperate woman that father paid to sleep with him, a poor desperate man. The kids at school didn't help 'Diamonds moms a whore, a big fat ugly whore'" I mimic the voices of children.
"You'll just need to behave Diamond" she repeats the advice I keep being given. I nod.
"I will"
"Good girl" she places her hand on mine "let's go back to the party, leave the glasses"
I place my empty glass on the floor and the Avox comes over to pick it up almost immediately.
As we leave the bathroom, Brandi dances with me for a short while and as the evening becomes darker and the music faster, blending from the slow dances to a fast beat of drums and bass.
"You're good at this" I laugh as Brandi begins to grind her body and move perfectly in time to the beat.
"Practice" she replies pulling my arm above my head and spinning me around.
After another drink and another dance with Brandi she passes me onto another man, he's in-between the brothers and Bernard's ages. With a short gold beard and jet black hair. He spends the entire dance talking about his wife; she apparently is related to President Snow by way of some distant cousin but unfortunately can't be here tonight due to having given birth only hours previously.
"She so hoped that she'd been able to meet you though" he tells me "we're both great supporters of yours"
"Thank you"
"And we're both rather attracted to you too my dear. If you would consider our offer."
"Offer?"
"Oh haven't you been told, my apologies" I expect him to continue but he doesn't and the song ends and he steps back before taking a bow and vanishing, hopefully home to his wife and child.
I feel slightly sick from all the alcohol and lack of food so decide to go explore. Finding a room filled with banquet tables I rush to fill a plate. Lunch must have been at least ten hours ago.
As I stand in a corner eating my food and trying not to be seen in my very obvious pink dress as I eat I hear Silks voice. Looking up I expecting her to come up to me tell me to behave and drag me back to the party. She doesn't seem to see me however as she slips out onto the balcony and I hear her talk to someone else.
"How's Ula?" she asks, he voice barely above a whisper.
"Surviving" answers another young woman, that I recognise as District fours most recent victor, Sirena "she's a few more months gone now, but I think she's still very depressed. We've all been there for her and Shad though" Ula yes that's the name of the mentor of that district four kid, one of the ones who fell due to Omri's darts.
"Can you" Silk pauses "can you tell her I'm thinking of her, me and Roland both."
I feel wrong listening to this conversation so place my nearly empty plate down and begin to circle back around the room where I bump back into Bernard Wellington-Masters.
"Another dance my dear?" he asks me
"I'd be pleasured" I reply as he takes my hand and leads me back to the dance floor, another dance with him and I'm passed onto another man who doesn't introduce himself and spends the whole dance staring at my breasts. Then I'm passed on again to an older gentleman who spends the whole dance talking about each and every kill I made in the arena and praising my skills. This goes on for a while until the evening becomes a blur of dancing and leery men all after a stare or grab of my body.
Finally at what must be around five am I'm rescued by Silk, "Silk I'm sleepy" I whine to her quietly as I spin around her on the dance floor. I'd been passed all kinds of drinks that night and can barely stand.
"Come on then, let's get you back to the hotel" we make our way carefully through the crowds of leaving guests till we are at the front of the crowd waiting to get in their car and go home.
"Silk" I ask my mentor as she bundles me into a waiting car "Silk can I ask you a question?" my words slur and she chuckles.
"'course Diamond, ask me anything?"
"Am I to be the capitols whore?"
She begins to slowly stroke my hair as I lay my head on her lap, "Yes Diamond, yes you are"
A/N: I wanted that one to be longer than it is but I like where I ended it, not sure if I should bump it up to an M or not though. I don't plan on being explicit of course but the themes are certainly getting a bit more adult.
Here's a picture of Diamonds party dress btw (just take out the brackets and spaces): .