Author's Note: Hello :) Well, I believe this story needs updating...so here it is! Chapter four, where we'll be taking a look at the opening ceremony... I know that so far, this story isn't that exciting and all, and I'm sorry to say it might take a few more chapters till we get into the Games. I hope yo can bare with me... I'll do my best, I promise.
Thanks to ayone who fav/follow/reviewed this story. It's because of you guys that I continue to do what I like most-writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson stories. Nor do I own the Hunger Games series. I. Own. Nothing. (sadly)
Though it pains him to admit it, the view in the Capitol is amazing. From the top floors of the building they stay in, Percy sits in his chair, gazing out the one-way window. It helps distract him from his stylist assistants, who he can't help but feel bitter about. They are so...hyper and happy and scary.
"Alright, Perseus." The one with neon-green hair-Julietta, he thinks-places a cold finger on his shoulder, and he resists the urge to shiver. She tilts his face about, humming in approval as the other two circle around him. "Just a little more touch, and I think you're all set for Silena."
Silena. That's another name that sounds vaguely familiar, along with Luke, Zoe...Annabeth. It's strange, he thinks, gritting his teeth as the prep team "re-shapes" his eyebrows and rids him of his facial hair. No memories surface at their names. They just feel weirdly...normal, as if he's met them before, interacted with them maybe, and at some point had their names run through his mind. He winces, reaching up to touch his chin, though his hand is quickly swatted aside.
Three hours, he's spent in this Remake Center, having his "hair problems" and sunburns taken care of. He sighs in his head, annoyed. He's a guy. He's supposed to have hair. The assistants have pretty much scraped off three layers of his skin, lotioned down his body, circled around him at least fifteen times, and yet they shake their head solemnly every time he asks if they're finished.
"Don't!" The pinks one shouts in alarm, annoyed. "Just wait a little bit more, sweetheart. We're almost done; we promise."
Percy's patience has all but run out by the time they call in his stylist.
Julietta smiles with her grotesque green lips, crouches, and says, "Don't worry, dear. You look dashing, really. Especially now that we've gotten all that-" she gestures widely with her hands, "-filth off your skin. Silena will love you."
A little after the prep team has run off, the thick doors open again, revealing the woman who must be Silena. He resists the urge to cover his body.
Silena is... put simply, beautiful. Her long black hair falls to her hips, and her big brown eyes stare out at him beneath her thick, pink-hinted eyelashes. Her dress, also pink and red, flows behind her in a delicate curtain as she walks closer and motions him to wear his robe. Percy releases a breath, thankful for her very short inspection.
"Hello, Perseus. I'm Silena, your stylist."
Before he could reply to her introduction, she continues with her soft, flowing voice.
"You look better than they described." She purses her lips, her hand on her chin. "Well...certainly younger than what Julietta seemed to indicate." She gives a small giggle, leading him to another room, this one more cozy than the metallic, hospital-like room they were in before. Two plush couches face a glass coffee table that carries well decorated plates filled with Capitol luxurious-food. Silena seats herself in the chair opposite to his, and he watches as she stirs her chocolate drink. He does the same, cautious not to spill, for his hands are shaking. He isn't quite sure why. Anger, maybe. Frustration. Whatever it is, it bubbles in his stomach as he takes this all in. The food. The drinks. The expensive furniture. His district is rich, surely more than most of the others in Panem. His father pretty much lives in a mansion, having been involved with the right jobs at the right times. But even he never has his tables so filled with food. He has to fish with Percy each day before work, to make sure his house and his family-his other family-is well off. What would it be like, living in the Capitol, having luxuries in your grasp at all times? He takes another sip of his drink, trying to calm himself down. He can feel Silena's eyes on him from across the table and manages a small smile for his stylist. Silena's not too bad, considering all things. She looks human, and acts so too. Her voice, though slightly weighed by the Capitol accent, shows her efforts to make it natural.
"So," Silena starts, her eyes alight with excitement at her job, "You know that for the Opening Ceremonies, your costume should reflect your districts' flavors."
Percy nods, remembering all the Games he has seen before. Usually, his district wore something decent; a blue rippling dress to illustrate the ocean, a fisherman's clothing, or-as there was once-a fishing net. They were mostly nice, tolerable at worst, and scraped up some sponsors from the parade only.
"Michelle and I, we decided to focus more on the fish side, rather than-say, like the sea or the fishermen."
Percy blinks, his brows creasing.
"We're going to be fish?"
Silena gave a giggle before brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Kind of. Don't worry, dear," she says, standing up. "Just be yourself, and you'll be absolutely stunning."
Percy breathes through his nose before following her. Fish, he thinks miserably, well that's certainly worse than I prepared for.
.
A few hours later, Percy stands in front of the mirror, taking in the sight of someone that isn't quite Percy Jackson. On the bright side, he's not fish. On the dark side…
"I'm a mermaid."
The makeup is nothing too flashy, though he can see the difference from his normal self. He looks older, stronger; powerful, sort of like a sea god should look. Some parts of his skin-and his hair, too-sparkles, giving the impression of him having just come back from a swim. His hair is hardly touched, still messy and windswept, but has a slight blue-green hue to his normal jet black color, reminding him of the depths of the sea. On the top of his head lays a silver crown, and he holds a trident of the same color in his hand (though he's not quite sure if that's allowed in the ceremony rules).
So really, the only downside is that he's a mermaid.
His costume is only a fin, so therefore his upper body is bare. On his chest lays a leather necklace strung with five clay beads, and he calms a little at the strangely familiar weight. His...fin, too, isn't that bad. It's not cheap looking, but isn't grotesquely fish either. Though he completely lacks talent in the fashion area, he can tell that it's made from several layers of soft clothing, giving it the perfect shade. As he moves, the fabric ripples, giving the illusion of the fins moving in sync. It looks nice, really. Just...he never figured he was the mermaid type.
"Merman," Silena corrects him, though a giggle shakes her shoulders. "You're a merman; the king of them all. The god of the sea."
She leans in, her lips by his ear, and whispers, "Poseidon."
The hair on his neck (the ones that weren't plucked off) stands, and he turns around, his eyes large. If she meant that name in the way he thinks she did-as in, not his father's name-she's much more dangerous than Percy had deemed her to be. Stories from the old ages are forbidden in Panem. There are whispers of the sea god in District Four, yes, but nobody dared to say it out loud. It was unspeakable. A sin to be mentioned.
Silena winks with her dazzling brown eyes, and presses a finger to her lips.
"The costume goes well with your eyes. Beautiful sea green. I think they're the rarest eye color in Panem."
All of a sudden, Percy's overwhelmed by this lady. Not only is she stunningly (and more importantly humanly) beautiful, she has the guts to fight against rules. And Percy hates rules.
"Percy," He says, turning to look at Silena, "Please, call me Percy. Not Perseus."
Silena gives him a smile, fixing the tip of his hair with her fingers.
"Thank you, Percy. That means a lot to me."
Perhaps she knows that he's accepting her by telling him his preferred name. A certain fire dances in her eyes, and she gives him an encouraging pat on his shoulder.
"You're the son of the sea. Go woo the crowd."
.
After joining Michelle and Helen, who is dressed similarly as the queen of the oceans, they're taken to the bottom of the Remake Center. With the Opening Ceremony about to start, the tributes are starting to board their respective chariots, and Percy takes a breath in awe. The chariot itself is decorated with seashells, and in front of their chariot stand two proud horses, decorated slightly to look like pegasi. One of them snorts and stares at Percy accusingly, and he has the strangest feeling that he's being asked for donuts.
"They're black." He says, almost giddy with excitement, and Helen gives him a dry look before climbing on the chariot. "Usually District 12 gets the black ones," he explains, taking his place next to his fellow tribute. "but it seems like they got grey ones this year." He reaches out, petting its mane. "The black ones are always the prettiest."
Shame that Helen doesn't seem to understand. Horses truly are a beauty.
The opening music starts, and the heavy doors open to the crowd-lined streets. He's suddenly very thankful that he doesn't have stage fright. The chariot from District one slowly rolls forward, pulled by white stallions and flashing with gems. The crowd goes wild, trying to catch sight of the beautiful jewelry-clad couple, and the high pitched screams of awe suggest that the two might have kissed. District 2 soon follows, its trait being weaponry, and Percy catches sight of Annabeth's smirk on the screens. Next to him, Helen gives a dreamy sigh, watching as Luke waved at the crowd.
Then, their chariot enters the city, and Percy has to focus on the trotting horses in order not to fall. But he soon realizes that the crowd is going crazy, and he gives his most winning smile, twirling the trident before catching someone's flower.
Must've worked in wooing them, because the crowd showers them with chants of their names and as they move by the screens, he sees how breathtaking they really look. He wonders if Nico and his mom are watching this, back home. His smile turns a little more genuine at that, and instead of his white, flashing smile, he gives Panem his crooked, troublemaker grin. Someone actually faints in the crowd, and he feels Helen give a small giggle at that.
The chariots pull into City Circle, and as they come to a stop in front of the President's mansion, the music subdues. President Snow is giving a speech, but for now, all Percy can focus on is the screen. It flickers its focus from one tribute to the other, and for a moment, Percy's face is on one screen, and Annabeth's is on the other. She turns around subtly in her chariot, and gives him a small grin. He almost topples off when the chariot begins to move, but is saved by the strong grip Helen gives to help him up. He thanks her quietly, but she holds on to his hands, and the cameras drink it up, the crowd awwing.
With Helen's slim fingers wrapped around his, Percy can't help but feel like he's in the wrong story. But before his eyes, Luke brings his arm around Annabeth, and Percy suddenly feels Helen's fight-instinct roll off her in waves. He shrugs in his mind, frowning at the pair, and turn Helen's hand so that their link is more comfortable. After all...two can play at that game.
Additional Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who replied to my which-arena-should-it-be thingy. Alright, so...I got a review suggesting I make several islands the landscape of the Games, with each of them having different attributes. I thought that was a great idea, so I'm adding that to my list of might-be-arenas.
I'm still hoping for more opinions though...so which should it be? I'm thinking that the normal forest scene might be a bit dull. So...a more snowy, blizzardly scene/ desert-ish, dry scene/ a poisony scene (sort of like the 50th Games)/ an everchanging scene (kinda like the labyrinth, were everything reforms and changes once in a while)/the islands scene?
Please let me know which one you think is a fitting arena! I might mix some of them, too. Your opinions are very helpful. Thank you!