The Capitol is exactly what I thought it would be…no more, I couldn't have even dreamed of what life would be like here before today. Press a button and any food you want is there in an instant, made to perfection. Clothes upon clothes for any occasion you can (or can't) think of just your size waiting to adorn your body. Attendants called avoxes that do your every need or want. Alright, fine, I do feel sorry for the avoxes but I still can't believe life here. I mean really, I thought I had it alright as a town girl in District 12. That was nothing compared to this. And if I feel like the smallest Seam rat here I can't imagine what people really from Seam feel. Maybe I should ask Shane later. I know Katniss and Gale said it wasn't better to know your competitors too well but Shane and I live on the same floor and will be doing practically everything together for the next week or so; I'm bound to get to know him at least a little.
My stylist is probably my favorite person I've met in the Capitol, which really isn't saying too much since the only others I've met thus far are Effie and my prep team as well as some attendants. I don't dislike Effie but I get the feeling she's just kind of an airhead or something, someone who very much grew up here and the Capitol and simply can't understand us folks from the districts. It's not really a reason to hate her but I can't seem to connect with her any. As for my prep team…well, they might actually be ditzy. All they seem to care about is gossip and fashion. I tried not to listen to their nonsense in the Remake Center earlier but really, it was better to focus on that than the mild torture they were putting me through. Not that I'll probably ever need to know that button belts are very in right now or someone named Persephone slept with a natrie (whatever that is) but at least it was mildly entertaining even if I didn't really care at all about it. Cinna I like because he seems sort of normal and doesn't act at all like someone who grew up in the Capitol (which I did ask just because I half didn't believe it). He doesn't even seem to like the Hunger Games too much which I find a little strange since he's probably the most popular stylist. I mean really, he could probably have his pick of districts and he always chooses to stay with District 12. Nice to know someone wants us for something.
Well, wants us for something other than entertainment. Which is exactly what I'm waiting for now. I'm already dressed in my outfit for the Opening Ceremony, a sort of skirt made of what looks like coal and a matching top that shows my belly and doesn't have straps in the same coal like thing. I'm not exactly sure what's going on but if past years have told me anything I highly suspect that I'm going to literally be lite on fire to make us stand out. Shane comes over and he gives me a small smile, dressing in something similar to me except he wearing a vest and pants.
"How was the Remake Center?" he asks me once I'm in hearing range. Well, I'm certainly glad we weren't just going to stand here awkwardly. Nice to know he feels that way too.
I give him a grin as I roll my eyes. "Oh you know, just great. I even heard some juicy gossip."
"Sounds fun. Better than getting hair ripped off of you like me." Shane replies.
"Oh stop complaining. I'm sure I had it worse." I protest, looking at him and the only things I can really find different is that he might have had his chest hair pulled off if he had any and his eyebrows look like they were trimmed or something. Other than that he looks the same. As for me, I don't think I have a hair on my body below my eyebrows and even my hair was cut a little. Flavius, the hair guy on my prep team said he loved my hair just had to perfect the edges or something. I'm not sure what that means but maybe he just meant I had split ends or something.
"I'm sure you did." Shane concedes, and at that moment Cinna comes over with (shocking) a blowtorch.
"Now I promise that this won't burn you so no need to panic." Cinna assures us. He goes to light me first and I can't help but squeeze my eyes shut and tense even though I know it's probably ridiculous. I mean, he's lit tributes on fire for years and none of them ever got harmed from what I could tell. But still…he's freaking lighting me on fire!
"It's alright Nelia, I'm done." Cinna's voice tells me and I can hear the smile in his voice. Clearly he's somewhat amused at my reaction even if I doubt he would ever laugh at me for being scared. He just doesn't seem like that type of person.
I slowly open my eyes and peek down and I'm amazed. The coals have been lit and they are slowly burning but it doesn't hurt or even feel hot at all. Just a lightly strange tickling on my skin whenever it gets too close. I don't have a mirror but I'd bet I look pretty cool (I mean hot).
"Oh Cinna, it's amazing!" I gasp as Cinna puts the torch to Shane's outfit, who only seems as in awe as I do. Cinna looks up at the compliment and smiles.
"You look amazing in it. They'll be sure to remember you." Cinna states confidently and I have to smile. Yes, maybe these outfits alone could get us a few sponsors. All Cinna's outfits are memorable and that can only help me.
"Good for sponsors." Shane states in agreement to what I was just thinking and I nod.
"Well up you go." Cinna's partner who is Shane's stylist orders with a gesture to the carriage and I easily climb in, Shane right behind me.
"Remember to hold hands." Cinna tells us and I look at Shane first who looks at me and seems just as confused as I am before we turn back to Cinna.
"Why?" Shane asks. The only reason I could think of is because it might help us keep our balance but none of the other tributes are holding hands. Unless he wants to present us as a couple which is sort of ridiculous because we really don't even know each other.
"Tradition." Cinna replies with a note of finality that doesn't really answer our question any better but at his insistence as the carriage pulls out Shane and I link hands right before the carriage turns and the crowds come into view.
It's amazing, the reactions. I mean Cinna always blows the parade out of the water but it seems so much louder when it's me here. And for the first time in my life as people call out my name I feel popular. Loved. And I can't help grinning that those stupid girls at home who don't want to be friends with me aren't basking in this even if it is a prelude to a death match and I start waving just to piss them off even more. Louder applause comes my way and my smile gets bigger.
I'm at once glad that I'm holding Shane's hand when the carriage stops in front of President Snow's mansion because the horses kind of jerk it. Maybe Cinna's reason for us holding hands was for whatever tradition he's talking about but at the moment I don't care how mysterious that was. I would have easily toppled over and been the laughing stock of Panem had Shane not held me back, helped me regain my balance without looking like I was about to fall. I shoot him a grateful smile which he returns with a smiling nod.
We turn back to the President who gives his boring speech about the 81st Hunger Games and how lucky us tributes are to be a part of it (yeah right) and blah blah blah. Really, it's worse to be here for the Opening Ceremony in a way because at home I could just turn my head away from the television screen and not listen but here I don't have much to distract me and it would look really bad if I didn't appear to be paying attention. I may look amazing but somehow I don't think President Snow would care if I appeared to not care. And at least for now I have to try.