A/N: Thanks to Vykktor, richards25 and mangesboy01 for reviewing the last chapter!
Chapter Six
POV: Ludovic Robertson (16), Mentor for the Male Tribute, District 4
The Remake Centre, The Capitol
8.15 pm, Monday 15th July, year of the 67th Hunger Games
The walk back through the stable on the ground floor of the Remake Centre towards the District 4 chariot is short, and we reach our tributes' chariot within a minute. After our quick talk with Cashmere and Gloss at the front of the procession near the District 1 chariot, we walk back defeated. After our advances being rejected earlier in the day, the primitive alliance formed earlier in the day has now been abandoned. Without the support of District 2, the alliance won't be strong enough. And so, along with Finnick, I have agreed with the mentors of District 1 that this year, there will be no pre-agreed Career Alliance. If our tributes ally, then so be it. But we're no longer pressuring them to. After looking at all the tributes at the reaping, Alec is amongst the strongest individuals. Maybe it's better for him if there are no alliances.
Flavius greets us as we arrive back at our chariot, and I walk over to Alec, who is in conversation with Bella.
It's been two years since I last saw Bella. Until today. Not much about her has changed, if you exclude the garish Capitol costumes that she has taken to wearing. Her long, wavy dark brown hair hasn't changed; she's still easily recognisable by it. Clever, extroverted and always in touch with her surroundings, Bella is perfect for her role in one of the coveted positions as a stylist in the Hunger Games. And for District 4, no less. One of the most highly thought-of districts.
Life, and the Games in particular, have changed both of us, but I find that we get on much as we did prior to her leaving the family home aged eighteen, just before I was reaped for Finnick's Games. It feels good to know that both my family and my best friend are with me and on my side in the Capitol, where the life of a charming young man is in our hands.
That charming young man, Alec Flood, sits on the edge of our chariot, talking to Bella. My sister gained her promotion (I believe it's a promotion) from styling District 12 due to the brilliant costumes that she made for their tributes last year. However, whatever creative ideas she had for District 12 won't suit our district. I had hoped that Bella and Octavian would have equally unique costumes for our tributes this year, but now I am forced to realise that this won't be the case.
This year, after the stripped-down, simplistic costumes that Julia and Lucius have given District 4 tributes in the last few years, Bella has given Alec a more traditional costume for District 4. In shape, it isn't too different to what I wore in the tribute's parade last year; a plain, sleeveless tunic. The difference us that Alec's costume is covered in thousands of small sequins. From a distance, it gives the impression that Alec is covered in scales, like those of a fish. He won't have any props or anything; I imagine he'll give the usual Career cold-but-deadly look during the parade. I have no worries for the parade. Even if Alec goes out there during the parade looking like a total moron (and trust me, most of the other tributes look much worse than him), he'll still attract the attention of the crowd due to his physical prowess and the prestige that he gains from being from a Career district.
"Hi," I say as I reach Alec, and both my sister and my tribute turn to face me.
"Hey," replies Alec calmly, but I can tell from the way that he's looking around to the other chariots that he's slightly nervous. It's not everyday that two hundred thousand people are waiting to stare at you; to decide whether they think that you are likely to die or not.
"Are you all ready for the parade?" I ask. It starts at nine. Judging by the clock on the wall, we're forty minutes from the parade. As a mentor, I have to leave the Remake Centre at half-past eight, to let me take my place with my fellow victors in the audience. I only have ten minutes, so I'd better get my point across quickly.
"Yeah," says Alec quickly again.
"What do you think of the costume?" asks Bella. I can tell that she's nervous by the way that she's wringing her hands. It's a big day for all of the stylists.
"I like it," I say, both out of honesty and out of the need to reassure Alec that this evening will work out fine for him. "It's simple yet traditional. Combine that with Alec's good looks and powerful physique, and I think we're on to a winner."
My compliments make both members of our team smile, and I can see Alec's doubts vanishing quickly. But I still have to know that he's fine.
"You're not worried, are you?" I ask him.
He sighs before answering.
"I guess not," he shrugs. "I know that nothing should go wrong, but I can't help worrying that something will."
"Everyone has nerves, Alec," I say reassuringly. "I was nervous before my parade, but everything was fine for me."
"You're right," he says. "Just because I'm a Career doesn't mean that I'm emotionless. But it does mean that I'm easily able to suppress them," he says positively. "I'm not used to being the centre of public attention, but if I'm going to do something new, I might as well commit to it."
That really is the attitude and determination that I want from my tribute. Suddenly I'm sure that Alec will be fine in the parade. Everything will work out for him.
I feel someone tap on my shoulder, and it's Flavius, with Finnick by his side.
"Ludo, it's almost eight-thirty," says Flavius impatiently, pointing to the expensive watch on his left wrist. "Are you ready to leave yet?"
"Sure," I reply. "I'm ready."
I turn to face Alec before leaving.
"Don't worry, everything will work out fine," I say as I follow Flavius and Finnick from the Remake Centre.
"Out come the tributes of District One, Gabriel Samson and Amethyst Green!"
As Caesar Flickermann's voice booms out around the crowds, all eyes turn to the large screensboyt up around the City Circle. Along with the other victors, mentors and stylists, I have a front-row seat in the City Circle, meaning that I get a perfect view of all the tributes together at the end of their parade. However, we have to rely solely on the large screens around the City Circle for the first twenty minutes because it will take the first chariot, which belongs to District 1, that long to travel along the high street to reach us.
"What do you think, then?" brags Gloss jokingly. The young victor from District 1 sits behind me in the audience.
"Not bad," says Blight, a man in his early forties who mentors District 7 as their sole living victor. "Wait for mine, you'll be in for a real surprise," he says sarcastically.
"Are they dressed as trees again, Blight?" jokes Finnick, to which most of the victors around us laugh.
"Just because our stylists actually attempt something original doesn't mean that you have to moan to us," taunts Cashmere further, causing Blight to turn away, red-faced.
By now, the first three chariots are out in the streets, and I have to say, both Districts 1 and 2 have put on a good show. District 3's tributes are weak and small, which is enough to cancel out any effort that their stylists have put in.
And then it's our turn.
"Introducing the tributes of District Four, Alec Flood and Marline Orman!"
Another roar erupts from the crowd as our tributes emerge from the Remake Centre, and I breathe a sigh of relief as I realise that Alec will be fine. He looks nervous as the chariot first comes out, but he appears relieved as the noise from the crowd increases. Slowly he starts to become less isolated from the crowd as he realises their warm welcome. I can see his confidence growing as chariots behind him don't make as much of an impression as him.
Then come District 7, and all the mentors laugh as Blight turns away shamefacedly, with his tributes dressed as trees for what feels like the fortieth consecutive year.
Finnick, however, remains silent next to me, his lips pursed in concentration, his eyes never averting their gaze from Marline.
His tribute remains stationary in the District 4 chariot, staring straight ahead. With Octavian's work, Marline looks simply stunning, as the vivid lights used to brighten the Capitol high streets accentuate her qualities perfectly. However she does nothing to enhance her friendliness with the Capitol crowds; she appears indifferent to them, staring straight ahead as the procession moves towards the City Circle. Finnick seems so locked in concentration on her. I could tell from before the reaping that Marline had a cold exterior, but I'm convinced that the news of Nathan's death will change nothing with that except to make her even colder. It's a shame, but I guess that she's so certain of her personality that she'll win over quite a few sponsors for it anyway. I know that ultimately Marline will be competition for Alec, but if anything happens to him, it's nice to know that the other tribute for District 4 also stands a good chance of winning the Games.
As the parade continues, I begin to notice attention being drawn to the District 9 chariot due to the small, hyperactive boy who represents them. It seems as though, considering his age and size, he already knows what will be his eventual fate, and so he's just out there having fun, and not caring about the consequences. Considering what he's about to be going through, it's not a bad strategy.
"Not bad enthusiasm for a thirteen-year-old, eh?" smiles Marcel, the middle aged man who mentors the boy, who sits on my left.
"He'll be sure to win over quite a few sponsors," I reply, trying to keep my eye on Alec and Marline as the first chariot makes its way into the City Circle to be greeted by rapturous applause.
"There's some hope for young Harold," he replies, although I can tell that he thinks that his tribute won't survive the Games. He's a nice lad, but only liars, traitors, thieves and murderers prosper in the arena. His type will never win the Games, and I know this as well as everyone.
As all twelve chariots filter into the City Circle, I take another chance to survey the opposition.
As usual, the Career tributes of Districts 1, 2 and 4 outshone the others, especially (to my enjoyment) Alec and the District 1 female, Amethyst, who has used her physical beauty to her advantage to gain support of the Capitol crowd during the parade so far. Combine that with her obvious weapons training, and she's bound to be a real contender.
Of the outer districts, District 7's Vincent has stood out, due to his physique and genuine likeable character, even though he has been dressed as a tree this evening. Harold of District 9 seems to have gained sympathy from the audience tonight due to his eagerness and bright character, and the male from District 10 might be able to hold his own in the arena. As for the girls from the non-Career districts, few look like much. Maybe the girls from Five and Six look rather confident, but aside from them, if none of the Career females win the Games, this year's victor will almost certainly be a boy.
The crowds calm down as President Coriolanus Snow comes out onto the balcony of his mansion in the City Circle to greet this year's batch of tributes. the background music that has been playing throughout the procession ends with added flourish, and the whole crowd goes silent to hear the first words of the President of Panem's speech. The night sky is clear, and the air is beginning to become crisp as the time reaches nine-thirty. The walls of the buildings around the City Circle hold large screens which show the TV broadcast that is currently being aired all around the nation. Most of the time, the cameras are either focused on the tributes or the President as he begins his speech to officially open the 67th Annual Hunger Games.
The speech is short and contains much the same things as every year; lots of compliments thrown at the tributes, reminding them of the pride, honour and sacrifice that the Games entail. These compliments are slipped into a speech that mainly serves to remind the population in the districts that the Capitol's power is overwhelming and undefeatable, and that the price of the rebellion has still not been paid. Of course, the speech ends with the usual line:
"Happy Hunger Games, tributes. And may the odds be ever in your favour."
And then it is over.
The chariots slowly circumnavigate the City Circle once before leading away into the Training Centre to the sound of loud applause and overly joyful music.
It's another twenty minutes before I manage to rejoin my tribute in the bottom floor of the Training Centre, where the tributes will be held until the Games begin for real next Sunday. Alec has just dismounted from the chariot when I arrive, and is in conversation with Flavius. The two stylists are gone; talking to their Capitol friends at the District 11 chariot. This leaves Marline sitting along on the edge of the chariot, her feet dangling over the edge, staring into nothingness. She genuinely seems to want to be as far from Alec as possible.
My tribute, on the other hand, seems almost too enthusiastic and clearly high on adrenalin as I arrive.
"How was that?" he asks, buzzing over towards me.
"Great," I say confidently. "Certainly good enough to put you in with the front-runners in the race for sponsors."
Alec laughs before replying.
"I'm glad," he says, still grinning. "Anybody else look good?"
"The other Careers, obviously," I reply. "District One look like the real competition this year. Add in the boy from Seven and maybe those from Nine and Ten, and you'll be in for a good fight this year, for sure."
"What did District Nine do?" asks Alec, raising an eyebrow. "When I had a look at their tributes, I thought they were weak."
"Don't worry, they are weak," I say reassuringly. "The boy was a bit hyped up during the parade. He got quite a lot of the crowd on his side, so he'll be near the front in the race for sponsors. Thankfully for us, his training score will pull him down; I doubt he'll manage more than a five."
"What about District Two?" Alec asks, eager for more information. "Surely they are still a threat?"
"They are, but between us and District One, they've almost been forgotten. So far, they have nothing over you."
Alec merely nods in reply to this.
"I trust that you understand that training starts at ten tomorrow morning?" I ask, to which Alec nods once again.
"You'd better head up to our floor with Flavius, then," I say. "He'll be able to-"
"Hey, Ludo!" It's Finnick, along with the District 1 mentors, Cashmere and Gloss.
"What is it?" I ask, slightly annoyed. I was in the middle of explaining tomorrow to Alec.
"You coming out with us tonight?" asks Gloss brightly. "We're going out to this private party for the evening. Some rich Capitol businessman wants to hold this event, and some of us victors have been invited as guests of honour."
"And?" I say stubbornly. "Haven't we got tributes to mentor?"
"They'll be fine," says Finnick encouragingly. "It's only one evening."
"Plus, Auriel and Holly are coming too," adds Cashmere. "Come on, it'll be a laugh! Free drinks all around!"
Now I really don't know what to do. Maybe I should go with them. I do enjoy spending time with other victors. They are the only people who genuinely understand what I've been going through since the Games. They seem as though the care. I feel as though they are my friends.
But I have a duty as a mentor, and a promise to keep to Harrow. Combine that with a morbid fear of alcohol (I'm never going to repeat the victory celebrations after my Games last year), and I realise how I'm going to spend the evening.
"You can go without me," I say. "Training starts in the morning, and I'm going to give Alec all the help that I can."
Apologies in advance for any errors, I'm stuck on my iPod again due to computer-related issues. Please let me know if and where there are errors.
If you enjoyed the chapter, please review! As ever, I'm welcoming constuctive criticism :)
P.S. Alec will be back next chapter... :)