Chariot Rides
District 7:
Derek's POV:
"Ready for this, hun?" I nodded. The price for beauty was very expensive. They then proceeded to rip out another chunk full of hair from my legs. I mean, let's be realistic! I kept very good care of my body for the ladies, so I can't imagine the pain some of the other tributes are going through. My prep team is made up of three people. Olivia is very, what's the word, uh, well rounded? Prada seems to be kind of shy, but he knows how not to make me go into an immense amount of pain. Then there is Eagle, who just won't shut up!
After I was done being jumped by the prep team, I met my stylist Cleopatra. She was…well interesting. She reminded me of a snake, which is what I am sure she was going for. Green skin, slit eyes, forked tongue, all the works.
"If you dress me up as an axe, I swear, I will kill you!"
"Oh, save it! Plus, I did axes last year. We don't want to bore the audience…I think you'll like your costume." Right then and there I knew that this woman was to be feared. However, once I saw my costume, I had to admit, it just screamed me.
District 5:
Memory's POV:
When I saw the others outfits, I just wanted to die right here and now. I was dressed in frills and every accessory. Oddly enough, so was my counterpart, Aaron. When I first saw him, I burst out laughing! I know right here and now I'm not getting any sponsors based off the Chariot rides. The Careers really stuck out to me. They all were dressed in a "matchy-matchy" kind of way, but not cliché either. They all just looked so stunning. Except that little kid from District 4, Seel. He seemed so scared that it took away from his outfit.
At least I wasn't the only tribute who would suffer because of this. The people from district ten were dressed as sheep, the people from district eleven were dressed as squash and eggplant, and the people from District Twelve were dressed as big lumps of coal. Then I looked over at the people from District Seven and wanted to start laughing out loud. The girl was dressed as a tree, not that unusual, but the boy was dressed as a lumberjack. However, it wasn't your normal lumberjack. This was a sexy lumberjack. Tight pants, tight shirt, and his axe was placed in a…suggestive area.
Everyone else was just average in comparison to the Careers. The tributes from District Six were dressed up in a cliché way. They had the whole doctor and nurse thing going on. Also, the tributes from District Three were dressed in boring, plain old black suits that had some weird pattern etched on them. The Careers, though, wow! I mean, I hate those guys to no end, but the way the diamonds from district one twinkled, or the way the girl from district two's simple, grey dress flowed, or the way the people from district four's sapphires shined, I was truly star struck.
We got on our chariots and prepared for departure. I could see our stylists were doing last minute things. They straightened our bows, put some more makeup on. God, we just looked like Career wannabes! The anthem started and the doors opened up. Then I saw something that completely shocked me senseless. Maybe the Careers would have a run for the money when it came to attention this year.
District 3:
Taylor's POV:
I was literally glowing! The first time I saw this suit, I thought my stylist, Reid, was crazy. I mean, it was just a simple, black suit that went from right under my head to the bottom of my feet. It even covered up my hands! I thought for sure that I would just blend in with the background. Well I wasn't now. A few minutes before the chariots were supposed to take off, our stylists told my district partner and I to press the middle of our chests before our chariot started to move. My new ally, Keaton, was freaking out as much as I was. Now, I know what you're thinking. I partnered up with the kid who passed out in front of everyone in Panem. Yes, yes I did, and I don't care what anyone else says! I have my reasons! One, he is my District partner and two, well…ok, I'm just going to admit it…he reminds me of my siblings. He also is the closest thing I have to home, besides my token. I hadn't gotten it back yet because it was a locket Justice gave me. For all they knew there could be some poison dart or needle in it. Idiots.
Once the gates opened, Keaton and I pressed our chests and expected nothing to happen. I was dead wrong! Elegant designs appeared on my body in a warm hue of red. I looked over at Keaton. His designs were manlier and they were in a hue of light blue. I heard gasps from behind us. The people in front of us had no idea what was going on. Perhaps they thought all the tributes were just gawking at them some more. Too bad they were wrong! I heard the gasps from the Capitol crowd as District One went out, and then I heard the louder gasps as District Two went out. Then I heard the screams of amazement as we went out.
The acceptance both Keaton and I got from the Capitol put me on Cloud Nine. I knew we were forgiven for anything, in the Capitol peoples' eyes, that we had done beforehand. We were now considered amazing. I saw all the different people we passed. They were dressed for the occasion, in shimmering, sparkling dresses or starched tuxedos. The buildings were lit up and everything was, well, amazing. The television never really caught the stunning luxury of the Capital. I heard a giggle of some kind and looked over at Keaton, who seemed to be enjoying himself and was waving to the crowd. I realized the Games were still going on. I put on my best smile and waved as if my life depended on it, which it did.
Every person I saw I waved at. I smiled at them as if they were my best friends. I realized that the outfit only gave us the tools to succeed. We had to use them to create an image for ourselves. Even the people with terrible outfits could get some reputation, as long as they kept treating the Capitol people as if they were family. The rest of the ride went in sort of a sequence. Smile, wave, act like you love everyone in the world, act like you are honored to be here, and then repeat. Finally, it was all over. President Raven came out and gave her welcome speech. What a warm welcome she gave us, considering we're just here to be Panem's little toys.
I looked over at the jumbo television that was for everyone to see. I saw that we were competing for screen time with the Careers, the boy from District Seven, and, for some odd reason, the girl from District Eight. What was so special about her? She looked completely normal to me. The wretched speech was finally over and we rolled into what I like to call "the safety zone." No cameras, just us tributes and our helpers. Everyone was telling us how wonderful we looked. I just ignored them and couldn't wait to get to my next safe zone, bed.
District 12:
Meli's POV:
That was terrible! I couldn't believe my stylist, Blizzard, had actually convinced Aspen's stylist that being dressed as coal would be our best option! Yeah, only if best option means most embarrassing. I tried to stay calm as we headed up to our temporary prison, but I really had the urge to run someone through with a sword. Our mentor, Ophelia, wasn't happy either. She had a fit and told our stylists that if something like this happened again she would personally kill them both. You don't make those kinds of threats in the Capitol. Ever. We sat down to watch the replays of the chariots. I am pretty sure I would rather stick needles in my eyes. Aspen seemed to be concerned too. She knew that this wasn't going to help her chances, she wasn't stupid. It hurt most of all, however, when Aspen saw how adorable the girl from district one was. Aspen could have been that girl! Our stupid stylists, I will kill them if I ever get the chance!
The camera seemed to stay trained on the Careers, District 3, District 7 and District 8. I have no idea why they had stayed trained on District 8 but then it hit me. They looked like they actually liked each other. Now I am not talking "I am going to tolerate you" or "We are so in love" but, I mean, like they trust each other. Now, when I saw glimpses of Aspen and I, we had that same vibe, but who would pay attention to that when we are lumps of coal?
Once the replays were over, we were served dinner. It was eerily quiet. Ophelia was still trying not to kill someone and our escort, Drakon, didn't say anything because his nose was still broken. Aspen and I said a few words to each other, but it was nothing important. We both knew we were being watched. As we headed to bed, I thought about the Hunger Games. These games were used to kill innocent children. I had an image flit through my head of that boy from District One standing over Aspen's body. I waited until everyone had gone into their quarters until I punched a wall.
So what do you guys think? Any good? Pm me if I messed up your character in any way! Also, I cannot wait to get to the actual games! I am so excited!
