AUTHOR'S NOTES: Lo and behold, I live, and thus so does this story! This is a particularly interesting and unique chapter because while Lux does in fact make good on her claim that she'd undress after the parade, it's hardly meant to be lewd or sexual, and Lux herself doesn't play it off that way either. Lux is sassy, but she's also an extremely introspective character who prefers to get lost in her own thoughts. How this will affect her performance in the training center and arena, however, remains to be seen.
Happy Reading!

CHAPTER 7: A Promise Upheld

The Chariots began making their way back towards the Tribute Tower, and perhaps with the knowledge of realizing that they were no longer on camera or on display for the Capitol audience, Lux swayed her hips, as if trying to spur a reaction from the District 2 tributes behind her. The smirk that crept onto her face a moment later was a sign that they delivered, for one of them had most certainly wolf-whistled.

"And here I thought you were reserved," Malcolm commented as their chariots slowed to a halt a few minutes later at the entrance to the tower, where they and the other tributes disembarked.

Lux merely shook her head and shrugged. She struck a confident pose, and cracked a smile. Humor was by no means lost on her, and introverts needed social interaction just as others did; they just needed it in smaller amounts. Lux felt like she still had a bit of 'social energy' remaining before she would want to be alone again, and she knew exactly how she was going to spend it.

"You've got a nice butt," Zack was the one to shamelessly make the comment as he joined Lux and Malcolm on their way to the training center. Several tributes (and almost always the careers) would sneak down to the dimly lit and deserted training center the night before training actually began to get a peek at it. While the academies in District 1 and District 2 were plenty nice in their own right, they, much like the wealth these two districts boasted, paled in comparison to the wealth and quality of the Capitol's facilities.

Lux simply nodded and gave Zack a wink in response to his comment, because even if she could reply, she didn't really have a verbal response in mind. Besides, seeing all of these different weapons of murder laid out in front of her of two things; firstly, that she really wanted to give some of them a few practice swings. Secondly, that regardless of how she felt about Zak, Esmeralda, and even Malcolm, they and all of the others would inevitably die. Alternately, she would die instead, and that would be it. Sure she wanted to live, just as any kid fortunate enough to volunteer or unfortunate enough to get reaped did, but death came for everyone and showed no mercy when it was someone's time to go. Whether someone was 18 or 80, there was no escaping it. Some lived longer than others, but Lux ultimately did not fear death. This mindset kept her with a level head when all was said and done.

She cared nothing for or about her costume, or who stared. If people wanted to watch her heft a greatsword or a battleaxe with the strength of one of those girthy District 11 tributes, she was fine with letting them watch. Even in heels there was a certain kind of dexterity in her step as she tested the balance of the weapon before giving it a few practice swings. She definitely wanted to get her hands on a two-handed weapon in the arena if the opportunity presented itself.

None of the careers planned on staying too long, knowing that they'd have all week to hang out in the training center and have at targets and holograms with their weapons of choice, but even then, it did not stop Esmeralda from coyly whistling at Lux as she put an enormous sword back on the rack she had found it on.

Lux pivoted rather gracefully on one foot as she stepped towards the District 2 pair. Wordlessly and without a notable expression on her face, she twirled again, unraveling the colorful bands of fabric that had covered parts of her body during the parade, until she was standing in front of them wearing nothing but high heels and glitter. She held out her hand for a moment as if expecting payment—a clear reference to earlier, before turning around again and walking to the elevator. Zack didn't even try to hide that he was staring at Lux's backside, and frankly, Malcolm and Esmeralda didn't hide it either. One of the District 3 tributes—another volunteer who looked likely to join the career pack this year, clapped his hands slowly and appreciatively.

"Well that was a highlight if I ever saw one," he quipped. "If she tries that in the arena she's going to win, hands down."

"Not going to lie," the boy's partner spoke up, "I'd kill for a body like that."

"You'll have plenty of time for that in a week," Esmeralda elbowed her. The girl smirked.

"I'm sure I will," the girl extended her hand to Esmeralda, "Glitch Montezuma, District 3."
"How'd a girl as cute as you end up with a name like that?" Esmeralda giggled.
"Accidents happen," Glitch laughed, "and not always just in programming."

"It makes me wonder what would have happened if Lux's costume had dropped during the parade," Glitch's partner pointed out."
"Then she'd get Capitolites throwing sponsor gifts at her probably literally, Linus," Glitch used the boy's name, "they prostitute the pretty victors. I'm sure her looks are going to give her an edge whether they like it or not."

The Capitol was not one to tell the tributes about how they were used when in the Capitol, but plenty of victors had spoken of it to tributes over the years that they had mentored. Tributes from the richer districts such as '5, '2, or '1 knew this well, although it was not unheard of in Districts such as 3 and 4 either, considering that Glitch and Linus both knew it as well. Either way, the tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 3 knew that should someone as attractive as Lux win, being used by the Capitol was almost guaranteed to be part of her fate.

Lux knew it as well, but didn't think about it. Not all fates were worse than death, and she was not above violence. She didn't fear death, whether from another tribute or as retribution for attacking a Capitolite that might have mistreated her. It was certainly not that she was ashamed of her body, considering that she was now seated on the sofa in her apartment wearing nothing but glitter and a pair of high heels as she watched reruns of past Hunger Games.

Esmeralda, Zack, Malcolm, and those District 3 goons weren't annoying; it was just that Lux had had enough social interaction for the time being and wanted to be left alone. Fortunately for her, Cashmere was the first one to see her rather than Lucas. The man was growing on her a little bit, but right now, she wanted quiet apart from the sounds from her television.

"Is there any particular reason you're naked?" she raised an eyebrow. Lux shook her head and shrugged. She pointed to her shoulder and then held up two fingers. She then gestured her hands in a challenging motion before moving as if to remove invisible clothing.

"Are you just going to stay like that for the rest of the night?" Cashmere gave her a curious look. Lux nodded nonchalantly and turned back to her TV for a moment before turning back. She mimed a distinct guffaw and then motioned dismissively.

"You want Lucas to stay away?" Cashmere didn't want to assume too much, but she didn't always understand Lux's gestured, and did not want to offend her by assuming something that Lux was not trying to say. Lux nodded.

"Maybe try putting clothes on then," Cashmere quipped. Lux cracked a silent chuckle and shook her head, making it clear from her expressions that she did not care even remotely if Lucas (or anyone) saw her naked. Sighing mostly in frustration at herself for not having a better way to express it, she got up and scribbled something on a piece of paper. Lux's handwriting was very elegant and curvy much like its owner—her style was almost like calligraphy, as Cashmere discovered when Lux handed her the sheet.

"I just want to be left alone for a bit." The note explained, "I've had a little too much social stimulation in the last couple of hours and it's worn me out. It's nothing personal; not even for Lucas, as goofy as I might think he is. I just need a little rest and mindless activity to help tune myself out. Thanks for understanding, Cashmere."
~Lux Calameda~

"You have beautiful handwriting, by the way" Cashmere smiled as she folded up the note, and walked off, "but I'll let you alone now."

Lux gestured her gratitude before zoning out in front of the television. Nothing in particular stood out to her about what she was watching, but she was also not really paying attention. Today had been a wild series of events, and perhaps had been a bit too socially stimulating for her. She hoped she would be able to find some alone time in the arena, because while she didn't fear death, she felt that she deserved to die with a bit more dignity than being all tense and stressed from too much social stimulation. In the meantime, she looked forward to the upcoming week. Training officially started tomorrow, and she was quite ready to bash some heads in—even if they were just holograms for now…