"We're approaching the Capitol." Beetee announced. Wiress stiffened next to him before he took her hand. "Ok, kids, once we get out of the tunnel, I want you two to write down as many new inventions as you can see." He handed them each a piece of paper.
"One... Two... Three..." Wiress counted down with her husband before her children began scribbling away on their pieces of paper. Smiling, her heart warmed with a spark of confidence. Her children were showing strong skills in strategy and they were observant in a new environment as they wrote down different inventions they saw in use or advertised in the Capitol.
"Wow. You two tied! Good job." Beetee said impressed looking at his children's papers. "One more piece of candy then we're getting off the train." He said nothing as Estelle and Noah shoved their pockets full of hard candy from the dessert tray on the side table near the coffee table before eating some small chocolate bars.
"They like the candy." Wiress giggled.
"Your idea. Remember?" Beetee asked picturing a twelve-year old Wiress's eyes lighting up as he presented the dessert tray. "Ok, kids, the cameras are going to be on us as we go to the training center. Heads up, hold hands, and your mom and I will be right behind you."
"Oh! There they are! The children of the two Victors!" A Panem Weekly broadcaster cheered. "Look at their large eyes! They have their mother's eyes!" Estelle and Noah smiled and waved at the crowd that was cheering their parents' names.
"Floor three, kids." Beetee instructed as they got on the elevator. Glaring at the boy from Two who nearly stepped on Noah's toe, Beetee moved protectively in front of his wife and children.
"Hello, Three." Brutus muttered with a sneer on his face.
"Hello, Brutus." Beetee said flatly. "That's your floor, big guy. Brutus is waiting. Off you go." He said as the male tribute attempted to stare down the Tesla children.
"Cato! C'mon, you can intimidate them during training!" Brutus called. "CLOVE, OUT OF THE KITCHEN WE KNOW YOU CAN THROW STEAK KNIVES!" In spite of themselves, the Teslas laughed at Brutus' hollering as the door closed. They knew Brutus was heavily involved with training the teens at the most elite training center in District Two. For many District Two tributes, Brutus was akin to a coach they had since they were twelve. Beetee saw the father-like pride in Brutus's eyes when he spoke about his 'training center kids.' Yet unlike a true father, Brutus was fine with sending his children into the Games where they were not guaranteed to come home.
"Now, I do hope you've told your children about Remake!" Xersius chirped as he ran his fingers through his bright yellow wig.
"Yes, we are coming -" Wiress began before Xersius held up a hand.
"DO. NOT. Argue. With my wife." Beetee hissed. "Noah, I'll be helping you, buddy." He said draping his arm around his son's shoulders. "It's just one evening out of our life, kiddo."
"My star." Wiress whispered as she hugged her daughter. "Come." Taking her by the hand, Wiress led her to the female tribute Remake room. "Now, first it's a bath and scrubbing -"
"Oh -" The prep-team gasped as Wiress shooed them away from the bath.
"You may help, but she is my daughter -" Wiress smiled and gestured to the first line of bath foam. "Which scent?"
"Mmm! How come we didn't have all these at home, mom?" Estelle asked smelling the various floral scents.
"Because your father insisted they made the house smell -"
"Girly?" Estelle giggled as Wiress unbraided her hair. Sharing giggles, Estelle eased into the tub full of bubbles. Wiress began singing a song about a starfish in the tub. Though she hadn't sang it to Estelle since she was eight, Wiress felt her daughter relax as she washed her hair and scrubbed her arms and body.
"Exfoliate." Wiress explained holding up a brush with thick bristles. "Like this." She scrubbed the back of Estelle's hand before a prep-team member took the brush and began scrubbing Estelle's back.
"Ow!" Snatching the brush back from the prep-team, Wiress glared at them. "It's ok, Mama, I'll get used to it!" Wiress shook her head.
"Nails and face only. Go!" Wiress snapped at the group of Capitolites. "I've been through the process so I know - " Pausing to gaze at her daughter in the tub, Wiress glared at the prep-team. "Out!"
"Mama, do you remember making my dress for the science fair award ceremony when I was ten?" Estelle asked as Wiress began scrubbing her daughter much more gently.
"Yes. Beautiful. My beautiful girl in it." Wiress whispered before kissing her daughter on the cheek. Soon the bath was done. "Out, little star-fishie!" Wiress sang as she wrapped a robe around Estelle. "Now, wax."
"Wax?" Wiress pointed to Estelle's legs. "Mom, I just started shaving last week!"
"I know, but rules -" Wiress sighed. "Just this once, sweetie."She hoped she would be more gentle than the prep-team would, and rubbed numbing cream on Estelle's legs before she started. Once Estelle was bathed, Wiress allowed the prep-team in to do her hair and nails.
"Now the stylist wants to see her. Alone." One of the prep-team members insisted.
"Mama, I'll be ok. I promise. You did a good job." Estelle said. Wiress hugged her daughter and kissed her cheeks.
"You are beautiful without all this -" Wiress gestured to the bottles of bath cream and beauty supplies in the room. "My beautiful girl -" She was wrapped in a hug before she kissed Estelle's cheeks. "Then we go to the parade -"
"So, did dad help you?" Estelle asked after Wiress and Beetee adjusted both her and Noah's suits for the tribute parade. They looked at the metal shirts and pants that had gears attached to them.
"Yeah." Noah said. "Guess what!" Estelle raised her eyebrows. "So, I farted in the tub -"
"Noah! That's gross!" Estelle yelped. "Maybe not to thirteen-year old boys, but to me!"
"But - listen!" Noah insisted. Estelle sighed. "So, I farted in the tub, right? And I thought I would have to get a new bath because I thought maybe I stunk up the water, and so Dad said that when he was a tribute, he farted so hard, the tub overflowed!" In spite of the story reeking of middle-school male humor, Estelle laughed along with her brother.
"That. Is. Gross. Don't ever tell me that again! I don't want a mental image ever!" Their cart began moving. "Ok, remember, smile and wave!" Estelle reminded her brother who rolled his eyes at her.
"Yes, because mom and dad are watching. I know." Noah took his sister's hand and a true smile broke out on his face. Both children knew, with all their heart, that they wanted to make their parents proud.
