Let the long chapter begin! Hope you like my lovely little prep team and my slightly irritating stylist!
Happy reading :)
*WentToTheMoonToday ... Priya Pendus, District Two
It feels as if three little peacocks are dancing around my bed. Iovita, the one with purple eyebrows and auburn hair. Laelia, the one brandishing scissors and vicious tweezers. And Nero, the one who has unhealthily long nails for a young man.
They can't stop tweeting and clucking on about parties and celebrations which they have been invited to. The feathers, the gems and fake animal fur coats. Scandals between one Capitol chick and the other. The disgrace caused by the new chocolate fountain in the hairdresser's lobby.
I'd go to sleep if it weren't for the regular waves of pain as hair is ripped from my legs. "It won't hurt a bit," they reassured me. Really.
I feel somewhat defenceless, like a plucked chicken ready to be roasted in the oven and served on a platter. That is somewhat like what will be happening next. We are the Masonry district with interwoven hints of Ancient Roman. And our stylist is known for his extravagant, if slightly deranged, outfits. Two years ago, he clothed the tributes in the extreme bare minimum and made them clutch shields and swords. We were the laughing stock of the Games that year.
When the prep team finish their work, they observe me in detail, tweaking a little bit here and there. Then they leave. As if he has been summoned by an undetectable communication device, my stylist sweeps in, leaving a trail of gold glitter in his wake. I internally groan.
"Good day, honey fluff!" He squeaks. "I am Cassius. You look mighty fine in all your glory!Festina lente!" I can literally hear the exclamation marks. I raise one eyebrow.
"Of course, my dear syrup pot, you haven't been taught in the ways of Latin. 'Festina lente' means let us plan carefully, even in great haste. What do you think?" He preens his droopy fringe.
"I think it'd be best if you didn't give me pathetic pet names like syrup pot." My voice is laced with poison. Even Cassius falters for a second. Tragically, a second and no more.
"Sure thing, pretty petal. Now, this year, I was thinking of a sort of Artemis look. You know? The goddess of hunting. I thought it would fit in just right with the spirit of the Games. She is so often shown as a huntress with a bow and arrow – perfecto!"
"My weapon is the sword," I add, "just to clear any previous assumptions."
"Oh," Cassius says, rather dreamily, "you are so like Mina, in both demeanour and stature."
"Rather long words for you, huh?" I ask sarcastically.
"Anyhoo!" Cassius changes the subject as quickly as I might blink an eye. "Your District partner, Domitrius, I think it is, he will dress as Apollo, who by the way, is Artemis' twin."
He produces a large sketchpad showing the outfits we will be wearing. I am relieved to see that they are will cover a decent amount of my body. My outfit is a flowing, silvery dress, with an olive headpiece to match. The model on the page is holding an artistically beautiful masterpiece of a bow. I notice there are no arrows. Wouldn't want the Two girl to be killing tributes before the arena, would we?
Domitrius will be wearing an outfit which looks rather like the sun. In fact, when I look at both of the drawings together, it looks like the sun and the moon. The male sketch has a flickering cape, inlaid with jewels which will reflect the spotlights. He also will have an olive headpiece and will hold a lyre.
I have to congratulate Cassius on his imagination, even so. This year, we will stand out from the rest.