Lanteia Cintas(Master of Ceremonies)
I hope the stylists put a little more effort into this year's outfits than they did last year's. I mean we had three, three naked groups last year and almost twice as many trying to pull off sexy with mostly malnourished prepubescent teens and it worked about as well as anyone with half a brain would have expected it too. I mean selling sexy is easy if you have the tributes to do it but they knew beforehand they wouldn't have anything close to the right tributes to pull it off and they tried to do it anyway and everyone knows that naked and covered in anything means the stylists were either too lazy or too incompetent to come up with an actual outfit. Then again considering that all but three of the stylists for this year are the same as last year maybe I should prepare for another atrocious parade filled with god-awful outfits and overly timid tributes. I really need a drink if I'm going to make it through this.
"Ms. Cintas, this is your two-minute warning before we go live."
"Thank you Majoran. Before you go is there anything to drink back there?"
"Of course ma'am. Were you looking for something specific or just a general drink?"
"Grab me whatever has the highest alcohol content with a fruity flavor to it and keep them coming."
"Are you sure it's a good idea to drink before going live ma'am?"
Why do I have to have responsible people working for me? I mean of course it's not a good idea for me to drink excessively, or really at all for that matter while trying to broadcast live to the entire country but it would sure as hell be easier if I was. I mean this is the absolute worst part of my job and it's easily the most pointless too. After all, I've never heard about how a good tribute parade was the saving grace for a victor, even for the ones that go well the parade is only a small part of the total package that delivered them to victory. Hell more often than not it's easier to survive and win if you have a bad parade than it is if you have an outstanding one.
"You're probably right, but have one ready for me as soon as I'm done and in addition to three shots. I want to unwind from this as quickly as I can."
He offers me a slight bow and a smile before retreating back behind the set and barking out a couple of instructions to the assembled crew as the little light above the cameras in front of me flashes from white to green and begins to blink steadily as I enter the final ten seconds before the start of the broadcast. I take a couple of deep breaths and shuffle through my papers in an effort to find the one with the tributes names on it and for a change, I manage to luck out and find it just before the light flashes from green to red.
"Good evening Panem and welcome to the opening ceremonies and tribute parade for this, the One Hundred and Fourth Annual Hunger Games! I'm Lanteia Cintas and it's my pleasure to return as you Master of Ceremonies for another year. Now I'm sure you're all as eager and excited as I am to get your first good look at this year's batch of tributes so let's get to the good part shall we?"
The screen in front of me switches from a full view of me to a split screen with me on the right and a picture of the fan lined causeway the tributes will be traveling down in a few short seconds. After a few seconds of anticipation building nothingness the doors to the remake center swings open and the snowy white horses pulling the District One chariot surge out into the crisp night air.
For the first few seconds, I can't quite make out what the tributes are supposed to be dressed as I mean I can make out the brightly colored feathers and the jewel-studded headdresses just fine and while it's certainly an impressive sight I can't shake the feeling that they look more comical than luxurious.
"First, we have Kerensa Oddette and Claro Alabaster of District One and as you can see their stylists have gone to great lengths to weave us a beautiful tapestry that exemplifies the heart and soul of the district. Their outfits appear to be made entirely of brightly colored and highly glossy feathers and if I'm not mistaken their headdresses appear to be made of precious metals. Claro's looks to be made of silver while Kerensa's appears to be gold and both are dotted with brightly colored gems. It looks like District One has set the bar high and will be daring the others to live up to their lofty stature."
These outfits are truly awful, or at least they would be if the tributes weren't finding some way to make them work. It could be that the soft colors of the feathers covering Kerensa accentuate her black hair and rich skin tone or how the bold coloring plays to Claro's much paler skin. Or it may be the confident way the two of them are acting right now, I mean both of them are smiling and waving in a way that practically oozes confidence and moxie.
Regardless they quickly surge ahead and are replaced in the main screen by the midnight black horses pulling the marble white chariot of District Two. District Two is always one of my favorite districts, there's just something about their outfits that I've always loved and this year is no different as the gleaming beauty of the tributes comes into focus.
"Next, up we have District Two being represented by the lovely Cassia Maximus and her partner the ever dapper Augustus Rowkin. Now we've all seen District Two ride out as gladiators, gods and even a couple of times as peacekeepers but I have to say this may well be one of my all-time favorite looks for them, that of the chivalrous knights. As we all know knights are the heroes and protectors of old and it looks like the stylists have chosen to represent District Two's unique place as the heart of our peacekeeper training academies by showing us the correlation between the bulwarks of old and new. Not to mention I love the way the steel of the plate mail makes Cassia's light-blue eyes pop."
I can't think of a more amazing way to have dressed District Two this year. After all they managed to reinvent themselves while staying true to the idea that the majority of our benevolent protectors come from that district and while they weren't nearly as flash or eye-catching as District One I think they did an amazing job considering how much less impressive physically Cassia and Augustus are compared to the brutes they normally have.
"Now it's time to take a little jaunt to the home of our reigning champion Quanta Bomm and District Three."
I can't tell what color the horses pulling the chariot actually are because they're covered with some kind of metallic looking material that I assume is meant to make them look robotic, which would seem to go well with the robot costumes they tributes are wearing. I mean the outfits are outlandishly comical, to say the least, the bodies are too big and boxy for both tributes, a surprising feat considering how stocky the boy is and everything is so outlandish and childlike.
"Just a reminder that the tributes from Three this year are Paxx Carthage and William Java the Third, and I was explicitly told to remember the third part when introducing him. Now outside of their names, I can say this is exactly the right level of playfulness for a district dedicated to technology. After all, what better way to remind all of us of the contributions from Three in robotics than by dressing the tributes as robots and while they may be more characters of robots than actual robots they're still impressive."
I don't believe for a second that anyone in their right mind is going to believe for a second that those outfits are good let alone great but it's not my job to eviscerate the quality and image of the outfits it's to explain them to the brain-dead masses. At least District Four is next, they usually show up well and produce quality costumes.
"Now if you'll turn your attention to the sea-green horses pulling the ship shaped chariot you'll see the seductive Deverin Aldous and the monstrous Docker Henderson. Now if I'm not mistaken it looks like Deverin is supposed to be some kind of beautiful sea monster and Docker is the fisherman caught in her seductive spell. I love the way the stylists have created Deverin's headdress, it looks like an elegant cross between tentacles and waves and I love the little gems suspended between them and the fins on her arms. They create the effect of water droplets suspended around her that makes this outfit look that much more amazing. Now Docker for his part is doing an amazing job of playing the shirtless sailor or fisherman that's too enchanted by the monsters beauty to do anything but stare at her, a truly amazing setup and execution by District Four."
Well, that takes care of the majority good and imaginative outfits, at least it normally is. I mean occasionally one of the lesser districts will surprise everyone and have a decent or even spectacular outfit for their tributes but those are oftentimes few and very far in between. No most likely this is the time when we start to get rehashed outfits and completely unimaginative fall backs like coal miners from Twelve or trees from Seven, and sure enough, it looks like Five is going to live down to my stereotype of their district.
"Well it looks like District Five's chariot is shaped like a lightning bolt this year and unfortunately, that may be the most impressive part of their presentation this year. It looks like the tributes Tesla Brite and Barrett Martinez are wrapped up in clear tubing of some kind and while the way the tubes are shaped is certainly nice it doesn't make them stick out more than any of the preceding tributes did. I….Oh my!"
In the middle of my thought the lights on the causeway all flicker out at the same time and the tubes twisted around the tributes and their chariot suddenly explode in a beautiful and mesmerizing display of beautiful blue light that seems to dance with the movement of the chariot. It's a sight to behold and even though the blackout only last for maybe ten or so seconds the impact is amazing and incredibly memorable, to say the least.
"Now that is how you make an entrance, bravo Tesla and Barrett, bravo. Now we turn our attention from those who power our world to those that drive it forward with Keyna Rane and Perriwood Coltrove of District Six."
To their credit District, Six did a decent job this year too but it's hard for what I assume are supposed to be astronauts to follow up the amazingness of District Five but at least Keyna and Perriwood are trying. I mean the scowl on her face could curdle milk but she's actively engaged and trying to look semi-interested in what's going on and Mr. Coltrove is smiling and friendly enough for the both of them anyway.
"Well it looks like District Six is ready to spread the glory of Panem to the stars and I can't think of better representatives of our people and triumphant culture than the two of them."
As they lurch out of the picture I catch my first glimpse of District Seven and I can almost hear Johanna Mason screaming about the costumes. I mean it's about as open a secret as any in the Capitol that she absolutely hates the idea of her tributes dressing as trees but once again it looks like the stylists have decided to fall back on a well-worn and uninspired outfit for this year.
"Next, up we have District Seven's Larkin Lindell and Bryden Maier dressed as trees and I have to say I love the way they did this. With such an obvious and inescapable height difference between the two of them, I think the idea of dressing Larkin as a sapling and Bryden as a full grown tree complete with lush foliage was quite an inspired decision."
I mean it's about as inspired and memorable a way you can do a thoroughly unimpressive and frankly overdone outfit like a tree. I mean I give the stylists props for trying to reinvent the outfit but all they really did was underscore how short Larkin is which puts her farther behind the eight ball then she already was.
"Now let's take a little trip to the heart of our fashion and textile industry in the fashionable and ever inspiring District Eight which is represented by Twyla Monroe and Inigo Cambric. Now it seems like the stylists are aiming for a dignified and regal look this year as they've decided to dress their tributes in brightly colored masquerade ball outfits complete with masks. I especially like how the deep shade of crimson on Twyla's lips contrasts with the paleness of her face and the dusting of freckles that seem to be twice as noticeable now than they were before."
Surprisingly nothing so far has been overly disappointing, I mean it's a hell of a good day when the least memorable and impressive outfit, outside of District Seven that is, was District One. I just hope the bottom third of the districts can keep up with the high level set by the top two-thirds.
"Next up we head to the bread basket of Panem and the hardworking people of District Nine who are represented this year by Briar Sycamore and Hudson Levanten."
Unfortunately, it looks like District Nine is going to throw in the towel and try to outdo Seven for the most uninspiring outfit so far, I mean how else do you justify dressing your tributes as loaves of bread?! I mean really how in the world can you justify trotting your tributes out dressed like this? How in the hell am I supposed to sell this as even passable let alone acceptable?
"In a direct correlation to its position as our bread basket, it looks like the stylists have decided to go with hearty loaves of bread and I have to say the choice is…..Interesting to say the least. I do like the way the creases of the loaves are designed and the way they seem to contour so effortlessly with the tributes bodies and individual curves."
Well, that's about as good as I can do with the crap I've been given to work with, I mean I don't think even the great Caesar Flickerman could have found a way to make this seem any less awful than I tried to. The only hope they have of not being singled out as the worst outfits of the night is for Ten, Eleven, or Twelve to completely and totally blow it out their asses and trot out a completely garbage outfit.
"Next, up we have Mazie Vernon and James Wild of District Ten and it looks like they've decided to hit us with a blast from the past in their outfits this year with James as a bull and little Mazie as a matador."
I don't normally like it when a district recycles an outfit two years in a row like this but I have to say it works for these two on a pretty amazing level. I mean James is a solidly believable looking bull and the way it contrasts with the tiny stature and downright cuteness of Mazie spinning around the chariot with a red towel is just adorable. It might not be the most impressive outfit off all times but it plays well to the tributes individual strengths.
As the two of them roll off into the night the mismatched horses of Eleven strut out into the spotlight and reveal the rather underwhelming outfits their stylists have chosen for them to wear.
"Now we have Tepary Plantae and Javon Lykes of District Eleven and I have to say these two may be the most impressive looking pair of all and their amazing outfits, which appear to be ears of corn look spectacular and really make the two of them stick out in a sea of amazing tributes and I especially like the way both tributes rich skin tones seem to accentuate the amazing color of the corn and the green of the shell and stem."
I'm not sure if these are as bad as Seven or Ten was or if the novelty and ingenuity of it all is enough to overshadow the fact that it's just, bad. I mean it's better than loaves of bread in my book but I'm not sure how the rest of the Capitol is going to react especially considering how fresh Eleven is going to be in their minds compared to Nine and especially Seven. Then again we still have to get through Twelve and if there's a district that's going to flop hard enough to overshadow the others it's District Twelve.
"Now last but certainly not least we have the spunky tributes of District Twelve the ravishing Ruby Magnus and the dapper Frazier Von Haren and if I'm not mistaken their stylists have decided to resurrect an old favorite in the naked and covered in coal dust. Now I'm not normally a fan of this kind of outfits but with the more filled out and curvaceous forum of the lovely Ruby I think this is just the right combination of revealing and alluring while staying true to the district's primary export to our country, coal."
I can't understand what has to be going through a stylist's mind that makes a naked tribute covered in something stupid like coal dust. I mean how anyone in their right mind can think that something so lazy and frankly unnecessary can ever have a decent response, not to mention the fact that this is the third time in the last decade they've gone to this particular look and each time it fell flat and fell hard. It's also a real shame that two tributes as competent and potentially strong as Ruby and Frazier have been saddled with such an unfortunate look that only adds more hoops for them to jump through to actually be competitive.
"Well this year's parade has been just as amazing and memorable as I'd hoped and I know all of you are just as excited about this year's Games and it's my pleasure to turn you over to our illustrious president the lovely and passionate Tyranna Vale."
I offer up as warm and happy a smile as I can until the little red light winks out and the camera zooms in on Tyranna as she ascends to the podium with a regal look on her face and a smile that can light up a room, at least that's how she's trying to carry herself at this particular moment. As soon as she starts her speech I immediately spin my chair around and reach for the ice filled drink Majoran had on a tray ready for me just like I'd instructed. I take a long drink and feel the warmth and happiness of the drink washing over me as Tyranna declares the games officially open before ordering the tributes chariots back to the launch area to a massively impressive roaring ovation from the people of the Capitol and despite my utter disdain for this dog and pony show I can't help but smile. At least we're finally getting to the good part.
A/N: Hello everyone, I got done with this a little earlier than I'd been expecting so I decided to post it early for all of you to enjoy, I hope that's ok. So what did you all think of the parade and the outfits each of the districts ended up with?
Don't forget to vote in the poll on my profile for your favorite tribute is you already haven't and I'll post the results during the next chapter so vote while you can :) As always please review and let me know what you think and I'll be looking for all of your smiling faces later this week for the first day of training :D