Forenote: School is starting so updating has been behind. Thanks for all the reviews; please let me know your thoughts as the chapters progress. I think it's going to run about 30 when it's all said and done at this rate! I have so many ideas in mind and the plotline already completed. This originally would have been a much longer chapter but I wanted to get an update posted even if shorter than the complete segment.
Cato and Glimmer are now embarking on the Victory Tour which unfortunately for Glimmer comes about 6 months after the Games. So she is traveling 7 months pregnant and about to turn 18. (Needless to say, the sight of her so young with this situation will trigger a lot of changed opinions amongst many who meet her in the various districts—along with some Victors) The seeds of Rebellion are already starting to be sown but the things that happen during this Tour will make them bloom, esp. as they meet the families of the fallen Tributes. We start with District Three.
Chapter 14— The Tour Begins
Winter came much sooner than expected that year, the first one of many Glimmer would now spend in District Two. She and Cato had decided together to reside there, knowing he would never be completely comfortable in the vastly different socially conscious world of District One. They would however mentor their own respective district's tributes in the upcoming Quarter Quell, a duty which Glimmer did not relish.
Not yet used to the brisk winds and harsher climate of the mountains of Cato's childhood home, Glimmer found herself homesick for the warmer weather and open spaces of District One. Still, the countryside was beautiful and she had begun to enjoy the majestic mountain views and rolling hills that she now called home in the Victor's Village.
Due to the unusually high number of still-living Victors in District Two, their Victor's Village was arranged differently than the one Glimmer had imagined residing in as a small girl. Larger mansions reserved for older Victors with children sat back amongst the hillside overlooking the town of Gideon below, smaller walk-ups and condominium style structures ringing out for the newest winners still fresh in their youth.
Fortunately for Glimmer, the impending birth of her daughter had convinced the Mayor of the town that indeed she and Cato should at least share a house instead of just an apartment, the intention that perhaps one day they would fill it with future victors no doubt in his mind. She was rewarded for her efforts by a lovely four bedroom Colonial style two story home that had previously sat empty for nearly a decade across from one occupied by Cato and Clove's former mentor Brutus. An odd friendship had developed between them over the singular fact that Brutus owned a cat, a rough and tumble striped tomcat named Scrabbles. Scrabbles had proven to be the antithesis to Chiffon, Glimmer's beloved pink Capitol kitten and both pets and owners could not have been more different.
Nonetheless, a common bond was forged where Glimmer had come to love the hulking, brooding mentor of District Two and Brutus in turn had demonstrated an uncharacteristic tolerance for Glimmer's friendship, one very different than the no-nonsense one he had developed with Lyme over the years. Cato was fascinated by how his new wife was able to actually engage Brutus in conversations for almost an hour at a time whereas he remembered having exchanged perhaps a dozen words in all during his entire training career that had led up to his time in the arena.
Cato didn't understand how she did it but her natural rapport with others was one of many things he had come to love about Glimmer. Though sometimes still without warning his heart would suddenly ache for Clove's spicy retorts and arrogant smirk, and he'd wax nostalgic about their tumultuous friendship. He hoped time would help heal those wounds, ones he did not doubt Glimmer still had about her district partner though she'd never admit it.
She didn't really have to, the words in her dreams telling him things she'd never say out loud otherwise. He idly wondered if perhaps he had done the same, but it didn't matter. They were together now no matter what by decree of the Capitol and nothing and no one would break those chains whether he wanted it or not.
A day came in January, wet and cold with half frozen sleet, when a train arrived to remind them both of just how far those chains reached out. It was time for the Victory Tour, a moment that every Career tribute dreamed of and planned for years on end.
Only now, Cato no longer even cared if he went.
XXX
After a few hours of tearful goodbyes with Cato's sister Connie and his family along with little Splendor and Glimmer's family joining in by viewcam from District One, the two newest Victors boarded the train that awaited them. Accompanying them would be Cashmere and Brutus, both of whom had volunteered to be their traveling companions. Glimmer could not have been happier to have her own Mentor going with them and Cato had to reluctantly admit it would be easier to travel with Brutus than Enobaria, who was not enamoured of his wife at all. He had always wondered what was wrong with the woman with the golden fangs but then again, the better question was what wasn't wrong with any of them after surviving the Games?
They boarded the train, a pair of silent Avoxes acknowledging them by nod and taking their luggage as they entered. Glimmer and Cato looked around, both admiring the fantastic architecture and opulence of the dining car as well as the adjacent ones. Brutus and Cashmere on the other hand looked immediately bored, the younger Victor sitting down at the mahogany dining table and opening some sort of note with the Capitol seal while the older one headed to the liquor cabinet, pouring himself a glass of amber liquid as he sat across from his counterpart.
"What'd they send?" he inquired, emptying the glass in a single swallow.
"Looks like Cinna the new head stylist sent some outfits for our happy couple to wear"
"Where are they? I want to see!" Glimmer interjected excitedly. She had remembered Cinna's kindness as well as his sense of style and seeing what he had created gave her a sense of happy anticipation she hadn't had since practically early childhood. She pulled out the bright golden pin he had given her as token from where she wore it now around her neck, having made it into a pendant. She stroked the smooth metal nostalgically, remembering the day he'd given it to her as a token to replace her own. It was one of the only times Glimmer could honestly say someone had been kind to her for no other reason than just to be so.
"Why don't we go and look then?" Cashmere replied, jolting her back from her thoughts and Glimmer joined her down the narrow hallway of a connecting railcar, the last door to the right sliding silently open as they approached. A small but quite luxurious bedroom lay before them with a brightly veneered black lacquer armoire in the farthest corner. Glimmer glided over to a slightly cracked door where she could see an assortment of fabrics peeking from within. Inside the cabinet were twelve dresses, each labeled with a District's seal on the hanger. They were arranged in the order, Districts Three through Twelve, then One and Two last as the Victor's home districts.
"These are beautiful!" Cash exclaimed, running the fabrics across her fingers and examining the various details of each creation. They were stylish but not in the Capitol way but rather in a classic, timeless sense. Even to her finely trained tastes, the garments were the epitome of elegance and grace and she had to push down a twinge of jealousy that they were not for her.
Cinna outdid himself she thought, making a mental note to hire him to create her a similarly inspired masterpiece. Each outfit had been painstakingly created to reflect the soul and industry of the individual districts but cut to flatteringly accommodate Glimmer's obvious condition at the same time. Cashmere looked approvingly as they both pulled them out, each catching her eye in turn.
The dress for District Three was a stiff but surprisingly softly textured sateen knee length dress which simulated the folds of beaten copper trimmed in an edging of dark green bordered by golden lines and dots. Four was a liquid ocean blue silk floor length gown outlined in frothy white lace at the collar and hemline accented by a hand knotted necklace of tiny ceramic starfish. Behind it was a vivid mid thigh length electric blue shift belted loosely by a bright silver chain belt of stylized lightning bolts which were repeated on the shoulders as straps.
Six was as subdued as Five was vivid; a strapless gown in matte pewter silk shantung was complimented by a necklace of graduated concentric grey crystal studded rings simulating the tunnels of the transportation district. Seven was deep forest green chiffon which draped in the style of a Roman toga trimmed in leaves of beaten gold and bronze.
Next was a draped royal purple empire waist sundress made of tulle embroidered throughout with dozens of contrasting golden ribbons representing the textiles of District Eight, a plum colored angora ruwana also included to protect against the cold. A huge set of glittering drop earrings made of flawless amethysts set in solid gold finished off the outfit.
Nine took the form of a sleek two piece sweater-dress set outlined entirely in vertical rows of golden bugle beads which swung gently in waves when moved, evoking the image of the fields of grain of that district. Ten was crafted entirely in black and white leather, set with onyx studs on the cuffs and collar which came with matching white leather cowboy boots. It was accompanied by an onyx bulls' head lariat on a golden leather cord.
Thank goodness he skipped the hat Glimmer thought
Eleven had raglan sleeves and a scooped neckline, made entirely of a gorgeous pastel floral print that had a shimmery, ethereal effect which shifted colors in the light. Twelve by contrast had been crafted from nubby dark wool, gathered at the waist and offset by a pair of knee high black leather boots which marked the most somber of outfits Glimmer could expect to wear.
One was her favorite and she could tell instantly Cinna would have known that. A cap sleeved cream colored rouched evening gown covered entirely in scattered crystals awaited her use, a single large pear shaped diamond necklace accompanying it. Cut with a graceful train at the back, it was finished by a pair of cream silk pumps and three slender golden bracelets set with dozens of princess cut diamonds.
It reminded Glimmer of her wedding gown and she smiled seeing it.
Finally, District Two's creation was a low cut V-neck gown crafted with brick red chiffon which criss crossed to drape both shoulders and cascade down the back. A set of strappy deep red Roman sandals and a carmine leather cuff bracelet completed the look.
"Wow, I'm tired just looking at it" she heard a voice join in and the ladies looked up to see Cato leaning in the doorway with a bemused expression on his face.
"What did you get?" Glimmer asked eagerly, wondering if all this was done for her just what did Cinna design for Cato?
"I have three suits of varying shades of grey and a colored shirt for each district. Some cufflinks and three pairs of shoes I think."
Cashmere laughed turning back to analyze the crystal quality of the settings. Clearly it's more fun to design for a girl
"Oh" Glimmer replied softly. She felt bad for her husband. It was a well-known fact she'd been a Capitol favorite since their victory but it still made her feel awkward that Cato would have to likely endure this uneven amount of attention on their Tour as well.
"Nah, don't worry about it Glim" he countered cheerfully. "Better you than me in all those contraptions and get ups. Good luck with all that"
"She'll be fine big boy, why don't you go bother Brutus and let us enjoy some girl stuff?" Cashmere quipped, a slight irritation creeping into her voice.
"Actually….Brutus sent me to come get all you ladies. It's dinner time"
Some are eating for two Cato thought, winking at his partner
Glimmer smiled. She loved the fact that Cato thought of Aurora too so much, it was a side of him that she never would have imagined existed six months ago. Back when they first met, but with the intention of killing each other.
"Don't have to tell me twice" Cashmere replied, a much lighter tone this time in her voice. "You tell Brutus he'd better not eat all the crème brulee either"
We seem to be off to a wonderful start Glimmer thought as they worked their way to the dining car. Perhaps this tour wouldn't be quite as gut-wrenching as she had feared.
She could only hope.
XXX
Their trip began with District Three, a journey which took about 5 hours as the Capitol bullet train wound its way to the Southwest. They arrived in the middle of the night, docking just outside the Justice Hall which, as in all Districts, served as both the train station and the seat of government for the area.
It was still dark outside as Glimmer awoke to Cashmere rapping on her door, her voice chipper as she announced
"Big big BIG day, time to get up!"
Laughter ensued as Glimmer's door slid open to reveal Cashmere and Brutus standing there, dressed and ready to go. The joke was lost on her but apparently not to the two older mentors and she shrugged her shoulders, not sure what was so hilarious at this obscene hour.
Cato stumbled forward next; his door sliding open as he peered out to glare at the pair staring back sat him. He shook his head, running his hands through his messy blond hair before padding back off to get dressed.
Glimmer's heart swooned. I love it when he does that!
Noticing her poorly concealed admiration, Brutus snorted, causing Cashmere in turn to smirk back at him. She stifled a small giggle.
I just don't get it Glimmer thought and she withdrew also to begin the arduous task of putting on her outfit for the day and preparing mentally for the ceremony that lay ahead.
Breakfast consisted of an array of muffins, eggs and even two different types of bacon as well as their choice of three different fruit spreads and fresh apples. Glimmer ate with a ravenous appetite while looking out from the train window across the courtyard below where the residents of District Three had already began to gather. Large view screens had been set up around the perimeter and she suspected by the sheer size of the assembly and number of Peacekeepers that hundreds more (if not thousands) citizens would be watching this from their homes, unable to fit any more people in the main square. She was surprised by the number of people but more so by their apparent physical condition.
Almost uniformly they were tall and lanky, too thin even by District One's fashion standards and definitely underfed in comparison to the mostly husky and rugged residents of District Two. While they didn't look as gaunt as the tributes she remembered in videos of past Games from the outer districts, she was still quietly stunned by their condition. Most seemed to be fairly well dressed, many outfitted in varying copper hues representative of their Districts' color but even that did not conceal the look of hunger that seemed to touch their faces.
Glimmer was surprised; having never visited any other district than her own and Cato's, she had never seen firsthand how the other citizens of Panem really lived, simply assuming they were enjoying a lifestyle relatively equal to her own at the Academy. And truthfully, even in her own District, food was never plentiful or particularly tasty.
She realized with irony that the windows were not tinted as several small children ran up to the platform to wave at her, envy and admiration both in their eyes as they watched her spread a warm buttery roll with guava jelly. Two of the littlest girls waved frantically at the window, jumping up and down in plain cotton dresses which to Glimmer's mind seemed to be much too thin for the cold. They all seemed to be vying for her attention and watching her eat, expressions of wonder on their pale little faces.
Suddenly she was embarrassed. Had she ever felt that way before? It was uncomfortable, that was for certain.
Cashmere noticed her discomfort, pushing a button alongside the wide window of the dining car. Glimmer's view of the courtyard below became a little darker but more importantly, she noticed the children craning their necks to look at her again and then start to filter off, clearly unable to see inside any longer. She looked over at Cash silently, the question on her face unspoken but acknowledged aloud between voracious mouthfuls of sausage and fried potatoes.
It's almost as if she doesn't get enough to eat either Glimmer wondered
"I forgot to kill the two-way, sorry about that. You really don't want to leave that on" she continued between bites, motioning to the dispersing crowd of hungry children on the platform.
"Guess not" Glimmer mumbled in reply, gazing outside as she put down her roll.
Suddenly it didn't seem quite so appealing.