Chapter 27: It's Time
Katniss sat across from Haymitch as their two tributes met with their stylists for the first time. The moment Cinna set his eyes on Penny; his dark eyes laid on Haymitch. The victor nodded and muttered, "Yeah another one I know."
Cinna slowly circled around Penny, the girl twitching under the scrutinizing gaze. Katniss wanted to offer the girl some comfort knowing as she did the pure goodness of Cinna and his compatriots. Penny reminded her of who she used to be, and Katniss had been many things over the years. One thing she had never been was good at taking the comfort offered by those outside of her family. To this day it still took her minutes to understand the comforting words of her friends.
Cinna signaled for Penny to twirl, "Slower" the man requested. His gaze was thoughtful looking upon the girl's frame. The girl looked towards her mentors, Haymitch outright laughed as he twisted his hand in a twirling motion. Katniss nodded her head towards Cinna, encouraging the girl to do as the fashionista said.
"How do you feel about smoke?" Cinna directed his question towards Penny.
Penny bit her lip in thought, "You are not planning on setting me on fire are you?"
Haymitch coughed, Katniss crossing her next to him to pat him on the back as the fashion expert chuckled. Amusement colored Cinna's voice, "No nothing like that, a little electrical work is all."
Katniss chuckled when Penny's wary gaze turned toward her. The female victor smiled at the teen, "Trust me you will never regret allowing Cinna to do his thing."
Cinna and Katniss shared a smile, "I'm thinking light layers, shades of grey and black, perhaps some white to offset. Jagged edges we want her to look like smoke from the embers. Are you writing this all down?"
Cinna's make-up artists quickly began to make detailed notes as Cinna continued on. Penny's shoulders began to lower in ease. His voice was soothing, his footsteps light and sure as he circled the girl. Eyes scrutinizing every inch of her, categoring every detail into what should be highlighted and what should be smoothed. Katniss held her hand to her lips noticing the almost hypnotized gaze Penny's eyes took.
It happened to her the first time around. Cinna was capable of soothing even the most agitated of beasts that Katniss was sure of. By the time Cinna was done, his assistants were in a tizzy whispering back and forth about what fabrics to use. The girl on fire could have sworn they giggled about glitter.
She was not sure how Penny would feel about that.
XXX
Plutarch sat amongst the top tier donors of the hunger games, watching from their safe little top box that overlooked the training grounds. A colorful gourmet spread of the finest delicacies that could be offered in large quantities laid carefully across the room. Men and women grouped into cliques, whispering about each other and this year's batch of tributes. The group of overly perfumed socialites were truly more fit to be circus performers, if Plutarch had the luxury of speaking his mind.
"That one is just delicious isn't he?" One contributor giggled, her flaming pink hair momentarily blinding Plutarch as he subtly turned to listen in, his eyes quickly scanning the tributes for her victim.
It was a dark-skinned boy, bulky build clearly a muscle man. The boy was at the rope climbing station. Plutarch heard the women giggling as the young man jumped onto the rope, tightly holding up, lifting his legs up and using his arms to pull himself up the length of the rope. The woman cooed as the young boy's muscles flexed in the effort to pull himself up.
"Oh, I do hope he wins, I would love an opportunity to test out those muscles" The woman's friend giggled. Plutarch hid his grimace only to find himself being called to.
"Ah the male tribute from District 2, good eye Plutarch."
Plutarch turned towards the voice of Gamemaker Seneca Crane, who bore a wide smile looking down at the training stations. The two men stood side by side watching as the tributes worked around the stations, District 12's Penny gave the spy a curious feeling. He watched as she carefully went up to tributes, the first were tributes from 11 and 10. She worked with the tributes as her fellow tribute was speaking to some of the careers. Plutarch watched as the careers scoffed at the male tribute before walking off.
"You must be proud," Plutarch said pleasantly making small talk.
"I mean to make this year's games spectacular" Seneca Crane boasted offering Plutarch a glass of wine.
"Yes, I heard the arena design had finally been approved last month, rather late incoming wasn't?"
Seneca frowned at Plutarch's comment, "One must not rush genius. Our esteemed President understood this. We are finishing up some of the esthetics now."
"I'm sure the games will go splendidly. I mean it's not like you have another Katniss Everdeen on your hands" Plutarch murmured as his eyes strayed to Penny who had successfully engaged the tributes from 11 into discussion.
Seneca Crane's eyes found where Plutarch's gaze led, his grip on the wine glass tightening. His eyes narrowed at Penny's soft attention towards the male tribute, who was a young boy no older than 12. The youngest tribute of the batch.
He remembered watching those games, Seneca even recalled gleefully the moment he knew that the spot for the head Gamemaker would be up for grabs soon enough. It was all thanks Katniss Everdeen with her habit of distressing their beloved president. The head Gamemaker position was one that was often rotating depending on the success of each game, Everdeen's win signaled the end of his processor despite him not being asked to resign after.
He had been watched like a hawk, after all the man had been loyal and extremely successful up until that point. But the succeeding games, especially with Johanna's games coming so close to being a second disaster. That was when Seneca knew his time had finally arrived.
There could not be another Katniss Everdeen, not again. Seneca Crane would see to it himself.
XXX
"Katniss come on out. I want to see you!" Cinna called out; the second District 12 victor glared through the door practically hearing the chuckle that had yet to escape.
"Cinna you dressed me in a monstrosity!" Katniss hissed, looking down at the white laced sleeves that connected to a conservative top perfectly reflecting her frame, much to her dismay. Cinna had chosen a dress that stopped just below the knee, it showed off more of her frame than she had gotten used to. It was gorgeous, Katniss understood that most girls would love the dressing it as a step up from childhood showing off how she is developing.
In white.
Katniss internally seethed knowing that this was just one of many specifically chosen outfits, hinting to the crowd to switch their image of her from the Girl on Fire into even Katniss could not see what Cinna's end image for her was. Before she was becoming the symbol of rebellion, a mocking jay. Now?
They were trying to turn her into a bride.
"It's fashionable even to your modest tastes. Why don't you tell us the real reason?" Cinna said amused as Haymitch could be heard chuckling from his lazy spot on the couch. Katniss braced herself before leaving the changing room stopping in front of the two men. Arms crossed; Katniss raised her eyebrow at Cinna who looked smug at how well the outfit looked.
"Why do I look one step away from saying I do?" The fifteen-year-old victor snarled, very little bite in her tone. Annoyance was the most prominent feeling that the young woman could recognize, if she dug any deeper there was another emotion she was not quite ready to confront.
"You are no longer a tribute, at twelve we needed everyone to see you as a child. Now you are clearly a young woman, we want the contributors to see your tributes as young ones in need but with strong mentors. You are a fan favorite, especially with your blossoming relationship with Finnick Odair, "Cinna paused raising an eyebrow, "And from the rather public declaration you want to be seen as taken. We have a delicate balance to maintain especially if you want sponsors for Penny and Sage."
"A taken lovestruck man will make women want to seduce him. A taken woman? It could go either way. We want the men after you but respectful enough not to try to outright buy you. Cinna here came up with the idea if we can use your youth to your benefit."
"Virginal" Katniss blanched.
Haymitch eye twitched as he shuddered, "Absolutely disgusting kid, I know. I also know it goes against your I can do anything I want attitude, but men like the idea of virginal young victors. If you remain intact despite being linked to Odair well it will boost our chances of securing sponsors and keep them from asking for you. At least until they truly think wedding bells are in the air."
"So, we are playing with fire" Katniss mumbled, "Any traps you think I need to watch out for?"
XXX
Haymitch and Chaff were nursing drinks in their hands up in the District 12 penthouse. Their mentoring partners in crime were downstairs working the sponsors for every cent the bastards would be willing to part with. Haymitch enjoyed moments like these best, when he could sit back and drink with his buddy. Only now Haymitch almost never took more than a sip, no longer taking great joy in numbing the pain.
He had goals to attend to. Certain people to save, if he could.
"You've changed man" It took far longer than Haymitch wanted to admit as Chaff's wording finally translated into his mind. Haymitch whirled his neck around to face his long-term drinking buddy, his friend.
"How so?"
"One, you rarely drink anymore. Don't think I haven't noticed how you stopped even after Katniss finally stopped harassing you about it" Chaff chuckled, "Damn that girl is something else."
"Yeah," Haymitch said, "I guess having someone around has helped."
Chaff snorted into his drink, "The two of you are plotting something. I know Finnick is in on it because that is the only way you would not put up such a fight against him even going near your girl."
"She's not my girl" Haymitch muttered.
"She's has good as your fucking daughter Abernathy just admit it. It's good to see you care for someone."
The two stayed silent starring into their cups, until Effie walked in on the two of them. The blonde rolled her eyes crossing her arms, "Chaff, I believe Seeder is looking for you."
"Shit! see you later man. Remember what I said I want in" Chaff patted Haymitch on the back before scurrying out in search of his pissed off partner.
XXX
Katniss stood alongside Johanna in Cinna's white dress concoction giving off small smiles and gentle hand waves. Gritting her teeth, she whispered to Johanna, "You are glaring at them."
"Everdeen you are hardly any better than I am! Why am I the one who gets chewed out?" Johanna hissed back, as she finally eased her smile into something that was less predatory.
"I spent the last three years being managed by Effie and Haymitch, they were teaching me things you know. Besides I had Finnick by my side, I think he softened the crowds against me" Katniss admitted, she got rather lucky as her acting skills certainly had not gotten much better since she was sent back three years ago.
"Miss. Everdeen, Miss. Mason looking lovely this evening" Came the voice of an elderly gentleman, his face stretched out to avoid the natural effects of aging. Katniss wondered when it became fashionable to resemble animals and cartoon characters? The members of the capital would do anything to avoid looking at someone who aged.
Katniss felt more than spotted Johanna flinching slightly at the man. Katniss's smile turned predatory, so this man was one of her appointments. Stepping in front of the older girl, Katniss engaged the man in a few words. The victor could feel Johanna's breath slowing down, becoming calmer in the face of the enemy. Good. They did not have time for Johanna to have a public meltdown.
She much preferred an angry Johanna to a drug addled one.
"Sir, Johanna's told me so much about you" Katniss cooed gently, as Finnick's advice flooded through her mind. Allowing her eyes to turn gentle instead of steal, placing her hand strategically on top of his keeping in control of the contact. His eyes strayed down her shirt; Johanna hid her disgust just barely when meeting the other girl's eye. Katniss quickly looked down at the man's watch then back to Johanna's eyes.
Johanna tilted her head towards the man, "Mr. Smith what a pleasure."
"Yes, yes I've gotten to know Johanna very well" The man licked his lips continuing to stare at Katniss as if she was desert.
"I assume your going to sponsor her tributes, Sir? After all she's spoken of how generous you are" Katniss stressed generous turning her grip from gentle to tight. Tightening just enough to show off some of her strength. The sponsor's eyes widened, and she allowed him to pull his hand away.
Turning his attention to Johanna who kept a fake smile on her face, coming up her fellow victor pulling Katniss arm closer to unite their arms by the elbow. "No need to bother him Katniss, he knows how grateful I am for his generosity" Johanna licked her own lips eyeing him up and down as if she was remembering something pleasant.
In reality Katniss could see the slight bulge in Johana's throat as she fought the urge to gag.
The man sputtered at the attention they both were giving him, "Actually I wanted to talk with you Miss. Mason. I wanted to contribute to your tributes fund for the games, I assume your tributes are allying together?"
Katniss and Johanna shared a look, "Perhaps" Johanna finally spoke after they offered a moment of silence.
"How about two thousand to start" The man announced, looking between the two of them. The female victors looked at each other once again, Katniss ensuring that this is what Johanna wanted.
"What a lovely offer" Johanna commented.
"Shall we lead you to the sign-up sheet?" Katniss encouraged as the girls lightly touched his back guiding him towards the table set up for sponsors to signify amounts to donate. By the time they left him, Mr. Smith had donated another two thousand each.
Johanna rolled her eyes as they managed to escape him, "You know we will have to drool over him for at least the rest of the week?"
Katniss shrugged, "I'm a taken lady. I am expressing my deep appreciation for his deep pockets for my poor tributes."
"Are my ears deceiving me? Or is my lovely girlfriend and dear friend commenting on a man's deep pockets in front of me" Finnick came up from the side, allowing both women to catch him out of the side of their eyes before reaching them. His arm carefully slid around Katniss's waist.
"Katniss managed to steal four thousand out of one of my client's by cooing at him over his generosity" Johanna accepted the drink Finnick offered her, snorting into the cup.
At Finnick's amused glance the brunette shrugged her shoulders, "He seemed very eager to show off."
XXX
The lights aimed towards the stage gave Penny a headache, turning her head to look at Sage. The young man looked at her with an easy smile, "It's strange isn't?"
"How many people eagerly watch to see children kill each other is a bit strange" Penny smiled back at Sage who grinned a little at their exchange. As the tributes from District 12 they would of course be the last one's sent on stage. Haymitch had told them not to worry that this gives them a lasting impression before they were to be sent into the arena.
District 11 was currently up; Caesar was interviewing the female tribute first. The male stood just a short way from them waiting for his turn silently.
"Hey" Sage turned towards the tribute, waving offering a small smile.
Penny was surprised when their fellow tribute smiled weakly back, "Hey."
"You'll do great up there" Penny encouraged finding her voice suddenly pointing her head towards the stage opening.
The boy laughed, "I hate all of this. I don't want to go up there, but Seeder and Chaff say it's the only way to realistically get sponsors."
If they lived long enough to need them was left unsaid. The three sat in silence until the third member was called up towards the stage.
"Good luck, yeah?" The tribute said, waving them off as he walked off onto the brightly lit stage.
Seeing the tribute from district eleven walk off, it finally hit Penny that this was very much real. Sage and she were going into that arena with kids that they had been getting to know for a week. They would be forced to fight each other until only one of them was left standing.
Penny felt the first telltale signs come up her throat. Sage looked over at her in concern, trying to calm her down. She waved him off thinking that it was just nerves. Soon the waves started to pass making Penny believe she could make it through this. Then it was her turn, letting out a sigh only the faintest taste of bile on her tongue.
"Let me introduce you to the female tribute from district twelve Penny Reed!"
That was when she looked out at the screaming fans, then at Caesar's bright flaming red hair, make-up and designer clothing. Penny opened her mouth to speak only to find herself bending over and vomiting all over Caesar's bright flaming red shoes.
XXX
"That is going to hurt," Gale winced in sympathy watching as Penny Reed threw up all over Caesar Flickerman. The host sympathetically knelt down next to the girl, rubbing the child's back soothingly.
"What an entrance, Penny" Caesar joked. Penny offered him a weak smile taking his proffered hand in helping her get back onto her feet. Madge snuggled up closer to Gale, who immediately wrapped his arm around the girl.
"That's going to hurt her sponsors" Prim whispered from her spot beside Gale's flock of younger siblings. Mrs. Everdeen and Mrs. Hawthorne tutted at the children causing them to sheepishly apologize to the adults before focusing back on the screen.
The interview continued on the couch, out of the corner of the screen a few of the crew could be seen taking care of Penny's mess. Mrs. Everdeen winced knowing that would hurt her daughter's efforts to help the girl. Her answers seemed to appease the audience; Caesar tried to see if there was a hint of romance with her fellow tribute?
Penny laughed, "Well you should ask him."
The crowd ate it up, making Gale feel sick at how kids his age were being paraded around into characters. He could see Katniss's work at keeping them as close to their real personalities as possible but attempting to give something the capital could cling to. They needed to be able to relate to Penny and Sage. If they never knew what hunger, or a hard day's work actually was how were these people truly going to understand them?
It made all the elaborate fanfare between Katniss and Finnick make much more sense to Gale. Something was going on there, Gale was sure of it. But what the cameras saw, it really was an illusion. The dark-haired boy turned to look at the blonde beside him. Madge was a girl who did not have cameras after her all the time. Gale could just be himself around her, while Katniss whenever she was around even her own victor friends there always seemed to be more underneath the surface.
Gale couldn't help but wonder was Katniss really happy?
Gale thought back over the past three years, of how Katniss's friend group actually enlarged. She beamed when the train in even if she thought no one was watching. She cared for her fellow victors especially Finnick, Johanna and Annie. Katniss still spent time with him, Madge and Peeta when not forced to stay at the capital. Everdeen was still for the most part, the same girl he had always known.
The biggest difference was that she appeared to have a lot more fight in her. She took moments before she reacted, her words on camera were more thoughtful. Katniss was more calculating as if trying to get the best deal out of the situation. The question was just which side of the rebellion was she fighting for?