Hollan Makhpiya- District One stylist
"It's definitely one bracelet."
The Peacekeeper looked at me like I was as dumb as a bag of hammers, or at least that I thought he was.
"It's one bracelet," he said flatly, holding up Elissa's token. Nearly a dozen bracelets lay in his hand, hastily tied together with some ribbon.
"It's called a bangle bracelet," I said. "It's called fashion. Look it up."
The Peacekeeper was unconvinced. The bribe money Blake had slipped me was more convincing.
Tigris Chatte- District Two stylist
Poor Hollan. We both knew it was a terrible idea to allow Capitolites to vote on one of this year's District outfits. Of course they'd pick One, and of course they'd pick… what poor Hollan was having to use. I felt a little guilty as I told my Tributes what they'd be wearing. Two always looked chic, and compared to One this year, we were going to steal the show.
Paris Tile- District Three stylist
My first year solo. Cilantro was enjoying his carefree twilight years, and I was young and hungry.
"Here's what we're gonna do," I said to Yttria and Colby. "You guys know binary?"
"There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those that know binary and those that don't," Colby said.
"What does that mean?"
Rouge Twain- District Four stylist
"I want to be a centurion," Caio said.
"Oh… I was kind of thinking a merman," I said.
"A centurion would be better," Caio said. He started going through the racks and taking out things he liked. "Something like this…"
Funny enough, he had pretty good taste. I started to get into it, and before I knew it, he was a centurion. And it worked out perfectly with Seychelle, who confessed that she wanted to be a knight and not a mermaid. A centurion and a knight. A little off-beat for Four, but they were a Career District. Maybe it was time to let them look it.
Blue Paletti- District Five stylist
"Why do I have to be the wind turbine?" Klaus asked as I fitted the headpiece onto him.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Her name is literally Turbine," he said, pointing at Meenah.
"Hey, leave me out of this," she said. He made a face at her.
A few minutes later, he was the one laughing.
Puff Auri- District Six stylist
"I've never had a fat Tribute before," I said, poking at Gasoly's stomach.
"I've never had a rude stylist before," she said, folding her arms.
"So what's the costumes?" Enzo asked.
"I was going to go with something else," I said. "But looking at you two… I've had the best idea."
Flora Kettle- District Seven stylist
Adair and Jezzebell ransacked through my poor dressing room, tossing things this way and that.
"What's this?" Adair asked, holding up a last season Courtier Lane peplum.
"It's-" I started. He tossed it aside and started opening up eyeshadow compacts.
"Don't you have anything good in here?" Jezzebell asked. She slouched down onto a pile of clothes. "These are all so frilly and fancy. Got any catsuits?"
Well I certainly have two cats to herd, anyway.
Mint Goblet- District Eight stylist
"As a stylist, I have a very important job," I announced to Othella and Linden. "It's my job to teach you everything you need to know about fashion."
"Can you teach me how to stay alive? That's really what I care about," Linden said.
"Yeah, just Linden," Othella said, rolling her eyes. "No one else here wants to survive."
"There can only be one, okay? I'm not gonna fake it and pretend I care. I don't care, but at least I'll tell you right to your face," Linden said.
Othella shot him a look and turned to me. "Anyway," she said. "I'd like to hear about fashion."
Baste Marinade- District Nine stylist
"This year, you're going to wear a suit made of wheat," I told Porter.
"Great! Wheat is the best fabric. That's why we grow it, after all. We grow cotton to eat and wheat to wear," he said.
"That's odd. Most people eat wheat and wear cotton," I said. I shrugged. "Nine is very strange."
Visenya didn't say much, but I saw what she was trying to hide. I saw the way she leaned to the side and peeked around me when Linden was taking his shirt off. Oh, to be young again. Not that being old stopped me from looking at cute guys.
Phoebe Vane- District Ten stylist
Fashion is like a river. It flows to the sea, and the sea flows back into the river. Art is cycles, generations of people saying the same things in new words. Beauty stays the same, and styles rise, fall, and rise again. How delightfully reflexive that currently, retro was in.
And retro meant cows.
Creme Brulee- District Eleven stylist
Wisteria looked up at me from her seat in front of the vanity. She had the most peculiar, unsettling expression. Then I noticed the stain on her pants.
Oh heavens she's wet herself.
"Excuse me?" Wisteria said. "I think my water broke."
"Your water?" I asked. "Oh. OH! OH MY GOSH! OH NO! WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? WHAT! ARE! WE! GONNA! DO! SOMEONE GET A DOCTOR! GET A DOCTOR! SHE'S HAVING A BABY!"
Cuisine Martinique- District Twelve stylist
I huddled by the door, trying to listen through the crack.
"What's going on?" Fauna, Tigris' assistant, whispered.
"They're checking her pulse and stuff," I whispered back. "Oh, they're coming this way."
Fauna and I hid around the corner, peeking out as the medics escorted Wisteria.
"This is so dramatic," I said. "I love for this."
A few hours later, I remembered I had two Tributes waiting in their underwear.
