Nefeli Brightberry

Virtus District

I build a little fort out of books around my worktable, wanting to be left alone as I concentrate on making my outfit. We've been told we have an hour to design something showstopping to wow the audience, which we'll hand to the avoxes to make. Therefore it can't be too complicated as it has to be able to be made in around 10 hours.

I've taken some off the fabrics of the large pile in the centre, comparing them to each other. Most of them are too flashy or...expensive for my liking, so I just swivel them around for a while, not making much progress. I don't want to wear something that the rest of those shallow models would wear. I want to stand out and…I'm above that.

I hear a knocking on one of the books. The person knocks it over and the book crushes my empty notepad. "I see you haven't started yet." Lycoris tells me in a smarmy tone, as if it's news to me.

I haven't spoken to this guy yet. For a good reason actually. He gives off the same vibes as the rest of the typical Capitolites I see. "Really? I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me."

"You're welcome." He smiles, teasing me. "Would you like any help? I can always offer an extra helping hand."

His face contorts, as if he sucked a very strong lemon. Lycoris can pretend he didn't mean to say that but he's definitely doing it to mock me now. "Fuck off. Could you not tell I wanted to be left alone by these books surrounding me? I need to concentrate."

He sighs. "Fine, I will. I'm sorry that I was so insensitive."

I don't respond. I don't need your help or your condescending attitude. I can get on fine without you and I'm not any less capable either.

I just pick the book up again so I can't see him. Out of sight, out of mind. I pick up the pen, clicking it and tapping it on the small red table. I know they want to give us our own spaces, but could they kill to make it a bit larger? We're in this giant empty hall with no furniture and they give us a school desk to work on.

Hmm, looking at my paper though, I really should have accepted his help. I'm not fashionably aware at all! I know next to nothing because I don't fucking care..but now I have too.

Maybe I could use that to my advantage though? I could go with something so punk and rebellious that it'll shock them so much that they won't care how minimal it is. We're allowed to wear whatever we want, right? I can just use that loophole and twist it slightly for my own advantage.

Nefeli, you're a genius! Why didn't they place you in the brains District?


Dae Frazier

Suada District

I hop excitedly as I enter the design hall. I can't wait to design my outfit! I haven't thought about it much but I know a bunch of designs that I've seen in movies that I'd love to take inspiration from. I'm much more confident with this than the promos too! (That was just frightening.)

The hall is rather busy with many people sketching and looking at the fabrics and measuring things. It's rather empty apart from the long bright red table filled with piles of fabrics and other components to add to the dress though. The tables really stand out compared to the sleek, modern, dark grey decor the rest of the room has. Quite an eyesore actually.

I find my desk, seeing a notepad already there. That's...odd. They said we had to get our own paper. I pick it up, flicking through the first few pages. There's already quite a few designs, of varying qualities and creativity levels. Most of these designs are...beautiful. But we're meant to design our own right? Maybe they changed it without telling me.

The choice of what I want is really easy to make! I just have to pick out what I want the dress to be made out of, but there's already some recommendations.

So I hop around the hall, seeing if I can help anyone out. The choice must be difficult for other people too. The station next to mine is empty. Blu must have come here and finished early, as he wasn't here when I arrived but it's said he's finished. I really want to talk to him and see what he's like too! He's probably camera shy.

I haven't met this boy either. Rowan? He looks very focused on his design, his eyebrows furrowed and his breathing heavy. "Hi! Would you like any help, Rowan?" I say, trying to sound as polite and sweet as possible.

Rowan was not expecting me. He suddenly looks up, but doesn't pick his pencil up, making a long mark. That's so annoying! "Oh, erm...I'm fine thank you. Really." He doesn't look too happy, but he says it with a rather grateful tone. Quite a conflict and contrast between the emotions.

"Ok! Just call me if you need any help!" I say, to the much quieter boy. (He speaks in a really low decibel! Didn't his mother teach him to speak loudly and confidently?)

I skip past the next two people as they're hiding in a box. That must mean they don't want to talk to other people. But we're meant to talk to each other as much as possible in the cameras! The producers won't be very happy with Karrie and Nefeli.

Next is...Tiara! I've spoken to her! So I feel much more confident walking up to her with a smile. "Hi Tiara! Would you like any help?"

Tiara looks down at her paper, laughing a tad awkwardly. What's so funny? "No. But I do need some extra company!"

So I pull a stool over and sit on her lovely pink table. Her design...is a lot more complicated than mine. It's a lot grander and detailed than mine is. I start to wonder if I've picked the right option. Maybe hers is too much and it'll hurt to look at? She keeps adding more intricate details everywhere, every other second, as she thinks of it off the top of her head.

"So...what inspired this?" I ask, realising that she's designing it and she hadn't picked it out like I did.

"Erm…" She thinks as she starts to colour in a deep purple. "It's sort of a blend of the latest trends and some like nostalgic, old but chic trends. It's not...like...dated. It's a refreshing take by blending everything together!"

Really? She definitely knows what she's doing! Maybe this is her passion! "I don't really know much about the trends, so I can give an unbiased view! I think it looks amazing!"

Tiara looks up and smiles at me. She brushes her back for a few seconds before drawing again. "Thanks. That's so sweet of you." She laughs even though nothing funny has been said. I wonder why? "I can't believe you're so unaware though! I can teach you some stuff about it, if you want."

"Oh, yes please!" I smile. It's probably the best way to get to meet and know people, if I'm up to date with all the trends! I'll look stupid if I don't know them.

"Well, brocade was a big thing like...seven years ago? It went out of trend but I think we've hit the time where it'll be nostalgic for most of the viewers. So they shouldn't cringe or anything, as long as I make it good." Tiara starts and I listen attentively. Her voice is so easy to relax too and she talks a lot, so it's easy to get lost in what she's saying!


Auberon Laurier

Suada District

I look at what I've done, really happy. I think I'm the only one who actually painted something onto their design, which they can just transfer to the suit itself. I think I'll win big points for my creativity, but I would have scored higher if they let me go with my usual soft boy aesthetic. But they said it wouldn't be appropriate or grand enough for the stage. And who am I to know better? So I just listened and picked a suit.

"Hey Miri!" I wave, seeing her at the desk next to me. She puts on a smile as she sees me, despite the fact she's working so hard! Am I being a distraction? I don't think that'll make me too popular.

"Hey Auberon! What's up?" She says back, her words slow.

The sky! I'm joking, I'm not that...erm, socially unaware? That's the correct term, I think.

I shrug. "I was just wondering if you needed my help to elevate your outfit to a higher floor!" Doh, that doesn't sound good. She doesn't require my help to do better, she can do it herself! But I worded it like she does.

Miri shakes her head, her nose twitching slightly. "I'm fine by myself, thanks."

She's definitely annoyed. Oh, I've screwed things over already and we barely even know each other. Because I can't handle the awkward atmosphere and I don't like staying still for too long, I move onto another person to talk to (and probably pester.)

Who haven't I spoken to yet? Most people apparently, but everybody looks quite preoccupied. Maybe if I go to the fabric table and just linger about, somebody will come up to me. So I just stand there for a while, occasionally picking up materials or odd trinkets you can add to your outfit (like these sponges, or chains!) because I don't know how to approach other people.

"Excuse me. Can you move out of the way?" A girl named Karrie asks me in a very harsh and snappy tone. It's less of an ask and more of a screaming command, but it doesn't phase me.

"Sorry!" I shuffle to the right slightly. She picks up a pack of gold glitter, looking at it. "What are you doing with your outfit?"

Karrie stops and stares at me awkwardly standing there, as I play around with my hands. It's uncomfortable as I don't know what to do and I know she's judging me. "Glittering the fuck out of it."

She rummages through the pile, picking up a few gems. "Why? To make it more 'aesthetically pleasing?'" I ask in a grander voice. She clearly doesn't like my sillier voices. Karrie doesn't seem to have the patience to deal with me either.

She nods. "Maybe...and to make it more exciting. The worst outfits in the chariot rides are the forgettable, boring ones. You can remember the terrible ones like the lightbulbs and the dress made out of decaying meat from last year, but can you remember the coal miner outfits?" Karrie asks, staring directly at me now. I don't remember any of them! Is she going to test me with the ones I can and can't remember? Because I'll easily fail that pop quiz.

"No." I say back, assuming I shouldn't remember it.

"Exactly." Karrie nods, pleased to be right. "So...you should glitter the fuck out of your suit too. Make sure they don't forget you."

That seems like solid advice! So I take a few packs of glitter once she walks away, but is it enough? So I pick up as many different things as possible, planning to add all of them to my outfit. There's no way they'll forget my next masterpiece!


Osiris Casimir

Egeria District

I pull my chair back, watching the front two wheels lift off the ground, as I spin the wheels back and forth. Wheelies are an easy trick for me now. It'll probably be enough to amaze the audience on the catwalk, but it won't itch the crave that I need. It won't be enough.

I try again, seeing if I can go higher without falling. There's no crash mats, so if I fall, that's it for me. I'm about to pull myself up when I hear: "You alright there?"

"Yeah." I laugh, as I jumped slightly. "Don't you have an outfit to be designing, darling?"

It's Willow, leaning against the wall. She looks very entertained by what I'm doing. "No. I finished early as I knew what I was going to wear. What about you?"

"I finished early too. I'm no stylist so I can't do much." I shrug.

"So, you're messing about on your wheelchair instead?" Willow raises an eyebrow. I wheel over beside her. A conversation across the hall is kind of awkward.

I shake my head. "Nah, I'm trying to make up for my outfit by showing off some of my skills, so I've been practicing. I'm gonna give the audience a heart attack."

Willow giggles. "Good luck then." She turns around, ready to leave. But she quickly turns back around again. "I wish I could do something as cool as you're going to do. Do you have any ideas?"

Well, all my planned tricks have to do with my wheelchair and I haven't thought of much else. And while I want her strut to be successful, I don't want it to be upstage mine. So I have barely any ideas and the ones I do I wouldn't want to suggest anyway.

"It depends on your outfit. Will you be able to move around much?" I ask, as I have no idea what she's wearing.

Willow shrugs. "I don't think so. It's quite heavy and large."

That's not helpful then. You won't be able to do any stunts with that. So I stroke my chin, trying to think of what she could do. I wheel around, a few ideas hitting my mind. "You could always just do a visual stunt or gag."

"Such as?" Willow asks, following me as I wheel around. I tell her a few ideas I have and she nods along, not saying much as I commentate. She seems very engaged in something I'm not that good at explaining. It's probably my amazing levels of charisma. (I kid.)

"Thank you!" She smiles, walking away, back to her desk. So I go back to trying to attempt my wheelies. But is there something else I can do to help make my performance even better? I need it to be the best it can be and I'm not going to stop at one little measly trick. I need to do more than that.

So I go to the tables and look through what I could use. And in seconds, I find the perfect thing.


Slightly earlier chapter than usual. I'm going to upload the fashion show itself some time over the weekend, as it's connected obviously and this chapter was rather short. Also, I wasn't particularly happy with this chapter for some reason that I can't place. I think the show turned out fine so I'd like to quickly move on to that one too.

Thanks for sticking around and continuing to read!