Disclaimer: I own very little :D
Chapter Eight: Sage and the Preliminaries
Almost immediately upon arrival in the Capitol, we were escorted quickly into the building where both the training took place and where the tributes were housed. Flux and Brutus kept a distance between Enobaria and us, but our escort, Lavender (I finally learned her name, officially), showed us to our apartment on the second floor of the building since we were from District Two.
The accommodations were very nice and suited us well, or at least in my opinion they did. The furniture of the luxurious apartment was much like the furniture of the train and Enobaria's room: unique and over-the-top. The best part was the lovely floor to ceiling windows that looked out onto the blossoming court yard. Almost immediately, Brutus and Flux disappeared into the apartment complex as Lavender showed the both of us to our rooms.
I spent little time in my room for it was soon time for me to meet my personal stylist. Apparently, the higher up in the ranks a designer was, the better the district they received. I was never much of a fashion guru, but meeting the designer should have been interesting and I did look forward as to just what he or she was planning on putting me in. Thankfully, Flux and myself did not have to share a stylist or anything much for that matter.
I remember sitting on a bed in the basement of the tribute's building that seemed much like the bed one would have to go to the doctor back in Two to get some sort of operation performed. I laid there for several minutes, curious as to just what was going on before two very odd looking people came in and immediately began stripping me of my clothes, without asking my permission and shoving me into a gown that truly did make me appear as though I belonged in a hospital. Feeling rather violated and…embarrassed, my temperament toward these two foreigners was already hostile.
"They really didn't give us much to work with this year," I heard one of them mumble as if I were invisible. "Especially out of a Two."
"Excuse me?" I asked loudly, being slightly more bold than I usually was.
The one with skin that was a burnt-orange tint smiled at me, her teeth shimmering," Oh, nothing."
I simply rolled my eyes and relaxed against the sterile bed as they approached me once again, only this time with a pot of some sort of concoction. When I felt the pain of hair being ripped from nearly all parts of my body, I hated this substance that I didn't even know the name of.
After the long, torturous session of me biting down so hard on my lip to draw blood, I found myself being allowed to sit up and then transported to a new room, where I was to meet this stylist whom they called Sage. If he was anything like his assistants, then I already didn't like him.
Moments later, a tall slender hair with electric green, spiky hair walked (or strutted rather) into the room, setting his blue eyes on me, as if I was a fashion trend that was very outdated. He was, without a doubt, a citizen of the Capitol all of his life from his outrageous appearance and his skin was so smooth that I was sure he'd had many procedures done, though it was not tinted a strange color like the others. I noticed a large, tattoo of some sort stretching up his neck, but had little time to examine it.
"I find it impossible that you are from District Two," He spat out, I noticed his voice to be rather…high pitched.
"I find it impossible that that's your natural hair color," I spat back, but immediately regretted it, knowing that Capitol people were not ones to be smart with.
To my surprise, the man smiled a wide smile with bright, white teeth showing as he shook my hand and took a seat across from me. It was at this moment that I noticed his outfit, pink pants that fit him rather snugly and a blue shirt, that in my opinion, looked like a woman's blouse, but I had no knowledge of fashion. At least…not by the Capitol's standards.
"Well, it's obvious that you have no sense of style," He said rather bluntly, but this seemed to be his sense of humor so I therefore smiled in returned. "Which gives me a…blank palate to work with. Lovely."
He probably had a very valid point there.
"You are aware that we have a parade to dress you up for, right?" He surmised, looking off into space as ideas began crafting in his head.
"Yes, I have watched the parade before," I answered back with a slightly snip to my voice, proving I wasn't a total recluse.
He smirked back at me, good humouredly. I then watched as he leaned back, observing me from toe to head before biting down on his lip," I've a beautiful dress for you."
Another dress.
Lovely.
I could tell that, already this Sage fellow and I were going to get along splendidly.
District Two is known for its masonry and many architects who come to the Capitol are from District Two because of its skilled builders. The district was not only known for its power in the Games, but respected for its ability to build beautiful and outrageous structures. If anyone appreciated a good piece of architecture, then it was the people of the Capitol and District Two.
I, on the other hand, may have appreciated it, but not to the extent that Sage wished for me to.
When his crew slid the dress over my head for the first time and tied the bow in the back, I was a little taken aback. After the assistants stepped back, going gaga over the gown and discussing pieces that they had attached to the stone grey, silky gown. Had the gown been a basic gown, I would have been satisfied, but the whole dress in itself was asymmetrical and looked much like a statue crafted by an architect from our district.
On the left side of my body, the skirt was floor length, but the skirt seemed to travel upward across my body with flowing layers as it gathered at my right hip in a rather large bow. Showing that much leg was another element that I was not used to, but I suppose that if my legs were so freshly waxed (I was still debating whether or not my leg hair was ever going to grow back), then they might as well be shown off. As if the slit wasn't enough, there was a small cutout on my left hip, opposite the bundle of fabric. The entire gown had a subtle sparkle to it that I rather liked and was comfortable with two thick straps that dropped in the back to a low back.
Easily, it looked straight out of the sketchpad of a architect from our district.
Sage arrived several moments later, pecking me on both of my cheeks (I wasn't expecting such a greeting) before the others slathered so much makeup on me that I never even knew existed. My hair was pulled back into a slicked back bun, but not without a thick headband wrapping around my head, a large glimmering stone right in the middle. I disputed most with this detail, but no one seemed to bother with my opinion. The stylist hovered around me, examining all aspects of the dress and fluffing the skirt out with his hands before we left to board on the chariots. He was quite the perfectionist and I was taking time to get used to this new, vulgar (as my mother would describe it) dress that he had put me in, not to mention the sky-high heels, just as gray and sparkling as the dress. In all honesty, I nearly fell twice before we even left for the parade.
The importance of the parade was much more than just dressing up in outrageous outfits and putting on our best faces for the sponsors in the crowd, but winning over the people in the crowd. Winning over the sponsors with clothing and personality alike. I knew that in order to have as much help as I could inside the arena, then I would need to have the support outside of the arena. Flux could work a crowd, but that didn't mean that I wasn't going to give him a run for his money…says Enobaria. I may have been comfortable when we first arrived, but I was still a toddler in the world of public appearances. How in the world was I supposed to sell myself over to these people in a matter of seconds?
"Alright, dear," Sage said, after pulling the gown of my shoulder up on higher. He met my eyes, patting me on the shoulder endearingly. I may not have known him for very long, but there was something I liked about this absolutely outrageous designer. "Impress them."
I looked down at the dress, unlike anything I had seen before, before meeting his eyes," I'll try."
And it was at this moment that I was rushed out of the stylist's room and off to the place where we would be lining up the chariots. It was at this moment that I felt my heart nearly beat out of my chest. This was literally going to be somewhat of a do or die moment. If the people saw me as cold or hard, then they most certainly would not pick me. I could only rely on reasoning to go so far, but without food or water that would be paid for with their precious dollars, I would be dead within the first two days. Games aside, as soon as my mother saw me in this dress, I may as well have been dead.
Whenever we arrived on the location, Enobaria escorted me quickly to the chariots lined up by district number. The only ones ahead of us was District One, who looked as though they were just fine by themselves. They looked like celebrities already in their diamond-crusted outfits. Just as I stepped up into the golden chariot…strangely with nothing in front of it to pull it…Enobaria grabbed my arm.
"People are naturally going to be curious about you; you're from District Two and you're the younger sibling of Titus, who they really did like. Remind them of how much they loved him and his good humored nature, but don't over do it. Be good tempered, but leave them wanting more. Be interested in them, but just dreamy and sultry enough to where they want to know you, they want to know every dirty little secret you have," She spoke so quickly, spitting out all sorts of words that didn't seem to match me. Dreamy and sultry being two of those.
Flux stepped into the chariot moments later, dressed in a grey suit, looking rather classy and somewhat normal, not by Capitol standards, but he looked rather nice. His suit, like my dress was stone grey with a glitter to it, causing him to sparkle just as I was. I also noticed stones encrusted into his suit, much like the stone the headband I wore. We simply glared at one another, without saying a word.
In front of the chariot, both Brutus and Enobaria stood, looking straight at the both of us, through we were not looking at one another.
"Listen you two," Brutus took over sternly. "You have to make them think you don't completely hate one another."
"But we do," Flux said bluntly and I nodded my head, crossing my arms.
"Just make them think you can tolerate one another," Enobaria added, letting out a sigh.
"Do you have any recommendations about how we go about doing that?" I asked, slightly exasperated from the idea of that.
"Smile, laugh, look at each other and pretend your friends," Brutus said sternly, looking directly at his son.
I bit down hard on my lip, looking up to the ceiling before closing my eyes and counting to myself to try and calm down. My breathing steadied before Enobaria patted my arm," Listen, just make them believe you. Good luck out there."
I looked at her, nodding before she bid me farewell and left. Brutus simply nodded toward me cordially before following her lead. Almost immediately after they left, the chariot jerked forward, causing me to hold on tightly to the edge of the chariot.
"Don't get the wrong idea from this," Flux grumbled just as the chariots turned a corner to line up for the parade route.
I nearly laughed at this as I raised a brow," From what? This?"
"Don't think I actually like you or anything," He muttered, looking me up and down as he said it.
"Please, Flux, I don't think you'll have to worry about me. It's hard enough pretending to like you," I said under my breath and just in time because a split second later, we were pulled into the spotlight and the scenery changed from dull walls to seas of people on both sides of the stretch. At the far end was the podium, standing tall above the seas of people, where presumably President Snow would speak once we reached the end of the parade route. In this balcony in which the podium was, sat the lot of Gamemakers this year, probably analyzing us from the distance. It was their first look at the lot of us and if it was just as important to them, then as it was for the sponsors.
As soon as the lights hit our faces, both Flux and I nearly simultaneously put a smile on our faces and shot our hands in the air, waving to all those who looked to us. I made sure to follow Enobaria's instructions by not making my face appear too fake, but natural. Right. Natural. I pretended as though I were back home, playing cards or running away from my brothers and how joy so naturally would flow through my veins.
The Capitol people were dressed as ridiculously as ever, but that was hardly an issue. I suppose that we looked just as ridiculous to a certain extent, but Flux and I played the role of friends better than I anticipated, though words were never exchanged, periodically throughout the parade, we would tap the other on the shoulder, seemingly pointing to a specific person in the audience before waving gregariously to them. We laughed at one another, smiled and as far as the people knew; we did like one another. This was merely my opinion however and I surmised that Enobaria and Brutus would be the ones to determine if we had actually made it work.
People screamed our names and the screens showed our faces, smiling and waving, but not going over the top. By the sounds of the people, we had accomplished our job which made me mentally do a sigh of relief.
Upon arriving at the edge of the parade route, listening to the cheers echoing was a rather haunting sound. There was something about the idea of what they were cheering for that literally sent chills down my spine. Nevertheless, I tried to not let it bother me for long for it was not long when the other eleven chariots were neatly parked next to us, awaiting the address from President Snow.
I examined the balcony, noticing that many Gamemakers were sitting there; plenty of both older and younger gentlemen, their eyes like hawks examining us. Never before I had seen any Gamemakers under the age of fifty, but there were two or three that I could immediately pinpoint. I suppose I couldn't give a very accurate depiction; however, because I never really saw the actual Gamemakers back home on television, but the Head Gamemaker, rather. In all honesty, there was something very chilling about any Gamemaker, no matter how young, old, ugly, or attractive they were.
I had little time to analyze them much further for President Snow was quick to take his position at the edge of the balcony behind the podium. Almost immediately, the crowd's loud chatter silenced to hear what the elderly gentleman had to say. Above all other fears that the Capitol had in its walls, I considered President Snow to be a man of nightmares. There was something about his presence that, like Gamemakers, only much more severe, made me very…nervous.
"Welcome! Welcome! Happy Hunger Games to all!" The white-headed, old gentleman boomed before leading into his speech about the Games and other miscellaneous items that needed to be covered. His eyes looked down to the lot of us, personally welcoming us and wishing us luck in the arena, but his address could not be finished without a," May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor". His speech was longer than I expected it to be, but not long enough for it to be painful.
His voice, much like the sound of the people's cheers, was haunting. It was listening to him when I realized just how true all of this was. I knew that my demeanor needed to stay calm, but with undertones such as death and gore under this happy celebration….it was hard to seem chipper.
Before he turned away, I noticed him look down in our direction as he exited the podium.
After we were out of the public eye, almost instantly Flux and I split away to our respective mentors. Enobaria nearly let out a scream upon seeing me, holding my shoulders and shaking me in such excitement," You did it! I can totally work with this! Ah!"
I smiled at her excitement and it was not long before Sage arrived, flipping his green hair as he stood beside us, smiling approvingly," You made me proud to say I designed that dress, girl."
I looked at him and laughed," Well, thank you for designing it. I'm glad to have made you proud."
"And if you keep making us proud, then good things will follow, I'm sure," Enobaria told me chipper throwing her arm around my shoulder as we made our way back to our apartment in the tribute's housing building.
Whenever we arrived once again, I was quick to return to my own personal luxurious restroom to scrub my face clean of all the makeup on my cheeks, face, eyes, and I even scrubbed various pieces of my body in the sink that were crusted with glitter. Instantly, I tossed off the shoes and worked at the zipper on the dress in privacy, which seemed to be a rare thing the Capitol's fashion business. After I had successfully worked off the dress, I freely walked into the bedroom before pulling open the drawers near the bed and grabbing something much more casual with just pants and a non-formal shirt.
Whenever I re-entered the dining room, where a late meal was being served to the entire crew, even Brutus and Flux, Enobaria patted the chair next to her warmly," Join us, Savera!"
I sat down comfortably, noticing my plate already to be filled and a glass topped off with some sort of electric blue liquid that I had never seen before in my life. After many questions about what the food was precisely, I eventually enjoyed my meal and chatting with the team without any pressure. There were also plenty of compliments about Flux and I's appearance that night to which we cordially thanked and tried to move the topic elsewhere.
Eventually, it was time for everyone to go on to sleep with full stomachs. I followed along with the crowd, finishing up conversations all in the meanwhile wondering just how I was expected to go to sleep that evening. I knew that if anything it would not be for a long time and whenever I entered my room I let out a sigh before moving on over to my bed and collapsing. Pulling my head up, I noticed a remote and picked it up, curiously.
After pressing nearly all of the buttons and noticing how the scenery changed after every hit, I placed it back on the bedside table and sat up. Wondering just what else there was to explore…
I wondered if I could somehow see the rest of this building…maybe even wander the halls and get a feel for the rest of this place.
Did I really want to risk getting caught?
I decided that it wasn't worth it at first; therefore, I went to go to sleep again, but when sleep would not come to me, I sat up, deciding that I needed to set my mind on something. Slowly, I sat up and walked toward the door that led to the other part of the suite. Tentatively, I placed my hand on the doorknob, hoping that there wasn't any sort of alarm or tracking system they had on me.
Even if they had, trouble would have been more bearable than trying to sleep in a foreign bed with a presumably fitful sleep.
Successfully, I had been able to open the door and walk into the main living area of the apartment, close to where dinner had been served just hours before. To my surprise, no one, not even any of the servants were out in the living areas where the moonlight was spilling in to the room. I walked over to the tall, floor to ceiling windows to see that there was a gathering of the Gamemakers taking place in the courtyard. I surmised that they must have stayed somewhere close to the tribute building; the event looked more like a party than anything. This did not seem to surprise me…what did surprise me was the fact that they were gathered…so close to the tributes building.
Interesting….
A/N: Okay, so I know that was very rushed and moved rather quickly, but I do want to get the story moving along and I had to make some alterations. Oh, thanks for reading and please drop a review :D
BTW Seneca will be making an appearance in the next chapter…just sayin'!
