Part VII
Faith woke in the morning, woken by her stylist team who grabbed her and lead her away. She sighed.
Cat was hustled out of bed by her prep team, who shoved her into the shower and turned it on. "We're thinking roses and lilac." Heather explained as they scrubbed her within an inch of her life. Cat spluttered and gasped as water got in her eyes and mouth. They team pulled her out, dried her off, and pulled her along to get her dressed.
Orchid leapt up and pinned one of the members of the prep team up against the wall, with her knife at her throat. "AGHHH!" squealed the girl.
"Don't sneak up on me." Orchid said, glaring at her.
"S-sorry!" she squeaked. Orchid shot her a dirty look and brushed off the hands which tried to push her in the shower. She clambered in herself.
"Erm...Red Orchid shower gel, we thought..." the girl stuttered.
They pressed the buttons for Faith in the shower. Lemon, Lime and Roses. When they'd scrubbed her to death they sat her up, two of them working on waxing her, and other snipping at her hair. She watched as some of her locks fell to the floor and sighed, gritting her teeth as the pulled off yet another strip.
Finally they finished waxing her and there were no hairs in sight, Faith noted. They scrubbed her with some gel that made her skin glitter in gold every time she moved and started shaping her nails, while the one working on her hair began straightening it.
-x-
An eight. That was his score. Jasper smiled at the ceiling, still snuggled in bed. He had been expecting a lower score. Especially since he had made such a bold move at the Gamemakers. He hadn't known of anyone to aim at the Gamemakers and leave the arena alive. Granted, his chances of living were low enough as is. Now, he had probably put himself in the 'Definitely Going to Die' category. Not that it fazed him in the slightest. Going home a Victor was the last thing on his mind. There was a soft knock on the door and Jasper lazily called out to whoever was on the other side. "It's open."
The door opened, revealing an Avox boy. Jasper frowned as the Avox silently made his way around the room, delivering the breakfast he had ordered especially. This one looked rather young. He shook his head, and gently dismissed him. He nodded before leaving. Jasper turned his attention to the large fruit bowl in front of him. The one thing he had promised himself was to try every exotic fruit he could while in the Capitol.
Jasper casted his mind back to the day before, when Moxin was coaching him on Proper Interview Etiquette. "Play it soft." She had said. "You have a naturally soft voice, and no one important has heard you talk before. Play the feminine male sure to get his poor arse kicked in the arena. Be the gentle spirit." Jasper snorted. That was easier said than done. Jasper had a rather nasty temperament when people pried too much. He yawned and made his way to the showers to freshen up. Upon exiting his room, Jasper was greeted by Ink who was leaning on the opposite wall. The stylist gave him a wide grin.
"Ready to be prettified?" Jasper smirked.
"'Prettified'? Is that even a word?"
"Is now." Ink happily linked arms with the younger boy and practically skipped him all the way to the elevator. Oh yeah, he was going to miss Ink.
-x-
Faith listened to the stylists titter on about random things. They were annoying... but just... impossible to hate. Faith decided. She listened to their random conversation as Lily continued working on her hair, Clayton started painting her nails, and Polly added topaz gems to the dried nails. Faith smiled faintly as Lily cooed and said "Tada!" revealing Faith's shorter, silky smooth hair. She'd streaked and tipped it with gold, added some sparkly dust that made it shimmer with movement. Lily then got working on Faith's face, outlining her features, wide bright eyes, pouty lips, high cheekbones and a slim nose.
-x-
Cat stared at herself in the mirror. Over the past three hours she had been transformed. Her face had been covered in pale make up and drawn back in, wide, dark outlined eyes, perfect pink lips, high cheekbones, all framed by glowing dark brown curls, which had been curled tighter than usual and teased into corkscrew ringlets. She had a band of silver set with a large tear-shaped pearl around her forehead, and she was dressed in a long flowing gown of the purest white silk. Attached to her wrists and lower back was a sheet of gossamer silver fabric, which hung almost like wings. She looked like a fairy child.
"You look gorgeous, sweetheart! Like a little angel!" Heather said, wiping back a tear. "Now pop on the shoes!"
She stepped into the simple silver, satin ballet pumps, which didn't have a heel, surprisingly.
"We want to make you look really young." Heather said, noticing her glance.
Great, so I nearly broke my ankle on those practise shoes for nothing!
"Now come on, honey, get out there and shine!"
-x-
Lily put on some incredibly long, false eyelashes with small golden feathers on.
She then finished the makeup, with gold lipstick and eye-shadow. I most definitely look bold. Faith thought. Then Lily and Clayton traced patterns on her skin with thick golden make up pencil. When they'd finished her eyes widened at the intricate patterns on her right arm and cheeks.
"Okay sweetie! Time for the dress!" Poppy squealed, finishing wrapping a gold ribbon up her leg.
Faith looked at it doubt fully but slipped it on. It was pretty short, strapless and slightly revealing, but after the stylists had brushed through her hair, slipped on topaz earrings and a long chain with a thick beautiful chunk of topaz attached, Faith got to look in mirror. Her eyes widened. Her dress shimmered different tones of gold when she moved, rippling as she took a step. Her legs looked longer and the dress, if slightly too short for her taste, seemed to show everything great about her figure. Very great, she thought, looking at the alien in the mirror. She'd always know she was pretty, that was one of her prides... but now.
Smirking, she slipped on the high strappy golden shoes, topped with topaz.
And everything is going to go my way.
-x-
Her stylists twittered nervously behind her. Her lips were a deep, burning red, which matched the blood red orchids embroidered on her black silk cheongsam, and the red embroidery around the neck, arms and hem. Her ruler straight black hair was twisted into a knot on top of her head, held in place by two golden combs set with rubies. Her dark eyes were heavily outlined with kohl, and the make-up plastered on her face made her cheekbones stand out like two knife blades. Fierce. Sexy. A winner.
"It'll do." She said, stepping into the black seven inch heels and walking gracefully to the door.
-x-
Acacia peeked in the mirror, feeling slightly lame. She was wearing flat shoes, and a knee length dark green dress. It was pretty, and she looked pretty. But she knew she wasn't beautiful as some would be. She hated wearing the dress though. With a sigh, she wore her lopsided sly grin and suddenly everything looked better. Walking downstairs happily, she grinned again. Gotcha
-x-
Faith walked down stairs, her head tilted, but her eyes kept travelling to the beautiful, amazing patterns they'd drawn. It's decided. She though, I officially love those idiots. She straightened the dress, once again slightly annoyed about the length... and the revealingness of it. She shrugged it off. She looked stunning, and she certainly knew it.