Part VIII

Jasper was really getting tired with all this prepping and primping. Ink's fellow stylists hovered around him constantly as they worked on him. He let his eyes slip shut as their Capitol gossip blew over him. It was a tittering in the back of his mind. The sound was somewhat soothing, and Jasper fell into a light slumber. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night, obsessing over the interviews. Suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder and he woke with a start.

"Are you okay?" Jasper blinked and yawned sleepily, managing a sluggish nod.

Ink chuckled and helped him sit up. "Just hang in there for a little while longer. I'm going to start on your makeup." Makeup? He had to wear makeup? One glance at Ink's face confirmed it. He settled back and let Ink work his magic.

Ink knew what he was doing. Jasper let himself get lost in the gentle caress as Ink applied blush, eyeliner and a dark coloured lipstick to his pale lips.

A soft chuckle above his head let him know Ink was done. He opened his eyes again.

Ink stepped back with a grin. Jasper sighed as he turned around. He blinked.

He looked like a dark and broody teenager. He kinda liked it. His hair was stylishly mussed and the eyeliner made his green eyes luminous. Ink walked away for a bit, and Jasper made his way over to the full length mirror to get a better look at himself. Tonight, Jasper was wearing a white shirt, black jacket and a black and white chequered tie. Matching suspenders hung from low rise jeans. He also wore sneakers of a sort. Jasper pouted.

"Excellent face! It really matches your outfit." Ink had reappeared. He added a set of shades, nestled in his mop of hair. "You're done! Good luck with the interviews. I'll be cheering for you." An affectionate and chaste kiss to the top of his head and Ink gently shooed him off to the studios. Jasper stared at the closed door, before he hurried along. What was the kiss for?

-x-

Orchid strode into the studio confidently, almost 6 foot in her shoes. She almost ran over the tiny girl in front of her, but saw her just in time.

"Get out of my way, titch!" she demanded, glaring at the curly hair child in front of her.

Cat glared at the girl, stepping out of her way, desperately wanting to answer back, but not wanting to piss her off.

Faith strolled in with confidence watching as the District Seven girl snuck in almost slyly and sunk into the background.

Cat smiled at Faith and walked towards her. "Hey Faith! Wow, you look amazing!"

Orchid glared at them. Why was Faith encouraging such a weakling? Well, never mind, if the girl didn't die in the battle at the cornucopia, Orchid would be sure to take her out sooner or later. The thought made her smile.

Faith smirked. "I know. You do too." She said to the younger girl.

"Thanks Faith!" Cat caught sight of Orchids glare. "Seems like not everyone's happy about me joining the careerers."

Orchid began to walk over to the two them, her black eyes narrowed.

"Nope." She said cheerfully.

Cat grinned. "By the way, do you want me to hang around at the cornucopia or not, because my mentor told me to get the heck out of there?"

"I have an idea." She said quietly, so only Cat could hear her. "But, you'll have to act and trust me. Only for a minute and we'll have to make something up later." She then smiled brightly as Orchid came over. "Orchid! You're looking stuh-ning!" She said it sweetly, maybe with a slight tone of mocking, although it was true.

Orchid nodded her head curtly. "Faith. A word." she said, her eyes flicking to Cat, and flashing slightly.

Cat took the hint. "I'll see you later." she said to Faith, smiling winking slightly as she turned and walked away.

Orchid waited until she was out of earshot before she turned back to Faith, her burning red lips pursed.

"Uh huh?" Faith said boredly, looking at Orchid for a moment. This girl is lethal, she told herself. But so are you... she added

"Are you out of your mind?" Orchid hissed, "That girl looks like she's younger than 8! What the hell are you doing, inviting her to be a careerer?"

"Have you even watched the last few years?" Faith replied calmly, tilting her chin. "The other tributes are finding ways to beat us. No food or shelter. We need to progress. We need to be more than hunters. We need to also be survivors."

Orchid's eyes flashed, and she repressed the urge to slap Faiths smirking golden face. "We survive by killing! We kill all the others, take their supplies, and then we are strong. That is the way it's always been. That girl won't last a day. And if by some miracle she does, I'll take care of her myself, just so I don't have to see her little pathetic face any more!"

Faith's face was calm, yet deadly, the calm before the storm. She took a large step forward. "Yes. But, remember what happened to the careers last year?" She raised an eyebrow. "And. The last?" She took another step forward.

Orchid stepped forwards too, glaring down at Faith, her dark eyes full of hatred. "Listen, pretty girl, you may have the others wrapped around your little finger, but I would like nothing more than to get my knife and chop you and your little pet careerer into tiny slices."

Faith took another step forward, smiling innocently and batting her eyelashes. "Oh sweetie, I assure you, the feeling is mutual." With a smirk she took a step back. "Yep. Wrapped around my little finger. How would you like to fight me, backed by them? Honey, I can tell you're strong and powerful. But so am I." Blowing her a kiss she spun on her heel and strolled off.

Orchid gave a snarl of rage, and made a rude gesture at Faiths back. She managed to calm herself down by imagining 2 hours with an unarmed Faith in a locked room, with a toothpick.

Faith noticed the gesture and blew another kiss to the girl, smiling angelically.

Cat walked over to Faith, giggling at the rude gesture and the kiss.

"Sooo...what were you going to say?"

"Huh?" She asked, turning back to Cat.

"You were talking about a plan?"

"The element of surprise is always best." She commented idly.

"Wait...so there isn't a plan now?"

"There is." She sighed. "I'm going to chase you." She said lowering her voice so only Cat could hear. "With knives. You run like hell. They still see innocence." She gestured to the careers. "The problem is getting you back."

-x-

Orchid looked over at where Faith was talking to the short girl. She narrowed her eyes, and a small smile spread across her face. She had the perfect way to hurt Faith, who seemed so fond of the child. What better way to hurt her than through the girl she cared about so much?

-x-

"O.K... why don't you say I escaped, but that I'm hurt? That way, they don't see me as a threat, and you appear ruthless."

She shrugged. "I don't care how they see me. I only care how they see me when I'm about to kill them." She said coldly.

"Fair enough." Cat shrugged. "So...that's agreed then?"

"I chase you. You escape. I go back to bloodbath."

"Great." Cat said, smiling at Faith.

-x-

Orchid stared at the two of them, talking quietly. She tightened her lips. She was going to take that little cow out, and she was going to enjoy it.