Thanks all for the reviews. It's much appreciated.
Oh, this chapter might have been edited just a weee bit. Silly me accidentally replaced it with a few others, and lost the data for this chapter in the process.
Sorry about that, heh. I'll fix problems later on when it's not super late at night.
Disclamer: I don't own this stuff.
The media stuck to Beast Boy and Robin's faces like leeches as Claudius lead them to a building quite a ways away from the arena. Once they both entered and got a good view of the place, the two Titans both doubted that they were in their actual rooms. The entire front room was a colorless white and empty, aside from a few racks of clothing and busy adults running to and fro. There were six doors on the right and left walls which were being opened and closed constantly. Claudius chuckled when Beast Boy tilted his head, as if he was confused. "This is the stylist building. Your stylist will be Cinna."
With that, the older man left, taking all the cameras with him.
Signing, Robin leaned against a wall and crossed his arms. Since there were no chairs (or any other type of furniture, for that matter), he decided to take his place on the floor. Why a stylist's building would have no furniture (not even a Lazy-Z Boy or coffee table in sight.) was way past him. Though these people running around like a bunch of idiots proved that maybe decorative-less interior wasn't all that bad at times. The chaos got to the point where people would crash into each other, sending clothing up into the air or make-up all over the place. If someone happened to trip on a lone chair, they could easily crack their head open or something.
Minutes slowly went by. Beast Boy hated the silence that clouded the air like fog. Since Claudius left, Robin had been terribly quiet. "...It's busy." Beast Boy muttered, hoping to break some convo.
"Mmm." Was the response. Clearly his leader wasn't in the mood to talk.
A boy and a girl were sent flying out of a room on the right side for some extra make-up. They were dressed in a beautiful white dress and tux, looking almost like marble yet sticking to every shape and curve naturally. After having some brushes and puffy things thrusted into their faces, they were ushered back into the same room without a backwards glance.
Many more minutes went by after that. Beast Boy was about to turn into a dog and take a snooze when a man came busting out of his door. Unlike half of the other stylists they had seen running around, this guy looked normal. No funky surgery, no weird clothing or make-up. The guy even looked like he was a natural brunette. The only make-up they could see was some gold eye shadow to bring out the sparkle in his eyes. "Are you guys part of district 21?" He asked with a smile.
Beast Boy and Robin nodded, somewhat relieved that they were talking to somebody normal. It would be even better if this guy happened to be their stylist.
The stylist walked over and extended a hand to both. Both took the offer and shook. "I'm Cinna, district 12's stylist, and as of now, your stylist. Come on in." He said, nodding over towards the door he came out of.
Looking to each other hesitantly, the two Titans followed Cinna into his room. To be quite frank, it was a mess. Make-up and glitter littered the floor with cut locks of hair, while pieces of clothing littered among the edges of the walls. A clothes rack was in a corner, looking quite astray itself.
"I'm sorry for the
mess." Cinna said as he washed his hands quickly. "I was finishing the touches on Katniss's dress when I was notified that I was to be your stylist as well." He said. "Time flies during the beginning of the Games. Well! Let's get started."
Cinna started by circling around the two Titans slowly, occasionally making one lift around or give a half-hearted smile. After that he checked his watch and sighed. "I'm afraid I don't have enough time to design and give you both your outfits. So you'll just have to go out with what you've got now. Is that alright?" He asked. Cinna seemed happy enough when Beast Boy and Robin both nodded. Better to 'go out' with something comfortable and familiar than with something foreign and stiff.
"I might as well tell you a bit about the Games, since you both looked clueless coming in." Cinna started. "As you have seen, the citizens of the Capitol are pretty much...bubbleheaded. Any little thing thing you say or do can make them favor you instantly. Unlike most people of Panem, they watch the Hunger Games for the entertainment. Much like the Capitol itself. The first event coming up was made to represent your district's chief industry. For example, district 12 is coal mining, district 1 is luxury items for the Capitol. But what better way to represent your district then by using you as yourselves?
"The district that seems to have their attention this year is district 12. Their female tribute, Katniss, volunteered to take her sister's place, which is quite rare anymore. Trying to over-fame her might be a challenge, but you guys," Cinna grinned at the two Titans. "Just popped out of nowhere with a flash of light! Not to mention you all have superpowers...! Well, some of you." Cinna fixed, sending an apologetic look Robin's way. He continued when Robin nodded. "You two already have started to gain on district 12's popularity race. The chariot run is your first true public appearance. Here is where they will get their first opinions on you and your chances of winning the games." He said.
Beast Boy's eyes lit up. "Chariots? You mean with horses and everything?"
Cinna nodded. "Pure white Capitol horses. Most times I would have the tributes do something that would melt the hearts of the audience, but unless you two are a couple or something..." He trailed off, but got his answers by the two Titans's reactions, "then I'd tell you to hold hands or something. But it looks like we won't have to worry about that with you two." He said, smiling somewhat as Robin crossed his arms defensively and Beast Boy stared at his shoelaces. "All I can really tell you is to stand tall and look pretty."
The stylist checked his watch again, his eyes widening. "Alright, time to get you two loaded on the chariots!"
Robin and Beast Boy were hustled outside, where a chariot and two beautiful horses were waiting for them. Stepping up the two could see the track they were to take a little better, along with the other tributes. Beside them were district 12's tributes, dressed looking like fire. Far down the line was district 1, the two tributes in white Beast Boy spotted earlier. They earned many other looks from the competing districts before the music started to boom and district 1 started their first lap. The shrieking of a crowd immediately followed.
District after district continued, until it was finally district 21's turn to lap. The chariot lurched forward, the horses trotting at a brisk pace. The crowd here was ten times bigger than it was during their own little reaping, believe it or not. The two Titans were almost deaf after their first lap, the audience endlessly chanting, "Robin! Beast Boy! Robin! Beast Boy!"
To Robin's surprise, Beast Boy was waving and grinning as if he was on a parade float. Before he could tell off Beast Boy for the behavior, he was prodded in the side with a green elbow. "Have fun! Cinna said to make the crowd happy, right? Well, look!" Beast Boy said, grinning to the sea of people. Indeed the crowd was quite fired up by Beast Boy's grinning and shooting a girl the occasional look. Eventually Robin gave in, and he found himself grinning and waving like Beast Boy was. He figured it was a good thing when a few girls looking in their late teens/early twenties seemed to sigh and squeal 'Ooh, he's so mysterious and dreeeeamy!'
Finally, the chariot run was over. Away from the cameras, Beast Boy and Robin were led to another building that seemed to give off a nice amber-looking glow from its windows. Now this had to be their rooms. The girl delivering the two boys said nothing as they made their way up the elevator to the top floor.
It was a very comfortable looking room, to be honest. The first thing Robin and Beast Boy saw was a gigantic T.V that took up at least one of their windows, almost like the one at home. A sofa was right in front of it, along with a coffee table where they could prop up their feet. Deeper into the apartment was a dining hall that could easily seat at least fifteen or so people. The two walls from the dining area led to their rooms, equipped with their own private bathrooms. Like the glow from the windows, everything seemed to be a nice color of amber. The dinner table and coffee table seemed to have the same gadget sticking out of it that ordered Robin's popcorn and root beer not too long ago.
As silent as the moment she arrived, the girl left. The two boys shrugged as they started to make themselves comfortable. Robin was just about to join Beast Boy on the sofa when a man busted through their doors. He leaned up against it and burped, a beer bottle in his hand. He didn't move as he observed the two Titans with a careful looking eye.
"What a bunch of pussies." The man muttered.
Beast Boy looked up at Robin, surprised by the man's first words. "Excuse me?" He asked.
He grunted and took a swig out of the bottle he was holding. "I said, What. A. Bunch. Of. Pussies. I'll be dammed if either one of you make it past the Cornucopia!"
Robin snorted and turned his back, walking over to Beast Boy. "He's drunk- let him ramble and he'll leave in a minute."
Without a word, the man straightened up and tossed his bottle, aimed directly for the back of the hero's head. Beast Boy's alarmed cry of his name made Robin turn around and catch the bottle, just a few moments before impact. His eyes narrowed as the assaulter. Beast Boy was up on his feet now, stepping closer to the drunk man but making sure to have some distance between them. A drunk person could seem all funny and aloof one minute, but the next they could go on a rampage. And it was never pretty when you got stuck holding one up and they decided to vomit all over you.
"Well, maybe you have a chance. Maybe you'll make it a few minutes extra...then you'll be nothing but a pile of shit." The man said. "Now mind giving me back my wine, Blank Eyes?"
Narrowing his eyes, Robin 'dropped' the bottle with a bit of force. The red liquid splattered on the carpet and pooled around the steel-toed boots. He turned his back to the man once again and headed for the dining hall. "Oops." He muttered under his breath.
With a yell, the guy pushed past Beast Boy and charged towards Robin. Robin easily put one hand on the guy's flailing arm, the other onto his elbow. He flipped the man over and sent him flying towards the dining hall. It wasn't like he hadn't dealt with a bunch of drunk guys before. But things changed once the drunk guy happened to find a knife lying on the table and held it tightly in his grasp. Aware of the newer and deadlier threat, Robin grew tense, his eyes resting on the knife.
But then the man chuckled, setting the knife back down on the table. "You defiantly have your wits about you. Not to mention you're one hell of a martial artist. And you," His attention turned to Beast Boy. "need to get into the game quicker. If I was a Career, he would have been dead by now."
Beast Boy stood up, as if to take his advice. "Who do you think you are?"
"I'm Haymitch." Haymitch said. "Your mentor, along with district 12's. I haven't seen my district win in ages; you two better not let me down."
He headed for the door without instruction. As Haymitch walked out, he called, "You two better get some sleep. You'll need it for tomorrow!"
There you go! Reviews would be lovely.