I'm sorry that last chapter was a pretty fluffy chapter. Don't worry, I will get to the arena soon, I promise.
I also apologize about how late I am getting this up. I've been working on a big project due tomorrow all weekend. I'm really sorry about how bad these last two chapters have been so next week I'm updating twice, once on Saturday and another time on Sunday. Thanks for staying with me. –SpockSnapeStephen, 12/11/11
Several hours after Jove conferred with Spock's stylist, Makaria, Uhura and Spock were standing in a carriage pulled by black horses. Almost none of the male tributes were paying attention to anything they were supposed to be doing in favor of staring at Uhura. The District Four girl tossed her cornsilk hair toward her district partner who was completely oblivious. Uhura was slightly uncomfortable with all the attention but she stood straight ahead, blocking out the stares.
"Alright now," puffed Jove, "Smile and wave lots. Remember, you're trying to get sponsors so act happy!" Uhura glanced side-long at Spock. How was he going to pull "smiley" off and still maintain his Vulcan dignity?
"You need not worry about me Lieutenant. Just get a smile on your face and we'll have sponsors lining up faster than the captain can get the girl," Spock said dryly.
Uhura was astonished. Had Spock just made a joke?
Before she could delve further into this new development, Jove slapped the jet black horses' flanks and they were off. District Enterprise would be the last chariot and the last to be interviewed. The crowd was already hoarse with cheering but when Spock and Uhura entered the city streets, the applause and yelling swelled.
One of the large television screens floated past and Uhura saw a beautiful African woman dressed in a long, midnight blue gown studded with white, glowing pinpricks like stars and swirling colors like galaxies. Her makeup was expertly done and the royal blue eye shadow had spread sparkles over her face, catching the light and throwing it every which way.
Uhura realized she was looking at herself.
Spock stood beside her, waving. His button-down shirt was the same color as Uhura's dress but the material was shiny and silken. The cuffs were buttoned at the wrists, one of which was held behind his back but the other was forming the Vulcan salute to the crowd. Uhura suddenly remembered she was to do what he was doing, get sponsors.
She drew up a smile and beamed at the people who had put her in this nightmare. Despite the beautiful clothes and beautiful chariot, she was still just as much a prisoner performing for a crowd as she had been on Triskelion. As they stopped before President Flint, who was standing on a balcony high above them, Uhura got a chance to look around at the others a bit.
District Two's tributes were dressed as Peacekeepers, except no Peacekeeper would go into a fight so little clothing. Io's burgundy hair showed up like blond against her snow white uniform. She was smiling and striking poses like there was no tomorrow.
I suppose that's a good attitude for us tributes, Uhura thought grimly.
District Four was dressed in tones of green, blue, and purple. The girl, Kailani had a flowing dress with a net draped over her shoulders as a "stylish" poncho. Her white-blond hair was woven with strands of shells. Dorian had on only some loose, rough pants to show off his bulging muscles.
Uhura cringed at the sight of District Six' pharmaceutical costumes. They were dressed up as half white, half red pills with small opening for feet, arms, and eyes. District Ten wasn't much better with goats straining to pull the chariot. Uhura couldn't even tell what the tributes were. They seemed to be a conglomeration of every farm animal Uhura knew of but no stylist could be that bad. Right?
District Twelve was alright. They were dressed in hard black armor made like the anthracite they mined. The boy tribute stumbled as the chariots began to move again.
Jove was shaking hands fervently with everyone who had come up to congratulate him, including President Flint.
"That was an excellent job, Jove. Keep up the good work and good things will come. If you don't, well…" she said, smiling blandly as her black eye stared through Uhura. Apparently she had control of the two eyes separately since the purple eye was still fixed on Jove. The president left and Jove shivered.
"Why did President Flint threaten you like that?" inquired Spock as Jove helped Uhura out of the chariot. Jove shot him a look.
"I thought you were supposed to be clever," muttered Jove, "You're the Capitol's tributes. You won't get any help in the arena but until then it's up to Kerra, Makaria, and I to make sure you've got the best shot. The citizens of the Capitol do not want their tributes to look like fools."
Again, sorry about the short, kind of fluffy chapter. I'll try to make up for it next week.