Chapter 5 – The Capitol
I arrive into the dining cart and take a seat next to my father at the table.
"Good morning." He says softly, pulling me in for a light hug.
"G'morning everyone." I say.
My mum replies with a smile. Shortly after, Haymitch enters the cart, squinting, presumably because the light coming from the window isn't helping his hangover. He stumbles across the room and plonks himself onto a sofa, throwing his arm across his face and groaning.
"Rough night Haymitch?" My dad asks.
"Umph." He replies. "I've been laying off of the drink, and I feel like I'm being dragged back into hell."
"What's prompted you to do that?" Asks my mum.
He sits up to look at me. "For Willow."
"For me?"
"Yes, for you. I am going to do everything in my power to help you survive, Willow, and if that includes staying completely sober, so be it. I can't lose my favourite girl now can I?"
Just then, Effie tottles in and, surprisingly, she's wearing minimal makeup and a very ordinary looking blue dress. "Haymitch, get your feet off of the sofa; it's bad manners."
Haymitch rolls his eyes but does what he's told. "Unfortunately, Willow, I have to pretend she's my favourite girl." He says with sly grin.
"If you were pretending, you wouldn't have given me this ring you silly old man!" she says, indicating to her engagement ring.
"Yeah, yeah, pass me a croissant will you Effie?"
She bends down, leaving a kiss on his forehead. "Okay darling." She says, handing him a croissant.
It's weird, you'd never have thought that Haymitch and Effie would be together, but here we are today. They've changed each other for the better. Effie looks less freakish now because Haymitch likes her without makeup, but she still has to dress up for events such as the Reaping. Haymitch drinks considerably less than he used to thanks to Effie, but again, at events such as the Reaping, he drinks to stop the bad memories from coming back. Such different people seem to click so well with each other, it almost gives you hope that not all things in life will be bad...almost.
Reuben soon joins us for breakfast, and we all feast on a huge platter of food. Pastries, eggs, bacon, mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and a loaf of what I'm told is Tiger bread. I manage to control myself rather than cram everything I can into my mouth... unlike Reuben.
"Reuben, try not to overdo it, you may end up making yourself sick as you won't be used to eating such rich and large amounts of food... perhaps you should at least try to slow down?" My mum says.
"I'll be fine, I'm a big boy." Says Reuben with a mouthful of food.
I hear a slight thud under the table, followed by a muffled "Ouch." from Reuben.
"Manners..." Effie says under her breath, shaking her head.
Soon the Capitol comes into view and both Reuben and I are at a loss for words as we gaze out of the window, astonished by the size of it. I knew the Capitol was big but compared to what I thought it was... it is absolutely humongous! The buildings have to be 10 times taller than the trees in the forest and the whole place twinkled with lights, despite it being day time. It looks like a city you'd imagine in a magical utopian fairy-tale. How can such a beautiful place be filled with such people that cheer at the deaths of children? It's disgusting.
Right on que, we pass through a tunnel and into the Capitol train station where there're crowds of people waving, cheering, and jumping with excitement, desperate to get a look at us. Reuben starts to wave back however I start to back away from the window in horror.
"Willow, what are you doing? Come and wave to them, they'll love it!"
I'm about to say no when I realise I need these people to like me. Despite how dreadful I may think these people are, I need sponsors, I need all the help I can get if I want to survive. I return to the window and hesitantly start to wave, and the crowd is noticeably more excited now that I've appeared at the window.
We spend a few minutes waving from the window before Effie interrupts. "Right, time to go! We've got to get you to the training centre in time for the tribute parade!" She says as she finishes fixing on a flamboyant wig.
The second the train door opens, we're bombarded with the sound of the crowd going wild, along with a constant blinding flash from multiple cameras. A few of the Capitol people try grab at us as we make our way to the car, and it's a relief when the door finally shuts, dulling the overpowering sound. I let out a long breath. "That was just-"
"Overwhelming." Says Reuben, finishing my sentence. I nod. "I sure am glad that's over." He says.
"Well, get used it." Says Haymitch, "Because it's only the beginning."
As we drive through the city, I stare out of the window, lost in my own thoughts. The Capitol is exactly how my parents described it, beautiful, strange but disturbing and yet, I can't help but be in awe at all the scenery. Tall sleek buildings, miraculous shops, the pristine marble pavements running through the streets of the Capitol. There's not aninch of dirt or dust in sight.
The fashion hasn't at all changed, people's clothes often resemble animals and bright, bold colours, and other things I wouldn't know what to name, it all just fascinates me. I certainly wouldn't have the courage to go out looking so bold and extravagant, but then again these people are brought up to think that the way they dress is normal.
We pull up to the training centre and the car door is opened for me by an Avox.
"Come along then, children!" Says Effie.
We then follow Effie into a lift;
"We'll see you back at the apartment!" Calls my mother, waving to me as the doors close.
We arrive at level -1 and we pile out. There are a number of stylists already waiting for us.
"Right, Willow, you follow Trimarvia and Gordavicious; Reuben, you follow Penolvia and Yaedio, they'll be your prep team; cleaning you up and preparing you for your stylist."
God, these Capitol names seem to get more and more ridiculous each year.
I reply with a nod and not a moment sooner, I'm dragged off along a whole row of cubicles, presumably occupied by the tributes I'll be facing in the arena this year. At long last I'm ushered to a cubicle, second to last out of the many rows.
"Right, lay yourself on this table for me, Willow" says a stylist.
I lay myself flat out onto the table and watch as they toddle off to get all the necessary equipment. My prep team looks very freakish. Judging by the clothes they're wearing, this years 'look' must be fluffy. One of them has pale, purple skin, wearing a fluffy yellow wig with all red bobbly hair pins, plotted randomly on the wig. This is followed by a flamboyant, wet leather, pink crop top and a white fluffy skirt, much resembling a cloud. I'm guessing that stylist is Trimarvia, as it sounds like a girl's name, I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later. I'm guessing the other stylist is Gordavicious; with disgusting pale, pigmented green skin, wearing a deep blue wet leathered body suit of some sort, 'complemented' by orange fuzzy platform shoes and a fuzzy yellow cape that drapes across his shoulders.
They come back over with a trolley filled with soaps, moisturisers, wax, perfumes, and strange tools." Do you think you brought enough equipment with you?" I say as a joke. Clearly they don't get the joke and both look horrified at their mistake. "No, no I-I was only joking." I stammer awkwardly.
"My dear, I almost had heart failure! Imagine the embarrassment if the other prep teams had found out we'd not been supplied enough! Gordie, can you just imagine!" exclaims Trimarvia.
"I'd sooner die than have that! Ugh, and the smug look on Radarphella's face, just end it! End it quickly! A clean and merciful death, nothing else will do!" Gordavicious replies, in outrage.
The Capitol people are so melodramatic it's painful, perhaps less painful that The Hunger Games itself. They're now finished with the dramatics and begin my makeover. Firstly, I'm stripped of my gown and I lay completely naked across the table. I'm hosed down, scrubbed several times with soap and a rough sponge, followed by hot wax being spread across every inch of hair across my body. At first the wax was relaxing, only I didn't realize the horrific pain that was to greet me afterwards. They lay strip after strip of paper over the wax before they unexpectedly rip it off, leaving my skin hairless and raw. Soon enough I am completely hairless and once again being hosed down and scrubbed. I feel like a plucked Turkey. At least the Turkey isn't actually alive while it's being plucked.
Next they spread a layer of thick, scratchy paste across my face and lay a weird vegetable over my eyes. It gives me a shock when I feel a puff of steam being blown onto my face. Soon the paste feels dry, leaving my face feeling stiff. The paste is peeled off and I see discussing lumps of skin and dirt stuck to the inside of the mask. I almost gag at the thought of that muck being on my face.
They expertly thread my eyebrows, making me look stern. I didn't think eyebrows could make a person look much different, but I look quite intimidating. I love it.
They babble on about how they've had strict orders not to do anything major to my hair, so they merely chop off any split ends, and clip off any stray hairs.
Last but not least they buffer up my nails, applying a clear liquid leaving my nails looking shiny. They both step back to admire their work and sigh blissfully.
"You look just gorgeous," says Gordavicious, his lip wobbling as he speaks.
Trimarvia stands there sobbing uncontrollably. These Capitol people are so emotional and it's irritating. I want to get up and slap her for being so ridiculous.
"We've got to go now, but your stylist will be here soon" says Trimarvia.
I simply nod.
Trimarvia and Gordavicious both leave the room and I wrap a white bathrobe around myself before sitting back down. A few moments later I hear the door open but I don't see who it is. Instead of looking up, I stare at my feet.
"Well? Let me see that beautiful face of yours."
I look up, half expecting to see another ridiculous Capitol citizen however I've been pleasantly surprised.
"Cinna." I beam.
"Nice to see you again, Willow."
-
Author's note:
First of all, thank you so so much for all the comments I've received so far, it honestly brightens my day to think that someone actually likes what I'm writing! It's the main thing that motivates me to keep on writing! This is why I've decided to post this chapter so early! Sending my love to you all!
So this chapter was more of a 'filler' chapter but also gives insight into the pre Hunger Games traditions so I thought I'd 'honour' that in the least sadistic way possible lol. I know fanfics aren't usually this detailed etc, but hopefully it's a good thing that mine will be? As for those Capitol names…they're completely made up so don't worry about correct pronunciations lol! There's be more action soon, I promise! The arena will be VERY exciting, I have so many ideas and just aahhh! I can't wait! I wonder how Reuben is getting along with his prep team, I can't imagine he'll be very cooperative lmao.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter anyhow, and I always very much appreciate comments, advice, etc!
Thanks again,
- Liv