Archangel Gabriel, Beau D'Art
It is pathetic if you think about it, that ten years, ten years they had to renovate the site of explosion, to rebuild it to its formal glory, and the Capitol did not. Instead we have the Hotel, this Salon, and then a Training Ground, all in different places, yet relatively close.
Fortunately.
I keep slapping my friend's back-of-the-head for his foolishness.
"I'm sorry, how many times do I have to say it?" He asks.
"For as long as I want you to. Pitiful human."
"So are you, so shut it."
"Make me."
"I tell your lover!"
I look at him with my best evil glare I have, which is quite evil. "Your soul is a bag of gay farts."
"Aren't you friendly?"
The Chariot Rides are tonight…This day always makes me hyped up. It is so…pretty, the whole thing. The chariots themselves and their riders. I wonder what will go how this year.
"Some mood music, no?" I ask them and plug my music deployer to the loudspeakers. I prefer something nonverbal, or with minimal singing. It is easier to dance to.
Not like I dance that ridiculous dance, no, never.
Maybe with Nina. Not alone.
Haha, I love the video. Old creeper gets killed by innocent girl with her telepathic powers. So inspirational…makes me want to kill.
The Stylists are already fighting over the bodies. It is easy to tune in into their conversation. All you need is some willpower.
District 1 is like a mass of rainbows…
"Get me the glitter!"
"Glitter? Yuck. Star powder."
"Idiot! Star powder is powder that is why it is called powder!"
"But glitter is too shiny!"
Maru, the boss of the little team of two smacks them.
"Last time I checked, I was the boss." Maru is a young, good looking man on the inside, and a young, not handsome but educated young man on the inside. He thinks while scratching his chin. "The song. It's new. District 1 is luxury, yes? Well, what song is about luxury?"
"Diamond Shower?"
"Golden Toes?"
"Morons, not today's crap. The old ones. Before the Dark Days." He went to the computer, typed quickly, and then music filled with the air. Of course, it was quiet, so others cannot hear it but them…and me, of course.
~You gotta help me out, it's all a blur last niiiiight, we need a taxi, cause you're hung-over and I'm broke~
I smile. A hundred and seventy years is not that old…
"Two rich characters in the rich night. I think it goes well with their personalities. Of course, they need some polishing to do but it's minimal."
"We're here too you know!" The boy called out.
"Not the glitter, not the star powder, but we will use real diamonds and rubies here."
District 2 was going fairly well.
Except the Prep Team.
It's hideous.
Bobble Glaze is good at what he does, but really, he should look more human.
With that orange skin, those purple eyes and yellow hair, not even talking about the whiskers drawn on his face, the large fake ears, and feliny eyes…looks like a really bad anime cosplay of the Yellow Cheshire Cat.
The team is just as bad. Purple skin, green skin, yellow skin.
Bobble and I went to the same school. He is quite a person to know.
Don't trust his looks; he is very educated, not only in fashion, but everything. He is also serious, much more than he needs to be. He chose to look the way he is, so he can forget his past.
He told me, and made me promise it to keep it a secret, and so I will.
"Heh, equinox," he noted the song. "Typical," he said to himself, "and as for you," he said, looking at the seated lovers-to-be, "sound your requests."
Ms. Wintre tilted her head in question.
"Any wishes to be for the rides?"
"Peacekeeper!" Ms. Wintre said suddenly. "Though that's old."
Ouch.
I was a Peacekeeper once.
"Old it is, but it can be easily exploited. The music gave me an idea. Why don't I pick a song that you will perform?" I forced myself to fake cough Singing? Really? "Or just play it under the ride."
"I'm good with it," Mr. Asher said.
"Same here."
"Well then, I have just the one. A man goes to war thinking about his lover. One dies, the other goes. For the fun, we make you die, and you take revenge of your boyfriend."
What he didn't tell them, is that once they ride this train; they won't get off until the end.
District 3 clearly has a hierarchy. At the top is Romulus Laprete, then under him, the one supervising what the youngsters do, Remus Laprete, and under him are Medea and Astynax.
Using knowledge of basic ancient history, and a bit of common sense, Romulus and Remus are obsessed with wolves. Who would've though?
Meeting Remus in the night is nearly impossible sine he is black.
As in, black black. Black as night black.
He decided to swim in a bucket of black paint, or so Romulus told people. Even better, he wears dark clothing.
His brother decided to become a follower of Romulus and became a lycanthrope. Not a real one, no, for he'd be used in the Games. He just has fangs, ears, claws, eyes, and all the other fun stuff of a wolf.
Medea is the secound newest in the team, being a critical and secretive woman, her looks fit her. Her face is piercing-ed to, and over, the maximum, with black spiky hair, and black, red and dark purple markings on her body.
Astynax is a whiny, naïve boy, kind of like a small child. Though he does what is told, and most usually doesn't complain. He is quite an artist too, especially good with make-up. He can transform the most hideous old hag into the love of your life, and vice versa.
"Lucky bastard Gamma, she gets to work with a lupus…" Romulus growled under his breath.
"Any ideas with them?" Remus asks, kind of acting out of his character, knowing he is mostly quiet, and doesn't add to the conversation.
"Ray's outfit was amazing," Astynax said. "Cyber and all that."
"We could do simi…nah, no," Medea started than stopped herself.
"I could go on the usual Stylist thing that we need something new, obvious yet amazing, simple and great, but you know the drill."
Astynax was drawing again in his notebook.
"What'cha drawing," Romulus asked him, as he himself was chewing a pencil.
"Oh, sorry, won't happen again," Astynax said a bit ashamed and started to put away his drawings, but Romulus grabbed the notebook.
"I wasn't mad, just wondering about your drawings."
"O…okay, fine," Astynax said and opened the book. "It's Minus and Plus, for a graphic novel I want to write and draw. Don't have much storyline or conflict, just them. Minus is hyperactive and reckle-"
"That's it!" Romulus cut into Astynax. "Minus and Plus. Electricity. You genius bastard," Romulus said happily as he messed the boy's hair.
I shall note that 'bastard' is a common word for Romulus.
"Binar, you'll be Minus and Finley, you will be Plus. And I just got the idea for the interviews."
District 4 is going hard this year, now that Cyan has total control.
"Okay sugarbeats, since Tsunami and Tidewater insisted, I destroyed my plans of the pirate, mermaid, merman, and all that water themed, and went with the night life of District 4. Beach parties. I was listening to this music and it got me. You won't go down without a fight. Both of you will appear to be coming from a beach party, you know, beach clothing, if there is one. Most of us wear bikinis and a long and wide shawl around the waist, used as a skirt, and guys go shirtless in speedos. At least in my time."
"Can we, can we?" Tsunami and Tidewater asked, jumping like two kids.
"Go on ahead kiddos."
Note, Cyan was pregnant with twins twenty years ago, and the two grew up to be stylists, and they, the three of them were great in a group. Go figure.
"Since Ms. Davis has purple eyes that need to be figured out how, easily she can have seaweed green hair, maybe toned down, bikini top and surfer shorts, if she agrees," Tsunami said as he showed his picture.
"And for Shark, a typical surfer hunk-a-dunk. Ripped, a tattoo or two, fake of course, surf board, all that."
Cyan looked at the girl.
"Did I say hunk-a-dunk? I meant person."
For the years I knew Cyan, she never stops until victory, and she might have that.
Severine and Cassandra make a fun pair for District 5. I like Cassandra, she is a nice person, but kind of bipolar.
When she is doing fashion, she is devoted ultimately. She makes everything herself by hand, never trusts a machine to make something as delicate as clothing, and treats everything with the outmost care. She makes two copies of every outfit. One she puts on a mannequin after use, and one she places in a glass cage.
But when she is not around fashion, which can be happening, because she sometimes outdoes her job, she becomes a living corpse. She looks even paler, and she is very depressed, sarcastic and mean towards anyone. But, it's part of her beauty, part of her pale skinned, black make-up, wine hair beauty.
Me like.
Her partner is Severine, an extremely talkative young lady who, when she gets started, wouldn't shut up. Not even if that would end everything bad in the world. No…but even better, because it seems like talking fuels her never ending energy to do things, she can keep up with her boss.
She looks like a pyromaniac; sporting a very detailed, self made flame tattoo engulfing her left hand, her hair cut shoulder length and layered with different shades of red, orange, and yellow.
"Here is my preposition. Since your District is all about DNA and science, let's make some séance."
"Séance? Ghosts? Those are almost the exact opposite of science and DNA," Elias starts the argument politely.
"On the contrary in this situation. For these ghosts are belonging to those two humans who were caught in midst of time and space, in an everlasting waltz. Erm…ghosts, are the bad word, sorry, more like, after shadows with an eerie purple atmosphere."
"Much better," Elias smiles.
"And it will include some changes in your appearances, minimal only."
District 6 is very interesting; having two tamed wild creatures too. Ms. Rowan has her wolf, never ever blinking, ready to attack anyone just on command…or maybe without one. Mr. Rasputun has his owl as help, because he is going blind, slowly, but surely.
I find it interesting that their stylist can be in the Games. She is only seventeen, perfect for shedding blood. She manipulates three lunatics.
One, the most normal looking, has hot pink hair that seems to grow into all directions, with turquoise eyes and a gem on her forehead. Another has a tiger tail, funnily she cannot use it, and it's just there, like a dead snake. The same woman has blue hair, and a badly draw flower on her cheek. The last one, a male, has a purple Mohawk, and a J carved into his nose.
They are all very loud, driving the poor wolf mad.
Gamma has lime green, straight-as-pin, ankle length hair with eyes that change in hue, and a large lighting tattoo on her back. Only way I know, is that she wears a revealing dress.
"I'm the youngest of the bunch! I'm so happy and talented! I'm amazing! I will make you look beautiful! You will make the Capitolians gawk in amazement."
Xanthe sighed at the blindness of the woman.
"I would like you so much better without tongues," she admitted.
Snapragon smiled and nodded in agreement.
Ah, District 7. The silent psychopath and the evil witch. They'd make a good time if you ask me, but you don't.
Their Stylist, Cheery Maggie, her real name Cherie Caro, is the typical very king, sugar sweet lady who will choke you with your own pillow in your sleep with a sweet smile if you are on her bad side.
"We will be the best of friends! We will have parties, share a good joke and all that. But you don't want to be mean to me, oh no, you don't want that to happen, because I can be mean too, very mean." Exactly what I said. She scares me, and since that one time she tried to kill someone with their own pillow, I have no pillows in my room.
Their Prep Team is some really annoying, rainbow idiots. The three people look like a unicorn barfed on them.
Tobias was clearly unimpressed, if not annoyed by their tries to make a conversation.
"So girl," Cherie said with a very strong, typical teenage spoiled brat girl accent as she sat down next to Madelyn, putting her hands on her lap, "what do you like to do?"
"Bossing over people, controlling them, defying authority, being mean to people who screwed my life up. Also, torturing them. But I also enjoy strolls at night, flowers and unicorns. Of course, if I can use them to poke through someone's eye…"
"Oh…that is…great. Me I like fashion, and shopping…and not using unicorns to stab people's head."
"Oh, and I also enjoy getting money for no reason."
"How about you?" Cheery Maggie asks Mr. Whitehair.
"I enjoy the company of silence and solitude," he simply said.
District 8 is laughable, in the good way. How there are two girls? This is the only district where there are two stylists too…Not-so surprisingly, it was Alelina who wanted to be the Stylist this year, and eventually bought her way into it.
That means there are two Prep Teams too.
Codie has the better team I think. Kermin, his Stylist, is very kind, and is actually quite human. He is from African descent, with a gene mishap, because he has blond cornrows that meat in a ponytail right above his forehead. He wears only golden coloured clothing, and he wants all of them to sparkle.
At times, when there is a lot of tension, like now, he randomly starts dancing and singing a song that is mainly made up of the lyrics I whip my hair back and forth, and considering how he has his hair, it can be quite comical.
His team includes three mono-colour people. One wears only blue, different shades of blue, and she is talkative. The red one is the kind one, always smiling, and seems to be very kind and caring toward the green one, who is only seventeen, and he is quite clumsy.
The other team, starting with Alelina. She is normal looking, with gold lipstick and gold hair. She is very persistent and stubborn, driving some people mad. She needs a slap with a shovel at times. Her team is a group of thrown-together people. Like their creator put them together in a hurry. One is blue, just…blue. Then there is one that looks like a fruit hat, with all her colours, and one that has different eyes, different hair, and different skin. Like she is cut in the middle different.
The two girl tributes are not arguing, finally, and just sit through Alelina talking endlessly, nodding their head occasionally.
Eleanor has Aden and Anne, and I think the two girls will get along just fine. Eleanor never talks more she needs to, that's her team's work. She makes dreams come true of vibrant colours and effects, like, making sure all of one's sensory systems will get a taste of her work. She looks very much normal, but she made sure to have neon orange eyes until her heart stops beating.
Her team is typical, all bubbly and clueless to the world outside, smiling and chatting and doing their routine of annoying humans.
"Chocolate?" Eleanor asks.
"No thank you," Anne kindly rejects her offer.
"Yes please," Aden says, smiling at the chocolate.
"Oh just wondering, are you good actors?"
"No. Not at all."
"I lived my life lying to the ones I loved, I think I can manage some dimwitted Capitol people," Anne said, then added, "of course, there are exceptions."
"Everyone thinks of District 10 as hardworking, but I grew up there, and I know that you can have a lot of fun as a farmer. So I thought of having you dressed up as very…hyper humans."
"Oh that, I can do that, no problem. I'm hyped up usually at home," then his happiness went away when he realized he may never see home again.
"Being hyper? Yeah, I'm good with that."
When your Stylist is Stella, you don't need a big group of people. Because she has Hurricane, the fastest Prep Team member ever yet, though she is a perfectionist, and there are times when she has to redo something a lot of times.
Stella is the kind of person who loves make-up and clothing, and tattoos and piercings, but on other people. Her Heaven is a world populated by people just for her use.
Tayann is like a doll, waiting to be told what to do. She…her life…it's like she erased everything in her life from her memory, and…agh…It's creeping me out, how she is listening, without moving a muscle or anything.
She scares me, and fascinates me at the same time. She is perfect for Stella.
Hurricane has, guess what? Gray hair formed like a beehive, or better yet, a hurricane! Gasp! The surprise!
"Eleanor and I are good friends, she gave me some chocolate. Interested?" She asks smilng.
"No thank you, I'm allergic," Range says.
"I just dislike chocolate, my apologies," Tayann said blankly, but than return Stella's smile just as warmly.
"Oh well, don't tell me I didn't ask you…" she took a bite of chocolate. "You know what goes well with chocolate? Fresh fruit, I love having fresh strawberries, and dipping the tip, only the tip in white chocolate, ooh, you have to try it while you are here," she says.
"I'll make sure," Tayann said, almost happily? It's awkward, like she tuned in with Stella. Indeed she is very interesting.
District 12 looks a bit miserable, especially since Mr and Mrs Mellark are there. It's like, they try to imagine it's Cinna talking to them, not Christofer, but I can see that Alia is eyeing both her partner and her Stylist.
Christofer is only twenty years, but he graduated two years early with perfect grades, earning great respect even from Mrs. Trinket. He is a man of his words, and is always open for new ideas, especially that involve majestic state changes and elements. He cares about his looks, and is proud of his phenotype. He wears tight jeans, and tight shirt, making sure his perfect abdomen is as eye-catching as possible, without looking like a man-whore. Or until some girl his age starts flirting with him, because all wraith of Dia will be on him.
His team is Melli, Mrs. Trinket's daughter, and her friend, Nelli. They are normal, nothing Capitol special about them or anything.
Christofer is humming, something silently singing along the song as he is drawing.
"But I set fire to the rain, watched it pour down as I touched your face…Set fire to the rain…fire…to the rain," he stopped singing, smiled, and showed the tributes the picture.
"Holy…"
"…Wow…"
Everyone was left with a mouth wide open.
Author's Note: Poll on my profile, vote!