Thanks to all the people who favorite and added this to their story alerts. I do still like reviews…
When we reach the Capitol, I'm handed over to my prep team, a strange trio of Capitol folk. There's Amica, with bright pink hair sticking out in spikes in all directions, skin tattooed with bright pink hearts and lips blown up to look like hearts. Her sister, Aurella, appears to be spray-painted gold and has huge breast-implants. Finally, there's Cincinnatus, who has a whole head of curly, bright red hair and bright red eye make-up and lipstick. They strip me of all my clothes, remove much of my body hair and scrub me down with an burning oil-like liquid before trimming my wild hair. They survey me with satisfaction. "Oooh," Amica coos. "Your so handsome."
"He'll be even more so when we hand him over to Portia," Cincinnnatus says grimly. "Now spray him down!" Aurella and Amica circle me obediently, cold water hitting my flesh, creating goosebumps. "Oooh, let's call Portia!" They all squeal, and run out of the room.
I pace anxiously around the room, waiting for Portia. When she walks in, she's not what I expect at all. She's not at all like my prep team, covered in makeup and trying desperately to look like someone else. "Well? What are you waiting for?" She says brusquely. "Put on the robe. It's time for lunch." I obediently follow her out of the room, into a smaller chamber.
Portia speaks a few words into a microphone, and seconds later, food appears. It's a goat cheese and apple tart, one of the things we can only afford to have when it's gone stale. That's not all, however. It comes with some sort of cherry cake, asparagus, and wild rice. I'm amazed by how complicated everything is here, how they never want for anything important, how their largest worry is that they didn't get the present they wanted. Portia raises an eyebrow. "Are you mute, or can you actually speak?" Pure irritation forces words out. "What do you want?" I snap. "You don't like us at all do you?" Portia muses. "Well, you better fake it."
"Trust me. I will."
"Guess what? I don't like you either."
"Do you think I care?"
"You ought to. Look, I realize how despicable you think us. Well, the crowd is the best chance you have of making it out of there alive."
"I can be pleasing if I wan't." I snap irritably. Porcia's hard gaze seems to soften. "Look, just give them a good show." She looks around, as if checking to see if anyone is in the room, before leaning forward. "Make sure…that when your in the arena…don't let them change who you are. Stay you." Then she leans back, grinning. "Aren't you wondering what your costume is?"
She's left me wondering who she is, but I decide to play along. "Sure. Am I dressed in a coal miner's suit?" I ask, spitting out the words, "coal miner's suit."
"No. Me and Cinna think the coal miner's suit is way overdone. We want you to have a lasting effect." I try to think to a time when district 12's costumes had a lasting effect. None comes to mind. Portia smirks. "Instead of focusing on the mining, we've decided to focus on the coal. Are you ready to burn?"
I'm taken to what is essentially a giant stable, wearing a black jumpsuit with a headpiece and cape that Portia is going to light on fire. She hasn't told me if the fire is real or fake. I'm desperately hoping it's the latter. Portia and Katniss's stylist, Cinna sit us down carefully arranging our outfits. "What do you think about the fire?" Katniss whispers to me nervously. "You'll rip off my cape, I'll rip off yours."
On second thought, maybe I'll just let her die.
"Deal," Katniss agrees. "Where is Haymitch, anyways?" I ask. "Isn't he supposed to protect us from this sort of thing?"
"With all that alcohol in him, it's probably not advisable to have him around an open flame," Katniss says. Both of us burst out laughing. That's the first funny thing I've heard Katniss say, and the pressure is getting to me.
It's not long before the opening ceremonies start. District 1 rolls out, dressed in tasteful tunics, spraypainted silver. Then 2…3….4… and so on and so forth until 11 rolls out, and Cinna is behind us, lighting us on fire. I hardly have time to brace myself for the pain, before I realize it is fake fire. Cinna jumps off the chariot and shouts at us. I think he was saying for us to hold hands. "What's he saying?" Katniss asks. "I think he said for us to hold hands, I reply. We do so, and I am happy, because it fits with my plan.
The crowd loves us. I wave, and blow kisses, and smile, and I can hear them chanting my name. I see Katniss doing the same. The chariots lead us up to the president's mansion, where he makes a short speech, before we are taken in to the training center; our home for the next few days.
Before I can relax, my prep team surrounds me, complimenting me on my gorgeous debut. A lot of tributes look mad, which I'm guessing is because we stole their thunder. Katniss lets go of my hand, and I decide to win her trust. "Thanks for keeping hold of me. I was getting a little shaky there," I say. "It didn't show," Katniss replies. "I'm sure no one noticed."
Like I care what you think! But I better keep up the act. Do whatever it takes to win, right? "You should wear flames more often," I say. "They suit you." I give her a small smile. Katniss smiles back, then leans up and kisses me. Right on the bruise.
…In fact, since I like reviews so much, and I know how many of you there are out there, I'm going to be evil. I currently have 2 reviews. I won't post the next chapter until I have 5. That's only 3 more!