Chapter Ten
The theme of the Panem favorite "The Flickerman Show" rung through the ears of the audience members dressed in gaudy and elaborate costumes.
A single trumpet played a steady tune. The trumpet was joined by another. And soon like a flock of swans, they all sounded to a battle cry. A stronger trumpet took the helm of battle as the cry got stronger.
A beat boxing sound effect joined into the song as the host, Caesar Flickerman practically bounced onto the stage.
Caesar was a small in stature yet energetic man with blue powdered hair and eyebrows, a fake tan, and a suit to match adorned with lightbulbs on the front of the suit. And they lit up like his personality.
"Hello hello. And welcome to the Flickerman show, the Capitol's number one televised talk show thanks to all of you!" he said to the audience with great enthusiasm as always.
They all cheered, always the bird to the feeder. They'd chew up anything they were given and practically lived on a blind bubble ignorant to the world. Not knowing the horrors that their fellow man faced.
"And boy oh boy do we have a special treat for you tonight! We have the lovely new music star who won Panem's Got Talent, Miss Theodora Loews!" he grinned like a madman.
"He scares me a little," Katniss looked over to Snow, her tone very matter-of-fact.
"Don't worry love, he's just as scared of you as you are him," Snow patted her head teasingly.
"So will it be you or me first?" Katniss wanted to be sure so that she could properly play the part of the ecstatic bride-to-be.
"It will be me of course and then you follow me lead," he explained, like you would explain an important subject to a child.
She nodded and held his hand even tighter than before as it began to throb.
"But first we have a very special guest.." Caesar was cut off by a moment of silence as the Panem national anthem played throughout the arena and everyone took that as a signal to welcome the President to the building.
"And remember my dear," Snow came close to her as he got up. He came close to her ear and whispered "Convince me," he left with a smirk.
They were all silent as Snow came into the room filled with a mass of people, all of them intimidated in his presence.
The music ceased as Snow sank down into his chair. He was in an uncomfortable position with the shape of the chair but always remained courteous in public.
"Welcome to our humble television show Mr. President," he laughed nervously.
"It's always a pleasure to be here Caesar," he shook the host's hand.
It was that kind of fakeness that made Katniss sick to the bone. She felt like she could throw up combined with the smell of blood permanently imprinted in her nostrils.
"So Snow we're wondering, why have you postponed the games? We're all dying to know," Caesar asked.
"Well, I have a very special announcement to make. Now usually I do not include my job as President of all you fine people into my personal life, but..Katniss Everdeen and I will be married in a week," he smiled like the maniac he was and everyone was astonished.
"Wow really?", "That's exciting," rang through the massive room as Katniss likened the experience to Peeta professing his love to her. She really wished he was here right now. Maybe he was in spirit.
"So, when will the ceremony be?" Caesar grinned as if to say, "Coriolanus you old dog!"
"In a week, but alas, my dear Katniss has not picked out her dress tsk tsk," he chuckled teasingly as Caesar decided to bring Katniss out.
"Well why not have the bride herself come speak? Come here Katniss Everdeen!" the smaller man called excitedly.
She put on her best smile for the audience and sat down beside Snow as she felt his cold yet inviting presence beside her.
"Hello Katniss. May I call you that?" the host greeted her.
"Yes, but you'll have to call me Katniss Snow soon," she giggled.
He looked between them thinking something was up but held his tongue. After all he didn't want to be an Avox.
He chuckled nervously but not enough for anyone to notice "So tell me what you fell in love with when you saw Snow,"
"Well, I really don't know how to describe it. You just feel that connection to a person when you truly get to know them. He's been very good to my sister Prim and my mother and I have no doubt he'll be a wonderful husband," she held his hand as Snow wished it was all real but not letting his emotions show. He'd grown to love her in a sick, twisted sense and now knew exactly what Peeta felt like. A regular Irene Adler she was. He laughed at this thought
"Well I'm glad to hear that but does his age bother you?" Caesar could read them like a book but decided to ask the bride in private so he kept smiling like always.
"Not at all. Something I've learnt is that age is irrelevant but souls aren't, and really, aren't we all souls in a shell?" the audience looked at each other in reflection.
"Very true," his voice wasn't as happy as it came to a solemn acknowledgement but he quickly drank a cup of water and plastered his drawn on smile "Mr. President, out of all your suitors why her?"
"Well, I like a very down to earth and practical girl, not that all you beautiful Capitol ladies aren't lovely as well," they all swooned, causing Katniss to roll her eyes. "But she has a natural beauty to her that really I could not ignore," he kissed her hand as an evil glint left his eye and Katniss was alarmed. Her body froze as she had figured it out. He had poisoned Caesar!
He raised his eye brow then gave them both something to drink "I believe that's all we have. I'll see you all next time and give a round of applause to the lovely couple!"
They all clapped as Katniss and Snow made their stage exit.
"You did wonderful. But alas, not enough..." his voice was full of ice, cutting like a blade.
She looked at him confused. What more could he want?