The first time I'm notified any further is the day that I am watching the games on the tele in the dining hall of the training centre. She's a very smart girl that Rue. Seeder and Chaff ought to be proud she's one of her own. She's just pointed to the tracker jacker nest above Katniss' head. She may have just prolonged her life by a bit. I don't know what to make of Haymitch's girl on fire. He obviously thinks she's worth it because I've never seen him work so hard and stay sober for so long.
You know I'd actually admire her for her strength if she didn't have that tacky love story hanging on her back. In my opinion it did her no favours.
She's probably had it now though. It was a smart idea of Rue's but they probably don't realise the severity of a disturbed tracker jackers nest. In fact I wouldn't be surprised of it killed the whole lot of them.
I tell you who has caught my eye though. Finch. The redhead from District 5. She seems to be playing my card quite well. She acted like the underdog yet she's cunning. She's smart to still be alive on day 5. She's crept her way around and always had enough to survive. I like her. Who knows she might even end up winning with the wit and brains like she has.
Glimmer from 1 however is your average Cashmere. Might even be one of her relatives. Gorgeous but wouldn't be likely to last 10minutes if she didn't have the others attached by the hip.
"Clever little girl she is. Rue. 11 should be proud. Can I sit here?" A lady asks me. She's carrying a bundle of paperwork. I nod.
"You couldn't draw me a map to Diamond Av could you sweet? I'm practically hopeless! Lived here all my life and I have no clue!" She laughs theatrically. Right. She said Diamond Avenue that could be a coincidence but it's more likely not. This has to be Fulvia.
"Sure." I smile taking the paper. On it is one simple line of writing.
"Befriend Cinna. He has your instructions." Really? And what would a Capitol stylist have them for?
"I'm pretty sure I've drawn it wrong. Since the idea of that seems quite unrealistic." I say pretending to point to a turning on the map but she knows what I mean.
"I've known these little bends in Capitol for quite a long time. They seem iffy to drive around but really they're not out to hurt you." She says it's funny because she's good at this coded stuff. Anyone would think she's talking about the bendy roads of the Capitol but I know she is talking about someone else. Cinna. "I'll bare that in mine. Hope you get there ok." I tell her standing up from the table. She smiles and I leave.
Now I've just got to find my old friend Cinna. I don't exactly mind since I did find him quite charming the first time we became acquainted with one another. What to wear though, I mean he's a stylist. An impressive one at that. Maybe I should wear deep red... I return to the room to find Silver sniffling away on the sofa.
"What's wrong?" I ask crossing the room and slotting by the side of her.
"Peeta saved her life and took a gash in the leg.." She blubbers. I roll my eyes. Surely she isn't stupid enough to buy into that crap like the others.
"Silv what'd you know about Cinna?" I ask her as I pull off my jacket and head in my bathroom. She follows me in with cautious eyes.
"I know he's too pure for people like you.." She laughs but soon composes herself. I grin. I'm afraid she's sadly mistaken.
"So he seems." I say raising my eyebrows. She shakes her head not wanting to believe it.
"No. No he's just a talented Stylist who has his head screwed on Capitol way." She tries to divert me but I already know he's far from the honey voiced boy he portrays himself as.
"Talented at..acting!" I thrill with laughter flicking through my dresses. I can't help wonder though how he got himself into this.
I end up heading up to his room in just a simple red dress. We're here to do business I have to remember.
When he answers the door of number 12, his face is almost saddened. "You shouldn't have wasted the dress." He sighs as he allows me in. I frown. A little pushy don't you think.
I'm shocked with the sight before my eyes. A coffee table full of make up. From bubble gum blue to neon pinks, Cinna seems to have very colour and shade imaginable. Hideous but fascinating.
"Didn't realise Effie was having a slumber party." I remark as I stroke my fingers over the powders.
He lets out a chuckle. "Effie's not the type for sleepovers. This is actually for you. It's time we gave you a makeover Miss Mason." He grins. I'm dazzled by his gleaming white teeth and before I know it he's plonked me in a swivel chair.
"I'm thinking orange..." He trails off. Even though I have no clue what we're doing I turn my nose up in disapproval.
"Freesia?" He offers showing me the most beautiful highly expensive lipstick I've ever seen. I allow him to apply it to my lips with a steady hand. He doesn't look like a stylist yet he has the steadiest hand I've ever seen.
He plasters my face in white powder and paints my cheeks pink. It feels strange having such a thick coat on my vulnerable skin.
"Why're you making me look like one of the capitols finest freaks?" I ask him as he paints my eyelashes pink.
"To disguise that familiar looking face of yours. You wouldn't get very far with a face that was seen on every bill board for a year." He tells me.
I don't question him again, I just allow him to make me look unrecognisable. He does as well. With a light pink wig and one of Effie's pastel pink dresses, I'm practically unrecognisable. He smiles at his achievements.
"Hmm you almost look Capitol bred." He says as he helps me into a pair of ostentatious heels.
"Almost?" I ask curious to know what his best efforts are lacking.
"If your look real closely there's still a look of a fighter in your eyes." He tells me staring directly into them. I shrug.
"Shame you weren't so readable because I have no idea why you're here helping me now." I whisper in his ear. He grins linking my arm and taking me out into the hallway.
He helps into what I presume is his car and that is when he finally begins to explain. "You're off to do some cunning work Johanna." He tells me as we swerve out of the car park.
"Well cunning is my middle name." I grin.
I like all this. Acting undercover. It's the first time in years I've finally felt myself again. I'm finally feeling like the true Johanna Mason. The cunning bitch who fooled the entire population of Panem.
It turns out Cinna has actually dropped me off at the offices where all the escorts are based at. He gives me a key card and wishes me good luck. He tells me not to read the instructions in my hand bag until I reach the ladies restroom. I smooth other my cheek from where he kissed it and join the crowds of pedestrians. I reach the door in quick timing to be greeted by two peacekeepers.
"Good afternoon fine gentleman!" I put on my best Capitol affected accent. They don't find it suspicious. They even give me a nod of the head. Mind you it's the first time I've spoken respectably to a peacekeeper in my life.
"Ah it's Miss Marigold. I almost didn't recognise you." He says when I slide my card across. The name Isla Marigold pops up. I smile not having a clue what to say. So now I'm actually forging some woman! Under my name reads 'Escort for District 11.' Could 11 be onside? I don't know but someone must have stolen this card and I know it'd have to be someone from 11 to do that.
I find my way to the ladies toilets quite quickly and once I'm trapped in the cubicle I unlatch my bag. There's a paper with various codes on but on the top reads this 'Room 23 gather any information about District 2.' I sigh but go with it. Attached to the paper is what looks like a barcode scanner. I can only presume this is what I take pictures of the info with. Right now I just have to get myself into this room.
It turns out to be a lift ride away and completely patrolled with peacekeepers.
"Oh excuse me please please can you help me! I've lost my mothers earring! I'm Miss Marigold from 11?" I prompt. It probably sounds staged but it's the first thing that came to mind. Hopefully I'll sound like a desperate Capitol girl.
"No Ma'am. This rooms closed." He tells me firmly.
"But please they've been a family heirloom for decades!" I pretend to get teary. After all I am pretty good at pretending. I fooled the whole of Capitol and all the Districts remember.
"Fine. I'll have to come in with you though." He tells me. 'Damn' I think to myself in frustration. "We finish here at 7 miss so you best be quick." He tells me firmly unlocking the door. I nod heading in the room and first pretending to look under the desk.
Time ticks by and I don't know what to do. I can't do anything with him in here.
"It's clearly not in here Miss." He sighs looking down at his pocket watch.
"Please. I don't mind taking the keys down to the receptionist. I have to find it." I burst out in to tears. Crying always was my speciality in the Games. In fact this little outing is like a trip back to my games with all this role playing.
"I'm not meant to leave people alone in here.." He trails off but I cut him off.
"I'm a respectable member of the games. How dare you consider me any other, now give me the keys and allow me to find my earring before I report you to President Snow." I snap now deciding to reverse the role of who is in charge. The idea of him being in trouble is enough to sway him.
"Don't be long then Miss." He says passing my the keys and leaving the room. I grin to myself. Looks as if I still have it.
"Bingo." I whisper clutching my hands around the scanner. I move straight over to the filing cabinets snagging out some folders. Everything in this room screams District 2. I can't help wonder why they'd need information about two though. Maybe it's because they'll be the hardest to get on side.
A piece of information that makes my eyes widen out my skull is this '934 District 2 males currently in service as Peacekeepers, and currently 341 males in training for the service.' So the Capitol even use District males as Peacekeepers. That will be worth documenting.
I get everything from population to disease to economy. I don't even mind saying that I've done an excellent job. I leave the room like nothing's happened to it and lock it behind me. When I pass the keys to the woman behind the counter she asks 'did you get what you've been looking for?" She asks me as the key lingers in my palm.
"Certainly. It's what I would call mission complete." I smile walking with my head held high out of the building. One nil to Agent Mason.