Assistant Gamemaker, Aphrodite McKennon
Aphrodite walked through the empty hallway, her heels echoing off the walls. In her hands were the twenty eight tribute forms, completed after the Reapings completed. By the end of two weeks, she will only have one form in her hands. The trains have arrived, carrying the tributes. The tributes are being escorted around to meet their stylists, and the Assistant Gamemaker only has a few hours to make sure everything is in place.
Two Peacekeepers nodded to Aphrodite and opened the doors to the Game Center. Aphrodite walked down the steel stairs and was face-to-face with a room filled with Gamemakers. They are putting finishing touches onto the arena, preparing the chariots, and creating mutts. Aphrodite, unlike Chal Sherwood, is responsible for every little bit of the Games. Chal just directs the Gamemakers on when and where the traps or mutts will go off. Aphrodite is very envious of Chal; he just sits around and does nothing. Some people are so lazy.
Aphrodite moves her way to the Tribute Manager, ready to enter this year's tributes into the system. The Tribute Manager had to update this system in order to hold twenty-eight tributes. Then again, it gets updated every year before the Reaping. Aphrodite dropped off the forms on the Tribute Manager's desk. His eyes shot to the woman with long golden hair.
"Any promising tributes?" He asked, picking up the stack of papers. Aphrodite nods to him as she sighs slightly.
"Typical tributes from One, Two, and Four." She says. The Tribute Manager raises an eyebrow.
"Two twelve year old volunteers?" He exclaims. "I know the Games are an honor, but the youngest volunteer ever was fourteen." Aphrodite shrugged.
"Who knows why they did it. That's for Dusk to find out, not us." She says, moving to the Mutt Specialist. Last year's mutts were divine, but Chal wanted better mutts. Of course he did; everyone wants better and better mutts. Her feet carried her to the woman at the mutt station, who was currently working on a bird-like mutt. Aphrodite's dull pink eyes lit up and flickered at the sight.
"Oh, Portia, that's lovely!" Her voice began to rise just by looking at this bird. Portia, who was planning this mutt for over a month, was ecstatic to hear Aphrodite's comment.
"Thank you." Portia replied, enlarging the animal so Aphrodite could get a better look. The bird was small with a razor-sharp beak. Its feathers were lined with a clear sticky substance, which Aphrodite assumed was poison. "I call them singing death."
"Why did you pick that name?" Aphrodite asked, fascinated with this animal.
Flim Tayles, D8
"Quit squirming, dear." A woman said to her tribute. "In order to feel painless, you have to stop moving." Flim lay straight, trying to stay still. Her hair was being pulled from her skin, her eye brows were being plucked down to size. She bit the inside of her cheek to stay silent for her prep team. How long was she even here? Her hair continually was ripped from her skin. The burning feeling kept coming at her in waves. This is Capitol torture.
Two other women grabbed Flim's short hair in their hands and studied it. It was soft, but no body to it. Come to think of it, it barely had any color or shine. One woman began rubbing color into Flim's hair, giving it a distinct shine. Hopefully, the color will be brighter than it was before.
"How can we make her pretty?" A woman with long eyelashes asked another woman with blue skin.
"That is Kira's job." The blue woman replied. "She'll find a way to make her attractive. Should we hose her down one more time?" The woman with the long eyelashes nodded and proceeded to clean Flim off one more time. The women in her prep team flounced off, leaving Flim to meet this Kira woman. Nice way to leave your tribute alone, guys. Flim thought to herself.
Silence was what Flim faced. The room was bland and all white. How can prep teams even focus with all of this white? Flim's eyes scan the room, stopping on a bath robe. She restrained herself from getting up and snatching the robe. Her eyes then focused on the door. Kira must come into the room now and cover up Flim's exposed body.
A door, actually the whole wall, slid open to reveal a round woman with cropped, pixie-like blue hair. Flim recognized this woman; she is the woman who worked with District 7 for six years. Flim's hope for a nice costume fell. District 7 is always dressed as trees, nothing new or refined. And, coming from a district whose victor rates are in the bottom three, a good costume can mean everything. It can mean sponsors and her life.
Kira motioned for her tribute to stand. Flim did as she was told, not wanting to upset her stylist. Kira made her rounds, examining Flim's body. She was malnourished, like most tributes from 8. Worked needed to be done on Flim's face. She had no natural beauty, but the make-up can change that for the Tribute Parade. Maybe the clothing of the costumes can cover up her skinny body. Her hair was died, as instructed, and it was left alone. Kira needs to do the hair herself.
"Sorry for not introducing myself." Kira said, handing Flim a robe to put on. "I'm Kira Lancer. You must be Flim. You know, examining your body has shown me that you are too frail to hold a heavy costume. Your district partner has a slightly stronger build, but only slight. He is also frail and can't hold a massive weight. So, this year, I plan to have something light, but something amazing to wow the Capitol."
Kira took Flim's hand and examined the nail work the prep team has done. Her nails were rounded in oval like shapes and left blank for Kira to paint to her liking. "Hazel, Holly, and Manda did a wonderful job." She thinks aloud.
"Will I be wearing a mish-mash of clothes like last year's tributes?" Flim asked. Kira smiles as she painted Flim's nails in an alternating purple and pink pattern.
"Oh no, sweetie." Her voice bared the Capitol accent, but it was as smooth as silk (District 8 humor!) "Last year's stylist was just awful. Luckily, he got moved down to Fourteen and I moved down to your district. I have many plans for you and upcoming District Eight tributes to come. You and Camden will be the crème de la crème of the Parade."
Flim had a good feeling well up inside of her. Her stylist isn't a confused Capitol freak trying to look young. Kira actually had a plan rather than throwing clothes on her tribute. Kira was a great stylist, but what did crème de la crème even mean?
Blakely Sage, D14
Blakely's skin burned as a woman named Oceana ripped more hair from his body. By request, the prep team left on his anklet. Blakely didn't know who requested it, but he didn't complain. He's not a complainer, which is probably why his prep team liked him so much. A man with orange hair named Oliver rubbed his fingers through Blakely's hair. This boy had really nice hair, but they still needed to add more color. His hair needed to shine.
"My, my." A man named Blitz awed. "You have an outstanding stature. Oceana, what do you think? Do you think Titus can work with this boy?" Blitz looked to the ocean blue woman who was plucking Blakely's eyebrows.
"Titus can do whatever he wants with this boy." Oceana answered. "I wouldn't be surprised if he lets Blakely out without a scrap of clothing."
Blakely's stomach fell. If this 'Titus' guy sends him in the chariot without clothes on, he will punch his lights out. If Amelie has to face Panem named as well...the Capitol may have an insane tribute on their hands. Even so, what does nudity have to do with medication? Blakely was rolled away to a separate room, waiting to meet Titus.
He looked around the room and tried not to be blinded by all the light. At least he's away from Oceana and Blitz. Those two really 'admired' Blakely to the point of being uncomfortable. A shriek was heard from the hallway. It was probably a young girl screaming as her hair was pulled from her legs. Was Amelie alright? At least she didn't have a prep team that scared her into thinking that she'll be nude for the Tribute Parade. Amelie would cause a fit until her stylist put clothes on her, that's for sure.
The wall slid open and a man with chocolate skin entered. His eyes were rimmed with silver eyeliner and he had raven hair. He was a dark colored man, something not seen often in the Capitol. Hopefully, he had good costumes in store for Amelie and Blakely. The man, who Blakely assumed was Titus, walked over to his tribute and examined him.
"That was a brave thing, volunteering yourself for the Games. I'm Titus, your stylist." His eyes looked to Blakely's bare chest. He has the physical appearance to wow the Capitol alone. With a costume on, he might bring everyone to his feet like a Greek God. His eyes went to the anklet on Blakely's ankle. "It's a good thing I left that on."
"You made the request?" Blakely asked, sitting up.
"Yes." He replied. "I have a costume planned that goes with that anklet. Your sister has a necklace of the same design, am I correct?" Blakely nods to Titus. "Great. The costume I have planned will look swell on you both."
Titus glanced over his tribute one last time before leaving the room to fetch his costume. He walked down a long hallway before reaching the costume closet. All the costumes from 1 to 14 were in this closet. They were marked with the district number and tribute gender and the stylist's name. Titus reached for the one on the end marked '14 male, Titus B.' He grabbed the costume, covered by a black sheet, and went back to his tribute.
Blakely's eyes shot to the wall sliding open and Titus carrying a black sheet with a hanger. He could barely read the words on the sheet. Titus came closer and laid down the sheet on a counter beside Blakely's body. "What is that?" Blakely asked his stylist. Titus' eyes looked to Blakely and he smiled.
"That, right there, is your costume." He answered, unzipping the covering. "Your sister has a costume of a similar design, except it covers her chest."
"Wait, I will be nude?!" Blakely interrupts. Titus shakes his head.
"Not exactly." He answered, pulling out a headpiece. "You see, you have an excellent stature, something I plan to show off to all of Panem. If you make a good impression at the Tribute Parade, you will have sponsors at your feet. Same for your sister." Titus placed the headpiece on Blakely's head, making sure it stays on.
Perfect.
Melayna Ray Smith, D10
Lana waited patiently for her stylist. She lay exposed on a table. She felt like a plucked chicken, the kind she saw at the butcher shop back home. Even in a blinding white room, she could see her home, even if it was just Blake's house. She could hear the cattle mooing and the horses calling out to another. Lana's mind traveled to Maarbelle, who might be worried sick that her sister didn't come home from the Reaping.
It's a good thing Marabelle is too young for the Games. The prep team ripped her leg hair so hard, all she could do was scream. They kept yelling at her to stop crying, but what could she do? A thirteen yea old girl can't put up with that kind of pain. The man in her prep team was in his thirties and claimed he got 'waxed' fifteen times a month. The prep team also plucked her eyebrows, scrubbed her skin, and put some slimy stuff in her hair. She has had enough prepping for one day. Who will her stylist be? When will they get here?
Lana's eyes were focused on the door, hoping that a stylist would walk in at any time, ready to dress up Lana for the Parade. Will she get any sponsors? The costume better look nice; it sure looked nice on Jada last year. Normally, the tributes from 10 look ridiculous dressed as cattle; stylists can't work with a bigm, ugly cow for inspiration. They need something great, like District 1's luxury export. Or District 4's fishing. Livestock isn't that elaborate.
A door finally slid open and a woman will dull purple hair walked in. This must be Eleora. Lana saw interviews with her when Jada was in the top ten. Eleora will make something nice for her and October, Lana could just feel it.
"District Ten female, Melayna Smith." Eleora mutters, looking to the girl. "You look younger in your headshot. Anyhow, I am Eleora and I will be your stylist. Your district partner is still with his prep team, so we have some time before you are required to be in your costume." Eleora grabbed Lana's hair and began to weave it in her fingers. The prep team did a fantastic job by softening Lana's hair. It brown out the brown and made the curls extra bouncy.
"Where is my hair ribbon?" Lana croaked out, her voice sore from yelling in pain.
"I have it sweetie." Eleora replies, still working Lana's hair. "I'll put it in your hair when I am finished."
Time passes by while Eleora plays with Lana's hair. Since the headshot was sent to Eleora, she has been excited to play with it. She didn't seem to have a plan; she just continued to play with her tribute's hair. A slight pull by Eleora made all of Lana's hair go behind her. She separated the top half of Lana's hair from the bottom half. Weaving carefully, Eleora made a tight braid going down Lana's back, held together by Lana's hair ribbon. She used a brush to give Lana's hair a cleaner look. She began to brush the free hair and places the braid onto of the free hair.
Eleora has time to put some make-up on Lana. She only uses natural shades, accenting her gray blue eyes. Eleora then moves to Lana's fingernails, which she paints gold. The gold shimmers from the lights and begins to shine. She takes a minute to admire her work on a tribute that young. She moves to the bag marked '10 female, Eleora J'. She unzips it and pulls out a metal headpiece. Lana's eyes widen at the sight. Eleora giggles and crosses her way to Lana.
"Don't worry, sweetie." She says, holding the headpiece in her hands. "It is not that heavy. Only weighs about four pounds, at most. You won't even feel it." She places the head piece on top of Lana's head, not messing up her hair. The head piece fit perfectly, the thick wire wrapped around her head and kept the decals in place.
"How does it look?" Lana asked. She didn't dare raise her hands to her hair. She has complete confidence in Eleora to not to touch her hair.
"Lovely." Eleora answered, patting Lana's shoulder. "I think Toby is finished. I'll get you dressed."
As Eleora placed Lana in the costme, Lana only had one thought: 'Eleora will never fail to please.'
Assistant Gamemaker, Aphrodite McKennon
Aphrodite finished her rounds around the Game Center, finishing with the Arena Manager. The arena was completed and simply wonderful. Aphrodite can't wait until the tributes see it with their own eyes. That must wait until next week, when they are exposed to the lovely arena and their resting place. Aphrodite moved her way to the center of the Game Center, looking at the many screens with different shots of the City Circle.
Thousands upon thousands of Capitolites are crowded to see the newest tributes. A screen shows a shot of President Rector sitting proudly and timidly, waiting for the moment when he gives his speech. A screen shows different Capitolies, some are buying their roses while others are chatting with one another. Aphrodite takes deep breaths, trying to remember when to send out the first chariot. It's not all that complicated. When the clock strikes eight o'clock, District 1's chariot will pull out and the others will follow the leader.
"Are all the tributes in their chariots?" Aphrodite asked the Video Filterer. A pudgy man with a pointed nose looked to Aphrodite and nodded. "Perfect. We have three minutes until show time."
Everyone looks to one another; the Hunger Games are one step closer. With each event, the Games are only that much closer. For novice Gamemakers, it is the moment for everyone to see what they can do. Whether it is mutt designing, trap making, or simply catching the footage, everyone can see why the Capitol is feared. Aphrodite looks to each and every Gamemaker with the highest expectations. They better blow Panem away with these Hunger Games.
A clock on the wall counts down. Only thirty more seconds until District 1 is shown off to the country. Aphrodite continues to take slow breaths and calms the nervous feeling in her stomach. She has been Assistant Gamemaker for almost three years and the Tribute Parades always catch her. Something about the moment when Panem can finally see their tributes hits her nerves. It's alright. It's not like you are in the chariot. She thinks to herself before turning to her Gamemakers.
"District One on my count." She says clearly. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..."
A/N: How was it? What it worth the wait? Of course it was. Lol. Okay, if you all didn't notice, the cover has changed. It has changed to District 7's mentor, Palma Nazer. Is that how you imagined her? Good, because I am not changing it. :)
Please review and tell me anything that I can improve on. More Points of View to come, don't worry. Flim, Blakely and Lana were just random Points of view I tried out. I will bring in different characters, especially in the training chapters. Tell me what you think about Aphrodite. Like her or dislike? Tell me in a review.
Guess what I learned in biology today? Yellow jackets or hornets (I can't remember which) can sting you, and when they do, they leave behind a 'tracker' hormone in your body. All the other yellow jackets/hornets will come after you and sting only you. My first thought was TRACKER JACKERS! Then I was like...Poor Glimmer.
Enough rambling on. Go on and review this chapter. :)