Capitol
Arena Control Room-Authorized Personnel Only
"Sir, Mr. President, I don't think you understand. I won't-"
"No. I don't think you understand, Mr. Lupei. Just because of your past, just because your from District 1 and got the exclusive chance to live in the capitol, doesn't mean you'll be treated any different then any other Head Gamemakers."
"Of course not Sir, wherever did you get the idea-?"
"Listen to me Lupei. You know the past of the games. You know what happened twenty-five years ago, and could very well happen today. Contain the hope. Don't let it out of your control. You know the consequences."
"Of course I do. You don't think that I'm going to be like Seneca Crane and-"
"Don't say that name. That subject is not allowed."
"Sorry Sir, it won't happen again."
"For your sake it better not. I'm going now. Remember this Lupei. No matter what happens, show—no—mercy."
The next few hours were some of the most painful of my life. And that comes from a girl who has spent days in the burning hot sunlight farming until her hands are bruised and red. My 'prep crew' as Petra called it, undressed me, washed and scrubbed my hair until my scalp was aching, carved my nails into elegant circular shapes, lathered me in some sticky substance and painfully ripped it off me so that my body was hair free, and was currently scrubbing my face with rocky brown gunk.
"Is this really necessary?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Of course deary!" said one of them with a tinkling laugh. Her name was Nereus, and she was unforgettable, as were all of them. I haven't met many capitol people, and I've heard they all look like this, but if they do, they must all be insane. She has leopard patterned skin, strange I know, but she actually pulls it off. Her hair is simple, long and black but extremely shiny and the ends are tipped with gold.
Lucilla gives me an affectionate pat on the shoulder.
"Always the same, they are," she says, "so ignorant! They don't understand how important this is!"
I try my best to hide an angry growl. Me? Ignorant?
My other two stylists are Lucilla and Alexios are twins. They share the same purple hair, hers short and spiked, his in a ponytail down his back. Lucilla has flashing eyes. And I literally mean flashing. They change different colors every 30 seconds. She told me they were contacts, but for a while I believed they were real, the kind of surgery the capitol has these days. Alexios eyes are pale grey, with aqua streaks in them. They have the same wide eyed, cheerful school kid expression. The rest of their outfit is the same, orange 2-inch long nails and sky-blue eye shadow.
Alexios brings out a hose and gently sprays off the dirt. I cautiously raise my hand and rub it, gasping at the perfect smoothness.
"You really are lovely dear," says Lucilla. I blush. "Oh, don't be ashamed, the crowd loves a girl like you! A shame Rom said not to do anything major to you until he gets a good look at you.
Rom. I've heard them say that name a few times, and I'm guessing he's my stylist.
"When will I see, uh, 'Rom'?" I ask.
"Oh, in a minute or two I'm sure," Nereus replies. "We're done here."
Sure enough, after a minute the door slides electronically open, and a man walks in. I have an immediate desire to cover myself up, but, with difficulty, I keep my arms steady by my side.
The man before me was impossibly handsome, with well muscled arms and tan skin, toffee brown eyes and a dazzling white smile. The scariest part of this look was how natural it seemed. He was a lot younger then most stylists, in his early twenties it seemed. He held out his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Ruby, I'm Romulus."
He had a voice to match his look. An accent, not a common capitol one, but one that made you almost begging to hear more.
I shook his hand rather reluctantly, still aware of my bare body.
"Alexios, Lucilla, Nereus, you can go now, thank you," he said.
They all ran out, smiling widely and bowing stupidly.
Romulus noticed me staring at the door, with most likely, a disgusted look on my face.
"Oh come on, you've got to love them, they're always a cheery lot."
"Yeah, you could say that…" I mumble
"Now now, no need for that attitude, I won't bite." he says, winking at me.
His words make me laugh. Finally someone here who's got a sense of humor.
"That's better. Now, let me see here…"
He put his hand under my chin and lifted my face up slightly, then walked around my body.
"Lovely," he said, clapping his hands together. "Now, put this on, and follow me."
He hands me a plastic dress, not unlike the ones people wear in hospitals. I put it on, and he takes me through a door leading to a closed-in balcony lounge. He sits down on a velvet couch and presses a button on the glass table in front of him. Two plates full of food pop out, followed by small glasses filled with dark red liquid.
Romulus pats the seat next to him and I sit down, looking from my meal, a mouth watering lamb stew, to the drink, which looks a lot like the wine I'd seen my father drink. Like before, Romulus seems to know what I'm thinking about.
"Don't worry, it's cranberry juice. Same for me, I'm strictly non-alcoholic."
I nod reassured, and take a sip. It's similar to the kind we have at home. Sour, but also sweet. As we start eating, Romulus smiles.
"Well, welcome to the capitol. I'm guessing everything is up to your expectations?"
"That…and more," I say.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, the Romulus dabs at his mouth with a napkin, and sits back.
"Now, why I'm here. As you know, in an hour's time, there will be the tribute parade."
I nod. The tribute parade is the typical time to show off the tributes.
"Well," he continues, "me and Jada, the other stylist for district 11, threw around some ideas, but I think we found one that both you and Alix will enjoy."
"What is it?"
"Oh, you'll see in good time," he replied, with a sneaky smile.
I find myself, fifty minutes later, dressed in the prettiest and most unique dress I have ever worn. It was made entirely out of pressed flowers. Perfectly preserved goldenrods, still with a beautiful smell wafting from them. A halo of goldenrods rested on my hair, which was hanging casually, yet elegantly on my hair. My makeup was, thankfully, no more then golden eye shadow, nail polish and clear lip-gloss. Lucilla was showing her severe disappointment in this decision as I boarded the chariot.
"Oh look at this face!" She said, patting my cheek affectionately and pouting in a very childish way. "Think of what we could have done with it!"
Nereus nods behind her. I roll my eyes, not wanting to know what crazy capitol fashions she wanted to make me wear. Alix walks over and steps up beside me, and I feel my face growing red. He's wearing plain black pants and no shirt, exposing his well toned chest. "That'll make the ladies out there swoon!" Jada had said while Alix blushed. He had a cape made out of goldenrods and a halo to match mine.
"Feeling confident?" he asked.
"No."
He gives me a rare smile and winks. "You'll be fine. They'll love you!"
"You mean they'll love you," I say, motioning at his bare chest. He nudges me playfully just as a hand rests on my shoulders. I start and turn around, but it's only Romulus.
"Nervous?" he asks.
I nod.
"Don't worry. It's not like you have to say anything, that's not until the interviews, and those are ages off."
My stomach turns unpleasantly thinking about the interviews. Why did he have to mention them now?
"Yeah, right," I say.
Loud music blares, and the tall door in front of us opens. Romulus smiles.
"Just remember. Head up, big smiles. Don't be afraid to lay it on a little thick. The crowd will eat it up."
He waves at us and backs up as the tributes from District 1 ride out.
They look like stars in the sky, wearing outfits of pure white while riding on a chariot driven by pitch black horses. The audience applauds loudly as they wave and smile. Typical, District 1 is always popular with the capitol.
Follows them is District 2, then District 3, and so on. There is suddenly the loud voice of Quirinus Spiros, the official announcer for the Hunger Games.
"Introducing, District Eleven!"
The chariot jerks forwards and I stumble, but Alix wraps his arm around mine and keeps me steady.
"Thanks," I whisper out of the side of my mouth.
He nods as we are suddenly bathed in bright light. There is a sudden hush from the audience as they take in our outfits, but they soon explode in cheers and whistles. I raise my head and smile widely. My eyes dart around the scene in front of me. People pointing and whispering, nodding their heads approvingly. Alix startles me as he waves at the crowd, smiling in a way very unlike himself and winking every now and then at girls. The effect was exactly what Jada said it would be. They flutter their eyelashes and gasp. I resist the urge to snort.
I hear his names being called out from all sides, and realize that I need to be doing something as well. I raise my hand and wave, snatching a flower that is thrown at me and slipping it in my hair, making the crowd cheer even louder. Our names are being called out from all sides as the chariots loop around City Circle. The chariots pull up right in front of the President's house and stop. The music slowly fades out.
President Vasile, a tall skinny man with red hair and a cunning face welcomes us. The cameras focus on each of the tributes, lingering on District 1 and 2, but us as well. I think people are surprised at the elegance of our costumes. District 11 usually sports farmer's outfits. Not a big fan with the fashionistas of the Capitol.
The anthem plays and we ride around the circle again, before entering into the Training Center. My prep team runs up to me, congratulating us on our performance. "Admirable!" Shouted a girl on Alix's prep team. I think I heard someone call her Ambrosius.
Romulus steps up to me, and whispers in my ear: "See, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" I smile.
Suddenly, there is a crashing noise. All the tributes turn around, and there, sprawled on the ground next to a tipped over chariot, is Briar. Some of the other tributes laugh and point at us. Just what I wanted, for my stupid mentor to make me a laughingstock. Briar looks up.
"So, the little weirdoes managed to get themselves noticed, have they?"