A/N: Okay! I have chapter two for you! I'm going to try and do as much writing as I can but between preparing to move across the country and other obligations I don't know how much that might be. I am aware that this chapter is a little shorter than I'm used to writing but this was just how the flow seemed to go and I figured if I added in the training it would make the chapter too long. So next chapter will be the training! And I'm sorry that Blaine has made such little appearance so far in the story but he will definitely come into play more next chapter so no worries! Enjoy! I hope this is to your liking! And I promise that it will eventually go in its own direction. I'm aware it's still following the book pretty well but I have to do what I feel is best for the story. And it will be different of course because Kurt is falling for a Career. Maybe there will be some heroism. Oh, who knows? We'll all see how it comes out later yeah? Happy reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or The Hunger Games but both are the most awesomest things I've gotten involved with since Harry Potter!
We arrive at the Capitol the next morning, just as Emma has said. It really is magnificent. As much as I really hate the Capitol for making us go through this, I can't take my eyes off its glimmering exterior. Why, I wonder, did the Capitol look so deafeningly fabulous and yet back home in District 12, the world looks as poor as most of us are? Stupid Panem government! Stupid Capitol. This all I can think as, I take my position at the train window and proceed to wave and smile at the residents.
It takes all my acting skills not to cringe at the sight of these people. Dyed skin, odd colored hair, overly bright clothes, glitter, sparkles, and very heavy make-up. I wonder how they can possibly think any of this is good fashion.
I glance over at Santana who's having a tougher time smiling and waving. Being friendly is not her forte. But I know that she's thinking the same thing about their manner of dress.
All too soon, I find myself being shoved into a building. It's the remake center. The remake center, what a name I think.
Santana and I are shipped in too different directions. The next thing I know I'm being stripped by two women and a man. I'm not pleased at this sudden invasion of my personal privacy. But they don't even flinch when they lay their eyes on my pale skin.
Shoving me roughly in a bath the man, whose name is Will, starts scrubbing away at my skin with a rough sponge. I don't know what's on the sponge but it stings when it touches my skin. I can see the pale flesh begin to glimmer like polished porcelain under the places he's already scrubbed.
It seems like an eternity before the three of them pull me out of the bath and dress me in a thin robe. One of the women, named April is now primping away at my nails, making the cuticles nice and neat. The other woman, Shelby is layering my face and skin in oils and creams. For some reason, this does not bother me. I care about my skin.
The three of them are chatting between each other, excitedly placing the bets on what the arena will look like this year. Why they hell is this such a damn exciting event? I think about snapping at them but before I get the chance, a tall thin woman with long straight blonde hair enters the room. She looks the most normal, only decorated with a strip of gold eye shadow and a glint of glitter enhancing her lids.
"Hello Kurt," she says kindly. My prep-team, step back in within seconds they've chattered their ways out of the room. "I'm Holly, your stylist."
I decide I like her right away. She smiles softly at me. "Hello," I reply with a nod of my head.
She unzips the canvas bag that she has been carrying. Inside is what appears to be a skintight leather jumpsuit that is the color of burned coal. A closer look tells me that it is actually part gray and part black. The color runs gray from the bottom and slowly blends itself into black as it reaches the top.
I stand there and look at it for several moments, rather surprised. Usually, the District 12 tributes are always dressed as miners because we're the mining district. "Are you new?" I wonder aloud.
She smiles softly and nods her head. "I specifically asked for District 12," she says. "Now, let's get you into this."
I slip the robe back off and she helps me into the suit. It fits snuggly, obviously enhancing my tall slim frame. You can make out every aspect of my figure, as it's evenly defined. I'm well aware that my most prominent features are my hips and my ass. Well, that should provide something to be desired.
"Yes," she says, smiling softly as she finishes zipping me into the suit. "You'll be eye candy in this. Women will line up to be your sponsor if only to see your figure so defined again." I blush and she laughs.
"Um…am I meant to look sexually appealing?" I ask. She smiles.
"If you get the eyes of the other tributes on you, glaring or not, it may give them something else to think about. If they remember your figure, it can likely distract them in the arena. They can falter with an attempt at murder and you can get the cut in clean," she says. I'm impressed. "Just ask Holly. I know how to teach about sex."
Well, she seems to know quite a bit about being sexy and stuff. The idea makes me blush again.
"Now," she says, winking at me. "Please close your eyes handsome." I'm probably beet red by now but I don't much care. She knows what she's doing so much more than the previous stylists for District 12.
The next thing I know, she's brushing a powder all over my face and glossing over it with oil, my guess is to make it shine. Or maybe it's supposed to represent lighter fluid.
She works quickly but carefully. "Okay, open your eyes," she says. I do as I'm told and find she has moved me so that I am standing in front of a mirror. I gasp.
My whole face is covered in a glossed over black power. It's like I am a human coal, halfway through burning. And I finally get the effect that she's going for.
"Astounding!" I manage to say. She laughs and has me sit down as she sets to work coifing my hair perfectly. Upon my head, she places what feels like a heavy iron crown. I can see that she is holding something in her hand. "What's that?" I ask her.
She smiles at me again. "This will put the finishing touch on the costume. But I'm not going to add the effect until just before your chariot joins the procession."
I am curious. I have no idea what she is planning on doing but I don't have time to ask questions. She's leading me out of the room and down the hall to an elevator. We meet with Santana and her stylist David Martinez there. She's dressed exactly as I am.
"I guess we're going to be burning coals or something," she says. I nod my head and the four of us enter the elevator.
We ride down in silence and when the doors open, I see that the other tributes and stylists, mentors and escorts are already gathered there. We are the last to arrive. Sue and Emma are waiting for us.
"Well done Holly Hobby," Sue says, staring at me. She looks like she's attempting a smile but it comes as more of a sneer. "Listen up porcelain and tweedle fake boobs," she says. Santana scowls. "Wave, smile, look pretty, act in love for all I care, whatever makes you appear happy and desirable." Then she walks off.
"What the hell?" Santana scoffs. I shrug. "Come on Hummel, we better get this shit over with," she says.
We are lead by Emma, Holly, and David over to our chariot where we climb aboard. I take the time to look around the room.
My eyes immediately fall on that curly-haired boy from District 2. He and his partner are in all black but that's all I can tell. District 2 is Masonry. I don't have much time to stare at this gorgeous boy – something that I try not to remind myself of, as he's a tribute and way out of my league – for there's a smirky man leaning over the side of the chariot. His face looks like that of a meercat. Holly catches me looking as she's fixing the iron crown on my head.
"That's Sebastian Smythe," she says with a tone of disgust. "He's a sleaze and male tribute stylist of District 2." Her eyes find the curly-haired boy. "He's a looker, isn't he?" she asks me, a knowing smile on her face.
I don't even think to try and lead her off what I'm thinking. "Who is he?" I ask.
"His name is Blaine Anderson. He's nothing at all like your typical Career," she replies. I look at her, wondering what she could mean and she seems sort of sad. "Rumor is that he wouldn't hurt a fly. But maybe that's just a cover-up. Obviously, Sebastian's into him," she says. "It's forbidden to have relationships with tributes but that man has never followed anyone's rules but his own." I can hear the disapproval in her voice.
I want to ask more about Blaine but just than, the doors open and I can see the people cheering and waiting for the long ride of the chariots down to the circle in from of the Training Center, where we tributes will be staying until we are sent into the arena.
The chariot procession is done by district. Which means that District 1 is the first out of the doors. I can see that the tall boy and the blonde girl are decked out in costumes laden with jewels. Figures, it is the luxury district.
They are followed of course by District 2. I can sort of see Blaine. He's waving enthusiastically. The girl by his side must be about half his height. She's a tiny thing. I felt sort of sorry for her.
I was trying not to pay much attention to the other tributes. I'll probably learn more about them during the next few days or whatever. But these kids are out to kill me and I'm meant to kill them. I know there's not much point on really becoming friendly. Unless I'm meant to strive for allies, but who wants to ally with District 12? It's likely we'll be out on day one. Usually are.
So when I am distracted again by the tributes of District 4, I am surprised to find that the boy from District 4 seems to be in a wheelchair. What the hell is the government thinking allowing a handicapped kid to actually partake in the games? I barely notice how little the District 4 tributes are dressed. The idea of a kid who can't even walking being forced into this makes me sick to my stomach.
I tear my eyes away and stare firmly ahead, not altering my expression until I find that District 10 has just pulled out and District 11 is next. I just barely make out the dark skinned girl who volunteered to take her sister's place and a tall boy with a Mohawk. It looks like a rat on his head or something.
And then Holly's at my side. "Remember, smile and wave. You want to make a lasting impression," she says to us both. And then she's pressing the button on the thing I'd seen in her hands.
Sudden warmth surrounds my head and I realize that a flame has erupted from the iron crown. District 11 pulls away from us and then I feel our chariot start on its way.
The moment we pass through the doors, Santana and I waving and smiling though I have never felt less like acting happy, all eyes are on us. I can hear the cheers and applause rise from the stands. Out of the corner of my eye, I can make out my own face on the screen. Sure enough, there is a fiery blaze atop my head. Santana and I are a spectacle if there ever was one. It's a first.
District 12 has made its mark for the first time.
Our chariot pulls to a stop in front of where President Figgins sits. He stands and clears his throat, glancing fervently at Santana and I. Clearly he is just as impressed.
"Welcome tributes to the 74th annual Hunger Games! Let's give all our tributes a round of applause!" he says. After giving the moment for the applause and cheers, he goes into the same speech he makes every year. I tune him out. I find his strong accent is even more annoying in person than it is on the TV. "Good luck tributes and may the odds be ever in your favor," he finishes.
And then it's over. We are being pulled on into another hall and out of sight of the spectators. The flames on our iron crowns go out and we find Holly, David, Sue, and Emma rushing over to us. Holly, David, and Emma are all smiling broadly. Sue looks pleased but doesn't smile.
"Good job porcelain and razor head," she says. "You were the highlight of the show. That's a step in the right direction. Keep it up and we may be getting a good deal of sponsors for you yet," she says and walks off. For a mentor, she wasn't really mentoring.
Emma, Holly, and David shepherd us into the glass elevators of the tower. We ride all the way up to the penthouse at the top. Each district has its own floor. Because we're twelve, we get the very top.
As soon as we step off the elevator my eyes widen. The whole apartment is luxuriously decorated, just as the train had been. There is a boy standing beside the dining table. He looks somewhat familiar to me.
Dinner has been laid out and Holly and David show us to our rooms, with Holly following me in to help me out of the costume.
Soon, we are all seated at the table. Sue has seemingly come out of nowhere to join us. I don't remember seeing her even get into one of the elevators. But I hardly care right then. I have just realized how famished I actually am.
I eat quickly but as politely as possible. It doesn't seem to please Emma. She's staring at me with her big eyes wide in surprise. I blush and knock over a bowl of gravy with my hand.
The boy that was standing at the table goes to pick it up and clean the mess. "Oh," I say. "Thanks but that's really not necessary." He stares at me with a slight fear. It is Emma that replies.
"He's an Avox Kurt," she says. I look at her, confused. "He can't speak. The Capitol has cut out his tongue," she goes on. I stare at her in horror and Santana looks as though she finds this to be very interesting. "Let him clean it. It's his job."
Before I can ask about what that means, Sue snipes in. "He's broken the law so he's being punished. He'll be this way for the rest of eternity porcelain," she says, inspecting the piece of chicken on her fork. "Now, tomorrow you begin your three day training regimen. Do not let the other tributes know right off the back what you're capable of. Save that for the afternoon of the third day, during your private session with the Gamemakers." I look at her for a moment.
Sue sets the piece of chicken down, takes a swig from that unfamiliar stuff she's been carrying around and stands. "I mean it porcelain. You don't want your enemies to know what you can do until you're in the arena. That way, you'll have an advantage as to them not knowing what to expect from you." She walks out of the dining room.
I look over at Santana, who shrugs. "I don't want those punks knowing me anyway," she says, pushing her plate away and sweeping from the room herself.
I stare at my own plate for a good long time, thinking hard about what Sue had said. She had a point. If they didn't know what you could do, they couldn't really guard against it. The question was though, could I really find the heart to off these guys with an arrow? I don't really think I can.
Especially not Blaine Anderson from District 2. I don't admit aloud, but I'm feeling like I'm already falling for this boy and that scares me. I've rarely seen him and haven't officially met him.
Damn you Blaine Anderson.
Not able to handle the thoughts swirling around in my head anymore, I stand up from the table. "I'm going to bed," I say and turn and walk out of the room.
In my room I don't bother to change into pajamas. I merely slip beneath the sheets in my clothes and stare up at the ceiling. Well, this was certainly going to be a very long Hunger Games.
May the odds be ever in my favor. Yeah, I need all the help I can get.
Bring on the sponsors.
A/N: So there we have it! Reviews make me smile guys! What did you think? What did you think of Holly's costume idea? Good? Bad? Let me know! Also, would you like to see some of the chapters written from Blaine's POV? That way we'll get more Blaine when he and Kurt aren't together. Or I can like do the switch perspective thing so we get both perspectives in each chapter. My point is that this is supposed to be a Klaine story and I realize if the whole thing is from Kurt's perspective, there will be very little Blaine at some points as even falling in love, they won't always be together, especially in the arena. So let me know which you think works best and I'll do my best to do that for you! Anyway, if you review, at least five, maybe I'll be able to get the training chapter up faster. At this point, I don't know when it or any of my other stories will be updated next due to my hectic life. But if I get at least five reviews for this story after this chapter, I promise I'll give you another chapter to play with! Happy reading! May the odds be ever in your favor!