It didn't take long for us to arrive at the Capitol. I could already hear the screams outside, when I left my room I couldn't even see the cityscape with all those coloured heads screaming and taping on the window's glass. Ebony seemed a bit scared; I was surprised by such welcoming to the District Ten tributes. We were considered underdogs, Capitol citizens rarely liked us. I wonder what changed their mind this year.
As I approached the window, the screams became louder and louder. I waved at then the train stopped and the doors opened. Peacekeepers were at the exit, making room for us to be able to step outside and continue our way into the buildin, guided by our escort who wouldn't leave my side. I couldn't stop smiling at the crowd, everyone seemed so excited. And the feeling was weird, but I started getting excited too. I could feel the adrenaline running through my veins.
As we arrived at the building, I got separated from Ebony. A group of three - four weird guys approached me, the middle one seemed to be the "boss" of the group, whatever they were. He took a step front and told me his name, which I couldn't understand, and explained that he would be my stylist from now on. I almost forgot how looks were important at the Capitol, when I was going to ask him how the hell a stylist would help me to survive and kill people. Thankfully, I remembered that soon enough.
The rest of the team waved at me - two women and one guy - and I waved back. They didn't loose much time and told me to take a bath. I didn't know why, but I wondered, why not? And so I did.
You wouldn't believe how awesome Capitol showers were - they had like, hundreds of differents buttons that would make all kind of stuff you could ever imagine, even turning the water pink. I guess I lost to much time taking a bath - or pressing all the buttons - because when I came back, my preparation team was completely panicking about time.
And that was funny as hell.
They made me lie down in a table and started taking care of me. Man, I felt like a king. Waxing, taking care of my nails, etc. Things I would never think of doing back in Ten. I stretched back my arms and made my head lie on my hands. I was really starting to enjoy all this Capitol stuff.
After all the caring, I was left alone with the stylist-whose-name-I-did-not-understand. He started walking around, glancing at me sometimes, his eyes exploring every milimeter of my skin. He seemed to be talking alone, saying something about my tribute parade outfit, and then stopped walking to look at me. "I know exactly what to do to make all Sponsors fall for you", he told me with that evil grin on his face - which was starting to scare me, like, a lot.
"You can go to your room" he said. "I'll meet you at Ten's floor in half an hour."
I left that place as fast as I could.
That man was creepy as hell and the big horns he always wear on his shoulders made him even creepier. Shouldn't he already have my tribute parade outfit ready? I couldn't find Ebony anywhere at floor 10, she was probably already ready for the parade.
I took the extra time to rest for a little bit. He arrived exactly half an hour later, bringing with him what would be my tribute parade outfit - only... pants? If I couldn't call them that. It was like, the legs of a goat, hoof-like shoes and tail included. What. The. Fuck. Man. I would look like a goddamn satyr.
He made me wear the pants - even with me complaining, but man, he was scary as hell and I didn't want to anger him - and left my torso naked, plus this weird scarf thingy made by fur - which was not goat fur, by the way - and after combing my red hair backwards - he made me wear this caprine like horns. Really!? Man, how the hell was this going to get me sponsors.