Adley POV
I can't believe where I am. It's scary how truly amazing the Capitol is. It is large and glamorous and terrifying, all at the same time. The second Dars and I step off of the train people with cameras and questions surround us. It seems that they are more interested in The Finnick Odair, than either of us. We arrive at the Tribute Center and go up to floor 4, where we are staying until The Games. My room is ginormous. District four is better off than a lot of the districts, but compared to the Capitol, we might as we'll be as bad off at district twelve. The room has its own bath and shower, a large window that overlooks a courtyard, and a bed fit for a king. I have to fight off the terrible urge to sink into the cushions and take a nap.
I walk out to the common room, where Max, Dars, and Theta, are all sitting.
"Hello, Adley!" Theta calls out all too cheerfully. "Good to see you, hope you enjoy your room! Max says we are going to discuss your tactics!" She says this as though it's the most interesting thing in the universe. It's not.
"Where's Finnick?" I ask. Max shifts in her chair a bit, and looks to Theta.
"Finnick's off meeting with a potential sponsor! Lovely! He's doing well for you two!"
"Alright," Max brought the attention back to tactics, "let's discuss training. Soon you'll be going into training with the rest of the tributes. Dars, I think you should go all out. Make them scared, and make the careers want to team up with you. Adley, you're small, use that. Go to all the stations, but don't let anyone see what you're good at. I don't even know if you're good at anything, that's Finnicks territory, but if you are possessing some insane capability, hide it. Act weak. Hopefully the careers will let you in if you stick with Dars"
"What if I don't want any allies" I ask her. Max just looks at me like I've asked the stupidest question ever.
"Then good luck." Max rolls her eyes and goes back to talking about strategy. Dars is gonna be this big strong and aggressive guy. In the interview he is gonna be strong, aggressive and protective. In my interview, I am going for scared. I need to act younger than I am, and weaker than I am, play up the sympathy card. Make the audience sad to see a little girl go into the arena.
"Tomorrow you'll meet with your stylists and prepare for the parade!" Theta calls out, "good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Finnicks POV
As the train approaches the Capitol I can feel my stomach sink. I used to be amazed with the beauty and the decadence of the Capitol, now it saddens me. When the train stops I hurry Adley and Dars off of the train and into the tribute center, more for my sake than either of theirs. I ignore the camera flashes, and push my way past the hordes of paparazzi, into the building. Max and I let the kids go explore the new place, we take a step outside.
I take out a pack of cigarettes and light one up, taking a long drag. Max eyes me, and raises an eyebrow, "Don't let them see you with that." I laugh and take another drag.
"We all have our vices, Max. At least I'm not a Morphling." We both laugh. Everybody is messed up after the games. No one is left standing, we all need a crutch of some kind. A lot of victors drink, shoot up Morphling, and every victor has known someone who couldn't take it. It's rare that a victor takes their own life, but it happens.
We just stand their for a while, letting our thoughts carry us away. We are interrupted by Theta, "Finnick!" She practically sings, "You've got mail! From the Capitol!" Max and I just look at each other, we know what's coming. I grab the envelope from Theta and storm into my room.
I rip open the envelope, it's what I thought it was. On the white piece of paper there are 3 numbers:
4:00pm
5:00pm
7:00pm
I check my watch, the first one is in fifteen minutes. No time to shower. Great. I quickly change my clothes and dab some cologne behind my ears. I rake my fingers through my hair and look in the mirror. Rugged. Dashing. Everything the Capitol wants me to be. Perfect. I roll my eyes at myself then walk to the commons. Theta and Max are there, waiting for the kids to come out. Max looks at me question in her eyes. I give her a subtle nod, then I grab my jacket and open the door.
"I'll be back late, don't wait up."
Adley POV
I have officially been plucked and groomed to perfection. Currently, I am standing in a tight, gold-colored, dress, it honestly seems more like a long shirt, and Felix, my stylist, is wrapping large amounts of golden netting around my body. When I look in the mirror I don't feel like myself. They've caked on makeup and colors and glued on eyelashes to the point where I can hardly recognize myself.
When he is done Theta walks me and Dars, who is similarly dressed, to the stables where we'd be beginning the Tribute Parade. I see so many people, people dressed in blues and greens and blacks. I blush when I see that the district seven tributes are wearing nothing but shawls made of green vines and leaves. I am so thankful that Felix put me I'm something a bit more modest.
The parade is boring. When the horses return the chariots back to the stables I have to massage my mouth to try and get feeling back into it. We'd been smiling for so long. Theta brought me and Dars back to the Tribute Center, where Max was waiting for us. I guess Finnick is still at meetings.
"Alright guys, good job on the parade. You both were very likeable, that will get you sponsors, so nice going. Right now it's best if you two go and get a good nights sleep, training will start tomorrow morning, and you might as well get a good nights sleep while you still can." Max turns and walks back to her room, leaving Dars and I alone.
"So, are you excited?" Dars asks me. Excited was definitely not the word I would use to describe myself.
"Not exactly." I reply.
"Oh, come one. Give me a hint." A hint?
"I have no idea what you're talking about"
"What's your poison? Finnick's still out there working on getting sponsors, he wouldn't do that if you were hopeless. So what is it? Hand to hand? Spears? Knives?" I don't know if I can trust Dars, he's my district partner, but still. I have to remember what Max told us. Only one person can walk out of that arena. I decide to act how I'm supposed to during training and the interview, afraid and weak.
"Look I don't know what he's doing. He knows that I won't be able to survive a day without help, I bet that's why he's getting sponsors." He looks at me skeptically so I force tears to well in my eyes to add to the hopelessness. I can see Dars judging me for crying, which is exactly what I want. He rolls his eyes and goes back to his room.
A/N Thank you to the people who have been reading this! I want to give a special thanks to the people who have followed and reviewed this story! I do my best to make sure my stories don't have any errors, fact wise or grammar wise, but everyone makes mistakes! So, if you see something missing or incorrect please let me know!