Heaven Weiss, 33

Hunger Games Announcer

Heaven was nearly bouncing in her seat as the last of the cameramen checked their cameras. The chariot parade was one of her favorite parts of the Hunger Games. Seeing the creativity of the stylists and getting a first glimpse of the tributes and their personalities was always amazing.

The last cameraman gave her a thumbs up and Heaven took a deep breath as the lights outside came to life. The cheering began, and Heaven turned to her monitor to get the best look at District 1.

"Welcome everyone!" she cheered. "Tonight is the night we've all been waiting for; the chariot parade! Aren't you all just over the moon? Now, let's see District 1!"

"Helios is wearing fluffy white robes and a silver circlet. Faint mist and golden light is coming from somewhere within the chariot, giving him an ethereal look. He is waving, but his face is blank. I wonder what's bothering him?"

"Regina is wearing a beautiful, feathery white dress with open shoulders and long white gloves. A golden halo hovers above her head. She is blowing kisses and throwing white roses. I wish I was down there so I could catch one!"

"For District 2, Blitz is dressed in a blood-red tunic and is wearing a long, billowing black cloak. A crown of silver thorns rests on his head, and oh my, does he look handsome. And so stoic! The news came out on reaping day that Blitz is actually a triplet, and his brothers are here too! Wyler of 3 and Yale of 12 were born alongside Blitz in District 7, but he's here for some District 2 pride!"

"Mozu is dressed in a flowing gray dress with flowing sleeves and a low neckline. The hems are embroidered with black runes. A black cord is tied around her waist, and her hair is tied up in one large braid with smaller braids on the sides of her head. A low-hanging black necklace with a red gem hangs around her neck. Those colors suit her dark brown hair and complexion perfectly. Props to her stylist!"

"District 3 is always hit or miss, and it looks like this year is a hit! Wyler is wearing a soft black suit that has glowing green wires beneath the fabric. It pulses in beautiful patterns, and he looks nothing but confident! Such a handsome boy."

"And Lana is wearing a long-sleeved flowy white dress with a yellow glow coming from the skirt and yellow glowing wires down the arms. Unfortunately, she looks quite nervous. Come on Lana, smile! You look amazing, girly!"

"Sam is dressed in a dark blue bodysuit and is wearing a massive cape made of gray-blue scales. His face is painted as if he has faded scales, and his eyes are lined with silver eyeliner. Incredible! Rumor has it he has a fursona. Will he bring back the furry trend?"

"Adelind is dressed in a sleek bodysuit with silver scales. Her brown hair is braided and tangled with glowing seaweed and silver ribbons. Her makeup is intense; colored silver and black. And remember folks, Adelind uses she/they pronouns! Let's turn it up and show them we respect that!"

"Dieter's clothes are dark, like a midnight sky. His dress shirt is a very dark indigo, and he's wearing a formal black vest that sparkles like stars. Surprisingly, he's wearing boots with silver laces, and his hair has silver glitter in it. He looks solemn though. Does he not like his outfit? Personally, I love it!"

"And here comes Fritz! Such a lively girl. She is wearing a tight, glittery dress with thin straps that is colored like an exploding star with greens, yellows, oranges, and blues. Her makeup is purple and gold, and her bright red hair is up in a high ponytail that hangs down all around her. Gold glitter decorates her face along with her freckles. What a beauty! And the crowd seems to think so too, judging by those cheers."

"Josko is wearing purple dress pants and a purple vest with a gray dress shirt. A white rose is pinned to his lapel and he has a gray conductor's hat. Such a dapper lad! And he's waving happily to the crowd."

"Ellie is wearing a fiery orange dress that looks wonderful against her dark skin. Her hair is in tight braids and she has golden makeup that matches the golden symbol of District 6 emblazoned on the front of her orange knee-length dress. She looks sassy and bold in that outfit, and she has a beaming smile on her face. Go Ellie!"

"Marcus is dressed in a deep green suit that shimmers when he moves. His hair is in a mohawk and pinecones are shaved into the sides of his head. Our sources say he was in prison for murder, so he'll certainly be a contender in the arena!"

"Lavinia, or Danse, as she prefers to be called, is looking fierce in a white suit swirled with brown. Oh! She's a birch tree. A crown of golden leaves sits in her messy blonde hair and she's glaring. What a firecracker!"

"District 8 is always interesting, and this year does not disappoint! Theo is dressed in a fashion-forward red plaid vest with spikes on the shoulders and black-and-white checkered pants. His boots are shiny and polished, his normally-curly brown hair is styled and spiky, and he's wearing black aviator glasses. He looks incredible!"

"Colette is wearing a lovely dress with a beaded bodice and tulle skirt. It's white at the neckline but slowly fades to pink and then red in a striking ombre. Her blonde curls fall over her shoulders and her makeup is pink and glossy. She looks mature and beautiful, and she's waving and grinning. Don't count her out folks!"

"Alrik is dressed in thick black robes with a golden amulet around his neck. His eyeliner is thick and a bit messy, but it suits his costume perfectly. He's holding a scythe and has a menacing look on his face. He's not going to get sponsors that way, is he?"

"Gaia looks lovely in a sleek pink toga-like dress. A golden crown decorated with red gems sits amongst her curly brown hair, and her feet are bare. She's holding a large pomegranate made of gems, and is waving and blowing kisses to the crowd. I'm not sure what their costumes have to do with grain, but they both look incredible!"

"Ray is dressed in brown pants and leather boots, with a heavy belt portraying the symbol of District 10. A cowboy hat hangs low over his eyes and a red bandana partially covers his face. He's wearing a cowhide vest over a cream-colored shirt. What a cute little cowboy!"

"Thalia is dressed similarly to Ray in the same boots, pants, and belt. But she lacks a vest and is instead wearing a turquoise bolo tie. Her short blonde hair, which her stylist must have cut, is in pigtails. She's also a cutie!"

"Noah stands tall in a padded green suit. The shoulder pads point out in spikes, as do his knees and his shoes. His face is painted with leaves, and he is staring threateningly out at the crowd. Word is he's a Peacekeeper's son and his mother is from District 2. Will he make it in with the Careers?"

"Fallon is wearing a puffy red dress decorated with large black polka dots. Her hair is in two buns on top of her head. She's a proper little ladybug! But she looks downright murderous. She'd be adorable if it weren't for that expression."

"Yale is dressed in bright yellow, with feathers on his arms, legs, shoulders, and head. A dark beak mask covers his face. After all, he is sick with tuberculosis. Hopefully no one else catches it! Be careful Saoirse!"

"Speaking of Saoirse, she is dressed in a slinky, off-the-shoulder black dress and her skin is powdered with coal dust. Her red hair is in a bun on top of her head, and is slightly spiky, apparently trying to represent fire. She's a beautiful girl, and this costume really highlights it."

"Well, that's all for tonight folks! I hope you enjoyed the parade as much as I did, and remember, we'll see more at the interviews. Have a good night!"

Hey everyone! Here is the chariot parade! I'm so excited to get to the actual Games that I've been really inspired to write. I hope you enjoy this chapter, even though it is a bit short (and maybe slightly repetitive).

Questions:

1) What do you think Alrik and Gaia's costumes were?

2) What do you think Noah's costume was?

3) What was your favorite costume overall?

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona