This is the first part of my Hunger Game AU. I have a couple of ideas of how to extend it, so please let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: I neither own the Hunger Games not Marvel.
The Hunger Games - Amaryllis
Becoming an escort had never been Marciana's plan in life, but often things didn't quite work out how you planned it. Especially with parents such as hers - perfectionistic, controlling, overbearing. She often thought they used her as a toy in their own little power game, especially after the separation. Her mother, who constantly wanted her to improve her body, maybe get some modifications, and most of all, finally find a husband. Her father, so distant and almost uninterested, but pushing her towards a career in public administration and governmental work. A career that had finally led her to being part of the Games.
"Because you are not pretty enough and have to much brain to be a trophy wife," he had told her gruffly, "say thank you and accept the offer."
She didn't quite know what to make of this comment.
There was likely a very easy explanation: Her father was a sociopath who had lost what was left of any personal feelings when Maricana's perfect older brother had died. Or, as her mother always stressed, had been killed by "those in the districts". Which was likely not wrong, after all, he had been a peacekeeper. Officially though it had been an accident somewhere in 7 and not even her father had complained. So maybe there was something true about the accident.
In any case, she now had to assist as an underpaid babysitter during the next Games. Which was not so much of a problem, since watching them was mandatory anyways, and she could travel a bit, all expenses covered. The catch was the district she had been assigned - District 12. Probably because she was a newcomer and nobody wanted to deal with them anyway. Poor, often underfed and scrawny children, untrained and easy prey. Mostly hunted down by the career tributes during the first couple of days. Oh, and there was only one surviving victor who could mentor them. Who was a one-eyed drunk, and fairly useless. That's what the former escort had said when Marciana had called her up to make herself familiar with the situation.
Well, if she were to do this, she would do it right. It wasn't fair to simply sent the children in with no support, even if the odds were not in their favour. She needed a plan, and even more importantly, she needed a team. There was no way to get a hold of her victor beforehand - but she could use the stylists. The outfits could determine sponsors after all.
It took her a couple of days and a couple of favours, but it was possible to find out the names of the two stylists, both newcomers as well. They seemed to be rather unknown, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing - after all, the costumes couldn't be worse than the year before. They seemed to have a shared atelier somewhere in the city, but for now, Marciana decided simply to call. It only rang a couple of times before someone answered the phone.
"R&R Designs, how can I help you?" a soft, almost husky female voice asked.
"Am I talking to Reina Flowers?" Marciana wanted to know.
"Yes, you do!" the woman declared in the typical overdone Capitol inflection, "who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"
"Marciana Greyeagle," she answered, slipping into the same singsong, "how do you do? I assume we will be working together at the Games for District 12, and I figured we should speak about strategy."
She knew she was ratehr brash and to the point for Capitol standards and many didn't like it, but the woman seemed rather delighted at the introduction.
"Oh, lovely to hear from you Miss Greyeagle. Please let me put you on speaker so that my partner can hear you, too. As you probably know, he will be responsible for the female and I will be responsible for the male tribute. These are the directions we specialized in during our studies."
Marciana heard her call out in the back for her partner, who seemed to join her.
"Alright, now Rick is here as well. We already have some delightful ideas for costumes this year, depending on the tributes, of course. We might have to adapt, after all, the overall picture must look balanced. But of course none of these old fashioned uniforms and coal dust."
She could almost hear the stylist frown at the thought.
"Miss, we will be honest with you," the man now added, "you probably have not chosen District 12 since it does not offer many options for you and your professional progress. The two of us however asked for 12. We chose the challenge of the underdogs, so we hope you are supportive. It is in all our interest to run a good show and get the tributes as far as possible."
"Of course, I agree," she answered, a bit taken aback.
"Nick Fury might be a problem, of course," Miss Flowers added, "he is always drunk and hard to control, if the talk is correct. It will fall on you to keep him reigned in."
Marciana sighed.
"I know. I will try to find his angle, to make him care at least enough to make my work a little bit easier. I am new, sponsors don't know me yet. His words hold more weight. But if it doesn't work, we will have to run the show on our own. Do you have a prep-team assembled or do you want me to sort something out?"
"No, it is all settled, we have all areas of preparation covered," the man confirmed, "we have a team of three people available to come in. However, if you could get a confirmation on the budget for the costumes, that would be great. Especially since we might need to employ some extra help for a couple of days for the sewing."
"Can you tell me what you have planned?" the escort wanted to know.
She heard the two people chuckle.
"Oh no, darling. We will show you the sketches in good time. But you can sleep soundly, it will be fabulous!"
