Chapter Twenty-Six: Victor is born (pt1)
Maize stepped out into a deserted hall that only went in one direction. Her clothed feet moved quietly against the marble floor, aimlessly making her way down the hall until she comes to a big chamber at the end of the hall. She could see this world's version of the paparazzi in the room as well as her Mentors, escort, and stylists. She stops for a moment at the edge, none of them had spotted her yet. Chaff was charming a Capitolite with a camera while Seeder stood proudly at his side. Goldie was flittering around in excitement with Tesoro, Yurida, and Circo as they all puffed their chests with self-importance. Orion was having his hand shaken by an enthusiastically dressed woman (?), most likely congratulating him on his elegant designs.
The moment she gathers her nerves and steps out of the hall, the cameras will be on her and Maize will never go back to a time before becoming a Victor, to being just Maize. She will be forever marked by the Hunger Games spiritually as she is physically.
"Seeder!" she shouts, her voice taking on a tinge of hope and sheer gratitude just to be in the woman's presence, "Chaff!"
Well, there went her element of surprise.
Seeder's smile was wide and genuine on her lips when she turned to look at her and Maize found herself practically flying to get into the woman's arms. Her arms wrapped tightly around the woman, the older Victor returning the gesture with just as much force as the chamber exploded into noise. A genuine smile tugged onto the corners of Maize's lips, despite the nauseating artificial smells that the Capitol preferred, Seeder still smelled like home.
"I'm so proud of you, mtoto. Go now, Orion will take care of you." the woman murmurs softly into her ear, the sweet endearment for a child almost made Maize want to cry. Almost. Before long she is being led by Orion out of the chamber and onto the tribute elevator to the eleventh floor.
Her stylist crew is quick to lead her into the dining room where a small feast had been laid out. She picks gingerly at the lamb and hearty potatoes but does tearfully down the mango nutrition shake, before being led back into 'her' room by the prep team. Circo, Tesoro, and Yurida make small talk as they prep her for Orion and the event that is to follow. She learns that the medical team that had attended to her completed a procedure called the 'full body polish' and now there wasn't a single 'flaw' left on her skin. That included her back. The once raised scars from her whipping, just gone as if they had never marked her skin to begin with. She had lost some weight during her three days in the arena, but even then, she didn't look nearly as bad as she had when Maize first arrived in the Capitol.
The prep team was quick as they bathed her, worked on her hair, nails, and makeup. They didn't even have to get rid of any 'unwanted' body hair either, another thing done unwillingly to her unconscious body while she was down in medical. Yurida explained at her prompt that it was an advanced form of laser hair removal that would prevent any hair floccules from growing in the applied areas again. Maize was annoyed that she would never grow back leg or armpit hair again if she wanted to (but was eternally grateful that they had more-or-less left her bush alone). It was just simply yet another choice taken from her by the Capitol.
Orion walks in chirpily as the prep team finishes with a dress thrown over his shoulder. The dress was a beautiful pale sage color with lace around the bodice and sleeves that came below her shoulders. Pretty bead patterns in the form of flowers and greenery covered the bodice, while the skirt was flowy and modest coming down to her mid-calf. She wore some plain silver heels showing off her painted toenails, and her hair pulled into intricate little braids around her head like a headband was decorated with tiny flowers between strands. Her jewelry followed the same modest but beautiful pattern and her makeup wasn't over the top and simple compared to what she had worn during her interview.
The dress made her look and feel like she was Maize again. It did not reveal her skin or make her uncomfortable. It made her look like the teenager she was, rather than the 'sexy goddess' that had made the Capitol's eyes look upon her. She shoots Orion a grateful look and is given a knowing one in return, Orion had quickly realized despite her false smiles and platitudes that Maize preferred a simpler and more elegant look that revealed little to no skin rather than the more scandalous looks that the Capitol embraced.
She was once more led to the tribute elevator where she was reunited with her Mentors and an enthusiastic Goldie. "Oh, darling! You look radiant!" the escort had crowed when the trio had gotten their first look at her.
Seeder simply took Maize's hand in her own with a gentle smile while Chaff grinned widely as the elevator began to move. It was customary for the Victor of the Games to rise from beneath the stage with their support team. The prep team would exit the elevator first followed by Goldie and then Orion, her Mentors and then finally herself. Even before the elevator doors open, Maize could hear the raucous cheering of the crowds. Goldie and her prep team are already peacocking in importance as they allow wide pompous grins to paint across their faces, even Orion looks ready to bask in the 'glory' of the moment.
The anthem booms across the speakers before Caesar Flickerman starts to greet the impatient audience. The elevator doors open and the prep team steps out as they are introduced one-by-one, making the crowd break out into applause once more. Goldie is then introduced, to the woman's eternal joy, followed by Orion who is welcomed with booming cheers by the enraptured audience. Seeder gives her hand one more comforting squeeze before she and Chaff take the stage, the crowd goes wild for about five minutes as the Capitolites lavish their Victors with praise.
"Now our Victor for the 70th Hunger Games, Maize Galloshire!"
Words: 1,069
Edited February 20th, 2020