Chapter Thirty-Seven: Victory Tour (pt.3)
Maize felt a wave of deja vu engulf her. A plastic grin stretched across her cheeks as she waved at a raving Capitolite screaming her name at the platform of the train station. The other colorful residents of the Capitol on the platform writhed against one another, pushing each other out of the way to get a better view of the newest -victim- Victor. Six months ago, Cana had been panicking, feeling sick to his stomach really, about the crowds waiting for them outside of the train. She could hear his fervent claim -"It's not going to be okay."- ringing in the recesses of her mind.
Six months later and she was still agreeing with Cana.
She moved leisurely away from the window and to Seeder's side. Her mentor looked so unhappy. The older woman had become Maize's pillar of inner strength for months. She and Chaff had helped Maize rebuild herself from her experience in the arena. They were the only ones that could truly sympathize with her over the horrors of the Capitol. The only people in her District who had truly experienced the full-fledged "glory" of the Capitol -lived- and were still standing by her side today. Maize would not be here without them.
She'd had more than one late-night conversation with Seeder over the last six months over what to expect when they reached the Capitol at the end of the Victory Tour. The woman had looked completely hopeless -as if Maize were a sacrificial lamb- while explaining what would most likely happen when the grand party at President Snow's mansion started in the evening. Seeder and Chaff hadn't wanted anything to surprise Maize, especially not in front of the piercing eyes of the Capitolites that would be watching her every move.
Chaff had taken over explaining the ins-and-outs of the party. He gave detailed descriptions of the banquet hall and gardens that the party would be hosted in. Chaff described the sheer amount of attention that would be on Maize with horrifying clarity, even if a twinge of sympathy and pity were present in his tone, never downplaying what he'd gone through or seen other Victors experience. Maize would be pulled into countless dances by the most elite members of the Capitol, and Maize would have to dance with them. Lest she accidentally offends the wrong person. People would carelessly touch her, as if she were an object with no autonomy, with reverence and it would be in Maize's best interest to smile and pretend like their touch wouldn't make a curl of disgust pulse through her.
Maize had barely been able to hold off the scream of anger when Chaff had explained the purpose of a special drink called defaeco. The clear liquid would be in shot glasses at the end of all the banquet tables, their purpose was to purge, making the consumer vomit almost immediately, the food from one's stomach after they got full so that the partygoers could continue eating. Where people in the Districts were starving to death every day, the Capitolites would drink defaeco to eat more. It disgusted Maize to no end. Chaff had heavily sympathized with her anger -and saddness- which was one of the reasons why he'd told her about it before they would even arrive at the party. Apparently, Chaff had not taken it well at the party at all, one of his siblings had died from starvation when they were children. He'd made a scene, and the remainder of his family had paid for it with their lives.
Seeder. Seeder's conversation leaned more to what would eventually happen at some point of the festivity. President Snow would call for her presence in his private office and Maize would allow herself to be led inside. He would ask for her services, whatever it was that he wanted, and Maize would say yes. She would say yes. She would say yes. And her family would live.
Numb. Maize felt numb as she climbed down the steps of the train, one hand being braced by Chaff's before he offers his elbow like a gentleman. Seeder was at his other side, her arm around the stump in a natural way that spoke of the years that her mentors had played this game. Maize smiled demurely at the crowds, winking coquettishly once at the camera filming the event before ignoring the cameras altogether and following her stylist crew into the Remake Center.
Her stylists were quick to retouch all of the work they'd done over the last week. Applying creams to her skin after washing off the makeup caked to her face, before redoing the makeup in a more pale blue shade and her lips a soft glossy pink color. This time she was wearing pale blue tulle lace dress -something that she only knew because Circo and Tesoro had repeated the phrase a million times over the last half hour- that had a flower pattern with buttons going up from the waist up to the collar. A fancy anklet that looked like a vine with flowers in the same shade of the dress was perched around her left ankle, and a matching bracelet on her right hand. Yurida had done her hair in half braids so that while her hair was out of her face her curls still bounced around with every step she took.
Orion was more than pleased with the overall look as they were escorted to town cars to take them to the Training Center. After all, they didn't want anyone to catch a glimpse before Maize had her interview with Caesar. Seeder and Chaff were also looking fancy in their new outfits as they sat down in the expensive-looking vehicle. Seeder sent her a small smile, making some of the tension on Maize's shoulders dissipate. The car drove all the way into the Training Center, the driver expertly avoiding the crowds.
Goldie had quickly taken the lead as she led them through the familiar building and towards the stage area where Caesar Flickerman was eagerly waiting for their arrival. There was a small live audience that Maize could already hear tittering excitedly while the stylists and Orion took their seats in the crowds. Chaff and Seeder would get on stage first. Caesar would have a ten-minute interview with her mentors before she would be given her cue to go on. The Capitolite must have coordinated with Orion since his hair color was in the same shade as Maize's dress. Maize leaned against the wall in an almost peaceful manner as she watched Caeser finish up his interview with Seeder and Chaff.
A man wearing headsets approached her side and motioned for her to get on the stage as Seeder and Chaff exited, waving off cheers from the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, our Victor of the 70th Hunger Games, Maize Galloshire!"
Maize languidly made her way across the stage, her gaze firmly on Caesar as a small smile played on the corner of her lips. She only looked at the crowd once to send them a 'secretive' smile and wink before hugging Caesar in greeting and allowing herself to be led to the comfy couch and sit.
"Maize, darling, how are you?" Caesar grinned widely as he patted her hand in an excited manner, "I just need to tell you how much I loved your performance, my dear!"
She sent the man a demure grin as her cheeks colored, "Oh, thank you, Caesar! I was so nervous to share my talent with you all!"
The host chuckled good-naturedly, "No reason to be nervous with us, dear, right?" he turned to the crowd who cheered wildly, "Darling, I just can't believe that you picked up the guitar in six months. Did you hear that folks! Six months! It looks like we may have a prodigy on our hands!"
Her grin took on a more shy look as she peered up at Caeser from under her lashes, "Oh, I wouldn't say that. I still have a long way to go, but with practice, I hope to one day play as well as my teacher Leto."
"So modest! I love it!" Caeser gushed, making the crowd titter, "Leto must be very proud of you! Not to mention your family!" he emphasized, "Darling, tell us, how is your family? We all saw that adorable reunion you had with your brothers and sisters six months ago... I don't know about you-" he turned to the crowd, "but my heart just about melted when your brother jumped over the fence and threw his arms around you."
Cheers of agreement and "Aww's" filled the air as a short recap clip of the reunion played on a screen behind them. A genuine smile graced Maize's face.
"They are just wonderful! I missed them so much when I was away, I miss them even now! Though, I missed your wonderful company as well Caeser!" she teased with a wink.
The man threw his head back with a laugh as the audience copied his jovial mood, "So cheeky, my dear! And your cousin, darling? Sweet Amla, whom you volunteered for? We were all thrilled to learn she was expecting during her interview."
"Amla is well!" Maize bobbed her head happily as she pictured Amla in her mind, "I'm just hoping that I'll be by her side soon! She asked me to be her midwife. I'm so excited to become an Auntie!"
The crowd "Aww'd" predictably.
Caeser let out a chuckle, "I can only imagine! How does it feel like to be back at the Capitol my dear? Here where your status as a Victor was cemented?"
A -false- gentle smile pulled on the corner of her lips as she faced the audience, "I'm just so happy to be here with you all once again!"
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(I apologize for the long wait! I've been very busy with school, as I started college again this semester. I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter! Stay safe and have a Happy Holloween this Saturday!)