The time from then seemed to pass like a flash. She was whisked off of the train, thankfully this time there were no adoring fans to meet her, and she was sent into the remake centre.
There her prep team made quick work of preparing her, much quicker than they had been after the games. Although she supposed she was much healthier now than she had been. They waxed her all over, and they seemed to be even more thorough than they had been the first time she arrived.
Boa trimmed her nails and Blaire cut about a centimetre of split ends off her hair, before Vesta began to work on her make up.
Hebe did truly find herself liking her prep team. They were difficult to hate. Boa was full of amusing stories about the Capitol, ones that even Hebe with her hatred for that stuff could appreciate. Blaire was always overjoyed to see her, yes he was the most loud and garish of the trio but you could tell he did truly care. And Vesta, although she was a woman of few words, always smiled kindly at Hebe, and she remembered how she had reassured her the first time they'd put the waxing strips on her.
However sometimes she found the people of the Capitol difficult to like as well. Especially when the topic of the games came up. Hebe wondered how they could do the job they did, watching year after year as the tributes they tended to died, and not feel some kind of disgust at the games?
It was something she had learnt to ignore. It didn't do her any good to worry about her prep team's opinions on the games, especially when they were probably some of the most sympathetic you would find in the Capitol.
She couldn't imagine any of them paying for a victor's 'services'.
Hebe pushed that thought out of her head, and instead focused on the calming sway of Vesta's makeup brushes across her face.
Eventually they were done with her makeup for the performance and interview with Caesar, and she was sent down the hall for what felt like the thousandth time to see Tigris. For once the woman was there before her, her hair in its usual sleek ponytail. She wore a silky black dress with a lower neckline so you could see the patterns of her body modifications.
For some reason Tigris' feline attributes had never bothered Hebe in the same way the other ones she saw did. Perhaps it was because Tigris was such a clear embodiment of a tiger that they didn't feel like strange alterations, but instead visual enhancements of what she should look like. Maybe it was so natural that she should have the physicality of a tiger because she also had the spirit and name of one.
"Hebe, how are you dear?" She asked, stepping forward to remove the girls robe and examine the job the prep team had done. Once she was sure it was up to her standard she turned back around and began searching through the closets for Hebe's dress.
"I'm alright actually. Better than I thought I'd be."
"Oh?" Tigris said, sounding genuinely surprised, "Most tributes dread this part."
Hebe laughed bitterly, "Yeah, I mean can you blame them?"
"No I suppose not." Tigris replied.
It was silent for a moment before Tigris finally found what she was looking for and emerged from the closet.
In her hands were two dresses, one short and one long.
The longer one was eerily similar to the one Hebe had worn to the tribute parade, except in tones of blue and green. It had hundreds of scales linked together to form a lattice, almost like the scales of a fish. Hebe supposed that was almost certainly what she had been aiming for.
The other was more skin tight, and would probably go down to about her knees. It was quite unremarkable with its swathes of blue and green painted across it. Until Hebe noticed the back with the jagged fin running up the spine.
"This one," Tigris said, holding up the chainmail dress, "Is for your performance. The other is for the after party. Luckily for you the fins are retractable," She said, pulling a set of strings at the hem of the dress and making the ocean coloured fins move.
"You've outdone yourself this time," Hebe said quietly, reaching a hand forward to touch the dress of interlinking scales.
"Well, it is my final outfit for the games. I'm retiring, remember?" The woman said firmly, but she clearly appreciated the praise.
"You're definitely going out with a bang," Hebe smirked, looking up at the woman.
"Indeed," Tigris reflected the girl's expression with a smirk of her own, "Now, enough dawdling, it's time to get ready."
Hebe nodded firmly, and Tigris handed her a nude slip to put on under the dress. It was astonishing quite how perfectly it matched her skin tone. She supposed she'd never stop being amazed at Capitol technology.
Then Tigris helped her into the gown, carefully undoing and redoing each miniscule hook that held the thing together. Surprisingly, it extended up to her chin. She was about to comment on the sudden modesty, when she noticed her back felt entirely bare. She craned her neck around to take a look, and low and behold, the back of the gown had been entirely cut out, just like the dress from district 12.
She would normally be irritated, but at this point she was used to it. Snow was probably ramping up his advertising, especially since after tonight she'd be 'on the market' so to speak.
Hebe shivered involuntarily, but pushed the thought away, well aware that dwelling on such things wouldn't do her any good. The only thing she could do for now was focus on the present.
And in the present, Tigris was glueing a long fin to her back, just like the one on her other dress.
She then began to add the finishing touches to the look, adding drop pearl earrings and layers of bangles. Tigris smoothed down her hair one final time, making sure the gel her prep team had added had stuck, making Hebe look like she had just emerged from the ocean.
"There." She said, stepping back to admire her handiwork.
"No shoes?" Hebe said, looking incredulously down at her bare feet.
"For the performance, no. Sorry, one of the few design choices that was not my own." Tigris shot the girl a sardonic grin, one that was all sharp fangs.
Hebe sighed, but accepted it.
"Now, we must get going or your escort will begin to get impatient."
Hebe chuckled softly, stepping out into the hallway, and turning to see her escort stood in the corridor. Before she caught sight of her tribute she had been scowling harshly, but as she turned to the girl it melted into an awe-filled smile.
"Hebe!" She gasped, striding towards the girl, "Aren't you a picture!" Ambrosia smiled brightly, and Hebe almost thought she saw tears in the woman's eyes.
"Likewise."
She took in the woman's outfit, one that was similarly scaly, but in a way that reminded her much more of taxidermy than anything else. She had one of her typical puffy dresses on, the cinched in at the hips before splaying out like a cupcake. And on her feet were a pair of boots with the same blue lizard skin as the rest of her outfit. It was slightly disturbing to Hebe, but she was sure someone from the Capitol would find it to be beautiful. Well, maybe not Tigris.
"Now," The Capitolite started, placing a manicured hand on her shoulder and leading her down the corridor towards the TV studio, "You'll be interviewed by Caesar Flickerman, of course, and he will mostly ask you questions about how your life has been in 4, adjusting to your new life, etcetera, so just be as wonderful as you always are!"
Hebe had to hold in a laugh at that, but she continued listening to the woman prattle on as she was led through the maze of hallways, Tigris hanging back just behind them. She found Ambrosia to not be quite as skilled in briefings as Finnick and Mags were, but nevertheless she listened out for any information that could be useful to her.
However the woman spoke at such a pace that it was quite difficult to follow at points. So instead Hebe just focused on not tripping over her dress. Before she knew it, they were standing by the entrance to the stage, where she had stood with Finnick before her post-games interview.
"... And then it'll be time for your performance! Finnick has given them your instrument, so it'll be ready for you when you get up there, yes?"
"Yes. Great." She replied, nodding.
"Wonderful! Afterwards you'll be sent back to Tigris to change into your next outfit, and then it's off to the presidential palace!"
At the mention of the party, Ambrosia's voice increased by about an octave from her own excitement. Clearly it was something you didn't want to miss.
"Right then, you're on in just a moment, so I better get to my seat, I wouldn't want to miss the show." She said brightly, and Hebe smiled at her, thanking her escort quickly before the woman rushed away.
Tigris gave her one final nod before following quickly behind Ambrosia, leaving Hebe alone with the TV assistants.
Hebe took a deep breath in, steadying her shaking hands. Truth be told she wasn't as nervous about this interview as she had been the others, but it still didn't stop her palms from being slightly clammy.
Before she knew it, the sound of Caesar introducing her filtered into the room, and the assistants were all rushing around her, ushering her forwards and into the dazzling spotlight.
She smiled as brilliantly as she could, waving at the crowd as she walked calmly over to where Caesar was. The man stood to greet her, wrapping an arm around her waist and giving her a quick peck on the cheek like how the people of the Capitol greeted each other. He then motioned for her to sit down on the seat opposite her.
"Hello Hebe, it's wonderful to see you again. It feels like it's been so long!"
"It's wonderful to be back, Caesar!" She turned to the crowd, "I've missed you all so much." The crowd began shouting and screaming, all of them acting like she had said it to them personally.
"And we've missed you!" He leaned forward slightly, "Now tell us Hebe, what have you been up to since we last saw you?"
"Well, it's been a very busy few months, I can tell you that! I've been seeing my fellow victors a lot, and they've all been very kind and welcoming. I've also spent a lot of time with my family, making up for lost time I suppose…" She purposefully trailed off, making herself seem sympathetic.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Oh it's nothing Caesar," She responded quickly, waving him off in a way that secretly invited him to keep questioning her.
"No, please do tell us! Who wants her to tell us?" He shouted, and the crowd exploded into uproarious cheers.
"Well, I suppose if you insist. Before the games, we were rather poor, so I spent most of my time working shifts down at the docks so we could survive. But now, I have so much free time I barely know what to do with myself!"
"I know the feeling!"
"But it's truly a blessing. Thanks to the Capitol's continual generosity, I have been able to get to know my mother so much better already." She said sweetly, smiling almost wistfully.
"Isn't that just so sweet folks! Our victor, such a lovely girl."
"You're much too kind Caesar," She responded bashfully.
"Oh never my dear girl, never too kind. Now, I have heard that you've also been spending some of that time practising your talent?"
"I've spent much of my life practising my talent Caesar," She laughed.
"Would you care to tell us what it is?" He asked, and the whole Capitol leaned forwards in their seats.
"Hmm. I suppose I could. Or…" She shot Caesar a sly grin.
"Or?"
"I could show you all."
Caesar beamed like the cat that got the cream, "What do you think folks, should she show us?!"
The crowd began to shout their assent, and Hebe slowly stood from her seat, an assistant rushing on stage holding her violin and bow. She thanked them and took it, carrying it back to where Caesar stood, catching Finnick's eye on the way and grinning at the wink he shot her.
The crowd grew even more exhilarated as they realised what she was holding, and Caesar gasped along with them in delight.
"So this is the performance you've been hiding from us!"
Hebe laughed, "Yes, it is, I'm so sorry for keeping it a secret from you Caesar."
"You should be! But you can make it up to us, by giving us a wonderful performance!"
"It would be my honour."
"But, before you begin, I must ask, where did you get such a beautiful instrument?"
Hebe smiled, this time a genuine one, thinking back to her birthday, "It was a gift. From a good friend of mine."
"How lovely! Well, I won't keep you any longer. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present, Hebe Cross!"
Hebe walked to the edge of the stage, raising her violin and preparing herself to play, carefully placing her bow on the string and waited for the shouts of the crowd to die down. She noticed they had brought on a cello player to accompany her.
And once it was quiet enough, she nodded to her accompanist, and they began.
Finnick watched from the crowd as his victor walked on stage, smiling so brightly that she was like a beacon of light. Her acting was getting good.
Caesar gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek before they both sat down, and he began to get stuck into the interview. She answered each question well, carefully rerouting each one back to how kind and generous the Capitol had been to her, just like he had taught her.
Her voice was light and airy, as if she hadn't a care in the world, as if she wasn't here as the victor of a death match. Finnick struggled to take his eyes off her.
Her outfit certainly didn't help, the striking figure of the fin running down her spine, and the way the scales shimmered against her skin… She was definitely striking.
And as much as he could admire her beauty, it also filled him with dread. Because she had been dressed like this for a reason, so the people of the Capitol would see how desirable she was. So they would pay for her.
Finnick clenched his fist, trying to steel himself against the wave of anger that flooded him. He just wished she had taken him up on that offer. She should've let him take her place. But unfortunately, if Hebe was anything, she was stubborn and selfless.
He tore himself away from his anger, returning to watch the interview, just in time to watch her collect his gift, and to shoot her a quick wink.
He had tried not to resent the fact that he wouldn't be the first to hear her play. That he would have to share the experience with the entire nation. But, as he watched her stand at the front of the stage, preparing herself to begin, he figured it didn't matter. Because at least in this moment, she was happy.
He watched as she took a deep breath in, her eyelid fluttering shut for a moment, before her bow began to move across the string in quick, sharp movements. The same note repeated over and over, echoing across the auditorium as everyone watched her with baited breath.
Slowly it began to build, rising in pitch and volume as the movements became more and more frantic, until the tension broke, and the piece erupted. Her fingers danced across the strings as she let out a constant flurry of notes before each phrase came to a slow, and she moved her head to the side as she pulled her bow to the side until it had reached the point before she began again.
Finnick watched in awe as she played, astonished at how not a single note was out of place, not a single other string was caught as her bow flew across the strings. Even more impressive was the way she appeared to be hardly looking at where she put her fingers, instead her eyes flitted closed every few moments, before opening again and scanning the crowd
It appeared the people of the Capitol shared his amazement, watching as the girl completed the first movement, moving onto the second without missing a beat. This was more delicate and slow, but even Finnick, who had next to no musical talent, could tell it was still technically difficult.
And then, the softer and slower playing stopped, and she was back to a similar style she had started with, several series' of hurried notes, each one more long and convoluted than the one that came before it. Hebe began to move even more frantically than before and it appeared she was reaching the peak of her performance, releasing one final note with a deep breath outwards.
As she finished, she halted, standing entirely still, as the crowd took in a collective breath, and began clapping. And then they were shouting, whistling, screaming, and Finnick couldn't help but join them.
Hebe swung her violin down from her shoulder, holding it by the neck and taking a deep bow, smiling and laughing genuinely as they all applauded her performance.
Caesar stood from his seat and walked over to the girl, clapping as he went and wiping a tear from his eye.
"Wasn't that just wonderful!" He exclaimed, "Thank you so much for that my dear, and thank you for coming here today, victor of the 69th Hunger Games, Hebe Cross!"
The crowd erupted into cheering again, sounding like animals with how ravenously they chanted her name as she confidently walked off stage.
Finnick's eye followed her as she went, and as soon as she was off stage and out of his sight, he was on the move too, jumping out of his seat and making his way down the aisle to the backstage area, intent on following her.
Hebe was still grinning as she stood backstage, waiting for her escort, stylist, mentor, anyone to come and get her. One of the assistants had brought her her case, and she lovingly placed the instrument back on the plush velvet, wiping away any rosin that had stuck to the body.
She was not entirely sure if she was supposed to be waiting here, or if Ambrosia had arranged a rendezvous point and she hadn't been listening. She was just about to give up and go searching for the Capitolite, when a familiar head of bronze hair flashed in her peripheral vision and she whipped around to greet her friend.
"Finnick!" Hebe smiled, placing her case down on the chair beside her, and wrapping her arms around the boy. He grinned back at her, resting a hand on her back, before pulling away to look her in the eyes.
"You were- I mean- it was-" He stuttered, struggling to find words for once in his life.
"Did you enjoy it?" She asked him hopefully, her teeth tugging on her lower lip in worry. She had been too concentrated on not messing up to look for his reaction during the performance. She really hoped he enjoyed it, although she wasn't quite sure why she was so desperate for his approval all of a sudden.
"It was incredible." He responded breathlessly, "I've never seen someone play like that."
Hebe broke out into a bright smile, one of her rare ones where she was purely happy. He returned it with equal vigour and they both stood for a moment, grinning at one another until their cheeks hurt.
"Hebe!" A shrill voice cried out, and Hebe's smile morphed into a more polite one as she turned to look at Ambrosia, the blue lizard, "That was incredible darling! Such beautiful playing!" She exclaimed, holding her arms out and wrapping the girl in a hug so tight she couldn't breathe for a moment.
"I hate to cut the celebrations short, but I'll be needing my model." Tigris said, having suddenly appeared from nowhere, her teeth bared in that grin she often wore.
"Yes, yes of course, we will need to be off to the palace soon!" Ambrosia said quickly, letting go of the girl and allowing her to breathe again. Clearly she was rather overexcited from the night's events.
Hebe allowed Tigris to lead her through the crowds of people, shooting one last look over her shoulder at her mentor, who returned it gladly.
Eventually they managed to navigate their way out of the throngs of people, and they were left in silence as they traversed that grey concrete labyrinth. Hebe tried not to think about how it reminded her of the games.
She sat on the slab in the changing room whilst Tigris removed the accessories from her body. The woman held a bottle of solution in her hand that she applied onto her hair, and it seemed to lift the gel from its position, allowing her stylist to rake a brush through it over and over, twisting strands of hair this way and that, until she was left with almost perfectly formed curls.
"Your playing was very impressive. Where did you learn?" She asked with quiet curiosity. With anyone else from the Capitol, Hebe would've brushed the question off, changing the subject quickly, but she had found that Tigris was more like someone from the districts than a Capitolite.
"My father. He played viola and violin. He taught me." Hebe replied quietly, thinking back to the lessons she had had with the man as a child. He'd always said one day she'd be a better player than him, but she doubted that. He was truly incredible.
"That song you played," Tigris hesitated slightly, "It's not from District 4, is it?"
Hebe furrowed her eyebrows. She had never thought about it before. But now that she did, she realised that no, it couldn't be from District 4. They had a very particular musical style. The piece she played, the piece her father had taught her, seemed much older. He'd always said it was something he himself was taught a long time ago by his mother.
"No. I've never really thought about it before."
"Hm. No matter, it just reminded me of something." She said, and Hebe didn't question the woman further on the matter, instead standing up and letting her remove the dress.
She was unhooking the scales from each other when Hebe realised there was something she needed to ask her.
"Tigris?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you retiring?"
"What?" The woman said, stopping her work for a moment before collecting herself and continuing.
"I mean, you seem to love your job. I just can't imagine you giving it up so soon."
She laughed harshly, "I'm much older than I look dear."
"My point still stands. You seem spry enough to me."
"Capitol medicine will do that to you…" Tigris trailed off before continuing, "You'll understand why I'm leaving one day, Hebe."
"Really?"
"Unfortunately, I believe so."
Hebe yet again didn't press her any further, knowing she wasn't going to get anything but more cryptic answers.
Eventually Tigris was finished with the dress, placing it back in its bag and retrieving the next one, handing it to the girl to try on.
She instructed Hebe to leave the nude slip underneath, because the fabric of the dress was quite see through. It clung to her skin as she wriggled into the dress, almost like the fabric was wet. Eventually she managed to pull it over her body, and Tigris got to work making her usual adjustments, pulling at the fabric so she was happy with the way it sat, and adding the necessary accessories.
She pulled her necklaces out of a drawer, and Hebe felt herself relax. She'd been anxious ever since her prep team had taken them off her. One was holding her fathers wedding band and the other with Luca's arrowhead. Hebe had gone to a jeweller in 4 to get a new chain for Luca's, the cord one she had had had been worn down from the rough and tumble of the arena.
After the games she had tried to give it back to his parents, she had pleaded with them, saying that this was the final reminder they were going to get of their son and that they ought to have it. They had refused, insisting she needed it more, and as she held a thumb over the metal she knew that was probably true.
"Put these on and you'll be ready to go." Tigris said, handing her a pair of heels that they both knew Hebe would hate. Nevertheless she slipped her feet into the shoes, taking a few unsteady steps before she grew comfortable in them.
Her stylist walked her to the door where she was certain Ambrosia or her mentor would be standing waiting for her on the other side. Hebe took a deep breath in and grabbed Tigris' hands, both of them slightly fuzzy from the artificial fur.
"Thank you. For everything you've done for me. I really do appreciate it. And I don't believe I would be standing here without you."
Tigris smiled at her warmly, genuine affection in her eyes.
"I said it when we first met, your elegance has made my job an easy one."
"Still, thank you." She responded, nodding at the woman and reaching for the doorknob, going to push it open.
"Oh, Hebe?"
"Yes?"
"Good luck."
At that moment, Hebe was certain Tigris knew something. She knew something about her situation. She knew something about that situation. And she related in some way. She could see the sadness in her eyes as she spoke those words, as if she knew that all the luck in the world couldn't save her. And Hebe knew it too.
"You too."