Thank to Audmirable, ladyqueerfoot, dyloccupy, CrocodileReader431, Dani H. Danvers, amadeussss9 livinginadream0, Cori Anna, & Very New To This for the reviews!
Sorry for the delay! I completely forgot to mention in last chapter's A/N that I'm on vacation this week so updates would be a little slower. But I'm excited that we're in the Capitol! The Games will be here before we know it! I'm not super proud of this chapter but things will come more alive once we're in Training. I expect those chapters to be longer too.
Enjoy!
Chapter X The Chariot Parade
Parade Prep Hanger
Over the decades, the Capitol had forced hundreds of teenagers into costumes and designer looks for the Tribute Parade, the official start of the Hunger Games in the minds of the Capitol and a way to properly present all Tributes to Panem at large.
For the Tributes of the 59th Hunger Games, every one of them felt they had the dubious honor of being forced into some of the worst outfits every presented at a parade.
"This is awful!" Diesel screamed, flailing in his costume and furious. "What is this!?"
Dallis, also unhappy, bitterly informed him. "We're suppose to be sticks of gum."
Diesel blinked, face a mask of confusion before morphing to outrage. "What the hell is gum?!" He screamed.
Apparently, the theme of the year was "candies and desserts" which meant a range of bizarre things. For District 6, that meant their stylists had dunked some tire prints into pink paint and bam, called it gum. Diesel, having calmed down, approached a Peacekeeper and tugged on his sleeve. "Hey! Sorry to bother but, um, would you happen to know who I can complain to about my stylist? Because I'm pretty sure she has money against District 6 winning since she made me and my partner look stupid as shit!"
Dallis didn't care that much about the look. She was rushing them out of the dressing rooms, literally dragging Diesel by the wrist and into the hangar where twelve horse drawn golden chariots awaited the Tributes for presentation to the Capitol.
"What the hell is the rush?" Diesel demanded. "Do you want all of Panem laughing at us sooner?"
"I want to be first in and meet everyone!"
"Yeah, we'll be milling around for a bit. There's time."
"No, I want to be the first person they all talk to!"
"Why?"
Dallis rolled her eyes. "Because I want to get in their head! You know, make an impression!"
"Uh… did you somehow miss yourself in the mirror? You'll make an impression."
Dallis, again, ignored the sarcastic tone. "Just stay with me, ok!"
"Ok… but if a Career takes a swing at you, you're on your own."
"Is that how you'll play it in the arena?" Dallis asked, dead serious. Diesel was so flabbergasted by the question he said nothing as they posted up next to the hangar doors and awaited the other Tributes.
First in was District 1, a pair of beautiful eighteen year olds dressed like ice cream. Both of them wore tan skirts for a cone and were bare chested, though Elegance was allowed a strip of tan cloth to cover her breasts. Their stylist had put frost and white powder in their hair and let it drizzle down over their bodies. Pink bits of sprinkles were taped to their bodies too. It wasn't a bad look and both Tributes of 6 grumbled that of course District 1 got a nicer look.
Dallis, undeterred stepped forward, "Hello! I'm Dallis from 6! You must be Casanova and Elegance!"
Cas actually laughed at the sight and Elegance raised an eyebrow, impressed with the girl's boldness. "That we are!" Elegance replied politely.
"So nice to already have fans." Cas winked. He glanced between the two from 6, sizing them up. Dallis seemed to be the leader while the boy looked nervously at the two of them.
"Not necessarily fans, but admirers." Dallis continued. "After all, I bet we're looking at the leaders of the Pack this year!"
"Oh, who wants to lead? It gets so tedious." Cas replied easily.
"So you're just someone who follows orders?" Dallis poked.
"Until they're not fun anymore." Cas said, voice a bit tighter. "Are you trying to get under my skin, Dallis?"
"Is it working?"
"No."
"Then no."
Elegance cut things off quickly. "Pleasure to meet you, Dallis. Perhaps we'll catch up later."
"In the arena, perhaps?" Cas offered.
"Oh, I was thinking much sooner!" Dallis said with a smile as District 1 walked away.
Following 1 was 7, though they were far less chatty. Dallis run up to the two Tributes, dressed like cinnamon sticks – an obvious rush job from the District's usual look as trees – and introduced herself with enthusiasm. It was not returned. Both Fest and Wolf were as grim as could be and didn't seem to like each other. It didn't deter Dallis from pestering them.
"So…. You guys think you'll win?" Dallis asked them. "Big moves from for you volunteering, Werifesteria. What kind of name is that? What's the meaning of it? Is it for a family member? Friend? What?"
Fest eyed her and even Dallis took a moment to realize she was in danger. Fest strutted away directly to her chariot, not even glancing at District 1 nearby. Wolf just shook his head.
"You should be careful around her." He told Dallis.
"Why? What'd she do? Do you know how she got those scars? How'd you get your scars? Those look like bite marks!"
Wolf just grunted, seeing his advice wasn't being heeded, and took off, leaving behind an annoyed Dallis and anxious Diesel. "Could you not piss off the clearly insane girl from 7 who probably loves chopping up puppies or something in her free time?" Diesel asked her. How had it fallen to him to be the responsible one?!
"Do you think if we figure out her story we can make her snap and start whacking people in the Bloodbath?" Dallis asked.
Now it was Diesel's turn to groan in annoyance. Nobody could stop Dallis. Maybe she'd become Victor just by annoying all the Tributes so much they'd rather off themselves than deal with her. That'd be a novel way to win the Hunger Games.
District 8 was more willing to talk. Or at least Raveni was. Blakely curtly dismissed herself from the conversation, but at least didn't seem as threatening as Fest. "Well, I'm part of the Weave back in 8." Raveni explained to Dallis when she asked what his story was. District 8 were covered in macrons, which looked silly on the body but the stylists had formed them into fun looking crowns for the head. "We help with funeral arraignments in the District."
"I bet that means you cut open people and remove their organs and stuff?" Dallis asked.
"What? No!" Raveni objected, horrified.
"It's ok if you do, it'd help in the arena knowing your ways around knives!"
"She's kidding!" Diesel interjected. Raveni actually seemed like ally material. "Well, not really. She got kicked in the head as a kid. Poor girl. Doesn't know when to filter herself!"
Raveni chuckled. Dallis reminded him vaguely of his sister. Though she had more control than the girl from 6. "Well, I guess I'll see you later." He said, wandering off. Diesel groaned but Dallis was already onto the next. So far all her questions seemed to be designed to embarrass people, not gain anything beneficial.
'How the hell isn't she punched every single day?' Diesel thought.
District 4 walked out dressed like shots of limoncello, some sort of liquor for dessert. They had been fitted in plastic exteriors made to shimmer like glass, with liquid that sloshed around inside. Unfortunately for them, the color made it look like they were walking around with urine. Dallis was immediately on them bugging Maddie with dozens of questions.
"What happened on stage? Did you have, like, immediate regret knowing you'd probably die in the arena?"
Maddie was already panicking. "What, I… Shut up!" She demanded and stormed away. Nicola didn't bother to stick around either, eager to be on with it. He ran after and caught up to Maddie.
"You've got to be more in control than that." He told her. "If some girl from 6 can get to you then the other Careers will eat you alive."
"Maybe I don't want to be a Career." Maddie told him.
"Don't be dumb." Nicola said, exasperated by Maddie's moods.
More Tributes followed, all of them intercepted by Dallis. Most didn't engage, off put by her attitude and quietly went to their chariots. Steph and Teagan went together, dress like cookies and feeling ridiculous. "We should have talked with them." Seph said, barely able to move in the circular shaped costume.
Teagan shrugged, trying to adjust the outfit. They could probably just roll in them rather than walk. "Later." She deferred.
"But… Olivia said we should make friends."
"I know what-t-t she said." Teagan replied. Her partner worshiped Olivia and, while Olivia had been nice to her, Teagan didn't feel the same. The crueler part of Teagan, a part she didn't know existed, whispered and doubted Olivia all together. Who was she to talk about the importance of allies? Thus, District 5 waited in their chariots, Seph too nervous to try and talk to others by himself and Teagan too stubborn and downcast.
The last of the Careers to arrive were District 2. They entered together but stood a fair distance apart. Dallis, who had been interrogating the very willing to speak Darley, broke away from him as 2 entered, leaving Darley dejected.
"Hey! So you two are the leaders of the Pack this year, huh?" Dallis asked.
Amaya raised her eyebrows, thrown by the bravery of the girl from 6. Pietyr, meanwhile, was insulted. "Back off." He commanded, pumping his chest out – though it was difficult to sound tough when you were dressed like s'mores.
Dallis wasn't fazed. "Or what? You'll kill me right here?" She asked, voice high and unfazed. "Sooooo…. Who's going to answer my question. You guys are the leaders, right? Because let me tell you, District 1 was talking up a storm about how they're leading the Pack this year."
"Did they?" Amaya said, voice calmer. "Seems pretty presumptuous of them."
"Totally. Isn't that right, Diesel?"
Eyes turned to Diesel, who chuckled nervously. Dallis might have a death wish and could act confident all day, but Amaya's eyes reminded him of a animal documentary he'd seen about a hawk eyeing up a mouse. And Pietyr – uncomfortably – reminded him of his late, abusive father.
"Um… sure. But, I'm sure they weren't being rude. You guys, you know, look tough."
Dallis' eyes narrowed. Was that the best he could do? "Thanks for the warning." Amaya said. "Guess we need to go check for ourselves, hmm?"
Things were tense as the Careers all met for the first time. Over the years it had been determined that the first impressions mattered and set the tone for the year – and the Packs success.
Unfortunately for the non-Careers, it appeared they were all hitting it off well.
"Cas, I just loved your outfit." Amaya began. "And the tattoos are a delight. Don't you think, Pieter?" The bigger boy grunted. He didn't like all the costumes the Capitol was forcing them to wear. It made him feel like a girl all powdered up. Or like a whore. "He's a man of few words, which is fine since he makes up for his lack of graces with his sword work."
"Oh, which sword, I wonder?" Cas said cheekily with a wink. Amaya burst out laughing while the innuendo seemed to go over Pietyr's head.
"And my partner is crass as can be." Elegance said, extending a hand. Introductions were made all around, each of them sizing the other up. Everyone seemed confident and respectable, even Maddie though her performance at the Reapings was remarked upon.
"So, what can you do?" Elegance asked.
"I'm good with a bow and arrow." Maddie told them. Pieter rolled his eyes, unsurprised she'd pick a coward's weapon. The others were satisfied with the answer though.
"Well hopefully you're better with it than walking on stage." Cas told her.
"She's the best in the Academy with a bow." Nicola said in support. Maddie gave him an appreciative look. It wasn't a lie, her marksmanship was excellent, truly the best in the Academy. It was just the rest of the skills she wasn't the best with.
"Doesn't your family like own a bunch of cruise lines?" Cas asked. "My father owned a bunch of vineyards and he told me that before the Dark Days the Capitol loved going on cruises. His businesses filled the storerooms of those ships."
A moment of recognition hit Maddie. "Oh, your father was with the Rothschild family!" She said. "My grandparents spoke about him. They apparently knew him." She said. Before the Dark Days travel between the District was allowed a little more freely. "How is he?"
"Dead, sadly." Cas said. Realizing it was too blunt, he fell back into his persona. "But probably still running the vineyards in heaven or wherever the dead go. I guess a bunch of these Tributes are going to find out soon, huh?"
"They can count on it." Pietyr confirmed. "Can't believe we have to wait four days just to get to the arena."
"Well we can all be friends by end it." Cas remarked sweetly.
"Are you serious?"
Cas raised an eyebrow, leaning over to Amaya and whispering. "He's pretty literal, huh?" Amaya laughed at that, sensing they'd be good friends.
Nearby, Web shook his head. "The Pack's bond appears to be quite strong already." He commented.
Hypatia didn't reply but thought that was a bit early of an assessment, adjusting uncomfortably in her gummy bear outfit. Web, concerned, continued. "I fear that if we do not reach an amicable partnership, we will be targeted by the Careers."
"You… you want to ally?"
"Yes." Web confirmed, sticking out his hand. "Partners?"
Hypatia looked at the hand and then back to Web. "I… I don't know." She told him. "I think I need to see what you can do first."
"I can make robots." He told her.
"Ok… do you know if the arena will have electronics?" She asked him, trying to sound polite. She knew she hadn't pulled it off. It was hard to be polite when someone's plan was to build a robot army, something no arena ever had supplies for.
"It's an idea." Web said, sitting down in the chariot. At least he had ideas. Hypatia seemed content to be miserable. Well, let her. Hopefully he'd find an ally elsewhere.
Meanwhile, because Ophelia refused to be tamed – and had almost gouged a stylist's eye out when they tried to shave her legs and further – it had taken District 12 the longest to arrive in the hanger, both of them dressed like pieces of cake with candles glued to their hair. Whatever bond Ash felt he and Ophelia might have shared at the dinner table had shattered come morning. She was back to her feral self and immediately zoomed off to the chariot upon entering. Ash sighed, resigned to go without Ophelia into the Games.
He looked around, taking in the sight. It appeared that almost everyone else was already present, but few were socializing. The Careers were together in front of District 1's chariot, looking like they had already bonded over the future terror they'd be inflicting. District 3 and 5 stood in their respective chariots not saying anything to the other. District 6 were shouting at each other in the chariot, the boy's arms flailing in what looked like despair while the girl seemed to be sassing him back. The girl from 7 was waiting in her chariot, absolutely still, while her her partner paced around, looking very unfriendly. Same with the girl from 8, who had her eyes on the Careers and other Tributes, a lion judging it's prey. Only Districts 9 and 10 seemed to be chatting.
They were as good a place to start as any. Before he could though, the door behind him opened and the final District, 11, popped through. Ash looked up, caught off guard by how tall the boy from 11 was. He glowered at everyone in the hanger before turning his eyes on the younger boy. Cowed, Ash backed out of his way.
"Sorry." He muttered and scurried off. Tilly, following up behind Calen, shook her head.
"You can't scare off all our potential allies." She chided him.
"I didn't do anything." Calen said.
"It's how you look."
"This is my face. How else am I supposed to look?"
"Don't be smart." Tilly warned, like she was talking to her younger siblings. They're styling had been awful but throw in Calen's obstinance and it grew to nightmare levels. Everything the stylists did he fought and complained about. Not that Tilly could blame him, she hated the whole process from being forced naked in front of a bunch of weird Capitolites, only to be poked and prodded and shaved and then forced into awful costumes. The whole thing was demeaning.
"Whatever." Calen replied. It was becoming his standard now. Tilly was beginning to remind him of some of his friends more annoying, overbearing parents. He hadn't liked being bossed around by his own parents, he certainly wasn't going to be lorded over by a fifteen year old!
They wandered over to their chariot, both of them amazed by the horses. They were beautiful animals and Tilly, with some nerves, pet one on the neck. It neighed softly, making her reel back, only to laugh from the experience.
"I think he likes you."
Tilly looked up, taking note of both Tributes from 10, dressed like chocolate bars. "I guess you both would know." Tilly said. "Do you guys have horses?"
Oscar nodded to his partner. "Sierra here does. My family doesn't."
"We just have two horses." Sierra said modestly.
"Well we have none." Calen remarked, not liking the lack of awareness from Sierra. Tilly jabbed him in the ribs, but Calen was unrepentant for his tone.
"I'm Tilly, and this is Calen. Please excuse his rudeness. He's like that with everyone apparently."
Introductions were made and small talk followed, mainly about how horrendous the prep process was. Tilly did most of the talking for District 11 before Calen walked away, waiting in his chariot. Tilly politely excused herself and joined him, upset with his attitude.
"We need allies, Calen." She reprimanded. "So you need to put on your best face and try, ok?"
"Don't talk to me like that."
"What?"
"I said don't talk to me like I'm a child." He told her. It took a minute but it eventually hit him how childish he did sound in that moment. Sighing, he tried to shake it off. "You're right. I'm sorry. Tomorrow I'll turn over a new leaf and all that and try harder, ok?"
Tilly nodded. She felt the pressure that Calen was under. And she didn't like how she sounded all the time. Like a nag, an obnoxious little girl playing at being an adult. She said none of that though. If you let down your guard, you'd lose all authority.
"Thank you." She merely replied, settling into the chariot next to him. They didn't speak any further than that.
Around the Tributes, Peacekeepers and Gamemakers were pacing, putting together the final preparations before the doors to the hanger opened and the chariots took off. Quite a few of them were noting that the Tributes of the 59th Hunger Games didn't seem too social with each other like the previous years. Darley, dressed ludicrously in a pie suit, felt the same.
Why weren't more people paying attention to him?!
Greta, meanwhile, was taking the lead. She had chatted a bit with District 10, tried to with 11 to no success, and the girl from 12 had actually snarled at her! The boy from 12 was nicer though, but a bit young. 'How am I going to find allies?' She thought. She considered going lower in the Districts, but the pair from 7 seemed frightening and 8 she wasn't sure about. And it pained her to think it, but the boy from 5 was too young to make much of a difference. Maybe 3? But what did she know about life in 3 that they could bond over?
"Who are you looking to ally with?" Greta asked Darley. She was bored and just wanted to talk to someone. Darley looked at her and shrugged.
"Oh… I don't know… I've just been out of it. I've been thinking about Clinton."
"Hmm." Greta managed. She had heard enough about Clinton on the train ride in. Darley told their Escort and Mentor – and even a few Peacekeepers – all about his tragic love. Due to be hanged in four days time. Greta felt sorry for him, at first. For being so sad and broken up about it, Darley certainly talked about it a lot.
"I just want to find a partner who's got my back, you know?" Darley continued, more talking to himself now than Greta. "Someone who won't betray me for months and then up and leave me without warning!"
Greta's head spun around. "I thought you said on the train you had suspicions for months?" She asked.
"I did! But I didn't think it was real! Just, you know, me being… well… I don't know!" Darley whined before turning away. Greta kept her eyes on him, suddenly doubting the authenticity of the story. Darley loved attention – something that Greta was unfortunately forced to deal with all the time – and there was certainly something off about people who loved it.
'Best stay away from him.' She thought, before a mechanized voice came on over the load speakers.
'TRIBUTES OF THE 59th HUNGER GAMES, MOUNT UP ON YOUR CHARIOTS.'
All the Tributes did so as music began to swell outside the hangar. After a minute, the doors opened and District 1 was sent out followed by the eleven other Districts, all dealing with a screaming and eager Capitol.
The 59th Hunger Games were officially beginning.
Up Next: Training Day 1
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