Day Nine: Mentor
"Hi, Glimmer!" Cashmere's tone is overly excited. It's nice, the kind of warm bounce One's known for. Almost kind of ditzy excitement that means everyone underestimates the girls from One until that weapon comes out and in an instant they remember just how cold the One girls can be. Cashmere, who sponsored Glimmer through the trials. Glimmer still isn't quite sure how she won, Vienna or Lustre had seemed like shoo-ins, but when her name was called as the certain volunteer it elicited excitement. After all, Glimmer was destined to be a particularly pretty bodyguard for some Vice-President at a company. Tribute was a definite step-up.
And Cashmere's a fabulous mentor. Takes Glimmer through what she needs to know, promises Glimmer that they'll get through this. Helps Glimmer through the train ride, the parade and get ready for the next day. It's all fun and games, and she has her PR squad as well.
Citrine, Sable, Laurel. The trio was out getting sponsors all hours, Mink as well (not that she was a Victor, why she was able to come along at all was a mystery). Off to get sponsors for Glimmer, they have to be. After all, One put in a fabulous showing last year, got back their girl. Glimmer's good, she's pretty. Surely they'll be able to win two years in a row, take the Quell and make it three. That would be a feather in One's cap, put them ahead of Two's dogs once and for all. Slip One, as well as being the richest District, into being the District with most Victors.
But everything was so hard. Sure, she tried to get along with everyone like Cashmere had said, but it was so hard when they were being a problem. Marina was fun in her own way, quiet and smiling, but Glimmer's shuffling a little closer along the bench at lunch was met by a look nothing short of horrified. They'd kissed a bit at the party Two had hosted, because Clove. Clove. One always worked best when their girls were more than friendly with the Two girls, and yet this year Clove had eyes for Cato. Had even pushed Glimmer away, even if Cato's eyes had lingered longingly.
"Clove's not talking." Glimmer's returned from the party, and Glimmer's meant to be on top of the world but she isn't. "She's not responding to my fun, she's not even trying and if she doesn't try what am I supposed to do?" It's a big issue, in Glimmer's mind. If she hasn't got Clove on-side because the Two girl is too busy having her own fun with Cato of all people, then that's One's normal play down the toilet. And what can she do? Cashmere's not exactly the most talkative this late at night, it seems, and Glimmer's meant to be the tribute so it's her job to get Cashmere going. Besides, Cashmere looks interested enough.
She only sees that Cashmere isn't sitting attentively when she rounds the corner. Instead, Cash has got a bottle of something in one hand, and by all the thirteen districts she looks positively drunk. But Glimmer has to try. "Cashmere! I want to win, and."
"You're not here because we think you can win." Cashmere's got a grim set to her jaw, and Glimmer's unable to respond in full sentences. "But Citrine, Laurel, Sable. They're..." "Getting sponsors. For next year. One won't get a win three years in a row, we know this. Sacrifices must be made." "Sacrifices!" That's not good. "But I'm a tribute, I'm One's best chance of winning, that's why-" "Why we picked you? Belcourt, you're here because you're a little more sexy than the Prospects the rest of you put forward." Cashmere gives a mirthless laugh, and shakes her head. "Idiot girl. Clearly didn't pick you for being smart. You're ok at fighting, but not the best. You're disposable. The Vice-President has already accepted a replacement, and trust me you're not on his mind. Might pick up some sponsor money, though."
Glimmer's eyes are filling with tears, as Cashmere continues. "You don't want to look too good. The Capitol doesn't want another pretty One. I shouldn't be telling you this, but you can keep your mouth shut. Can't you?" Hurriedly nodding, Glimmer gets a smile, a real one. "Good. You're staying mum about this, and we'll get to discuss this. But Glimmer, they'll make it quick. It's your job to keep interest high. I can promise you Iridescence will be kept out of the arena, our gift to you. Safety for a sister. But you have to put on a show so the Capitol wants next year."
Glimmer can only nod. Think about how little her mentor must care, because even if Cashmere's eyes are misty-wet with tears surely that's just an illusion. Just another one of the ways One keeps their tributes excited. Glimmer wouldn't have had a chance either way. Poor girl from what passes for poor in One? She was doomed from the beginning, surely.
Glimmer's bouncy, bubbly in the Arena and Games and interviews. Looks pretty, thinks about what her trade is. Her for her beloved sister, that has to be fair. Just the kind of trade she'd have made anyways, someone has to die. One needs to do what's best for One. She kills one at the Cornucopia, and misses a shot on Twelve but that's no bother. The girl's eighty feet straight up and sheltered by branches, after all, and she misses by less than a hands breadth or two. A perfectly acceptable shot
She even extracts a promise from Cato. When they fight, if it's her loss. He'll make it quick. And if he gets close enough to make her lose, it's over either way. It's another fair trade, and costs her a kiss and a giggle in return.
But when the wasps, or bees, or whatever they are are descending on her like angry words? She's screaming, wailing and hoping her mentor sees just how badly this was planned. How in spite of any attempt at a quick death Glimmer's dying by a thousand stings, sobbing and trying to escape. It's no use. She dies with a thousand cuts, a thousand pinpricks. She dies in agony, in pain. Cashmere forces herself to watch every second.
Author's Note
Glimmer. I wanted a reason for perceived incompetence, and I believe this sums it up. The poor girl was a filler candidate, so One could charge up support for the Quell. Good strategy and she wasn't entirely terrible, but. Yeah.