"Aurora Darling!" Titan exclaimed, floating over to us, and trapping me into a strong hug, "How's our Pearl?"
I shrugged in response with a short chuckle, "She's figuring it all out,"
"Most unfortunate circumstances that dreadful accident," Venus said conversationally, lifting my hands, "A little scarring, but we've dealt with much worse," I flinched at her words as the Capitol woman began to busy herself with examining the frail body of Annie "A little on the skinny side, but no matter, this beautiful hair of yours will have you standing out!" The woman exclaimed, tugging gently at Annie's red locks. The younger girl squeaked nervously.
"We will need to fix up those split ends of yours though, darling," Titan nodded over to a chair, snatching one of her hands and examining the cuticles of her finger, "Not to worry, a fresh manicure will cover up all those grimy bite marks," He dropped her hand as if it were diseased, "We'll just have to wait for Blaze to return, the crafty child ran out on us before we could catch him,"
"He's coming back with macaroons for you I believe," Venus giggled, and my smile widened in excitement, Annie eyed me in amusement before lying back into the hot water Titan had prepared to wash her hair. "Those piercings have healed up nicely my dear," the pink-haired woman mentioned to me as she prepared hot wax for poor Annie's legs.
"No piercings for Annie, not unless she is fully complicit," I instructed them, giving the red-haired girl a wink, she smiled gratefully in return. Venus groaned in defeat before returning to Annie's legs. I could not help but picture myself in that chair, a child being groomed for her final days alive only to exit the arena covered in blood, mine, and other people's. I knew I would struggle to be back here; I just didn't think It would be so vivid.
Titan began to snip away the split ends in Annie's hair, allowing tufts of red to float to the ground around them. A sudden thumping caused both Annie and I to stand up on edge when a brown-skinned man with gold tattoos on his temples rounded the corner. A silk button-down sat half-open on his chest, a black skirt around his waist and a weaved basket full to the brim with pink and blue macaroons. "Blaze!" I exclaimed, hurtling over to the boy, and tackling him into a tight hug.
"Rory!" Blaze exclaimed, squeezing me back just as tightly, "I brought you some snacks, you and I both know that you didn't eat on the train,"
I touched his cheek fondly, "You know me so well," I smiled, taking a pink cookie from the basked and allowing the sugar to melt into my mouth. Annie was flushed a bright red colour at the appearance of the new man, only in her undergarments it was understandable.
"Blaze stop frolicking around and start on the poor girl's fingers," Venus chastised the man, Blaze looked over to the girl on the chair and I noticed his eyes widen slightly, I suppressed the smile on my face.
"Hi," His voice broke as he gave the girl an awkward smile.
"Hi," She whispered back fearfully, gripping the chair so hard that her knuckles had turned white.
"I-I'm Blaze," Blaze introduced, wiping his hands on his skirt, "I won't touch you u-unless you want me to,"
Annie looked taken aback at the gesture, but she smiled, a genuine yet subtle smile that reached her eyes, "My name's Annie- it's ok, you can do what you have to," She responded shyly. Blaze cleared his throat and nodded, picking up a macaroon for Annie to eat while he worked on her fingernails.
"I'll go check on Pluto," I stated, taking a few extra macaroons for the trip. For some preposterous reason, Pluto's prep room was on the complete opposite side of the building, luckily for me, it gave me time to scope out some of the other mentors that I could tolerate. Enobaria sent me a sharp glare as a passed her, followed by a smile playing at her lips that I was highly confused by. Wiress and Beetee from District Three were conversing in the corner, their laps laden with plans and statistics. Haymitch Abernathy from Twelve ruffled my hair jokingly, allowing me to take a swig from his liquor bottle.
"Your boy looks tough, my bets on him," Haymitch slurred, "Then again, nobody thought you'd win, at least, I didn't,"
"Thanks, Haymitch," I said dryly, taking another sip of liquor from his bottle.
Atlas and Lorelai from five both tackled me into hugs as I called out to them. Surprisingly, there was no smell of liquor from Atlas' person, he must have cleaned up his act since being declared as the godparent of Phoenix and Astrid. "Hey kid," Atlas said, stroking my hair fondly, "I was just on the phone with Phoenix, he said something along the lines of 'Af ghas pft pft' which I'm translating as 'Uncle Atlas, you're the best, just make sure my Aunty Rory doesn't do something stupid,'" He joked.
"You're taking this really seriously, huh," I mused at the happy smile on his face.
"No kidding," Lorelei chuckled, "He has some of yours and Phoenix's artworks framed on his wall," Atlas punched her on the shoulder as I laughed at him. I left my favourite victors with short hugs before wandering further over to Pluto's room.
He'd cleaned up well, his wild black hair had been slicked back to show off the sharp cheekbones he had underneath. His stylists had given him some dark eyeliner, sharpening his eyes, and ultimately making him look more imposing. As a nice addition, his fingernails had been painted a black colour which was examined with a bored expression as I entered the room. "Nice eyeliner," I complimented him genuinely, reluctantly passing him one of the macaroons from my collection.
He bit into the pink biscuit before analysing himself in the mirror, "Thanks," He said dryly in response to my compliment. "Where's Finnick,"
I couldn't bring myself to answer truthfully, "He'll be back soon enough," I stated softly before sitting on the edge of a table in the corner of the room, I was yet to be pruned in preparation for the parade, apparently even the mentors must dress somewhat nice. Finnick would return soon enough some time in between his second and third appointment, whether that was before or after the parade I was unsure. I shook any thought of him out of my head, it was better to not confront the topic right now.
"You're conflicted," Pluto remarked as he eyed me over the top of his mirror, "Has Finnick done something to upset you?"
No, Finnick would never intentionally do anything to hurt me, I know how deeply he cares for me. Nothing about this situation is his fault, it never was, we both know who's to blame, the very same person at fault for our nightmares and paranoia. The same person who tries to muffle our rage and hide the District's poverty for the fortunate people of the Capitol.
"Not at all," I respond to Pluto's question, fighting back against the slight break in my throat, it's unfair for Finnick to go through what he does. Suddenly I'm filled with inexplicable rage, "I'll leave you to it," I say in a stony voice, "Don't be late," I add.
"Yes ma'am," Pluto salutes sarcastically, I rolled my eyes and stumble out of his room.
Lorelei is gossiping with the District One tributes in the corner, Cashmere, and Gloss- I had met them briefly at the tour. Cashmere glared at me sceptically as Gloss waved me over invitingly. It was a casual, five-minute awkward conversation between the three of us before I marched off to find Annie once again.
I didn't understand it at all, how they could go from despising and having their tributes try to kill me one year, to chatting like old friends the next. To the Victors, The Hunger Games was a family reunion, related not by blood, but bloodshed. I would know these people for the rest of my life, I realised- liking each other, or at least pretending to, was a survival tactic, we were safer in a group.
Blaze and Annie were chatting quietly as her nails dried, a silk robe was wrapped around her body once again. She looked beautiful, much as before, but the Capitol beauty regime had amplified it a hundred-fold. "Are you ready for your dress?" Gaia asked her softly, "I made a little something for you as well," She winked at me.
"You didn't have to do that," I smiled, folding my arms.
"Of course, I did!" She exclaimed, "You're my favourite guinea pig- don't tell Finnick I said that"
"Don't tell Finnick what?" his teasing voice rang out from outside of the room.
"Come in, we're decent!" I called to him jokingly.
He entered the room, and I immediately took in his dishevelled appearance. It wasn't his fault, but even still, I couldn't help but look away. His hair was ruffled wildly, and I noticed the appearance of reddening marks on his neck. Finnick avoided my eye-line as he walked into the room, kissing Gaia on the cheek, and shaking the hands of all three assistants.
"Let's see the gowns, shall we?" Blaze broke the uncomfortable silence, I sent him a grateful look.
Annie's gown was perfect, the light blue fabric was well-tailored to fit her body tightly, flowing into a rippling train for the skirt. The fabric of the skirt was layered to resemble waves, as she walked, the waves appeared to move, the ends of the fabric were white and greatly detailed with holes and sequins to resemble sea foam. Her hair was styled to fall freely down one side of her shoulder, held in place with pearl pins. Something about her appearance gave the illusion of an ethereal sea goddess. My dress was simplistic on the other hand, an off the shoulder number made from sand-coloured silk, matching the silk top Finnick was wearing as the other mentor.
We scurried through the prep centre to reach the carriages where the horse-drawn chariots were waiting. Pluto met us there, shirtless with a floor-length cape matching the fabric of Annie's gown. Annie wrung her hands together nervously as her eyes tore around the room, I attempted the same noticing those competitors more likely to cause trouble for our own tributes. "Just smile and wave, they'll love you An," I whispered calmly, pulling her into a gentle hug, "You look incredible," I added.
"You think so?" She uttered anxiously.
"Stunning," Pluto said dryly, "Can we get on the formalities now?"
I rolled my eyes as Blaze held out his hand, assisting her into the carriage and adjusting the fabric to flow out behind her. I couldn't help but grin at the faint red tinge on both his and Annie's cheeks as he positioned her hair. Finnick appeared to be smirking at the same thing.
"Remember darlings, big smiles- everyone will simply adore our new tributes- you'll be the next big thing, mark my words," Sylvia gushed, clapping her hands excitedly. The chariots began to line up at the exit of the underground centre, Annie gave a nervous smile at the group as their chariot began to move.
"You look really-" Blaze's voice broke as their chariot raced out of sight, "Pretty," He finished dejectedly.
Finnick snorted at his awkward attempt, walking up behind his and clapping a hand on his back with amusement, "Smooth," he said, his voice laden with heavy sarcasm.
"Don't worry, honey," Gaia said, with the same cheeky grin as Finnick's, "You'll get your chance eventually,"
HOLY FUCK YOU GUYS
Thank you all SO MUCH for all the love I've been getting with this book, never in a million years did I think this would get as much attention as it has. I'm just so glad to share my love of The Hunger Games with all the beautiful people reading my story- it's so encouraging.
Writing had become a big solace to me during a particularly hard time of my life, it's so beautiful to read back a watch how it has flourished during the time I have been writing this story. This has been a long time in the works and there is still a fair way to go.
I'm utterly overjoyed and so grateful to each and every one of you.
May xx
(Now I have to finish writing this story I guess, thanks a fucking lot)
UPDATE:
we just ranked #1 in #finnick
i am deceased
I love you guys