The Hunger Games (IC/Closed.)

[Nu Sparta]

"We have to get ready for the parade Ted."

Aurelia slipped off the heels, the cold marble floor sending goosebumps up her legs. It made her pause for a moment before she began following after the stylist that had taken the lead. The group made their way into the elevator.

"The parade will have us taken to the tower. And the interviews should be tomorrow?"

The elevator stopped after moving down a few floors. They walked down a short hallway which soon split off to the left and right.
Aurelia went off to the left while, Ronnie shuffled Ted off to the right and through a door.

"We've got to get you in costume. Make you look like a king from the past! You'll be so handsome!"

Ronnie had pinched Ted's cheek. It was hard to tell if his flamboyancy was due to his sexual preference or just being from the capitol.

"Get undressed, quickly quickly! We've got to get you in your regal attire!"

[Phoenix2012]

Frank highly disliked being scrubbed down and made "presentable" by capital standards. Here he was, being prepared yet again, this time for the parade. His skin was brutally scraped to perfection, his fingernails sanded down, his hair trimmed and dyed in the capital style. He was bathed in chemicals with overpowering oders. He was treated like wood to be carved and shaped, to be scraped and sanded. He was now waiting for whatever he would wear for the parade. He wondered how Emily was doing, if she was being scraped and soaked and painted. The stylists seemed to him like the extremests, even by the standards of the capital. He didn't bother remembering their names, mostly because they seemed absurd, but also because he had nothing in common with them. He probrably wouldn't be alive in a few days anyways...

[Ravenflight]

Emily was rushed into cleaning. She was trimmed, soaked and scrubbed. The stylest seemed to like her because she was cleaner then others. She frowned as she thought about the children who would had to go through the same things. She then remembered the boy from the Train and how she would likely be died soon.

[Lunas Legion]

Cassus, as usual, gave exactly zero fucks about the Capitol stylists. They just wizzed about the room, occasionally putting various lotions and oils into his skin and hair. Not that he was bothered by the attention- he just closed his eyes, and continued to make his plans for the games.

And in that, he had one advantage- staying alive was priority number two, number one was killing everyone else.

[Shadyrya]

Alex was shoved into a bright room. He was temporarily blinded by the lights, and when his vision came back, he was faced by a twig of a woman covered in makeup, and three others close behind. The middle had bright pink hair and starry nails, the left blue hair and orange nails, and the right red hair with green nails.

"Hello, my name is Jenne," said the one in the front. "Me and my assistants are going to make you look pretty. Or scary. Or helpless. Whichever suits you," she continued. Alex nodded, resolving to stay as silent as possible. "For now, though, we're just gonna clean you up." They went to work.

Alex emerged three hours later pristine. His nails had been trimmed, hair cut, eyebrows waxed. He looked neat.

[Riysa]

My prep team tries to do a bewildering array of makeup applications and modifications to me, all of which I resist. Shouting goes back and forth between us as I try to prevent them from doing anything with my body, which fustrates them, because apparently the Capitol has different ideas of "beauty" than the rest of humanity does. Unlike them though, I have no intention of looking like a clown when I get out of this room.

Thankfully, after a couple hours of going back and forth between my prep crew, we finally agree to a compromise. They will leave me mostly alone, with some minor touches, while I get to discuss with my stylist on exactly what I want done, but I have to follow exactly what he decides in the end. They end up just "fixing" my face a little bit, mostly by blushing my face (not exactly welcome). Not too long later, Cicero comes in, and sits with me. We talk for a little bit about different subjects, before getting to the matter at hand. All thoughout, he acts very personable. I decide I somewhat like this guy - maybe he's not so bad?

I explain to him how I'd like to keep the change to my face and body as little as possible, and he decides on a simple plan with minimal modification. He and my team just trim my hair to ensure my side-part doesn't look messy, and some other minor changes/brush up. In the end, although I really disliked being poked and prodded around, I somewhat vainly admit to myself that they did make me look better. Now, all that's left is the suit.... wait, what?
"Alright Stephen! Ravenna and I decided that we will be doing near-identical costumes for you two! Its a thing some of the other stylists have recently been up to, to show unified District pride, you know?" Er..ok? I have no problem with such an arraignment, but I doubt trying to look like one another is only about District pride. "So, we've come up with an interesting idea. District 5 is all about power, correct? A lot of it is nuclear. So, we decided to make a costume that reflects the dangerous assignment." Oh God, I think to myself, he's going to dress us up in a protective suit. I decide to try to fake a smile. "Oh, I definitely would like to see such a thing. It sounds amazing." He smiles back, genuinely. "Oh, it certainly is, thank you. Just put on this shirt and pair of pants, and then come back and close your eyes!"

I do as told, and put on a nice pair of jet-black pants and shirt. What has he planned in mind? I close my eyes as Cicero puts on some heavy jacket or jacketlike item, and fastens it. Opening my eyes, I see that I'm wearing some sort of metallic-grey checkerboard jacket, extending down a little bit past my waist, with thin wires coming out to some sort of pack fastened inside to my belt. This looks very nice. "Thank you, Cicero. This is more than I would have guessed." "Glad to see you like it Stephen! The colors represent the uranium metal used in a reactor, as well as the graphite control rods and lead wall lining found in your reactors, not to forget the protective suits of course. Essentially, representing the high risk, yet highly rewarding, work in the reactors." High reward? Bah! Most workers get modest pay, or is he refering to the energy produced? I wouldn't exactly call the energy output highly rewarding....But a question comes to my mind. "What's up with the pack?" "Its a battery pack - this will provide an... interesting display once you get out there. I'll save the best for last!" He winks at me. "Come on, lets get you out." We go down to the parade area, and we walk towards the District 5 chariot.

Long post, I know!
If you want to know what we are wearing, think of it something similar to this:

[Phoenix2012]

Frank was helped into his elaborate costume. Representing the grain of district 9, his costume consisted of many flashing metal flakes of various shades of gold. His costume was battery powered by batteries so they shone and waved as if it was wheat during a summer breeze. He donned his crown of flashing gold. He was escorted to his chariot, covered from head to toe in gold. He joined Elizabeth, who he could tell had been crying. He tried to talk to her, but she just looked away. He was worried about getting sponsors with his partner the way she was, but he decided to let her be.

[Great Nepal]

Katri was escorted into the styling room by the peacekeepers and they started turning her into one of them, and by them I mean those overcompensating capitol idiots who are worn by make-up rather than the other way round. As they started, she leaned over to the stylist and whispered "what's the matter with everyone 'round here?" without thinking and stylist looked at her as he questioned, "weird, how?". She just realised where she was going and stopped and said, "nothing, never mind" however, the stylist wasn't going to let it go that easily and he insisted and eventually she yielded replying "well, no offence but most people here seem to overdress. Not in here, and this doesn't really apply to you but outside...", she paused and stopped as stylist smiled and she asked "what, you insisted?" Stylist laughed as he replied, "that's what everyone thinks when they come to capitol for first time, I can see it in their eyes. Not many say that out in open though". Katri laughed as she said, "well, dont tell that in open though. I still need those weird looking people for sponsorship". Stylist nodded as he said with smile, "you wont be saying they look weird by time you leave this place, you will love the style of these people. I will go and get some dresses for the parade, come along to see them when you are done here." As the stylist left, she thought to herself "yes, I am never going to think these weird people dont look weird, because they are weird" as she lied down.

After about an hour, or was it two hour? Well, it was couple of hours, she fell asleep and forgot about the time, either way it was couple of hours or maybe about six hours, maybe a bit more. Okay, fine it was twelve hours but either way, point is that everything was done and she felt, well different. She stood up and asked for stylist to get the direction and went up to him to view, tweak and choose the dress. Oh, sure stylist may have authority to select it but she was going to ensure it was how she wanted it rather than wear something made to weird and stupid capitol's standards. She walked towards the stylist, thinking what she would say and how she would reject every choice he presented. As she got there, stylist said, "well, I have designed some and here we try to show the identity of district. Since you are from district three, I thought to go for like futuristic and technological look here," before he started showing the animation of the parade with different dresses and she didn't hate them as much as she thought she would but decided to pretend to not like them anyway, just to be difficult. Stylist laughed as he said, "admit it, you are coming around to idea of capitol's clothing". She looked around as she shook her head and repeated, "no, no I am not, no, no, not really", stylist who was still laughing commented "that's one too many no's. You sure, you dont want to change your answer?" She smiled as she reluctantly replied "okay, they aren't that bad but that's as far as I am going", stylist said "yet" with a chuckle.

Katri looked at him with evil as she sighed and said "okay, fine the third one looks quite nice although its just not, impressive." Stylist smiled as he clicked a button and deleted others and focused on the third image, "that's why we have couple of days before parade, we can change the designs. Here, let me do this and this", as more glitter was added its shininess increased by factor of thousands. Katri screamed "no!", stylist looked at her strangely but Katri spoke calmly "is your idea of making something more impressive basically making it shiner? Everyone has glitters, that will make it blend in not stand out." Stylist looked at her and asked "okay, what do you suggest then?" She smiled as thought crossed her mind as she asked, "is there anything above the parade route?" After stylist shook his head to say no, she leaned forward to computer and removed the added glitter and added two flame throwers on either side, with ability to control it with her toe movements and played it before stylist could speak. As the carriage started on the road, flames shot out, going up to six feet up and making great looking patterns, just like water fountain, leaving the stylist speechless. After animated procession was complete, she said "now, that is what I would call impressive, not a lot of people would forget that." Stylist looked at her as he took a moment before speaking "okay, that is quite unusual but, I am not sure if that is allowed."

Katri looked at him and said, "you mean someone tried to do this before? I want to meet that guy, he sounds cool", stylist shook his head to say no and Katri replied "well, then its allowed unless there is some law around here that says you cant. Dont you have a legal department or something?" Stylist called over a legal adviser who looked at the video and said "you want to do that?" Katri nodded and said, "looks awesome, doesn't it?" The adviser replied "yes, and as for its legality, I dont think there is anything against it because no one thought anyone would do that but I dont think president will be too happy." Katri laughed "great, so its legal. Now, just make this reality by the parade day." Stylist looked at her and said, "if I get in trouble for this, and you win, I want you to talk to president to get me out. Oh and for the risk I am talking, you are going to talk president into giving me a large house in capital and making me government's exclusive stylist." Katri replied, "I am going to win and I will talk president into doing that, if you get capitol out of this glitter hole." The dress was going to be ready and so was the fire dancer on the dress (without the face light).

[Communist republic of altorus]

Stephen, reluctant as he was to get clothing from the capital, soon found himself ushered into a room with a crystal mirror. The stylist was a overly happy person, who Stephen already detested. Eventually the stylist led him to a large room full of clothes, which shone like a polished ruby. Stephen looked at the clothes with disgust saying" I cannot wear this, it is too degrading" however the stylist suddenly smashed Stephen's face against the wall, causing blood to trickle out of his nose. Stephen decided to settle on a suit which luckily had long sleeves which covered his spring knife. The spring knife raised questions from his stylist who wondered what it was, due to the fact it was designed to look like a digital wristwatch.


The clothes he chose were like a tuxedo which in the few minutes, Stephen was left alone with the clothes which he managed to modify. The modification included a place to store a spring knife repair tool, and several attachments for his spring knife, such as a butcher knife,another spring knife,tobacco and rope.

[Esselman]

Fireworks sprung out over the capitol, announcing the parade to show off each and every tribute from their respective districts. Each pair of tributes would go in order of their district (District 1 goes 1st, 2 goes 2nd, etc.) Caesar Flickerman, who had designed himself in golden and black colors for this years games, sat next to Claudius Templesmith.

"Over one hundred thousand people are here to see the tributes of this year's Hunger Games, and for the first time the sponsors will get to see each tribute," said Flickerman

The many people of the capitol were drinking and talking amongst themselves before the tributes would begin to pass to which everyone was sure to stand and applaud. This was the chance for the tributes to stand out, and hopefully impress the possible sponsors.

[DuThaal Craftworld]

Oh god. Here comes Stephen. Son of a bitch, why does his getup have to be so much more... reasonable than mine? This costume is, despite the thick cloth and metal segments, horrifyingly form fitting.
"Into the chariot." A Capitol puppet smiles, motioning towards the wagon. Sighing I step up onto the platform and wait for my district partner.

[Riysa]

I walk up to the chariot and see Kyra looking slightly distraught. Perhaps its the Games? That'd make anyone depressed... and a sudden reminder to myself to what I'm exactly doing here. Great, now's not the time....Time to focus at the task on hand. I walk up to Kyra, and with the help of her hand pull myself up. "Greetings, m'lady, you look stunning!" I say with a smile, hoping to cheer her up.

[DuThaal Craftworld]

I walk up to the chariot and see Kyra looking slightly distraught. Perhaps its the Games? That'd make anyone depressed... and a sudden reminder to myself to what I'm exactly doing here. Great, now's not the time....Time to focus at the task on hand. I walk up to Kyra, and with the help of her hand pull myself up. "Greetings, m'lady, you look stunning!" I say with a smile, hoping to cheer her up.

"The joys of the Capitol." I smirk back, almost laughing. Gotta remember that I'm probably gonna have to kill this kid.
"And now we wait for the other tributes." I mutter, looking expectantly towards the massive gate. Parades past flash through the back of my mind; how would we measure up? How could we measure up?

[Great Nepal]

As the parade day arrived, Katri met with her stylist as she said "so, can I expect flames to go up up in parade?" Stylist sighed as he replied, "I have done the alterations, but again, this is a very stupid and dangerous idea". Katri shook her head and said, "I prefer to think of it as adventurous, anyway how do I use it?" Stylist handed over the dress as he unfolded it and showed hidden pipe inside the wings and said "here's the jet nozzle and here's the gas, both of these are transparent and inside wings and covered in lights so, it wont be noticed by anyone. Plus, people will be too busy looking at the fire dance. It is radio controlled by a remote sensor which is inside your shoes, move your right toes to control the right nozzle and left to control the left. And most importantly, dont burn anything down." Katri smiled as she acknowledged it and said, "is there a place where we can practice the movements before going on parade?" Stylist nodded as he asked her to get changed and come to the back garden which was quite secluded from humanity.

As they arrived deep within the garden, and in middle of the forest and he said, "now try it". Katri bent her left thumb to fire up the jet and flames rose up and she started to move her toes to control the fire and make fire dance, it was going well, atleast until a bird came too close, it was roasted. Overall, it went well, except a dead bird... on bright side, there was roasted bird if someone got hungry, it might have been slightly overcooked but I suppose it was edible if you were desperate. Stylist told her, "dont worry, there wont be bird in the parade." She laughed as she said, "so the crowd wont get free roast bird?" as they started to go back to house and towards the parade.

Once back, she was taken to a room where she took a shower and put on some final touch as tank was filled to the brim again before she stepped out towards the third carriage, only to see district five were already on their carriage. She smiled politely before climbing on her carriage and waited for Stephen (district 3 one). As much as she hated to admit it, her attitudes towards capital was changing... people looked less ugly than day she arrived, although they still looked uglier than the bird she roasted about an hour ago...

[Phoenix2012]

Frank glanced at the other tributes waiting for the parade. His costume didn't seem as outrageous when compared to the others.

[BlackSylvania]

Jordyn got dressed into her outfit for the parade. Her stylist decided to be traditional and picked the safe miner look. After she was dressed the team put the finish touches on her clothing to make her look like she was in the mines but they made her completely clean. Jordyn stood waiting with Billy for the other districts to leave.

[Communist republic of altorus]

Stephen got up and walked to Katri, wondering what the future might hold. He worried about how he would cope if he saw death? Stephen wondered this, as Katri stood by. In a few days time, Stephen would have his answer. That time would approach and would he survive.

[Riysa]

I walk up to the chariot and see Kyra looking slightly distraught. Perhaps its the Games? That'd make anyone depressed... and a sudden reminder to myself to what I'm exactly doing here. Great, now's not the time....Time to focus at the task on hand. I walk up to Kyra, and with the help of her hand pull myself up. "Greetings, m'lady, you look stunning!" I say with a smile, hoping to cheer her up.

"The joys of the Capitol." I smirk back, almost laughing. Gotta remember that I'm probably gonna have to kill this kid.
"And now we wait for the other tributes." I mutter, looking expectantly towards the massive gate. Parades past flash through the back of my mind; how would we measure up? How could we measure up?

I pat her on the back. "Yes, we wait... the most boring part of being in the Capitol." I say. "Ready to make an impression?" I say with a smile. "Our uniforms look great, don't you think? Our stylists did a good job, and Cicero told me that we have a special suprise inbuilt." For a person who is about to gain a 96% chance of dying in a few days, I feel great, albeit sad that this isn't under nicer circumstances. I truly hope one of us will be able to make it back.

[DuThaal Craftworld]

"The joys of the Capitol." I smirk back, almost laughing. Gotta remember that I'm probably gonna have to kill this kid.
"And now we wait for the other tributes." I mutter, looking expectantly towards the massive gate. Parades past flash through the back of my mind; how would we measure up? How could we measure up?

I pat her on the back. "Yes, we wait... the most boring part of being in the Capitol." I say. "Ready to make an impression?" I say with a smile. "Our uniforms look great, don't you think? Our stylists did a good job, and Cicero told me that we have a special suprise inbuilt." For a person who is about to gain a 96% chance of dying in a few days, I feel great, albeit sad that this isn't under nicer circumstances. I truly hope one of us will be able to make it back.

"Yea, my stylist mentioned something as well- something about radiation? They can't have put actual uranium rods in these, but maybe a glow?" I suggest, pondering exactly what the surprise is. Wait a minute. Stephen doesn't have a black hood/mask. I do. What the hell? Maybe it's because he's the more open of the two of us? Actually…
"Be right back." I tell him, hopping off quickly and jogging towards a stage hand. After a short conversation a come back with a similar piece of headgear to mine.
"Put it on when we start moving." I instruct him. District pride and all, gotta form a uniform image.

[Nu Sparta]

The stylist finally allowed Aurelia to see herself in the mirror. She had been put in a puffy dress of blue and green bedazzled with unnaturally sparkling jewels. That was because they were jewels at all, but lights created to resemble rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds. They hadn't changed her hair style, but they had added larger jewel-light accessories and tiara. She was somewhat surprised by the costume. It didn't feel real right, or real. There was no time to argue though as they shuffled her off towards the door putting a staff in her hand.

Once inside the carriage room she quickly realized that her and her partner were the only ones that hadn't yet arrived. This made her a little bit annoyed as it essentially made them late, and Aurelia didn't like being late. She grimaced as Ted came up behind her, being pushed through by Ronnie. His costume was just as equally ridiculous and fake looking. An attempt at old world royal attire in a deep red, yet bedazzled by jewel-lights.

"This is horrible!!" She stamped her foot, the heel clacking and echoing through the broad garage. "They've made us look absolutely horrible! All these lights are so gaudy! I can't go out there looking like this!"

[Riysa]

I pat her on the back. "Yes, we wait... the most boring part of being in the Capitol." I say. "Ready to make an impression?" I say with a smile. "Our uniforms look great, don't you think? Our stylists did a good job, and Cicero told me that we have a special suprise inbuilt." For a person who is about to gain a 96% chance of dying in a few days, I feel great, albeit sad that this isn't under nicer circumstances. I truly hope one of us will be able to make it back.

"Yea, my stylist mentioned something as well- something about radiation? They can't have put actual uranium rods in these, but maybe a glow?" I suggest, pondering exactly what the surprise is. Wait a minute. Stephen doesn't have a black hood/mask. I do. What the hell? Maybe it's because he's the more open of the two of us? Actually…
"Be right back." I tell him, hopping off quickly and jogging towards a stage hand. After a short conversation a come back with a similar piece of headgear to mine.
"Put it on when we start moving." I instruct him. District pride and all, gotta form a uniform image.

"Actual radioactive materials? Heck no! Our dresses are decently light, while uranium is extremely dense - we'd be barely able to move. I think maybe he's doing a thing with lights?" I ponder what our stylists could have done while Kyra runs off. When Kyra gets back, I take the headgear, and reply: "Why don't you not wear the hood? Show our faces to the country of exactly who we are, that we're not afraid, etc.?"
In turn, I also overhear the female tribute from District 1 - Aurelia, I think her name was? - making a giant fit over her dress. I whisper to Kyra. "I think I'm finding this disappointingly stereotypical of D1...."

[DuThaal Craftworld]

"Yea, my stylist mentioned something as well- something about radiation? They can't have put actual uranium rods in these, but maybe a glow?" I suggest, pondering exactly what the surprise is. Wait a minute. Stephen doesn't have a black hood/mask. I do. What the hell? Maybe it's because he's the more open of the two of us? Actually…
"Be right back." I tell him, hopping off quickly and jogging towards a stage hand. After a short conversation a come back with a similar piece of headgear to mine.
"Put it on when we start moving." I instruct him. District pride and all, gotta form a uniform image.

"Actual radioactive materials? Heck no! Our dresses are decently light, while uranium is extremely dense - we'd be barely able to move. I think maybe he's doing a thing with lights?" I ponder what our stylists could have done while Kyra runs off. When Kyra gets back, I take the headgear, and reply: "Why don't you not wear the hood? Show our faces to the country of exactly who we are, that we're not afraid, etc.?"

"Or we could show them that we're cold, detached, removed and uncaring. Angels of death, no with 500% more radioactivity." I suggest, stepping back onto the cart.

[Riysa]

"Actual radioactive materials? Heck no! Our dresses are decently light, while uranium is extremely dense - we'd be barely able to move. I think maybe he's doing a thing with lights?" I ponder what our stylists could have done while Kyra runs off. When Kyra gets back, I take the headgear, and reply: "Why don't you not wear the hood? Show our faces to the country of exactly who we are, that we're not afraid, etc.?"

"Or we could show them that we're cold, detached, removed and uncaring. Angels of death, no with 500% more radioactivity." I suggest, stepping back onto the cart.

"Personally, I think if we show a decent amount of emotion, it will be better." I lower my voice so no one can hear us. "You feel anger? Channel that into a display when we go out. That's how I do it." I pause, and then raise my voice back to normal. "I do love talking to people, but in some cases, you've got to manipulate your speech, if you know what I mean?"

[BlackSylvania]

Jordyn looks over to Billy and says "Well this is it. Probably going to be the most embarrassing night of our lives, dressed up in these stupid miner uniforms", Jordyn looks up and sees the district 10 ''float'' leaving. '' You ready?'' as she puts her hat over her head.

[DuThaal Craftworld]

"Or we could show them that we're cold, detached, removed and uncaring. Angels of death, no with 500% more radioactivity." I suggest, stepping back onto the cart.

"Personally, I think if we show a decent amount of emotion, it will be better." I lower my voice so no one can hear us. "You feel anger? Channel that into a display when we go out. That's how I do it." I pause, and then raise my voice back to normal. "I do love talking to people, but in some cases, you've got to manipulate your speech, if you know what I mean?"

"I know it's just… god damn these are the people that killed oa and made ma a freaking 'vox, you know. It's hard to want to do anything but rip their throats out and go to town, you know?" I sigh, simultaneously tossing my hood to the ground. Stephen has a point. I don't have to like it, but he has a point. Then the doors open, and the carts in front roll out one by one. Then it's our turn.
"Time to shine." I mutter, putting on a fake smile and nudging Stephen in the shoulder simultaneously. Going from the pitch darkness of backstage to all this light in one go is… dizzying. Still keeping up the smile I pan my head around, almost forgetting the 'surprise'.
"On three. One. Two. Three." I mutter to Stephen, simultaneously pressing the button. Instantly a green glow surrounds us, some spilling over onto the ground, casting a shadow around our cart. This is… actually kind of awesome.