"It's beautiful!" Lilac exclaimed, walking into our rooms.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuvQUzhyrV
"I know," I said, "I can't believe that someone could live somewhere so nice."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9xAOUMbrL
"Now, you two have to go through those doors to meet your stylists and prep teams." Anika exclaimed, walking in with a flourish.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq133YUT8OQ
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As I entered the room, I had to do a double take, the room had white walls and white furniture, but the ceiling had poles running across, and fabric of every shade was detailed on it.
As my eyes drifted down, I saw my stylist and prep team.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUU0yA19H9
"Hello," one of the three ladies, she was taller and wearing a bright, striped outfit, "I'm Katrin Meret, your stylist. I'll be in charge of how you look to the rest of Panem for the few weeks until the games. This is Janelle Leera," she said, pointing to a waving girl, who was wearing a smile, "She's in charge of skin and makeup. And this is M'liss Aeron, she's in charge of hair," pointing to her, as M'liss scanned me up and down, as if looking for flaws, "Now, usually District 8's prade outfits have been big, bright, and poufy, trying to emphasize the colors and types of fabric they produce, but this year, Saffra Trembley (@rm328 stylist), Lilac's stylist, and I think that you and Lilac have simpler costumes, with brighter accessories. We are also going to show two halves, you will be dark clothes, to contrast your light hair, and Lilac will wear light clothes, to contrast her dark hair. This should keep the attention from the other tributes off you do you don't seem like a big threat."
"But what if we aren't a threat?" I asked.
"After training, I'm pretty sure you will be." Katrin replied smoothly.
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that, the careers are trained for this, I can wave a sword around, but kill someone? I don't have the guts."
Katrin bit her lip, "you'll think of something."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHQalGcfUu
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I was scrubbed, scoured, and scratched until my skin was as smooth as silk (and I have feeled a lot of silk). My face was washed, my feet lotioned and my hands were smoothened.
Finally, I got a dress, and it was beautiful. The bodice was dark purple cotton, and the skirt red silk and tulle. I was given a belt for the waistline, and that was just the start.
Makeup was then applied, red blush and lip stick, purple eyeshadow, both much more vibrant than the dress.
My hair was pulled back tightly and then braided and pinned around my head like a crown.
Fabric flowers were attached to my shoulders, along with something along the lines of 'everything but your makeup must be fabric, no lights, fire, water or dirt'.
Then finally I was given a red necklace (fabric beads), a bright purple hair bow and grey wedges.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBQ1GDcoBR
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"When you're in the parade, try not to do anything flashy. But don't be to serious," Katrin warned me, right before I walked too the loading area with our chariots.
"Why?" I questioned.
"For same reason that you two are dressed with less emphasis."
"But why do we need to be less of a threat to the other tributes?"
"Well..." Katrin bit her lip for the tenth time in the last hour, "you-"
"Never mind" I replied, and stepped out to see Lilac. Katrin wasn't going to break that easily.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJIBqW7B84
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I waited for Lilac to come, and she came in with Saffra Trembley, discussing something. I heard the last part of the conversation, and it seems Saffra wasn't even telling her that the more subdued outfits were to keep others attention away from us.
Lilac walked over as our stylists went to talk about something. Though she deserved to know, I knew Saffra wasn't telling her for a reason.
"Dang Maisie, you make me feel even shorter with those heels," She exclaimed. There was no question about it, Lilac was pretty short as it was, and every other girl in the building wore heels.
"Why aren't you wearing heels?" I asked.
"I fell over in them," We laughed at that. But before I could say anything, some guy grabbed us and pushed us into the chariot. I was on the left, with Lilac next to me. Our stylists approached us.
"You'll do fine," Katrin said, "Just smile and wave."
"You can do it." Saffra said. And the doors opened. The first chariot started moving.
"I'm nervous," Lilac said, "Are you?"
"No, just smile and wave. We'll be fine," I tried to reassure her. Something was up with our stylists, and I was going to play along, though I knew it might get me killed, but I had a pretty high chance of dying anyways.
The chariot lurched forward. We simultaneously took deep breaths, and emerged to the sound of clapping and cheering. I put on a confident face, and waved.
Our faces were on the screen ahead of us, and someone announced, "Lilac Hadden and Maisie Spencer from district eight!"
The chariot kept going until we rounded a corner an hour off.
"Hey," Lilac said, "that wasn't too bad. They seemed to like us."
"Yeah," I say, "wasn't to bad"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUE7EDszeL
