Of Victors and Tributes

Chapter 30: The Beginning of the Tour

I hear the commotion outside even from the second floor, because someone has just slipped on the ice and yelped indignantly. I look out the window of my bedroom and see my prep team, stylist, and Koi marching towards the house– Satine and Angora helping wipe snow off of Venus, who was the one that fell. I hurry downstairs, where my fellow victors, Jean and her mom, and Lacey are gathered. Except for Cecelia and Woof, they are watching the door nervously, fiddling with their hands. I give everyone a supportive smile before the door flies open.

"Taylor!" comes from several different mouths and I'm enveloped in hugs, peppered with kisses, praises and pets and everything in between.

"Have you been trimming your hair?" Satine complains, running her fingers through the shaggy strands. Sure, it's been cut a few times, but my hair hasn't really been my top priority. I notice her skin is no longer lavender, but embedded with a sparkly gold color.

"Oh, he's fine," Angora insists, shoving Satine to the side a bit. Angora's hair has also changed, now a neon green. Koi suddenly appears, parting everyone, and pats my cheek favorably.

"Well, get him ready! We don't have all day!" he says.

This launches me into a whirlwind of baths, salves and lotions, shaving and hair-cutting, make-up and whatever else. As I sit in the bath and Venus investigates my nails, which are bitten apart, my prep team tells me about how everyone has been taking my win in the Capitol.

"Scarves and gold are all the rage, sweetheart," Venus says, attempting to file my nails but only getting skin.

"Don't forget the pocket watches," Angora comments. To my surprise, she digs one out of her pocket. A little silver thing, similar enough to mine, with the seal of Panem carved on it. I look it over, pretending it doesn't make me uncomfortable.

"How lovely," I say vaguely, because I find the whole thing intensely strange.

"Well, there's also the people wearing the pearls," Satine says. I freeze in place. Pearls? Her bracelet is on my bedside table, tied to my actual pocket watch. Are the people angry that I made it, that I'm the victor? I'm sure Four isn't pleased, but all of Panem? Am I hated that universally?

"Don't worry about it, Taylor," comes Angora's soft voice. "It's just a trend. Everyone loves you."

"Right," I respond, wanting to pass out.

"Taylor, let me tell you about the parties I've been having!" Satine cries. Luckily, the conversation turns, and soon we're talking about the house parties that my prep team have been throwing. I'm out of the tub as they continue, and dried off.

"Satine, remember the last one, with all the sequins? And how you couldn't get them off the floor?" Venus giggles. She applies a soft down of make-up to my face, hand cupping my cheek. I try not to make eye contact.

"They were so pretty, but the things were like glue!" Satine wails. As she complains, Venus laughs at her supposed suffering. I keep my eyes focused in front of me, trying not to think of half of Panem wearing pearls and the other half holding stupid pocket watches.

After a while of this ridiculousness, I am just about ready except for only wearing a robe and not having clothes to present myself in. Right on time the door opens and I'm expecting Farah to walk in– she had escaped earlier to spend some time with my little sister– but Jean comes instead. She smiles shyly at everyone. I reach out my hand to her and pull her over, trying to grin happily.

"Something wrong, darling?" I ask her. She looks at me peculiarly because I don't really call her pet names, but I nod slightly towards Venus. She makes a small 'o' with her mouth in understanding, eyeing the other woman with a sort of humored and annoyed look on her face. Venus doesn't notice this look, I don't think.