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"I'll make a deal with you two. You don't interfere with my drinking, and I'll stay sober enough to help you," Dennis offered, his hands resting firmly on the shoulders of Aries and Estella, he was now standing behind his two potienal victors. "Is that fair?"
Estella cast him a wary glance, stealing cautious looks behind her now and then, but Aries remained unmoved, already determined to survive with or without Dennis and Iphigenia's help. "You'll have to do exactly as I say. About everything," Dennis added, his voice casual but firm.
Lunch carried on as if that tense exchange had never occurred. Iphigenia, still trembling like a Chihuahua, was the only one visibly shaken by it. Dennis, to their surprise, hadn't touched a drop of alcohol since boarding, choosing instead to fuel himself with caffeine. "When we get to the Capitol," he continued, "you'll be handed over to the stylists who'll prepare you for your presentation. Their work is vital."
Aries grimaced, clearly unamused at the thought of being dressed up and paraded like a doll. The idea of having to be dolled up, posed, and shown off rubbed him the wrong way. Estella gave him a small nudge on his knee beneath the table, silently urging him to play along.
Dennis noted Aries' discomfort but said nothing, while Iphigenia was practically bouncing in her seat, giddy with excitement over the thought of costumes and glamor. "The best-looking tributes get the most sponsors. Sponsors are my only means of helping you once you're in the Arena. Understood?"
Neither Aries nor Estella responded. Their attention had shifted as something outside the window caught their eyes—a broken skyline, crumbling buildings across Lake Michigan. It was Chicago, or what remained of it. A skeletal city of rust and rot. A ghost town.
"Now, now, children. Eat up!" Iphigenia chirped cheerfully, scooping more food onto Aries' plate, noting his healthier appetite. For Estella, she offered desserts, her sweet tooth already well known. The two tributes chose to ignore the haunting landscape and instead focused on filling their stomachs.
They would need their strength for what lay ahead.
As the hours ticked by, Estella and Aries found themselves settled comfortably next to each other in the train booth. They filled the time with light conversation, jumping from one topic to another, eager to discuss anything and everything that came to mind. Every unspoken feeling and subtle nuance passed between them, creating an almost palpable connection in the close quarters of the train. Dennis, ever the eager participant, made several attempts to break into their private bubble and join the discussion.
However, his efforts were mostly met with polite, yet firm, deflections, as Estella and Aries subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, steered the conversation back to themselves.
Iphigenia, however, presented a different challenge. Possessing a gentle and kind nature, she was always included in the ongoing dialogue. Her soft-hearted disposition made it impossible to ignore her or risk causing her any distress, so they made sure to always acknowledge her presence and include her in their back-and-forth banter.
