𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓯𝓵𝔂 - (𝓕.𝓞𝓭𝓪𝓲𝓻)

04.

vol i
☼ chapter four ☼

Theia is sitting and getting styled in preparation for the Opening Ceremony. The prep team had returned. Avara and Garnet are working on her makeup, dusting silver shadow over her eyes and adding in intricate designs with liner. Sorrel shapes her hair; she's surprised to see him braiding in steel strands.

Blayse returns with her outfit, a beautiful long, light-grey chiffon dress. It had cape sleeves and a high neckline, with the shimmery material reflecting brilliantly. Theia was stunned; it was nothing like previous tributes had worn. No outlandish technological design and no obnoxious material.
Blayne helps her into it. "If you're impressed now, just wait for the last piece," she grins proudly, moving towards a box on the side.

Theia watches her as she pulls out what looks like a corset. Except it had no material; it was made completely out of metal wires. Blayse drapes it over her shoulders. "Your armour."
It fit her perfectly, wrapping tightly around her. She smiles, seeing the intricate circuit board design the wires have been bent into. "It's incredible."
Blayse looked pleased. "It was welded in District 3. I thought you would want a piece of home with you."
Theia's heart warmed. It seemed that not everyone from the Capitol was bad. She gave her stylist a sincere look and said, "Thank you, Blayse."

~

Theia is whisked down to the bottom level of the centre and ushered into the area with all the other tributes and their awaiting carriages.
The moment she enters, she can feel eyes on her. It's extremely unnerving.

Blayse directs her towards Hemera and Evan, who's wearing a similar outfit to her, only it's not as striking. She's moved into the chariot, her position being carefully arranged.
Her fellow tribute turns towards her and says, "You look amazing." He's nervous, fidgeting discreetly.
Theia stops his hand from moving and says, "You do too; now we're going to be fine. Just smile and wave." He nods, trying to focus forward.

The opening music begins, being blasted around the Capitol. The huge door slides open, revealing the crowd-lined streets. District 1 rides out, luxuriously dressed as always, and cheers rise.
District 2 gets into position. Blayse appears. "Here we go. Hold your heads high and try not to squint your eyes! They're going to love you!" She yells as she jumps off the chariot, giving a thumbs up.

Try not to squint? The jolt of horses moving forward halts her thoughts as they're pulled through the doors and into the city. There is a deafening roar from the crowd as they enter, with shouts of "District Three!" being heard. All eyes are on them, with focus pulled away from the usual favourites. It isn't until Theia looks at the large television screen that she realises why.

They were glowing. The metal of the costumes captured the light perfectly; their faces were illuminated. Theia lifts her head even higher, putting on her best smile, and begins to wave. Evan copies her actions.
The people scream louder; they're blown away by the sight of the two of them. Never had they seen such a spectacle from the placid district before.

They're throwing flowers. Theia catches a bunch of lilies, and turning to the direction from which they came, she signals a thank you. It seems to throw the stands into a spiral, with hundreds of people beginning to cheer her name.

The twelve chariots fill the loop of the city circle, coming to a halt in front of the President's mansion. He begins his speech, and Theia has to dig her nails into her palms to stop the disgust showing on her face. She's glad when the national anthem plays, the chariots parading round for the final time, then disappearing into the Training Centre.

They're immediately met by the prep teams, who shower them with compliments. But once again, Theia can feel eyes on her; this time they're lethal and coming from the careers, who are imaginably upset at being shown up.
Blayse and Hemera are there to help them down from the chariot, the two stylists gleaming from their success. She spots Beetee and Rafael standing to the side.

They make their way over to them. Rafael gives her an impressed look, patting her on the back. "You did good kid, real good."

~

The Training Centre was incredibly impressive and huge in stature. Each district had its own floor, which was more than enough to accommodate the small group.

Ambrose had not stopped rambling since they had arrived. He was elated over how the ceremony went, with his first team making such an impression.
He assured them he had been talking them up all day in the Capitol, trying to win early sponsors. After pulling Theia aside, he informed her that she was an easy sell, that many had been interested in the supposed prodigy. She wasn't sure if that was a compliment or mildly concerning.

The stylists joined them for dinner, and Theia was glad to have them. They had a jovial effect on the atmosphere.
Being served was peculiar; she didn't like it, even more so after learning that the young people were Avox's, supposed Capitol traitors. It made her lose her appetite. She couldn't help the pitiful look on her face, with Ambrose trying to stop her from interacting with them.

They move into the sitting room to watch the replay of the opening ceremony; none of the other couples had an effect quite like theirs. Blayse and Hemera leave soon after, wishing the tributes good luck for the days to come. Their exit brings a more serious tone.

"Training starts tomorrow; I believe it is time for us to talk about some strategies." Beetee stands, signalling for Evan to join him; the two leave the room.

Rafael turns to her. "I thought it would be better to mentor you separately." Theia raises an eyebrow at him questioningly. "I know you want to ally with Evan; I've seen it in your face. You've got a good heart kid, but that won't help you."
"But he's from home; his family-"
Rafael shakes his head. "You and I both know he won't survive in there."
Theia goes to object but finds that she can't, no matter how much she wishes she could. He was right; Evan was frail, far too frail.
"Beetee is his best chance of survival. He'll come up with some tactics that should suit him." It was a nice thought, but Theia wasn't sure if it was enough.

"Tomorrow they'll be watching you, sizing you up. Normally, District 3 tributes are all intellect and no muscle. They'll expect that, especially with all of the rumours surrounding you."
She sighs, "So how do I play this?"
"Like they expect you to." Theia gestures for him to continue. "Take a leaf out of Johanna Mason's book."
Of course, last year's winner. The girl from District 7. She had made herself seem like a coward, so weak that no one bothered about her until there were only a handful of contestants left. Then she killed them all viciously with her axe.

"You go in there and you stick to the edible plants and insect tests, the survival skills, knot tying, and such. Maybe you lay some traps and wow a couple of people. You're friendly enough to the others, maybe slightly shy. But you steer clear of the weapon stations and hand-to-hand combat. Make them think you're not a threat."
It was a clever plan. She could only find one fault in it. "But I wouldn't be able to practise them."
"Not there, no. You come back here and you spar with me. It doesn't matter if you have to use dinner knives and fruit as targets; we'll make sure that you're prepared and that they don't suspect a thing."