Career Love: A Clato Fanfic

Chapter 5

Riiiiiip!

My prep team tears off the hair from my left leg violently. I grit my teeth. It does not particularly hurt but it most definitely stings. And what's even worse is them.

Soren, Agila, and Pelos is my pathetic excuse of a prep team. They chatter like chipmunks all day and what makes it even more annoying is their high-pitched Capitol accents that almost no one can imitate. Soren is responsible for my hair, Agila has control for my makeup, and Pelos takes care for my nails, eyebrows, and figure. But unfortunately, they all have to take place in ripping off body hair. They pluck and tear and gloat until my skin is as raw as a sea lobster's. They seem satisfied and Pelos shoves me into a bathtub filled with warm bubbling water. It soothes my burning skin but I don't enjoy the relaxation for long. The Chipmunks—that's what I've nicknamed them, tosses me out and starts rubbing a grey-green beauty cream on me. The cream soaks in and my skin relishs to its full colour slowly.

The rodents speckle over my body a bit more and Agila hands me a fluffy pink bathrobe. They scurry off, which make them resemble chipmunks even more.

A beautiful woman with golden hair that looks as if it were spun into a loom with gold and a piercing green gaze enters the room. She's clothed in a simple yet pretty dress embroidered with gold seaming at the ends and thus making her shunning hair pop out more. I figure it's the new Capitol sensation, they're always moving on from one style to another. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if she showed up tomorrow with violet-dyed skin, cat-eye contacts and a frizzy bob.

"Take off your bathrobe," she says. No, it's more of an order than a request. I really have no objections of letting my stylist see me naked so I pull the robe off my shoulders tensely, all the hair plucking made my body stiff. My stylist eyes my naked body carefully with her sharp gaze like a mother eagle looks for prey.

"I thought this year's female tribute would be a bit more... big," she squirms out, not sure how to place in words. I'm not angry, I'm a bit shocked at myself for volunteering as well.

"But I think we can manage to pull off the golden look...."

I nod. A lot of the tributes from District 2 have dressed up in armour or some sort of masonry reflected look.
She shows me the outfit. For the headpiece, there is a golden helmet with a straight plume on the top. The armour is hard and steely looking but my stylist tells me it will be easier to judge when I wear it. Then for the shoes are sandals, golden as well of course, adorned with beads. All together, it looks like what an Ancient Greek goddess would have worn in my textbook at school. It was deliberately styled like that, to show power of our district.

We get to work almost immediately. I first try on the armour and she was right. It is easier to judge when I actually wear it. On the inside it's soft like a cloud. I'm guessing it must have taken a lot of time to design this fabric. I then try on the sandals and they're just tight enough to not slip off accidentally during the Chariot Ride. I would have to put on the helmet after we did the hair and makeup.

My prep team zooms to work instantaneously. Pelos begins to file my bitten-down nails into a beautiful oval shape while Soren untangles the knots in my chocolate-brown hair. Agila does the makeup steadily, not making a single mistake, although I catch her staring down at a green hair-dye.
Soren brings in a mirror after I pop on the golden helmet. I stare at my reflection. My hair is tied down in a braid and the makeup is very light and natural looking. My cheeks have a flushed colour whilst my darkened eyes have a shiny gleam with the golden eyeliner. My nails, all twenty of them are polished clear. Gold nails would appear shiny and neglecting according to a serious-faced Pelos.

My stylist, she has never told me her name during the makeover, motions for me to twirl around with her finger. I do as she requests and she actions at what looks like a nod of approval. I am ready for the crowd.

We get pulled onto a golden chariot, which is towed by two gleaming horses with buttercup manes. Soren tells me their names are Banner and Ode, I didn't expect the Capitol to name any of their animals but dinner.

Cato's wearing something similar to me except the armour's more masculine and fitting towards him. Of course it would be. Perfect Cato has to look gorgeous in everything. I remind myself to not catch his eye for the whole chariot ride.

Ahead of us, from District 1, the girl and boy tributes, Glimmer and Marvel, ride on a chariot made completely out of rare stones that instantly blind me. The crowd goes wild and Glimmer even receives an almost-wilted rose from a goggly-eyed boy.

We come a few seconds after them and I can tell that the crowd is awing over us, even without looking. There's a stomping of feet and a chant breaks out, I can't make clear of what it was, the words are all jumbled together. I glance quickly at Cato, forgetting what I swore to myself just a couple of minutes ago, and his face is steely, showing no emotion.

Before I know it, he grasps my hand.

He has to stop it. Complimenting me, taking my hand in public. We're supposed to fight to our unknown deaths and he holds my hand?! I grow irritated but I don't want this fuss to let it show for the crowd or cameras and instantaneously, I snap my fingers off of his.

Cato shows no emotion again- he's perfect with his poker face.

The chariots from all the other districts come in and most are truthfully pathetic. But 12 catches my eye.

The District 12 tributes are on.... fire. Katniss Everdeen has the nerve to wave and blow kisses to the crowd. Every sympathetic thought of her from yesterday vanishes. The people go crazy and coins and roses of all colours, probably genetically enhanced by the Capitol scientists, are thrown into her direction.

She thinks this is just a game, to act foolish. But when we enter the arena, I will slice her down.

I want Katniss Everdeen as my first target.