imperfect fit ; an everlark au based off of 'the selection' series

s i x

This week is full of officials swarming my house to prepare me for the Selection. I meet the three people I will be working with while I'm there.

Haymitch; my drunk mentor. He's supposed to be teaching me manners and how to act for the cameras, but I don't see that happening any time soon. He looks pretty normal, doesn't wear the stupid Capitol clothes, but he has long blonde hair that may or may not be a wig. I wonder how exactly he ended up in this position.

Effie; my bubbly escort. She will be toting me around the palace to the places I need to go, so I won't get lost, and she helps me with my schedule for the day. She is definitely a Capitol girl. She wears her bright goofy wigs ands weird styled dresses. Her heels make her look like she's walking on stilts, and of course, we can't forget her annoying high-pitched Capitol accent. I will be seeing her the most, and so will the other girls. She has to school us while we're there.

Cinna; my favorite out of the bunch. He's my stylist, he will be stripping me of my body hair, painting my nails, styling my hair, picking out pretty dresses for me to wear. He's a kind man, and looks completely normal except for the gold eyeliner he wears. While he was visiting he measured me for my new wardrobe. I'm not sure how I feel about wearing dresses like the queen's all the time, but I don't have much of a choice.

Oh, but that's not all the people who have been coming to my house. There was this obnoxious women who seemed to think I lied about half the things on my application, followed by an actual palace guard who came to go over security measures with the local Peacekeepers, our soldiers, and give our home a once-over. Apparently I don't have to wait until getting to the palace to worry about potential rebel attacks. Wonderful.

One of the last visitors that came on Wednesday afternoon, today, he's a skinny man with greasy hair that smooths back, and he keeps sweating. He's here to go over the official rules with me. Right when he enters, he asks if there's somewhere private we can talk. Mom, Prim, the man and I all walk into the kitchen.

"We can sit in the kitchen, if that's all right," Mom suggests. He dabs his head with a handkerchief and looks over at Prim.

"Actually, any place is fine. I think you might want to ask your younger daughter to leave the room."

I look over to Prim, who looks as confused as I am. What can he possibly have to say that he can't say in front of Prim?

"Mom?" She asks, sad to be missing out.

"Primmy, how about you go and read your medical book, keep yourself busy for a bit, darling." Mom got Prim a big medical book last year for her birthday, because when Prim grows up she wants to be a doctor like Mom.

"But-"

"Let me walk you out, Prim," I offer, seeing tears well up in her eyes. When we're a little down the hall and no one can hear, I pulled her in for a hug.

"Don't worry Little Duck, I'll tell you everything tonight." Luckily, instead of jumping up and down excitedly like she usually would, which would be blowing our cover, she just nods somberly and goes into her room.

Mom makes tea for Skinny, and we all sit at the kitchen table to talk. He sets a stack of papers and a pen laid out with another folder with my name on it on the kitchen table. He arranges his information neatly before speaking.

"I'm sorry to be so secretive, but there are certain things I need to address that are unfit for younger ears." I exchange a quick glance with Mom. "Miss Everdeen, this is going to sound harsh, but as of last Friday, you are now considered property of Panem. You must take care of your body from here on out. I have several forms for you to sign as we go through this information. Any failure to comply on your part will result in immediate removal from The Selection. Do you understand?"