The fitting rooms had been a surprise, but had immediately gotten Nicola excited. District 2 specialized in masonry, so he wasn't really sure what he was going to wear. Hopefully nothing stone-like. They gave him a winged helmet made of steel and placed it on his head. It's so heavy. A steel chestplate was put over his chest and they filled in the rest with stylish pieces of armor. I'm a knight? Cool. Still heavy. Nicola wished that he could've dressed himself.
This is it? Maize thinks in surprise and relief. The yellow suit is simple; gaudy, yes, but simple by capital standards. His stylist has applied just enough makeup to make him look TV-flawless, but having never worn the stuff before it feels caked on. He tugs at the cuffs of his yellow sleeves and lets out a shaky, nervous breath. Tonight he's going to have to look strong, be strong; he doubts himself, but he can't let any possible sponsors in the audience see any of that.
(Maize's suit: https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1017TMpXXXXceXFXXq6xXFXXX7/Custom-Made-Groomsmen-Notch-Lapel-Groom-Tuxedos-Yellow-Mens-Suits-Wedding-Best-Man-Jacket-Pants-Tie.jpg)
"Farming district, this should be interesting." Hazel thought to herself as her stylist was preparing her dress.
//soo
Vixen snuck around the corner, trying to find something interesting to do before she was found missing and herded back up. The other district 12 tribute and her were supposed to hang out with each other, but after him just silently staring at her exposed back for the full time, she had left, wanting to get as far away as she could from that pervert. She yanked the dress skirt up as she tiptoed down the stairs so she wouldn't trip. Who knows, maybe she'd find another tribute before they started to search for her.
(Uh what is district 11? Like farming or coal like the others)
((Agriculture, though 11 is mostly known for its orchards, if that helps?))
(Okay thanks)
Maddox stood silently as he was 'decorated' by the stylist. He wasn't entirely sure what the woman was doing, but it seemed to be themed around apples. Orchards, agriculture, of course… A red powder was applied to his cheeks, presumably to make them look rosy, and some sort of apple clip or pin was put in his fluffy hair. I feel like a girl… why is she putting makeup and stuff on me? He was told to put on a pair of overalls, also decorated with apples and such.
Vixen continued wandering around, honestly bored out of her mind. She didn't want to start thinking about her family or the games just yet, so she quickly tried to find something to distract herself. Seeing a closed door ahead of her, she quietly walked over and leaned into it, listening to see if anyone was talking. To her disappointment, it was just a stylist talking to some poor tribute. She walked off again, staring at the ceiling, just now noticing all the hidden cameras in the walls and roof.
Lots of apples… Maddox looked down at himself before leaving the room, as the stylist was finished. He almost bumped into another tribute as he exited. "Oh! Sorry! I didn't see you there." He felt very small in this whole ordeal, being one of the youngest here and definitely one of the least experienced. He was overwhelmed with the feeling that he didn't belong.
(That's you btw Lyra)
Whirling around to look at who was there, she noticed it was one of the tributes, one of which she had seen at the training earlier. She looked over him, cringing a little at how gaudy it was. "Don't worry about it, that's kinda my purpose, not to be seen," she laughed a little at her own joke. "So then, I'm assuming you're District Eleven," Vixen slightly waved her hand at his outfit.
"Yeah… the theme thing is kinda stupid. She put makeup on me! I thought only women wore makeup?" Maddox put a hand to his cheek, looking down at the strange pinkish powder that had come off when he pulled it away. "It's strange… I think she put apple perfume or something on me too…"
Laughing harder now at his reaction, she smirked a little and said, "Well, just take a look at the Capitol, they obviously break that sterotype. I agree though, with the theme thing being stupid. Well, the whole Hunger Games in general is stupid.." She shook her head slightly, then made eye contact with one of the cameras on the wall. Looking back at the tribute, she then said, "Well, I wouldn't put it past them to put perfume on you. If it makes you feel better you can tell people it's cologne."
Maddox's face flushed a bit and he looked away. Cologne… pfft, why do I even need this stuff anyways? "Do you know why we're being all dressed up?" He looked down at his apple getup. So strange… and I've got like, an aura of artificial apple scent surrounding me wherever I go.
Vixen adjusted her dress, once again starting to feel slightly exposed from wearing such a girly thing. Finally, she responded, "Well, they get all the tributes dressed up, then they have us go on by one onto this tv interview thing… Caesar Flickerman, I think is the guy who we have to talk to. Well, we talk to them, and based by our answers and how pretty our faces are, we get sponsers. The more sponsers we win over, the more supplies we'll have in the arena, the more chance of survival." She tried to explain it the best she could.
"That's… that's awful! It's barbaric, and certainly unfair! Some people have an advantage just because the judges like them? W-What about the people who just aren't as strong? They're just left empty handed and allowed to die? We're picked at random! It's not like we choose to be in the Games!" Maddox ranted for a bit, pacing anxiously. What if the judges don't like me? That's like, a surefire way to die!
"Hey," Vixen reached out and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him closer to her and getting him to stop. "There's no use in worrying about it. Just play the cute, innocent one, and the sick Capitol people will eat it right up. You're young, they'll take pity on you. Me, I don't know what I'm going to do…" She spoke in barley a whisper, sighing as she finished speaking. She finally took her hand away, now fidgeting a little bit.
Maddox sighed, running his hand through his hair and bumping against the pin. "I… I-I guess I can do that… I'm certainly not the strong one expected to win… it terrifies me to know that I-" His breath caught in his throat. "I-I'm gonna die…" He paused for a few moments, his eyes stinging with tears. "B-But you'll be fine… you're strong, and pretty… the judges'll love you…"
Blinking back the tears that rose to her eyes, she stared at the boy in front of her. He reminded her so much of her brother… before he was slaughtered in the arena. She started to blush from what he said, never good at taking compliments. "Don't talk like that… You never know what might happen in the arena." She started to make up her mind about something, finalizing her desicion. "You know, someone could become your ally, and then you wouldn't die, at least imeditly." She shrugged slightly, trying to lessen the heavy mood of the topic.
"Ally? I-I thought allies were forbidden?" Maddox quickly brushed away his tears. Stop crying! You're supposed to be strong; weakness won't get you anywhere in the Games… The green in his hazel eyes was brought out by the sunlight. Strange that the weather's so nice on an awful day like this…. it's like a nightmare. But I can't just wake up from this one in the morning… A tear fell from his eye and he hastily wiped it away.
A scoff of a laugh escaped her throat. She shook her head. "No, every games there's always the career pack, a several other groups of allies. And besides, what would it matter if it was forbidden? Isn't murder forbidden? But then look at the games." She noticed how he was now crying. Before she could think about it, she reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "Don't cry, that's exactly what they want to do… to break you…"
"But I…. I-I suppose you're right…" Maddox tried his best to not mess up the strange powder on his face, doing his best to attempt to stop crying. "I just… I… I-I don't wanna die…" He turned his eyes towards Vixen, terrified. The fact that he would soon die was surreal. "This can't be happening…" He started pacing again. "No, no, no, no, no… it's just a dream… a nightmare… I'll wake up at home and I won't be here and… and…" He choked back more tears, stopping in his tracks. "I-I'm never going to see them again…" He whispered almost inaudibly to himself.
"Hey, listen to me," she walked over to where he was now standing and pulled him to her in a hug. She leaned near his ear and whispered, "I'm gonna get you out alive, no matter what it takes, you got that?" She let him go, then took a step back. Now talking back in a normal tone, she said, "I'd stop crying now, or your stylist is going to have a heart attack."