Forum Thread

"No reason to be afraid of them" Zahara says with an eyeroll. "I mean, they probably freak out by a simple speck of dirt falling on their outfit. They know nothing about hardships." She clenches her fists and glares at them. "We should be looking down on them instead of fearing them. They should fear us!"
...
Maci's hands were staring to tremble, but not out of fear. She sits down, suddenly feeling faint. Not now Maci internally begs. She was hoping the medicine she had today would last longer. But she was already starting to feel the effects of her sickness. She takes deep breaths and starts to wonder when it'll become difficult to even do that. The Capitol will supply medicine to me... Right?

“ маленький, what are you doing here? ingaba wolahleko? nisolko hayi kakhulu loluntu ingaba?” LiFei asked Alana. (Little one, what are you doing here? Are you lost? You’re not very sociable are you?)

Turning to Zahara, she giggles, before opening her mouth. “ Ungakwazi ngokupheleleyo ulawulo umntu? Babenako lula kumelana, ukuba babe nomdla, kwaye ngoko ke izakuba harder kuwe.”

Echo sighs at Lifei’s actions, but nevertheless bends down to hand Alana a lollipop too. “Care for a refill?” She asks Zahara. “ abo bantu bamele pathetically buthathaka. Mna bazive ngathi killing kubo bonke” Li Fei adds on to Zahara’s statement, scoffing in distaste

---

Alana looked at Zahara, then to Lefei then at Maci when she suddenly sat down. "Are you okay?"

(Oof short)

---

Shiloh took a minute to think before writing down her next sentence. This one read, "I haven't had much practice so I don't know." The napkin dropped into her lap as her hands started to shake. They were in the capital..this meant more people, and strange people, not like that she had ever seen before. Why couldn't Ian be here? Shiloh was starting to have a silent panic, and with no noise coming from her, it looked almost strange. All these people, all those eyes, staring at her, judging her, the whispers, all of it, she knew it was coming-

---

(oof)
"That's okay, we'll figure something out." Maci tells Shiloh kindly. She shuts her eyes, desperate to shake away this spell. She manages to hear Alana, she sucks in a pained breath before responding. "I'm fine" Maci lies. Although it was clear that she wasn't. She had gotten pale and she feeling dizzy and nauseated, even though she was sitting down.
....
"Always!" Zahara responds happily. She accepts the lollipop without hesitation and skips around the train excitedly. "I can't wait! I can't wait!" She chants. "I'm going to show all of them just how wonderful I am~!"

Alana's ears drooped a bit more upon seeing Maci's expression, Alana looked visibly worried. "Do. . .do you need to go to the toilet?"

Ariel groggily woke up with a slightly stiff neck, still being held in Sorrento's arms. "Are we there?" She yawned.

---

Echo stared after Zahara in utter confusion. “weLL...” She mumbles, chasing serenely after the possibly sugar high girl. Meanwhile, Lifei has taken out a sharp knife like object. “Kill them” she mumbles. “Maci’s sick. Isn’t it obvious? Stupid Peacekeepers, they’re so useless.” She sighs.

---

Maci laughs at this and shakes her head. "No, I don't need to go to the bathroom." She replies. "I just need to rest for a moment, don't worry about me." She didn't like this attention, didn't like that everyone was seeing her weakness, especially now that she had to be strong so that her and Shiloh could survive. She stands up, somehow she doesn't fall on her face. Deep breaths, don't faint Maci keeps telling herself. "See? I'm fine" she assures Alana.

“No you’re not. You’re not fine. You’re pale, trembling and sweating. You are clearly not fine. You can’t lie about this, you know?” Lifei states, bluntly but not unkindly, gently ushering her back to her seat. A light sheen of sweat. tiredness. That pale look. This isn’t some one time only short lasting situation. She’s probably had this for years, Lifei thinks. She begins rummaging, looking for anything that could help her, since the Peacekeepers were being useless yet again.

---

Shiloh gripped the seat, her eyes locked on the people around them. So many faces...it was only then that she realized that Maci seemed to be in distress. "One of the many times," she thought, "I would want to have a voice." Shiloh managed to let go, and registered the other people. Her eyes widened even more, and she shook her head. No, more people, more faces, no she couldn't do this, not now, not alone, she was alone, she couldn't do this. But Shiloh couldn't move. She was stuck, frozen in place.

---

Alana looked up at Marci still a bit concerned but the capital people outside tugged her attention away from Marci to the window again.

---

Maci wasn't about to argue with Lifei. She allows her to guide her back to her seat. She was quite surprised by her eagerness to help, she didn't seem like the type.
"Excuse me." A Peacekeeper says, walking into the train. "I'm looking for a miss Lam." Maci doesn't need to reply, it's obvious that she is the person in question. The Peacekeeper walks across the train and opens up a first aid. "It's been brought to our attention that your health is detrimental. We don't want you dying on us before the Games start. We are going to be giving you your needed medicine until the arena opens up." Maci doesn't reply. She winces slightly from the cold alcohol swab on her arm, but doesn't react to the needle. Once the medicine is in her system and her wound is patched up by a cotton ball and tape, the Peacekeeper leaves with a promise of returning in six hours.
Maci couldn't help but feel worthless. Why was the Capitol so focused on keeping her here? What was she to them? An easy kill to tempt more blood spill? She grits her teeth, feeling a sudden urge to punch a wall. She felt disgusted by the Capitol.

Phenix strode to a window, his irises lighting up with yellow. The train was moving just slow enough that, if he found somebody who was stupid enough to make eye contact, he could use his ability on one of the freaks outside. Silently, he waited for his chance, eyes picking over every last citizen outside the train.


-=-


T'val sighed, closing her eyes and leaning back as the crowds outside became apparent. The entire mass of them were likely all twisted and scarred, just in an attempt to try and make themselves look better than the others. She'd seen these people once before, but never in person. Everything had been digital to her, the Games airing live and occasionally blipping to observe the Capitol citizens.

Soon they had arived and everyone was sent the their own stylist (female tributes get men for their stylist and vice-versa, dont ask, that's how it works in the HG world I guess.). Once they were cleaned, waxed from any unnesiary body hair, nails being turned into perfect shapes, their stylist went to work. The outfits choosen carefully to match the tribute's best traits.

Ariel was wearing an ocean-themed dress, Lucky was wearing a freice looking number, Faith was wearing a nice looking number and Alana was wearing nice number as well.

---

Phenix had gained his chance sooner than expected. A lone citizen made eye contact with him, allowing his power to leap into their mind. It was revolting to Phenix, the memories filed only with jealousy and greed. Though, he didn't cancel the effect of his ability this time. The citizen collapsed, cackling and crying, clawing at others. The people around them were likely twisted into terrifying shapes and sizes, appealing to the worst fear of the target. Still, their eyes remained locked on Phenix's. He reached deep into their forgotten memories, pulling one out of a sort of purgatory within their brain.


The viewer sat alone in a room, a school room as it seemed. Well, nearly alone. One other person sat there with them, a girl with long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes, a stereotypical 'popular girl.' A deep breath is heard, and the viewer stood up. Approaching the girl, a meek voice spoke. "Teela, uhm.. Will you be my girlfriend?" It was awkwardly phrased, and the voice nearly didn't carry. Teela looked up, her eyes carefully studying the face in front of her. Then, she laughed, breaking into a fit of giggles. "Are you serious? No way, you're the last person I'd date."


In the real world, the memory was taking effect as it played over and over, tearing away at the victim's spirit. Just before Phenix lost sight of them, he felt their despair skyrocket. Their spirit had broken, a heavy depression settling on their shoulders.

Zahara grins at her reflection. She was wearing a large pink dress, the shade slightly lighter than her hair color. It was incredibly poofy. Zahara wondered if this was someone's wedding dress and it was put in a washing machine with red shirts by accident. Her hair was left as it was. Pink eyeshadow was placed on her eyelids and pink gemstones were placed under her eye. The gems started out small, but got larger after each one. The smallest gemstone sat near her nose. Her lips, you guessed it, were covered in pink gloss. The final touch was pink gloves that ran up to her elbows and a pink and gold tiara. Zahara was pretty much a giant pink blob.
Upon request, she sat on a black carriage where she could easily stand out.
.........
Maci sits in a different carriage. She was faddling with the ring again and glancing around nervously. She didn't like so many eyes on her, so many cameras around. What if another wave of sickness came? It was bad enough that a few tributes already knew how weak she was.
She glances down at her lap, not wanting to look at herself on the giant TVs that were around. Her hair was curled, which Maci hated, she liked her hair the way it was before. They had tried to make her eyes more defined by adding eyeliner and dark eyeshadow. Maci didn't think it worked. She wore a dress that opened slightly at the legs. Gold designs lined the opening. Fabric was wrapped around her arms and the back of the dress was longer than the front. When the wind hit her correctly it caused her hair and the longer fabric to float behind her.
Her stylist had been awed by his work. He kept calling her his "little swan." Upon seeing her reflection, she didn't see a huge change. She was actually disappointed by how she looked. There wasn't much she could do about this though.

Narukami was quite used to such a process, letting her stylists move her this way and that as power and foundation was dabbed onto her face. She missed the conversations and gossip she would have with her usual stylists but for now, she was content to perch herself and let the team do as they pleased. She didn't object when the team decided to capitalize on her more masculine appearence, outfitting her to appear like a knight in fluttering cloth and regal strength. It was what she was used to anyways. The cloths felt stiff to move around in but she made do, used to putting on a show for others. The capital wanted a spectacle and it was her job to deliver. Her carriage was british and fierce, designed almost like a war chariot and she wrinkled her nose at that. If the president wanted a warrior, there were plenty of other candidates other than the model. But she supposed this was the script she was given for tonight, the dark knight who would undoubtedly catch eyes.

---

Tugging on his ascot and slipping it free, Sorrento let out a breah as the stifling nature of his attire was heavy and unfamiliar. He hadn't worn anything heavier than a winters jacket before, as having heavy clothing would only be a hinderance in his line of work. The unfamiliar feeling if makeup on his face made him was to rub it off, but he had already been scolded once for doing that already and he wasn't too keen on having a repeat of that experience. Compared to the lavish attire the girls wore, Sorrento felt a bit plain by comparison but nothing could have prepared him for how gorgeous Ariel looked as soon as he laied eyes on her. She was stunning, seafoam green dress flowing down her body like waves, showing off strong arms and curved shoulders. She was beautiful and Sorrento felt like he was falling in love all over again.

---

Ariel gave a murmur of delight when she saw Sorrento looking handsome as ever in his suit. She was already in their chariot cart by white horses with main the color of seafoam. She gently took his hand in hers, "don't you just look dashing." She purred in his ear. "Every Capital woman and girl is going to swoon over you. I'm kinda jealous."

Alana was fighting with her dress, she was paired up with the fierce-looking Lucky, who seemed okay with her outfit aside from the glasses. Both came up to Sorrento and Ariel. "You look really pretty." Alana breathed at Ariel.

---

Phenix had enjoyed the small spectacle of the citizen breaking, the thought still fresh in his mind and smile as he sat stock still, allowing the stylists to push and prod, poke and pull until he was dressed in something that matched his name: A red tuxedo with fake fire licking at the air from his shoulders. It was rather tight and awkward, and the makeup used to give his face a bit of color felt alien and terrible, as if it were trying to peel away every layer of comfort. His carriage was similar in idea, as if Apollo himself had lent it to the Capitol for a day. Red and orange, with what appeared to be plastic fire, stretched back and up, as if he were already moving very quickly. It was annoying, all the bright colors attacking his eyes. He just had to deal with it until afterwards, then he'd be free to dress differently.


-=-


T'val was shocked to hear that she needed only minimal makeup plastered to her face, small imperfections quickly being fixed and readied for show. Her hair was pulled into a single long braid that draped over her left shoulder, a clipped-in stripe of yellow disrupting the dark color. She was dressed in a yellow dress that matched the stripe of hair, and shiny yellow paint that decorated her face, elegant designs swirling this way and that across her forehead and cheeks. Her chariot was decorated similarly, gold ferns and leaves snaking along the sides, standing out against a stormy grey background.

Being in the Capitol was bad. But this? Worse. Having to remove the bandages on her mouth, the shocked and pitying looks, all of it, added up to the horrible knot in Shiloh's stoumach that was only getting bigger as the stylists worked. She had to watch them take the dress that had once belonged to her mother. She remembered the times Uncle Davis had told her about, how that was the dress her mother had worn on her wedding day, the same one she wore when she snuck out after dark to see her father. That dress had so many memories, but to the Capitol, it was a dirty rag that didn't deserve another thought. As she stood in front of the mirror that the stylist provided, she was sick. Sick of the Capitol, sick of herself, and sick of living like this. The dress was loose, with a wide, knee length skirt feeling too..light. The sleevless dress was nice, but she would give anything to never have to wear this dress. All that Shiloh wanted was to go home. But she couldn't do anything, and she stood their as they pinned her hair behind her head. The same way that Ian always had when he was messing with it. "You look so darling, even with those bandages," the stylist said. That sent another huge crack in her heart. Even with those bandages? What did that make her with the bandages? Ugly? "You would look nice, if it weren't for your awful heart," she thought cooly, surprising herself at the hatred that went along with that statement. Ian would never want her to hate anyone, even if they were Capitol. So, she settled on staring straight ahead, moving methodically. The carriage seemed like it was modeled after the dress. Looking just like the color of glass. Like an illusion. How...fitting. She continued staring straight ahead. That spark, the one that Ian had always told her was there, captivating, was gone. That one little statement had drained her, and right now, all Shiloh wanted to do was sleep, for a very long time.

---