#acpparty

As soon as I’d stepped from the chariot that had carried me through the streets of the Capitol, I knew that something was wrong. Minnie was hovering around the finish line without a single hide or hair of the other two stylists. 

“Elena and Rory are off to scream at some people and find out where the commentator lives cause she said that the costume was leather.” I allowed the stylist to pull the amour off me in the reverse order that she’d put it on hours before, the pieces of the horns clattering together as the makeshift armour was removed and replaced with a simple black top and smart-casual jeans. “I mean, the comment people said leather but it was horns and Rory spent a long time getting other people to saw up pieces of horns and then putting them together and then there was all the putting the parts together...” With a smirk the monochrome designer looked at me as he stood impatient before her, listening but waiting for his next instructions, surely that’s what she was there for. “Oh I’m just vamping, the party is through there, go find some new playmates.” 

With that the stylist was off, in what I could only guess as following up her friends a colleagues as they were roasting someone somewhere. The party itself was in full swing and tributes were mingling as well as Game Makers and Sponsors. It all seemed very familiar to the boy that had lived in the Capitol for so long and been paid to attend these parties with those that could afford to buy the company of other people. I trailed along the wall, my eyes flicking from face to face to see if there was anyone here that I already knew, but then I questioned my motives. What would happen once I found someone I knew? Would I beg them to help me escape? Find a way of pursuading them to put their hand in their pocket to sponsor me and ensure that I didn’t want for anything in the arena? No. I was a boy from District 10 now, labeled and branded by the games, my Capitolite status pretty much ripped from me as my name was pulled from the bowl. Eventually my face hunting did find someone I was interested in talking to, the boy from 4 had looked ravishing from Reaping to Parade and now here he stood in the party, a prime opportunity arising to interact with my first tribute.

My steps took me across the dancefloor to where the other tribute stood, his eyes focusing on one thing then another as he took in the room activity around him.

“Nice night for it.” I purred at the boy, barely looking as I sidled up to the boy from 4. “I’m Siavash, District 10.” I offered as a waitress passed with a tray full of glasses of something bubbly which I quickly swiped two from and held one to the side of me towards where the other tribute stood. 

Once the chariot came to a full stop AJ and Aquarius were pulled in opposite directions by their respective prep team, all while receiving a laundry list of feedback from Jacinta regarding their performance on the track. Somewhere between her compliments and critique she made mention of a party that was being hosted for tributes and Capitol citizens alike,

"Anyone who's anyone is going to be there." She chimed with a smile, making it loud and clear the decision to go had already been made for them.

Aquarius groaned internally at the idea of being paraded around for a second time but knew it would do more harm than good to stay on the sidelines. He was thankful TK allowed him to pick his attire for the evening, with Jacinta's approval of course. Surprisingly she didn't have much to say about casual slacks and button down he decided on.

The party was buzzing with life by the time the District Four team arrived, and only after greeting anyone who noticed their entrance were they permitted to take off on their own for the night. He was used to the crowds at this point, having made it through both the arrival last night and parade what felt like only moments ago. It felt like a routine at this point: the forced smile and conversations.

What he found slightly off putting however was being given the chance to, "get to know your fellow tributes!" as if this was a social gathering and they wouldn't be at each others throats in a matter of days. He didn't plan on striking up a conversation with any of them tonight, but should he bump into anyone during the course of his circut around the hall he would at least try and be civil. Jacinta had made it clear they were being watched at all hours, whether they realized it or not.

It was only after turning away from a group of Capitolites who pulled him into their conversation that he had to stop himself mid-stride from colliding with a small girl,

My stylist had changed me into something more comfortable after we disembarked from the parade. Now in some fancy khakis and a button down, I emerged into the party room where tributes and gamemakers alike were mingling with refreshments. I seemed doomed to remain outside my comfort zone for my tenure in the Capitol. 

Taking a deep breath and running my hand through my hair I stepped forward to approach a table covered in canapés and hors d’oevres. A women wearing a floor-length blue gown appeared next to me as I chose out a couple of unthreatening-looking cucumber bites on toothpicks, and I immediately felt underdressed. Euphemia had tried to put me in a suit for this and I staunchly refused, never having worn anything nicer than reaping clothes. I now regretted that decision. 

It wasn’t long after Ignacius had wrapped up his conversation with Clovis that he started socializing with the Capitolites again. They all thought that he was sooo adorable in his suit from the parade. The way he had held hands with Emily. His smile. His hair. They loved every inch of him, it seemed. It was unsettling. The way they were so obsessed with him and all of the other tributes. Anywhere else it would be thought of as creepy, even disturbing, but here is was normal. He just answered minor questions, made small talk, and kept his grin plastered on his face. After about an hour and a half, he decided that it was time to take a break, and headed to an area outside that wasn’t as crowded as everywhere else. Meaning that there were about fifty people in this corner of the property compared to about two hundred.

Leaning against the railing that was lining the edge of the gigantic patio area, Ignacius looked out at the rest of the property. Mostly he saw buildings and streets and the loud trains of the Capitol going from place to place. The only thing that broke apart the monotony of the landscape was a small garden that he could see out of the corner of his eye. He would have to check that out later. It looked like a place to relax. And it had trees. Something that he hadn’t seen for several days. It seemed like years. He was reminded of District 7, and why he was working so hard to get the people in the Capitol to like him. And this is what reassured him that what he was doing was the right thing. He had to at least but up a fair effort towards trying to get home. It seemed like he had been standing there for at least an hour when he heard someone clear their throat behind him in a “I want to say something or get your attention but I don’t want to be rude so I’m just going to intentionally make a bodily function to get your attention so that you will talk to me voluntarily even though you now feel compelled to talk to me” kind of noise. Ignacius turned around and saw two people. One of them was a tribute. He was tall,and seemed to be doing nothing but stare at him. So he smiled larger. And as he looked at him, Ignacius thought he looked familiar, just like Margaret had when he first saw he on the stage at the reaping. Maybe he had published something involving him, or seen pictures somewhere? He was pretty sure that he had blanked out during his reaping when he was trying to stay awake that night on the train. The other man looked much older, and seemed to be a little anxious. Ignacius had no idea who he was. Maybe a stylist?

“Hi, I’m Ignacius Kauri from District 7. You’ll have to forgive me but I don’t remember your name. It’s been a lot of people in the past few days and it has gotten a little difficult to keep everyone separate.”

My eyes were locked on President Brandt during his speech. He talked about how the Hunger Games were all about courage and sacrifice. Up on his pedestal, he was high above everyone else, including me. Father was right, he was a God who ruled all those below him, even kings. Part of me couldn’t help but revere him and respect him. But I asked, why has he forsaken such a faithful servant? 

I stepped off the chariot and bid farewell to the gifts my mother gave me. Lost in my own thoughts, I found myself in a room filled with the people that cheered for me at the Parade. I was used to crowds, but it was only until now that I had seen so many colours and outrageous wardrobes. A smile her and a nod of my head was enough to satisfy them. Then I found myself walking over to one of my fellow Tributes. He was quite the fellow. Tall, handsome, blonde, and dressed like an Olympian, just like I was. 

The moment after the parade was over I rushed back to the District 10 suite to get ready. There was a party tonight for all of tributes and there would all sorts of people in attendance. As much as I dreaded the crowd and really just wanted to get away from all of these stupid Capitol bitches, I knew I needed to do this. I would force myself to manage. Calysta and her girls grabbed me the moment I reached the suite and immediately went to work, changing me from my intense parade costume into an outfit for the party. The minute that they finished I moved quickly from the room. The sooner I got there and mingled, the sooner I could leave.

I paused outside of the entrance to the party. I took a few deep breaths and felt a soft, happy smile grow on my face. God I didn’t want to be here. I ignored my thought and pushed myself forward. When I joined, the party was in full swing. I immediately walked towards a group of Capitolites that I recognized from the train station and began to speak with them. I spent the next few hours moving around from group to group of Capitol citizens engaging in conversation, ‘laughing’, and making nice, only taking a break a few times discreetly observe my fellow tributes.