The Capitol, oh how she hated it. Every year she was made to return and to mentor the tributes from District one; to prepare them for the arena and how to win. Not only did she have to return for the Games, but also at Snow’s commands. You’d have thought that once you became a Victor that you would be left alone. Oh no. To the Capitol you were a superstar and everyone wanted a piece of you. And being labelled as beautiful, with lengthy curled blonde hair and startling green eyes, they wanted her. President Snow had sold her body to whoever demanded it. She would be showered with gifts and money, although she needed none. She was a property of Panem, and now once more she was to be their entertainment and her life put on the line, as she was going back into the arena. It was the year of the Quarter Quell, and that meant something extra special for the games. In the first year, each district had to vote for their tributes. The very thought of nominating which child to enter the Games was disturbing, although now District 1 and 2 had a distinct advantage in their strength and power. The second Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes were entered. And this year, two previous victors were reaped from the existing tributes from each district.

Cashmere walked besides her brother, Gloss. Their parents were extremely proud of the pair of them; the fact that they had two victors in the family had always been a source of great pride. Her parents were very hard on her and Gloss, entering them into training as soon as they could. They were very strict, verging on unloving. There was a chance she may not see them again, she was going up against years of winners. Having watched on the train who the other victors were, she wasn’t in anyway afraid of the competition. She didn’t want to fight; she had made friends with most of them. Having won the games 10 years ago, that had been a long time to get to know everyone. She sighed as she walked into the dressing room, where her design and prep team waited. The opening ceremony was mere hours away, and she had to get ready. Keeping herself in good shape and well groomed, they didn’t have to do much to her body. She was polished and buffed, her skin made to shine in polished tones. Her nails filed and painted a light pink and then coated with glitter. Next came the make-up and hair, which Cashmere did enjoy. Her lengthy blonde hair was brushed and styled back into its usual curls, and then half pinned up and entwined with small diamonds and sapphires. The remaining curls showered over her left shoulder and that was her body complete.

Soon she walked into the remake centre with Gloss by her side. She was in a beautiful gown of satin and diamonds. It was a silvery pink in colour, with a fitted bodice that had diamonds sewn in elegant patterns. Ever since the prep and design team of district 12 last year, everyone seemed to be going all out. District one displayed the luxury they were responsible for, and indeed Gloss and Cashmere looked simply divine. She looked around the centre and she smiled as Enobaria greeted her. As was to be expected, Cash and Gloss would align with Enobaria and Brutus and form the formidable career pack. However, Cash was harbouring a little secret, something that held her back a little bit. A half-naked male walked past her and a half smile formed on her face. Another victor who like her had been sold into prostitution. “Giving them all one last view of that fine body, Odair?” Cashmere teased as she walked to him and smiled.

. . .

Back in the Capitol and back where he never wanted to see again. He shouldn’t be here anyway; it was never in his plan to survive. He sighed as he sat on the bed, stripped down to his bare skin and awaiting his prep team. Peeta looked down to the artificial leg and he growled, it still felt so alien to him. He hated it and couldn’t help but scowl every time he looked at it. It was the Capitol’s creation! He would have rather been an amputee! But then, how would he have fared in these games? It was clear that the third Quarter Quell had been rigged to aim at him and Katniss, more so Katniss. She had created a spark and it had ignited through the districts. She had given them hope, a small something that was becoming a big something. Uprisings they had been called, and supposedly it had started with the offering of the berries. Peeta only discovered this half way through the victory tour, and he was angry with Katniss. But now they had bigger things to deal with. He knew the moment Haymitch’s name was reaped that he would volunteer, it was his turn to save Katniss and keep him safe, and Haymitch promised him!

His prep team and Portia entered the room and they once more fapped over his naked form, of the artificial leg and he just amused them and spoke the word she knew they would want to hear. Peeta had a way with words and it was perhaps his greatest weapon. Yes he was strong, but he was never really a fighter. They buffed and polished, shaved and sculptured. They put him back to base beauty and then built him up. His hair was quaffed and his skin shining, and then Portia brought through his outfit. “Pretty toned down” Peeta commented, he had certainly worn some extravagant things before.
“Cinna and I… we’re going for something a little different this time” Portia said, helping him into the leather trousers and sleeveless jacket. “This time, no hand holding, and no smiling” She said, zipping him up. “No nice. You’re to ignore the crowd and just glare ahead. And when you and Katniss are ready” Said Portia, turning around and picking something up before handing him a small box with one button on it. “Press this”

Peeta walked into the remake centre, and he felt very out of place. Everyone here knew each other, they had been mentoring and meeting once a year. Weird, Peeta had sort of prepared himself to be a mentor and now he knew he wouldn’t see the end of these games. His only priority was to keep Katniss alive. He was still in love with her, it had never gone away. He knew he had no chance and that their engagement meant nothing but survival to her. She loved Gale; things were only just becoming friendly between Katniss and Peeta. He sighed and ran his horse down the neck and Katniss entered the remake centre. She looked breath taking and he couldn’t help but stand up a little straighter. If only things were different and he was more than just the boy she saved. He smiled as she came to him and he eyed her before he stilled a little, trying not to appear weak. “You look fierce” He said to her kindly, trading beautiful for fierce.

Finnick was not amused by this current situation. He hadn’t been when the announcement to pick from past victors was announced. He had been even less amused when Mags volunteered. Though he kept the same strong smile on his face, making sure to wave and does as he was told. He was protecting his family. Annie. He hated his time in the Capitol, and relished when he could be home. Being deemed, desirable was one his least favorite days. But now, he tried to move past it, enjoy the spot light. They wanted him to be a player, then a player he would be.

The outfit the stylists had picked, to him seemed a joke but he embraced it. Might as well show off what he had. No shirt meant more people wanting to get him back. People would pay more to have their favorite commodity saved and have him win. But he wasn’t sure if he wanted to win. That was really where he was torn. If he won again, he would just go back to doing the same things, for the same people. He would still be apart from the person he wanted to be with most.

He was looking at the competition in the arena. Looking over their outfits, saying hello to old friends. He turned his head hearing a familiar voice. He smirked and walked to meet her. He gently touched her hair and pulled a curl letting it bounce back. “I could ask you the same thing.” He teased. Finnick shook his head, still grinning. “Might as well remind them of the thing they will miss most you know.”

Finnick scans his eyes over the rest of the tributes. His friends. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you at the…usual events” he said casually.

*****
Sleep is for the dead, at least that’s what Katniss has decided. She hasn’t slept much since the games, but even less so now that they were going back in. Even when she had a chance to relax, she couldn’t. Sure she was stoic, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t feel. She didn’t want Peeta to go in with her. Anything but that. Katniss came to peace with what was going to happen that first night she ran from her home, but now. She couldn’t come to terms with him loosing his life, like this. She doesn’t want to get ready, but it’s too late.

They have her hair done and its pulled up from her face. The makeup is dark, and his makes her look angry, serious. Something to not mess with. A change in Cinna’s style for sure but she likes it. She feels its more her then anything he has created so far. The dress is dark and tailored, sparkly softly in the light. She can’t help looking at it as they walk. She isn’t listening as they walk. She catches snnipets.

“No Smiling, look forward” says Cinna, and she nods. Her eyes land on Peeta. He looks handsome, but also tired. The dark colors make his blonde hair more startling. She likes this look on him. He looks...strong. But she wasn’t going to say that. Nope. He’s probably her only saving grace right now. She can only get rest when he’s in the bed with her. She doesn’t know why, but it helps to some extent. Perhaps it’s the ability to let her listen to his breathing, even if she can’t sleep. It’s comforting to know, he’s still alive. She saved him.

Katniss is brought back to attention when he speaks. She laughs softly. “Thank you” she replied. “You don’t look half bad” She smiles a little bit, hoping that was friendly enough. Her eyes drift over the tributes, all talking and mingling. She knows only of them, and from how the others keep glancing at their group. Sizing up the newest to the group. They had years behind them and they had pure luck and what everyone else assumed to be undying love for each other.

Katniss spoke slowly. “We’re going to be an easy target” she mumbles shaking her head.

“Oh you do flatter me” She added back, inclining her head a little flirtatiously to the side. She then ran her hands down the bodice of her gone and over her hips before looking back up. “Never hurts to look your best. Especially if you want sponsors” She added. Of course he would know the game, they all knew the game. They were all previous winners of the Games. They all knew how it worked, they knew it inside and out, they knew what the audience wanted. Finnick, Cashmere, Gloss, blimey even Joanna was wanted by the people of the Capitol. But this time, they would all need them. At his next comment she raised her eyebrows a little, and there was a flicker of burning hatred in her eyes. “Yeah… I was requested at more private functions” She said as she turned and walked with Finnick over to his chariot. Cash and Finnick had sometimes been at the same Gala’s. The guests of the rich and powerful, a trophy on their arms and then something to entertain them in the bed. Cash hated them! Every one of them sickened her, the way they poured over her and leered at her and it repulsed her. It was for that reason, she had other plans for these games.

Stopping beside the chariot for District 4, Cashmere ran her hand down the neck of the black horse before she caught sight of Katniss Everdeen walk in. The smile fell off her face, Katniss annoyed Cashmere. They would never be friends, and yet here Cashmere was preparing to put her life on the line to defend her. Katniss was the face of the rebellion yes, but it didn’t mean Cash had to like her. The blonde looked back to Finnick and she wondered if Finnick was in on the rebellion. Haymitch had spoken about it only to those he knew had suffered at the hands of the Capitol. To those he knew wanted the Capitol to suffer. Finnick would be amongst those numbers too, wouldn’t he? Cashmere’s position was going to be very difficult. She was a Career tribute and an extremely powerful one. She hadn’t won her games by outlasting the rest, she had won it by fighting and killing. Her abilities with a blade where second to none. She will be targeted and feared by everyone in the arena besides the other Career’s. And well, Enobaria tore out someone’s throat with her teeth, she wasn’t exactly someone to double cross. Haymitch said it all had to be kept quiet, Cash was definitely going to have to learn how to keep her mouth closed.

The gong sounded and Cash looked around to see it was time to get into the chariots, and she looked back to Finnick. “Don’t forget to make them swoon” She said to him with a wink and a dazzling smile, before she slinked off back to her own chariot, but not before playfully smacking his behind. Oh Finnick was certainly good looking. She arrived at chariot 1 and after some quick last minute adjustments she mounted. She straightened her shoulders before taking a more seductive stance, and she hitched her breath taking smile upon her face. The music started and their horses walked, and before she knew it the deafening roar of the crowd . They chanted and they screamed, and Cashmere blew kisses to the crowd and gave them smiles. It was all false, she hated them all. But who knows, she may need food in the arena or something else, who knows what sort of arena they would be in this year! The parade eventually ended and they stood before the president, the sun scorching down on Cash’s bare shoulders.

. . .

Peeta seemed unable to keep his eyes off of her, she was breath taking! She looked formidable and deadly, which he knew she was, and beautiful, again which she was. And as she eyed the competition, he took the opportunity to take her all in. He would cherish every last minute he had with her and would make memories to comfort him in the arena. The moments shared on the train, those stolen nights where they would hold each other and she would sleep in his arms. After all they had been through, it was a shame she couldn’t feel the same about him as he did her. He sighed and as she turned back to him, he made it look as if he too had been watching the others. “Me maybe” He said to her with a light smile. “You, not so easy” He said shaking his head. With her hunting and tracking experience, she had an advantage over this lot. But in saying that, what would the arena be? Snow had rigged these games, so he would probably make sure that the arena would not give her an advantage. Would he insist there be no bow? But surely the game makers would want to give the best show they could! They’d lose viewers if they made it too easy for some all the time.

“Do you think we’d have ended up like this?” Peeta asked her, changing the way of conversation. “If only one of us had have one? Just another part of the freak show?” He asked again. She had just enough time to answer before the music began, and Peeta watched everyone step into their chariots. He looked around to see if Portia or Cinna where anywhere, but he could not see him. “Guess it is up to us” He said. He helped her into the chariot, which she seemed to hate, and then the horse started moving. “Remember… try to look like you hate everyone” He said to her. There was a note of jest in his voice. She wouldn’t need to pretend or try, she did hate the Capitol. He could see the hint of amusement in her face before it straightened. He too straightened up and leant to the side a little, placing his hand on the side. Now his face was cool, his act was on. As they excited out of the centre and greeted the crowd, Peeta ignored everything. He was staring straight ahead, ignoring them all and looking slightly bored.

And then he guessed that Katniss decided it was time, and their costumes once more ignited. However it wasn’t the flames from last year, it was something more. Their black costumes were like burning embers, maybe it was their way of showing that fire still glows no matter what! He continued to pretend there was no audience, there was no one else aside from Katniss. But then again, there never was anyone else aside from Katniss. Throughout the speech of Snow, Peeta did not listen but eyed the other tributes. A lot of them looked towards him and Katniss, especially the Morphlings from district 6. The speech eventually ends and they wait until they are back in the centre before relaxing. “Glad that’s over” He said, knowing that was the last parade he would ever see. And there are Portia and Haymitch, waiting for them. Or Haymitch not so much, he was locked in a jolly conversation with those from 11. And from what Peeta could remember, Haymitch was good friends with Chaff. “Here” Peeta said, offering a hand to Katniss to help her down from the chariot.