Child's Play: The Forty-Third Hunger Games

Chapter 19

Rhoda Hamilton

As Head Style Consultant, it was weird to have to help all twenty-four Tributes. I'd be visiting them all throughout the process, but I had to give a few general tips when we first met.

"Hi, everyone! I'm Rhoda Hamilton, and I'm your style consultant. I'm here to help you all look your best and attract as many sponsors as possible," I said. "It's hard to say much to you all at once, since different looks need different tips, but here's the general plan. Whatever you look like and whatever you're wearing, look grateful. That sounds weird, since you're in the Hunger Games and all, but they don't care. They only want to sponsor happy Tributes who will thank them for their gifts. So smile, wave, and make them think you love them."

Hollan Makhpiya

Icarus had a wonderfully exotic look. That, combined with his name, made my job esay. I could tell as I measured him that he took fitness seriously. I'd have to be sure to show that off as well. Between his looks and his muscles, I knew he had a good chance. I was happy for that. A face like that had no business going to waste.

Tigris Chatte

I loved it when I got pretty Tributes. People usually thought of One when they thought of beauty, but Two had such a savage loveliness. It was deeper than the trinkets and pastels of One. Ember was no bauble or jewel. She was an ember- a dangerous fire waiting to be set free in the Arena. She didn't need a rainbow of color. Just the sleek, devastating blackness of fire.

Cilantro Pestle

"Can I help make my costume?" Lisette asked. I'd never had a Tribute ask that before. Usually the Threes didn't care and just wanted to get to training.

"Did you have an idea?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's really cool," Lisette said. "We need someone actually good with computers, though. I don't know that stuff." What do you think of that? A Three who doesn't know computers.

Lisette and I were equally lost with technology, but Beetee saved the day. And Lisette was right. It was a really cool idea.

Rouge Twain

Alex would be prettier without the scowl lines between her eyes. She was all smiles with me, but someone must have really pissed her off before we met. I noticed she had a lovely ring.

"What's that thing mean?" I asked, pointing to the circle symbol with a line through it.

"It means 'female'," Alex said.

"Oh, you have more of a feminine style?" I asked.

"Mostly I just wear it for girl pride," she said. That was lucky, since my idea for a costume was black.

"I was thinking since you and Steve are siblings, your outfits should match," I said. She wasn't all smiles anymore after that.

Blush Paletti

"Oh yeah, make me the prettiest boy in Panem! Bring on the glitter and glitz," Scott said.

"Five is one of the harder Districts to make outfits for. Is there anything you can tell me, since you're actually from there?" I asked.

"Oh, sure. The coolest thing in Five is a pylon tower," he said.

"What are those?" I asked.

"Those tall skinny metal things telephone lines hang from," Scott said, outlining the shape with his hands. "We all love pylon towers. We have a holiday about them." It seemed odd, but I wanted to include his District. I got to work and spent the next few hours studying pictures and making him look perfect. When I was done, I gave him a mirror.

"Oh, shoot. I didn't think you'd go through with it."

Puff Auri

Hemi worked as a nurse. That was perfect, since nurses were always pretty and I liked pretty things. Hemi was pretty too, so I just made sure her outfit complemented that. The only problem was that she was from Six. It was the transportation District, not the nuring District. I could make her an ambulance, but ambulances weren't pretty. Aha! Ambulances aren't pretty, but the nurses in them are. I could dress her as a nurse and say she was an ambulance nurse. Problem solved and everyone got to be pretty.

Flora Kettle

Splinter sure was short. He still looked okay, though. I just might have to put him in heels so he looked more like a strong boy from Seven. If I just emphasized his top half, everything should be fine. He had a good set of muscles and a nice, rugged face with a scar. People loved scars.

"Are you okay with showing some skin?" I asked.

"Sure, I guess. I'm not ugly," he said.

"Good! RIP!" I said, and I tore his shirt off him. It was a raggedy old thing, or else I wouldn't have been strong enough. He jumped and backed up on his seat.

"What was that?!" he asked.

"You look so much better now. We can all see those muscles!" I said. Splinter's hands went to his pants.

"Are you gonna rip off any more?"

Baste Marinade

I always knew I belonged with District Eight. It was right in my name. My parents were thinking about delicious basted meat, but I, being a stylist, went straight to basted stitches. That was why I applied for Eight even though Four was also open at the time. I was excited to start working with Weft.

"People think Eight is the easiest because it's textiles, but really it's the hardest," I said. "We have to think outside the box and make it more than just fabric. What's the real essence of Eight? What are your struggles and tragedies?"

"Uh... my clothes are really itchy since I wear the cheap stuff," Weft said. Perfect.

Mint Goblet

Hosanna was a very quiet girl. She was looking all around the room and touched everything as soon as I said she could.

"Where does all this come from?" she asked.

"All over," I said. "The cases come from Three, since they're plastic. I only use organic cosmetics, so the colors come from everywhere. Purple is from Four, since it's made from shells. Red and blue are from Eleven, since they're made of henna and indigo..." I went on, explaining all the colors. Hosanna was very impressed and held the compacts side-by-side as she compared them.

"But I'm forgetting about your costume. You're such a pretty young lady, and your outfit is just frumpy. You need to spice it up a little. I'll make sure no one misses you in the parade!" I said. I knew just how to do it.

Phoebe Vane

Mati was a blank slate to unleash my creativity upon. I started with a palette. Ten was the land of rolling prairies and open skies. My base colors would be blue and green, then. They had cows there, but I wasn't doing anything so infantile. I would be artistic about it and add elements of leather and fleece. Fleece like the floating clouds, and leather like... leather. I needed to think of something more poetic for that. And I needed elements of life. Ten was the livestock District, the District of life. New life in the spring, and the end of life in a spray of blood. I needed red, then, too. So many colors. So mch life.

Creme Brulee

"Oh my gosh, is your partner white?" I asked Scarlett.

"Yeah, he sure looks white," she said.

"I never get to work with white people! I mean, I like black people just as much, it's just I don't see white Tributes every day," I said as I worked on her makeup.

"What are you going to dress me as?" Scarlett asked.

"I was thinking a gardener or something like that," I said. "I can't wait to work with Barron, though. He must get sunburned all the time! Poor kid. I was going to make him a gardener, but someone like him doesn't come around every day. He'll need something extra special. Maybe one of those pale apples..."

Cuisine Martinique

"What's it like working with Demi?" I asked Atro as I styled his hair.

"I don't know. Normal, I guess. She seems smart," he said.

"I hear she's in big trouble with snow. I heard from Catullus, one of the Gamemakers, that he thinks she's a rebel. Isn't that juicy!" I said.

"She does seem serious all the time. It wouldn't surprise me," Atro said.

"Does she ever do anything... suspicious?" I asked.

"She reads a lot. Most Capitolites don't. And she knows how to fight. I saw her discussing it with Nubu," he said.

"I knew it! She is a rebel! Ooh, I hope I'm there when she gets caught. It will be so exciting!"