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THANA IS IMMEDIATELY greeted by three people who clearly come from the capitol as soon as Harl and her part ways. The room looks sterile and Thana knows that right here and right at that moment, she will be prepped by this team of people to look good for the tribute parade which afterwards her stylist for the time will put her in some garments to signal district 9.
One of the young women comes forwards as the first to greet the tribute, diamonds are engraved on her naturally dark skin. Her cloud-like hair surrounds her face like a halo, but next to silver make-up her face looks normal. The woman takes Thana's hand and leads her to the bed-like thing in the middle of the room.
"I am Quira," she introduces herself, "This is my fiancé Citrina," she points to the other young woman who has pale skin, dark long hair and tattoos of green vines on her arms. "That is Azuro," Quira vaguely points at the only man in the room, his skin is completely blue and his hair snow white.
"I am Thana, Thana Jardin," Thana introduces herself as soon as Quira is done talking.
"We know, honey," Azure laughs, "everybody in Panem knows. We are your prep team."
With that, they start to in their words prep Thana. They wash her multiple times and wax her whole body as if having body hair is shameful. They just keep on going and keep on chattering about the latest news in the Capitol. Thana doesn't understand anything about it and is disgusted by their excitement of the Games in which she partakes against her will.
After hours of preparing Thana, they lead her to a different room where they give her a seat in a very shrill gown. The three people quickly leave the girl saying her stylist will come very soon. And those words are very true because they just left when a woman enters the room. The woman has light brown skin and black tattoos that cover her whole body in cool patterns as she moves towards Thana with her bright red hair. As she comes closer Thana spots lilac eyes and all kinds of silver rings and other forms in the woman's ears.
"My darling, I am Ilya, your stylist," the woman introduces herself. Ilya's watchful eyes trace Thana's body as she motions her to stand up for further examination. "Obviously I am here to present you, but I also want to make you look desirable in your own kind of way. So my darling Thana, why don't we have a little chat?"
There was not much of a chat, Ilya pulls Thana into some brownish-yellow garment claiming it represents district 9 while asking all kinds of questions about Thana's life. She claims to love the stories of my younger years and of district 9. Simultaneously lacing Thana up and pushing heels on the young woman's feet.
After that, the tedious job of make-up starts. All kinds of products are being applied to Thana's face by Ilya. Rosy cheeks are created and a light pink almost natural-looking lip is formed as well. For the eyes, only the necessary steps are being taken to make them pop before Ilya moves on to the hair of Thana. She slowly combs it before she starts to curl it into waves away from the girl's face so a perfect ocean glides over her back in small calm ways. To finish the look Ilya takes two strands of hair and pins them with a small purple rose and frames Thana's face.
"Now my darling," Ilya sighs, "you are ready. Don't forget to smile and here, your pocket watch."
"Thank you," Thana smiles as she watches herself in the mirror completely flabbergasted by her appearance in a grain-looking dress that stops above her knees matched with brown heels. "The dress is breath-taking, I love it."
"I am glad you love it Thana," she smiles at the young girl carefully giving her a hug, "but remember, it only looks this breath-taking because you are. Now let us get you to your chariot."
12, that's the number of chariots that are aligned, 24 horses in total. 2 before each chariot. 24 tributes, 2 from each District, 2 for each chariot. 24 stylists are bringing their tribute to the chariots and all the mentors that are also present. It reminds Thana of the grain markets that take place in District 9, the head farmers waiting to start bringing in their gain. Although it isn't really a market, rather peacekeepers saying to which district it must go. Thana feels as if she is that grain, but then in meat form. Like she is paraded like some sort of good you can pay for, it makes her feel disgusting in her own skin.
As Thana looks around herself she notices that the tributes, herself included, look slightly out of place, uneasy with all the noise and expensive outfits they are wearing. All but District 1, 2 and 4; look confident in all the fuss. But seeing as they come from a different culture and have trained to be in the games their whole life it is no surprise.
Harl slowly walks up towards Thana to their chariot in an outfit in the same colour and texture. He smiles a little at her and pats the horse before deciding to stand next to her. In a fuss both of their stylist come running towards them with something in their hands.
"We almost forgot," Harl's stylist manages to get out between breaths, "the headgear." Both the stylists put a hat on the tribute's heads stuffed with a lot of grain making it look as if they grow grain on their heads.
"The two of you look great," Rohan smiles as he assists them up the chariot.
"Are you sure?" Thana asks, "I am sure we look ridiculous with these hat-like things."
Rohan laughs, "don't worry about it, they will be gone before you know it." He looks up at his tributes for the 72nd annual Hunger Games, "keep on breathing and smile."
The chariot starts to move and both of the tributes look at each other in fear of what shall come. They hear a lot of noise and as the light reaches them they see a loud and very large crowd along the path of the chariot. They both start waving and subconsciously join hands which makes the crowd scream even more. Thana starts to throw kisses at the crowd and even manages to catch a yellow rose with her free hand. She smells and sees that Harl has a red rose in his hands. Thana and Harl smile at each other as they make a stop to listen to the speech of Snow that is every year the same. He always welcomes the tributes and wishes everybody happy hunger games.
When they get back into a tunnel after the parade, Harl and Thana are being helped from the chariots and their hats are taken by their stylist as they make their way to the elevators and so on their floor.
