lost | the hunger games

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❝usually i'm remarkably good natured. try me on a day that doesn't end in y.❞

jace herondale, city of ashes

☾

Ines never changed her classic style. She always stuck to that 2000's century theme with hints of the Capitol here and there.

After three grueling hours of being waxed in every place below my nose, scrubbed to the bone in scented oils and sand scrubs, facials, and every hair plucked to precise perfection, I sat on a velvet bench in nothing but a thin black robe.

I waited about two minutes before my stylist came bustling in with a bittersweet smile and open arms that I gladly accepted. "It's so good to see you, Nes."

"Six weeks is too long," she said softly. "Are you okay?"

Translation: Wanna kill anyone yet?

"I'm fine for now."

Ines stood in front of me in a white turtleneck with an extravagantly ruffled collar and cuffs. I liked her so much because that was where the Capitol style ended. Everything else was simple. Flawless and perfect, but simple. And she understood me and how fucking messed up everything was.

She was beaming excitedly at me, standing between four mannequins covered separately by cloths.

"Okay, so Aquellius and I couldn't agree on a design for the parade so we made two different designs. We want you and Finnick to decide on which to wear, and they're coming in a couple of minutes to put this slip under your robe." Ines tossed me a silk black gown. "I really don't understand why you're even given robes if they're going to be transparent."

Without a word, I took the dress and quickly put it on, not caring to cover myself. The first time I met Ines I was completely naked. There was nothing she hadn't seen before.

A knock came from the door, and I wrapped myself back up in the robe right as Finnick and Aquellius, Finnick's stylist. Finnick was also in a robe that matched mine. He gave me a two-fingered salute. "Hey, Pal."

I nudged him in response. Aquellius, dressed up in full turquoise eyeliner and hair, walked up next to Ines. "Hello, Pallas. Always a joy seeing you."

"And you too, Aquellius," I replied in equally as much fakeness. We never liked each other but we still pretended like we did. I smiled innocently. "So, the outfits for the parade?"

"Oh, yes!" Ines exclaimed. "Let's reveal them!"

I honestly couldn't care less about the parade outfits, but I knew that this was the only part of the Games that my stylist, who has been with me through thick and thin to make me look the least owned by the Capitol as possible, actually enjoyed and looked forward to. A chance to represent District Four the right way was something she held important.

"Okay, Me first!" cried Aquellius happily. He clapped his hands before getting a grip on the cloth on his side. "Ladies and gentleman, I give you—" He ripped the cloth off the mannequins. "Fishnets!"

It really was just fishnets. Knotted strategically so as not to reveal any specific parts. Finnick's was just to be tied around his waist, and mine was just as bad. My costume had two pieces to it. Two very small very loosely knotted fishnet strips.

The sound of Finnick's disbelieving laughter was the only thing heard for a good fifteen seconds. I blinked, staring at my outfit. "There's no way Pallas will be wearing that," he wheezed.

At first, my cheeks turned red with embarrassment, but then I realized what that costume might just do. There was a lot of time between the parade and the arena. Who knows what could happen after all of Panem changing their image of me from seeing me in that.