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Stay safe and take care! ~ CANGEL

***

Scarlet Wolfe

     After twenty minutes of practice, it had been clear that Scarlet would still be in danger of falling flat on her face in her heels if she walked unassisted in the floor length dress. It had been Cassandra to decide that she would escort Scarlet to the Chariots in order to see to it that all of her hard work not be ruined by Scarlet's incompetence.

     Scarlet could not even find fault in her words, when, dressed in that dress and heels, the very picture of flawless elegance, she felt every bit as incompetent as Cassandra accused her of being.

     So, Cassandra escorted Scarlet to the lowest level of the Remake Center where the tributes would board their respected chariots and make their grand debut to the large crowds of awaiting Capitol citizens.

     She saw the other tributes getting ready to mount their chariots with their stylist or mentors at their sides. The horses stirred under their harnesses and pawed at the floor, getting more anxious and antsy the longer they had to wait. She looked around, searching for her brother.

     She located him next to the pristine black chariot that was already hooked to a pair of tall, sleek black horses with white harnesses and straps. She could just barely make out her brother, deep in conversation with a person that she didn't recognize. She couldn't stop her grimace when she saw Penelope also standing near him as well.

     As Scarlet walked across the large room, holding onto her stylists steady arm, she felt an increasing number of eyes on her. She recognized the Careers from watching the replay of their Reaping's. They stood between the first and second chariots, dressed in their luxurious costumes, already declaring their alliance to the rest of the room.

     While the early display of four strong and united Careers might intimidate the other tributes, for Scarlet, the worry and stress she had felt on the train melted away instantly. Unlike Crimson, she wasn't strategic, no matter how hard she tried. She often became fixed on what she didn't know and all the potential things that could go wrong. Scarlet did best with a general plan laid out before her, leaving her to gut reactions and moment-by-moment decisions.

    The only thing that she knew for certain was that she had no plans to form alliances before or during the Games. She didn't want the other tributes as friends. In fact, Scarlet kind of wanted them to hate her.

     And she excelled at making people hate her.

     Urban and Ambrosia from District 2 noticed her first, their eyes drawn to her by the enchanting dress Cassandra had put her in. Scarlet's lips curled into a smirk, and she blew them a kiss and gave them a little wave with her free hand as she passed by.

     Ambrosia rolled her eyes, dismissing Scarlet without a second thought but Urban wasn't able to do that so easily. She watched as Urban said something she couldn't discern to the District 1tributes, but the meaning became clear as he drew a line across his neck and pointed at Scarlet. The four of them looked back at Scarlet and broke out into a unified laugh.

    Scarlet could ignore them. She could face forward, tip her chin up and show them that they didn't bother her. If she did that, they would continue in their discussions and promptly forget about her. And she didn't want that.

     It was clear that none of them actually considered her a threat to them. But even so, Urban, at the very least, had been bothered by the lack of fear that he had managed to instill in her. And she intended to use that to her advantage to stoke the flames of their hatred.

     Scarlet had no doubt that even one-on-one, let alone, one-one-four, they would each outmatch her in both skill and strength. It didn't matter how much food she ate or how much knowledge she gained when training. She would never be able to outperform them physically. She had to beat them mentally.

     Hatred would make them sloppy in the Arena. And sloppiness would make them beatable.

     Scarlet let her smile widen, refusing to ignore them or let them dismiss her so easily. She was not scared of them. Not in the Arena and certainly not here, where they could do no actual harm to her.

     When she finally looked away, she saw that both tributes from District 3 were already boarded on their chariot. The tech gadgets and green pieces stuck to their body might have made sense, given that their district was known for their technological advancements and gadgets, but she couldn't say that it would help them gain sponsors.

     The pieces were stuck in random places over a shapeless full body black suit they'd been stuck in. All it seemed to do was emphasize their lack of size and muscles.

     Scarlet might be thin and underfed, but at least she had some muscles to show due to the workouts that her and her brothers had done each day in the old basement.

     She recognized the District 4 tributes instantly by the carefully placed nets over their bodies. While their backs were to Scarlet as she walked past, could still pick out Loach and Roe individually as they talked to their mentors and stylists. Facing her, but not paying attention to her, was none other than Finnick Odair. Scarlet was having a hard time looking away.

     The first time she'd seen him in person was two years ago on his Victory Tour. Finnick had been fresh from Victory in the Arena then. District 14 had been his first stop, but she had watched him from the television screen as he had made his rounds throughout Panem, causing a sensation with his dazzling looks and charisma.

     He was taller now than he had been two years ago. His shoulders were broader, and his body was more filled out. He was definitely more confident and even more full of himself—though she had always thought that he'd never been lacking in either of those departments.

     "Remember, be confident. Believe in yourself. The more you believe you can win, the more you can make them believe." She reads his lips and tucks the advice he meant for his tributes in the back of her mind. It was good advice.

     Finnick glanced up, meeting her eyes. Her stomach fluttered. She buried the discomfort and winked at him wanting to prove without a doubt that she was not bothered by anyone here. Not even in the wake of the beloved Capitol darling.

     Maybe she could even throw him off his game. After all, how many people did he meet that were not wrapped up in his charm instantly.

     For a moment, she thought that she had succeeded as his smile dropped from his face, but his eyes seemed to see everything that she was trying to hide as he scanned her person from head to toe, lingering on her hand gripping Cassandra's arm. It wasn't long before that easy grin returned once more to his face, and he gave her a nod of acknowledgement in return.

     At this, his tributes turned around. She watched their eyes scan the room before quickly landing on her. Scarlet waved at them, blowing them each a kiss as well, since it had worked so well the first time, might as well keep consistent.

     Instead of dismissal though, she got an even better reaction. While both Roe and Loach glared at her tease, Roe went so far as to take a few marching steps forward as if she actually intended to start a fight with Scarlet.

     "Who do you think you are, little girl?!"

     Finnick grabbed hold of Roe's shoulder, keeping her from moving forward any further. He murmurs something in the girl's ear and Roe reluctantly turns away from Scarlet though she can still see the tense fury tightening the muscles of her back with the barely there clothing that she is wearing.

     Too bad.

     Fighting wasn't allowed between tributes before the final countdown reached zero. But it would have been fun to see how far she had gotten before she remembered that fact.

    Scarlet's head fell back, and she let a little laugh loose from her mouth before returning her gaze back to their large group.

     Roe wasn't looking at her, but at Finnick who was still holding her shoulder. Scarlet could read the words off his lips perfectly as he said, "Don't worry about her. She's fish-fodder once she gets to the Arena. Nothing more."

     Fish fodder? As in, food for the fish? As in, she was nothing more than an easy kill for the District 4 tributes. Scarlet had never felt embarrassed before, but as she processed the words coming from his mouth, that feeling licked at her insides, igniting a fury inside herself like none other before.

     Finnick's green eyes found hers as if he could feel the change in the atmosphere. Smiles and winks forgotten; she glared across twenty feet of open space between them. She hoped he could see the anger in her eyes. She wanted him to see her hate. She wanted him to see how much she wished it was him entering the Arena as the male tribute for this year's Hunger Games. She wanted him to choke on his own words as she gutted him.

     Finnick could be his own damned fish fodder.

     Cassandra's hand settling on top of her own pulled her attention away from Finnick. Scarlet glances over at her stylist, to see her raised eyebrow pointed right back at her. Right. She had to control herself.

     Scarlet let out a slow breath, and the smirk returned to her face once more, but she couldn't seem to help herself as her eyes cut back to the District 4 area.

     Finnick's attention followed her, even as his tributes got onto their chariot, just moments away from making their first debut. His lips were pulled down in a frown, his brow pinched, and his green eyes were dark. Had she ever seen his expression look so stormy before?

     With her smirk back in place, Scarlet looked forward, tipping her chin up and holding her head up high.

     Just wait until the Games begin, Finnick Odair.

     As Scarlet drew closer, she saw that her brother had been entirely remade. Like her, his face had been washed and scrubbed and polished. His skin shone like alabaster under the Capitol lights, creating a sharp contrast between his black curls and pale skin. His eyebrows and eyelashes were still black but made darker and slightly thicker than before. His lips were their normal color but frosted slightly.

     In his hair was the same white dusting that covered her face. As she got closer, she could see the same snowflakes spread across his face that would reflect the different lights at different times. He was dressed in a white suit, like hers, that looked like hardened leather. She doubted he had a metal corset on like she did, but she noticed his shoulders were broader than before. Metal shined from his wrists. And a black wolf was pinned to his shirt, matching the white wolf that hung from her neck.

     Scarlet sucked in a breath as she stared at it, a sharp burst of fear working beneath her ribs.

     She glanced up at Crimson, silently seeking answers to questions that she could not ask aloud.

     His lips were curled and his eyes calm as his fingers brushed the wolf pin. "They noticed your necklace at the Reaping and wanted us to match."

     She nodded in response. That made sense.

     She touched the white wolf pendant hanging around her neck.

     They didn't know anything about that.

     The stylists were just trying to use what they could. They saw the wolf pendant around her neck and wanted to have something like that for Crimson. That was all it was.

     Penelope Bright walked between them, her eyes scanning Scarlet from head to toe, her face twisted up in an ugly grimace. "Well, who knew you would be so beautiful after the stylist got ahold of you?" She looked at Cassandra. "It was hard to tell she was even human underneath those old clothes and all that grime." She tittered out a laugh and glanced between Crimson and her. 

     Penelope's chin tips up with the first hint of pride that Scarlet had seen since Penelope had named the tributes of District 14. "We finally have presentable District 14 Tributes!"

     "Yeah, Cassandra really makes miracles happen. If you ask really nicely, maybe she'll give you some pointers." Scarlet muttered under her breath.

     "You know there is something to be said about having some manners!" Penelope shouted, pointing a finger at Scarlet's face. Scarlet saw the other tributes, mentors, and stylists looking over in this direction. Penelope continued speaking. "It's too bad that when they cleaned you up, they couldn't clean up your mouth, you vile little—"

     She cuts off, looking towards Cassandra, with a flushed face and her chest rising and falling rapidly. Scarlet looked over at Cassandra as well.

     "It's time to get on."

     Crimson stepped up first onto the chariot assigned to them, while Cassandra helped her up. After a few final adjustments to her clothing, she stepped back, examining her work with a keen and discerning eye. Cassandra looked to Crimson's stylist, who just finished adjusting his clothing and gave her a final nod. They both step back.

     Cassandra looked back toward Scarlet. "Be memorable, Scarlet Wolfe. Use what you are. But remember to use what they offer you as well." Her eyes shift to Penelope briefly before giving Scarlet a hard look that she ignored. In this, they would just have to disagree.

     Still, Scarlet reached out and grabbed Cassandra's hand, holding her slender black fingers in her pale ones. So different. And yet... Scarlet looked up into Cassandra's face. "Thank you, Cassandra. I hope your brother will be proud of you."

     She squeezed Scarlet's hand. "This is about you. Be bold."

     Then she let go and walked away.

     Massive doors in front of the first chariot slowly slid open, revealing the crowd-lined streets of the Capitol.

     The first Chariot started moving forward, pulled by white horses. Augustus and Elixia both looked beautiful—even in the distance, covered in silver and jewels—white ones that sparkle in the light. It makes sense that that is what they would wear—they wore jewels every year, only ever varying in color and style of dress—since District 1 made luxury items for the Capitol.

     The District 2 chariot was ready to follow. Urban and Ambrosia were dressed in gold plated armor. They looked like well-trained warriors. Skilled and deadly.

    If Scarlet was not here right now, one of them would likely be her pick to win from back home in District 14. Though she could not afford to think like that now, she still saw them as her toughest opponents, aside from the boy standing at her side.

     As they headed out, District 3's chariot carrying their tributes, started moving forward. Followed by the netted tributes of District 4.

     Fish fodder.

     She stewed silently in her rising fury as the rest of the districts moved forward, entering the streets of the Capitol one by one. It was impossible to move past or get over. All the respect she had held for Finnick was completely overridden by that one little comment.

     Fish fodder.

     A hand touched her arm. Scarlet glared over at her twin, jerking her arm away from his touch.

     He frowned at her. "What happened?"

     "Nothing." She sneered back at him, turning forward. She was ready to get this over with. Next, they'd have training. Then she could show them.

     She would show them all.

     And she couldn't wait for those District 4 tributes to go back to that golden-skinned moron and tell him that maybe she shouldn't be so easily dismissed once they were in the Arena. She wasn't fish fodder for anyone.

     Crimson pulled her arm, forcing her back toward him. She pulled herself out of his grasp, snapping her teeth at him. "I dare you to touch me again, Crimson."

     "We're up next, you idiot!" He hissed back, his eyes narrowed into slits. "Get yourself together, Scarlet or you are going to blow this for both of us."

     She looked forward, and sure enough, District 12, dressed as coalminers, was just leaving the open doors. They are next. She closed her eyes and took a breath, letting it out slowly. She counted to ten. Her lips curled upwards as her mask slips into place.

     Then their black horses pulled their chariot through the large doors, and Scarlet and Crimson entered the city street.

    The crowd roared their approval.

     The sky was darkening by the gradually setting sun and the Capitol used spotlights to highlight each of the tributes as they rode through the street.

     The crowd shouted and roared and though Scarlet could not hear it, she could feel their energy filling the open air. The heat of the crowd pressed against her make-up covered skin. Their energy filled her.

     Remember to use what you have. Scarlet recalled her stylists' words and turned toward Crimson, tapping his hand out of sight of the crowd. He turned toward her, a warm smile on his face though Scarlet knew he was still pissed at her from early.

     "They see us as the twins of District 14."

     "Yeah?"

     She grabbed his hand with hers. "Then let's be twins, one more time."

     As she pulled their hands into view of the crowds, her brother's smile widened. He raised their entwined hands high into the air and turned back to the crowd on his side of the Parade. Scarlet faced the crowds of the Capitol.

     "Look! District 14!"

     "It's the Twins!"

      She read the lips of some of the passing crowd members. They loved them.

      Scarlet blew them a kiss and she swore one of them actually fainted. Just fell to the ground. The crowd shifted about, burying them and she wondered if they'd be okay, then decided that she doesn't actually care.

     Scarlet laughed, showing teeth.

     Then her eyes caught on the large television screen hanging in the air above the chariots. It's Crimson and Scarlet's face that she saw on it. Crimson, playing up the crowd, oozing charm and confidence and Scarlet's wickedness shining through her exquisite makeup.

     Be bold.

    She looked straight at the screens and blew a kiss directly at it. On the screen, it looked as if she were blowing a kiss to the entirety of Panem.

     Remember me.

     Scarlet Wolfe of District 14.

     The crowds grew almost frenzied as they passed, her long-trained cape fluttering behind the chariot.

     The thirteen chariots filled the loop of the City Circle. Several buildings surround the Circle, and in every window and on every terrace, are the faces of the most prestigious citizens of the Capitol.

     Their horses pull their chariot to right in front of President Snow's mansion, coming to a complete halt ten feet away from District 12's chariot and tributes.

     President Snow gave the official welcome from the balcony directly in front of us, and about twenty feet above us. Even though she's seen him on the television screen plenty of times, she still can hardly believe that the tall, thin man with snow-white hair is the man that leads all of Panem. "...May the Odds be ever in your favor."

     Scarlet knew that there was the Nation's Anthem playing, but while everyone else heard it, she could only wait in the silence that surrounded her.

     The screens showed the faces of all thirteen districts and all twenty-six tributes. But as the chariots started to move once more, it's District 14 that is shown last and it would be their faces that would be remembered the most by the crowds of the Capitol.

     They circled around the Circle one final time before the Parade ended with each of the chariots disappearing into the Training Center.

     Scarlet and Crimson were the last ones to enter the Training Center. As they got off their chariot, she caught sight of the familiar faces of the Careers. Their displeasure was written all over their faces, but their dissatisfaction is something that Scarlet reveled in. She shrugged her shoulder at them and blew them all one final kiss.

     Scarlet caught the roll of Crimson's eyes as they walked side by side toward the doors that would lead them deeper into the Training Center. Penelope would be along to collect them soon, and Scarlet didn't want to stick around for longer than she had to.

     As much as she wanted the other tributes to hate her, she couldn't afford to be involved in any fight. Fights between the tributes before the start of the Games were strictly prohibited and the tributes involved were punished in the worst way possible.

     They were never allowed to win.

     Scarlet had every intention of winning this year's Hunger Games. 

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Hey! So curious on how you think Scarlet and Finnick's first real encounter went??? In my humble opinion...it could have gone a little better? 

Do you think Finnick really thinks Scarlet is fish fodder? Or do you think he's trying to boost morale in his tributes? I'm hedging my bets and going somewhere in the middle, but I'm super curious as to what you think!

Take care and stay safe! ~CANGEL

Kindly remember to vote!