#tribute parade

[heavensbeehall]

"Catching Fire", Chapter 15

Part 2: The Quell

Chapter 15: The Preps keep crying when Katniss arrives in the Capitol. Cinna's new costume turns her into a burning ember. She goes down to the chariots and meets Finnick Odair. Katniss thinks he's creepy but I have read these books before so I know she's wrong. They do the Tribute Parade. Chaff kisses Katniss and she doesn't like it. Johanna strips naked and she doesn't like it. Peeta tells her they are teasing her and she's mad. Also. Darius is their new Avox.

Thoughts:

-- Katniss thinks she "has" to console the Preps and that it's annoying. But she could also just cry with them, but I don't think she can allow herself to be vulnerable in front of them.

-- How ugly do we think the District 10 costumes were? I'm picturing one of those inflatable cow Halloween costumes.

Quotes:

"Don't worry. I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don't hurt anyone but myself."

D: D: D:

Cinna knows exactly what he is doing with the Mockingjay costume. In addition to designing "dozens" of wedding dresses, he then remade the winning one with an entire other dress underneath it. And I can't help but feel that--if he got the preps away safely--he could have gotten himself away, but he chose to stay. I am assuming he wanted to be with Katniss at the launch room. (Either that or he treats his life as nothing but a performance art piece?) Didn't want her to go in alone. But she did anyway. D: D: D:

"Portia and I spent a lot of hours watching fires," says Cinna.

Are they together? Or just work partners?

Finnick Odair is something of a living legend in Panem. Since he won the Sixty-fifth Hunger Games when he was only fourteen, he's still one of the youngest victors. Being from District 4, he was a Career, so the odds were already in his favor, but what no trainer could claim to have given him was his extraordinary beauty. Tall, athletic, with golden skin and bronze-colored hair and those incredible eyes. While other tributes that year were hardpressed to get a handful of grain or some matches for a gift, Finnick never wanted for anything, not food or medicine or weapons. It took about a week for his competitors to realize that he was the one to kill, but it was too late. He was already a good fighter with the spears and knives he had found in the Cornucopia. When he received a silver parachute with a trident--which may be the most expensive gift I've ever seen given in the arena--it was all over. District 4's industry is fishing. He'd been on boats his whole life. The trident was a natural, deadly extension of his arm. He wove a net out of some kind of vine he found, used it to entangle his opponents so he could spear them with the trident, and within a matter of days the crown was his.

I am getting tired of people trying to tell me Finnick and Annie weren't Careers. Finnick definitely was and Annie probably was. It taking a week for his competitors to realize how popular he was suggests that going in at 14 was a ploy to make him less threatening to the others. Possibly he didn't join the Career pack because of his age (though it doesn't specificy.) This passage also hints at Mags, his mentor, having another skill besides making fish hooks. She must have squeezed a lot of money out of Capitol citizens for that trident and timed it's arrival strategically.

I really want a District 4 book because I want to know about their Career training system. It seems slightly different from the other two, more individualized perhaps.

Because of his youth, they couldn't really touch him for the first year or two.

The Capitol won't sex traffic a 14-year-old kid. But once he's sixteen, that's fine, right?

(It's actually kind of sad that multiple people tease her for being "pure"--as Peeta says--uncomfortable with nudity and kissing. They must have all had fucked up sexual awakenings.)

He's draped in a golden net that's strategically knotted at his groin so that he can't technically be called naked, but he's about as close as you can get.

I hope Mags' costume isn't matching!!!

Probably this drives most people crazy. But for some reason all I can think of is old Cray, salivating over some poor, starving young woman.

Cray is not far off from the aura he is giving off. Maybe I shouldn't bring up my dark Finnick headcanons. But... his persona must be mimicking people he knew, right? So... was he exposed to sexuality before he was 14??? Or did this Finnick not emerge until after the Games?

"Do you think we'd have ended up like this if only one of us had won?" he asks, glancing around at the other victors. "Just another part of the freak show?"

"Sure, especially you," I say.

I think Katniss would've ended up like Johanna or Haymitch if she had won alone, actually. Though if Prim survived she would try to keep it together for her sister. I don't know about Peeta. Katniss seems convinced he'd be worse than her. I could see him ending up like the Morphlings, maybe, since they have so much in common (and also the only way I see him winning alone is by hiding in his rock). But I could also see him being a really good mentor, like Mags.

The woman, Seeder, looks almost like she could be from the Seam, with her olive skin and straight black hair streaked with silver. Only her golden brown eyes mark her as from another district. She must be around sixty, but she still looks strong, and there's no sign she's turned to liquor or morphling or any other chemical form of escape over the years. Before either of us says a word, she embraces me. I know somehow it must be because of Rue and Thresh. Before I can stop myself, I whisper, "The families?"

This is a small moment but it's important to me and I'm sad it was cut from the film.

[gladiatefm]

@reblrths

she is lagging behind everyone else , running with both hands tied behind her back and falling over at every hurdle . unbalanced , this is how katniss has felt since arriving here . after tonight , she feels as though she's about to tip over at any second . her interviews had gone as best as she could pull off , her desperation to free rye from all of this was written so plainly across her face that katniss could feel the sympathy votes falling at her feet , even with that damned training score . but peeta — they pulled the rug from under her feet , and not for the first time .

they're herded into the lounge and she finds him swiftly , her husband like a beacon she hones in on , something she has learned with time . without them at her side , she so often feels lost , as though the bond forged in the games has become a crutch , something she cannot live without . even when she's as pissed as she feels tonight . " what the hell was that ? " she hisses , her fingers reaching out to grab at their arm , voice low but tensions high . " that's not something you wanted to run by me first ? "

[jouleshoover]

Joules Hoover's outfit for the 136th Tribute Parade

The outfit is designed so that the black wiring appears to be sending electric pulses throughout the outfit, powering it as District Five powers the rest of Panem.

Joules hates it

[juno-dearborn]

FARINA BANCROFT: TRIBUTE PARADE

Nine's tributes glitter at the center of a chariot covered in bushels of dried grasses, wheat, and carefully selected prairie flowers. She is told this is "understated". The gems on Farina's dress weigh her down, as if they cry to be returned to safety of home beneath the earth. She strokes them like she would a homesick child, her way of saying back, I know, I know.

[tiberius-delvaux]

TASK 004: TRIBUTE PARADE (OUTFIT)

There were never strawberries like the ones we had that sultry afternoon sitting on the step of the open french window facing each other your knees held in mine the blue plates in our laps the strawberries glistening in the hot sunlight we dipped them in sugar looking at each other not hurrying the feast for one to come the empty plates laid on the stone together with the two forks crossed and I bent towards you sweet in that air in my arms abandoned like a child from your eager mouth the taste of strawberries in my memory lean back again let me love you

-- Strawberries by Edwin Morgan

[slate-skylar]

District Twelve: One of the outer districts, this is nonetheless a crucial one. These brave and hardy workers descend deep into the earth each day to mine the coal that keeps our nation running.

Over the years, the stylists have stretched the boundaries of fashion when it comes to their tributes' parade looks. Favoring the flashy and outlandish, they've paid homage to their respective districts using the latest in Capitol trends, all with the hope of catching the audience's eye.

This year, though, the District Twelve stylist has been given strict orders. There is to be nothing fancy, nothing exciting in District Twelve's outfits for the chariot ride. While others may be dressed head to toe in neon, or made to look like ocean waves, District Twelve is to be, quite specifically, only exactly what they are. A District of miners, workers. To remind everyone that Meta Morphic, who calls himself Slate Skylar, is really just Slate Flint, a boy from the Seam.

[alphacentaurirunaway]

🖤

[gladiatefm]

she is disgusted with herself , with the hands that want to reach for him , the body that wants to disappear within her husband , and the lips that cannot express themselves because she doesn't know who she is . she is thirty six years old , the mother of two children and katniss has never felt more juvenile in her entire life . they're hurting , she can see it when she looks at him , their pain coils itself around her heart , claims the giver of the hurt .

" it's easier if i carry it alone . " she mumbles , sounding about as old as she feels , a kid throwing a tantrum the way that willow still does when she's told it's bedtime . the very thought of her daughter causes her legs to shake , her teeth to grind . she will never see that little face again , will never comfort her , press her lips to her hair and breathe in how much she loves her .

she watches them a moment , her gaze is furious , terrified . can she admit that she's afraid ? peeta must know it just by looking across the balcony at her , but she is not ready to admit it to herself . " you think i can accept losing you ? i know i'm the one that's leaving but i can't stand to — " she cuts herself off , presses a hand to her mouth . she keeps a tight hold on her emotions and always has , her anger fuels everything but the pain of the last twenty years is still sitting on her back , allowing her to carry it . " i know . i'm not being fair . . . i don't want to hurt you . " she replies , her voice shaky and her eyes , shifty and shameful , cannot meet his . " i thought it was what you wanted . i guess it's what i wanted and i was just assuming . "

it's an awful thing to feel so disconnected from one's self. his body wanted her; peeta longed for katniss always. his hands ached to touch her, his body burned each time she touched him. but his mind knew better, his mind knew this was a distraction from everything. his mind knew this was katniss saying goodbye, but it was also katniss trying to make peeta feel better about it. there was nothing that could make him feel better about it, not until both katniss and rye were safe, and he would not get his wish so easily.

peeta looks up at her again. he stands up straight, a sigh falling from his lips. he didn't want to push her away, not after the night they've had. she's punishing herself already, peeta knows that. "you aren't carrying that burden alone, katniss, i thought that was clear," is anything ever clear with her? just when peeta thinks he's gotten a grasp on how her mind works, she does something completely unexpected. opening up, kissing him -- it was just to give him a real piece of her to hang onto before she leaves him.

"even if you're saying goodbye to me, i can't say goodbye to you. you'll be with me, with us -- willow, rye, for the rest of our lives. do you think i could accept losing you so easily?" perhaps if the roles were reversed, she could for them. she'd look at it pragmatically. the question is right on the tip of his tongue, but he won't ask it, not when he fears the answer either way. if she could, it would hurt for the obvious. if she couldn't -- it would hurt more, he thinks. "maybe it's not what you want to hear. but i won't -- i can't let you use this as a distraction, katniss. it just hurts too much."

[heavensbeehall]

While we are talking about fashion, today I spent a lot of time looking at the auction catalog for props and costumes worn in the first movie (honestly some of those stylists for the Tribute parade should be ashamed), and other ones for "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" on this site .

They have a "monolith" with all the victors from District 4 on it. And it says "Mags Cohen"--I assume because that was the actress' surname and it was never given in the books, only on a website to promote the movie.

Anyway I am going to go be sad the actress passed away.

Catching Fire starting on Monday!!!

[juno-dearborn]

TASK 006. TRIBUTE PARADE OUTFIT.

Ripley's first choice wouldn't have been this, but she certainly has felt worse in some things. She has an appreciation for a healthy pop of color, and the hair dye will wash out, plus she was allowed to pick her earrings. As far as tribute outfits go, she's dressed, she's not in a ball gown, and they didn't make her wear heels-- it's a win.

[vampirehizzies]

crazy how back when book!tbosas first came out everyone was discussing and analyzing each character, especially l.g & sejanus, and calling out snow for the selfish narcissist he was... then the movie comes out and everyone's like "oh wait young snow is hot" and suddenly the fact that he's a creepy future fascist that used other people to achieve his own goals goes out the window and the fandom becomes obsessed with young!snow

[gladiatefm]

"  eventually  ,  but  not  right  now  .  don't  you  let  this  get  to  you  ,  kez  .  that's  what  they  want  .  "  he's  gruff  ,  but  he  cares  .  what  happened  on  those  screens  should  never  have  touched  her  ,  it  was  meant  for  the  eyes  of  the  rebels  they  were  warning  ,  those  of  them  who  are  next  should  it  continue  this  way  .  and  it  will  —  these  games  are  set  to  be  the  bloodiest  yet  and  curio  is  sure  the  most  spilled  will  be  outside  of  the  arena  .  "  i  can't  give  you  those  answers  ,  kid  .  but  don't  dig  into  it  ,  don't  look  too  hard  .  you're  safer  that  way  .  "  he  would  give  her  more  than  this  if  he  could  ,  vague  non  answers  worded  like  ominous  warnings  were  nothing  useful  ,  but  to  go  further  than  that  means  danger  for  her  .  he's  not  willing  to  take  that  risk  .  he  sighs  ,  hears  that  shake  in  her  voice  and  reaches  to  wrap  a  gentle  arm  around  her  .  "  you're  gonna  be  fine  ,  kid  .  trust  me  ?  "

“   you  and  i  both  know  our  luck  has  to  run  out  eventually  .   ”    that’s  all  that  pooled  through  her  veins  ,  after  all  :  luck  .  the  arena  happened  to  favor  those  in  district  four  .  the  marine  life  happened  to  resemble  everything  she  came  to  know  growing  up  .  the  careers  happened  to  be  weaker  that  year  .  being  in  the  dark  was  good  in some  cases  ,  but  she  knew  a  streak  of  good  luck  was  bound  to  come  to  an  end  .  kez  knew  his  answer  before  he  verbalized  it  ,  heart  hit  with  a  pang  of  sadness  as  she  remembers  those  ripped  away  from  them  in  mere  seconds  behind  the  shade  of  a  screen  .  could  it  have  been  prevented  ?  the  list  of  questions  was  endless  ,  but  nobody  had  answers  .    “   i  just  don’t  understand  why  ,  though  .  why  them  ,  specifically  ?  it  doesn’t  make  any  sense  .  who’s  to  stop  them  from  getting  rid  of  …   ”    crack  in  her  own  tone  cuts  herself  off  ,  kez  barely  daring  to  even  vocalize  her  darkest  fears  .  they  were  next  ,  she  was  sure  of  it  .  all  of  them  .

[embersofhope-if]

the way mc needs this necklace IMMEDIATELY

[alphacentaurirunaway]

Awake and unafraid. Asleep or dead.

[millionsknives]

love how we get a full list of all 24 capitol kids and all 24 tributes lined up next to each other as foils and honestly it feels like a district-kids-vs-capitol-kids games before the games even happen because the pre-game beef is so understandably crazy that 17 of the 48 kids end up dead, missing, or hospitalized before the official games even start

[gladiatefm]

it's later than late when apollo returns to the tribute center , but his lips still tingle with the sensation of alex's kisses — swollen though they may be from the caresses of another . peacekeepers escort him back inside , the party long dead and the lobby emptied of bodies . there's a sense of stillness he's afraid to disrupt , but his voice is tired when it breaks the silence , asking the peacekeepers to let him go up alone . " i'm tired . please . " but no such luck , they bring him to the sixth floor and ensure he's in his room before they finally leave .

he showers because he doesn't want to smell like another woman when he goes to alex . quickly and efficiently he washes away the scent of expensive perfume , the lipstick from his neck , his chest . . . finally he dresses himself and sneaks from the apartment , straight into the elevator and up to twelve where , thankfully , they haven't gone as far as placing an armed guard outside of just yet .

apollo's eyes , adjusting to the dimness , land on alex almost immediately . it's late enough that even the avoxes have left , and so he tip toes to the couch where he crouches down beside them . " you've been crying . " he whispers , watching them a moment with a gaze torn between adoration and devastation . something tells him that tonight was no accident . " alex , " he murmurs , his voice low in the quiet of the night . he pushes a hair from their cheek , presses his lips to his and feels the flutter of their lashes against his own . " told you that you'd wake up to this face . aren't you lucky ? " when he smiles , it's clear that he's exhausted , that he's been through just another night in the life of the capitol's clutch . " i'm so sorry , alex . i can explain . "

~

it was violent, but they had all seen more violent deaths--had a hand in more violent deaths. it was the suddenness that really drove it home. and alex wishes he could give apollo the answers--the reason why heath and the others met such a grisly end--televised no less. but he can't. it might bring him peace, ease him mind but...at far too high a cost. even knowing would put apollo in danger. would make him a target. so the lie slips easily from alex. "...i don't know." his gaze drops to the floor, unable to look at apollo as he says it.

and there's another one of those laughs, quiet, something reserved just for apollo--just for this moment between them, "i'll make it up to you. i promise." something in their gaze goes soft as he looks at apollo, as genuine as that promise. the disappointment isn't one-sided, but the way it flashes across the other victor's face isn't helping the fact that alex doesn't want to leave. neither does that laugh, that smile, that promise that has their heart racing in their chest. he promised. "i'm holding you to that, four." and his smile lights up his face, holding onto apollo's hand as long as they could, until it slips from their grasp and alex is left alone--racing heart and racing thoughts. he promised.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

and alex had waited--minutes turned into hours and still they waited, growing more and more anxious with each second that apollo didn't show up. he could hear the party winding down...but he was still alone. and something in their chest knotted, grew tangled and twisted--made them feel sick to their stomach. the faces on those screens flashed into alex's mind and they wouldn't leave. not even when katniss found them and coaxed them back inside, not when he clung to her arm as words tumbled out--did i lose him already? did they take him already?

they were exhausted, but they shoved sleep off, even as they got back to the district twelve penthouse, curled up on a couch in the main room, gaze occasionally flickering to the door in the hopes that apollo would walk right through it. but he didn't. he promised. they aren't sure when their eyes drift closed--still wearing the outfit designed for the parade, hair still pulled up in that messy ponytail, makeup that was so painstakingly applied now a mess, ruined by tears that stained his cheeks. just be okay. i don't care if you changed your mind--just be okay.