Chapter 81 - Mirror

When he arrived before the building and took an elevator to their temporary rooms here he was introduced to his prep team who soon began to work on him. Some levels ups of his pain resistance skill and quite a few hairs less Kaiser was finally presented to his personal stylist, a young women who was about his size although she seemed to be around twenty-five. She possessed ebony white and golden colored hair as well as a few crimson tattoos, which contrasted nicely with her slightly tanned skin, that originated at her hairline, went down to her temples and moved down her cheeks, throat before finally disappearing underneath the collar of the light blue dress she wore."Hello, my name is Aurumia and I'll be your stylist for this year," she smiled and motioned for him to pick up a comfortable robe that had been left for him nearby. Putting it on he and grabbing the wooden box he had carried with him all the way from the train and followed her. Walking towards a sliding door in the wall they arrive at a large table with fitting couches on both sides.

"Sit down please." She instructed. "We have much to discuss. While both you and the girl were being prepared I had a pleasant chat with your mentors on your personality. Although I knew a bit about each one of you they have helped me out immensely. With their help as well as with my partner, who should soon start informing Aster, we have developed the outfit you'll be wearing for this years opening ceremony as well for your interviews."

[I hope for her that she made something acceptable. If she screws this up a small accident might happen.]

"Continue, please" Kaiser said instead, lightly smiling. She blinked for a few seconds, her forehead covered in wrinkles as she stared into space. Finally her face brightens up and relaxes as she touches her belly. "Food! That's what I forgot. Do you have any preferences. Because I was too busy working on your outfits until the last minute I forgot to order the food for us. Here!" With that she hands Kaiser a large menu with different kinds of food written on it next to small ill.u.s.trations. "I'll take two number nines as well as a number six with extra dip." was what he finally told her. As soon as he had finished she pulled a small speaker connected to a flexible tube up from underneath the table and whispered her orders inside. Soon afterwards the center of the table opened up to reveal many different kinds of food. Kaisers 'Number Nines' consisted of large portions of slightly salted fries while his 'Number 6' was a large Steak with a lot of sauce as well as a bit of salad. Dipping his fries in the sauce he began feasting.

His order however was nowhere comparable to what the woman across from him ate. Piles of noodles, covered with sauce and minced meat, rolls filled with meat and vegetables, delicious tarts with different contents, pancakes dripping with syrup, marmalade or even steamed apples were presented before her. Yet it didn't seem to impress her even in the slightest as she cleaned one plate after another. Already after she had cleaned her third large one was he impressed but she kept on going until he didn't know how she even managed to fit everything without breaking the very fabric of reality. Despite her large meal she still finished earlier than him as he had at some point stopped to eat when face with this absurdity. As soon as he noticed her staring at his food he hurried to consume what was his, fearing that else it would be taken from him. How a women of her size eat so much and still remained slim confused him and despite everything he had stored within his memories he didn't manage to fin an explanation. Everything he could do was draw references to a few animes with similar characters but this is were everything ended.

Still overwhelmed he was taken by surprise when she stood up. "What are you waiting for?" she asked. "Aren't you going to tell me more about my costume?" she just laughed while still walking towards the elevator. "I think it would be better for me to show you instead of simply talking about it. There isn't much that I can tell you about it anyway as I doubt you are too familiar with the subject of design. Additionally I have always followed the motto of: Actions speak louder than words" with that she entered the elevator and waited. Soon after, having cleaned a few remaining fries from his plate he entered as well. Moving down one floor they came into a small room. Aurumia grabbed him by the hand and pulled him towards the left door. Entering a large room even bigger than all the previous ones filled with make up utensils, enormous mirrors as well as a big closet and much more Kaiser felt a bit overwhelmed for the moment, the strong emotions of surprise and anticipation still influencing him to a large degree even after he had spent a long time trying learn how to control them. After he had been pushed into a soft armchair in front of a large mirror Aurumia and the two girls and a single guy which were members of his prep team opened up the large closet. Inside a large variety of suits, dresses as well as a large spectrum of other things were stored inside. Large drawers at the sides had been stuffed full of needles, threads, make up utensils, measuring devices and more in a seemingly chaotic manner. After some time of searching they returned from inside. "You must excuse me," said Aurumia. "This one here is my part of my personal workshop so it's a bit messy since I know where my things are regardless of where I put them. Now let me show you what prepared for you. I had already made a plan for this outfit and created the basics before speaking to your mentors and seeing you. Since I didn't know your exact size I had to improvise but what I'll give you wasn't too much work and we still have time to improve it before the ceremony starts."

Going around his upper body with a measuring tape before asking him to stand up to measure his lower body. Scribbling down everything in a small notebook she asked the young man on his prep team to come forwards. "Augustus. Please put a few clothes on him for a bit and tend to his needs. We'll be back soon."

With that Aurumia and the other two members left. After a few minutes of comfortable silence they return before stripping him of the warm pullover and trousers as well as forcing him to leave his sweets and hot chocolate behind to wear his costume. Closing his eyes he waited as they dressed him up which merely took a few seconds. Looking at his reflection in the large mirror he was surprised by what he saw. A long robe with a high collar which was becoming more tattered the closer it was to the ground. It was tight along his arms and upper body but became wider afterwards. It wasn't purely black however as golden wheat ears adorned it in a few placed. A thin almost see-through black veil like tattered cape had been attached to his shoulders. Black leather boots went up to half of his shins. From the sides an object touched his hand. Without even thinking he grabbed it in reflex. A large black scythe without any grips with the curved blade having a shining silver hue, a bit taller than himself was now rested in his hands.

Aurumia who had been standing at his side and handed him the scythe moved towards his back before caressing his right cheek and pulling his hair over the high collar letting the main part fall to the back but leaving a few strands of his long smooth hair fall over his shoulders to his chest as she spoke.

"A bit ironic isn't it? A tool for farming an sustaining life now used as a tool to end it. In the past you reaped wheat and grass but in the near future the only thing you'll reap are lives. And you'll not only kill those you dislike but everyone regardless of status or level of friendship. Just like killing and death your robe is so simple and almost plain yet through it also beautiful."

She move to his front before cupping his face in her hands, whispering towards him. "You'll be my killer and I'll bet on you. Don't disappoint me. I'm expecting a good show from you."

Moving back her mood suddenly changed. What had been serious and creepy previously had now been replaced by a happily smiling face. "Now let's get you going with a slight trace of make up." Soon after Kaiser had been changed only a slight bit. His skin now shining a bit more and his lips appear to be even more luscious. In all the black clothing, his dark skin color and black hair his glowing green eyes stand out even more. When they move towards the lower floor and through another door in the hall into the stables next to it after Kaiser had handed over his wooden box to the young man Augustus with the order of handing it to someone who would take it to his room in the training center they meet up with Aster and her team. Interestingly her prep team had also only one guy with the other two being female. Perhaps a custom in the Capitol? Her stylist was male which had been explained to have a specific reason. Every tribute would receive a stylist opposite to his gender as they knew the targeted audience as well as their general preferences.

Smiling Kaiser and Aster moved to the chariot drawn by four brown horses meant to symbolize the earth which nurtured our crops. Once they stood there they first got the opportunity to evaluate each others outfits fully. Aster wore a dress with a light green and brown background looking like it had been made from vines, trees and grasses had he not felt that it was fabric when he had helped her to get on the chariot he would have been fooled. Countless colorful flowers bloomed all over it, spreading a soft and pleasant odor around the chariot. Violet, blue and purple flowers had also been woven into her honey-blonde hair, contrasting with it, her deep blue eyes and her light skin color. Just as he had observed her she had looked at him. Both smiled once more when their eyes met only to be interrupted by their stylists.

"Wonderful, isn't it? Live and death united in one district. Black and white. Light and dark. Two sides of a coin, so different yet so deeply intertwined and connected that one cannot exist without the other." said Aurumia. "How dramatic" mumbled Asters stylist. "Why do you always have to go out of your way to make it sound so grand. It looks good and it's a unique design. That's all I need to know. Don't make such a big fuss." Hearing that Aurumia looked like she wanted to murder him in cold blood. "That's why I'll be the one to talk to possible sponsors with the mentors and not you! How can you not understand and enjoy this! Stupid idiot!"

Asters stylist opens his mouth to reply in a probably extremely vicious way but before he could begin outside the building, all around the capitol, the opening music begins. The massive doors in front of the chariots slide open reveling the path between many onlookers in the stands on both sides of the road towards the city circle where the President would speak a few words to all of them.

Slowly the chariots in front of them move forwards one after the other. Before both Kaiser and Aster leave however Aurumia climbs the chariot as well before whispering something into Aster's ear. Causing her to flinch before swallowing and looking towards Kaiser who merely raised an eyebrow at their behavior before facing forwards again, holding his scythe tightly in his left hand which was closer to the edge of their chariot. Soon their chariot began to move as well and shortly before they could leave the shadow of the building Aster moved closer towards him and held onto the crook of his arm.

With her slightly blushing they entered the street into the view of the dozens of cameras that were filming the ceremony.