The Capitol, oh how she hated it. Every year she was made to return and to mentor the tributes from District one; to prepare them for the arena and how to win. Not only did she have to return for the Games, but also at Snow’s commands. You’d have thought that once you became a Victor that you would be left alone. Oh no. To the Capitol you were a superstar and everyone wanted a piece of you. And being labelled as beautiful, with lengthy curled blonde hair and startling green eyes, they wanted her. President Snow had sold her body to whoever demanded it. She would be showered with gifts and money, although she needed none. She was a property of Panem, and now once more she was to be their entertainment and her life put on the line, as she was going back into the arena. It was the year of the Quarter Quell, and that meant something extra special for the games. In the first year, each district had to vote for their tributes. The very thought of nominating which child to enter the Games was disturbing, although now District 1 and 2 had a distinct advantage in their strength and power. The second Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes were entered. And this year, two previous victors were reaped from the existing tributes from each district.

Cashmere walked besides her brother, Gloss. Their parents were extremely proud of the pair of them; the fact that they had two victors in the family had always been a source of great pride. Her parents were very hard on her and Gloss, entering them into training as soon as they could. They were very strict, verging on unloving. There was a chance she may not see them again, she was going up against years of winners. Having watched on the train who the other victors were, she wasn’t in anyway afraid of the competition. She didn’t want to fight; she had made friends with most of them. Having won the games 10 years ago, that had been a long time to get to know everyone. She sighed as she walked into the dressing room, where her design and prep team waited. The opening ceremony was mere hours away, and she had to get ready. Keeping herself in good shape and well groomed, they didn’t have to do much to her body. She was polished and buffed, her skin made to shine in polished tones. Her nails filed and painted a light pink and then coated with glitter. Next came the make-up and hair, which Cashmere did enjoy. Her lengthy blonde hair was brushed and styled back into its usual curls, and then half pinned up and entwined with small diamonds and sapphires. The remaining curls showered over her left shoulder and that was her body complete.

Soon she walked into the remake centre with Gloss by her side. She was in a beautiful gown of satin and diamonds. It was a silvery pink in colour, with a fitted bodice that had diamonds sewn in elegant patterns. Ever since the prep and design team of district 12 last year, everyone seemed to be going all out. District one displayed the luxury they were responsible for, and indeed Gloss and Cashmere looked simply divine. She looked around the centre and she smiled as Enobaria greeted her. As was to be expected, Cash and Gloss would align with Enobaria and Brutus and form the formidable career pack. However, Cash was harbouring a little secret, something that held her back a little bit. A half-naked male walked past her and a half smile formed on her face. Another victor who like her had been sold into prostitution. “Giving them all one last view of that fine body, Odair?” Cashmere teased as she walked to him and smiled.

. . .

Back in the Capitol and back where he never wanted to see again. He shouldn’t be here anyway; it was never in his plan to survive. He sighed as he sat on the bed, stripped down to his bare skin and awaiting his prep team. Peeta looked down to the artificial leg and he growled, it still felt so alien to him. He hated it and couldn’t help but scowl every time he looked at it. It was the Capitol’s creation! He would have rather been an amputee! But then, how would he have fared in these games? It was clear that the third Quarter Quell had been rigged to aim at him and Katniss, more so Katniss. She had created a spark and it had ignited through the districts. She had given them hope, a small something that was becoming a big something. Uprisings they had been called, and supposedly it had started with the offering of the berries. Peeta only discovered this half way through the victory tour, and he was angry with Katniss. But now they had bigger things to deal with. He knew the moment Haymitch’s name was reaped that he would volunteer, it was his turn to save Katniss and keep him safe, and Haymitch promised him!

His prep team and Portia entered the room and they once more fapped over his naked form, of the artificial leg and he just amused them and spoke the word she knew they would want to hear. Peeta had a way with words and it was perhaps his greatest weapon. Yes he was strong, but he was never really a fighter. They buffed and polished, shaved and sculptured. They put him back to base beauty and then built him up. His hair was quaffed and his skin shining, and then Portia brought through his outfit. “Pretty toned down” Peeta commented, he had certainly worn some extravagant things before.
“Cinna and I… we’re going for something a little different this time” Portia said, helping him into the leather trousers and sleeveless jacket. “This time, no hand holding, and no smiling” She said, zipping him up. “No nice. You’re to ignore the crowd and just glare ahead. And when you and Katniss are ready” Said Portia, turning around and picking something up before handing him a small box with one button on it. “Press this”

Peeta walked into the remake centre, and he felt very out of place. Everyone here knew each other, they had been mentoring and meeting once a year. Weird, Peeta had sort of prepared himself to be a mentor and now he knew he wouldn’t see the end of these games. His only priority was to keep Katniss alive. He was still in love with her, it had never gone away. He knew he had no chance and that their engagement meant nothing but survival to her. She loved Gale; things were only just becoming friendly between Katniss and Peeta. He sighed and ran his horse down the neck and Katniss entered the remake centre. She looked breath taking and he couldn’t help but stand up a little straighter. If only things were different and he was more than just the boy she saved. He smiled as she came to him and he eyed her before he stilled a little, trying not to appear weak. “You look fierce” He said to her kindly, trading beautiful for fierce.