five - domicile

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the training center is nothing like i could have ever imagined– it's better. it's designed exclusively for the tributes and their teams. each district has an entire floor to stay on, and the living quarters are easy to remember because each floor corresponds to the number of each district. 

effie, apparently, has been trying to gain us sponsors. "it won't be hard," she promises, "considering how well you did at the opening ceremony. everyone's talking about you. they say you may have even topped katniss and peeta! only they can seal the sponsor deals, though." effie sighs. "or haymitch, too, i suppose. i'm just warming them up for you."

"i can't believe you guys stole our thunder," peeta jokes, pretending to be upset. katniss smiles and i can see the fondness in her eyes as she looks at him. i remember peeta's interview from last year. he was very charming and laid back, always finding humor in the smallest things. i am so thankful for him and katniss. i don't think i would be able to survive with just haymitch as a mentor.

we are free to do whatever we want until supper, so i head to my room. it's bigger than my entire house back in twelve, which isn't really a surprise. everything is very advanced and i know no amount of time i spend here will be enough for me to get used to it. where i usually see wood and fraying carpets is replaced with drywall and smooth paint, lush carpets sinking under my foot upon each step. the floors are so sleek i'm almost worried i'll slip on them.

i decide to take another hot shower to rid myself of all the makeup. as i expected, the bathroom is just as fancy and the shower is nothing short of cutting-edge. there are so many buttons and knobs that i am instantly dumbfounded by all of my options. i choose the button with the vanilla-scented shampoo because it sounds lovely, and i rub it through my hair awkwardly because we don't have shampoo at home and i've only used it on the train. 

after scrubbing my body with wildberry-scented soap, i turn the water off and grab a fluffy white towel with the symbol of panem on it, stepping out of the shower. i press a button that sends hot air shooting out of vents, drying me in mere seconds. all i have to do is put my hand on a sensor and a current runs through my hair, untangling it and leaving it glossy and cleaner than it's ever been. i flip my head upside down and gather it all into a ponytail, then wrap a strand of hair around the band, covering it. it's the same hairstyle i used to wear almost every day back in twelve, and it reminds me a little too much of home.

though as i look closer at my reflection in the perfectly-clean mirror, i frown. there are already noticeable differences in my appearance. for once, my hair raven hair has always been unruly, though that may have been a side-effect of the poor washing conditions of twelve. my skin has been scrubbed of every inch of dirt. there isn't a trace under my fingernails, which are usually filthy since i spend so much time in the woods. my eyebrows had been plucked and shaped by my prep team. i still look like me, but still too perfect for my taste. it's unsettling.  

i leave the bathroom and program the closet system to fit an outfit of my taste– a silver sweater with black pants. i slip my feet into a pair of black flats, not choosing to put on a pair of sheer socks with them. it's plain, but i've never been one for flashy clothing. i'd been content to fade into the background back at home. 

i switch on the television, not really finding anything that fits my taste, but i stick to a capitol soap opera because it's hilarious to watch. i find myself mimicking their accents and dramatic words, and i am more than mortified when matthias catches me in the act.

"you're late to supper," he says from the doorway right as i am in the middle of reenacting an overly-theatrical death scene. i jump, my head whipping around so i am facing him. my hands fumble with the remote and i switch it off, though i could have just done it by voice command.

"why are you in here?" i demand a bit harshly, but only because i am extremely embarrassed. i'm sure my cheeks are tinged a light shade of pink. hopefully it actually is light and my face hasn't turned the ugly, blotchy magenta it becomes when i'm extremely flushed.

"effie sent me to get you," matthias replies, an amused grin still on that stupid face of his, his bright eyes dancing with amusement. "you're the one who's late to a meal this time. now i can't be made fun of. ha."

i roll my eyes and stand up from the comfortable, plush couch, making my way to the door that matthias hasn't bothered to stop leaning against. i try to push past him, but he stays put. "now i have something to hold against you," he says, smirking. "you know, for blackmail."

"what could you possibly need to use blackmail on me for?" i ask, bewildered. he is being playful all of a sudden, and i'm not sure if i like it or not.

matthias shrugs. "i'll know when the time comes." he finally turns and i follow him to the large dining area, where katniss, peeta, portia, cinna, and effie are waiting patiently, their meals untouched. haymitch, however, is already digging right into his food.

"we all agreed on waiting for you, but haymitch couldn't hold himself back," effie says, shooting a glare at the alcoholic.

haymitch shrugs, a turkey leg in his mouth and his chin dribbling with gravy. "the smell was too tempting."

i realize that this is the first time i have seen haymitch eat, so i decide to keep myself from rolling my eyes, sitting down in a chair beside katniss for a change. matthias takes a seat next to peeta, not daring to go near haymitch, who doesn't seem to mind. he has more elbow room than neccessary.

i pick at my own turkey and gravy, not having much of an appetite. it is a very large contrast to how i was eating last night and katniss notices almost immediately.

"not hungry?" she asks me and i shake my head, stabbing a piece of meat with my heavy fork. "you don't have to eat now if you don't want to. there is a mouthpiece in your room that you can whisper into and food is brought to you. i don't think it matters even if it's two in the morning."

i smile gratefully at her. "thanks, katniss."

she offers a small smile in return before digging into her own meal.

i do not even eat the cake that is served shortly after everyone is finished with their dinner. it is lit on fire, though none of it is burnt when the flames die out.

"it's alcohol," katniss explains before i can open my mouth to ask the person who served it what makes it burn. "don't bother speaking to them. they're avoxes– got their tongues cut out because they committed a crime of some sort."

i nod, pursing my lips. i am thankful for her telling me or else i surely would've embarrassed myself by inquiring.

we are dismissed by peeta telling us to "let the grownups talk." this is apparently an inside joke between the rest of them because they all start laughing at once. i share an awkward glance with matthias before standing up, excusing myself even though it isn't really necessary. i walk out of the dining room at a semi-slow pace so it isn't that surprising when matthias catches up to me within a few seconds.

"so, what were you doing in your room?" he asks teasingly, appearing beside me with a small smile. i wonder yet again how he can grin so often. 

"you make it sound worse than it actually was," i sigh. he purses his lips, not saying anything. then, before i can ask him what's up, he suggests we go explore the tribute center. i nod in agreement because there isn't really much else to do, and so we half-heartedly tell the others where we're going before going to the elevator and pressing the ground floor, which is labeled "l" for lobby.

when we are almost to the bottom, the elevator stops on floor four and a boy gets in. he has chocolate-colored hair styled similarly to matthias's and warm hazel eyes. though he's thin, his towering height makes him appear to take up more of the lift than he actually does. i recognize him from the opening ceremony as one of the tributes i need to observe more closely.

matthias frowns at the boy's impassive expression. if i'd thought that my district partner is one to dress sharply, he's been outdone by four's clothing options without a doubt. he's dressed in a pair of black slacks and shiny dress shoes that reflect the lights shining above. his maroon button-down dress shirt is made fancier with a tie. if he'd had a blazer, it would seem like he's heading to some sort of formal event.

i'm not planning on making conversation with him, but he looks us over before saying, "district twelve, huh?" when matthias nods, the conversation doesn't end there and he continues to talk to us, a small grin on his face. "you two were quite sparking at the opening ceremony last night."

the doors slide shut and the elevator resumes going down. i notice his pun as soon as he says it. "thanks," i say emotionlessly. "you looked nice as a fish."

the boy rolls his eyes. "my stylist is such an idiot. district four; fishing. i was a fish. i'd love to jab a knife in his eye."

i raise my eyebrows and matthias whistles lowly. i elbow him and he immediately stops, turning it into a strangled-sounding cough.

"i'm thalia," i say, not holding my hand out to shake because i'm not sure whether he's into that sort of thing or not. 

"asher." he nods to my fellow tribute. "who are you?"

"matthias," he replies, his voice strong and confident. instead of his usual affability, he's unsmiling, hands shoved into the pockets of his gray pants. it's strange to see him acting so standoffish.

"matthias and thalia," asher muses as the doors slide open. "sounds like something of a fairy tale." then he is out of the elevator before we can blink, calling over his shoulder, "nice talk, twelve!"

"i don't like him," matthias grumbles the instant he is gone. we begin walking through the lobby, looking around at everything. the lobby is vast and adjacent rooms litter the walls, leading off to activities for the tributes and especially, the training rooms. the hoards of people walking about – tributes, stylists, and staff alike – make for a congested atmosphere. we narrowly avoid being run over by a man with turquoise hair who's carrying a basket of fruit. he seems to be in quite a hurry.

"he's like me but male edition," i point out, huffing as a male mentor pushes past me roughly and doesn't apologize.

"exactly," matthias confirms. "and i can barely stand you."

i shove him playfully. "shut up, rutcher. that's rude."

"well, the hunger games aren't all friendly and fun, are they?"

my breath hitches, because for a few minutes, i have actually forgotten that we are going to be in the hunger games. i might die. matthias could die. asher could die. and it would all be for the capitol's enjoyment.

"thalia?" matthias clicks his fingers in front of my face. "i'm sorry, was that too harsh? i didn't mean for it to come out like tha–"

"no, it's fine," i cut him off, shaking my head. "i'm fine. i'm just tired, that's all."

i don't feel bad about lying. roy taught me how to lie in such a way that no one would ever suspect it. i keep my voice even, making sure it doesn't waver or raise an octave. my fingers itch to mess with the ends of my hair. despite this, i force them to stay put. i don't give away any sign that i am not telling the truth, and that is why matthias seems to believe me.

we stay down on the ground level for a while longer, observing people who pass by- mostly avoxes and other tributes or stylists. but one time i see a woman maybe in her late twenties or early thirties, and everything is normal about her, from her dark brown hair and very tanned skin, except for her nails. they are painted coal black, very long, and are sharpened to the point where they could easily tear your skin if she were to even scratch you slightly. i find myself staring at them until she gets into the elevator and shoots up into the air, out of sight. she has to be a victor.

"these victors are actually kind of creepy," i admit, finding another not long after saying it. he's young, not much older than katniss or peeta, maybe even the same age. i notice he is shirtless and his blond hair is in a mess on top of his head. he is walking this way. as he passes us, his blue eyes stay on me only before he winks, his thoroughly pink lips curving into a closed-lipped grin, dimples caving into his cheeks. i barely notice that asher is walking alongside him, nodding at me and matthias and showing that we are most likely on an acquaintance level with him.

matthias sighs from beside me after they are out of earshot. "finnick odair, victor of district four."

i turn toward him. "how do you know that?" i ask curiously.

"i've heard about him," matthias replies. "he was fourteen when he won- youngest ever. he's supposed to be a real charmer."

"he's walking around shirtless in a tribute center," i point out. "if that doesn't scream 'i'll gladly take your virginity,' i don't know what will."

matthias laughs at this and i cannot stop the smile from forming because of it. his laugh is a lovely sound, like sunshine after a downpour of rain, like a breath of oxygen after being suffocated. for a second i forget all that will be happening to us in the next few days and join in the laughter, reminding my brain to curse me for letting matthias rutcher in.

gif is asher and his lil grin thing when he says "sparking" hsisnak hes so cute

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daww theyre so cute! matthalia for the win

yes the elevator scene with asher was a parallel to the one with johanna in catching fire. how many people got that??

i love asher and i promise you will, too. he's so sarcastic and basically he and carly will be the comic relief of this story. plus, grant gustin is bae amirite ladies???

xoxo,
kristyn