To the Death

@ Stage Doctor
Ramona laughed, then turned to Holly. "Amazing. Amazing." She turned back to Ryker. "Sorry. I.. I was kidding, I didn't think you would actually have to... Holy shit!" She starting laughing again. "I-I need to go sit down. Sorry." She stood up, patting Ryker's back sympathetically as she passed, still chuckling quietly."

@ ToxicInsanity
Ryker glared at her out of the corner of his fellow tribute, and then flipped her off. But, he smirked to show that he was kidding before going back to finishing up the food he had on his plate.

@ Stage Doctor
Ramona closed the door with a smile, waiting for the capital to get closer. It was fun and all to joke around now, but soon this would be over.

The train slowed to a stop as they arrived at the capital. Ramona walked out of her cart and back to where Ryker and Holly sat. "This is it, I guess?" She said, her stomach churning with anxiety. It all started now. No going back at all.

@ ToxicInsanity
Ryker sighed as they pulled in as well. Holly leapt up and began clapping her hands happily, exclaiming," We're here!" She then quickly bolted out of the room, and returned a few seconds later, completely changed and looking very... Pink. She hurriedly lifted Ryker up, and motioned for him to follow before grabbing Ramona as well, and leading them to the door. "All smiles you two! Here's where you start seeing the cameras!" Suddenly, she pulled the train's door open, and the flash of cameras started going off, the clicking of the shudders being loud enough to be heard from a long distance away. Ryker started smiling, and waving to the cameras instantly Holly led them off of the train platform, and to the building directly off of it, before suddenly Ryker and Ramona were being whisked away by beauticians to be worked on...

@ Stage Doctor
Ramona tried her best to smile, though the flashes were too bright and the clicking too loud. It was overwhelming, and she was afraid that her pictures would come across as fake as she felt. Being led to the building felt like being saved, until the beauticians grabbed them. Ramona's excitement quickly went down the drain as she was styled. District 12 tributes usually wore something to do with coal mining, and that hadn't changed (most things don't in Panem). She was put in a black dress, with long sleeves and a bottom that felt like coal. After they were done and the beauticians had left, Ramona looked at herself in the mirror. It was fine, and she liked it enough, but... It didn't feel like her at all. It was strange seeing herself.

@ ToxicInsanity
Ryker felt naked. Well, for quite a long period of time, he was as they plucked and prodded at him. Modesty was apparently not a thing when it came to this process. Soon he was before his stylist, still stark naked, and was being looked over. He then was whisked into a wardrobe, and dressed in what seemed extremely basic. It was very similar to what he wore in the mines in Panem, but was purposefully made to look dirty. Also, they left him without a shirt, piling up his muscular chest and arms. His stylist said that he wanted to show off his "yummy" physique- which made Ryker a little nervous that he was being described in such a way. And soon, he met up with Ramona at the chariot. He couldn't help but smile at her and blurt out," Oh my God, you look beautiful..."

@ Stage Doctor
Ramona turned to face Ryker as she heard his words, her cheeks turning red. "Thank you. You, um, you don't look too bad yourself." Her nervous smile slowly turned into a happy one as she looked at him. Then, Ramona noticed his bare chest, and averted her eyes as she blushed more. She only stopped when Holly called out to them, grinning. "Remember to smile!" she shouted as she came closer. "Oh, you both look gorgeous, they're going to love you!" Ramona looked at her for a few seconds then smiled. "Thanks, Holly."

@ ToxicInsanity
Ryker blushed, realizing what he had said to her, and then the compliment that he was being paid. He then nodded to Holly, and stepped up onto the chariot, holding his hand out to help Ramona up onto it as well. When she was up, and the processional began, Ryker suddenly wrapped his arm around Ramona's hip, and pulled her tightly against him before they were pulled out to the open area. That's when Ryker began waving to all of the people, flashing them a bright smile.

@ Stage Doctor
Ramona smiled, looking around at everyone cheering in the stands. She felt extremely anxious until she felt Ryker pull her closer, which somehow made her feel safer. She felt the need to distract herself from the people, and decided to lean closer to Ryker to speak into his ear. "There's so many people. I never even realised."

@ ToxicInsanity
Ryker chuckled, and whispered back in her ear," Well of course there are. They're treated like kings and queens here. If any of them get sick, they get taken care immediately, and there is such a smaller possibility of them dying. Now compare that to us in twelve. We still have ten thousand people in twelve- so think about how much they must have here."

@ Stage Doctor
"It's just crazy that they all come out to see us." There was something nice about Ryker whispering in her ear, something that made her blush and her heart beat faster. Stop it, stop it, stop it! she thought, trying her hardest to keep smiling. Ramona knew they'd have to kill people soon, and fight to the death if it came down to them. Her smile faltered He said not to think like that, Ramona thought, then her smile returned. If she was going to die soon, she might as well make a friend. "How was the waxing?" Ramona whispered in his ear, chuckling quietly as she looked back up at the crowd.

@ ToxicInsanity
Ryker laughed, and said," I think that I'm about five pounds lighter, and definitely more aerodynamic, not that that really matters. I think I will never stop burning from it though. Especially below the belt- God DAMN." He chucked again, and then said," And what about you? How did you like the poking and prodding they gave you?"

@ Stage Doctor
"Didn't like it very much. Probably heart less for me than it did for you. But, still... Ouch." Ramona laughed and looked at Ryker. "But the dress is actually kind of nice. I've never worn one before. I never thought I'd be a dressy girl, but hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it, I guess." She paused, then leaned in, back to whispering. "So, if the people in the capital like us, they'll send us stuff in the games. The sponsors, right? So how do we get them to like us?"

@ ToxicInsanity
"I guess that is basically how things run with the sponsors. But right now I don't think we can go through and try to earn Sponsors right now. That will probably be done with our grades, and the interviews later tonight. So right now there's not much else that we can do besides smile and wave."

@ Stage Doctor
"Well, at least it's simple." Ramona said. The chariots eventually stopped as they entered the large building. Ramona shut her eyes for a few seconds, relieved to be away from the crowds. Ramona looked at the other tributes curiously. They all looked so tough and strong... though there were children, still young, that looked as frightened as she really felt. "That's so fucked up..." Ramona whispered in Ryker's ear. "They're still young."

@ ToxicInsanity
"It's a sad reality about the Games- specifically the Reaping of the Tributes. They should at least raise the age gate or something. I bet some of those kids have never even held an axe or any other types of weapons. It's exceedingly sad," Ryker said, sighing and frowning as he stepped down and helped Ramona down behind him. He then led her over to where Holly was waiting by what seemed to be an elevator.

"Oh you two were magnificent!" Holly exclaimed as she called the elevator," They all loved you so much! Now, we have the opportunity to go up to our rooms on the top floor. We're on the top floor since we are the highest number District. So, you'll have a wonderful view of the Capitol from your rooms!"

@ Stage Doctor
"Great..." Ramona said, still looking at the younger kids. She hated that they were so young, and be pushed in to this. They still had a life to live. They all did. They made their way to the top floor, the elevator shooting up so suddenly that Ramona nearly lost her footing. They entered the room and eyes widened in awe. It was so big and open and clean... Nothing like district 12 at all. "Can you believe any of this?" She said, turning to Ryker.

@ ToxicInsanity
RYker was beaming as he looked all around the "palace" that they had just stepped into. He looked down to Ramona, and said," I can't believe any of it. But I find it just better to go along with all of this shit, and enjoy it while we can- do you know what I mean?" He then closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply through his nose. "And I think the best part of all of this is the fantastic food. I need to find out what that smell is, and inhale whatever it is immediately."

@ Stage Doctor
"Yeah, I know. Don't worry, I'm sure the food can't be too far away." Ramona walked around the room, then found a hallway leading to the bathrooms and bedrooms. "Look, an actual, proper shower!" Ramona called out, rushing towards it. "This is the fanciest shower I've ever seen." She walked back out to where Ryker was standing and grinned. "I never thought a room could be attractive." she joked.

@ ToxicInsanity
"Of course it could," he said, smirking, and then walking over to her. He then moved her by the shoulders back into the room before backing up, and saying," There! Now it is." He laughed, and then turned back around to continue following the smell of food back out to the kitchen, before following the kitchen into the dining room- where Holly was waiting as a few Avox prepared the finishing touches on the dinner table.