#Buck Meltsner | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

harlowdoylepi · 2 years

Text

TQQ AU Part 2

Being poked, prodded, brushed, and painted, all morning was not much to Jules' liking. It never felt natural. Octavia, Venia, and Flavius, all pranced in and out of the room. They rubbed Jules down with lotions and oils. They painted her nails, with black background and glittering orange and yellow overlaid, giving it a fire-like quality.

Her makeup was not minimal like last time. Bronzy pink blush highlighted her cheekbones. Her eyes were adorned with false eyelashes, black eyeshadow, and deep black eyeliner. Blinking felt slow and heavy. The eyeliner was underlined and outlined with delicate strokes of gold, made to look like a mockingjay's wings. It made her look much older than simply seventeen. Jules quite liked the effect this carried.

But she didn't like the effect her shoes would have on her feet. She had only worn them for a few minutes, but the stiletto heels were already starting to pinch. The suede straps ran criss-crossed over each other, until they reached just under her knees. She wondered what kind of dress she would possibly be wearing to go with these kinds of shoes.

"I saw the dress Cinna created!" Octavia chirped, as though she had been reading Jules' mind. She clapped her green hands. "It's stunning! Just the perfect thing for our girl on fire!"

"You are going to steal the show again, Jules!" Venia flashed a smile.

"And that's saying something, since you've got tributes like Richard, Gloss, Enobaria, and Monica!" Octavia swooned. "It's certain their stylists are working overtime like us! But I'm sure you'll take the cake!"

"Hope so." Jules gave a thin-lipped smile.

The door for her room opened, and Cinna and Flavius walked in, carrying a large dress bag.

Venia clapped her hands.

"Hello again, Jules." Cinna smiled pleasantly. For the first time since she had come back to the Capitol, Jules returned the smile with sincerity. Seeing her stylist again was the one good thing about coming back to the Capitol.

"Hi, Cinna."

"Are you ready to try on your dress?"

"Yup." She stood and retied the belt around her silk robe.

"I really think you will like this dress." Said Cinna. "I've decided to go with a different tack for you in this games. The look I'm going for is...otherworldly, and vaguely threatening."

Jules gave a small laugh. "That sounds pretty different alright. I like the sound of it."

She had become the face of the rebellion, even if she didn't want it. But she might as well look the part. She needed all the help she could get, and Cinna would be invaluable. He slid the dress over her head, helped her get her arms through the sleeves, and zipped up the back. Several delighted exclamations came from Octavia, Flavius, Venia.

Flavius ceremoniously helped Cinna extend the train on the back of her dress.

"Well Jules? Have a look and tell me what you think."

Jules turned around and looked in the full body mirror. She gasped. This dress was impressive. It was charcoal colored, studded with small laser-cut diamonds of leather, giving small glints of light; her whole outfit gave off a dull shine. The dress came just above her knees, with a train of the same fabric trailing behind her. A grecian neckline graced her neck and shoulders. Just looking at it made Jules hold her head high.

"Cinna, it's... it's-" She stopped and surveyed her dress again in amazement. "It's incredible." She breathed softly.

Venia squealed. "You've outdone yourself, Cinna!"

Jules grinned. "He always does."

Cinna smiled humbly. "I'm glad you like it."

"Does this one catch on fire too?"

"Yes, but me and Portia made some modifications to it so it will look a little different. I'll give you the activator button before you get on the chariot."

Octavia checked her bejeweled watch. "Speaking of which, it's time to get down there!"

Flavius took Jules' hand. He attached a fancy silver bangle bracelet to her wrist. "You are going to send them speechless."

Venia dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "You really will!"

Effie came in. Jules decided this room was getting a little too crowded. "Time to go go go!" She stopped and looked at Jules in shock! "Cinna! This is brilliant! Just the right look for our girl on fire."

Cinna smiled. "That's what I was going for."

"You succeeded!" Effie snapped her fingers. "Let's go!" Cinna, Effie and Jules walked out the door.

They went down the elevator, Cinna and Effie stopped on the floor above, needing to talk to some interviewers. Jules was left alone as she walked to her assigned chariot. She could hear the crowds cheering outside, and some were already watching her from above, on a balcony overlooking the place where the tributes were lining up for the chariot parade.

The chariot was beautiful, lined with white flowers, mingled with the sweet scent of the horses. She walked over to the station and gently petted the horse's black coat. She wondered if it wished to be free, running about the fields instead of being a beast of burden, and a device of entertainment for the Capitol, no less.

"How did we get here, huh?" She softly asked. The horse twitched its ear in response.

"I don't know either."

"Jules!" An unfamiliar voice called to her.

She turned and recognized him upon sight. "Hello Richard."

He walked up to her with an ease that suggested they had been friends for years, when in fact they had just met. "You want a sugarcube?" He held several in his hand. "I know they're supposed to be for the horses, but at this point, who cares? They have years to live, while you and I - well, if we see something sweet, we better take it while we can."

Jules gave a forced smile. "I'll pass." She surveyed his outfit. "But I would like to borrow that outfit someday."

Richard's outfit consisted of a gold net draped over his shoulders, which complemented his tanned skin, and some fitted shorts made out of a jean like material. Made to look sexy, and showing off as much as possible while remaining appropriate. He walked around barefoot, and Jules wasn't sure whether it was the stylists idea or his own. A necklace of glassy blue sea rocks hung around his neck, as well as a longer one with a conch shell pendant.

He smiled. "I have to say, you look pretty terrifying in that getup." He said, referring to Jules's outfit. "A far cry from after last year's games and the victory tour. What happened to the pretty little girl dresses?"

"I outgrew them." Jules shot back.

"You certainly did." Richard flashed another smile. Before Jules could wonder what he meant by that, he continued. "It really is a shame about this whole Quell thing. Seriously, you could have made out like a bandit in the Capitol. Anything you wanted, money, jewels-"

"Well, I have more money than I need, and I don't care for jewels much, so-" She shrugged. "What did you do with all your wealth, anyway?"

Richard wrinkled his nose. "I haven't dealt in anything as common as money in years."

Jules raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then how do people pay for the pleasure of your company?"

Richard took two steps toward her and stopped once his mouth was inches from her ear. "Secrets." He whispered. The corner of his mouth turned up, as though he were about to tell a juicy secret of his own. "What about you, girl on fire?" He said. "You got any secrets worth my time?"

Jules was beginning to feel uncomfortable, but stood her ground and maintained her poker face. She shrugged. "I'm an open book." She said, "Everyone seems to know my secrets before I even know them myself."

Richard raised his eyebrows. "Unfortunately, I think that's true."

Jules could see Buck and Cinna coming out of the corner of her eye. Thank goodness.

"I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding." Richard said, with an almost insincere tone. "I know how devastating that must be for you."

He backed up a step and popped a sugarcube in his mouth. "Have a good day." He turned and walked past Buck. "Buck."

"Hey Richard."

Richard sauntered away to his chariot.

"What did he want?" Buck asked.

Jules snorted. "To know all my secrets."

Buck laughed. "He'll have to get in line."

Jules gave a small laugh.

Cinna, Haymitch, and two tributes walked up to them. They were both dark skinned, like Thresh and Rue. Jules recognized them from the victory tour.

"Jules, Buck, I'd like you to meet two friends of mine, Chaff, and Seeder, from District 11." He put a hand on both of the tribute's shoulders.

The group talked together, and Jules quite liked them. Chaff had lost a hand in his games, and refused a prosthetic offered by the Capitol. She got the impression that all Chaff and Haymitch had indulged in more than one bottle of liquor over the years.

Seeder was a kindly woman in her late forties, with a gentle voice and sparks in her eyes. She was not a woman who let the horror of the games get her down.

A voice over a loudspeaker ordered the tributes to get in their positions. They turned and Cinna followed them as they walked to their chariot.

"Alright, no waving and smiling this time." Cinna directed them. "I want you to look straight ahead as if this audience and this whole event are beneath you."

"That will be easy enough." Jules answered.

Cinna handed Jules a small fob with a button. "Just press this when you're ready." He put a hand on both their shoulders. "Good luck you two."

The horses received the signal, and made their way towards the cheering crowds at an easy trot.

The roar became louder as they got closer. Jules could feel the same rush of adrenaline that she had felt before. She reached over and silently took Buck's hand. He looked at her and gave her a slight smile. They rode out, blinded by the sunlight and deafened by the noise of the crowds. Instead of being at night this year, it was in broad daylight.

They could see the skyline, the pristine buildings of Panem, decked out with flags and buntings. Huge fountains blew geysers into the air, in the same rhythm of the bass drums and the blaring of the trumpets. They rode past these and went past the stands of thousands of cheering Capitol citizens.

They passed them in silence, not bothering to look or give them any indication they cared. They came closer to the large circular enclosure, where President Snow's balcony was, as he watched over them. Even though they were still so far away, Jules could feel President Snow's snake-like eyes watching her.

Now was the time. She pressed the button. Both her and Buck's costumes burst into flames, slowly overtaking their whole outfits. The final section of stands they were passing roared, some even got to their feet.

Their costumes were not fully ablaze like last time, instead they crackled, sparked, and were lit with small orange flames. They resembled embers, smoldering, but being able to light an entire forest ablaze in a moment of time.

They could hear their names being chanted in the crowds as they passed the final stands, and their horses began to circle, giving the chariots a chance to pass by the President. All the tributes waved to President Snow, but Jules and Buck stood still, staring him down until their ride turned and went back in the opposite direction. Jules held her head high. President Snow was not going to get the best of her, no matter what he did to her, in the arena or outside of it.

Their chariot pulled back into the preparation area, and they got off and headed straight for the elevator. Most of the tributes were eager to get out of there, talking to each other while walking.

Jules could see District 3 walking off rather stiffly in their costumes of blinking lights. It was something close to Caesar Flickerman's interview outfit, but much more cumbersome.

"So glad to get this thing off." Monica pulled her head dress of peacock feathers off. District 1 produced luxury items, and Gloss and Monica's costumes showed it. They were decked out in fancy outfits full of jewels, velvet, feathers and furs. Jules was shocked at how Gloss was even taller than he seemed on television.

All of a sudden, Brutus and Enobaria walked up to them. Their costumes were of a gold amour, similar to what Cato and Clove wore, except they were armed to the teeth with all sorts of weapons. Jules hoped they were fake. She could just catch them saying "strategy" and "games" as they stopped. Was that against the rules? Strategizing with your cohorts beforehand? She wouldn't be surprised if they pulled Richard over for their meeting. Where was he anyway? She looked over at the District 4 chariot and could see Richard stepping off and helping Mags down.

He took her wrinkled hand in his. "Allow me to help you, my lady." He said in a grandiose capitol accent.

Jules almost smiled as she watched Richard sweep Mags off her feet and carry her like a groom carries a bride. The light blue folds of her dress fluttered, resembling sea waves. The bodice of it was studded in pearls and seashells.

"Oh, I feel so special." She heard her voice come weakly as the pair passed by Buck and Jules. They both laughed.

They could hear muttered swearing; not far behind them came Bridget, who dramatically tossed her head dress of leaves behind her. "My stylist is a loser." She announced. "They've done tree costumes for District 7 the past forty years with no change. You'd think the Capitol would be able to think of something more creative." She snorted, taking off her bracelets that must have been made to look like chainsaw blades. She tossed them over her shoulder. "The cleaners can toss these out with the horse manure. Ugh, if my stylist were in the games, she'd be the first I'd kill." Bridget undid the straps on her shoes and kicked them off, one flying and nearly hitting one of the Morphlings. Neither paid any attention.

Buck raised his eyebrows.

She looked at them. "What? I've got nothing to lose. I'm going back to the games anyway. What are they going to do, make my life worse?"

"They could do that." Jules muttered.

"See, you're different. You still care about stuff." Bridget said, patting Jules' head as though she were a small child. "Don't worry. You're a victor now, that'll go away in time. If it doesn't kill you first." She stalked off. "Or if I don't." She called over her shoulder.

"Well, I know who we're not allying with." Jules said. "What was that all about?"

Buck couldn't help but chuckle. "You don't see what she's doing?"

"Talking herself up?" But she knew this wasn't true. Bridget really could kill them if she had the right weapons.

"No. She's trying to get under your skin. My guess is that's what Richard was doing earlier."

"But why?"

"Well, when you compare yourself with the others, and well, frankly the whole Capitol -- you're pure."

"What! I am not!" Jules protested.

"In comparison, sure. Though, I'm also guessing that they're using this as a defense. They know we'll try to make friends with them; they're doing it to dissuade us. It will be less guilt they have over killing us later. Haymitch said a lot of them have been friends for a long time, so it's already hard enough."

"Somehow, neither Richard nor Bridget seem like they would have remorse over killing, period." Jules responded tersely. She remembered when she, Buck, and Haymitch had watched Richard and Bridget’s games. They would do what it took to win. Richard had allied with Districts One and Two and then outwitted and killed them all the next day. He was fourteen years old.

"It wasn't personal that time."

Jules shot him a look of frustration. "Why are you defending them?"

"I'm not saying the choices they made were good, but I am saying that may be what's going on in their minds."

Because of the fact that Buck's birth father was a con artist and used to travel in different districts, Jules knew Buck was right. He knew how people worked, and how to work with them. None of these tributes wanted to make this any harder than they had to.

"They have a weird way of showing it."

"I never said they made sense." They both laughed in spite of themselves.

They came toward the elevator, went past the peacekeepers and were about to shut the door before they heard voices calling to them.

“Wait!” It was Bridget, running to them.

“Hold the elevator please.” Richard was running as well, still carrying Mags.

Jules was going to shut the door just to spite them, but before she could, the peacekeepers moved in front, blocking their way. The doors shut on their own and they shot up to their floor.

“I wonder what that was all about?” Buck murmured.

"More trouble, I imagine." Jules sighed.

"We'll never know."

They came to the twelfth floor. "Haymitch said to meet him at the meeting room half an hour after we came back up. They said they're having an early dinner and a strategy meeting about training. I think it's about making allies and such."

The doors rolled open and Effie greeted them cheerfully, holding two objects in her hands.

"Hello hello! You two did absolutely wonderful! Haymitch has several prominent sponsors talking to him!" She handed Jules her Mockingjay pin. "Here are our team tokens! I used some shiner on this to make the gold stand out even more! Here you are Buck." Effie handed him a golden medallion on a chain. It looked a bit like a locket that Jules' mother once had. "I bought this from one of the finest jewelry vendors in Panem!"

Buck gave a genuine smile. "Thanks Effie, it looks beautiful."

Effie beamed.

"Yes, thank you." Jules answered quietly. Effie could be silly, and she was Capitol, but Jules had to admit she had her moments.

"You two get changed into something more comfortable, and we'll be ready for another meeting in half an hour!"

"Alright." The two tributes answered. They started on their way down the hall.

Jules decided to change the subject. "I think I have some options for allies narrowed down."

"Richard and Bridget?"

"None of the careers. That's non-negotiable. They're in it to be back in the games. This is some kind of honor for them, not a death sentence." Jules didn't understand how a mind like that worked. District Twelve may have been poor but at least they had humanity; the decency to recognize how horrible the reality of the games were.

“Their names were drawn just like you and me. There are just more options to draw from.” Buck answered.

“I know.” Jules said softly. “But you don’t see me or you cheering at the fact that we got picked, or strategizing with our already-in-place allies.”

“It’s true that we’re starting from square one in a lot of ways. That’s why we need to make it count these next three days as much as possible. My guess is that’s what Haymitch will push for us to focus on during training.”

Jules pursed her lips. “It sounds good in theory. Tomorrow we’ll see just how well it works applied in real life.” The sudden weight of dread for the next day hit her. Training started tomorrow. It would be twelve hours of watching the other tributes prepare to kill each other. For two days in a row. She knew Buck was not looking forward to it, either.

She opened the door to her room and shut the door before Buck could say anything to disarm her suspicion. Jules sighed with relief. Enjoying the quiet, she undid the straps on her stilettos and wriggled her feet out of the tangles of straps that snaked around her legs. She sank into the downy soft blankets of the queen bed. Just a few moments of rest, then she would go wash off her makeup and change....

Before she knew what was happening, she slipped away in a light sleep.

~ the next day ~

Jules and Buck came through the elevator, and walked down the blnk concrete hall that led to the training center.

The automatic doors swung open for them with a metallic *swish*.

"Remember." Buck said quietly. "We're here to make allies."

They entered.

#adventures in odyssey #my ocs stuff #tqq au #adventures in odyssey fanfiction #aio #eugene meltsner #aio fanfic #fanfic #harlow writes #catching fire #hunger games #jules kendall #buck oliver

3 notes · View notes