into the wild//post train crowd
Aracelia calmed down in time for them to pull into the station. She managed to clean her face and reapply what minimal makeup she had been wearing, but there was the hint of red in her eyes that only comes after crying and this was something she didn’t really need to deal with. Her first time in the capitol, she was expected none the less, and she had already panicked. Her appearance had to look good, both physically and emotionally. She had to look strong, like something had happened on that train which changed her outlook on the situation. That had been her original plan, frightened orphan girl at the reaping, but hardened adult by the time she made it to capitol. Funny how things never work out the way you want them to, Celia thought bitterly.
As the train slowed and came to the station, Sebastian looked at her.
“Are you ready to go out there?”
“Well I don’t have much of a choice do I?” But Aracelia threw her shoulders back and lifted her head up and....grabbed his hand.
And they were off the train and walking through the crowd, their fingers intertwined.
“Give the people something to talk about yeah? A reason for them to remember me.” Aracelia said softly, leaning into his shoulder briefly for a moment as they walked.
But the feel of his soft warm hand in hers was more than just something to get the capitolites talking, no, this was for her. This was because James had never given her this feeling before and she was living in it as long as she could. This boy that she had just met today, a boy she thought was just some shallow capitol scum, was giving her more peace after one of her panic attacks than her mother or best friend ever could. Introducing herself and trying to get noticed was a great excuse for her to hold his hand and maybe keep this feeling for a little longer.
As cameras flashed, people leaned on the barriers that were holding them back to call out her name and maybe get a glimpse of this new tribute (fresh meat, she thought bitterly to herself), she walked quickly with her small hand wrapped tightly in his.
Aracelia lifted her head and placed an even smile on her face. She wasn’t thinking about whatever had happened back there on the train, (what had happened back there?) all she could feel was his presence next to her and knew she needed to smile and look like she could handle everything. Soon they were at their suite for dinner and she went to drop his hand, but he kept holding on.
And she was ok with that too.