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“You know what, Lizzie? I really don’t mind breaking the tradition to try a new spot if it’s as pretty as this.“
“Yeah, all the propaganda Wels has been doing for this place isn’t an exaggeration at all! Katherine, you have no idea how much he was pestering me to try the food here.“
Even after years, Joey was grateful that his old childhood friends still found the time to meet up for their monthly lunch dates, especially now that all of them had found themselves in the same career as Capitol Escorts for the Life Games. He, Lizzie, Katherine and Oli had been friends since they were toddlers and while they all were different ages, they had grown up in the same neighborhood, doing all the same activities and having play-dates together as long as they could remember. The unfortunate thing about all sharing a job was that they always ended up talking about it, today Joey was the one who got started with the topic.
“So… What are we wearing for the Reaping?”
“I have no clue yet. Joel says he has a surprise for me, he wants me to wear comfortable shoes.”
“Lizzie… have you told him that comfortable shoes do not exist in femme fashion here?”
Oli butted in, gesturing around him to indicate that in fact, anyone barely feminine was wearing heels more akin to torture machines.
“I thought we were supposed to be the advanced ones, but I say that while sewing my own dress so I guess not. They really should invent some more cute and comfortable shoes, instead of having that massive military budget.”
“Katherine, you should have been a stylist you know that? I’m sure you could have done some great work for like 7 or 9, with your floral themes. Better than them being trees every years.“
She blushed, and everyone thought it was because of the compliment. Katherine did not correct them nor did she tell them she was thinking of a specific District 9 Victor.
“Joey! We don’t talk about those dark years! Twenty years straight of District 7 trees, it was just a shame!“
“It was, but none of us were even close to being born during the 60-70th Life Games, especially you Oli.”
“I am only a year younger than you, thank you very much! And it’s not even a full year Joey! More like ten months!”
“Yeah, but you will forever be the baby of the group, won’t ‘cha?”
Lizzie cooed over him, in a joke that they had been repeating since any of them could speak, Oli sighed, resigned to his destiny.
“What are you thinking of wearing, Joey?”
“Oh I am so glad that you asked!”
Both Oli and Katherine groaned in unison, but Lizzie ignored them giving all her attention to him.
“Well, I was thinking of golden, as my theme. Nobody ever seems to wear gold, and it’s shiny! I love shiny! So I’m thinking a lot of jewelry and also maybe getting some pattern in my skin, like from the nose up. I also am gonna dye my hair, so that everyone thinks it’s natural like my blonde but it’s just more… gold.”
“That does sound really pretty. I’m pretty sure that gold was frowned upon because some Rebels used it back around the 20th, but I say it’s time we reclaim it. Let’s show them that we wear it better!”
Katherine remembered a crowned Victor from the 24th or 25th Games had been a bit of a nuisance, but over a century later, it was about time that they reclaimed the color of power and wealth. Neither she nor Joey, noticed Lizzie and Oli exchanging worried glances across the table.