Hunger Games Chapter 5

In which Venia of aqua hair and gold eyebrow tattoos, Flavius of orange corkscrews, and Octavia of pea green skin--all of whom speak with a high-pitched, closed-jaw, hissed-S, odd voweled, clipped-word, question-asking affectation that is impossible not to mimic--remove every hair from Katniss except her eyebrows and fancy braided 'do.  Enter Cinna (CINNA!), a simply dressed, naturally haired, quiet fellow with just a hint of gold eyeliner.  This is Cinna's first games, and he wants to rock it (quietly).

Their table opens up and lunch appears, followed by what is probably my favorite passage in this entire book:  when Katniss describes trying to recreate the meal of creamy chicken with orange over grain with peas, rolls shaped like flowers, and pudding.  "Days of hunting and gathering for this one meal and even then it would be a poor substitution for the Capitol version."  That whole description of trading squirrels for bread, and substituting goat's milk and turkey, y'all, that is some deft writing.

Anyhoo, Katniss gets into her outfit:  black unitard up to the neck, shiny leather boots up the knees, fluttering cape and FIRE.  Katniss, the girl who was on fire.  Cinna and Portia are geniuses.  (Genusi?  Whatever. I want to wear fire.)  Peeta appears in the same outfit, and they hold hands (at Cinna's suggestion) as they parade in their chariot around the circle of crazed Capitol onlookers.  They are clearly crowd favorites.  Even in front of President Snow's mansion, they are getting the most camera time.

Back inside the training center, the couple-on-fire are the center of all the attention and hubub, which draws dirty looks from all the other tributes.  When Peeta compliments Katniss, she realizes he is just buttering her up, and she kisses his bruise to play the game right back, which SPOILER KIND OF maybepossiblyperhaps could be misinterpreted.

Katniss, you wily woman!  Always strategizing.