𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 93

                                    

                                          
The Gamemakers were slated to have their meals in shifts, but when the time came, nobody moved. Their mentees were allowed to go, though, and many of them followed Athena's lead to collect plates for their mentors, who ate at their stations. The students, however, had theirs in the dining lounge, since there wasn't space for everyone alongside all the laptops and equipment.
Although the smell was enticing, Lilith knew her so-called appetite wouldn't last. Her pastries had almost made a reappearance when Vinicius skewered Vector through the head with the only arrow available in the arena.
It had been taken literally—the bow and arrow. One bow, one arrow. Let them hunt, they said. According to their supplier, the bow was a formidable thing, and there was no doubt about that now. The arrow was constructed wholly out of titanium alloy, purported to be the strongest material on earth for its weight. It passed straight through Vector, flying a long way behind him afterward.
Focused on retrieving it, as was the Gamemakers' intention, Vinicius had not noticed Tinny. To her credit, she managed to remain mum throughout the ordeal, unlike Lilith, who gasped and jumped. The first thought that flitted through her mind was that she would never be able to survive the arena, which was strange, since she would never have to. She would never be in one. She would still claim to take Athena's or Olympia's place, because that was how much she loved them, but it was all metaphorical.
No Capitol child would ever be subjected to such atrocities. (No child should, Capitol or otherwise, but she kept this thought to herself.) It was the whole premise for her mentor program.
Lilith recalled pressure on her shoulders and Snow easing her into a chair. She hadn't been about to faint, but precautions were always wise. Not long later, he sat down without a word. Unsurprising there, because he hadn't breathed one since "Then watch something else." He frowned slightly at the map, and she knew he was thinking. Of what, though, she couldn't even hazard a guess, and she didn't dare to ask.
About halfway through the first lunch, he began to fidget. By that, she meant that he uncrossed and recrossed his legs, straightened up, and steadily downed a fifty-centilitre bottle of water over the course of several seconds. His arm was draped over his abdomen, as if casually resting in his lap, but the creases in his waistcoat betrayed the application of at least some force. Although his face, which was expressionless, did not suggest pain, Lilith couldn't help suspecting hunger pangs, if not outright gastritis. All he had today was that one croissant and a lot of coffee.
When the second shift started and Snow was still absorbed by the map, Lilith declared she was getting his food. She didn't wait for permission, refusal, or acknowledgement, but she heard one.
"Thank you."
A sumptuous range of cooked appetizers, commonly known as hot high tea, had been laid out on the board, freshly replenished. Dumplings, buns, fried treats, carbohydrates. Two dozen varieties in total, everything bite-sized or easily manipulated with one hand. Lilith's wrist was better after the ice, and she had no trouble loading his plate with at least one of everything.
Open-faced minced pork cube wrapped in a yellow skin garnished with roe. Beige onion dome with a swirling peak, filled with meat and soup. A black, truffle-flavoured analogue. A half-moon soaked in red chilli-vinegar sauce. A round, crystal sphere featuring whole shrimp. An elongated one, equally translucent, but brimming with sauteed diced vegetables. A pink bun containing lotus seed paste. A yellow that would burst with salted egg yolk lava. A golden brown one, baked, with a crusty shell bearing a diamond pattern like a pineapple. Triangular honey roasted pork puff. Squares of pan-fried turnip cake. Beancurd skin in oyster sauce. Stuffed eggplant. Spring roll. Crab lollipop. Sesame ball. Mini yam basket. Dough crullers in rice paper.