”I said what I said!” she teased him back, giving a mischievous wink. “What you make of it, is entirely your concern, my dear Seneca.”
And yet, the way he said ‘my pretty one’ sent a delicate shower down the girl’s spine. He was definitely using the right language now, but it made her more… no, excited was the wrong word, but it definitely didn’t make her that much uncomfortable. What girl doesn’t want to be called pretty after all? And by such a handsome man as him? It was practically every girl’s dream come true, and she was living this dream tonight. Aquila herself was quite enjoying the slightly coy and mysterious note she was giving herself, even though she did not know how well she was actually able to play this card. She had seen other women do it countless times, playing hard to get so to say, to keep the men at their heels. She had no desire for that of course, but like she had stated before, Seneca Crane could be called her guinea pig tonight.
”Oh, who knows what is true and what is a lie”, she mused thoughtfully, but with a challenging twinkling in her eyes. “After all… this is the Capitol. We don’t wear our masks only for the masquerades.” That was nothing if not true, but maybe nothing she should have said now. Sometimes Aquila just pondered about these things, when she felt bored. Her friends often laughed at her because of it, and called it Aquila’s Philosophic Moment, short APM. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought that side up with Seneca, it surely wasn’t very… attractive.
Aquila couldn’t quite believe her ears, as she was taking a sip of her sparkling wine, and it was all she could do to not choke on it in surprise. Had Seneca really… yes indeed he had! There was no helping the blush that rose in her cheeks and her heart beating in a frenzy almost caused her to hyperventilate. As far as she knew, this had NEVER happened before! She was on to the next round, so to speak. Seneca wanted her for a second social event, and there was no denying that this would be different than attending a ball together. It was… a higher level for certain. Calm down… she chided herself, fighting for composure. Don’t let it show how excited you are! This is a beginner’s mistake! But she couldn’t quite keep the elation out of her voice, as she replied:
”Oh?! What kind of style does he paint in? I surely love art, and…” she gave a slightly giddy chuckle, taking another sip. “Off the top of my head, I think I could move one or two dates to make room for you. Nah, kidding! This will be the spotlight of an otherwise dull week, I’d be delighted!”
"Are you going to make a poor man suffer now? Torture me all night wondering if what you were saying is really true or not?" Seneca played back, sending a little impish smile her way. Such a clever girl, he told himself. Just the right about of beguiling to rein a man in. Seneca had to admit he was completely enamored now. How dead wrong he was to think she didn't know how to play the game. Clueless even to the point of naivete, but he was giving her credit now. Never underestimate a lady simply because of her age. Armed with such wit and charm, not to mention beauty, Aquila could just as easily find her place in the society circles soon. And Seneca was only too happy to have led her into the door himself. Yes, this was what he wanted in the first place. To be seen with him was already a start for Aquila. Once she is fully accepted into the so-called fold of high society, she will thank him for it, and she will forever be indebted. Seneca liked calling on debts, money or not. People would do anything to please you knowing they owe you. It makes him even more powerful than he already was.
And here she comes again showing him more than he expected her to know, for a woman her age. Her parents raised her well, or she had educated herself well enough on the norms and goings-on around the Capitol. He was impressed. Usually teenagers don't care much for the politics behind everything. They only care for their own enjoyment. Not Aquila. She was quite observant. "True, but I do try to be an open book myself. What you see is what you get. Now tell me, Aquila, is the same true with you?" he replied, wanting her to know that despite the 'masks,' she can trust Seneca to be truthful to her...most of the times. Whether she knew it or not, she seemed to be already dodging, quite expertly, his subtle advances towards her. Dilly-dallying in her answers. Or maybe she was just being coy...or cute. Seneca told himself he shouldn't really read too much into her words. She was just a kid trying to play the game with what little tools she had, after all.
It was indeed a good move to ask her out again. He watched with disguised satisfaction the color that rose up her cheeks at the invitation to go out with him again. If their appearance together tonight would be considered the usual fare, then to be seen again together in a few days would surely fuel talk and speculation unprecedented in Seneca's history. Aquila should count herself lucky to be that girl to make him change his routine. Not a lot of women can do that. Despite the blush, Aquila still managed to maintain her composure. Though the excitement in her voice betrayed her a bit, Seneca was only too glad to be shown a sign that she wanted this, too. Who wouldn't really? "What do you call random scribbles and splashes of paint that we call art? Abstract?" Seneca replied with a chuckle. He laughed at her playful yet affirmative answer, and then boldly took her hand in his, and brought it to his lips. "Either way, I am honored then to be chosen over and above these other dates. I will do my best to give you a wonderful time that will rival tonight."
