Little did she know that it was in fact HER being played, and played good! For all her bold words and teasing tryouts, Aquila was still little more than a girl.
She also didn’t quite know what to make of him claiming to be an open book. Was he really? Could you come so far like he had and still be an open book? Or was that another one of his fashionable sayings, and she shouldn’t take it at face value? On the other hand: Could she really dare to accuse him of possible falsehood so easily? Hadn’t she become too wary already of the people she grew up with? Aquila gave an uneasy smile, but then took a deep breath and decided to be honest. He had asked for nothing else after all, and who was she to deny it!
”I would be really glad, if that is true. I try to be the same, in all honesty. I don’t want to lead people on, it’s shameful in my eyes. So when I tell you something, I mean it. When I don’t tell you something…” she trailed off and allowed herself a mischievous grin, “then I have my reasons as well. Can you live with that? I’m not trying to come across world-wise or secretive, as I am neither. I’m just a complicated sould I guess.”
Aquila still couldn’t quite believe this was happening, but slowly the full impact of it all sunk in.She really must have done something right tonight, if Seneca Crane broke with his known routine and asked her out for a second date. This time it WOULD be a date, not doing her a favor of accompanying her to a masquerade she otherwise wouldn’t have been able to attend. It almost sounded like she was doing HIM a favor with it, but Aquila had no idea what exactly she had done to deserve such a price. In any way, she couldn’t WAIT to tell someone who would appreciate it! What would her friends think?? Or should she keep it a secret from everyone to maximize the impact? That sounded appealing as well!
”I’d call it … hard on the imagination I guess”, she quipped, truly finding it sometimes funny how artists called their pictures for example ‘the red bird’ – when there was nothing near a red bird shown on it. But then… let people have their odd hobbies, the main thing on this day would not be the paintings after all, it was being seen with Seneca. Again she couldn’t help the slight coloring of her cheeks when he put her hand so galantly to his lips. Maybe that was something you got used to over time, but right now Aquila was still too inexperienced to just brush such a gesture off. “Rival tonight?” she heard herself repeat, “in all honesty, I don’t even know, if that will be possible.” It was true, was it not? This night was… simply unsurpassable.
Her laugh was like the soft but enchanting tinkling of chimes lovingly caressed by the gentle breeze. Seneca wanted more, or specifically, he wanted more of Aquila's laughter to make his day even more perfect than it already is. And he wanted it everyday. Still, he couldn't help repay her with a laugh of his own when she quite so expertly parried his playful little plea. "Exploit me all you want, my dear. A man can only count himself lucky to even be bestowed a smile from you," he replied, flattering her as much as he could. That was the play, wasn't it? Let her think she was in control, that she was the powerful one, while he was the victim, the poor admirer who was starving for her affections, and would do anything to be given it. She would take the bait, being none the wiser, and Seneca would only be too glad to have her eating at the palm of his hands soon. "And I don't think a bright and lovely flower like you would want to be so easily corrupted. Am I wrong in thinking that?" While Seneca wished she would rise above all the other petty women of the Capitol and make a name for herself, seeing as she is indeed quite an intelligent girl, he really had no control over her future. He just wished she knew better than to be so easily sucked into the shallow glitz of the social circles and nothing more.
"I think I can live with that," Seneca replied with a smile. A complicated soul. Quite admirable coming from a girl. In his world as Gamemaker where cunning and deviousness play a major part, Seneca had grown to appreciate women who can offer him more than a night's worth of enjoyment. Sure, he can always live with one-night stands, but he had to admit he is always craving for that one woman who could simulate his mind and make him even more sharp and shrewd than he already was. Such 'creatures' were rare around the Capitol. And Aquila, she was a quite a find. He had asked her father to take her to this masquerade ball for a lovely arm candy, to dance with, to show off to everybody. He had not expected to have quite an interesting conversation with her for almost half an hour now, just him and her. Oh, Seneca wanted Aquila every minute that he was spending with her. There was no way he was going to let her go that easily.
Seneca couldn't help the hearty laugh her comment had elicited from him on his friend's abstract paintings. "We should make a game out of it next week. See who gets to guess the name of the painting simply by looking at it." Of course, he would indulge her. "If I win, I will take you out to dinner. If you win, you can take me out wherever you want and I will pay for it." Either way, he was going to spend time with her. It was a win-win situation for him. And of course, for her as well. To be seen three times with Seneca Crane would be a rare distinction Aquila would hold over all the other women he had dated. In no time, she would rise to the top of the social ladder without even as much as an effort. She only need to look good for him. "Let's take it one night at a time then," he replied with a smile as he placed his goblet of wine back on the table, and offered his arm out to Aquila. "You mentioned wanting to talk to a certain someone...?" Seneca asked. The sooner they get all the party pleasantries done with, the sooner he can have her all to himself.
