Masks and Lies - 9/9

Aquila couldn’t remember if anyone ever made her feel so… grown up, so worthy of his time and effort like Seneca did just now. It was like looking into a mirror and seeing herself through his eyes. She wasn’t a girl anymore, but not yet a fully grown woman, she was in that incredible delicate state of in-between, and right now, in this moment, she wanted to milk it to the last drop. To be seen as an adult without yet having to face the responsibilities that came with it. Wasn’t it wonderful?! Whoever said that being a child was horrible clearly had it wrong – you just needed someone to see that inner age of you, that value only so little people could fathom. And she was now one of them, it gave Aquila a weird sense of… power, yes you could almost call it power. Youth was power, and she intended to wield it. She would be ever indebted to Seneca for having shown her this, she knew that. Of course she would not exploit this power for bad things, even if it might be quite tempting in the beginning, she would only use it for this night, or a few night to follow… so she could have the time of her life and experience the bliss of being young.

“You think so?” she asked, giving her voice a little coquettish tint. What was wrong with a little flattery after all… tonight, nothing counted as it usually would. She would just ride the tidal wave of the moment and see where it brought her. She didn’t know where it came from, but she trusted Seneca. It was hard to trust anyone in the Capitol, she knew that, but her father had approved of him being her chaperone for tonight… and if father approved, there could be nothing bad hidden behind it, right? “Who knew men could be so easily blinded.”
And then he posed it… a question she would have never expected from him in a lifetime. do you want me in your grasp…? Aquila couldn’t help but blush at the sheer thought of him having even suggested such a thing, even though he might have meant it perfectly innocent. Then again, he was Head Gamemaker, probably everything in his whole life would be an exciting game to him, and not so very innocent. So why didn’t that make her back away? Aquila didn’t know why she didn’t care, and she was in no mood to start an in depth analysis on her motivation now. This was her night to shine, she would no ‘if’s or ‘but’s destroy that now.
“Well… who wouldn’t”, she replied, smiling. “You’re certainly quite the catch… and a challenge, cause no one ever managed it before… ensnaring you, grasping you. They say you’re elusive like the air itself.”

Whether or not he truly meant these things, they were surely a pleasure to hear. She’d like that,… the idea of him showing her a way, taking her under his wings so to say… so that the eagle would learn to soar. He was really all kinds of sweet to offer this to her, it was definitely something Aquila would be looking forward to. And to think of what her friends would say! Aquila surely had been rising in graces! “I’d gladly take adviced from you there, Seneca.” Hopefully he would stay true to his word, but something told her he would. Taking another glass of sparkling wine, mixed with some sweet, red liquid that made it all the more delicious, she raised it in a mocking toast. “Alright…then let this game begin, I should say!”

Giving another of her chiming laughs, Aquila shook her head at his feign hurt about not being the one her friends bet on. Should she tell him? No… it was better sometimes to keep a few secrets to yourself, and decide when or if at all to reveal them. That was what made you master of the game and not a pawn in it: knowledge… and knowing how to best use it. Because her friends DID put a wager on Seneca, they had bet on him leaving her alone after a few politely exchanged words. She, in all honesty, had believed that too, but now look where they were! He had asked her out again! Oh, she would be so excited to tell them… or she would not. No, she decided, she would not. This would be her very own secret, until the journalists showed it to them!
“I guess he was the easier bet”, she only said and then fell silent as her heart was pounding in her chest, more apprehensive to meet Caesar Flickerman now that she had been meeting Seneca. The entertainer was deep in concersation, but some sixth sense must have told him someone was approaching, as he suddenly turned, greeting them with his too-bright-for-comfort smile. “Ah! Seneca, what a pleasure!” he enthused, opening his arms as if he was about to hug Seneca. “And who might be this charming young lady at your side?”