What a splendid night! The Capitol was celebrating itself and its people again in the most exuberant and extravagant way possible again, and the season of little parties and feasts of the Capitol High Society had reached its immediate and definite climax today, in the annual costume and masquerade ball that was held in President Snow’s own residence. Weeks before that, Aquila and her friends had been talking about nothing else, even though they had known not all of them were so lucky as to attend. They were only around sixteen after all, and some of them were cursed with very strict parents. Not so Aquila however. Her father, one of the Gamemakers, was not such a big fan of receptions and balls ever since his wife had died, and he only attended those he had to be seen on as to not offend anyone, but he never would resent his daughter the fun. He knew she was mature for her age, and he also knew that she was considered quite a pretty and well-received face amongst the people of the Capitol. One day, he would be able to marry her off to a very prosperous and distinguished man, and as such make her star shine even brighter.
Aquila didn’t care about such things though, she was living in and enjoying the present, not the future. She wanted to have the time of her life while she still could, and she liked to be the center of attention for a while. The costume she had been choosing with the help of her personal stylist was surely made to draw attention to her tonight. She was wearing a tightly fitting bodice with long, flowing gazé sleeves, coalescing in the colors of shimmering red, blazing orange and brilliant yellow. The bodice left the part around her navel bare, proudly showing her flat belly. The skirt she was wearing was of the same flowing material as the sleeves and allowed little sneak peeks at her slender, long legs when she moved. The skirt itself was black at the hem, then merged into red, orange and yellow as well, reaching its brightest point at her waist. Her red hair itself had not been replaced by a wig, but instead interwoven with feathers, showing the same coalescing colors, with their brightest tone around the quill. An orange mask in the shape of a beak, dusted with glittering gold powder, completed her attire. She was a Phoenix, just rising from the ashes.
She knew she was having eyes on her, some admiring, some jealous, but in the end she didn’t care much for them. She wanted to enjoy the night, dance, eat until she had to use the little glasses of vomiting liquid, and then dance and eat again.
Every now and again, she snuck a glance at her company for the night, the dashing young man that had so graciously offered to have an eye on her for her father’s sake: Seneca Crane, the shooting star of the Capitol. Appointed Head Gamemaker and everybody’s darling. Some even said he could be the next president should Snow die unexpectedly. To be seen with him tonight made Aquila’s star shine even brighter, and she knew it. This was going to be a perfect night.
”What do you think of the party so far, Seneca?” she asked curiously, not sure if she would get an honest answer or a stereotype one. In the end it probably wouldn’t matter much.
***
Walking into what probably could be touted as the party of the century, well at least for those parties that were not directly tied to the Hunger Games, Seneca felt immediately at ease. The annual costume and masquerade ball was one of the very lavish celebrations President Snow himself throws for the elite Capitol crowd, a fitting venue for the usual ostentatious display of colors and ornaments that people from the Capitol are infamous of. It was not something new to his books. Seneca Crane had been to more parties than he could count since he had entered the world of politics and the games. Well, suffice it to say he grew up in this world. Being in his third year as Head Gamemaker, he was no ordinary celebrity. He was THE celebrity, the man who made and still continue to make things happen in and around the Games. Victors come and go, but Seneca had remained master manipulator of all, and he planned to continue on for as long as he possibly could. Seneca knew exactly what he was and where he was in the social ladder--just a notch below President Snow. There was so much power to being Head Gamemaker and everybody's darling. And Seneca was determined, not only to bask in its glory, but to make the most out of it in all possible ways he could imagine.
Such as tonight. He knew he could just as easily get himself a willing lady to accompany him to the ball. With a click of a finger or a suggestive wink, he knew women would come flocking to him for a chance to be seen at his side. He should know, he had done it many times before. Seneca was never seen with the same woman twice. Ever. There was always a new flavor, a new arm candy every time he'd go out and about attending parties and public functions all over the Capitol. And tonight he had decided to take one that was just on the verge of blossoming into a very lovely flower. Aquila, the daughter of one of his Gamemakers, was so beautiful and graceful in all her sixteen summers to rival even the Capitol's experienced socialites and vixens. And Seneca wanted to be part of it, wanted to be the one to show her off before somebody else does. By offering to be her date for the party, Seneca had practically told everyone in attendance, and practically everyone who would see them together when the news and photographs come out, that Aquila was his, and that every other young man out there should just shod off and wallow in insecurity as they always have whenever he was around.
Seneca turned to Aquila when she spoke, and couldn't help but continue to be blown away by how she looked tonight. He had felt quite a heart attack first time he saw her when he fetch her from her house earlier. She was lovely and every bit as breathtaking in her stunning gown. The colors of her dress complimented her flaming hair, and all in all, Aquila was a vision to behold. Seneca was indeed the luckiest man here tonight. Heck, he's the luckiest man all over Panem. "Not quite as enchanting as you are tonight, my dear Aquila," he replied, reaching a hand out to gently caress her cheek, before moving it down her dainty arms, to rest by her elbow. "Are you enjoying yourself? Is there anyone here you'd like to meet or anything I could do to make this night a memorable one for you?"
Such as tonight. He knew he could just as easily get himself a willing lady to accompany him to the ball. With a click of a finger or a suggestive wink, he knew women would come flocking to him for a chance to be seen at his side. He should know, he had done it many times before. Seneca was never seen with the same woman twice. Ever. There was always a new flavor, a new arm candy every time he'd go out and about attending parties and public functions all over the Capitol. And tonight he had decided to take one that was just on the verge of blossoming into a very lovely flower. Aquila, the daughter of one of his Gamemakers, was so beautiful and graceful in all her sixteen summers to rival even the Capitol's experienced socialites and vixens. And Seneca wanted to be part of it, wanted to be the one to show her off before somebody else does. By offering to be her date for the party, Seneca had practically told everyone in attendance, and practically everyone who would see them together when the news and photographs come out, that Aquila was his, and that every other young man out there should just shod off and wallow in insecurity as they always have whenever he was around.
Seneca turned to Aquila when she spoke, and couldn't help but continue to be blown away by how she looked tonight. He had felt quite a heart attack first time he saw her when he fetch her from her house earlier. She was lovely and every bit as breathtaking in her stunning gown. The colors of her dress complimented her flaming hair, and all in all, Aquila was a vision to behold. Seneca was indeed the luckiest man here tonight. Heck, he's the luckiest man all over Panem. "Not quite as enchanting as you are tonight, my dear Aquila," he replied, reaching a hand out to gently caress her cheek, before moving it down her dainty arms, to rest by her elbow. "Are you enjoying yourself? Is there anyone here you'd like to meet or anything I could do to make this night a memorable one for you?"
