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"You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them."

"You need to do something Seneca…Something more." President Snow mumbled, judging each thread on my body and each placement of each hair on my head, as if my firecracker red and black tux was not bright enough.

I chuckled and looked around clueless.

"I'm not sure what you're referring too, Mr. Snow. I'm only doing exactly what I'm supposed to."

He nodded and rose from the office chair, adjusting his coat snugly.

"I want you to do something better with your style. Seneca. You need to do something flashy and provocative. I don't know what but figure it out… I need to leave now. Get familiar with this room. It will be your home soon."

I tried to keep a pleasant expression on my face while he exited the room slowly, scanning each and every detail around him, searching for I don't know what. Perhaps a crumb or something else to micromanage.

I turned away from the direction of the door he was exiting through and closed my eyes, holding a deep breath in until I heard the heavy metal collide shut.

I let my eyes open and stared down at the floor, at the tips of my immaculate, shining shoes which weren't flashy or provocative enough for Snow's taste. I stayed that way and thought of all the ways I could obtain these qualities he ordered of me….Two minutes….Three minutes…Four minutes….Five minutes later I remained, stroking my chin where a rough five o'clock shadow had grown in.

And then I gave up.

I lacked any creativity it was going to take to achieve my latest assignment so I turned around to face what I had to look forward to. The control center was the network of the Hunger Games and it was officially the one and only thing I could manipulate with the twitch of my pinky. Soon enough the dead silence would be filled with the busy monitoring that determined which tributes were demolished and which would escape the wrath of my arena.

I smirked at the thought but as soon as I entertained it I was reminded of my conversation with Anastasia. And as soon as I thought of her…..

I huffed and threw myself back into the unoccupied office chair like a pouting little kid. I wanted a solution. I wanted flashiness. I wanted something provocative about me to just appear. And most of all I just wanted HER. And I wanted it all then.

I groaned and leaned forward, rubbing my temples with one hand and cursing myself for the lack of ambition I suddenly had.

I forced myself up to my feet then, down the hall and out the doors, straight to the closest place there was to get food so that I wouldn't waste away from self-inflicted stress. While I waited for my order at a bar & café I was approached by a young woman who made herself comfortable right in front of me at my table.

"You must be Seneca Crane. I've heard all about the new gamemaker but I didn't know he was so….sexy."

I rolled my eyes and smirked arrogantly. This corresponding Capitol tux really gave up my identity.

"You've found me."

She smiled and bit her lip flirtatiously.

"I love a man in a tux." She almost begged with her voice and certainly pleaded with her eyes.

I was almost unenthused but I entertained the thought. It was convenient for me.

She sat there and kept speaking to me in bubbly, rehearsed ways while I ate my food and paid my tab.

"So…I'm not sure I caught your name Miss. I'd certainly like to know it."

Her eyes lit up and she bat her eyelashes at me.

"Vivica."

I stood up and cleared my throat, holding my hand out at her side.

"Shall we?"

I could tell she was thoroughly pleased with my invitation. I could hardly stand the perfume she wore or the way she babbled on and on. But I didn't exactly plan on having a deep conversation with her.

So we walked on, outside the café and down the walkway, through the clusters of people, and towards my building…while she talked. It went from my job to my money to my tux and then back around, and here and there she would mention a low connection she had to the Capitol somehow and how exciting it was to be here next to me. I was almost embarrassed to be seen by all these people the more that I listened. I just had a few more minutes to deal with so I tried my best to tune it out.

The tuning out suddenly became extremely easy when I spotted my favorite image in the distance. A familiar bright white smile had caught my eye at first and then I recognized the rest of her face.

Anastasia was wearing a pure white dress. Her red lipstick and dark hair and eyes were so vibrant against the color. I had stopped in my tracks, even though this stranger clung to my arm and insisted on moving forward. I couldn't help myself from watching her approach me. She was laughing at a couple of children who had shoved passed her in the efforts to escape one another as if they were no bother to her. Which seemed completely fitting for her. Her eyes followed the children as they ran further and further away, closer and closer to me. You would have thought they were her own by how tender and interested her expression was.

"Are you alright? What is it?"

I shrugged and stayed focused on Anastasia.

After the children disappeared, her eyes bounced off of several objects ahead of her. Then, much to my surprise they landed directly on me. They were like darts, pinning me where I stood because there was no way I could escape the situation now. I had a girl on my arm and the girl I'd wanted since the moment I heard her glorious voice, staring right back at the both of us.

The best thing I could do was smile. Hopelessly.

Before I could prepare what explanation I would use, she had arrived just a few feet away from me. Much further than I wished she'd come.

"Mr. Crane." Anastasia's voice shook shyly and uncomfortably, placing an obvious barrier between us that I knew I couldn't break then.

"Miss Snow." I licked my lips and forced myself to speak. "It's a pleasure seeing you here. Like this." I rolled my eyes at myself with the end of my sentence, mentally smacking my head against a wall.

"Of course. It's good to see you're still finding free time despite the Games approaching."

She knew she'd caught me off guard and enjoyed calling me out on everything she said I'd do during our last discussion.

I swallowed hard and glanced resentfully at the bimbo on my arm.

"Definitely. Just trying to make friends."

Anastasia's gaze burned holes in me and neither of us seemed to want to go anywhere whether there was a spectator beside us or not.

"Good for you. Good luck with that Mr. Crane."

She flashed me a perfect smile with absolutely no genuine intention of bidding me good luck.

I tossed my head back lightly in reaction, laughing just to keep my calm and shaking my head as she shoved passed me.

"Stas"-"Goodnight to you both."

With that, she disappeared with the rest of the people behind us, but I suffered endlessly that night from the guilt and embarrassment from being caught red-handed.

The next day was a blur of whiskey and entertainment with more of my Capitol peers. Luckily I was able to escape Snow in the mix of characters and luckily, I was able to keep last night's events in the back of my mind with the alcohol. Whats-her-name had gone home sometime after I'd fallen asleep. I must have pissed her off when I told her to shutup or this wasn't going to work out. After seeing Anastasia, I figured that since she suspected what I had intended on doing with this woman anyways, I'd go ahead and do it afterall. She wouldn't believe me if I tried to convince her anyways. So I enjoyed what I thought I had the freedom to enjoy as one of the most desirable Capitol bachelors.

I stood in a circle of several of the people that I saw on a weekly basis at the luncheons who were stuck on a boring discussion about their daily lives and families. They exchanged stories back and forth about vacations and travels, parties and banquets, and now, they had finally revolutionized to the topic of spouses and children, which I found particularly boring since neither pertained to me. It seemed to be going in a circle. "My sons' going to so and so private college for business" and "now that both of our children are moved on we're planning a vow renewal ceremony. What about you?" and "just struggling through these painful teenage years. I don't know what's gotten into him lately." Everyone had taken a turn, competing for being the most interesting couple, but one remained who hadn't said a word.

"What about you Mr Snow? How is Anastasia? We haven't seen her precious face in too long."

My stomach did flips when I heard her name and I suddenly had gained interest in the conversation.

President Snow stood there, speechless, with all eyes on him. He stared at the floor and smiled absently, brainstorming for what words to say and I couldn't wait to hear what would come out.

"Ana is currently creating an art portfolio to submit to colleges…so when she's not painting somewhere, she's usually hiding from me." He chuckled and scanned everyone's faces to make sure they had all gotten the humor. His eyes locked with mine and I smirked in approval. "Anyhow, I can always count on Seneca to find her it seems."

My face turned ten shades of red when everyone looked at me smiling.

"You've met her, have you? Isn't she delightful? She's so lovable."

I shook off the surprise and smiled around at all of them.

"Yeah, of course she is. She's enchanting. I always look forward to her company. Definitely loveable. Maybe you should bring the princess down from her tower more often Mr Snow. Seems like you're depriving her fans." I pointed at him with my hand that held my drink as they laughed and shifted their attention towards him.

Snow exchanged expressions with me and shrugged.

"Perhaps I should."

With that last comment, Snow excused himself, backed up and walked away from the crowd, down the hall and out of sight. I stood there again asserting my opinion on topics I didn't care about, thinking about a girl I couldn't stop being reminded of.