Azrielle De Blaise, 34

Azrielle has never envied Akira.

She's found, over the years, that this is a concept the tabloids and rumour mills can't quite comprehend. They see it so black and white - her older sister is the President of Panem, and she's little more than a trophy wife. Doesn't she want more? Doesn't she want to achieve things? Doesn't she want her parent's approval? Doesn't she want to overthrow her sister and take her spot?

And Azrielle knows that when they crowd her personal space with microphones and when they blind her with flashing cameras the second she leaves the house, the answer they're so desperately after is "yes". They want her to hate Akira so badly.

But Azrielle only feels pity.

It used to be excitement; Azrielle still thinks that the best day of her life was Akira's inauguration (not that anyone can know this, she's had wedding days and children's births, after all). Being fresh-faced and so young, still with hopes and dreams, giggling with her sister as she stood behind her and plaited her hair, stylists long since dismissed: "I can do it, I'll do it.". Standing proudly to her side as cameras zoomed in on their new President, thinking "that's my sister! That's Akira!". Afterwards, Azrielle had to sit through a long dinner with other politicians, filled with long, dull conversations and even longer, duller speeches - but every time she'd look up and catch Akira's attention, her sister would look gleefully dazed, joyful disbelief twinkling in her eyes.

Akira's eyes don't 'twinkle' anymore. The concept is so foreign it's almost laughable.

She searches for her sister now, but doesn't find her in the crowds. Ah well. She wasn't exactly expecting it - Akira is a busy woman, especially this close to Games season, and it's not like she's ever really spoken that much to Valeria. Hell, Azrielle hasn't ever really spoken that much to Valeria, and she's supposed to be her step-mother.

Step-mother. What a piss-take. Azrielle would have been seven when Valeria was born. Jesus - Azrielle tips her head back and drains the last of her champagne - she doesn't like thinking about that.

She places the flute down on the table next to her, where a pristine lace tablecloth is draped over the dark mahogany. Fucking hell. Wonder how much that cost us. The name card on the table reads 'ARELLIUS AND KOSKO', but the respective families are nowhere to be seen, leaving the table deserted. They're most likely mingling somewhere, that's what everyone else is doing - everyone apart from Azrielle. She's standing alone in the corner, arms crossed and not exactly screaming "approachable". Not that anyone would want to approach her, really, she doesn't know anyone here so the only people who would talk to her would be the press - but even the trashy tabloids have grown tired of seeing pictures of Azrielle at weddings. Three-times divorced and four-times married, the novelty has worn off; even if this wedding is her step-daughters, not her own, nobody particularly cares.

When Akira was first elected, the press had pounced on Azrielle. Newly twenty, Azrielle's flirty innocence and carefree attitude had contrasted charmingly to her more somber older sister. Azrielle had always been "the wild child" - or as wild as you could get when your parents were rich, influential, and incredibly strict - and the Capitol had eaten it up. They had adored her. They plastered her on every front page. "PRESIDENT'S SISTER IN DRUG SCANDAL" "VIRGO'S SISTER TO PURSUE CAREER IN MODELING" "PRESIDENT'S SISTER ENGAGED TO MULTI-BILLIONAIRE". That last one had been her parent's doing, they quickly grew tired of her sex-and-party-filled days and were keen to preserve the Virgo reputation, and now Azrielle has not been single since the age of twenty-two. Every time she'd file for divorce against the sleazy businessman triple her age, her parents would arrange her engagement with the next one. Now, on marriage number four at only thirty-four, Azrielle's given up. This is her life. Still, she doesn't regret not going into politics like Akira. She might live a life full of fake smiles, charity events, abysmal sex and forced motherhood - but it's nothing compared to the bone-deep depression Presidency has caused her sister.

"You look miserable."

Azrielle jumps at the voice in her ear, spinning around and coming face-to-face with the President of Panem. "Christ, Akira, you scared me." Her sister snorts, swirling the wine in her glass around as she looks out at all the people. "When did you get here?"

"Just now. Paid the bartender triple what this red should've cost to keep his mouth shut. Don't want to steal Valerie's thunder."
"Valeria," Azrielle corrects on instinct. She's not sure why, it's not like it matters. "Wait, did he make you pay?"
"Yes, he did. I should execute him for that, shouldn't I?" she muses, taking a sip that leaves her top lip stained dark red. Azrielle scoffs.
"You're way too soft for that, don't kid yourself."

The sisters grow quiet, watching as the happy couple sway to a sweet melody. "The first dance," Akira comments pointlessly, a note of melancholy to her voice.
"Yes. You know the newspapers captioned pictures of mine and Enrique's as 'first dance'?"
"Even though it was technically your fourth first dance?."
"Even though it was technically my fourth first dance." Azrielle confirms.
"God, your life is so sad."
"Says you."
"Yes, well, not a lot I can do about that now, is there?"
"Not a lot I can do about mine either."

Akira hums in agreement. The song finishes and the crowd breaks into polite applause.

"You know it's your fault, right? I can't live how I want to if you're the President of Panem, it would ruin your reputation. It's your fault my life sucks."

Akira cocks her head and laughs slightly. She looks up at her sister. "Yes, I'm quite aware."
"Good. Just making sure."
"You are insufferable, I hope you know that."

Murmurs are beginning to pick up, people throwing glances in the sisters' direction. Akira sighs and hands Azrielle her glass. "My cue to leave. Best of luck to the new couple."

Azrielle doesn't get a chance to say anything before Akira's gone, ducked out to avoid the onslaught of gushing guests and sweltering press.

No, Azrielle doesn't envy Akira one bit.

A/N

and as we approach the arena chapters of Finem Omnia...submissions for Incendium are now open! a few things, if i may:

submissions are open until 20th december

that's a fairly long time! it gives you over a month! but this time slot means i am looking for well-rounded, detailed, thorough tributes - i want something to work with. not two sentences for a personality, not a fickle character archetype, not a mary sue etc. give me unique tributes! diverse tributes! handicapped tributes! tributes with exciting backstories! tributes with boring backstories! normal tributes, eccentric tributes, original tributes - just fleshed-out, detailed, tributes. it'll mean i can write them so much better. diversity is mega important for me: gimme lgbt and poc tributes please! i think i had 3? poc tributes in finem omnia and...that is just dumb af lmao.

this is not first come first serve and there will be no reservations - but if i love your tribute, i will close the spot early. if the spot you want to submit to has already had submissions - still submit! please! competition is healthy nd fun, and it might be a tribute i have no intention of accepting (-: just don't be scared of spots that already have numbers next to them, lmao.

there's no limit on the number of tributes you can send me - when choosing my cast i won't be taking into consideration who submitted it, i'm only interested in the quality of the character. however, this is going to be partial syot, i'm looking for around 12-16 tributes.

one last thing - this is the sequel to finem omnia and is the second installment in the finem omnia verse, but you do not have to have read f.o to submit to incendium; the canon is all pretty typical, there's nothing of note you need to know...yet.

the form is on my page, as well as the number of submissions for certain spots. the form will have further information on there, too.

aaand yeah! have fun! i cannot wait to see who you all send my way, and i'm so pumped to read your kiddos!

any questions, don't hesitate to pm me on here or on discord (silverfearn#9493)

~silver