Chapter One-Hundred-and-Eighty; Water

Stephanie could already hear her stylists and Isa's high voices gushing praises before she reached her bedroom, and she grimaced in dread imagining the onslaught she faced as soon as she opened the door. The only small consolation; from what she could hear, it didn't seem like Ficen was there. Stephanie didn't know if she could stand her hateful, sneering stylist as well as Isa's over-dramatic moods right now.

With a rallying breath Stephanie opened the door and stepped into the room, trying to appear slightly more enthusiastic and up to Isa's standards, about the prospect of new clothes.

"Oh Stephanie pet, you are simply going to faint when you hear this!" Isa gushed excitedly.

Stephanie looked at her escort unimpressed. "Really?" Stephanie asked drily.

She had fainted a lot of times after hearing things now; after hearing the train pull away from the District 3 station and believing she would never see her home or family again, hearing Seneca Crane proclaim he loved her for the first time, hearing Haymitch tell her they couldn't be together anymore…

Stephanie wasn't sure if the escort had quite what it took to make her faint. A part of Stephanie was almost convinced that if she made it through the Games and went home back to District 3 she would never faint again, even without the procedure Seneca had told her about. Because nothing in her home back in District 3 could ever shock or frighten or stun her so completely as the things she had experienced during her stay in the Capitol did.

"Look!" Bright and Lashes sung gleefully as Isa directed Stephanie over to her bed where a beautifully decorated box lay. The fancy ribbon had already been ripped off by eager hands.

"It was waiting in the styling studio when we arrived. Ficen had just sent us to finish up some outfits seeing as the event today was cancelled with the awful weather!" Lashes rushed excitedly.

"And we simply had to open it up because we didn't know who it was for," Bright added sincerely.

Stephanie smirked ruefully, having already spotted the clearly labelled 'Stephanie Trindlesworth' attached to the box, but she didn't bother to mention it.

"It must be from Dan – oh the darling dear! Isn't he such a gentleman?" Isa began excitedly and her stylists began to launch into an excited chatter again with one another; about how rich, and how charming and how brilliant Dan must be, to have sent her such a beautiful dress.

"Ficen didn't make this dress?" Stephanie asked needlessly for confirmation, already knowing.

"No," Bright and Lashes answered in unison.

"That's what we're trying to tell you pet. It must have been Dan that sent you it. Just look at that expensive material! I don't think I even own something so finely made!" Isa exclaimed emphatically, eyes iridescent as she gazed lovingly and longingly at the dress.

Stephanie gazed down into the box; scented, gauzy swaths of tissue paper having being shredded to pieces excitedly beneath Bright and Lashes' eager hands.

She reached forth, hardly able to believe that the material of her new dress was real as it flowed beneath her fingertips. It was so light and airy, like it weighed nothing at all, and it shimmered and gleamed with every little catch of light.

Stephanie's fingers drifted to tug free the note card that had been almost lost amongst the tissue paper in Bright and Lashes' frenzied unwrapping.

Stephanie flicked it open while her stylists and Isa tried to crane in nosy looks, giggling girlishly.

I hope you find this dress more to your satisfaction, and not the 'straitjackets' you are used to. Rest assured however, if you have any difficulties removing it, I'll happily assist.

P.S. I always have liked this colour on you.

Isa, Bright and Lashes fell to a huddle of giggles and gossiping once more, but Stephanie wasn't paying attention to them.

"Try it on!" Isa urged insistently, until she had practically forced Stephanie into the bathroom with the box and dress in her arms. Her stylists and Isa for once leaving Stephanie to her own devices because Isa wanted the grand revelation to be a 'surprise'.

Gratefully alone in the bathroom, Stephanie picked up the dress, amazed once more as the material rippled with each slight movement.

She unbuttoned her shirt, tugged off her trousers and finally slipped the expensive material over her head.

She shivered as it wrapped lovingly around her every dip and curve, holding her and caressing her as surely as a lover's hands would. It just reached her knees; no endless train for her to trip over. It was fitted but not too tight that she couldn't breathe. Her breaths may have been a little short and sharp at that moment but it most definitely wasn't because the dress was suffocating. The neckline dipped but nothing like the daring one she had been made to wear at the party. It was comfortable and wearable unlike most idiotic things in this Capitol. And it was blue. Yet it wasn't just blue. It was a hundred different shades of blue from the clearest cerulean like the lake outside the Capitol when it caught the light just right, to where it almost burned blue-black like a blowtorch's flame in places as it glided against her skin, smoother than silk and cool like…water. For that was what the entire dress reminded her of. Water.

Stephanie looked at the fluid, cursive writing on the note again; sophisticated yet defined in jet black ink.

She recognised that scrawl, had seen it before.

Seneca.

Stephanie needlessly read over the words again. She willed away the blush from her cheeks, trying to scowl unsuccessfully instead. She could almost imagine Seneca's exact expression and spine-tingling low voice he would murmur the words in, if it had been in person.

She had known he had sent the dress the moment she had saw it. This dress like water.

She didn't seem to be wearing it at all. It just seemed to flow around her as freely as water did. It was as cool as ice in places as it stroked the back of her thighs and yet it burned in other places as it cinched in at her waist. It was the blue of Seneca's eyes. And it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen or anyone had ever given her.

Stephanie gave an experimental twirl, feeling an unbidden smile grace her lips as the skirt of the dress fanned out slightly with the movement. It felt so natural. She didn't feel awkward or silly or exposed like she did in any of the Capitolite inventions Ficen had forced her to wear. Ficen had created her clothing designs with some stunning, confident model envisioned to wear them. Not Stephanie; a pale, scrawny girl from District 3. But this dress; it had been hand-tailored to fit her flawlessly, every measurement precise so as to feel gloriously perfect on her.

Stephanie had never really owed many dresses back home. Most of her clothes were hand-me-downs from her older sister which Stephanie didn't mind at all. That was just life. She didn't pay much attention to the slightly too big clothes she would toss on in the mornings. She knew they would most likely be getting oil-splashed at the factory and what absurd reason would she be getting dressed up for?

But wearing the blue dress now, Stephanie almost felt something like a girlish thrill go through her, a pink blush stealing into her cheeks. She felt a little foolish and selfish to be feeling that way over a new dress. She had never cared about clothes before, but the dress simply was…perfect.

The bathroom door had burst inward in the next moment though. Does no one in this Capitol have the patience to allow a woman to get ready!? Stephanie thought exasperatedly.

"Oh pet, you were taking so long. We just couldn't wait!" Isa rushed out apologetically before her bright green eyes dropped below Stephanie's chin and she gasped sharply. Stephanie looked down, immediately concerned, thinking that maybe she had accidentally ripped the dress or something. She still couldn't get over how sheer the material felt. It felt like there had somehow been actual flowing water worked into the liquid like fabric, and knowing Capitol ingenuity she wouldn't have been surprised if there was.

"Oh pet!" Isa gushed, flapping at her eyes that were beaded with tears. Stephanie frowned concernedly. The only thing worse than a stroppy Isa was a crying Isa.

Isa seized her hand suddenly and had Stephanie dragged out into her bedroom in the next second. Bright and Lashes were fidgeting impatiently, hands clapped over one another's eyes to resist looking.

"Oh Kas, Nina pets you can look now!" Isa cried.

Bright and Lashes immediately dropped their hands from one another's faces to look eagerly towards Stephanie standing in her new, blue dress.

They both had much the same reaction Isa had.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Stephanie asked, fingers nervously plucking at the skirt.

"Oh pet! Don't touch it!" Isa swatted away her hand from her dress before sighing dreamily. "It's absolutely perfect!"

Bright and Lashes nodded in enthusiastic agreement, offering loving words of concurrence.

"And it's so…" Bright began, pausing as she scoured for an adjective.

"You!" Lashes finished in exclamation.

"Oh, Nina and Kas are right pet," Isa added, dabbing at her eyes that were filled with proud tears. "No one could wear this dress but you! It was made for you and no one else!"

A smile tugged stubbornly at Stephanie's lips at Isa's words. She knew it was incongruous to be feeling just a little chuffed at that moment about her new dress, but she couldn't help it. She had never had or owned something so entirely unique made solely for her. She imagined Capitolite women would expect this sort of thing all the time from their admirers and such, but Stephanie was most certainly not used to it.

"Oh, and to think that I thought you suited red better! Do you remember pet? At the first party I was the one who told Ficen to pick a beautiful, fiery red dress for you – but this! This dress, oh pet it suits you so much better. The blue looks simply divine on you!" Isa gushed.

"And it's not quite a Capitolite design dress either," Lashes added conversationally, as she approached Stephanie to run appreciative light fingers over the material.

Isa and Bright hummed in agreement. Stephanie even added a soft assent. The dress wasn't embellished with countless gems or other and there were no dramatic flares or trailing material to weigh her down that Ficen was so fond of. It wasn't like the necklace Seneca had gifted her with before; a Capitolite noose made of diamonds and sapphires that she had despised and ripped from her throat before Seneca.

"It's simple, like District clothing," Bright began.

"But it's so, so much more than just dreary District clothes," Isa interjected vehemently.

Bright nodded eagerly. "That's what I'm saying Isa – it's like something entirely different!"

"I want one!" Lashes whined, glittering gold eyelashes fluttering forlornly as she gazed at Stephanie's blue dress.

Stephanie smirked slightly as her thoughts turned to Bright's words. Something entirely different…Something that was neither Capitolite nor District; something-in-between. Just like I labelled Seneca…my something-in-between. Back at the medical facility was the first time the thought had come to Stephanie; that Seneca was many things and she couldn't definitively assign him to one category. The Gamemaker had irrevocably carved for himself a place all of his own in Stephanie.

Is it the same for him? Stephanie thought curiously. Is that how Seneca thought of her as? As his own something-in-between. She had seen Seneca treat other tributes contemptuously and dismissively, just as some Capitolites saw district dwellers with only disgust in their eyes so too had the blue-eyed Gamemaker. How could Seneca still look at people like Frenkin or Ava or Astara and Tain and see only tributes, while he looked at her as the woman he loved, even when she stood clutching her pitiful bundle of district clothing close to her heart? How could Seneca order a hand-made dress for her that would suit her so perfectly, because it wasn't some Capitolite invention she had been squeezed into and yet it wasn't one of her sister Weisna's district hand-me-downs? It was something-in-between.

But then, wasn't that how she saw Seneca and was able to suddenly find herself falling in love with him? How she could still stare hatefully at the Capitolites in all their cruel ignorance and yet spend a night in Seneca's arms, kissing him; the Capitol's very own celebrated Head Gamemaker and President's son.

…

Bright and Lashes much to Stephanie's disgruntlement and Isa's insistence, touched up Stephanie's face with make-up. Though they had left it fairly minimal given Stephanie's obvious displeasure. Isa had been adamant though, that to truly appreciate the beauty of her dress they had to see her entirely 'dolled up'. Silver thankfully wasn't there to tug her hair into some elaborate and painful design.

Isa, Bright and Lashes seemed unable to ever find enough words to describe her dress. Stephanie had collapsed on the end of her bed, softly running her fingertips over her dress as Isa and her two stylists continued to fire back and forth opinions on Seneca's latest gift.

Stephanie was blatantly ignoring them by this stage, but it seemed her stylists and Isa had forgotten she existed as well. She was like an immobile mannequin and the dress was the only thing that mattered to these Capitolites.

Stephanie's head whipped to the side at the sudden rumble of thunder she heard, the blue material curved over her shoulder brushing her chin with her movement. She almost imagined the window panes in her room shivered as the broiling, black sky outside was speared with a white fork of lightning. Neither Isa, Bright nor Lashes seemed to even realise there was a storm just breaking outside, despite Isa's fervent denunciation of the weather earlier.

A shiver ran up Stephanie's spine as she warily eyed the long awaited storm. She imagined the sea would be a churning mass of black waters now as well. A chill crept across her body and goosebumps rose on the flesh of her bare arms. Stephanie rubbed her hands up and down her arms vigorously to ward off the icy chill. She smirked wryly, imagining that Seneca had deliberately ordered her new dress sleeveless, just so he could have the satisfaction of draping his blazer around her shoulders when she would shiver.

Stephanie almost yelped aloud, as her eyes drifted and she saw Isa.

"Isa, what are you doing?!" Stephanie cried, leaping from the bed and startling both Bright and Lashes.

"I'm looking for something nice for you to wear over your dress, pet," Isa replied carelessly, continuing to rifle nosily through Stephanie's wardrobe, humming innocently.

"Oh, what's this?" Isa remarked, long-nailed fingers trailing over the unfamiliar black, silk material as her brow puckered with vague recognition.

Stephanie flew across the room to Isa's side, practically lunging for the escort. She knocked the green-eyed woman aside, closing the wardrobe door firmly to stand in front of it protectively.

Isa was already looking at her reproachfully, lecturing her on how copying Electra's behaviour was a sure way to lose sponsors, even if Electra was a Victor.

"I'm sorry Isa. It's the weather…or something – I don't know. Sorry," Stephanie mumbled uncomfortably, still poised with her back pressed against the wardrobe door.

Isa sniffed snootily, evidently still not entirely ready to forgive Stephanie, as she also recalled Stephanie's lack of sympathy about the weather earlier.

"Nina, Kas pets, I think we should leave Stephanie alone now to work on her behaviour," Isa announced superiorly.

Bright and Lashes immediately stood, with similar expressions of haughty disdain on their faces. Stephanie tried not to look too relieved at the prospect that Isa, Bright and Lashes were finally leaving her in peace.

Stephanie looked up confused when she saw Bright and Lashes paused expectantly in front of her. She frowned puzzled and Lashes sighed dramatically.

"The dress," Bright prompted her. "Take it off, so we can take it away with us."

Stephanie blinked dumbly for a moment, momentarily shocked at the fierce tide of possessiveness that rose up in her.

"You don't need to take it down. I'll not rip it or – " Stephanie began softly when Lashes cut over her words with a contemptuous scoff.

"We couldn't trust you with such a dress," Lashes said self-importantly and Bright added her assent.

"Hurry up pet, and take off the dress," Isa added impatiently.

Stephanie scowled then, riled more than she could explain at the expressions of contempt on Isa, Bright and Lashes' faces, that Stephanie was possibly so foolish to think that they would possibly leave the dress with her.

"I want to wear it," Stephanie refuted defiantly.

Similar expressions of outrage claimed the three Capitolite women's perfect faces, before Stephanie's next words had left them gobsmacked.

"It's my dress, bought for and sent to me. If I want to wear it, I will."

For a few full seconds no one spoke. Stephanie could hardly believe her own words. And yet at the same time she felt a small heady rush through her veins. So this is what it felt like to be free…Stephanie thought fleetingly. To claim things as her own, to refuse to give them over because she wanted to wear them. Every other time Stephanie could only blush indignantly as Lashes and Bright would rip Ficen's designs from her after every event. It was humiliating and degrading and left Stephanie feeling like a bought and sold doll each time. But this time was different. This dress was something they couldn't take from her however much they wanted to.

Stephanie could have almost laughed or cried; she wasn't sure. Seneca Crane had given her first taste of freedom. And it felt glorious. She never wanted to take this dress off.

"Nina, Kas pets, come along," Isa said, bravely renting the fragile silence.

Stephanie was almost surprised at the sheer vehemence she saw burning in her stylists' eyes. She supposed it made sense though. That the only things her airhead stylists could ever become so moved over would be clothes. Lashes literally looked like she would have been happier ripping the entire dress she loved so much to pieces, rather than letting Stephanie have it.

Isa's look was the strangest though. She looked at Stephanie as if she had never seen her before, and Stephanie found herself unexplainably holding her breath until her stylists and escort had trouped from the room in a stiffly silent trio.

The storm continued on outside and Stephanie had to strain her ears until she heard the lift ping sound as the three Capitolite women left the penthouse. Stephanie heaved a shuddering sigh of relief.

She wrapped her arms around her waist, as she turned around to rest her forehead against her wardrobe door. She closed her eyes as the fabric of her dress, brushed soothingly against her arms.

A long, low whistle made Stephanie crack open an eye to peek towards her bedroom door.

Electra was posed at the threshold to Stephanie's room, leaning against the doorframe, a huge grin on her face. Frenkin peeked in around her, smiling softly as his eyes rested on Stephanie.

"Gotta say, even by Ficen's standards that is one cracking dress," Electra remarked, suitably impressed as she came further into the room.

Stephanie shrugged herself to stand upright, smirking weakly. "It's not from Ficen," Stephanie replied meaningfully. Electra arched a brow, eyes alight with curiosity.

Stephanie wordlessly held out the note card that had come in the box. She hadn't let go of it since she had tried the dress on, rereading and rereading the words over and over again. Not knowing what exactly she was looking for, but unable to help herself running her fingertips over the smooth script, imagining Seneca writing it before placing it in the box beside her dress.

Electra silently took the card as Frenkin followed the blue-haired woman into the room. Stephanie smiled gently at Frenkin, pulling him close as Electra's clear blue and clouded eyes ran discerningly over the brief note in a few seconds.

"How very generous of him," Electra remarked drily, handing the note card back to Stephanie, having effortlessly deduced who the gift was from.

"It's a very nice dress," Frenkin said seriously, looking up at Stephanie, blushing slightly.

Stephanie grinned. "I think so too," she replied.

"Ha! You didn't eat this already," Electra exclaimed suddenly, eyes brightening like a child as she strode swiftly over to swipe the cupcake that was still perched temptingly on Stephanie's dresser.

Stephanie scoffed laughingly, grinning with Frenkin as Electra immediately began to maul the sweet treat without preamble. "I didn't get a chance to. As soon as Isa had got me into the dress, she wouldn't let me go near anything in case I stained it."

"Your loss," Electra mumbled around a mouthful of cupcake.

Stephanie snorted, as Frenkin grinned impishly and Stephanie ruffled his hair fondly.

"What time is it anyway?" Stephanie said. "It's got to be near lunchtime by now," she added as her stomach gave an emphatic rumble in agreement.

"Just about, yea," Electra confirmed, polishing off the last of her cupcake. "So let's go eat."

They made their way to Stephanie's bedroom door, Frenkin bounding on ahead eagerly.

"Erm – you two go ahead. I'll catch up," Stephanie said vaguely, slowing her steps to linger behind. Frenkin raced on ahead down the hall but Electra loitered knowingly.

"What is it Trindlesworth?"

Stephanie didn't reply as she strode purposefully across her room to the wardrobe.

"I just want to check something," Stephanie replied as she delved her hand instinctively amongst the rail of clothing. She breathed a sigh of relief when her fingers alighted on the familiar silk of Seneca's ebony blazer. It was still mostly concealed, so Isa couldn't have gotten a good enough look to recognise it. All the same Stephanie slipped her hand into the inside pocket, smiling in grim relief as her hand connected securely with the familiar, hardy pill bottle.

"Isa was prying and nearly came across something she shouldn't have," Stephanie explained, recovering Seneca's blazer and closing the wardrobe door securely.

Electra drew breath over her teeth meaningfully, as she caught onto Stephanie's cryptic words. "That would have been quite the discovery," Electra intoned seriously.

Stephanie smirked ruefully. "Don't I know it. She probably would – "

Electra frowned as Stephanie's expression immediately smoothed to one of purest marble, not a single feature twitching, her words ending abruptly.

"Stephanie," Electra called a little concernedly as she watched Stephanie's face drain completely of any drop of colour and her entire body began to tremble violently.

"What the hell? Stephanie!" Electra called more urgently now as she moved swiftly across the room.

Stephanie fell back against the wardrobe door, a shaking hand rising to her parted lips. Her golden eyes swivelled desperately up to Electra as the blue-haired woman grasped Stephanie fiercely by the shoulders to keep her standing.

"Stephanie!"

Stephanie looked up at Electra, with frank horror filling her wide eyes, before she gasped out three breathless words.

"I need Seneca."

I know…cruel cliffie – sorry. I'm addicted to them!

Thanks to girlworthfightingfor for the review; I imagine Sharpe jockey-sized too :D It's like Game of Thrones, remember? No character – even the main ones! - are safe. Mwahaha; sorry!

Thanks to Silver Fletcher for the review; I will try my best for Wirin to…ahh! :P I make no promises about whether or not Haymitch will or won't die though…where would be the fun in that? Yes; sorry…I'm evil.