A/N: Hey there! I'm moving to AO3 (archive of our own). It's another fanfiction site, but I like the layout better. My username on AO3 is the same as is here (casey7248), and I plan to update on both FFnet and AO3 from now on. Just keeping you updated!
The next three days are fairly laid-back, which is nice. Unfortunately, I have my obligations to fulfill, with seven women and a man. Besides that, I have quite a bit of down time. I sleep in, watch Capitol television dramas, and play cards with Grant and Natalie. I don't see Johanna once. Iwantocallher, Iwanttocallher. I try to distract myself by using the fitness center and crystal blue swimming pool on the fourth floor of the apartment building. I go shopping for books for Adrienne and a few video tapes for Annie, her mother, and Mags, if she wants. Iwantocallher, Iwanttocallher. I can't. If she wanted to talk to me, she'd call me - I gave her my phone number for this apartment. I need to give her space. This is hard for her. Just because I can barely deal with it, doesn't mean she can too. I'll give her space.
"Finnick!" I hear pounding on the door. I groan, and get up to see who it is. It's Grant. "Morning, sleeping beauty," he greets me, seeing how I'm only in sweats and my disheveled hair, it must be obvious I just woke up.
"What is it?" I ask, opening the door wide enough for him to come in.
"Dude, it's already two o'clock. We're leaving at six." Grant reminds me. I stare at him quizzically. "Don't tell me you forgot. Johanna's party? At the mansion?"
"Yeah, sorry," I grumble, "I just woke up, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm leaving. Get yourself together." Grant closes the door behind him. I put in the food packets for a piece of fruit and some toast with almond nut butter on it - I don't want to eat a lot, since there's always so much food at Capitol events. And this is a feast, even by their standards. While my food is cooking and my coffee brewing, I take a super quick shower. The full-body drier in my en suite bathroom means I don't even have to towel off. This is almost too luxurious. Not that I really mind - I'd be lying if I said I didn't like being pampered. I just don't like being in the Capitol. That's normal, I guess.
I drink my coffee and eat in the nude, just sitting there, letting the daylight stream in through the half-opened blinds. The modern white, black, and glass decor make it seem weird that I'm not clothed. I but the dishes in the dishwasher, pour the rest of my coffee down the sink, and put on my cobalt blue silk robe. I go through the stack of fashion and style magazines on the coffee table. I never though picking out an outfit would be this big of a task. I decide on my nicest underwear - part of me really wants to sleep with her, even though that's so wrong. The timing is way off. I can't be bothered to care.
I put on "ash grey" slacks and shoes, with an aqua blue silk button down and the matching suit-jacket for my pants. It's reserved, in comparison to what most Capitol people wear, but (reluctantly) I'll be front-and-center the whole night. Not that they aren't enamored with Jo. It's just they have some weird fixation with me. It feels like there all in love with me or something, I don't even know. There's no way to phrase it that doesn't sound incredibly cocky, so I just tell myself to shut up. I pour myself a glass of something strong from the liquor cabinet - probably whiskey, but I don't really know or care. I down my drink, grimacing as it burns my throat. I kind of like the pain.
I put a comb and condoms (just in case!) in my inside jacket pockets, spray a few sprays of cologne on my neck and wrists, comb through my hair one more time, and head out the door. I meet Grant, Natalie, and a few other victors in the lobby. They seem nice enough, and Grant and Natalie seem to like them as well, but I don't even bother to learn their names. For some reason, I feel like keeping to myself. I can't help but groan internally as I realize that can only last until I get out of the limo. Then, I have to be funny, charming, charismatic, flirty and wanted. By everyone. Sounds just lovely.
When we walk in, there's a few low murmurs and and stares. Most of the attention directed towards me is by older females. And by older, I mean, old enough to be my mother. I can't help but grimace. I look around the room. There's at least fifty long tables stuffed with a seemly infinite choice of appetizers, entrees, deserts and sides. There's a buzz from all the talking that seems to elevate the mood of the room. There's a bunch of waitstaff walking around, and uniformed music players sitting on the balconies, playing classical-sounding music. It's... elegant. And it's meant to be background noise to all this.
I walk straight up to the bar. "Can I be of service to you, Mister Odair?" the bartender asks me, smiling and batting her fuchsia eyelashes at me.
"Please, darling. There's a lot of things you could assist me with," I wink at her, and her pale cheeks turn almost as pink as her eyelashes. "But yeah, I could go for something strong. I'll let you figure it out - you seem like the type of girl who knows how to make a man satisfied."
She chokes a little, and tries to cover it as a sneeze. I smile a little, but I want to punch myself in the face. I much sound like such a desperate ass. Then again thats the point, I remind myself. After a moment, she hands me a drink. "Vodka soda," she tells me, "triple shot. Take care, Finnick." She slides me the drink, and I notice that the napkin under it has her phone number scribbled on it in pen. I fold up the napkin and put it in my pocket, even though I have no intention of ever calling her.
I flash her my thousand-watt grin. "Thanks-"
"Emilia. I'm Emilia." She tells me.
"Emilia. Thank you." I raise an eyebrow at her, and moisten my bottom lip with my tongue. She turns even redder.
"Well hello there, ladies' man. How swave of you." Grant teases me. I elbow him, and have a few sips of my drink. It's actually really good. I'm about to give him a witty comeback, but the room goes dead silent.
I hear Claudius Templesmith's voice boom - he must be here, "Ladies and Gents, may I introduce to you the stunning Johanna Mason, victor of the Sixty-Sixth Annual Hunger Games!" The room bursts into applause, with enthusiastic cheers and hollers. Grant and I clap politely. We aren't celebrating her having to murder, something the Capitol people don't seem able to grasp. I shake those thoughts out of my head. I need to try and have a good time - well, the best time I can have here, that is. And I need to be there for Johanna. Even if she doesn't want me there.
Johanna walks in, wearing a long, tight fitting dress. It's emerald green and her hair is curled. She's wearing some makeup, but it doesn't look caked on or overdone like it usually in the Capitol. She looks... beautiful. I'm actually speechless. "I- wow." I stutter, whispering to Grant. I can tell my eyes have widened substantially.
Grant doesn't say anything, he just nods quietly. Blight, who I hadn't seen was next to me, grins. "Dude, hit that. In the most respectful way possible. If you hurt her, I'll kill you, yadda, yadda. If I was, five years younger maybe, I'd be as into her as you are."
"That obvious?" I ask, frowning. They both shrug and nod. I groan.
As if on cue, Johanna walks over, swaying her hips in the skin-tight dress. "You gonna ask me to dance with you?" She smiles at me, her expression unreadable.
"Miss Johanna Mason, may I have the honor of asking you to dance?" I exaggerate dramatically. She giggles and Grant rolls his eyes. She laces her fingers through mine, and her small, manicured hand fits so perfectly in mine, you'd think it was meant to be. As we walk the short distance together, I can practically feel the stares of the jealous Capitol people burning into my back. This could be dangerous. I swallow the protest I want to make. I could list off a hundred reasons why we shouldn't dance together. I just put my hands on her waist and I let her put her arms around my neck. Jo rests her head on my chest. We barely move, just swaying from side to side ever so slightly in a tight embrace. I feel a few tears drip down her face. I wipe them away with the pad of my thumb. "Your eye makeup," I remind her. She nods, and shrugs.
"It's waterproof," she assures me. We chuckle a little. Johanna lowers her voice, "Please, just tell me it's all gonna be okay." She sounds almost desperate.
"Jo..." I sigh, looking away. I can't meet her eyes. "I honestly can't promise you that. It's gonna get a lot worse before it gets any better, and that's the truth. I can tell you, and I can promise you this on my life, that whatever happens, we'll get through it together. You can always count on me." She song ends and she kisses my cheek. It doesn't mean anything, and it won't draw attention from anyone else. Everyone in the Capitol kisses people on the cheek to say hello and goodbye. She gets dragged off by Blight to dance with someone else.
I float through the crowd on the large dance floor. I dance with the elites, the political players, and Snow's friends. It's weird that someone as ruthless and terrifying as him would even have an acquaintance. Then again, people here think differently. I drink with the rich and famous ones. They're more tolerable, and a few of them are even funny. I still wish I wasn't here. Iwannagohome, Iwannagohome, I complain to myself. I gotta make it through this though. There are very powerful people here. If I treat them well and mingle, my life will be a lot easier than if I was on their bad sides. I fill up on some food, drink some more, and then I drink even more. I make out with a Gamemaker's daughter in one of the large coat closets. It probably would have gone farther, but Natalie opens the door, sighs, and pulls me out. The blonde girl, who's probably twenty at most, just giggles and blushes. She gives me her number, and I promise that we'll keep in touch. Lies.
"Jeez, Finnick. How hammered are you?" Natalie asks me, visibly irritated.
"Drunk enough to know that you're not talking about a hammer and nail!" I slur, sounding weirdly optimistic. I have control over my movements, but I can't stop myself from saying these stupid things.
"C'mon." Natalie says, dragging me out with Grant. "Let's take you home."
A/N: How was that? Make sure to review if you want me to continue! :)