Hey. Sorry about this story being late. But I really wanted it to be perfect with as little typos as possible. I will not promise there are none, but I have an awesome friend editing them letting me know about the problems. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: As always, I do not own Hunger Games or any characters associated with it. They belong to Suzanne Collins.

A new perspective

He couldn't get out of the apartment fast enough. He told her he had a meeting. He didn't even feel bad that it was a lie.

That girl was trouble. Perhaps, not to the world but definitely to him. He'd gotten way too into that kiss. For her first time; it was definitely a good kiss. And there he went thinking about it again. He hoped that she didn't read too much into it. In fact, he hoped he didn't read too much into it. Why did he agree to do it? This was agonizing.

As he exited the building he pulled out his phone. "Hey, it's been awhile. Why don't we meet up for a drink?"

An hour later, Agrippa found himself looking at the bottom of a rocks glass. "Don't know, Flavius. I think the stress is getting to me," he confided to the man with orange corkscrew curls donning a green lipstick, and an outfit full of baby blue ruffles.

"If she was offering, why not take it? I mean, she's quite a looker."

"Are you out of your mind? I am responsible for this girl at the moment. She is in a very delicate state right now and I need to be the adult." Flavius Crouch pulled a disgusted face.

"You would think you were her father…" His ruffles fluttered as he signaled for another drink.

"You might be right." This whole situation was aging him. Behind him, the door of the bar opened. A couple of Capitol girls walked in. One was dressed head to toe in orange. The other looked like a tree with her tall green hair and dark skin.

"I know what you need," Flavius announced. Agrippa raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You, my friend, need a distraction from your little… bird. You need some Capitol distraction." His last word turned into a low growl looking over at the tree girl.

"Hey Flav! I'm so sorry we're late. I just got my hair done," the dark skinned girl said lightly touching her coiffured mane.

"Ah yes, fashionable as always!" his smile was flirtatious.

"Not as fashionable as you, the assistant of a designer like Cinna Distins."

"Isn't he having a fashion show soon? I know he's new on the scene but he is showing such exciting promise. I predict he will be making a huge splash," the orange girl added. Agrippa immediately recognized her. Effie Trinket.

Recognition washed over her features as she babbled. As a Capitol native, she was good at making trivial conversation. Agrippa knew this from watching her at the Games. Even though her tributes weren't worth a damn, sponsors never simply shut her down. He continued to watch Effie and the others discuss the season's newest fashions and etiquette requirements. A smile played on his lips as he considered adding some trivial matters to his life. Especially when the matter in front of him was ripe for the picking.

Looking at his friend, Agrippa smirked, "You dog, you planned this."

The other man laughed, "Don't think so highly of me. However ladies, I'm glad you made it. Allow me to introduce my dearest friend and drinking partner, Agrippa Lotly." He motioned to the blond man. "Agrippa, these lovely women are Tullia and Effie. They are here to be charming, captivating, and an all around good time. He could use a good time, if you know what I mean."

Effie's nose crinkled in disgust. "Mr. Crouch, I would appreciate you not to give me a bad reputation. I hope he hasn't made you any promises, Mr. Lotly."

"Oh don't let Flavius ruffle your feathers, Effie. Everyone knows we aren't those kind of girls." Tullia said gently touching Flavius' arm. The orange girl's face betrayed that she very much thought Tullia was that kind of girl.

"Ah yes, Effie. What kind of girl are you?" The male escort smiled at her, like a cat with a mouse. She looked away from him.

"Oh right, you two must know each other, both working in the Games! What luck," Flavius exclaimed in a way that told Agrippa it had nothing to do with luck.

"Hey Flav, I think I saw someone over there you should meet." The tree girl lightly touched his arm.

"Lead the way, darling." Tullia laughed and took his hand, leading him to the other side of the bar. Effie and Agrippa were left standing face to face.

The blonde man gave a nasty smiled. "It's been a while. Last time you were trailing after your District 12 mentor. Such a shame about your tributes." He couldn't tell if Effie was blushing due to her heavy Capitol make up but she certainly downed the drink that Flavius handed to her.

"Ah yes, I must congratulate you on your successful Hunger Games this year. She was the most unexpected creature, wasn't she?" she replied lightly.

"You have no idea." There was an uncomfortable silence. Effie tried to relieve the tension.

"I wonder who they went over to meet. I don't see them anywhere." Effie stood on her tiptoes still too short to see over the crowd despite her incredibly tall heels.

"I would wager that they aren't talking to anyone at the moment." Effie tilted her head and gave him a puzzled look. "I believe they are indulging in… how did he say it? 'Capitol distraction.'" His tone was bitter. He still didn't really like Effie and now he was getting the impression she was stupid, too.

Realization dawned on her and she let out a disgusted gasp. "In a public facility?" As if that was the most preposterous thing she ever heard.

"I hear there are worse places." He picked up the half full glass, left by Flavius, and drained it.

"That is so rude. You know, Tullie ran into me and she convinced me that we would have a fabulous time in a fabulous bar with fabulous people. You can imagine how disappointed I am."

Agrippa raised a single eyebrow, "Yes it is very upsetting when someone uses fabulous that many times in one sentence." She harrumphed and sat down on the stool next to him. She nodded to the bartender to get her another drink.

"So how was your Victory tour? It seemed exhausting." She passed her drink from hand to hand. She must have been nervous, recalling their last conversation. "The Games are exhausting. Then having to return to all the other districts… well… I can only imagine. But then again her performances were lovely. I never could imagine that she held that kind of…" She paused as if to search for the right word, "power."

Little orange Effie hit the nail on the head.

"Power is right," he commented. "That's why they want her."

"Who wants her?" Effie looked at him with general interest.

Giving her a suspicious look, "The President, the Capitol. Who else would I be talking about? Or did you believe that she would want to stay here and not go home to her mother and friends?" Effie looked away in shame.

"How fitting they call her a bird, isn't it?"

"Why do you say that?"

"No matter how beautiful, a cage is a cage." Astonishment rocked him. Such understanding from a girl like Effie was unfathomable. Perhaps he wasn't alone. It hit him why he kept his distance from Rendelle. As tormented as she was, she wasn't like him. If they were to be compared to birds, she was a canary. Bright, musical, simple. He on the other hand was a peacock. With no purpose other than to show wealth, pretension, and gaudiness. A canary could be caged or fly free. The Peacock could not fly. Stuck in the same place, to act complacent with the material things handed on a silver platter. Envied and despised, the peacock had no right to be unhappy, right? It seemed the secret self-loathing of the affluent was a crime. Should they take their fate without questioning? Looking at Effie with new eyes, he knew the answer. No.

Leaning close he whispered, "Let's get out of here." His lips barely touched her ear. She starred at him, wide eyed, and simply nodded.

They barged into her apartment, practically falling over together. He groped her roughly and trailed wet kisses down her neck. She never once turned away from his insensitive touches. Effie moaned into his ear as she took a lobe between her teeth. She was gloriously supple and so compliant to his needs.

An hour later, the two escorts lay in a puddle of sheets and stared at the ceiling. Agrippa breathed in trying to calm down from the physical exhilaration brought on by their romp. "That was great." She smiled and hummed her agreement. He looked over to examine Effie, not sure what to make of her. "Your hair in natural under your wig." She lightly touched her blonde locks nervously.

"You don't like it? I get it, most men don't." She sat up and continued to play with the strand.

"It's actually refreshing," he said giving her a reassuring smile.

"You aren't like other men of the Capitol."

"I have been hearing that lately. What makes me so different?" Was he such an oddity? He wasn't sure. However, in the Capitol, being different wasn't necessarily a good thing.

" Well you aren't into it all the luxury like the others. You know? Like the fashion and cushioning life style. I sometimes think you might be more suited for District 12 rather than the Capitol."

"Effie, we have only truly met once. Don't tell me you got all that from that one time?" A blush rose from Effie's neck to her face. "Have you been watching me?"

"Well…um… it's just that you made such an impression on me. No one has ever given me that kind of advice. They always say, 'enjoy the parties!' and 'it's really all about luck.' But you seemed more like Haymitch. I had a hard time believing you even came from the Capitol. So yeah, I guess I would look to you to see how I should feel about a situation. And I sort of realized that perhaps I should act like you."

"And how do I act, Effie?"

"Disgusted. Thinly veiled disgust. That or flirtatious. Which explains my impression of you before we actually met."

"Do I have a reputation?" That made Effie laugh.

"I think most victors have a better reputation than you." She said it was a giggle but he could tell she wasn't lying. "They say, you are wild lover but you passion has a price."

"Who are they?"

"They know everything there is to know about everyone. And you have given them a lot to know, it seems." He wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not. He knew he was being used, but was it possible that some of his "appointments" were deliberately willing to sponsor District 6 but held out because they wanted his body? His felt his stomach do an uncomfortable twist.

"But don't worry about it. People like a passionate escort. Sometimes the enthusiasm for your tributes is contagious. It worked this year, didn't it?" Her smile brightened as she sat up and stretched. "Speaking of which, the Games are starting in a month or so. What are we to do?" she asked as she examined her nails.

"I don't think there are any problems with our current situation." She gave him a dubious look.

"What situation?" He smiled as his curled arm around her waist and pulled her down. A laugh bubbled from her throat as he kissed her neck.

"Let's just keep things simple. We will do what we want to do with each other."

"Including in public?"

"I thought you weren't into that." She playfully slapped him.

"No I mean, will we appear in public together?"

"I don't see why not." She pulled him down for a kiss, a smile on her lips.

After a month of sleeping together, Agrippa found himself going out every night with Effie. There were parties to attend, gallery openings to experience, and performances to witness.

They entered a grand building covered in gold leafing and latticing. Large gems hung from the chandeliers. Effie pointed them out. "There are from District 1. Made especially for Mr. Dapple."

Mr. Dapple was a real estate mogul; he owned most of the rental properties in the Capitol. Including the one that Rendelle lived in. The thought saddened Agrippa. He hadn't seen her in a while. Pretty much since he started hanging out with Effie and Flavius's crowd. He was lost in thought as Effie ushered him to a small group.

"And now I just got myself a new client," gloated a lady with orange skin and tattoos covering her face. She wore a bright yellow dress adorned brown fur trimming. Agrippa vaguely recognized her; she was a talent agent or something. Of course she was talking about her newest client. There was no better way to get the word out.

Effie pushed her way to the middle of the group. "Tacita, I am so excited to hear about your newest entertainer. I would also like in introduce, Agrippa Lotly, escort for District 6." The emphasis of his district got his attention. He looked her in the eye for a brief moment; there was a glint of some emotion he couldn't pin.

"Oh 6. Yes, then you must know her." The woman's thick Capitol accent filled the air with tension.

"Who is it?" He knew the answer before she could say a word.

"Why, it's Rendelle Nustack. She's such an impressive find. You can imagine my excitement when the President's secretary called and informed me that I was to be her overseer. What talent and potential."

"Is she doing well?" The familiar discomfort of guilt burned throughout him.

"Of course she is. She has that lovely apartment and has been, oh so, busy with dance and voice lessons. It's quite serendipitous that you are here tonight."

"Why is that?" Agrippa felt a lump form in his throat.

"Rendelle's first performance will be here, tonight. In fact I must go and make sure she's ready." With that Tacita left the circle and vanished from the room.

Agrippa took Effie by the arm and led her to a quiet part of the room. "Did you know about this?" His tone was harsh and angry. Effie looked toward the ground like a child in trouble.

"I wasn't sure, but I had an inkling. Another escort mentioned that a victor was being primed for stardom. I thought it might be her but didn't want to say anything if I wasn't sure."

"Damn it, Effie. This is something I would want, no, need to hear."

"It's not like you see her. She's no longer in your care. You heard. She's doing fine. And at least you know now." He couldn't argue with her logic but the feeling of betrayal still persisted.

"Next time, just let me know about your ideas." She released a sigh of relief. Relief there will be a next time, he supposed.

"Okay."

A moment later, the lights dimmed and music sounded. A small girl walked out to the middle of the floor wearing an outfit that resembled pink cotton candy. He couldn't believe his eyes. Dressed up like a Capitol doll, the victor of District 6 opened her mouth and cast her spell on the audience.