Aegis Harrow
26
~ Capitol / Head Gamemaker ~
Four Months Later
The ground around Aegis shook violently, the shockwaves from both the thunderous music and hundreds of people jumping up and down in sync with the beat reverberating through his rather motionless body. He wasn't even amongst the heavily populated dance floor, yet he could still feel the commotion from it even from a distance.
He watched his glass as the liquid within rippled with every beat, the bubbles of the carbonation rapidly rising to the top and bursting to the surface, just like those around him that rapidly raced towards the crowd to burst onto the dance floor.
Parties and celebrations had never quite been his scene, having to interact with people he did not care about, listen to their boring stories, and watch as they made fools of themselves through copious amounts of alcohol consumption… or whatever else they may sneak a bump of in the restroom cubicles.
To Aegis's dismay however, he had no choice but to be apart of this celebration, as this was no mere party. This was the conclusion of the Victory Tour for the 148th Hunger Games. When he was a regular Gamemaker, he never had a problem with not showing up as he was never mandated to do so. Back then nobody cared either, he was invisible to most and his presence wasn't missed.
However, now that he was Head Gamemaker, his attendance was expected, which had led to the current moment of himself occupying a chair at the main bar held within the Presidential Palace. Already, his evening had consisted of numerous conversations initiated from various people, all of which Aegis had entertained despite his utter disinterest in these individuals. Some were prominent reporters, all trying to get the inside scoop on what he had planned for the upcoming games which were well under production. Fortunately, they were only allowed within the outskirts of the event, mostly kept to the entrance where they'd try and catch an interview with anyone important entering the premises.
On the other hand, there were leagues of high status celebrities or political officials that Aegis was forced to converse with inside, some of which were eager to learn about the new Head Gamemaker, or to become acquainted with him in some way so that they could whisper ideas and requests for the arena to hold. Naturally, Aegis would kindly turn down these ideas, there was no need nor desire to diverge from the plans he had already begun working on.
Interestingly enough, there was a fair few Victor's from previous games that littered the crowd, many of which who were highly beloved, and others who were excessively indulgent. It was fascinating to Aegis, as he observed just how radically some had changed, embracing their celebrity status and becoming contributors to the very people that put them through hell. He had been a Gamemaker for several of the recent Victors games, and he couldn't help but note the distinction of how they had been as a tribute, and what they had turned into since becoming Victors.
The human mind was a curious thing, and Aegis couldn't help but wonder if he had the capacity to change as well. So far, he had seen no indication that it was possible. His outlook had never strayed from the bleak way he saw things, and nothing seemed like it had the potential to alter his point of view. He was the immovable object, lacking an unstoppable force.
"Oh, look who it is," a sarcastic dig could be heard over the raucous music that continued to deafen Aegis. He turned his head slightly to see who had joined him at the bar, unsurprised to see Gaia taking the final sip of her now empty gin and tonic, her eyes narrowed as she stared dead ahead, not even having the curtesy to acknowledge Aegis with eye-contact. She swept a few of her blue locks out of her face, her hair having taken on a more curly consistency for the event which he was certain she had dedicated hours to styling.
"Good evening to you too, Gaia," Aegis responded absentmindedly, her presence not particularly stoking excitement nor dread within him. It had been a few months since Aegis and Gaia became properly acquainted, and if Aegis had to judge, he had made remarkable progress with her. Although she remained hostile on the surface, he could tell he had begun to wear her down. She'd often show up next to him whenever they shared a space, she'd hover around him at any chance she got, even though those instances would often be full of snide remarks or back handed compliments. To him, it seemed as if she were warming up to him, even though she'd never admit such a thing.
"It's funny how you've found me amongst such a populous crowd," Aegis commented further, earning a look of disgust from Gaia.
"Excuse you, I'm here to get another drink. I can't help it if you're sulking here by yourself in the place I need to be," she scoffed, before pushing away her empty glass and waving down the bartender for another. "What are you doing here anyway? Watching that skank from District 6?"
Aegis's eyes wandered not too far from where the two of them were, before they landed on a previous Victor from District 6, a girl named Corvelle Rivet who had won the 142nd Hunger Games. She had been a tribute during one of Aegis's very first games as a Gamemaker, as well as Gaia's for that matter. Aegis recalled the woman had been very quiet during her stay in the Capitol, but she had somehow seduced her way into the Career pack, which ultimately led to an internal conflict between them that resulted in the culling of the majority of the Careers, and ultimately Corvelle's survival.
Nowadays, she was known to be fairly promiscuous among a plethora of elite clientele, as it would seem she had indulged in the fairly common practice of Victor escorting. She was also apparently a binge drinker, as she was vomiting her nights worth of consumption into a pot plant at that current moment. The two of them watched as another Victor came to help her - a man named Nautic Riviera that Aegis recognised to be from District 4 - who considerately took the girls arm over his shoulder as he flagged down an Avox for a glass of water.
"We were Gamemakers for her during our first couple of years, I take it you weren't a fan of her?" Aegis inquired, earning a snort from Gaia.
"Of course not, I couldn't stand her! Pretending to be so innocent and virtuous, now look at her," Gaia spat, shaking her head in disapproval.
"Everyone has their flaws," Aegis justified, as he took another sip of his drink.
"All Victors are flawed, they let it get to their head," Gaia commented, as she finally received her next drink from the bartender. "The fame, the glory, the worship… it makes them think they're invincible. Even the newest one, I'm willing to bet."
The newest Victor, the very reason for the celebration Aegis had to be there for tonight, the winner of the 148th Hunger Games - Delphine Evergaze from District 2.
Delphine - or Delphi as she had so thoroughly emphasised during her time in the Capitol - had won the 148th Hunger Games as recently as six months ago, and already she had become a distant memory to Aegis as far as he was concerned. When he was a regular Gamemaker, he had no need to keep up to date with the Victor's post-games, as his involvement with them ended upon every conclusion. However, he was certain it wouldn't remain that way for long, as the Head Gamemaker always had far more involvement with the Victors, especially when they were taking on a Mentor role and were actively involving themselves in Hunger Games propaganda.
It was inevitable he would have to familiarise himself with Delphi, this time on a more personal level, although he wasn't sure of how easy a task that would be. Delphi was a Career tribute, albeit from what he had witnessed, was one of the more down-to-earth Careers he had seen in recent memory. She had been a favourite among the Capitol public, seemingly a slight underdog in comparison to some of her brutal allies, that she ultimately outsmarted and defeated as a result.
He imagined she'd be somewhere among the crowd, probably being overwhelmed by people as she was the current talk of the town. Aegis had no desire to go and find her however, he was certain they'd meet at some point in the future, likely before the upcoming games.
Aegis did wonder if perhaps Gaia was right, would the newest Victor already be undergoing her celebrity corruption? Was Delphi set to become just as fame hungry as many of those before her? It didn't matter to Aegis, but he wasn't intending to align her with preconceived judgements like Gaia had.
"If you expect her to end up flawed, you'll only look for reasons that can justify that outlook," Aegis responded, waving off Gaia's accusations of Delphi. "Or maybe you just already don't like her too."
"It's not that I don't like her…" Gaia grumbled, a hint of sincerity in her tone. "I just think there were better Victor options."
"There are no 'better options', the best option is the person who wins in the end, no matter the means," Aegis insisted, causing Gaia to glance at him with a look disagreement. "My games won't lean in favour of anyone from our end, there won't be a bias. Anyone can win, and everyone deserves the freedom to try."
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be so fair," Gaia scoffed, slapping Aegis lightly across the arm.
"Predestined fate isn't a concept I adhere to kindly," Aegis shrugged. "I also don't play favourites."
"Yeah? We'll see. Esteban always had his favourites, I'm sure it's only a matter of time until you do," Gaia snickered, before giving Aegis a belittling pat on the shoulder before standing up from the stool she had sat on. "I promised Eirene I'd find her, so I'm going to do that. Try not to scare off our benefactors with that glum expression on your face."
Glum? Aegis questioned to himself, pressing his fingers to his mouth as he searched for a frown, whilst Gaia frolicked off with the whimsical effect of alcohol, cackling at her insult. Perhaps I should get some air.
With a quick chug, Aegis finished his glass, before excusing himself from the bar and following his way through the winding halls of the Presidential Palace in search of a quiet balcony. He had become somewhat accustomed to the residence by that point, having frequented there numerous times since his first meeting with President Thorne. The President himself had not made himself known to Aegis that night, although he was likely off somewhere with some of his closest accomplices.
As Aegis walked, he couldn't help but feel the eyes on him from the various people that occupied the halls, a feeling still foreign to Aegis despite the months he had experienced meeting new people and being the subject of a multitude of interviews. It's not a feeling that gave him angst by any means; he didn't particularly care for the attention. However, he did want to avoid getting drawn into more chatter amongst the guests, which led him to keeping his eyes heavily fixated ahead.
This however, was only a momentary success. It did not take long for his aversion to be intercepted.
"So this is the guy, huh?" An unfamiliar voice of arrogance suddenly arose from Aegis's left side, stopping him in his tracks. "My, my… how unsightly."
Aegis slowly turned his head, mild curiosity sparking within him at who could be so hostile towards him despite never having met him. The voice belonged to a man, and once Aegis's eyes rested upon the culprit, the recognition was instantaneous. The first time they locked eyes, Aegis could see the resemblance of a young Alexander Thorne, as it was none other than his own flesh and blood - his tyrannical son, Atticus.
To Aegis's fortune, he had managed to avoid interactions with Atticus thus far, having never had unpleasantries exchanged with the man. He had only ever heard rumours about Atticus, how pompous and rude he could appear to those he had distaste for, but also how beguiling and charismatic he could be to those he wanted something from. These were very surface level observations of the man, and not the specific qualities Aegis thought noteworthy. It wasn't how he appeared on the outside, but the rather sinister undertones that Aegis only heard whispers of, the secrets this man held that could be so damaging if an individual were to stumble across them.
What Aegis knew of Atticus, was his supposed vicious and depraved desires, behaviours he would never allow to surface that could tarnish his perfect image. Of course, merely mentioning them was enough to make a person disappear, and secrets like these hadn't appeared to reach the majority of the Capitol publics eye. To them, Atticus was an alluring figure, a virtuous man who appeased his fathers people with displays of affection and a flawless public image.
Behind closed doors, Aegis had heard this not to be the case. In actuality, Atticus was a nasty piece of work; insidious in indescribable ways with not a single person who could hold him accountable. He was a predator, a demon in angels clothing; the one person not to be fucked with.
"Master Thorne, I'm pleased to meet you," Aegis spoke up through hollow words, bowing slightly out of sheer obligation. Although Aegis felt no fear at being in the presence of the cutthroat son of the President, he felt it a necessity to alleviate any unwanted hostility from his end. It would do him no favours to oppose Atticus Thorne at this stage, albeit Atticus himself was… unpredictable.
"I wish I could say the same, Head Gamemaker Harrow," Atticus sighed lazily, appearing unimpressed by Aegis. "But unfortunately, you seem to have disrespected my beautiful sister."
As if on queue, Aegis noticed Anastasia Thorne peering out at him from behind her brother, a resentful glare held within her gaze as she sheepishly hid behind Atticus. It had been months since their first encounter, where he had seemingly broken her spirits by simply not adhering to her disillusioned ideas of her own importance. Perhaps he should have taken the slap across the face to avoid this underlying tension, but then again - Alexander Thorne had considered how he acted to be admirable. If he had to choose between appeasing the President of the nation, or his petulant children, it was an easy choice that Aegis would choose ten times over.
Atticus however, he couldn't imagine would take too kindly to such treatment, especially on behalf of his sister. He wasn't the type to let something like that slip unpunished, even if it were at the request of his own father. One way or another, he'd find a way to get back at him, and that's what Aegis braced for.
"My apologies Miss Thorne, I didn't realise someone so insignificant such as myself could leave such harrowing impressions," Aegis responded quietly, causing Anastasia to narrow her eyes at him, her trepidatious frown now held in a pout as her cheeks puffed out in a huff.
"It seems you live up to your name… Harrow," Atticus mocked, a spiteful laugh attaching itself to the end of his words. "But do not address my sister, you forfeited that right when you humiliated her in front of our father."
It appeared to Aegis that Atticus would not be swayed very easily. He was already trying to establish his authority over Aegis, deciding to lecture him on trivial things such as his surname and even for simply interacting with his precious, beloved sibling. It was only really at that moment, that Aegis took it upon himself to really analyse the pair. Although it was hard to see with most of Anastasia hiding behind Atticus's taller figure, the man stood awfully close to the girl, with his arm wrapped around the back of her frame, and coiled down so that his hand rested just below her buxom. Aegis could see that both of her hands latched tightly to the tuxedo Atticus wore, her forearms pressed against him as if she were clutching on for dear life.
They're rather close it seems, Aegis noted to himself, choosing not to comment on their rather intimate proximity. It could be a matter of expressing protection over a loved one, and although Aegis was aware of Atticus's devious nature, Anastasia did strike him as someone who'd run into the arms of those she felt couldn't be challenged, by nature being a daddy's girl and seemingly possessing somewhat of a brother complex. That closeness could be perfectly natural to them, It'd make sense for someone of their calibre, being raised the children of the most powerful man in the country. Aegis doubted they'd have many others to relate to, he could see how they'd possess such a close sibling bond.
"Very well, I'll avoid Miss Thorne if that's what she'd prefer. The extent of my duties with your family ends with your father, therefore I have no need to meddle with either of your affairs," Aegis shrugged, earning a click of the teeth from Atticus's mouth.
"Oh, but it's quite the contrary, Mr Harrow," Atticus laughed, waving a hand as if to dismiss Aegis's statement. "Because I'm very interested in your affairs."
"My affairs?" Aegis echoed inquisitively, unaware as to what exactly Atticus referred to. He couldn't imagine Atticus knew much about him other than his position, so it was rather peculiar that he would have even a remote interest in him, albeit he had already taken it upon himself to instigate this conversation.
"Of course. I'm curious as to how some speck of dirt like yourself could rise to the prominence that you have. I've looked at your records, you're mediocre at best, with nothing to your name aside from your father," Atticus relayed, allowing his grip of Anastasia to drift as he steadily approached Aegis. "Father won't allow me to look at your plans for the Hunger Games, but given that they've impressed him so much, and you've had the gall to lay your filthy hands on my sister… I suspect you're hiding secrets about yourself."
With those words, Atticus rapidly covered the distance between the two men, his forearm colliding with Aegis's neck as he slammed him against the cold, stone wall. Aegis felt the pressure of the man's arm against his throat, only eliciting a stifled exhale through his nostrils as the back of his head and upper torso smacked against the wall. He could hear Anastasia gasp in genuine surprise, perhaps not having expected her brother to immediately jump to such measures, however Aegis had his guard up, the blow was not even remotely shocking.
He gazed into Atticus's piercing grey eyes, noticing that a switch had seemingly been flicked. What had previously stared at him with disdain, now appeared to reek of sinister undertones. The aggression in Atticus's eyes was raw, threatening, and continued to grow more so for every moment Aegis returned his glare with a deadpan stare, his disinterest as prominent as ever.
Perhaps Atticus had hoped for retaliation, or a definitive indication of fear from Aegis. Maybe he should have begged for the man not to harm him, to weep under the pressure of the untouchable son of the President. The reality was, Aegis could touch the man clear as day, he was no more untouchable than a peasant from the Districts. Aegis may have been a speck of dirt to Atticus, but the opinion Aegis held of Atticus, was that he was merely no more than an atom in comparison to himself.
"Secrets?" Aegis responded calmly, despite the overwhelming pressure against his throat, and the collision his head had suffered which would've led any other person to a concussion. "We all have those, don't we Atticus?"
A bluff, albeit an educated one. There was no telling how Atticus Thorne would react to such a taunt, a rather broad statement that was only telling when one could read between the lines. Of course, Aegis didn't know the extent of Atticus's secrets by any means, but the implication that he could alone, was more than enough to keep Atticus at bay. Despite the demeaning use of his first name without any formality, and the sheer audacity of Aegis to not give in to his aggressive display of dominance, it was enough to hint to Atticus that he was playing with fire. He seemed to come to this conclusion not too long after Aegis did.
Atticus quickly released his arm from him, allowing Aegis to neaten his disrupted collar as Atticus leaned in closer.
"Who the hell are you?" Atticus growled deeply, eyeing Aegis with contempt.
"I'm simply a Head Gamemaker," Aegis responded, unbothered by the altercation that had just occurred. "Looking to bring the games to their former glory."
It was clear as day that Atticus didn't buy Aegis's words, but regardless he had not given the man any further ammunition to use against him in the moment. Ambiguity was his saviour for the time being, as he was certain Atticus wasn't the type to let this go - however it was useless for Aegis to continue provoking him, despite the mans assault.
Atticus looked Aegis up and down, before sneering at him and stepping back towards the apprehensive Anastasia. It seemed she had been shaken by her brothers sudden turn, Aegis wondered how often she had watched him lose a match of intimidation, similar to herself in the face of Aegis.
"I suppose I can see the allure my father has for you… but I won't be so easily fooled. If you ever lay hands - no, eyes even - on my sister again… I'll break you," Atticus threatened, his eyes riddled with vitriol as he stared down Aegis. As if another switch was flipped, Atticus immediately shifted his expression into one of possessiveness, as he leered at his sister and proceeded to smack her backside, her behind rippling in her tight dress as she squealed in both surprise and embarrassment, the yelp echoing throughout the vacant hallway.
"Let's go, my darling Anna. This vermin has left a bad taste in my mouth," Atticus exclaimed, as his arm snaked around her body once more, and proceeded to press her against his own, before beginning to guide her away from Aegis's presence. As Atticus began to escort the young woman away, Aegis couldn't help but notice her turn her gaze to look at him once more. Their eyes locked, and unlike the way she had looked at him once before with scorn and derision, there was something different about the way she gazed back at him this time. Was it confliction? Shame? Aegis couldn't quite put his finger on it as of yet.
What was obvious in that moment, was that out of the two Thorne offspring - Atticus ran the show. Regardless, they certainly had a strange dynamic, one that Aegis couldn't figure out from one interaction alone. All that he knew, was that Atticus was dangerous, and Anastasia - the one he had always thought to be more reserved and cunning - likely came across that way due to her own brothers influence.
I really need that fresh air now, Aegis thought to himself, having gotten sidetracked by the rather untimely encounter. It only took a few minutes to find his way to an outside area, this section of the palace almost void of people who were likely all keen to make the most of the night where the action was happening. It was a night to celebrate, but also a night to build connections, and push their own image in the ways that they desired.
The outside air was blissful, the cold bite of winter certainly apparent, however a welcoming sensation following the heat and stuffy atmosphere of the interior of the building. He could still hear the distant thudding of music, although it was thankfully heavily stifled now, the chirping of crickets and distant trickling of a water fountain now much more audible to his ears. He found himself at the bannister of the balcony, his hands running across the smooth limestone, which was now cool to the touch due to the thick of winter. It was a calming sensation, the ambience of night, the view of lamplights lighting up the garden paths below, the crisp smell of freshly mowed grass and… smoke?
It was a familiar smell, cigarette smoke to be exact, the ashy tobacco pungent in the air and invading his previously serene nostrils. Following the scent trail, his eyes quickly landed on a nearby companion, a young woman that looked awfully normal in comparison to the usual zany dressed Capitol folk. She faced away from him, overlooking a different section of the lamp-lit terrace below, with her long, chocolate brown hair rippling in the soft breeze of the winter night. Her figure was sheathed by an iridescent black dress, the fabric sculpted to her body in a way that masterfully accentuated her curves. With every slight movement she made, he could see the fabric alter in colour, like the shiny feathers of a Common Grackle bird.
Her skin was very tanned, visible on both her arms and on the surprising appearance of her bare feet, which were out for display despite the frosty weather. Aegis noticed her heeled shoes had been kicked to the side, with one toppled over as if it had been carelessly cast aside. He couldn't think of a single Capitolite who'd treat their accessories in such a manner, it would almost be considered treason to do such a thing.
Strangely enough, out of all the people he had met this evening - this mystery woman had piqued his curiosity the most. He couldn't pin-point his interest, although he felt it was attached to the elusive identity of the individual. He had not encountered many that had felt the same desire to escape from the commotion, so what was this woman doing all the way over where he was, on a rather private balcony most wouldn't know about?
As Aegis had been wondering this, the woman had turned slightly to the side, giving a view of her icy grey eyes that were striking against her tanned skin, as well as her peachy lips that exhaled a long cloud of cigarette smoke, before she finally locked eyes with him. It was at that moment that Aegis recognised her, he had seen those eyes everywhere only half a year ago - the eyes of Delphine Evergaze, Victor of the 148th Hunger Games.
Delphi became startled when she noticed Aegis standing there, her body instantly reacting and taking on a defensive position, seemingly ready to pounce within milliseconds. It was only after a second or two, that Delphi appeared to stop herself, appearing to recall that she was no longer in the arena. The killing instinct was still natural to her it would appear.
She started breathing heavily, calming herself down as she held a hand to her chest, the other still possessing a lit cigarette tightly grasped between two fingers.
"S-sorry, I still get startled when people appear out of nowhere," Delphi stammered, appearing a little embarrassed by her moment of weakness, failing to mention who she was as the woman appeared to presume her reputation spoke for itself - which it most certainly did. "I didn't realise I had company."
"None taken," Aegis assured her, observing her face as her breathing began to steady. "It was rude of me not to make my presence known, although admittedly I only realised you were there right before you looked at me."
"Hah, you got off easy, the first few weeks after the arena I took down a nurse and my stylist before I realised who they were," Delphi giggled, the embarrassment seemingly making her a little delirious. "And those were two separate occasions! I don't think my stylist has forgiven me fully yet…"
"If it's any consolation, I forgive you for almost attacking me," Aegis offered, causing Delphi to laugh.
"Thank you! The last thing I want is to get forced into more treatment," Delphi chuckled, before leaning back against the bannister in a much calmer demeanour. The word 'treatment' stuck out to Aegis, he was aware that Victors often had to undergo heavy psychological treatment for the trauma they endured during the games, which seemed to be no different for Career tributes such as Delphi. However, he did wonder to what extent she had required treatment overall, as she had seemed relatively sound of mind when being extracted from the arena. Perhaps she was harbouring a lot more within her mind than she let on, just like himself.
Suddenly, he noticed Delphi's eyes widen slightly, as she continued to look the man up and down.
"Oh! You're… the new Head Gamemaker, Aegis Harrow right?" Delphi cried out, straightening her posture and flicking away her dwindling cigarette in an attempt to formalise her appearance. Her eyes darted around rapidly, before appearing to land on her discarded heels. "Shit," she murmured, appearing to curse her decision to take them off. Aegis raised his hand, signalling for her to stop her fretting.
"Just Aegis will do, and feel free to relax. I'm not about to criticise your smoking habits or your lack of shoes," Aegis insisted, appearing to put the girl from Two at ease. "Although I am curious, what led to their removal?"
"Well…" Delphi responded, apprehensively reaching for her pack of cigarettes to take out a replacement. "I hate heels, they really hurt my feet. I don't understand how people can wear them."
"I can't say I blame you, they don't look particularly comfortable," Aegis reasoned, causing the girl to snort as she reached for her lighter, Aegis's relaxed approach and reassurance appearing to make her increasingly more at ease. After lighting up the second cigarette, she raised the small packet towards Aegis, who looked down at it curiously.
"Want one?" Delphi offered, her eyes studying him as he tilted his head.
"Funny, I think that's the first time someone's ever offered me anything out of kindness," Aegis muttered, his eyes fixated on the box in her nicely manicured hand.
"Sorry what was that? I didn't quite catch that," Delphi piped up.
"Oh nothing, but I'll pass thank you. I'm not much of a smoker," Aegis declined, earning a shrug from Delphi as she put aside the pack once more.
"That's okay, I wasn't one either until after the games. I picked up the habit because I needed an excuse to get away from people… it's not something I'm proud of," she sighed, her eyes fixated on the glowing embers from the newly lit cigarette. As he watched her take another drag, puffing out the smoke as if she were an old steam train from District 6, Aegis couldn't help but admire Delphi out of interest. It was strange to him, completely alien in fact that he had met someone like her. Although their interaction had only been brief so far, Aegis prided himself on his ability to read other people, and it just so happened that Delphi seemed like the most normal person he had interacted with this entire evening, perhaps even his whole life. He supposed it was easy to come to that view when almost everyone he had ever met was obsessed with their image and finding ways to flaunt their superiority.
She wasn't concerned with appearing a certain way around others - perhaps outside of her brief concern about being too carefree around someone of his calibre - but she wasn't lying through her teeth and trying to be someone she wasn't. She didn't seem all that interested in basking in her own glory, being worshipped by her legions of new Capitolite fans on her celebratory night. Hell, she was all alone on her own night of celebration, not vomiting into a pot plant like Corvelle had, or appeasing paparazzi who no doubt would be desperate to catch a glimpse of her on such an occasion. She was unashamedly herself, something Aegis was both intrigued, and envious of.
"So what brings you over here Mr Head Gamemaker?" Delphi spoke up, breaking the silence that had come as a result of Aegis's deep thoughts. He blinked at her for a moment, before smiling slightly, the first genuine smile he had felt himself make in a long time.
"I like to get away from people too, I wanted to find some peace and quiet," he revealed, which prompted Delphi to grin.
"You and I both it seems, although I'm sorry to break that peace and quiet for you," she chuckled, as Aegis leaned against the balcony barricade.
"It's no concern, I don't find you as obnoxious as the rest," Aegis assured her. Especially not after that encounter with Atticus.
This earned him a hum of doubt from Delphi.
"Not as obnoxious, but obnoxious to some extent?" She challenged him, her pearly white teeth grinning playfully.
"That remains to be seen, I only have been speaking with you for a few minutes after all," Aegis shrugged, as the two watched another plume of cigarette smoke drift from the young woman's lips.
"Damn, and just as I thought I was making a good impression," Delphi pouted jokingly, which allowed for a mildly amused exhale of air to escape Aegis's nostrils. "But I do have to agree," Delphi spoke up once more, her tone shifting into a slightly more serious one. "I find them all obnoxious, repulsive even, trying to make what I've done and what I've been through something worth celebrating."
Delphi's eyes lowered to the ground thoughtfully, a small frown appearing on her previously shining face, now forming into that of a rather dejected, glowering expression. Aegis could tell that she indeed was still harbouring a lot of baggage within her, perhaps not just from the arena, but from even before she had volunteered for the games. Her sullen look spoke volumes, even if it was just for a brief moment before she forced a look of contentment. Aegis wouldn't be surprised if she had gone through great lengths to mask the true way she felt, similar to how he had to shield his lack of feeling at all. He was sure he would feel bad for her if he had the capacity to, it's not as if he didn't want to feel bad for her. Perhaps someday he could learn to empathise for someone like Delphi, but for that he suspected he needed to grow attached to such a person, a difficulty in itself when he perceived everyone he had ever known as expendable - everyone except his father that is.
Why do I not feel that way? Why am I incapable? Aegis questioned, an enigma he had agonised over for twenty-six years prior. Strangely enough, in that moment alone, he wanted it to be answered more than ever. Perhaps it was because he felt himself getting along with Delphi, a pleasant surprise to nobody more than himself. Perhaps it was because in a moment like this, he wished he could feel the value of human connection.
"I probably shouldn't be saying something like that to the Head Gamemaker of all people," Delphi spoke up, a small laugh following in disbelief of her actions. "Maybe I've just had a little too much to drink."
"It's quite alright, Delphi. I think we're both on a similar wavelength here," Aegis reassured her, subtly hinting at his agreement of her views.
"You know, you're quite like no other Capitolite I've ever met," Delphi commented, a hint of sincerity in her voice. "It's weird, but I feel like you're the most normal person I've met here."
Aegis's eyes widened ever so slightly, for the first time in his life, feeling rather taken aback. He had thought the exact same thing about the girl mere moments ago, yet somehow she thought the same of him?
If only you knew who I am, Delphi. If only you knew the truth.
"Admittedly, I'd have to say the same about you," Aegis responded, causing Delphi's eyes to shine at him momentarily, before she turned her head slightly, her cheeks blushing a little.
"That's… thank you," she uttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Aegis could see how a seemingly minor comment would elicit such a reaction, after months of having people putting her on a pedestal, it must be nice to have someone treat her like a regular human being. The two stood in silence for a moment, simply listening to the ambience of the night as the music continued to thump in the distance. With every passing second, it almost felt as if the music was gradually drowned out, as the pair focused on the serenity.
"I do have to ask though…" Delphi suddenly spoke up, her piercing eyes resting firmly on Aegis's. "Why has someone like you pursued the path of a Head Gamemaker?"
It was a good question, Aegis couldn't deny. It was the question many people had asked of him prior, for months following his initial appointment in the role. In fact, it was a question he had even asked himself; why had he decided to step out of his comfortable life of peace, risking everything he had become accustomed to and betraying the very teachings his father had instilled on him?
"Why? You ask?" Aegis responded, wondering how he should answer her. Every answer he had given thus far had been very generic, the broadest of reasons that anyone would expect. However, none of them had been sincere, none of them had been the real reason as to why he decided to. Aegis's own question, was whether or not he was going to reveal it to Delphi in that moment. Of course, doing so could jeopardise everything, all the steps he had undertaken to achieve his goals could be gone in an instant. Yet somehow, he felt obliged to let Delphi in on a little peek into his mind.
"Well to put it simply, nobody is more free, than whomever is at the top."
"At the top?" Delphi echoed his words, the realisation beginning to settle upon her. "What would the top be? As in the Presidency?"
"Hypothetically speaking of course," Aegis insisted, a signification that this conversation was not to be repeated.
"Uh… naturally," Delphi confirmed, her interest appearing piqued.
"He who is at the top, has the freedom to do anything," Aegis continued, his eyes raising up to the starry night sky. Aegis paused for a moment, a small spark of unfamiliar excitement managing to ignite within him, for what felt like the first time in many years.
"He who is on top… can break the system."
Author's Note:
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Prologue III wrapped up, the final chapter before the tribute reveal! I've had a really fun time writing these Prologue chapters, which has been a nice change because historically, I've always found Prologue chapters tedious and boring to write. However, this time around I absolutely love the characters I've conjured up, and I'm really optimistic on how I can make the Capitol storyline progress! What I really wanted to avoid was filler plot with a bunch of throwaway characters, and so far I feel really engrossed with them, and enthused to write them more. For this chapter we got to see a glimpse of the final stretch of the Victory Tour for the 148th Hunger Games, which happens to be the party at the Presidential Palace. We also got to see some more new characters, with Atticus Thorne making his first appearance (and a rather memorable one at that), as well as meeting the newest Victor - Delphi Evergaze of District 2. Additionally, we got to see a namedrop of two other Victors, those being Corvelle and Nautic, who will be a couple of the future mentors for our upcoming cast of tributes. Be sure to let me know what you thought about the events of this chapter, and the characters that appeared within it!
So time for a submission update. As initially expected, it is somewhat difficult to fill the roster up, so I have had to adapt the rules a bit. At this point in time, I am closing slots when I feel as if I have a sufficient tribute for that slot, so it's essentially first come first serve at this point. If you are interested in submitting, or have submitted but would like one or two more tributes submitted, it's best to do so as soon as you can before the slot you want potentially gets taken. Seeing as this is the final chapter before the tribute list is meant to be revealed, I do need to create a sense of urgency as the more that other SYOT stories get updated, the more buried this story will become and less submission flow will occur as a result. As it stands, Districts 1, 2, 11, and 12 are officially closed, with some singular slots including D4M, D5M, D8M, and D9F also being closed for submissions. If you are interested in any of the slots not mentioned here, be quick to jump on them because I have had interest from submitters for some unoccupied spots.
Anyways, that's about all I have to say on this chapter and the submissions. Next chapter will be the reveal of the tribute cast, which I will release as soon as I have a full roster - that means there is no official release date as of yet. I have written a majority of that chapter, so it's just a matter of filling the list now. It will also be our final chapter with Aegis as the POV character for a little while, because after that we will be jumping directly into tribute introductions. I will delve a little into how I will structure my tribute introductions in next chapters Author's Note, but for now what I will reveal is that it will not be the usual twelve Reaping chapters. That format quickly becomes repetitive and boring to both the Reader and myself, so my way of doing it will be sure to speed things along to get to the content we all want to see. That's all from me, thanks for reading!
~Reign
