𝒶𝓅𝒽𝓇𝑜𝒹𝒾𝓉𝑒 ♡

venus rising from the froth of the sea

[maximuslush]

Maximus was also working the gala for the sake of his tributes. He really wanted to get a winner this year, also because he really wanted to go on the Victor's Tour. So right now he was walking alongside Aphrodite, pointing out to her major sponsors that she should work on whenever she got the chance. Sponsors were one of the most essential aspects of the games. Their money largely meant life or death, and Maximus wanted to maximize the number of gifts that the team could get to Aphrodite and Loch.

"Over there," He motioned towards an older Capitol woman, "is a very wealthy woman who loves to sponsor Tributes who she thinks would make good muses as Victors, muse as in they get painted and she adds it to her gallery of victors. You and Loch I think are both more than aesthetically pleasing enough to win her over. She also happens to be friends with my Grandfather, I could try and arrange a meeting at some point if you want."

@4thd1str1ct

[4thd1str1ct]

aphrodite had pegged maximus down the moment she met him on the train. shallow and self important. which wasn't a problem for her, because those types tended to be the easiest to appeal to. she made mental note of everything maximus told her, then feigned a snicker as she brutally joked, "does she look for muses because she's a hag herself?" it wasn't that she really thought that, but even loch was competition in a game like this. and if trashing random people meant getting a leg up with their escort, she'd do it. "i'd have my painting done before i'm a victor." aphrodite put on a dreamy act as she sighed, then looked at maximus, "i'd appreciate that meeting. thank you maximus. you're just so thoughtful." she gushed.

[pollyypockett-deactivated202504]

Everyone was putting on a show tonight and this chick was no exception.

“A bite?” Sage echoed indifference, though her side eye told an entirely different story. The thought of sharing in this sea of abundance was amusing, at least. Entertainment. Frankly she'd never seen such an assembly of gluttony (or sweets) in her life. “I’ve still got two hands for now, but thanks.” She took a sip of her bourbon and set it down to pick up an identical floral cake. The craftsmanship that went into them was beautiful, for sure. Edible hollyhock petals and bright chokecherries adorned a rich buttercream frosting. Sage recognized them immediately. Both plants were common along the boreal forest floors of District 7. Chokecherries in particular are usually late summer staples before unbearable winters. Bitter but edible nonetheless. Here, however, the capitol probably had greenhouses of them for decorative purposes alone. The capitol probably used them to brim pretty cocktails as something markedly farm-to-table. The capitol definitely had enough bio-engineered horse tranquilizer to overlook chokecherry's sedative properties but, for fuck's sake, the capitol schmuck who harvested them could have at least let them ripen to a darker shade of crimson.

She carefully plucked off a berry, a hint of something passing over her expression – perhaps homesickness. It faded as fast as the berry slipped past her teeth. “never been a huge fan of chokecherries myself ... ” She drawled, eyeing the other, tone still sharp as ever. "a bit fucking bitter for a treat like this, don't you think?'

[4thd1str1ct]

the tribute from seven was the complete opposite of everything aphrodite tried to be. she was rough around the edges, and honest, and openly bitter. she had every right to me, but in truth, it immediately amused aphrodite. she was drawn to sage like a moth to flame. as the other assessed their desert, she took a bite of her own, "chokecherries?" she hummed, playing naive. people in general liked to feel like the smartest person in the room. if aphrodite could earn the trust of someone who seemed to be a fierce competitor, maybe it'd save her from dying via axe in the arena.

"i like it." she told sage, holding up the dessert to eye level before taking another bite. "but i'm getting the sense you don't like very much." aphrodite's lips curled into a smirk, then she finished off the cake. she swiped her hands together, away from herself, to avoid getting any crumbs or residue on her outfit. aphrodite wondered if anyone had even spoken to sage, she acted like she hadn't made human contact in days, maybe weeks. "i'm aphrodite." she extended her newly cleaned hand, then flashed a warm smile, "in case you didn't know."

[sparrowgardner]

WHO : sparrow gardner & open. WHERE : the tributes' center rooftop garden.

the training center was even more impressive than sparrow had imagined it to be. the shack they called home back could’ve fit in their new bedroom five times over, not the mention the rest of the luxurious suite allotted to district eleven. while their first few hours in the capitol had been spent marveling at the comforts allotted to them, the distraction had quickly faded. everything sure seemed less rosy when they started to think that their last meal before the arena would be enjoyed here, or that it might be the last time they slept in a real bed. 

once those thoughts had settled in, the place had quickly become suffocating. sparrow wasn’t sure they were even allowed to leave their rooms unaccompanied, but no one had tried to stop them when they’d taken a few steps out the door, and the few avoxes they ran into averted their gazes, hurrying on without so much as an indication that they’d seen them. they took it as validation - what else could the capitol do to punish them, anyway ? -, making their way to the elevator and pressing the topmost button.

the sight of the sunrise greeted them. from below, it might’ve been hard to see⎯but up here, near the top of the skyscrapers, there was enough of the sky to take a good look at the soft pink and orange hues of the new dawn. they lingered, walking back and forth aimlessly across the roof, eyeing the plants that grew in their pots. they were fed plenty enough here, but what could they say ? old habits died hard. 

the ping of the elevator startled them, and they turned like a frightened rabbit, half expecting to find a peacekeeper standing there. when they realized the figure who approached wore no white uniform, sparrow breathed a quiet sigh of relief. they shoved their hands into their pockets but relaxed their elbows, deliberately going for a nonchalant stance. ❛ go on. the view’s free, as far as i can tell. no one's stopped me yet, anyway. ❜ they kept the newcomer at the periphery of their vision for a few moments before adding : ❛ early bird, aren't ya ? ❜

[4thd1str1ct]

nobody's stopped me yet. aphrodite laughed softly-- wry. she doubted the capitol cared about snagging views for free, about tributes jumping, maybe. curiously, she grabbed the first flat stone she could find in the gardens and threw it towards the horizon, like a skipping stone. only there was no water for it to skim across, only a forcefield that it crackled against, then bounced back at full force. "duck!" aphrodite pulled sparrow's shoulders down as the stone flew back, then helped her up when the coast was clear. figures, she thought.

back home, aphrodite would rise with the sun and help her father prepare everything he needed for a successful day of fishing. nets, bait, hooks, and spears. it was always a lot of work, but often worth it. but instead she answered, "i don't think anyone sleeps well here." she sat on a barrier beside the garden, linen dress splayed out around her, and long, tanned legs crossed in front of her. "does it remind you of home at all? not the view but...the plants?"

[rcmcmbrall]

asena sighed quietly, this could be so exhausting if she let herself feel it, she had too much practice being numb to let this tribute send painful prickles through her as she thawed. "if that was true, which we both know it isn't, then i'd still rebuff you. you're a child, and one likely to die, your judgement isn't what i'd call sound." maybe she should change her policy about drinking at these things. "all men are unhappy until they feel powerful. taking advantage of a pretty little tribute? you'll be nothing but a punchline at dinner if you do that. but your life, or what is remaining of it, is your own. however if you do manage to win you'd have to live with the consequences of the choices you make in the next few weeks." she sounded too lecturey even to herself and sipped the juice in her hand.

"i'm not offended, and it isn't my business what strategy you choose to pursue. i pointed out who would be receptive, but that's all i do for that strategy." she was still too rude about it and she could hear it in her own voice but she knew how the capitol loved to take advantage, that they saw the tributes as playthings, toys, and she hated to see any tribute lean into that thinking they were the ones in control. she felt like if she tried hard enough she could look right through this one, and in the end they were all ghosts. "i do remember, and i'm still here." she said slowly, voice clear and point made. "yes, and beauty hides a lot of things, doesn't it?" another pointed statement, a gaze unbroken.

[4thd1str1ct]

aphrodite wasn't a nasty person, but hearing from the mouth of a victor that her judgement wasn't sound and she was probably going to day left her feeling red hot from head to toe. she swallowed any damaging words she had for the other and continued to play politeness perfectly. a singular cheeky comment slipped-- "i'd hate to see your beautiful face disappointed when i win." so maybe that put a bit of a crack in her facade, but she felt better.

"i don't need them to respect me." aphrodite countered asena. this, by far, was the most stimulating conversation she'd had since entering the capitol. it was making it difficult to keep up with her usual tricks, but then again, her usual tricks weren't working on asena. so maybe, she'd look at it as if she was running a trial on a new tactic. "all men are unhappy all of the time, looking for a woman, or money, or power to fix it." her gaze was steel on the group, "and i don't need to fix them either, i just need to make them love me." enough to empty their pockets at least. aphrodite would be fine if they laughed at her over dinner, or whatever asena was implying, because if it meant being alive in the end, it was worth it. asena was a curious thing and aphrodite wanted to pry. so, she fixed her gaze back on the other and asked, "and what is beauty hiding this evening then miss mavi?" she leaned in slightly to whisper, "because all i see is a great party."

[goldencopper]

Orion chuckled and glanced over at her. He recognized her from the reaping, she was from district four. He nodded. "Sure, I'll take a bite." He said as he leaned closer, hoping he didn't actually have to touch the cake himself.

He had just gotten a new suit and if he got it dirty, he would have to get it cleaned or re-done. He just didn't want to deal with that. "Come on, I don't think I can get anything on this suit." Orion said in a flirtatious tone.

The gamemaker smirked at her and pulled away afterwards. "So, you're from four, right?" He asked her. He already knew the answer but he wanted to hear her say it.

Orion nodded and took a sip of a drink he picked up from the table. "What do you thin of this party?" He asked, motioning to the mansion. "It's pretty spectacular, huh?" Orion stated.

[4thd1str1ct]

upon second glance of the stranger, aphrodite could just tell he was important. how or in what way, she didn't know. but he carried himself very carefully, his dress was the epitome of money talks and wealth whispers. a smile quirked in the corner of her mouth as the man fussed about his suit. had a potential sponsor been so easy to ensnare? "well if you insist..." she sighed as if she weren't playing eager to bring the cake to his lips, wipe the residue from his mouth away after the bite, and leave a lingering thumb on the chin. he'd thrown her off though, "oh..." aphrodite quickly regained her composure, "yes, four's my home. have you ever been to the sea? you'd look great on a beach. no suit layers to worry for. " she asked curiously. it was much easier to ask questions than answer them, however. because the moment she was beckoned for a opinion, she faltered, then nodded. what would he want to hear? "oh...yes, it's very unique." not her best work, but aphrodite drank it off. she proceeded to nudge the other with her elbow, "you know, it isn't very fair that you know me and i haven't even got your name." not like any of this was fair to begin with...

[lochdreadnought]

loch hadn't had the opportunity to full process what had happened. they'd been whisked from the justice center right to the train, barely an opportunity to say goodbye to his family. he'd barely been able to breathe. he'd zoned out during dinner, pushing his food around the plate, nodding periodically. it wasn't until he retreated to his room that he'd started to process the reality of it all. he'd been reaped for the 74th hunger games, he was on a train to the capitol. in all likelihood, he'd never see district 4 again.

he barely heard the knock at the door, only looking up as aphrodite entered. he managed to smile, but it was very clearly forced. "really?" he asked, genuinely surprised to hear it. he didn't know her, that was for sure. "hopefully you've heard good things," he laughed, as he made room for aphrodite to sit, if she wanted.

[4thd1str1ct]

"you don't have to pretend to be happy." aphrodite told him bluntly. at least, not with her. she didn't know what waited for them, but loch was a piece of home. whether or not either of them liked it. the train was moving faster than any vessel she'd been on, yet the ride felt like forever. however, she'd wager money this was how the livestock in ten felt being ushered towards their slaughter. aphrodite took a seat, neither confirming nor denying what she'd heard about loch and simply asking him, "is it true your family could make a vessel of gold from all their wealth if the capitol allowed it?" it was such a childish question, probably because that was a rumor she'd heard as a child, but both of them could clearly use some levity.

[izavaughn]

"beautiful things are always the most fun to taste, in my experience." iza's lips curled into a little grin that they allowed to disappear behind their glass, taking a sip of the bubbly juice they'd picked up a few tables ago.

their eyes followed the stranger's to the food in question, an elegant, tiny little cake painstakingly decorated with a floral motif, frosted with stunningly bright dyes. the sort of thing borne of someone's passion, a labor of love-- the thought sent a pang through the pit of their stomach, but they wouldn't focus on that right now. they'd try not to, at least.

"for me, the key to a perfect cake is all about the frosting," iza noted. they leaned in to take a little nibble at the offer, taking a moment to savor the flavor profile, the texture. "not bitter, but not too sweet, either. perfectly creamy." they nodded their head at it, eyes finally slipping back to their new companion. "you should give it a try. life's too short not to take advantage of such pleasures."

[4thd1str1ct]

they came out of nowhere. and aphrodite recognized them, she just couldn't quite remember their name. or district. "i'd have to agree to that sentiment." she flashed a smile of her own and followed suit with wrapping her lips around the rim of a glass. aphrodite stood quiet and beautiful as the other described the perfect cake, "you must be from one." it all fell into place. most outside of districts one and two weren't so lucky to have frosted cakes, or enough variation in regional recipes to be so picky about a dessert. nonetheless, aphrodite was intrigued by the other. not bitter, but not too sweet either. she hummed then laughed to herself, "sounds like you like it perfectly balance." she asserted lowly. "i know that finally now that i'm here." she added, giving the cake a try before holding out her hand for iza to either shake or kiss. she'd leave them in control, feeling powerful. "it's aphrodite." the way her eyes scanned them implied and you are?

[folliesofmiceandmen]

"darling, if you're going to continue to undress me with your eyes, i'll catch a cold." she lifted the treat to her mouth and quickly popped it in, washing it down with a swig of the awful thing in her hand before offering it over to the girl who was so very forward. duri had seen the tactic before, and she was sure that she would see it again. it was also rather common amongst the victors, that flirty, playful attitude to get far in the capitol.

it wasn't as if it didn't work. duri simply wasn't nearly charming enough to pull it off herself.

"everything tastes wonderful until it starts to taste like ash or blood or soot. too much of a good thing and all that rot." her shoulders lifted in a shrug that fell away again like nothing, and she leaned back against the table to look out over the crowd. "are you enjoying your time in the greatest place in panem so far?"

[4thd1str1ct]

aphrodite's cheeks flushed at duri's bluntness and wondered what other approach she might take to capture her attention. clearly that hadn't worked. and she could only hope she didn't screw it up. modestly, she held her hands up, "sorry. how could i help myself?" she asked with an earnest chuckle. she didn't find duri entirely incorrect, but aphrodite couldn't let herself think like that. not unless she lived. not until she made it to after. "hopefully i don't reach that point any time soon." she continued smoothly, sipping on her drink. truthfully, aphrodite wasn't enjoying herself very much at all. she'd been busting her ass the entirety of the party to really solidify herself as one to watch. but it would go against everything in her entire plan to be honest about that. "it's like nothing i've ever seen." aphrodite said with convincing faux wonderment. "i thought the ocean calm would be the greatest thing i'd ever witnessed...but this place..." she shook her head, trailing off, enchanted.

[dangerousdispositions]

who: kolya & aphrodite ( @4thd1str1ct ) where: a balcony we're pretending def exists somewhere @ the gala

"heavens," kolya hissed, weaving angrily through the crowd with a blaze in his eyes and smoke left in his wake. figuratively. oh, he was a social butterfly, really, but there was only so much one could take on the salt of other people's sweat and remain sane about it.

kolya had reached his limit.

there was always a point in the night where the party went from fun to pestiferous and for kolya it had reached that point. he tugged off his jacket irritably, hoping a bit of airing would help remove the scent of other people from the fabric, and shook it in the evening breeze, allowing himself to slump against the railing for a moment.

he just needed a second to regather himself and let the adrenaline dissipate and then he could waltz back inside, pull his smile back on and go back to mingling and charming and fluttering about. he wasn't a stranger to parties-- he didn't mind them, even, but kolya much preferred the quiet, private chaos of his workshop to the hustle and bustle of a grand affair.

this was a necessary piece of the puzzle that built that ideal future he imagined for himself, though, so he'd suck it up and deal with it.

he would. in just a moment.

for now, he turned and offered the only other soul out on the little balcony a weary grin, pausing in shaking his jacket long enough to lift one hand in a friendly wave. "good evening," kolya greeted. "they've outdone themselves inside, but i daresay this has to be my favorite spot in the whole place. how about you?"

[4thd1str1ct]

aphrodite greeted the other as if he were an old friend, "yes the inside was wonderful, but i'm not the greatest fan of purple." she whispered the last part as if it were a secret, eyes darting to the inside. "considering this is my first time here, i don't believe i have a favorite just yet." she gripped the balcony railing, feeling the breeze on her face. aphrodite closed her eyes and thought of home. if she wasn't careful, she'd start to feel an imaginary mist upon her face. she opened her eyes back up and turned to her companion, "you'll have to ask me on return for my victory tour." it was wishful thinking, but if she was going to get anyone to believe in her, she'd have to exude confidence. or at the very least, like this instance, merely 'joke' about winning. "i will have to say you're by far the favorite i've run across." a lie, merely sucking up. "half of those people in there hardly seem as real as you."

[thistlethimble]

where; the gala with; open

"I think I could get away with stealing the president's pajamas." thimble declared after what appeared to be a genuine moment of reflection. they were standing in one of the hallways just outside the bulk of the party. "for no particular reason at all, I think if I could figure out which room is his, I could get into it. when I get into it, I can easily find them and then take them. who would think to stop me? why? what would they do if I got caught? kill me? seems a bit redundant, no? and frankly, quite petty over pajamas. besides, we all can extrapolate they don't want us to die yet, right? that's why they've got the whole energy field over the tribute center to prevent a hop, skip, and jump. so at worst, it looks like I would be punished extra during the games, and at that point... wouldn't it just be funny to have the president's pajamas?"

when there was no immediate response, nor even a reaction, at the somewhat outlandish statement, thimble narrowed both eyes. they lifted a finger and prodded the shoulder of the figure they'd been babbling to who appeared to be made of stone. "hm." that should probably be filed under embarrassing, but as the last two statues they tried to talk to turned out to be people, this seemed to track in the convoluted ways of the Capitol. they turned away and took a sip of the cup in their hand. "so apparently the marble I've been talking to for the last five minutes doesn't have an opinion on it. do you?"

[4thd1str1ct]

champagne flute in hand, aphrodite lingered behind the peculiar girl rambling about president's and pajamas and breaking the rules. she didn't seem to be talking to anyone in particular, but nonetheless aphrodite still listened. any piece of information or overheard conversation could get her hands on might just be vital in the arena. once the girl noticed her, aphrodite immediately clocked her as thimble from district 8. if she told thimble what she really thought about breaking into the president's quarters, which was that they'd be shot, she had a feeling it would ruin the interaction. so aphrodite made a quick assessment about thimble's character, and appealed to it, "i think you're quite the dreamer." she found thimble's eyes, "i like that about you, truly."

[hedonistherion]

Desdemona was quickly realizing that working with her tributes required a higher level of reading between the lines than she was particularly used to. She spent most of her days with Oslo, who was so comfortable with her that it would be stupid to hide any meaning behind platitude. But she could tell that the tributes didn't know what to make of her yet, and Des was determined to change that. The hours she'd spent with each of them getting ready had been helpful in establishing a rapport, but it was well past time for a check-in.

When Des spotted Aphrodite by the refreshments, she slid past a couple of friends with a grin and plucked an olive off of the elaborate table setting. Meeting Aphrodite's gaze, Des bit down on the salty delicacy and smiled, amused by the other's hesitation. "Well, it's lucky I'm here-- Yaris' cakes are notoriously powdery and I would hate to send you out with any dusting," she teased, breaking off a piece of the cake to taste. Patting her mouth with a napkin, Des glanced across the crowd before settling her gaze back on Aphrodite. "How are you finding it all?"

[4thd1str1ct]

aphrodite did her fair share of socializing, strategizing, and asking questions of her own within their 24 hours of arriving in the capitol. but truth be told, she didn't know how she liked it. it seemed pointless to consider whether or not she liked it. it was worth more of her time to evaluate if she could survive it. laughter trickled out of her when desdemona took a bite from the cake, "will i be in trouble if i ruin my outfit with food?" she asked, then took in the entirety of what she could see. it wouldn't be the worst place to die, she thought. but then again, she wouldn't be dying here. she'd be dying in the arena. well, if she couldn't pull off her sponsor grab spectacular. "it's like nothing i've ever seen before." aphrodite told her stylist with a smile, though that same murky and double meaning tone lingered.

[thequeenofhawkins]

Willie hadn't decided her fate yet. Deep in her, she wanted to fight. To try to survive. She had made it nineteen years without being a child bride or dead so she guessed she had done the survival thing well enough. The games were different. She could fight to survive when it meant building a fire or finding safe crops to eat. She had never killed and she had never thrown a punch. Maybe she should have taken Caspian's offer years ago to learn how to defend herself. So, she feared that she didn't have much fight in her to begin with.

She didn't think she had charisma, either. Willie didn't know how to woo anything more than a boy in 12 and really, all she had to do was exist to be paid attention to. She was far from special and she didn't fancy pretending like she was either. The table of food entranced her, fully aware of the hunger in her stomach. She just didn't know where to start. It all looked plastic. Like it wasn't meant to be consumed. Beautiful, like the girl next to her said.

The eye contact was alarming, but Willie didn't pull her gaze away. Instead, she stared deeply, as if she were being pulled into the girl's soul. She was beautiful, far more beautiful than mama had been in her prime. The kind of girl that even when done up, would look like a million bucks. "What is it?" She asked. "I know it's a cake, but... what does it taste like?" She had no idea if the other would even know the answer for her, but she felt it was worth it to inquire.

[4thd1str1ct]

"no way to know other than try. i've never had it before either." aphrodite said simply. without second thought, she cracked the cake the best she could down it's middle and handed the girl from 12, "for you." without warning, she popped the dessert into her mouth. she even went as far to look the resdue off her fingers and lips. "oh, wow." she remarked, popping her thumb in her mouth as she eyed the other girl-- willie, she was fairly sure. "it's a shame that just one place gets all the best stuff." she sighed wryly, "lucky us, finally here in the capitol." aphrodite refrained from going as far to roll her eyes and looked willie up and down, "what's been your favorite part of this evening? any fun secrets i missed?"

[rcmcmbrall]

asena had been witness to a wide array of personalities and strategies in her years as a mentor, there were very few of either that she was amenable to but the one this tribute was attempting made her skin crawl, and brought forth the more unpleasant judgemental part of her that she tried not to let run wild. still, she knew her disgust was written all over her face and she wouldn't apologize for it. she knew it was unlikely anything she said to the child would make any meaningful difference and with that feeling like the case she would speak her mind without constraint. "that was a truly disdainful and unnecessary thing to try. but if you insist on it you may want to assure you are asking someone closer to your target audience."

still, she wasn't an idiot, she recognized the strategy the other was attempting to employ, she recognized the way the tribute had tried to assert power, strength with their gaze, to play coy and make herself something akin to prey when the opposite seemed apparent to asena. this would be one to watch, underestimating her would be a mistake. "there's a cluster of wealthy sponsors with old wives over there, and a few single bachelors with money looking to make a name for themselves over there." she subtly pointed out each for the tribute, it was likely the only help she'd offer them.

[4thd1str1ct]

"disdainful..." aphrodite remarked, taking a bite of the cake and grinning through closed lips as she smiled. "and what if i was being genuine? forward?" she questioned, though her eyes followed asena when she began to map out each man. she wasn't sure if she was allowed to accept coaching from another mentor, but in matters of life or death, she cared little for the rules. as aphrodite perched by the snack table, eyes focused like a hawk, she finished off the dessert. "who's the umhappiest?" she asked asena, turning and setting her empty glass on the table.

she levelled with the other, crossing her arms, "i didn't mean to offend you. i'm only trying to make the most of my time here." she examined her nails thoughtfully, avoiding eye contact as she added, "i'm sure you remember how overwhelming it all is...to be here." she sighed and looked up at the decorated walls. it was no ocean, but, "at least it's beautiful here-- first glance."

[folliesofmiceandmen]

it would be the height of impropriety for duri not to make an appearance at the tributes gala, though the thought of the party already had her head pounding, right behind the eyes, and she had been nursing a glass of something quite strong since those shiny silver heels of hers had wandered into the room, clicking uncomfortably on the floor. the food table was safe, or so she thought, until someone was speaking to her. someone...

duri's eyes lifted just in time to make eye contact with the girl, something that made her shift slightly from her front to her back foot, standing her ground against the intense eyes for a moment before giving a small shake of her head. "too sweet for me. i prefer the bitter desserts." her own fingers hovered over something so dark it was almost black before plucking it up and lifting it to show it off. "goes well with liquor. you're four, right?"

[4thd1str1ct]

"i can do bitter." aphrodite applied simply, taking the opportunity to inch closer to the woman and examine the darker dessert she'd picked up. "i can do anything, really." she continued, words thickly laced with dual meaning. "especially in a place like this." aphrodite allowed a moment for her words to sink in and examined the rest of the table. waggishly, she added, "i mean, everything tastes so wonderful in a place like this." aphrodite didn't like to be so obvious. she liked to keep people guessing, get them comfortable on their toes. well, it was an appropriate amount of that and friendliness. it had gotten her through the entirety of her life thus far and she wasn't planning on abandoning working tactics now. "so--" aphrodite plucked an identical dessert and prodded, "do you have the liquor?" she'd rather focus on that than thoughts of home.

[detestableson]

𝐖𝐇𝐎: nero commonhart & @4thd1str1ct 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓: pre-party jitters 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: the tribute center

As excited as he was about his first taste of the Capitol-- of anything outside of twelve, really-- Nero felt fucking ridiculous. He'd never worn makeup a day in his life, and his stylist had practically bound him to the chair for an hour, griping and muttering about how his black eye and freshly-busted lip needed to be hidden to protect his image. Nero didn't have an image, he just was. Everything else was bullshit, and the chalky black on his lids made his eyes feel so fucking itchy.

He was pacing the 'foyer' and tugging on the sleeves of the leather suit jacket he'd been forced into when he heard heels clacking down the hallway. Resisting the urge to swipe at his face, Nero looked up, eyes fixed on the familiar face. "Aphrodite Saltshore, District Four," he mumbled, mostly to check his own knowledge. Soon, he would be trapped in a cage with these people, so the more he could memorize, the better. "You're not a Career," he stated, as if he could know for sure. It was technically illegal in Four, his mentor had said, so they tried to keep that kind of thing quiet.

"Are you a threat?" Nero asked, glancing at her ridiculous netted get-up. Could anyone really be a threat in these outfits?

[4thd1str1ct]

the heels, admittedly, hurt. they were like nothing she had ever seen before. days spent by the sandy shores of four were spent in sandals, or no shoes at all. but she was making it work, she knew that much. aphrodite's gaze was fixed over her shoulder, waving goodbye to an unseen figure before making a formal entrance into the foyer. she nearly collided with the boy from twelve, but held her hands out to avoid a full on accidental tackle. nero's introduction was unnerving at least. usually she basked in being known, but being known by him made her feel uneasy. she looked up him up and down, then flashed a smile, "one and only." she confirmed, crawling back to her usual smug self, bit by bit. aphrodite's eyes glistened with curiosity. despite his hushed, murmured tone, she could tell she was aching to ask her something. nobody was this forward without ulterior motive. "okay." aphrodite's lips curled into a smile at his question of are you a threat. she crossed her arms, amused as she countered, "i don't know, that's pretty subjective don't you think?" her brows raised before she posed, "how about this-- you tell me one thing about you, and i'll share something about myself."

[djo]

MIA GOTH as MAXINE MINX X (2022) dir. Ti West

[4thd1str1ct]

𝐖𝐇𝐎: aphrodite saltshore & open 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓: networking girlpower at the tribute gala 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: president's mansion

by no means was aphrodite thrilled about plummeting, warp speed, on a train, to her death. amoreena had trained all her life and didn't make it, such was the case with many other career tributes. but aphrodite wasn't planning on taking this laying down. she didn't know if she could win, but she knew she was going to try, and she knew the power a smile and a carefully calculated touch. some capitol soiree was the perfect chance to assert herself and do what she did best with a touch of charm.

aphrodite paused in a chrome type of pillar where she could see her reflection. she adjusted her hair, rolled her shoulders back, and headed in the direction of refreshments. she could see drinks and all sorts of snacks unfamiliar to her. taking advantage of her own ignorance, aphrodite walked up to the table, walking her fingers across the edge, grabbing the foreign hors d'oeuvres and examining it for a brief moment. "it's beautiful." she stated plainly, turning to the person beside her and immediately making intense eye contact. her own sort of siren song. she broke eye contact to look at the floral cake in her hands, "i have to admit, i'm not sure i want to sink my teeth into this just yet." aphrodite's gaze flicked back to the other as she curiously inquired, "want a bite?" of her, or the treat, would both be fine.