Cygnus Winters + Capitol + FIN

Cygnus Winters + Capitol + FIN Feb 9, 2015 11:00:28 GMT -5

Post by Death on Feb 9, 2015 11:00:28 GMT -5

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Cygnus

Winters

"Let's have kids," Cass says. "How does that sound, Cyg?"

She stares back at him, her eyes widening and her face quickly taking on the pallor of the dead. An interviewing and commentary veteran, it's rare for Cygnus to be without some kind of snappy comeback.

"K-k-kids?" she replies. "Like, tiny, incompetent humans kind of kids or like, baby goats? Because baby goats would be awesome."

Cassian laughs, his deep voice bouncing back to the couple as they lounge in their master bedroom. He points to the full-wall aquarium that provides the only sort of light. "You've already got Squiggles. Do you need goats too?"

"I've got you. Do I need infants too?"

"Need?" he says before dropping a soft kiss against her waiting lips. "I was seeing if you wanted them."

There's a long silence. He traces the lines of the octopus inked into her skin and she traces the gold laced into the melted chocolate skin of his cheekbones.

"Do you want them?" she asks.

"I'm a selfish old bastard," he says, kissing her forehead. "I want everything you can give to me."

"It's being a corny old fool I'm more worried about." Cygnus kisses his jaw, moving towards his ear and then his neck and then onward.

Cassian presses his lips to her collarbones.

"To infinity and beyond," she murmurs, stroking the line of his chin.

He smiles. "And back again."

C W

Business District, CAPITOL--- The publishing industry was rocked this past week as the once-prominent Kilgore Publishing House was forced to file for bankruptcy.

A long-standing magazine and fiction novel publishing company, Kilgore Publishing was first begun by Maximus Kilgore, the grandfather of the company's current chair of the board of directors, Korigan Kilgore. Chairman Kilgore assumed his position nearly seven years ago after his father's sudden death, which shook the company to its core. It would appear it never quite recovered from the loss of one of its greatest overseers.

Business began to suffer exponentially approximately two years ago after rumors of embezzlement and royalty check fraud began to surface. Many lost faith and trust in Kilgore Publishing despite rumors never being confirmed and no charges brought against the company.

After the pool of authors interested in publishing under the familiar Kilgore name dried up, the company was forced to place all hope in their struggling magazine.

"It's a shame things went the way they did," says Josephus Anniston, CEO of Kilgore Publishing before resigning and going to work for the up-and-coming Light House Publishing. "Kilgore had a wonderful atmosphere and a time-tested business model. But business is business."

Kilgore Publishing House is expected to finalize its bankruptcy filing in the upcoming week.

C W

From the Desk of the Gilded Gossip:

Someone's social life took a swift kick and plummeted faster than their Daddy's publishing company today. That's right, ladies and gents. Cygnus Kilgore, aged 16, took a swan-dive into matrimony with one Cassian Winters, aged 31 years and a highly sought-after bachelor and one of the first of the season to choose his gal.

While the family insists they'd been betrothed since her birth, many of my loyal readers would like to call bullshit.

LadyLuck003 says, "Family friend, my ass. That slut probably got pregnant with his kid and blackmailed him into marriage. Maybe he deserves her, though. What dense fucker would want to get into bed with that whore?" And that's one of the more tame of our commentaries!

From this writer's perspective-- I was at the wedding, after all, my dear readers!-- the bride seemed less than pleased with the services and festivities, while dear Mr. Winters was over the moon. I'd bet on a divorce within the next year because, from what I've heard, that chit's legs spread faster than melted butter over dry toast.

It was a beautiful affair. The bride dressed in a gown of crystals and swan feathers, platinum blonde hair done in curls where it was long enough. Skin glittering with sequins and sparkles. She was flashier than a disco ball. Kind of tacky, really. He was fashionably attired in the classic black tuxedo with a marine blue bow tie.

The whole ocean theme was charming in a "that's definitely 4 years ago" way. The best part was when live baby octopus was served (with fresh squeezed lime, mine went down splendidly) and Mrs. Winters squawked like a macaw. She scooped up the one on her plate and called for a bucket of salt water right then and there.

Overall, a rushed, boring party. Thank the gods for the couple having decent taste in booze.

C W

I didn't want to touch her that first night. I looked at this girl, who came into the world when I was fifteen. This tiny sixteen year old with wide slate-gray eyes, still gilded in silver glitter and white feathers. I decided that I was going to drink another bottle of champagne with her on the balcony and then head to sleep.

Until she slipped off the sleeves of her gown and pulled it down her long, beautiful torso, letting it fall around her ankles. My eyes couldn't help but rove along the line of her figure, from the curve of her cheek to the slope of her calves.

Her skin was so pale against mine. For a man called Winters, my skin is as dark as spring earth. Cyg always jokes that she isn't much of a white chocolate person.

She pressed herself against me, insisting. She didn't care about being 15 years apart. She didn't care her family had nothing and mine had everything. She wanted me. Sure, I felt like a horrible human being the next morning when I woke up, naked ivory draped across me.

But she wanted me and that was more than I could've dreamt of.

I still remember her, curled up in our bed, her mascara completely run into the corners of her eyes and smudging the sheets. The glow of the laptop made the tear trails shine in the were-light.

"Why can't I not give a fuck?" she sobbed as I sat on the bed next to her.

"What do you mean?"

"Why can't I not give a flying, flipping fuck in panem what these pricks say about me?!"

I stroke her hair, reminded that, for every bit of maturity she's gained, there's still a bit of childishness tucked inside.

"Why do they hate me so much?"

"I don't know, Cyg," I say, laying down behind her. She doesn't move away, to my surprise. She presses her back against me, fitting her curves into my angles somehow. "But their opinions don't matter."

"But they do!" Her back hits my chest as the sobbing starts again. "They do and it hurts! It hurts, Cass."

Air conditioning blows in the background and Squiggle's tank bubbles, but beneath that is her soft breathing and heaving and crying.

C W

"You don't have to go to work," Cass said, placing his hands on her bare hips and leaning into her neck. "You could stay home. I have enough. You'd never have to work again."

"Tempting, my love," the twenty-one year old replied. "But I've lounged around long enough. I love writing. The View might be the first place to let me do that since..."

"Since the company closed. I understand. I'm just saying--"

"I'm just saying that you're not being very encouraging for my first day of work!" she says, turning her head to kiss him. He holds onto her tighter and she inhales sharply. His touch-- so familiar, yet constantly new. She shakes her head to physically clear it.

"I'll be out most of the day." Cass kisses her forehead before moving to his counter to dab cologne against his wrists and neck. "Try to stay out of trouble."

"Oh, no. I'm a reporter now. Trouble is exactly where I need to be."

He grins. "I might just have to make you stay then."

"I don't know," she replies, taking a step towards him. "I think you'll have to be... very convincing..."

"Cyg." He arches one eyebrow, a smirk traipsing across his lips as he moves them closer to hers after gathering her into his arms. "I'm sure you're very familiar with how convincing I can be."

"Remind me," she whispers.