Hearts and Minds // The Bachelorette Episode.1

For years Beniccio Duarte put all of his energy into the restaurant, thankfully the spotlight followed him there. Occasionally he did go out to some extravagant events but nothing as so magnificent as where he is going to be tonight. Usually Ben would hold his own events at his establishment, somehow getting some greats on the guest lists. The only time he really had his persona televised was when he was advertising his restaurant or when he had the odd hour listing for a cookery show although it didn’t exactly kick off. Not long ago he entered himself into a similar competition, Mr or Mrs Capitol…what a great mistake that was.

When the opportunity arose to join the line-up of the new Bachelorette show, it took a while for Ben to pluck up the courage as he didn’t want to make a fool of himself like last time. For months he had to rebuild his reputation after the complete humiliation he did to himself in front of the public eye. Thankfully everyone forgave him due to his fine culinary skills, it’s hard for anyone to let go of Ben’s fine tasting dishes, even if the man behind the meal is a complete clown.

Despite the chances of ruining himself again, Ben saw another light shining from to the whole bachelorette idea. Time was ticking for Ben, at the age of thirty-six being without a partner is slowly becoming a burden. Nobody to share his time with, nobody to greet in the morning, nobody to spend the rest of his life with. Many times Ben has pursued a relationship and many times they’ve failed tragically. Despite his charm and sweet nature, he is unable to keep hold of the fish he catches; instead he ends up frying them in a pan and burning them. Even if he is unable to be the perfect match for Katelyn Persimmon, it at least shows the Capitol his flirtatious skills and hopefully someone will fall for him at the other side of the screens. The thought of associating himself with a victor had never crossed his mind; none had ever visited his establishment. Only popular Capitol folk have ever stepped through his door and even though that is a big thing, Ben sees victors as being more of a higher class. After all, they did survive something pretty deadly, they are heroes to a lot more people than most Capitol folk and he admires them for that.

Hiding out in the changing room, he’d allow the stylist to do her work on him. Being pampered by somebody else is something that Ben enjoys from time to time, it makes a difference from breaking a sweat in the kitchen and like most people he enjoys relaxing. A perfect black tuxedo, with a gold waistcoat and glittering gold bowtie, even if Ben isn’t of a fashionable sense, he would have certainly picked a better outfit to wear tonight. So if he doesn’t have his attire to help make him shine, he’ll have to make up for it with his personality. Looking into the mirror, he watches as the stylist paints his face with powder. Clipping at the wild hairs of his mustache, she’d finish up, allowing Ben to join the party.

Before heading out, he’d slip an object into his trouser pocket, hoping it wouldn’t be sabotaged before he can give it away.

Not far from the training centre, a terrace had been set up for the occasion. Cameras lined the area, a collection of busy bodies working behind them. Mingling with the group of contestant, Ben mainly kept in the company of the former game maker Glamour Kinkade, seeing as he was the only prime regular to his establishment out of the lot.

As soon as Katelyn was introduced, Glamour was quick on her case so Ben continued to converse with the others. Grabbing himself a glass of champagne, he kept the same glass in his hand for the duration, not wanting to be under the influence in front of the cameras. (Ben isn’t Ben when he has had a few to drink, he doesn’t want to show the world that wild side…just yet).

Slowly the night begin to progress and finally Ben grabbed the opportunity to have a short a lone time with the District Eleven victor. Walking over to her confidently, a smile laced across his lips, he joins her on one of the many couches. ”Hello, I’m Beniccio Duarte but you can call me Ben.I run a restaurant here in the Capitol, one the best supposedly…according to many critics.”

Pulling out the object from his pocket, he prayed that it hadn’t been damaged over the night and the quality has kept. Placing it on his lap, he slowly un-wraps the paper he had protected it with, revealing some form of pastry. ”I heard you like baking,” Lifting up the paper with the pastry sat in the middle, he’d gently place it on Katelyn’s lap.”I am a chef and not a baker, surprisingly there is quite a difference but I hope my limited skills are good enough for you, it’s a little fruit pie.” A handful of forest fruits fill his pie, many he had dug out from his restaurant stores. All morning before the show, he had been trialling ingredients in his kitchen, trying to perfect the right pie.”The fruits all came from your home, most of the ingredients actually.” Quickly glancing over to the cameras, he prays that he is doing it right; it isn’t time to make a fool of himself so prematurely in the show.

Throwing another smile to Katelyn, he rises from the couch, standing close by. Taking Katelyn’s hand, he gives it a slight peck before releasing it. ”Do enjoy it, in the future we could exchange culinary skills if you would like too. Have a good night Katelyn.”