With This in Mind... // [Annie/Lauren, 91st]

With This in Mind... // [Annie/Lauren, 91st] Sept 5, 2022 17:55:34 GMT -5

Post by Baby Wessex d9b [earthling] on Sept 5, 2022 17:55:34 GMT -5

It was over. With the presentation of Storm Adroxis, Victor of the 91st Hunger Games, Lauren Kinkade had fulfilled his duties as Junior Gamemaker. There was one last dinner, an hour at the autographing table which was really a selfie generator, and then the next morning he woke up and had absolutely nothing to do.

He stood at the window of his apartment for a long time. It was a modest space, sparely decorated. It was a mere block from the train station which would shortly be bustling with the activity of returning victors to their homes. Including young Storm. Glamour had called him the day before ostensibly to congratulate his younger brother. But the conversation had verred into unsettling territory. Glamour insisted that Lauren ought to start thinking of Storm Adroxis as his victor, because if he didn't, someone else would lay claim to the boy and he could be used as leverage against Lauren.

He'd almost pointed out that no matter how much of a stake Glamour had made in Leon, he was still leveraged plenty against the older Kinkade.

After he'd made his excuses and hung up, he'd lain awake for a long time. It was easy to dismiss Glamour's thesis. No victor owed their Gamemaker their life; that they had thoroughly earned for themselves. But he wondered if Glamour might be accidentally right about something else: that it was difficult, if not impossible, to expect someone to survive a Hunger Games and then belong anywhere. They would be going home to people who didn't understand how ordinary they were, and in a year would return to the Capitol to people who didn't understand how truly extraordinary they were. They existed as their own subset of the population, one Lauren had not given much thought to until very recently.

Staring at the train station, wondering where Storm would find a place to belong, his cell rang. He almost sent Glamour's assistant to voicemail but, having not had any caffeine, was feeling surly.

The conversation was short. Curious. Compelling.

He spent the morning tidying and getting ready. And then at noon he proceeded to Style Street, to a very trendy and inexplicably expensive restaurant. Anatalia Morrisen, Victor of the 80th Games, sat waiting.

"Sorry," he said, though he was sure he was a minute or two early. "I'm actually surprised you came, given the invitation came from a Kinkade." He wondered what Glamour's assistant had told her. Had she said that it would be Glamour meeting Annie? Would she have felt obligated to attend? Or had the assistant said the same thing to both of them: that Victor Morrisen had more to offer and Lauren Kinkade had much more to learn?

Not to mention that Glamour would pick up the tab for the day. Lauren scanned the qr code, skimmed the menu, and lifted a famous dark eyebrow. "Caviar and champagne to start, I think? Unless you're like sick of fish eggs or something? I assume you eat a lot, being from Four." He batted his pretty lashes. It was a pretty lame opening salvo, but he'd only had the morning to prepare.

With This in Mind... // [Annie/Lauren, 91st] Sept 5, 2022 19:15:21 GMT -5

Post by ryan on Sept 5, 2022 19:15:21 GMT -5

Annie had to put something on hold for today. A rarity if she is being honest. There is a lot going on in four, and the answers to solving it were not obtainable today. She realized that nothing would make sense if she just threw herself into the problem 24/7. In fact, she would probably start to hate herself even more, because she knew that she had aways been a perfectionist.

She wished should could murder that part of her and leave the rest.

But when the capitol calls, she knows all too well that she needs to give it her attention. She wondered how Mace had done this for years. Being a victor and a mayor was not easy, it never would be. She had double the obligation and less time to fulfill whatever was put onto her plate.

She had a feeling that the people that casted their votes for her had known this, but with the recent victories that four had obtained, and the fact that the district was booming meant that it could run itself. A light day in the capitol wouldnt hurt anyone. The 91st had ended, and to be quite honest, Annie hadnt spent too much time lamenting over these games. She had done her part, and while she is always impressed to see that the fours make it far each games, she cannot cry over all of them.

Its callous, sure, but realistic none the less.

She had received a call from a number that she faintly recognized, when she picked it up, they mentioned they were with the Kinkades and that they wanted to set up a lunch date. Annie had always been reluctant, because Glamour had effectively scarred her for the rest of her life. She did not have any allegiance towards him once she was told that all the crimes she had committed had been for naught. She sees him from time to time with Leon during celebrations and parties. They dont talk too much.

Its always easier that way.

But she paused when the assistant mentioned the confirmation time and date. They mentioned the name Lauren and Annie was a little too shocked to inquire more because it felt like a bomb had been dropped on her head. Did Glamour and Leon break up? What kind of drama had she missed since taking a step back from the games and letting the younger ones take over?

She took a deep breath and realized that the name Lauren, and then Kinkade had actually made sense. She had remembered that Glamour's younger brother had tried his hand at GM'ing for the first time. Something that Annie would never actively do herself, but more power to the family. She would never understand anything about the capitol and its inner workings, but it seemed like that wasnt her job anyway.

After all, she was a creation of all those inner workings.

Day of, Annie was told very pointedly by Sailor that she should probably keep it business casual. Annie had sported a creme color blazer and a floral blue top with a matching creme colored skirt. It wasnt her favorite look, but Annie also hadnt updated her wardrobe in a long while.

The train ride hadnt been too bad, walking off the station and past the security without much care in the world. She knew they wouldnt stop her, as they never stopped victors, they had paid their dues after all. She made it to style street, which of course, toted quite the amount of expensive restaurants. Any time Annie had come here, she was always taken care of. She didnt expect the treatment, even when she wasnt with someone that was well known in the capitol, some stranger always offered to pick up her tab.

She always obliged, reparations for the trauma that she had been put through.

The restaurant had an art deco feel to it, the atmosphere somber, light chatter filling the empty space as she mentioned that she was with the reservation for Kinkade. She was sat at the table, her eyes darting around quickly to see exactly where her exits were. Sure, she probably didnt need to worry about something like that, but Annie had always prepared for the worst.

She scanned the QR code on the menu, but before she could look down at it, she realized that Lauren Kinkade had shown up right on time. She didnt expect anything less. "Nothing to apologize for." Annie had been in a better mood today then most. She waited for him to sit down at the table, "If this had been with Glamour, I might have declined." Annie said calmly. "I see him enough as is." Annie was honest, she did. After all, he did come around victor village quite a bit to see Leon. Even when Annie didnt want to be seen, Glamour was there. The reminder would always sour her mood just enough.

Annie took a second finally look down at the menu. She hadnt been to a capitol restaurant in a while, but she could tell that the menu didnt really change. She was sick of eating the same food, especially when that same food was always suggested by the capitolites. "Champagne's fine." Annie scrolled down through the appetizers "hmmm." Annie had pointed to the part of the menu that seemed a little less fishy. "Maybe lets start with something a little more bready." Annie noticed some bruschetta like courses on the menu. "Sometimes eating seafood all the time can get boring." Annie had to agree with Lauren's deduction about her. She wasnt even offended, because any assumption would probably be true. It was his job after all, to do research.

The waiter brings a pitcher of water and pours them both a glass. Annie lets her phone go black, flipping it over and looking up at Lauren. "So... What do I owe the pleasure of having lunch with you?"

She was genuinely curious.