Porcelain Affairs [Kay]

Julian’s jaw tightened as he realized the car the avox was leading him toward was being driven by two white-suited peacekeepers. A familiar feeling crept into the pit of his stomach; it was something akin to that he felt just moments before he rose into the desolate red sands in the Sixtieth arena. It was as if he was entering the Games all over again, but this time he would be playing a different sort. Unfortunately, these were not games he was particularly skilled in.

As it always was in the Capitol, the door was opened for him and he was gently ushered into the vehicle. He shivered as his nearly bare back fell against the black leather seat. President Snow himself had sent him the rather skimpy ensemble that he was forced into wearing by Cream. The clothes had come along with a heavily perfumed note of instructions for the evening and a much too sweet smelling white rose. While the gestures all seemed quite kind on the surface, Julian Bryze was intelligent enough to read between the lines. That of course didn’t stop him from throwing his usual temper tantrums, hence Cream having to force him into cooperation.

So now he sat in the back of the stretch car, operated by peacekeepers, to be led to fulfill his other end of the bargain with Snow. In order to live with Mace all year round, in order to feel the embrace of the man he loved, Julian Bryze would have to be embraced by others as well. As for how many would have their hands on the young-faced victor, Julian had yet to find out.

He watched the city life flicker with excitement over the Games as the car drove through the crowded streets. Damion had died today, Mace’s remaining tribute. Julian knew his boyfriend was not taking it well, though he’d never openly speak of it, and it stabbed at his heart that he was not their to hold the man now. This was for him though; everything he was doing, all the pain he would come to endure was all to find some assemblage of salvation in the beautiful dead eyes of Mace Emberstatt. Julian’s nostrils flared, and his teeth clenched as he tried to channel anger toward this other man whom he would soon be sleeping with. It was far better not to get mad than to cry and mess up Cream’s work on his face.

Anger was, after all, quite easy for this temperamental career, although, Cream and Glitch both had warned him to keep control of his temper this evening. The first person to purchase a night with this beloved victor was certainly not someone to piss off. He was someone who held the fate of Julian’s tributes and future tributes in the palm of his hand, and therefore, Julian belonged to him as well. The thought alone of belonging to anyone other than Mace was more than enough to invoke Julian’s famed wrath. Before his thoughts could surface into any sort of action, he realized the car had stopped and another avox was now opening the door for him outside of an unfamiliar building. Julian swallowed back the lump in his throat and followed as the tall, silent man lead him inside and into glass elevator with lights that consistently changed overly saturated colors. The colors reflected off of his royal-indigo, satin top and his silver shimmery pants that clung too close to his skin for his liking. He sneered as he looked at his reflection in the glass. He hadn’t noticed until now that the material of his shirt was nearly see through. That coupled with the fact that it had no back made him very uncomfortable indeed. If there was one thing Julian was more unnerved by than being perceived as sexy, it was being dressed sexually. Angry, red blush rose to his cheeks in shame. This reflection before him… this was only meant for Mace.

Not any more though… the elevator doors slid open and he was led to a large red door among a hall of a number of other identical ones. The avox tapped the doorknocker three times before bowing to Julian and leaving him to stand alone in the hallway. Confused, Julian nearly forgot himself and turned to ask the servant just what he was supposed to do, but he froze as he heard the sharp click of a door lock clicked open.