First, Victor. Then, Marriage. After... [[ Moss ]]

Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]
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First, Victor. Then, Marriage. After... [[ Moss ]] Jul 7, 2013 21:49:30 GMT -5

Post by Baby Wessex d9b [earthling] on Jul 7, 2013 21:49:30 GMT -5

life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to

Maverick hummed to himself as he put the finishing touches on his last surprise for the evening. He'd already gone to great lengths to show Topaz that marriage wasn't so very different than dating. It was better. He'd rented out the best restaurant in the district just for them, and had all the tables cleared but one. It was glass and elegantly decorated. Each delicate course of the meal had been delivered by the chef herself, and otherwise they were left in peace. He'd done most of the talking, of course, but had studiously stuck to happy topics. He didn't mention the upcoming Games, even though the Reaping loomed. He didn't talk about the remodel in the east wing of their Capitol apartment, which was an endless source of headaches. He tried not even think about the fact that he had been passed over for a promotion two weeks prior. That had sent him into a tailspin. He hadn't even been able to mask his violent temper around Topaz, and had some legitimate concerns that he had torn a permanent rift between them.

This was his apology. For all of it. For the things he couldn't control, and for the parts of himself that he could no longer hide. Marriage was better, but it was also difficult in a way he could have never predicted. Sure, his mother had tried to warn him. But what did that cheating harlot know? Relationships had always been easy for him. Well, the few times he had tried to extend things beyond a jaunt in the bedroom. Topaz had been a little trickier, but he'd gotten that pure diamond ring on her finger. And in the end, he'd found it wasn't just a game. He was entirely, dangerously besotted with her. He'd done his best to find other outlets for his tendencies, but there was really only so much one could hide from one's wife, especially when one was married to Topaz Ross. The shattered vase, the broken tray were easy enough to explain. Accidents. The bruises on the avoxes were harder to explain, and so he didn't. He just let his silver tongue run until a lie twisted itself out of his mouth.

He could feel the tension the lies he told building, until that terrible outburst. He simply could not understand it. He was the best at interviews; everyone knew that. The ratings proved it. And he had the most advantageous social position, the famous wife in all of Panem. What more could they possibly want? But it was done, there wasn't likely to be another anchor position open for years. Years.

He forced his thoughts to slow, his heart beat to steady. Years that he, Maverick Miles, would get to spend with Topaz. Was that really so bad? Not on nights like this. After their meal, Maverick had whisked Topaz home in an elegant car, and then insisted that she had a little ice wine in the study. Maverick sent to work immediately, ordering the avoxes (who now better understand their duties) around the bedroom. Vases of pink and white lillies crowded on every surface. Their smell filled him with joy as he stacked a few logs in the fireplace. He flicked the switch and in no time its merry warmth filled the room. He looked around, satisfied and dissatisfied at once. It was beautiful, romantic, but something was missing. He tapped his foot, and watched as a bead of sweat rolled down the bald head of an avox. It thrilled him. He was ready for his wife.

"Please escort the lady of the house here. I'll also be needing a chilled bucket and champagne bottled in the year of the 60th Games." He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. What was it that was out of place? He ran his hand through his thick curls. Something... something... It eluded him. He felt a flash of frustration, and then brushed it aside. Tonight, details would not bother him. Nothing could, not while he was in the euphoria induced by merely being near Topaz. He nodded once, dismissing the avoxes to their duties. The time waiting for his wife always seemed endless. He lingered near the fireplace, his fingers toying with his pocket watch, winding it and fiddling with the hands, willing time to move faster and faster.

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Last Edit: Jul 7, 2013 21:52:23 GMT -5 by Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]

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Lulu
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First, Victor. Then, Marriage. After... [[ Moss ]] Jul 8, 2013 12:47:43 GMT -5

Post by Lulu on Jul 8, 2013 12:47:43 GMT -5

.:.:.:.:.:.:.
i don't know where you're going
but do you got room for one more troubled soul?
.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Maverick had not been himself lately; that much was pretty obvious. Topaz had known he hadn't gotten the promotion he so desperately longed for, but he seemed to be taking it harder than was healthy; he would have violent fits of anger that were so uncharacteristic of his warm, easygoing personality, and Tope would often seek escape locked in their bedroom or even at the nearest bar when he'd start speaking to her hotly. Not to mention the lack of sex; while the married couple had messed around a couple of times in the past few weeks, it was always halfhearted and distracted, and there was nothing Topaz Ross loathed more than not being the center of her parter's attention when making love. She missed the old Maverick, the one who always put her first, before his stupid job. A selfish wish, maybe, but Tope knew she was a selfish person.

 That night, though, he seemed to be attempting to make it up to her. Dinner had been astonishingly lavish, just the sort she missed so much; he'd gone so far as to rent out the entire restaurant just for them, leaving only one table set in the center of the room just for them. They managed to make conversation beyond small talk, an art that had seemed nearly lost after nearly two years of marriage. Both consciously tried to stay away from the topic of the upcoming Reaping; the victor was absolutely not looking forward to mentoring another pair of tributes only to send them to their deaths a week later. Peridot Myler had been her only triumph, and the quantity of alcohol she'd consumed in celebration after his victory two years ago nearly matched the amount she'd downed previous years in frustration after both her tributes died. Mav knew it would just irritate her to speak about the future like that, so instead they focused on the present.

Mav sent her to the study upon returning home with a glass of wine, but strangely he didn't accompany her; the redhead wondered about this for a moment, but she was tipsy enough already from dinner to ignore the peculiarity and lightly sip some more wine, just enjoying the feeling of being doted upon once more. Soon enough an avox appeared and offered his arm to her; Tope couldn't hide her small smirk as she imagined what was to come. When Maverick chose to be, he could indeed be one of the most romantic men in existence, and Tope had always been one for romance. "Well well well," she said, smiling wide as the avox held open the door and allowed her entry into the bedroom. The place was divine; lilies, her favorite, covered every available surface, and a warm fire raged in the fireplace, a welcome addition because even though it was late spring, the night was relatively cool. Topaz was taken aback by the extravagance of it all; it had been far too long since she and Maverick had had anything like this.

"What's the occasion, darling?" Tope asked, gliding over to her husband and tugging lightly on the knot of his tie to remove it. "Because I admit, I am quite impressed and very surprised. Is it my birthday, or something?" A girlish giggle escaped her lips, no doubt a result of the numerous glasses of wine she'd already had, and within a few moments she spotted the bottle of champagne on the end table. Her hands lingered on Maverick a bit longer, caressing his hair and removing his jacket, unbuttoning the top few buttons of his shirt, but the champagne called; she twined her hand with his and pulled him over to sit on the bed beside her. An avox stood ready with two champagne flutes to present to them, and Topaz didn't even have to shoo him away after. He knew this time was for them, and them only. "Why can't this be every night?"

.:.:.:.:.:.:.
i don't know where i'm going
but i don't think i'm coming home
.:.:.:.:.:.:.

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Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]
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First, Victor. Then, Marriage. After... [[ Moss ]] Aug 6, 2013 12:11:15 GMT -5

Post by Baby Wessex d9b [earthling] on Aug 6, 2013 12:11:15 GMT -5

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life is bigger
it's bigger than you
and you are not me
the lengths that i will go to

Topaz's voice was the only song he knew most days, and its melody was slowly becoming familiar. As she entered, it was more like a waltz: slow, careful, pleasing. He dropped his pocket watch, let it swing aimlessly at his side. He had wished fervently for time to speed up moments ago, and now he wanted it to stop entirely. Maverick breathed in deeply as Topaz stepped into his space and loosened his tie. He chuckled, the sound sticking his throat. "I think you might already have an inkling." His fingers itched and his palms burned with the desire to start disrobing her. Patience, he counseled himself. He made himself still, except for the frantic beating of his heart, as Topaz began to pull at his clothes. He bent, nuzzling into her neck, into her famous hair, and squeezed her hand back when she tugged on his own.

It was one of the problems he had identified, in his careful study of their relationship. He took the lead too often, rushed their lovemaking. He was always so eager for her, so grateful, that he had forgotten one of the most important tenants of wooing: the chase. Of course, that was only truly exciting when both parties wondered about the other. There could be no doubt, no hiding, his complete devotion to her. Is it my birthday, or something? He managed, by sheer force of will, to swallow his response: I celebrate your birth every day. Even to him the thought seemed ridiculous, over the top, and yet he felt the truth of it to his core.

Maverick tipped his champagne glass against hers, the glass ringing pure. He took a tiny sip, the bubbles warming him. "Would you like this to be every night?" He asked, searching her deep, unknowable eyes. "I worry you'd grow sick of it. Or me." Maverick put two fingers under her chin and stole a chaste kiss. He was teasing, of course, except that he wasn't at all. There was a very real fear that filled Maverick's nightmares, of Topaz disappearing into the arms of Nash or Arbor or a suave Capitolite. He always awoke in a sweat. There was no real threat to any of those scenarios, and awake, he could convince himself that his fears were irrational. But at night, in his dreams, there was no such comfort or control. How could he tell her that this night was intended to cement things for him, to chase away his nightmares?

He almost said it. He almost said: because if I don't, why would you ever stay with me? Instead he slowly lifted their joined hands, and turned Topaz's wrist so that her engagement ring caught in the firelight. "Tonight I want to be just about us, about each other." And that was as much patience as Maverick Miles could muster. He leaned forward, claiming her lips with his own, pulling her hips towards him with his free hand and pouring his love and devotion and desire into that kiss.

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Last Edit: Aug 6, 2013 12:12:18 GMT -5 by Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]

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First, Victor. Then, Marriage. After... [[ Moss ]] Aug 13, 2013 19:28:39 GMT -5

Post by Lulu on Aug 13, 2013 19:28:39 GMT -5

.:.:.:.:.:.:.
and i said i'd check in tomorrow
if i don't wake up dead
this is the road to ruin it started at the end
.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Though she had frequently been tempted during a drunk night out or by one of Arbor's bet offers, Topaz had not once cheated on Maverick since they'd been married. It was perhaps the greatest feat of self-control she'd executed since leaving the arena, if not in her entire life, considering her first five or six years of victorship had been devoted to whoring her body around as much as humanely possible in a desperate attempt to forget about what she'd lost. Since that wedding ring had been slipped onto her finger, men had grabbed her waist with wandering hands, women had batted their luscious, surgically altered lashes in her direction and yet she'd still managed to behave, reminding herself that she had one of the best screws in Panem back home waiting for her. Of course, lately it would've helped if she'd been getting as much action as she used to; Mav had obviously been preoccupied. But the young victor's body was aching for attention, and luckily it seemed she was about to get it.

"I think you might already have an inkling." Oh yes, she had an inkling. "I can hazard a guess," she responded with a small giggle. "Although lately I've practically forgotten what this looks like. Forgive me for being a bit confused." Though she tried to keep it light, her tone was slightly accusatory; she didn't want him to think that she'd forgotten about his outbursts of anger or his less-than-enthusiastic way of loving her over the past few weeks. She wanted him to feel guilty, because as a former Career, she still harbored a healthy amount of sadism; not too much, but just enough to want some form of revenge on those who did not treat her the way she deserved to be treated. Who are you kidding? You don't deserve anything. Get rid of that air of entitlement and maybe you'll remember how terrible of a person you are. Or did you shove that from your memory that quickly?

"Would you like this to be every night? I worry you'd grow sick of it. Or me." Though his voice was teasing, Topaz was struck once again by memories of the few major bashes she'd gone to since marriage, the overwhelming, drunken lust for one of the bodies on the dance floor to make her feel like she was the most important thing in the world again, someone new to whisk her away on a wave of pleasure. And it wasn't all sexual, either; all too frequently she passed by an average person on the street and wondered what they might be able to give her that Maverick could not offer, what she might have had the chance to experience had she not so quickly tied herself down to one person. But they were traitorous thoughts; Maverick was good for her, Maverick loved her, Maverick was the stable man she'd dreamed of marrying since she was a little girl. Before the Hunger Games had shook up her entire perception of love. "No, I suppose I like the surprise. The treat," she said slowly, shaking her misgivings out of her mind. "And I could never grow sick of you, Mav." It was a lie. But at that moment, it was the best she could offer him. She couldn't bear to tell her doting husband anything less than what he wanted to hear.

She felt him reach down and put her shimmering engagement ring on display, a reminder of the commitment she had made to him and to herself. It was so beautiful it almost hurt, glowing in the light of the warm, flickering fire that Mav had so carefully had prepared for them. "Tonight I want to be just about us, about each other." As he spoke, Topaz felt the welcome buzz of alcohol in her veins, and knew her body was allowing her to have the night she truly desired. No strings attached. Just stop thinking, and enjoy. This is your life now. So go ahead and live it. "Well," she whispered, looking up at him with a sly smile. "I am a sucker for romance." With that, she allowed herself to get lost in his passionate kiss, her nimble fingers swiftly unfastening the remaining buttons of his shirt and removing the belt from his waist. With a low growl the champion pushed her lover back onto the bed and bravely took the lead, something this new version of herself had far too much trouble doing.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.
say yeah let's be alone together
we can stay young forever
scream it from the top of your lungs
.:.:.:.:.:.:.

fade to black, I'm assuming?

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Last Edit: Aug 13, 2013 19:29:09 GMT -5 by Lulu

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