fell in love with the half of you | royal

bureau of moving instruments (BMI) headquarters
executive park
6:47 p.m.

It had taken her days to convince the board to allow her to use headquarters for her event, and even once she had claimed the victory, the slight still burned in the back of her mind. We don't understand why your campaign has to take precedence over business, the chair had said, and she bit back the retort that her campaign would soon decide the future of business around here. Instead, Royal pressed her lips together into a thin smile, shook hands as she always did, and retreated to her office to scheme from behind stacks of license applications and inspection documents.

The main hall was hers, with all its bells and whistles. All the best technology would be on display. She'd set up trays of drinks and hors d'oeuvres on the conveyor belts that zigzagged around the room, a soft whirring sound announcing their arrival. She figured not having to wait on the avoxes would make most attendees happy, especially given the way some turned up their noses at the speechless servants' presence. It didn't make much sense to Royal - although she was a big proponent of automation, she would always appreciate human contact. There was a certain beauty in talking with someone outside of her usual circles, watching them handle her needs with such care, reveling in the quiet terror that lingered in their eyes.

She indulged in this pleasure a few hours before the doors opened, beckoning one of the avoxes forward to bring her waistcoat.

"Thank you, Reynolds," she purred, carefully tucking her arms into the forest green sleeves. "You know I could never replace you."

He stared blankly at her as she closed the middle button, flinching when her eyes suddenly hardened. "What are you staring at?" She snapped twice. "We've got people coming. Go."

Reynolds scurried out of the office and across the clouded glass walkway that stretched over the hall. It was from this vantage point that Royal would address her supporters later in the night, and she found herself pacing with a hand tracing the silver railing. Soon, people began to aggregate outside of the building, tiny specks against the giant windows that spanned the walls, and Royal descended the stairs to welcome them.

Once people had arrived, everything ran like clockwork - trays spinning to the floor and empty glasses returning upwards, doors swinging open as guests filed in and out. It was perfection.

One hour went by and Royal was on her balcony again, one hand swishing a glass of champagne and the other gripping the rail until her knuckles paled. She grinned down at the people amassed below, launching into her toast.

"Greetings, people of the Capitol," she said, ensuring that her tone inflected in the right places. Speak evenly, and with authority.

"I am Royal Van Rossum, chair of the technological advances committee on the board of directors for BMI. First, let me thank you all for your gracious support. The Capitol would be nothing without its dedicated citizens, and the absence of our former dictator only gives us the space to allow the people to decide what is best for us, and for Panem. The first step to securing our future is all around you."

An empty tray drifted by, and she reached forward to grab it. "Technology," Royal declared, balancing the empty tray in her free hand. "In my current position, I spend a lot of time thinking about innovation and how we can use it for the good of this nation. The Capitol is already on the forefront of creation in Panem, but we need to go bigger in this time of crisis. We need to strengthen our security, our national intelligence, our power."

She placed the tray on the conveyor belt again, watching it disappear into an opening in the wall.

"And beyond that, more innovation means more fun for Capitol citizens. Imagine the kinds of recreation you could pursue when we focus all our efforts on developing new technologies. For these reasons, if you choose me as a council representative, we'll increase production in Districts One, Three, and Six to meet the Capitol's and Panem's needs. I will also be sure to take what citizens want into account, preventing the likes of someone like President Snow from destroying our credibility in the future. We are stronger when we work, build and create as a collective."

"It is incredibly imperative that we come together as the Capitol," Royal said. "As a nation. We cannot afford to allow rebels and instigators to do us in."

She raised her glass above her head. "I ask that you all join me in my journey to the high council, and I will take all of the Capitol to a brighter future. Thank you."

The applause from below told her that she had hit the right nerves, and she lowered her glass before her. She could see a light out of the tunnel. Rather than being a leader in name but not in power at an obscure, painfully bureaucratic agency, she'd rise to one of the most powerful positions in Panem.

Royal smirked and tipped her glass to her lips, allowing the champagne to flow back into her throat. It tasted like glory.