sycophancy . marr

The files in front of her lay open, the names of three different careers within the district running through her mind as she read over their information once more. Caroline, Eris and Mathew. The three careers she had chosen to search within the slums and lower parts of the district to try and find some talent. She didn’t want to end everything and anything, she just wanted to remove the weak from the world so that the strong could thrive.

Octavia picked up Caroline’s file, running a finger over her photo as she leaned back in her chair. The cigar she’d been working her way through before her meeting with Gideon rested against her lips. She took a long draw, pondering the best way to approach this conversation as she awaited their arrival. Caroline was a proud career with a family that would appreciate her talents being selected. Wording the task in such a manner that highlighted her importance to the district should be enough. Octavia was sure that her parents would feel proud to know their daughter was working under the mayor.

Eris and Mathew would be a different ball game, she would work on each of them and flatter them until they were wrapped around her thumb. The first meeting was for Caroline, and so Octavia reread the file, combing through every grade she had received her training scores and strengths and weaknesses. She was the typical career, a golden child and model of what Octavia wanted for district two. It was simple enough, offer them glory and individual practice, perhaps a promise of a met and greet with Cricket to sweeten the deal.

The door opened, revealing Octavia’s newest recruit. The file in her hands closed smoothly, and she placed it back onto her desk. Octavia stood, moving to greet the young woman as she offered her a seat. “Welcome Miss Summit, thank you for taking the time out of your career training to come and see me.”

She moved to her drinks cart, pouring herself a glass of vodka, and a glass of water for the career. “I’ve asked you here for an important reason,” Octavia moved back to her chair, sliding the glass of water towards Caroline as she sat down.

She took another drag of her cigar, breathing in deeply as her brown eyes flickered to the files on her desk. Talking to teenagers was much more restrained than the tone she used with speaking to other adults. Hell, her level of disdain for an individual determined the amount of care she placed in her words. Gideon had held a small level of respect, evident in the course politeness she had used, but people like Vasco? There was nothing but contempt lacing her words as she spat poison at him.

“I’m going to be creating a task group to help improve the district and build up its strength,” she looked up at the girl, gaze level and strong, “and I need strong and impressive careers to work under my guidance.”