A Bloody Valentine: Dance Auction!

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone in the Capitol!
What| Dance auction!
Where| The top of the Romulus Hotel in the Capitol
When| February 14th, in the evening
Warnings/Notes| None at the moment

It's the Valentines day gala come again, and moreover, it's been over two months since Capitolites have gotten to get up close and personal with their favorite Tributes. With all the curfews and restrictions and fear suddenly cropping up, everyone's due for a little time on the town. And you, the lucky soldiers (and hostages), get to take the briefest of breaks from the battlefield and get away from the Detainment Center for a few hours.

There is a catch however. Two. The first thing is that there can be no mention of war whatsoever to the Capitolites. None. Talk of war will result in talk of execution. Your execution. The second catch is that a number of you have been signed up for dancing auction! You will be expected to dance with your assigned partners (some people may buy dances for an offworlder to dance with another offworlder!), be respectful, and at least slightly enjoyable. Most of all, you are to be a distraction. These people cannot know there is a war going on.

Some years ago, a similar dance auction was held. On top of the tallest hotel in the center of the Capitol, there's just as much scuffle as back then to fit into the elevators, maybe even more so after the long absence of Tributes. Just as back then, the sky has been artificially cleared of clouds, with more stars projected upward in their place. It's chilly out here in the early month of February, but the very floor has been set up with a heating system, keeping the rooftop nice and cozy. The Games are aired and the narrators are nostalgic.

There's something tense about the party. Everyone is smiling too hard, trying their best not to seem nervous or cast too many side-glances over unspoken worries. Small talk is taken up with intense gusto, everyone more eager than ever to forget all worries and woes. What lies are told about what the Tributes have really been up to in their absences are swallowed entirely.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a booming female voice announces from nowhere, "Celebrus Magazine, in conjunction with The Romulus Hotel, are delighted to host the third annual Hunger Games Dance Auction for charity! As a matter of decorum, let us remind you of some ground rules. A guest's actions reflects on the hotel, and the Romulus reserves the right to remove anyone in any position of authority from the premises for any reason, including going beyond the boundaries of a dance auction. Any unseemly, fraudulent or presumptive action on the part of the guests will lead to their immediate dismissal. These Tributes volunteered for charity, and their wishes should be respected.

"You may bid as much as you like, on however many Tributes you like, but please don't promise more assi than you have on-hand. All donations will be taken at the time the winning bidder is announced. Get excited, but don't get too excited!

"And now… may the bidding begin!"

At no point does Celebrus Magazine indicate what sort of charity any of the money generated is going towards. It will be a good hour and a half before the bidding closes and the pairs are announced. In the mean time, everyone is welcome to mingle. And... should a few people slip away from the party for a little while, using the crowd to hide themselves, well, who would really notice? Be sharp and keep low and you may just get away with it. The rest of you may just have a new meaning to the job of being a distraction.

Comments

[silberfuchs]

"No, our reading material is a little more tight laced, about becoming productive members of Panem's society and such." He tries not to snort.

What Phi says next, however, clicks something into place, an association he feels the dunce for not having put together just at Phi entering the room on Sigma's arm. He'd mentioned his biological daughter (a very specific denotation and if Albert had to guess, it's because he has other, perhaps less legitimate children. There are so many other mistakes Sigma has seemed to have made in his lifetime Albert doesn't put it past him. He doesn't exactly judge though, not for that. He's gotten a little tired of judging Sigma, frankly.) and with the mention of the Capitol reading in familial ties, Albert finally realizes that this is who his unlikely ally want protected. He tries not to let it show, but he does blink perhaps once to often before he replies and to a close observer that might give away that the gears are turning.

"Of course. And what work is that specifically? I understand he took on the position of Gamemaker but with the Games on hiatus I can't see that he needs much assistance with that currently." He moves them across the floor by slow inches, not realizing that with his attention entirely on the conversation, he's dancing far better than when he's actually worried about stepping on toes.

[occasio]

If Phi catches the way that Albert blinks, she doesn't pose any reaction in return. She does however smile tightly at the question posed to her, despite leaving that bait lying in the open on purpose. Privately, she's glad that he was smart enough to take it.

"War tends to repurpose a lot of jobs. Games aren't the only thing a Gamemaker makes, but I'm not about to dish out his plans to someone of... questionable affiliation. Sigma's loyalty was already called into question thanks to some hostage that the Capitol picked up. His efforts have been refocused on the war. Any work that he does from here on out, you can be sure is for the benefit of the Capitol."

While she's glad to have this man's ear, she hopes that he's sharp enough to read through the lie that she spins. Sigma was too close to being caught, and she's not so sure that it wasn't one of them who ratted him out. Regardless, she doesn't want them trying to contact Sigma anymore. He's already done more than enough for them.

Her smile flashes a little more friendly as she shifts the conversation away from the 'work' that Sigma is doing. "That being said, he's an old, busy man. I manage a lot the smaller stuff--things that he doesn't have the time or energy for. Sometimes that means coming to parties like this." And sometimes that means dancing with possible rebels, like she is right now.

[silberfuchs]

"Now, now, don't let anyone hear you speak about the unpleasantness outside the Capitol. You might be slapped with a censure." Which is the best he can do to warn her that there are consequences for speaking so plainly about the civil war that, hopefully, they both support. He's seen people dragged off just for mentioning it in his stay here, and he's been told rather violently himself that if he tries to spread it around, there will be worse consequences. How they're keeping it a secret is beyond Albert, but he has to play the game.

"But it is good to know he's keeping busy. When I spoke with him, it was a bit more personal just after I arrived. I was grateful for the opportunity to express my regret for how we'd treated each other in the past now that we are on the same side. I've seen the wisdom in... following quietly." He's playing along as well as he can.

"I have to say, I am marginally jealous he has an assistant. It must make for a far more productive work day to have two people working on the same projects." He raises his arm for her to turn under, taking a quick glance around the room simply to stay alert, noticing with the brief look where those he feels he needs to keep an eye on are situated for the moment, and who may be missing. "If there's something I can do to help the war effort for the glory of Panem, I'd be happy to serve."

[occasio]

Phi is of the opinion the the War for Panem is the worst kept secret in the Capitol, and they really have no one to blame but themselves. She could understand masking the current state of things in order to bolster morale and make the public believe that they were winning, but how do you expect to keep an entire war a secret? It was more than a little ridiculous. There were words for whoever decided that was the best course of action, but they weren't ones she was going to say out loud.

But Albert's probably right. She shouldn't be speaking so candidly at all. She's in the Capitol's good favor at the moment, and that grants a certain amount of leniency, but she'd rather not have that change. But what she offers is a shrug of her shoulders, as if the chastisement doesn't bother her.

She spins gracefully under his arm, also taking that moment to glance about the crowd, to take note of who might be watching them. Albert may not know it, but she's prepared to make him part her alibi for the evening. "I'll make sure to pass on your offer to him. I don't know what purpose he might have for you, but I'm sure we'll think of something."

[silberfuchs]

"I'm sure indeed. We spoke, albeit briefly. We didn't have much time in the infirmary and I confess my... previous prejudices got in the way. Having such a lovely go-between will smooth things over." A note to her that he needs to remain somewhat antagonistic towards Sigma, at least on the surface, but also a private nod to Sigma's expressed desire that he protect Phi. Not that he'll tell Phi that; she doesn't seem the type to appreciate that sentiment.

"As for my purpose, I'm mostly muscle, but I do also hear things." He listens, he remembers, and he applies in future. A spy, or something like it.

[occasio]

A lovely go-between. Phi flashes Albert a pleasant smile, if only to hide her irritation. If she wasn't so blatantly counting on the Capitol to dismiss her a a pretty assistant, she would take offense to that comment. But for the moment it works for her, and she accepts the compliment with grace.

"I see. Well, like I said, Sigma is pretty old. It would be useful to have another set of arms and ears and... whatever else you have to offer." She leaves that comment delicately open-ended for however Albert or any eavesdroppers might possibly interpret it.

[silberfuchs]

The smile Phi gives him is the same peculiar one that Francoise would give whenever he said something about her staying safe and away from the fighting in those later years of the Gilmore Foundation. He never quite figured out exactly what it meant, only that it was hiding something other than a mote of appreciation for his care. He frowns just slightly at getting it from Phi but lets it pass without comment.

"Feet," he grins superficially as they step to the music, a stupid joke given that they're dancing, but an apt one if she takes it at his meaning that he can be sent places around the Capitol or elsewhere that overtly law-abiding citizenry may not care to go in normal circumstances.