A/N please don't be a silent reader, i love reading comments!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
ARAUCARIA RAN HER HANDS OVER THE WHITE MATERIAL OVER HER DRESS, EYEING HER FATHER AT THE KITCHEN TABLE. "I don't suppose you plan on coming?"
Her father - who had aged rather rapidly the last few years - shook his head apologetically, "If it were just the award ceremony...you know how the Reaping can be." Much like herself, Mr. Finch found the Reaping to be a rather depressing affair, a stark reminder of the life they could've been subjected to had they not been lucky enough to get out. Then of course, that would mean the death of his wife was a good thing, and that could not be.
Araucaria nodded, "I doubt I'll win it anyway, Coriolanus has been working twice as hard lately." She ran her hands over the dress once more, anxious. She would sit amongst twenty-three of her peers deemed top in the class; while her dress was nice, sometimes Clemensia had to give her pointers to appear less... District.
"You look beautiful, darling," her father assured, eyes crinkling at the edges. "Now go on, you don't want to be late - every second matters with these people." Euterpe Finch was no fool. He could rent the nicest apartment in the grandest building on the most coveted street, wear the finest clothes money could buy, have a daughter at the top of her class, and still be considered no more than a pretender. His only hope was that his daughter might marry well, perhaps Festus Creed or Pup Harrington. She could shed the skin of her old life and the stigma that came from such an unrefined last name.
"Don't worry," she laid a kiss on her father's cheek, "The Plinth's are picking me up. They are the stars of this show after all."
Her father frowned as she headed towards the door, "Sejanus Plinth is hardly the best match. What about Coriolanus? His family has some firm standing here."
Araucaria forced back a gag, "I have no interest in either Sejanus or Coryo, father." She began opening the door, hopeful that her escort would be on the other side to save her from the topic they always came back to.
"A girl, then? That Dovecote one you hang about seems well enough."
"Dad!" Araucaria ran her hand down her face, breathing in heavily. "Please, can we not discuss this on such a day? Besides, everyone here is so... Capitol."
Her father quirked his white eyebrow up at her, "That is the point, my dear." He shook his head, going back to the food in front of him, "Run along now- And don't think this conversation is over!" His words fell on deaf ears as Araucaria rushed out the door and to the elevator. Hopefully Sejanus hadn't been waiting too long.
≘
Walking in with the Plinth's meant a lot of introductions and fake smiles. While they turned their chins up at the family in private, many citizens switched to smiles and praises. Proximity to money was proximity to greatness.
