Worth it | F.O.

II

Normally, at that point, the Victor would be free to leave. Cameras would follow quickly departing vehicles with black-tinted windows to the train that'd cart them away—cart them back home. But it seemed the usual and the predictable path of life held no fancy to Nivea for, soon after she had arrived back in the District Eleven penthouse with so many empty, haunted floors below her, the elevator dinged. 

A pompous man with perfect features and bright red hair that of coals lying in wait for darkness stood between the doors to prevent their closing and cleared his throat. Nivea kept silent where she stood behind the table, eyes tracking Olethia as she clicked her way to him in a flurry of cascading blues. Their hushed voices held that Capitol lilt and it itched at something in Nivea's heart because... because she had almost forgotten the sound. And it was no great gift that she was once more thrust into this world of Capitol sick seeping in through her every sense. Olethia, with a strange pinched expression, swiveled very suddenly on her stiletto heels to meet mismatched eyes.

Her voice came out warbled over the distance, though Nivea was sure something else was at hand there, "Vida... someone has-" The District Eleven escort glanced quite briefly over her shoulder at the man. A hushed word left his lips. "-requested to meet with you before you go."

Knuckles paling where her fingers wrapped tight around the back of the chair before her, Nivea smirked. "And I suppose it's meant to be a surprise? Who this person is?"

By Olethia's frantic nod, sending stray hairs clinging to her perfect skin, she already had a pretty decent idea. And though she was certain she was right, if she was, it couldn't have meant anything good. It had been years since a Victor ever stayed behind even for one minute longer than the others, long enough so Nivea couldn't even remember a time it had happened. For someone who had studied the games her entire life, that was sure saying something.

Nivea swallowed down a sudden jolt in her fingers and stepped around the table, taking her sweet time to reach the pair in the doorway. Her fingers fiddled with the loose end of the ribbon still winding its way up her forearm. Because not even the blood staining it could strip it of the comfort it brought her in every day and night.

She smiled at the man. "Lead the way then."

He nodded, stepping back. But just as she made a move to step forward and join him, a dainty hand with long, perfect nails of blue landed upon her bare shoulder. Every muscle in her body stiffened as her arm, with a mind of its own, made a distinctive grab at a nonexistent blade before she took a breath, and looked up to meet brown eyes with her own now corrupted in stunning lies of gold. Her jaw clenched and the ruffles and hem of her dress brushing her skin didn't help matters as they reminded her of the tickling of an unknown gaze. Along with the ache building in her feet that she hadn't missed, Nivea couldn't help but feel the looming of the Capitol and their games standing over her once more.

Olethia leaned forward with a fragile smile like a trembling leaf in the wind. Her whisper attempting at kindness betrayed her fear, "Sometimes being as desirable as yourself cannot be considered a compliment. I'm sorry, but do keep that in mind, okay dear?"

Nivea blinked in a brief moment of confusion, briefly wondering the meaning behind her words and what it had to do with what and who awaited her. Perhaps a message about what being desirable would bring unto her? The consequences of it and her purpose's goal?

She would never admit how intimidating it loomed before her in its very unavoidable nature.

With a last strange look her way, Nivea stepped into the elevator with the man eyeing her in an almost starstruck manner. The doors closed and the lies that had become her only reflected back through the sheen of metal.