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"I'm sure you'll understand my concerns, Mr President, the boy is barely five years my junior, maybe I could spend the night with him doing something else?" As Cashmere Richson looked into those blue snake like eyes, she hoped to see a spark of something: understanding, care..
Although why would a man who sells barely legal adults to prostitution have any care in his heart?
"The boy is quite good looking, wouldn't you say? I know he'll grown up to be quite a charmer. He's already one just now, with sponsers, wouldn't you agree, Miss Richson?"
What is this, a test?! How she wished she would have the balls to lunge forward and snap his neck forward. But those dead looking eyes rooted her in place. "I.. suppose I would agree. But Mr President- please, I'll take on any client who will ask for my time, I'll even pleasure you, if you'd like me-"
"I've bent the rule for you once, Miss Richson. I wouldn't push it anymore, if I were you."
His tone left no room for arguments.
Finnick Odair loved crowds, and crowds loved him. He was rushed back to the training centre still riding on the thrill of the Victory crowning celebration.
This was what being a celebrity was all about: he could get his own house in the village instead of staying at Mags', he could skip school and no one could do a thing about it.
He could finally come with Gemma and Lucas to the Capitol to party, maybe he could even convince Lucas to sneak him some alchohol! The possibilities were endless, he ran through several as Mags led him to the elevators.
"Gemma will be inside to receive you, I'm afraid I have to leave you now, my dear." Mags wrapped a hand around his shoulder, her gaze a far off, downcast thing that almost made her look sad
"I can find my way to the compound and go to sleep by myself without you babying me." He huffed, half chuckling.
Mags' dark gaze didn't leave him as she let go and he stepped into the glass elevator. "I know." A hint of her old smile returned as she saw him off before the doors closed.
Weird.
But tiredness was already starting to set in his bones, Finnick yawned, ready to put this day and all that came in the ten days before it aside.
The elevator doors opened into the compound that was definitely not empty.
Gemma was there, fixing her Auburn hair into an intricate braided bun. She stopped when she saw him: her eyes widening in what seemed like suprise and then narrowing as color drained from her cheeks. "Finnick, you came." The victor stood up and slipped towards him. "I..take it Mags told you.. about tonight?"
He furrowed his brows. "She said you'll be here to receive me, she didn't say anything about.. so.. what else is tonight?"
The clicking of heels made him jump and fumble for a weapon before he remembered he was no longer in the arena. From the bedrooms emerged a woman that made Finnick's heart skip.
He would never admit it to his friends in the training program- Makers know Devin, Delph, and even Annie didn't need any more reasons to taunt him- but he developed a little secret crush on Cashmere Richson.
With nothing else to watch, "Keeping up with the Richsons" was big everywhere, and when eleven year old Finnick saw Cashmere for the first time in a pool party episode, he got his first little taste of puberty that night.
Now they both were a little older then they used to be, and Finnick still blushed a little when he took the sight of her: blonde hair cascaded down her back in golden waves, hazel green eyes that bore the same weight in their gaze as Mags did, like the way Mags and the other victors looked when he got reaped.
She wore a short white silk dress, almost like a nightgown, that left way too much of her exposed for it to be gentlemanly to look at. "Hello, Mr Odair." Even her soft voice held a weird weightless, it was either that or a weird flirty purr.
He turned to Gemma. "What's going on?"
The older victor squeezed his shoulder. "I have a date to go to, but I'll let Cashmere here explain it better, okay? We'll talk in the morning." She gave him a quick hug then left to the elevator.
Finnick looked back to Cashmere. "So.. are you gonna tell me what're you doing here?" He perked an eyebrow.
"Long story short. This is one of the prizes: a night in the company of last year's victor." She explained, her voice even between polite with flirty undertones that didn't seem like her usual style of flirt he picked up on watching her show.
"Cool, you're gonna buy me a drink? Because I partied plenty... now I'd just love to go to sleep, so.. I guess you can go." His awkward chuckle was the first crack in the mask of confidence as she took another step in his direction, his back suddenly pressed to the couch.
Her shoulders slumped. "I think you misunderstood the meaning of a 'Night in my company'." She reached out a hesitant hand. "It's a rule that I didn't set."
Oh. Oh. Sweat started to coat the back of his shirt- with the far too low neckline- as he looked up to meet her gaze, they were about the same height but it was clear he'll gain on her in just a year.
"Um- I'm not- I haven't like.. had sex yet." His voice crack was awfully timed, but it wasn't like he could control it.
Her beautifully manicured hands grabbed his wrists as she pulled herself closer. "Then I'll be honored to be your first." Her shudder betrayed the words she spoke, when Finnick met her gaze again; she looked like she was gonna puke.
Just like he was.
His whole body shuddered as he allowed her to lead him to the bedroom and when she closed the door behind him. "Why are you doing this? I'm not-" I'm not ready. He wanted to say, but would have never dared to in front of Cashmere Richson, experienced lover if the string of boyfriends in KWTR show was any indication.
She sat him down on the bed, half leaning on him, her face still inches from his ear. "We really don't have a choice. I'm afraid." Her voice was grave
"But." Her voice softened. "We'll take it your speed."
Finnick let out a flimsy chuckle. "You're gonna have to.. um..show me."
He was honestly amazed at how naturally she took getting naked. Confident and completely uncaring that the person in front of her was a stranger.
As If she noticed his hesitation, her face softened again. "I can turn around If you're shy. Do you want me to?"
He nodded soundlessly, tears pooling in his eyes. Cashmere leaned back on the bed and turned away from him as he carefully peeled off his shirt and pants. He slid into the bed and covered his lower half with the covers.
Cashmere turned back. "Its painful to say, but you'll have to get used to it." She scooted closer, her breasts pressing onto him. "Snow wants you in the circle.."
Finnick didn't know what to do with his hands, so he gently, slowly, caressed her exposed skin. Cashmere didn't correct him, she climbed atop instead. "What do you mean?" He didn't really want to ask, but anything that might distract him from thinking about her pelvis against his was a good thing.
She winced, her hair spilling on both of them like a curtain. "Capitol folk, those who sponser. They trade and pay to the Capitol in sex, we are Snow's cashiers. The prizes he rents for an abysmal price."
Finnick let out a choked chuckle, not only because this sounded weird as hell, but also because he finally slid into her. She moved slowly, almost soothingly, "I don't understand.." he said, panting.
"Gloss and I, Gemma too, all of us are Snow's prostitutes, not by choice. Never by choice."
The word sent chills down his back despite the sweat that started trickling down his body. "And.. and you're saying I'll be one too?"
"When you're a little older, he told me so as myself. If you value the lives of your loved ones.. so when he offers the job, you must say yes. Do you understand?"
Stars and nightmares exploded in his vision. The heat reached a climax and then.. it vanished.
was that really how an orgasem feels like? it didn't feel as magnificent as the older kids in the training program bragged about.
Several things hit him all at once:
One, he was not a virgin anymore
Two, the girl who took his virginity was the most desired bachelorette in Panem.
Three, her bachelorette persona was a sham, she was forced into it.
Four: in two years max, he'll be just as trapped as her.
"No, there has to be another way." Finnick fought against his tears. He was not going to cry in front of Cashmere Richson, of all people. "How do you know Snow.. does that?"
Cashmere positioned herself next to his ear. "You heard about Haymitch Abernethy, right?"
"Yeah, they said he's an alcoholic because he did something awful in his games." Finnick answered. Huffing.
"No. The Capitol punished him for what he did in his games." Said Cashmere. "Now he's a cautionary tale. For all of us." She pressed.
Finnick closed his eyes. It was all just too much. Everything was breaking apart, how did he even get here? A sob escaped his lips.
He felt Cashmere's hesitant hand hovering above his arm. "Do you want a hug?" She asked softly.
The fact she asked after everything they were forced to do said a lot. Finnick muffled a yes and her arms wrapped around his back. "Remember, you must agree to the job, okay? When he asks you, go find Gloss or me, or Enobaria. We'll help you. I promise." She said. "We'll take you under our wing, yeah? Us victors gotta stick together."
He turned to look at her. Now, in the faint light, he could see the bruises on her neck.
He had barely touched her neck.
Cashmere's smile turned from soft to sad. "I had another meeting before you, and I'll have another in the morning." She sat up, the blanket tickling her breasts. "I have to go. You'll remembe to look for us, right? do you promise?"
Finnick nodded.
Cashmere's smile returned. "Good. Gloss and I have all kinds of tricks to forget. Even the arena for a while."
The arena.. Nadia and the traps and Ahora screaming and the sound of the trident cutting into flesh. Finnick blinked hard. "I'll remember." He promised.
"Good. Can I give you a little peck goodnight?" That cheeky persona he was used to seeing on TV was back. Flirtatious, confident, charming.
A fake.
But in her green eyes there was a genuine sparkle.
He decided she wasn't all that bad. "Sure, go for it." He shrugged.
She gave him a quick peck, the kind Gemma used to give him before he told her he was too old for it, then stood up and started picking up her corset-like bra and her dress. "Try to sleep the rest of the night off, okay? It'll all be better tommorow."
He gave her a half smile as she dressed. "There. That smile." Cashmere said gruffly. "That's the showface you could show the crowds. Work on that in the meantime."
"Thanks for the advice." He called after her.
He didn't lie back down until he heard the ding of the elevator, and never once in that night did his eyes close.
He lost more than his virginity that night.