better than you tbh

Celeste is definitely the richest of all the sponsors and is looking for: 

Blood thirst

High scoring Tributes

Violence and vicious contestants

And she’s had her eye on:

Klaus Traugott

Essa LeSauvage

Essa placed her fork back down on the plate as a few shining colors began shining from a distance. The Capitol.

“It is odd,” she replied, taking one last gulp of wine. Essa stood up and began walking the length of the car, taking in the glamour of the train. Soon enough the moonlight from the window cut off as they dove into a tunnel, causing Essa to move towards the left side windows. This was it. Her time to shine.

Essa quickly fixed her hair in the dark reflection from the windows, making sure her lipstick was still in place and her curls hadn’t gone frizzy. And soon enough, the tunnel let out to the luminescent colors of the Capitol in the night time. She placed her hand on the window, peering into the reflection of her district partner. It was odd; they were almost too alike.

The train pulled into the station, where they were met by the overwhelming faces of the Capitol elite cheering their names and their district. Peter stood up behind her as Indica and Ivory entered the car for the first time since they’d taken off.

“Let’s give ‘em hell,” Essa said as they began walking towards the exit to the train. As one added gesture, she lifted herself onto her toes and kissed his cheek, winking at him as she took the lead outside. Barefoot but flawless, Essa walked out into the crowd that welcomed her home.

For the first time in years Peter allowed someone other than himself else to take the lead. Had it not been for the alcohol and stimulating conversation he would have bashed her head in on the pavement. There was something intriguing about his counterpart, something he couldn’t pin point. Be it sass or facial structure, Peter was invested enough to the dialogue open.

The train finally came to the end of its journey upon entering the tunnel and the two graciously prepare themselves for stardom. Just a few seconds before the door opened Essa kissed Peter effortlessly upon the cheek. For some reason Peter let out a wink as after thought to perhaps confirm the gesture was well received.

Essa raised her eyebrow at his answer. She set the wine glass down as a couple more Avoxes entered the car with their dessert on a platter.

“Pete, we might be a little more alike than it seems, after all,” she smiled a little and checked her fingernails, making sure none of her french manicure had chipped. “This chance was taken from me six years ago. I’m just here to take it back. Besides, I don’t particularly need to better myself. Not through these means, at least.”

She picked up a slice of the cheesecake and plopped it onto her plate. The tension that had built between them within the last hour or two hadn’t dissolved, exactly, but it was turning into something else. Essa wasn’t quite sure where this was going, but she decided to keep playing along, even if just for the moment.

Peters brow raised at the sudden shift of tension in the car. Not five minutes ago they were at each others throats civilly and now there seemed to be a sense of agreement between the two. The best of friendships are made over a bond over a common enemy so who knows what’ll happen during their journey. Peter was game for anything as long as it advanced him further in the process.

“How ironic is it that we both were suppose to compete in the same game, must be fate or some shit.” 

Downing the rest of his drink, Peter collected his hat and moved away from the bar towards the couch to further relax himself. It wasn’t long before they would be arriving at the Capitol and the last thing he would want is a bad first impression. 

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Essa took another sip of her wine. Though she realized now why he looked so mildly familiar. Their siblings were district partners those several years go. How ironic. “I just appreciate people who don’t bother with the bullshit niceties when they’re clearly out for something else.”

Her boots were brand new and beginning to rub her heels from not having been broken in, so she reached down and pulled at the laces, tugging them off one at a time. Essa tossed the boots to the other side of the car and sighed in relief

“You’re not out for something else, are you?” she asked. “I mean it’s pretty clear you’re just here for the glory, though I can’t blame you.”

“Eternal glory would be nice,” Peter added after taking a sip. “But really I just want what was rightfully taken away from me.”  

All Peter wants as of lately is to be respected after his family’s fall from grace. The Games are just a mechanism he uses in order to jumpstart that ten fold.

“Cause I’m the self assured one here,” she muttered.

Well, sure, it was true. She was self-assured. It was only because she had a reason to be. Essa pushed away her plate, resisting the urge to smash it on the ground in annoyance. Instead she just took another long sip from her wine glass, feeling it finally getting to her head.

Essa turned her head to glance at him, narrowing her eyes as he poured himself another drink. A wave of disgust surged through her body and she rolled her eyes and turned back to the table.

“It was my sister, by the way, thanks for asking,” she adjusted her pearl necklaces. “Twin. But I’m sure you’re just too focused on the attention given to that hyper masculinity of yours to care. Sickening, really.”

“Oh I remember that girl,” Peter scoffed. “We were just so wrapped up in each other I thought we were skipping these details.”

Although it doesn’t seem like it Peter remembers her twin all to well for many reasons, some good but mostly bad. If it weren’t due to the fact it should have been him competing along side her in that years games, not his brother, he would have nothing but the highest regards for their family.

“Whats sickening is how much you want me to be honest. I may be guarding myself with some masculinity but it seems to have struck your fancy.”

:

“Oh like you’re one to be talking,” she retorted. “You have no fucking idea what I’ve been through. Who died in your family to the Games, buddy?”

She sucked down the rest of the sweet tea, deciding that it didn’t truly satisfy her thirst, so she poured herself a third glass of wine. Sipping quietly, she took a couple of moments.

“Then again, it probably doesn’t even matter to you,” she said under her breath.

She combed her hair back away from her face with her fingers, letting her face fall to a neutral position as she took a deep breath. “Where the fuck is our mentor and escort?”

“My brother,” Peter declared with indifference. No one had asked for his eligibility until now so it was a little unnerving to hear it from her without regard. “It does matter in the sense that I’m allowed to be here now. Without his connection I couldn’t meet the likes of you.” 

Just as Peter’s entree came to a close the avoxes quickly returned on cue and took away their plates to prepare for dessert. Peter removed himself from the table after wiping his beard and headed over to the bar for one last drink. 

Now he was deliberately trying to piss her off. And Essa could tell that the minute she let him push her over the edge she’d be on the losing side. She simply drained the second glass of wine and moved on to the sweet tea, following his example as the Avoxes set down their main course.

She didn’t speak for several minutes as she sliced into her chicken, chewing slowly. Glancing up at him while she twirled the knife in between her fingers, she swallowed and took a long drink from the tea.

“Now let’s not go saying things we regret, sweetie,” she said calmly as she set the glass down.

The silence that fell after Peter’s words soon overcame the room. Almost nothing was audible but the sound of forks colliding with plates, both of them exchanging angsty looks at each bite. 

: 

Essa glanced up at her district partner as she speared a slice of pear with a walnut. “Well it might not be as bulky as you seem to prefer, Mister Beefy, but some of us have learned to appreciate sustenance. Especially since it’s going to be so scarce in a week.”

She winced a little at his language. While she might not have had the most polite of mouths, such misogynistic word choice rubbed her the wrong way. She placed a bite of goat cheese carefully in her mouth.

“Nah I just prefer to be a dick to everyone while I’m drunk off my ass,” she set her fork down as she finished the salad, letting the Avox take it away. “Or, you know, I could be polite and reap the benefits there. I prefer not to let my muscles speak for me when I have a perfectly functioning brain. Unlike some people.”

Pushing the plate further into the middle, Peter wiped his hands through his beard. “Oh please enlighten me, who are we talking about? I couldn’t possibly imagine someone with a functioning brain like yours purposely pissing off a muscular, formidable, opponent, come arena time.” 

Although Peter had plenty more to drink he decided to switch to the tea this time around, seeing as though it would fit the situation better. 

It had been a while since a man hadn’t been afraid to dish it back to her; Essa’s prettiness and willingness to charm the more foolish members of her inner circle had always held them from biting her back. But this guy was just abrasive as hell. And she didn’t want to admit that it was kind of attractive. But there was no way she was going to let him win here.

“Lucky for you I’m not a bullshit kind of person,” she sipped her wine. “And I’m not the one getting a boner over a few shots of vodka and a little overconfidence here.”

A sound clanged from the other end of the car as several Avoxes entered, holding platters with decadent food piled on top of them. Essa didn’t say a word as she sat down at the table and let them place a cup of sweet tea in front of her.

“You having dinner? Or will your bottle of vodka suffice?”

Peters eyes widen at her mention of a boner, he’d been so careful... 

Seeing the atmosphere shift at the shuffling of Avoxes preparing dinner, Peter had no choice but to join his sassy comrade at the table if he wanted to continue this bitch fest. He was far from done. 

He picked up his drink and sat directly across from Essa at the table, “Vodkas nice, but’s it’s not--” Just before he could finish his sentence an Avox carefully placed a pear, walnut, and goat cheese salad on the table.

:

Essa downed the rest of her wine, feeling a wine flush come to her cheeks. So he was going in for similar reasons, she realized. Did that mean he could match her in skill? Maybe. But Essa didn’t believe there was any reason to be particularly worried until she could assess his skills in the training center. “And I’m twenty-four and the same way.”

She stood up again, refilling her glass with more red wine. Essa reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, letting it cascade down the black dress she wore. “No need to be rude, I was just making a correct insinuation. Or is it just a hobby of yours to degrade anybody that might make you a little uncomfortable?

Peter let out a smile at Essa’s thought of him being rude. It definitely wasn’t the first he offended someone and most certainly not the last. Most children back in One end up just like their parents one way or another and this just goes to show a representation of his household. He preferred to be open with his words, seeing no reason to put a filter. 

“Actually yes, I do have many hobbies thanks for asking. One of them is reading people and their bullshit. If I can take it why not dish it.”

Filling his glass with another shot, he opted out of straight Vodka this time around and decided to mix some pineapple juice for added flavor.

“Don’t bother. Just Essa,” she took a long sip from her wine glass, feeling the sharp liquid make its way down her throat. The simple motion calmed her down a little bit as she took another bite from the apple.

She noticed that Indica had disappeared and a peculiar smell was wafting through the door from another car, but chose to ignore it.

“So,” Essa sat down in the nearest plush chair, crossing one leg over the other and cradling her wine in her left hand. “What’s going on that made you volunteer? I mean it’s pretty clear you like the attention.”

“You better believe it,” Peter interjected. “I volunteered because I’m twenty-six and this is my last shot of going in the Games.” 

Essa was still fuming from the discussion with her naive and oblivious parents. As the Peacekeepers led them to the train, her district partner took the lead towards the large vehicle, so Essa yanked her arm away from her escort. She could find her way inside by herself, thank you very much.

The inside of the car was as decadent and elegant as one would expect from the Capitol, but coming from the district of luxury, neither of the tributes were particularly taken aback by the rich foods and comfortable furniture adorning the train. Realizing she hadn’t eaten anything since her breakfast that morning, Essa picked up an apple and bit from it, throwing it in the air and catching it as it came down, realizing how antsy she was getting from all the sitting around.

Peter poured himself what seemed to be a few shots of straight vodka into a glass and downed it quickly before offering one to her.

So he’s a show-off, Essa thought. This is going to be interesting.

She simply stared him down for a few seconds. “I prefer something a little more… elegant. Straight spirits are so rough going down, you know?”

Essa then reached over and poured herself a glass of red wine. Of course, she’d be able to handle the vodka or any other alcohol thrown her way. But subtlety was something she had always been taught was vital for a woman to earn the same respect as her counterparts.

Taking his now filled glass to her red wine he gently clinked the two drinks together, hoping a toast would be both well received and appreciated. “To the victor goes the spoils.” 

While adjusting his shirt collar to fit better he can’t help but notice Ivory’s and Indica’s presence in the same car. With all the commotion he’s simply forgotten all about them. If they wanted to talk in this moment they were out of luck as far as Peter is concerned.