#&caesar

She refrains from answering too quickly, from denying his claims entirely too quickly, but also calculates when pausing too long might be construed to mean she is lying. "Now Caesar," she starts coyly, a small smile turning up the corners of her lips, "can't a lady keep her wants to herself?" She knew she wouldn't ever be able to completely free herself of the speculation, not short of verifying that she and Tiberius were certainly something other than just friends.

She hoped Caesar would tire of talking in circles. She wouldn't attest to anything else, wouldn't admit to any feelings, verify any relationship. She would be more than content, even if a little irritated, to continue to talk in circled, but that would get boring for Caesar's viewers. Surely they could move on, eventually.

Nat: [Caesar] What was it like reuniting with your daughter for the first time after the arena? Don't tell anyone...but I had an inkling she would have won had the recent events not transpired. [He winks]

And eventually came in the form of bringing her daughter up. Rose was a much preferred topic of discussion over her relationship with Caesar. As long as the discussion didn't turn to Rose's paternity, Rose would be a topic Natalia would happily discuss.

It had always been something she had hidden, shied away from, but also it just wasn't any of the capitol's goddam business in her opinion. Why did it matter so bad who the hell she kept in her bed, or whose bed she visited? After thirty some years it had begun to wear on her patience. Her irritation more readily available. Though she knew that everyone was watching her - Caesar, the President, the Peacekeepers backstage, the country... So she swallowed the irritation down and forced herself to keep her facade neutral.

"She can make all the assumptions she wants, but Caesar the reality is that what she has seen is me getting ready for dinners with a colleague. A friend even, I'll give you that." This she was sure of. She and Tiberius kept PDA behind closed doors. "Maybe she's seen us hug, or me leaning on him, but are friends not allowed to hug anymore? You and I have hugged more than once over the years, Caesar," deflecting. Maybe she could throw him off, she doubted it, "are we suddenly going to bed together now? And, have you ever tried to walk in heels? Sometimes a girl needs a little extra support with those." It's said with a smirk, a soft laugh.

Caesar hating to gossip was like birds not knowing how to fly - laughable, but she didn't say this. She decides to ignore everything the escort has said about her fellow victors, though she wants to berate the woman's idea that Annie was faking her unease in the Capitol, berate the idea that Annie was crazy, or that Finnick was a manipulator. They are her children as much as Rose, but she doesn't want to call anymore attention to them, or the words that Sarah fucking Kline spewed. How dare she drag them all through the mud.

So instead, she focuses on the gossip that has always seemed to be a hot topic for the last few decades. "That she's seen me with Tiberius Germaine?" She questioned, exterior calm despite the inner turmoil she felt. She'd seen Tiberius's half-hearted attempt to beat around the bush of just what they were to each other which no doubt didn't help things in keeping Caesar and the like off their backs. "Please, Caesar, Miss Kline is District Four's escort. I am a District Four victor and mentor. Mr. Germain is a very generous benefactor of District Four. He has been for many years. Why would I not be seen with him?" It made sense on the surface. Now just why her daughter had nearly identical eyes to Tiberius, she wouldn't be able to explain away. But Sarah hadn't mentioned that. "We've had many business dinners over the years to discuss District Four's tributes. I won't deny that. But it's been just that, business." Far from the truth, but the evenness of her voice and the neutral facade would be enough to appease Caesar, she hoped.

"Caesar, I always think Two has it in us for another win." Xiomara announced proudly. It was always a matter of odds and Two was always at or near the top when it came to the odds. "Even Cato came very close. I was really rooting for him. He and Clove were quite the loss last year, especially Clove with being Cadie's little sister and all." Thankfully this year would have been Alejandra's last year and well as the odds would have it, she hadn't even had to face the reaping bowl.

Xiomara offers first Caesar and then the audience an award winning smile, adjusting the heavy gold material she was dressed in. "Yes Caesar! A very happy coincidence indeed." She chuckled, sitting back comfortably in her chair. "Oh Caesar, now I can't comment on being the victor of a Quell, sixty-nine was awesome and all, but it's not a Quell. However, even just being a victor is amazing. The Capitol takes care of any and everything you could want. And let me tell you... The Capitolites throw a damn good party if I do say so myself. I don't know, Caesar, winning and being a victor is a pretty fucking awesome gig."

Natalia is used to the spotlight and Caesar by now. A smile graces her lips as she looks across at the eccentric man, giving a small nod at his question. "Yes, Caesar, Rose is my daughter." Though she'd kept Rose out of the spotlight as much as she could, it was no secret she'd had a child twenty-five years prior. "I have to say, I was proud, ya know? She had planned to volunteer when she was twenty-one, but that didn't pan out as planned. We'd thought that was it, that it was over and she'd not get her chance. I am so happy she got the chance and can't wait to welcome her home in just a couple weeks." All of it was a lie, a false facade to hide the anxiety she had at the possibility of loosing her child.