06-22-2018, 11:40 AM
Evie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiled one last time in approval, and slipped from the room. In the hall, she encountered Sophia. The Senator was resplendent in a long red gown of chiffon and interesting seaming. It was odd to see the normally straight-laced, older woman in something besides a power-suit.
“Sophia, you look incredible,”
Evelyn smiled as she approached. Sophia let slip a moment of pride across her expression before stifling it again into one of tolerance.
“This whole affair is ridiculous.”
She replied.
Evelyn nodded, and forced her own sudden bubble of defensiveness aside. “It may seem that way, but we can’t lose sight of the longer-goal. This is a big win for the United States in our relationship with the CCD. Ascendancy has always been adamantly against foreign aid and now he has orchestrated it. I am rather proud, actually. It’s a big step.”
Sophia seemed to accept the reminder, or else she didn’t voice her own thoughts. Evelyn was unsure whether the Senator truly trusted her after the accusations laid a few days beforehand. She said she did, but the fact that she was withholding her opinions at the moment seemed to suggest otherwise. Evelyn would keep at it.
Sophia’s change of subject was almost welcome. Sophia paused, tugged on Evelyn’s hand and twirled her about. “But Evie, look at you my dear. You are drop-dead gorgeous. How did you end up getting your dress?”
Evelyn beamed proudly. The black gown fit her like a glove with only minimal tailoring to her curves. A sweetheart neckline was lined with Baccarat crystals that at first glance Evelyn thought were actual diamonds. She was going to refuse the gown on principle that it was too gaudy, but when the actual stones were explained, she found it more acceptable and agreed to wear them.
“I went to that mall across the square. I wasn’t sure what to expect, knowing our budgetary constraints approved by the office of finance, but the ladies in the shop recognized me instantly and insisted I try on their best designers. Or so that’s what they said.”
She laughed off the comment for its absurdity, but the memory was a nice one. She’d been treated like America’s darling before, but nothing compared to that kind of pampering.
“They recognized you?”
Sophia asked.
“Yes, I wasn’t expecting it.”
Sophia hummed a response.
“It’s all on a loan.”
Evie added, slightly less sure of herself. Sophia was judging her. If not for the sparkly neckline, then probably for the baubles at her ears and the queenly necklace. Those were not crystals. They were the real deal.
Irritated at the sudden flustering, she was glad to encounter the Secretary.
The three of them entered the ball in an united front.
Evelyn was raised in humble origins of South Dakota. Her home state was in her blood and she would never forget it. But this ball, the lavishness of it, and the absurdity of the beauty in which she found herself immersed, was so drastically different than anything she had ever experienced before. Even the annual White House Correspondent’s Dinner seemed like brunch in the old downtown diner compared to this.
She let herself be swept away by it and was rather proud at how seamlessly she wove among the guests. Many more recognized her, and she hated that she didn’t know who they were in return, but frankly, she recognized only a handful by face.
Sophia had to tap her on the shoulder, gesturing to the oddly attired group of young men in black, to point out their entrance. Evie quirked a brow and watched them split off and walk around the room just like all the others. The circle in which she stood pointed out a name, the ascendants that Evie finally recognized. All news related to channelers was a specialty of hers, obviously. She recognized that name, and the name of the terrorist they recently subdued. She wondered which one was Michael Vellas, but he didn’t seem to be among their number as of yet. She also wondered if one of them was Miss Northbrook’s friend. Evelyn reminded herself to talk to Nik about him.
Finally, the Ascendancy himself appeared. The blackness that unfurled across the floor licked at the black folds of her dress, and Evie sniffed in amusement. When she finally saw him, though, emerge from that smoky screen, her smile grew. This was the man of her literal dreams. There was literally nothing more glorious about him that she could even imagine. He was so handsome. His dark hair was arrayed so neatly around the metal circling his temple. His smile beamed with pride. His eyes pierced through the crowd as though seeking hers, specifically. Then the tuxedo.
She swallowed nervously and bit back the warmth of her smile. She felt like a girl again. That Sophia’s hawkish eyes were scrutinizing her every move grated. Evie dipped a shoulder and transformed her smile into something more soothing, before she whisked away from the Senator and Secretary in search of better conversation.
That was when she found herself presented to Natalie. Ethereal in pale blue, the woman was dazzlingly beautiful. Evelyn felt awkward and gangly at her side. Never the less, she smiled warmly and attempted to greet the Englishwoman, even if it was just in passing.
“Sophia, you look incredible,”
Evelyn smiled as she approached. Sophia let slip a moment of pride across her expression before stifling it again into one of tolerance.
“This whole affair is ridiculous.”
She replied.
Evelyn nodded, and forced her own sudden bubble of defensiveness aside. “It may seem that way, but we can’t lose sight of the longer-goal. This is a big win for the United States in our relationship with the CCD. Ascendancy has always been adamantly against foreign aid and now he has orchestrated it. I am rather proud, actually. It’s a big step.”
Sophia seemed to accept the reminder, or else she didn’t voice her own thoughts. Evelyn was unsure whether the Senator truly trusted her after the accusations laid a few days beforehand. She said she did, but the fact that she was withholding her opinions at the moment seemed to suggest otherwise. Evelyn would keep at it.
Sophia’s change of subject was almost welcome. Sophia paused, tugged on Evelyn’s hand and twirled her about. “But Evie, look at you my dear. You are drop-dead gorgeous. How did you end up getting your dress?”
Evelyn beamed proudly. The black gown fit her like a glove with only minimal tailoring to her curves. A sweetheart neckline was lined with Baccarat crystals that at first glance Evelyn thought were actual diamonds. She was going to refuse the gown on principle that it was too gaudy, but when the actual stones were explained, she found it more acceptable and agreed to wear them.
“I went to that mall across the square. I wasn’t sure what to expect, knowing our budgetary constraints approved by the office of finance, but the ladies in the shop recognized me instantly and insisted I try on their best designers. Or so that’s what they said.”
She laughed off the comment for its absurdity, but the memory was a nice one. She’d been treated like America’s darling before, but nothing compared to that kind of pampering.
“They recognized you?”
Sophia asked.
“Yes, I wasn’t expecting it.”
Sophia hummed a response.
“It’s all on a loan.”
Evie added, slightly less sure of herself. Sophia was judging her. If not for the sparkly neckline, then probably for the baubles at her ears and the queenly necklace. Those were not crystals. They were the real deal.
Irritated at the sudden flustering, she was glad to encounter the Secretary.
The three of them entered the ball in an united front.
Evelyn was raised in humble origins of South Dakota. Her home state was in her blood and she would never forget it. But this ball, the lavishness of it, and the absurdity of the beauty in which she found herself immersed, was so drastically different than anything she had ever experienced before. Even the annual White House Correspondent’s Dinner seemed like brunch in the old downtown diner compared to this.
She let herself be swept away by it and was rather proud at how seamlessly she wove among the guests. Many more recognized her, and she hated that she didn’t know who they were in return, but frankly, she recognized only a handful by face.
Sophia had to tap her on the shoulder, gesturing to the oddly attired group of young men in black, to point out their entrance. Evie quirked a brow and watched them split off and walk around the room just like all the others. The circle in which she stood pointed out a name, the ascendants that Evie finally recognized. All news related to channelers was a specialty of hers, obviously. She recognized that name, and the name of the terrorist they recently subdued. She wondered which one was Michael Vellas, but he didn’t seem to be among their number as of yet. She also wondered if one of them was Miss Northbrook’s friend. Evelyn reminded herself to talk to Nik about him.
Finally, the Ascendancy himself appeared. The blackness that unfurled across the floor licked at the black folds of her dress, and Evie sniffed in amusement. When she finally saw him, though, emerge from that smoky screen, her smile grew. This was the man of her literal dreams. There was literally nothing more glorious about him that she could even imagine. He was so handsome. His dark hair was arrayed so neatly around the metal circling his temple. His smile beamed with pride. His eyes pierced through the crowd as though seeking hers, specifically. Then the tuxedo.
She swallowed nervously and bit back the warmth of her smile. She felt like a girl again. That Sophia’s hawkish eyes were scrutinizing her every move grated. Evie dipped a shoulder and transformed her smile into something more soothing, before she whisked away from the Senator and Secretary in search of better conversation.
That was when she found herself presented to Natalie. Ethereal in pale blue, the woman was dazzlingly beautiful. Evelyn felt awkward and gangly at her side. Never the less, she smiled warmly and attempted to greet the Englishwoman, even if it was just in passing.