"I'm sure you can manage." Besides, the drunker she is the more likely she is to either make him a promise of a few assi, or be so blackout drunk that he can pretend she did and not have her correct him later.

"Oh, around." He had to work not because he needed something to do, not because becoming an Escort was his calling, but because his family was broke, always one late bill payment away from getting the servant's quarters repossessed. But that's hardly party conversation; it's just the internal monologue that folds in on itself and soils itself while it crawls around in Jason's head, the rage he can't put a voice to for reasons of propriety. "Decided to involve myself with the Games, since my mother enjoys them so much. I'm the Escort for District Seven."

He loathes too much that he can't even claim title to a prestigious District. Seven, Districts of lumberjacks and pine needles. "And you?"

He doesn't mention the Brutus scandal, just like she doesn't mention Candace.