ℒucy 𝒢ray ℬaird

𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 ⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. ִֶָ 𓅨 ִֶָ 𓆗 ִֶָ 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰'𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝. ⋆˙⟡♡

[coveysmystery]

⍣·.¸¸··Ꮭυƈყ Ɠгαყ Ɓαίгԃ✩⍣¯·.¸¸.·✩·.¸

𝘿͟𝙤͟ ͟𝙮͟𝙤͟𝙪͟ ͟𝙧͟𝙚͟𝙢͟𝙚͟𝙢͟𝙗͟𝙚͟𝙧͟ ͟𝙢͟𝙚͟? 𓇢𓆸

⋆ ★ 。• *。❀。• *₊。

"𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚊 𝓜𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢, 𝐬𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝.

𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕 𝚒 𝚔 𝚎 ℳ𝑒 ꫂ ၴႅၴ."

____________________________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

⋆ ★

ᴅ͠ɪ͠s͠ᴛ͠ʀ͠ɪ͠ᴄ͠ᴛ 12 ⠀

ᴠ͠ɪ͠ᴄ͠ᴛ͠ʀ͠ᴇ͠s͠s ͠ᴏ͠ғ ͠ᴛ͠ʜ͠ᴇ ͠10. ͠ʜ͠ᴜ͠ɴ͠ɢ͠ᴇ͠ʀ ͠ɢ͠ᴀ͠ᴍ͠ᴇ͠s

͠ᴄ͠ᴏ͠ᴠ͠ᴇ͠ʏ͠ - s͠ɪ͠ɴ͠ɢ͠ᴇ͠ʀ - 𓅆 ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦋་༘࿐

— 𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 - book, movie 𝙖𝙣𝙙

𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙.

— 𝙖𝙪’𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙘’𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮

— 𝙫𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧

— 𝟮𝟭+

— 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞-𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖, 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖

— 𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙞-𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚

— 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 with @coryopureasdrivensnow

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ 𓆙♡ ִֶָ་༘࿐

ᵢ𝑡'𝑠 ωhy i ηee∂ 𝚢𝚘𝚞... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀. ⋆⁺₊❅⋆ ⁺₊❆⋆𐙚

⠀⠀ ͙y͙͙ o͙͙ u͙ '͙ r͙͙ e͙ ⠀𝚊𝚜 Ꭾᴜʀɛ

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𝚊𝚜 ͙t͙͙h͙͙e͙ ძrívєղ...

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙

╰┈➤ ❝ ᏕռօᏇ ❞ ⋆⁺₊❅.

Appearance:

Lucy Gray exudes an untamed, raw elegance. She often has a determined expression, dark hair that falls messily, and strikingly light eyes that appear both attentive and witty. Her clothing is practical, often in earthy tones with a hint of vintage, which makes her appear both agile and intelligent.

Personality:

Lucy Gray is charming, clever, and contradictorily independent. She has keen powers of observation, quick thinking, and a poetic, almost mystical aura. At the same time, she can be mischievous and playful, which makes her agile and unpredictable in delicate situations.

Motivations:

She is fiercely loyal to her friends and community. She strives to preserve freedom and stand up against oppression, often with a focus on justice and independence. Her goals seem flexible, but always guided by an inner compass.

Strengths:

Quick thinking, rhetorical skill, adeptness in dealing with people, and a certain charm that converts others to her ideas. Creativity and improvisational talent help her find solutions in difficult situations.

Weaknesses:

Her independence can turn into stubbornness. She distrusts authority and tends to take risks, which can lead to dangerous situations. Emotional distance can be a barrier to deeper relationships.

Tone/charisma in interaction:

She speaks clearly, with occasional banter and dry humor. She listens when it matters and is not afraid to speak uncomfortable truths when she feels it is necessary.

Background note:

Lucy Gray often comes across as a character who balances between rebellion and a search for meaning. She carries with her a history of loss and adaptation that makes her both vulnerable and strong.

𝑅𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎

。• *₊°。❀

𝚒𝚗 𝚝 𝚑 𝚎 ‏𖦹lժ

𝆹𝅥 𝆹𝅥 𝆹𝅥

⇢ ˗ˏˋ 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐟‏𖦹‏𝐫𝐞 ࿐ྂ

#tbosasrp Roleplay Account.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ adult admin.

[lucygraysmockingjays]

“Lucy Gray stole his heart and, in his mind, betrayed him. She’s still out there, scraping out a living in the woods or in her ghost girl form. Either way, she haunts him.”

[perigilpin]

a full cup of blood lust please let me go, blood red, blood red the roses grow

[fictionalaffection]

winter!

[dailywomen]

RACHEL ZEGLER photographed by Mark Seliger for New York Magazine (2025)

[letheyim]

he understood me

[jakeperalta]

It's the least I deserve and the thanks I get For letting you off and letting you go and emptying my threats It's the least I deserve, it's a little death Can't gimme the world, so give me my name under your breath

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes + "Say My Name in Your Sleep" by Maisie Peters

[coveysmystery]

@coryopureasdrivensnow ᯓᡣ𐭩 ⋆⁺₊❅

In the days since the opening, Lucy Gray had gradually emerged from her isolation. She was out and about on the estate much more often, eating regularly again, and her general condition had improved. She was coping much better with the burden of the games, which had otherwise weighed so heavily on her shoulders in previous years. Perhaps loneliness during this time was not the best solution for suppressing the horror of the games. She did not follow the Games and was very surprised that there were no signs anywhere on the estate that this great spectacle was taking place. Was Coriolanus deliberately keeping anything that might trigger her away from her? Or had the estate never been so festive during this time? She did not know, at least not anymore, since she had only seen her room during the Hunger Games over the years. In any case, she was very relieved that nothing in her immediate surroundings hinted at the Games and that she was not reminded of the bloodshed that was currently underway.

To pass the time, the brown-haired girl had retreated to the library from time to time. She had never been much of a reader, but then again, how could she be? Books were scarce in the districts. She had even started practicing her guitar again, but quickly stopped because she found the sounds unclean and had no idea for a melody or song she could come up with. She had only seen Coriolanus briefly over the last few days. She had deliberately avoided him, and he had respected her desire for privacy. She wanted time to think about everything that had happened without feeling pressured by him. Her desire to leave the Capitol had receded into the distance; after all, she knew that the young president had changed towards her. The monster inside him could only be tamed with her, and she was willing to try one last time.

Since the victory celebration would naturally be another big show and all the bigwigs would gather at the presidential palace afterwards, she knew she had to attend the event. After her appearance on the balcony, she couldn't just disappear again. The senators had been provoked and were waiting for a mistake by their president or his songbird so they could tear them apart. Lucy Gray was a major disruptive factor for Panem's leaders, as she could lead the president astray. Basically, she was just showing him that he didn't have to follow the old farts' rules and that a peaceful Panem was possible. Coriolanus had decided in her favor and stood up to the senators, but an immediate renewal of the government would destabilize the Capitol and Panem so much that it could cause great damage. So the senators had to be replaced slowly, step by step.

Lucy Gray sat in Coriolanus' office, making herself comfortable in his desk chair and leafing through the endless documents that lay around in disorder to pass the time. She felt the need to see the platinum-blond man again, to ask him about the current situation and go over the victory celebration with him. She deliberately pushed aside thoughts of the planned engagement, which had fallen through, as she was still torn. Her gaze fell on the large wall clock; she hadn't noticed how late it was. With any luck, she would have to wait a few more hours for the young president.

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Snow stepped quietly through the double doors of his office, earlier than expected. The Senate meeting had ended unexpectedly quickly; the old men were too preoccupied with the upcoming victory banquet to argue with him any longer than necessary. His gaze immediately fell on her, his Lucy Gray, who had made herself comfortable in his oversized leather armchair, her legs swung over an armrest, a stack of confidential files on her lap. Her brown hair fell across her face as she frowned and read a page, as if she could make the dry legal texts sing with sheer force of will. He paused for a moment and just looked at her. Five days. Five days in which he had hardly seen her because he had given her the space she wanted. Five days in which he had proven to himself that he could wait, that he didn't have to lock her up to keep her with him. And now she was sitting here. Voluntarily. In his chair. In his inner sanctum. A barely perceptible smile, cool but genuine, crossed his features as he closed the door behind him. The sound made her look up.

"You're reading my important papers with the Treasury Department? I hope you at least find the tax increase for District 4 entertaining."

His voice was calm, almost amused, but underneath it lay that familiar, deep satisfaction that only she could elicit in him. Coriolanus stopped in front of the desk, leaned both hands on the heavy oak top, and bent down slightly toward her. Close enough that she could smell the faint scent of roses.

"I actually thought you'd keep me waiting a few more hours. But you're here. In my chair. With my papers. And you look like you've finally decided to stay."

His gaze slid over her face, her posture, the way she had settled in here as if she already owned the room. He straightened up again, walked slowly around the desk until he was standing directly behind her. The young president placed both hands gently but possessively on her shoulders.

"Or am I mistaken, my songbird? Because if you're here to talk to me about the victory celebration... or anything else... then you should know that I'm no longer willing to let you go again. "

His fingers brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, very slowly, as if he wanted to savor the touch. A soft, almost tender laugh, more breath than sound.

"So. What do you want from your president, Lucy Gray?"

[coveysmystery]

The decision to visit Coriolanus was relatively spontaneous. As she wandered through the estate, she kept thinking about the senators, who had not seemed very pleased to see Covey at the side of their highly respected president during the opening ceremony. The concern that they had taken their anger out on Coriolanus, putting him under even more pressure, filled her mind, and she felt an urgent need to check on his well-being, to see him again after five days. So she sneaked into his office in the late afternoon, and when he wasn't there, she made herself comfortable in his office chair, threw her legs over the armrest, and waited.

When the large double door opened, she was engrossed in some list of taxes that she could only partially decipher. Her brown curls fell loosely over her face, obscuring her view of the papers she had placed on her legs, which were resting on the armrests. Only the click of the door lock made her look up. It took her a moment to realize that Coriolanus had entered and was watching her with complete calm. When he asked his question, a brief smile flitted across her face and she lifted the papers with one hand, as if to say, 'You mean these?'

"Very entertaining. With the wealth of the districts, one can of course make even more profit."

Her answer was dripping with self-irony as she put the documents back on the desk and sat down properly. A few days ago, such a conversation would not have been possible. But now there was nothing left of the frightened, withdrawn brown-haired girl. Her posture was calm and somewhat defiant, as it had been in the past when she still made her appearances at the Hob. When the platinum blonde stopped in front of her and leaned on the tabletop, the familiar scent of roses wafted into her nose. Her brown eyes sought out those of her counterpart, whose words made her raise her eyebrows.

"Wasn't that already obvious? If I had wanted to leave, I would have done so without this spectacle at the opening ceremony... I trust in what you promised me... Please don't disappoint me this time."

As she spoke, Coriolanus slowly walked to the desk and stopped behind the chair in which she was sitting. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, and she felt no urge to pull away, as there was nothing frightening about him. Even though his grip was somewhat possessive, it seemed less obsessive than usual, as if he were keeping himself at a distance. His words also seemed less demanding than usual, which triggered a feeling of contentment in her.

"You're not mistaken, I'm not going anywhere."

When he withdrew his hands, she took the opportunity to turn her chair toward him so she could look him in the eyes again. Before she could say anything, however, he brushed one of her many loose strands of hair behind her ear, the gentle touch of her skin leaving a slight tingling sensation. At his question, she playfully rolled her eyes, knelt on the chair to be at eye level with him, then wrapped her arms around his neck to support herself. A sincere smile played around her lips as she kissed Coriolanus on the cheek as a matter of course and looked at him with her brown eyes.

"I don't really want anything from my president. I'd like to talk to the handsome platinum-blond man in front of me."

Her smile lingered on her lips for a while before she broke away from him and let herself fall back into the chair. Her gaze became a little more serious as she looked up at the young president.

"Are you okay? The senators were probably pretty upset after you defied them like that. I hope they weren't too hard on you. Is there anything new I need to know? Of course, I already know I have to show up at the victory celebration... It would be a shame not to congratulate the new winner..."

The thought made Lucy Gray's stomach churn. She knew how awful it felt to be recognized and congratulated for the atrocities committed in the arena. She lowered her gaze briefly to refocus on the matter at hand and waited for a response from the platinum blonde man.

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Coriolanus stood motionless for a moment, his hand lingering in the air where her cheek had just been. The slight imprint of her lips burned like a tiny, sweet sting on his skin—a sensation he allowed himself neither to enjoy nor to despise. It was simply... there. Like her. And yet exactly what he needed at that moment. Her brown curls dancing wildly around her face, he looked at her with that cool, piercing gaze that usually silenced entire halls. It no longer worked on her. Perhaps it never really had.

"The senators were, as expected... indignant. Some even threatened to withdraw their support. Others spat in my face that I was giving Panem away to a district creature ."

He looked away briefly, as if the word itself had become unpleasant to him now that he was no longer directing it at her; then back into her dark eyes.

"But they underestimated how little their support means to me when I don't need it. I made it clear to them that the time of the old men is over. That Panem is no longer ruled by fear; at least not only by fear. But by something... stronger. Lucy Gray... you are no longer a risk. You are the message. The victory celebration will take place. And you will be by my side. Not as a trophy. Not as prey. But as the one who proved that even District 12 can produce something stronger than any arena."

He leaned toward her, close enough that the scent of roses reached her. A finger gently brushed her lower lip, as if to check whether the smile from a moment ago was still there. His gaze softened; only for a heartbeat, but she saw it. He straightened up again, turning away slightly, as if he could no longer allow himself this weakness. Then he turned back to her, and in his ice-blue eyes there was something that was almost like a promise.

"I'm fine. Better than I thought I would be. Because you're here. Because you didn't leave. And as for the winner... He'll see you. He'll hear you sing. And he'll understand that you don't have to win to become immortal. Stay here tonight. Wherever you want. I'm not afraid anymore that you'll disappear if I let you go."

[coveysmystery]

Lucy Gray paused for a moment before sinking back into the armchair. Coriolanus seemed somewhat surprised by her action; he didn't show it, but the tension in his body betrayed him. His ice-blue eyes rested on her with the authority he usually used when giving speeches, as if trying to suppress his sudden uncertainty. It wasn't particularly difficult for her to meet his gaze with a slight smile. However, when she told him the reason for her visit, her smile disappeared and something like concern flashed in her eyes.

The senators' reaction was almost as expected, and yet Coriolanus' words made her feel uncomfortable, so she looked away and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the platinum-blond president had also looked away; he didn't seem to like this description of his songbird very much either. Only when he continued speaking did her eyes meet his again, and she could see the determination in them. Lucy Gray let the words sink in, tried to believe him, and gave him a sincere smile.

"That's beautifully said. But do you think they'll make it that easy for us? You said yourself that everything would fall apart if you wrote off the senators too quickly... A radical change would probably do more harm than good, even though I would like to change everything immediately. What if they join forces and vote you out after all? Turn the Capitol against you, they have the means to do so. If the public isn't behind you, we've lost before we've even started. You have power, Coriolanus, but it's standing on very shaky ground right now."

As she spoke, Coriolanus leaned closer to her, stroking her lower lip with his thumb as if to calm her, to cheer her up. The warm smile on his lips reached her as briefly as the scent of roses that surrounded him before he turned away from her. Lucy Gray followed his every move; he seemed distracted, as if he had to calculate his next steps carefully. She looked a little surprised when his ice-blue eyes sought her out again and looked at her with a familiar intimacy. His words were honest, yet they seemed like a protective shield for himself, as if he were only now realizing that he could only keep her if he let her go. Although he seemed to be suppressing it well, there was a certain uncertainty in his behavior, invisible to outsiders, but clear to her. She slowly rose from his chair and brushed back her brown hair, which had fallen into her face as she moved. Her gaze sought his as she placed her hands on his upper arms, as if to support him.

"I'm glad you're okay... I'm not leaving you, not after everything that's happened. It's not the winner who has to understand that you don't have to win to become immortal, but the inhabitants of the Capitol. I think everyone in the districts is aware that winning the Games is not a heroic deed, only the Capitol sees it that way."

She exhaled audibly and lowered her gaze for a moment to formulate her next words appropriately before addressing them to the young man in front of her.

"Coriolanus, the victory celebration is and must be given far more significance than just the coronation. The Capitol wants a good show, it wants to be kept up to date, drama, action... Something they can admire. Something they can look forward to. Like back then at my Games... We must make ourselves irreplaceable to your citizens, bring them over to our side before the senators poison them with lies. We are now cannon fodder... Every mishap, every mistake, every attack will be blamed on you. Since you are incapable of governing, you let yourself be seduced by me, and now the districts sense their chance to come to power."

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Snow still had her hands on his upper arms, as if she wanted to hold him tight and let him go at the same time. The scent of her skin, that light, wild something of forest and district, mingled with the heavy scent of roses that had surrounded him for years like a second skin. For a moment, he closed his eyes, just for a heartbeat, and when he opened them again, the uncertainty in them was gone, replaced by that cold, clear determination that had carried him to the top of Panem.

"You're right. They won't give us what we want willingly. They'll fight. With poison, with lies, with the mob in the streets if they have to. But they're forgetting one thing, Lucy Gray. I'm not the boy who lets senators and gamemakers dictate how the game is played anymore. I'm president. And I have something none of them have. You."

His fingers slid from her arms up to her face, cupping it gently but firmly, as if she were something fragile and at the same time the only thing he could never lose again. A narrow, dangerous smile appeared on his lips. He took a step back without letting go of her, his ice-blue eyes drilling into hers. A short, almost mocking laugh escaped him, but it didn't sound cruel—more like someone who had finally found the perfect weapon and wondered why he hadn't recognized it sooner.

"The victory celebration won't just be a coronation. It will be the moment the Capitol realizes that it no longer sees you as a District girl—but as its first lady. Not as a tribute. Not as a songbird. But as the woman who stands by my side because she wants to. Because she is stronger than all of them put together. We'll give them the show they want. But we make the rules."

He turned halfway around, walked the few steps to his desk, and pulled out a slim black folder that had been waiting there—as if he had been waiting for this very moment. He opened the folder. Inside were drafts: posters, speech manuscripts, even a new design for the victor's crown—simpler, more elegant, less like a prize and more like a symbol.

"You won't just sing, Lucy Gray. You'll speak. Not as a tribute. But as the one who survived the Games—and who is now saving the Capitol. From itself."

He stepped closer to her again, his voice softening to a whisper between conspirators.

"I'll give the senators what they want: stability. Control. The illusion that everything will stay the same. And while they lull themselves into a false sense of security, I'll rebuild, piece by piece. Slowly enough that they won't notice. Fast enough that we win before they do. And you'll never be cannon fodder again. Not for them. Not for anyone."

He looked at her one last time—really looked at her, with all the intensity he usually reserved for power and death.

"Trust me, my songbird. This time, we'll write the song together. And Panem will dance to our tune."

[coveysmystery]

Her grip on his arm tightened slightly when she noticed his brief uncertainty, which disappeared after a few seconds. After he opened his eyes again, he immediately fixed his gaze on her, his ice-blue eyes reflecting the determination with which he knew he could overcome any obstacle. She slowly loosened her grip, but the skeptical expression in her eyes remained as she listened to his words. She doubted whether she really was the solution to this situation.

"I hope I am enough for what you have in mind... I fear it will not be easy."

She sighed silently and let her arms drop, at the same moment Coriolanus took her face in his hands. His gaze was not as possessive as usual, and she could clearly sense that he simply wanted to hold her close. That he needed her as an anchor to hold on to. A brief smile flitted across her face. Even though Coriolanus looked more dangerous than lovable at that moment, his words were exactly what Lucy Gray needed to hear, and they gave her a glimmer of hope that they could make a difference after all.

"A show is probably the least we can give them. However, we must not forget that the districts, above all, have to believe me... They will initially interpret all this as manipulation. But if I want to communicate openly with them, it would be too conspicuous. It's probably best to get the Capitol on our side first... They're easier to convince."

When the young president suddenly let go of her and turned away, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. Her fawn-brown eyes followed his every move as he brought her a black folder with documents and spread them out on the desk. Curious, her gaze wandered over the documents as she listened to him. The realization that he had already secretly made such plans surprised her, so she looked questioningly over his shoulder.

"If it can be saved... How long have you been planning this?"

The posters and speeches could still be improved, but they summed up everything that needed to be said. The designs for her new crown were also interesting, even though Lucy Gray wished she no longer needed a crown if the Games were simply put on hold. She leaned over the documents and picked up a few speeches with her name on them. Coriolanus' voice beside her was just a whisper as she sat down on the chair and skimmed through the texts.

"Destroy the regime from within so that everything around it doesn't collapse..."

She exhaled audibly as she put the speeches aside and turned back to the platinum-blond man, whose gaze overflowed with intensity, as if he could solve all problems with it.

"We're doing what we can, you don't have to do this alone. After all, you're doing this for me... It was never my intention to react to Panem, but there seems to be no other way to change things."

She got up from the chair again and squeezed into the small space between Coriolanus and the desk. Standing in front of him, she placed her hand on his cheek and traced his cheekbone with her thumb. Somehow he looked tired, as if he had slept poorly at night, and yet there was a sparkle in his eyes that made him seem more alive than ever.

"I missed you... Even though everything is still so fresh and it has left its mark. We both said things we shouldn't have said, things we're not proud of... And I'm sorry for that."

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Coriolanus was completely silent as her warm hand touched his cheek, as if a single movement too quick could shatter this fragile moment. Her words struck him deeper than any blade ever could, and for a heartbeat he was once again the boy in the snow, longing for something he had never quite possessed. He closed his eyes briefly, breathing in the scent of her skin, that light, wild smell of forest and freedom that still made him weak, and then placed his own hand over hers, holding it tight as if to prevent her from ever leaving him again.

"Lucy Gray... You're apologizing to me? After everything I've done to you? After the words I used to chase you away like an animal that had come too close? I didn't just miss you. I needed you. Every single day you were gone, I felt something inside me die. And I deserved it."

His voice was rough, almost a whisper, and he spoke her name as if it were something precious and dangerous at the same time. A bitter, tender laugh escaped him. He opened his eyes again, those ice-blue, piercing eyes that now looked directly into her fawn-brown ones, without any mask. Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head and kissed the palm of her hand, once, twice, as if it were a vow. Then he took half a step closer, until there was hardly any air between them, and lowered his forehead against hers.

"The plans... I started them on the first night when I lay alone in that huge bed again and knew I had made a mistake that I might never be able to make up for. I continued them because I thought that if I changed Panem enough, if I made it just a little bit less cruel... then maybe one day you would be proud of me. Then maybe you could stand beside me again without feeling ashamed."

His fingers slid into the nape of her neck, holding her tight, but not possessively, as if he really needed this support to keep from breaking down.

"You are more than good enough, my little songbird. You are the only reason I'm still trying to do all this. Not the Capitol. Not the power. You, and if we have to destroy the regime from within so that you can finally breathe freely without fear, then I will do it. With you. For you. And if we go down in the process... then at least we'll go down together."

His voice grew quieter, almost fragile. He pulled her the last bit closer until her forehead was against his, until he could feel her heartbeat, fast and alive against his own chest.

"I love you, and I'm sorry it took me so long to say it out loud without hiding it behind poison and roses."

Clear and without hesitation, as if it were the easiest and at the same time the hardest thing he had ever said. Then he kissed her. Not hungrily, not demandingly, but slowly, as if he wanted to memorize every breath she took, as if it were the first and last time at the same time. When he finally broke away from her lips, he stayed close, his nose brushing hers.

"We're doing this together, Lucy Gray. No more shows where you play the leading role and I pull the strings. This time, we're writing the play together. And if the districts don't believe us... then we'll sing until they have to. Because no one can resist your singing. Not even me."

A narrow, dangerous smile flashed in his eyes, the first real one in weeks.

[coveysmystery]

After she had apologized, a pleasant silence fell between the two of them. She traced Coriolanus's prominent cheekbones with her thumbs while he closed his eyes and took a deep breath under her touch, as if his thoughts were somewhere else entirely. Her dark eyes never left the young president. Only when he placed his hand on hers did she pause and let him speak. His voice was rough and no more than a whisper, as if he were afraid of saying the wrong thing, as if something would break if he were too loud. A fleeting smile formed on her lips when he opened his eyes again. They had both suffered in different ways and should stop blaming each other until they broke down.

"Maybe you deserved it... But at some point, it's time to let it go. Yes, you hurt me, you treated me badly. Even though I didn't know how to get out of that situation, even though I was desperate, I shouldn't have reacted that way. Anger and hatred don't get you anywhere... I accept your apology, Coriolanus."

Lucy Gray didn't back away an inch as the platinum blonde approached her. After he kissed her palm, she let her hands wander to his shoulders. She could feel the warmth of his body right in front of hers, his breath gently brushing her skin as he leaned down toward her. Her gaze scanned his face, closer and more intensely than she had looked at him in a long time. His pale skin seemed flawless, but you could see the small scars and scratches that underscored his difficult past. His eyes were glassy and slightly shadowed, as if he hadn't slept properly in days, and yet his gaze seemed calm and clear, as if he had finally shed his masquerade. The answer to her question made her raise her eyebrows briefly, but a smile graced her lips as she shook her head slightly.

"You worked all this out this week... Despite all your commitments? Thank you... It means a lot to me, really. I've always been proud of you in a way, not for your cruel nature, not for the man who rules Panem... but for the way you approach things, how you never give up, and now you've even had the courage to destroy yourself in order to rebuild yourself for my love. I would never be ashamed to stand by your side, after all the good things you've done and that we should focus on."

As his fingers moved to her neck and held her tight, she shuddered at his touch and let out a silent sigh. It was nothing possessive, nothing rough, but the touch of a man who wanted to grasp and hold love. As if by herself, she pressed her body closer to his, she wanted this support, she wanted to use the warmth that emanated from him to dispel the cold that had surrounded her over the years. His voice, his words, made her heart beat faster as he rested his forehead against hers and closed her eyes for a moment. Her heart was pounding in her throat, yet she could also feel Coriolanus' pulse as he pulled her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck. It was the first time in years that he had honestly told her he loved her.

"I love you too, Coriolanus. I have always loved you... I'm ready to walk any path with you, and if we run to our doom, then so be it. I'll never let you go, my beloved Capitol boy."

She returned the kiss without hesitation, as if nothing had ever come between them that could have destroyed their love. Coriolanus was gentle and careful, as if it were the first time he had kissed her, as if he wanted to memorize her taste. She too lost herself in this kiss, it released the tension that had built up inside her and made her sigh contentedly into the kiss. Behind her closed eyes, she saw a reflection of the scene when he had kissed her in the meadow, full of uncertainty but also full of desire, just like today. Lucy Gray kept her eyes closed when he broke the kiss, exhaling with relief and smiling contentedly.

She nodded slightly at his words and ran her fingers from his neck down his throat to cup his face in her hands.

"Right now, I know that together we can do anything."

She opened her eyes and saw his furtive smile, which she returned. Her heart was still pounding in her throat as they stood close together, but neither of them wanted to let go of the other.

[coveysmystery]

𝐼𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒....

... 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑠𝑛𝑎𝑘𝑒.

@coryopureasdrivensnow ⋆˙⟡♡

[jaxxartbox]

“All my heart is yours, sir; it belongs to you; and with you it would remain, were fate to exile the rest of me from your presence forever.” - Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre 🌻

Victorian Era Dramione AU that needed to be done after seeing @meriyart regency era Dramione 🥹

[coveysmystery]

@coryopureasdrivensnow ᯓᡣ𐭩 ⋆⁺₊❅

In the days since the opening, Lucy Gray had gradually emerged from her isolation. She was out and about on the estate much more often, eating regularly again, and her general condition had improved. She was coping much better with the burden of the games, which had otherwise weighed so heavily on her shoulders in previous years. Perhaps loneliness during this time was not the best solution for suppressing the horror of the games. She did not follow the Games and was very surprised that there were no signs anywhere on the estate that this great spectacle was taking place. Was Coriolanus deliberately keeping anything that might trigger her away from her? Or had the estate never been so festive during this time? She did not know, at least not anymore, since she had only seen her room during the Hunger Games over the years. In any case, she was very relieved that nothing in her immediate surroundings hinted at the Games and that she was not reminded of the bloodshed that was currently underway.

To pass the time, the brown-haired girl had retreated to the library from time to time. She had never been much of a reader, but then again, how could she be? Books were scarce in the districts. She had even started practicing her guitar again, but quickly stopped because she found the sounds unclean and had no idea for a melody or song she could come up with. She had only seen Coriolanus briefly over the last few days. She had deliberately avoided him, and he had respected her desire for privacy. She wanted time to think about everything that had happened without feeling pressured by him. Her desire to leave the Capitol had receded into the distance; after all, she knew that the young president had changed towards her. The monster inside him could only be tamed with her, and she was willing to try one last time.

Since the victory celebration would naturally be another big show and all the bigwigs would gather at the presidential palace afterwards, she knew she had to attend the event. After her appearance on the balcony, she couldn't just disappear again. The senators had been provoked and were waiting for a mistake by their president or his songbird so they could tear them apart. Lucy Gray was a major disruptive factor for Panem's leaders, as she could lead the president astray. Basically, she was just showing him that he didn't have to follow the old farts' rules and that a peaceful Panem was possible. Coriolanus had decided in her favor and stood up to the senators, but an immediate renewal of the government would destabilize the Capitol and Panem so much that it could cause great damage. So the senators had to be replaced slowly, step by step.

Lucy Gray sat in Coriolanus' office, making herself comfortable in his desk chair and leafing through the endless documents that lay around in disorder to pass the time. She felt the need to see the platinum-blond man again, to ask him about the current situation and go over the victory celebration with him. She deliberately pushed aside thoughts of the planned engagement, which had fallen through, as she was still torn. Her gaze fell on the large wall clock; she hadn't noticed how late it was. With any luck, she would have to wait a few more hours for the young president.

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Snow stepped quietly through the double doors of his office, earlier than expected. The Senate meeting had ended unexpectedly quickly; the old men were too preoccupied with the upcoming victory banquet to argue with him any longer than necessary. His gaze immediately fell on her, his Lucy Gray, who had made herself comfortable in his oversized leather armchair, her legs swung over an armrest, a stack of confidential files on her lap. Her brown hair fell across her face as she frowned and read a page, as if she could make the dry legal texts sing with sheer force of will. He paused for a moment and just looked at her. Five days. Five days in which he had hardly seen her because he had given her the space she wanted. Five days in which he had proven to himself that he could wait, that he didn't have to lock her up to keep her with him. And now she was sitting here. Voluntarily. In his chair. In his inner sanctum. A barely perceptible smile, cool but genuine, crossed his features as he closed the door behind him. The sound made her look up.

"You're reading my important papers with the Treasury Department? I hope you at least find the tax increase for District 4 entertaining."

His voice was calm, almost amused, but underneath it lay that familiar, deep satisfaction that only she could elicit in him. Coriolanus stopped in front of the desk, leaned both hands on the heavy oak top, and bent down slightly toward her. Close enough that she could smell the faint scent of roses.

"I actually thought you'd keep me waiting a few more hours. But you're here. In my chair. With my papers. And you look like you've finally decided to stay."

His gaze slid over her face, her posture, the way she had settled in here as if she already owned the room. He straightened up again, walked slowly around the desk until he was standing directly behind her. The young president placed both hands gently but possessively on her shoulders.

"Or am I mistaken, my songbird? Because if you're here to talk to me about the victory celebration... or anything else... then you should know that I'm no longer willing to let you go again. "

His fingers brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, very slowly, as if he wanted to savor the touch. A soft, almost tender laugh, more breath than sound.

"So. What do you want from your president, Lucy Gray?"

[coveysmystery]

The decision to visit Coriolanus was relatively spontaneous. As she wandered through the estate, she kept thinking about the senators, who had not seemed very pleased to see Covey at the side of their highly respected president during the opening ceremony. The concern that they had taken their anger out on Coriolanus, putting him under even more pressure, filled her mind, and she felt an urgent need to check on his well-being, to see him again after five days. So she sneaked into his office in the late afternoon, and when he wasn't there, she made herself comfortable in his office chair, threw her legs over the armrest, and waited.

When the large double door opened, she was engrossed in some list of taxes that she could only partially decipher. Her brown curls fell loosely over her face, obscuring her view of the papers she had placed on her legs, which were resting on the armrests. Only the click of the door lock made her look up. It took her a moment to realize that Coriolanus had entered and was watching her with complete calm. When he asked his question, a brief smile flitted across her face and she lifted the papers with one hand, as if to say, 'You mean these?'

"Very entertaining. With the wealth of the districts, one can of course make even more profit."

Her answer was dripping with self-irony as she put the documents back on the desk and sat down properly. A few days ago, such a conversation would not have been possible. But now there was nothing left of the frightened, withdrawn brown-haired girl. Her posture was calm and somewhat defiant, as it had been in the past when she still made her appearances at the Hob. When the platinum blonde stopped in front of her and leaned on the tabletop, the familiar scent of roses wafted into her nose. Her brown eyes sought out those of her counterpart, whose words made her raise her eyebrows.

"Wasn't that already obvious? If I had wanted to leave, I would have done so without this spectacle at the opening ceremony... I trust in what you promised me... Please don't disappoint me this time."

As she spoke, Coriolanus slowly walked to the desk and stopped behind the chair in which she was sitting. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, and she felt no urge to pull away, as there was nothing frightening about him. Even though his grip was somewhat possessive, it seemed less obsessive than usual, as if he were keeping himself at a distance. His words also seemed less demanding than usual, which triggered a feeling of contentment in her.

"You're not mistaken, I'm not going anywhere."

When he withdrew his hands, she took the opportunity to turn her chair toward him so she could look him in the eyes again. Before she could say anything, however, he brushed one of her many loose strands of hair behind her ear, the gentle touch of her skin leaving a slight tingling sensation. At his question, she playfully rolled her eyes, knelt on the chair to be at eye level with him, then wrapped her arms around his neck to support herself. A sincere smile played around her lips as she kissed Coriolanus on the cheek as a matter of course and looked at him with her brown eyes.

"I don't really want anything from my president. I'd like to talk to the handsome platinum-blond man in front of me."

Her smile lingered on her lips for a while before she broke away from him and let herself fall back into the chair. Her gaze became a little more serious as she looked up at the young president.

"Are you okay? The senators were probably pretty upset after you defied them like that. I hope they weren't too hard on you. Is there anything new I need to know? Of course, I already know I have to show up at the victory celebration... It would be a shame not to congratulate the new winner..."

The thought made Lucy Gray's stomach churn. She knew how awful it felt to be recognized and congratulated for the atrocities committed in the arena. She lowered her gaze briefly to refocus on the matter at hand and waited for a response from the platinum blonde man.

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Coriolanus stood motionless for a moment, his hand lingering in the air where her cheek had just been. The slight imprint of her lips burned like a tiny, sweet sting on his skin—a sensation he allowed himself neither to enjoy nor to despise. It was simply... there. Like her. And yet exactly what he needed at that moment. Her brown curls dancing wildly around her face, he looked at her with that cool, piercing gaze that usually silenced entire halls. It no longer worked on her. Perhaps it never really had.

"The senators were, as expected... indignant. Some even threatened to withdraw their support. Others spat in my face that I was giving Panem away to a district creature ."

He looked away briefly, as if the word itself had become unpleasant to him now that he was no longer directing it at her; then back into her dark eyes.

"But they underestimated how little their support means to me when I don't need it. I made it clear to them that the time of the old men is over. That Panem is no longer ruled by fear; at least not only by fear. But by something... stronger. Lucy Gray... you are no longer a risk. You are the message. The victory celebration will take place. And you will be by my side. Not as a trophy. Not as prey. But as the one who proved that even District 12 can produce something stronger than any arena."

He leaned toward her, close enough that the scent of roses reached her. A finger gently brushed her lower lip, as if to check whether the smile from a moment ago was still there. His gaze softened; only for a heartbeat, but she saw it. He straightened up again, turning away slightly, as if he could no longer allow himself this weakness. Then he turned back to her, and in his ice-blue eyes there was something that was almost like a promise.

"I'm fine. Better than I thought I would be. Because you're here. Because you didn't leave. And as for the winner... He'll see you. He'll hear you sing. And he'll understand that you don't have to win to become immortal. Stay here tonight. Wherever you want. I'm not afraid anymore that you'll disappear if I let you go."

[coveysmystery]

Lucy Gray paused for a moment before sinking back into the armchair. Coriolanus seemed somewhat surprised by her action; he didn't show it, but the tension in his body betrayed him. His ice-blue eyes rested on her with the authority he usually used when giving speeches, as if trying to suppress his sudden uncertainty. It wasn't particularly difficult for her to meet his gaze with a slight smile. However, when she told him the reason for her visit, her smile disappeared and something like concern flashed in her eyes.

The senators' reaction was almost as expected, and yet Coriolanus' words made her feel uncomfortable, so she looked away and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the platinum-blond president had also looked away; he didn't seem to like this description of his songbird very much either. Only when he continued speaking did her eyes meet his again, and she could see the determination in them. Lucy Gray let the words sink in, tried to believe him, and gave him a sincere smile.

"That's beautifully said. But do you think they'll make it that easy for us? You said yourself that everything would fall apart if you wrote off the senators too quickly... A radical change would probably do more harm than good, even though I would like to change everything immediately. What if they join forces and vote you out after all? Turn the Capitol against you, they have the means to do so. If the public isn't behind you, we've lost before we've even started. You have power, Coriolanus, but it's standing on very shaky ground right now."

As she spoke, Coriolanus leaned closer to her, stroking her lower lip with his thumb as if to calm her, to cheer her up. The warm smile on his lips reached her as briefly as the scent of roses that surrounded him before he turned away from her. Lucy Gray followed his every move; he seemed distracted, as if he had to calculate his next steps carefully. She looked a little surprised when his ice-blue eyes sought her out again and looked at her with a familiar intimacy. His words were honest, yet they seemed like a protective shield for himself, as if he were only now realizing that he could only keep her if he let her go. Although he seemed to be suppressing it well, there was a certain uncertainty in his behavior, invisible to outsiders, but clear to her. She slowly rose from his chair and brushed back her brown hair, which had fallen into her face as she moved. Her gaze sought his as she placed her hands on his upper arms, as if to support him.

"I'm glad you're okay... I'm not leaving you, not after everything that's happened. It's not the winner who has to understand that you don't have to win to become immortal, but the inhabitants of the Capitol. I think everyone in the districts is aware that winning the Games is not a heroic deed, only the Capitol sees it that way."

She exhaled audibly and lowered her gaze for a moment to formulate her next words appropriately before addressing them to the young man in front of her.

"Coriolanus, the victory celebration is and must be given far more significance than just the coronation. The Capitol wants a good show, it wants to be kept up to date, drama, action... Something they can admire. Something they can look forward to. Like back then at my Games... We must make ourselves irreplaceable to your citizens, bring them over to our side before the senators poison them with lies. We are now cannon fodder... Every mishap, every mistake, every attack will be blamed on you. Since you are incapable of governing, you let yourself be seduced by me, and now the districts sense their chance to come to power."

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Snow still had her hands on his upper arms, as if she wanted to hold him tight and let him go at the same time. The scent of her skin, that light, wild something of forest and district, mingled with the heavy scent of roses that had surrounded him for years like a second skin. For a moment, he closed his eyes, just for a heartbeat, and when he opened them again, the uncertainty in them was gone, replaced by that cold, clear determination that had carried him to the top of Panem.

"You're right. They won't give us what we want willingly. They'll fight. With poison, with lies, with the mob in the streets if they have to. But they're forgetting one thing, Lucy Gray. I'm not the boy who lets senators and gamemakers dictate how the game is played anymore. I'm president. And I have something none of them have. You."

His fingers slid from her arms up to her face, cupping it gently but firmly, as if she were something fragile and at the same time the only thing he could never lose again. A narrow, dangerous smile appeared on his lips. He took a step back without letting go of her, his ice-blue eyes drilling into hers. A short, almost mocking laugh escaped him, but it didn't sound cruel—more like someone who had finally found the perfect weapon and wondered why he hadn't recognized it sooner.

"The victory celebration won't just be a coronation. It will be the moment the Capitol realizes that it no longer sees you as a District girl—but as its first lady. Not as a tribute. Not as a songbird. But as the woman who stands by my side because she wants to. Because she is stronger than all of them put together. We'll give them the show they want. But we make the rules."

He turned halfway around, walked the few steps to his desk, and pulled out a slim black folder that had been waiting there—as if he had been waiting for this very moment. He opened the folder. Inside were drafts: posters, speech manuscripts, even a new design for the victor's crown—simpler, more elegant, less like a prize and more like a symbol.

"You won't just sing, Lucy Gray. You'll speak. Not as a tribute. But as the one who survived the Games—and who is now saving the Capitol. From itself."

He stepped closer to her again, his voice softening to a whisper between conspirators.

"I'll give the senators what they want: stability. Control. The illusion that everything will stay the same. And while they lull themselves into a false sense of security, I'll rebuild, piece by piece. Slowly enough that they won't notice. Fast enough that we win before they do. And you'll never be cannon fodder again. Not for them. Not for anyone."

He looked at her one last time—really looked at her, with all the intensity he usually reserved for power and death.

"Trust me, my songbird. This time, we'll write the song together. And Panem will dance to our tune."

[coveysmystery]

Her grip on his arm tightened slightly when she noticed his brief uncertainty, which disappeared after a few seconds. After he opened his eyes again, he immediately fixed his gaze on her, his ice-blue eyes reflecting the determination with which he knew he could overcome any obstacle. She slowly loosened her grip, but the skeptical expression in her eyes remained as she listened to his words. She doubted whether she really was the solution to this situation.

"I hope I am enough for what you have in mind... I fear it will not be easy."

She sighed silently and let her arms drop, at the same moment Coriolanus took her face in his hands. His gaze was not as possessive as usual, and she could clearly sense that he simply wanted to hold her close. That he needed her as an anchor to hold on to. A brief smile flitted across her face. Even though Coriolanus looked more dangerous than lovable at that moment, his words were exactly what Lucy Gray needed to hear, and they gave her a glimmer of hope that they could make a difference after all.

"A show is probably the least we can give them. However, we must not forget that the districts, above all, have to believe me... They will initially interpret all this as manipulation. But if I want to communicate openly with them, it would be too conspicuous. It's probably best to get the Capitol on our side first... They're easier to convince."

When the young president suddenly let go of her and turned away, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. Her fawn-brown eyes followed his every move as he brought her a black folder with documents and spread them out on the desk. Curious, her gaze wandered over the documents as she listened to him. The realization that he had already secretly made such plans surprised her, so she looked questioningly over his shoulder.

"If it can be saved... How long have you been planning this?"

The posters and speeches could still be improved, but they summed up everything that needed to be said. The designs for her new crown were also interesting, even though Lucy Gray wished she no longer needed a crown if the Games were simply put on hold. She leaned over the documents and picked up a few speeches with her name on them. Coriolanus' voice beside her was just a whisper as she sat down on the chair and skimmed through the texts.

"Destroy the regime from within so that everything around it doesn't collapse..."

She exhaled audibly as she put the speeches aside and turned back to the platinum-blond man, whose gaze overflowed with intensity, as if he could solve all problems with it.

"We're doing what we can, you don't have to do this alone. After all, you're doing this for me... It was never my intention to react to Panem, but there seems to be no other way to change things."

She got up from the chair again and squeezed into the small space between Coriolanus and the desk. Standing in front of him, she placed her hand on his cheek and traced his cheekbone with her thumb. Somehow he looked tired, as if he had slept poorly at night, and yet there was a sparkle in his eyes that made him seem more alive than ever.

"I missed you... Even though everything is still so fresh and it has left its mark. We both said things we shouldn't have said, things we're not proud of... And I'm sorry for that."

[wolfstarwitch70]

LUCY GRAY LUCY GRAY LUCY GRAY

[butchbetty]

thg + disney edits (2/?)

tbosas - beauty and the beast

[musicalblyth]

Someone sedate me oh my god 😭

[coveysmystery]

@coryopureasdrivensnow ᯓᡣ𐭩 ⋆⁺₊❅

In the days since the opening, Lucy Gray had gradually emerged from her isolation. She was out and about on the estate much more often, eating regularly again, and her general condition had improved. She was coping much better with the burden of the games, which had otherwise weighed so heavily on her shoulders in previous years. Perhaps loneliness during this time was not the best solution for suppressing the horror of the games. She did not follow the Games and was very surprised that there were no signs anywhere on the estate that this great spectacle was taking place. Was Coriolanus deliberately keeping anything that might trigger her away from her? Or had the estate never been so festive during this time? She did not know, at least not anymore, since she had only seen her room during the Hunger Games over the years. In any case, she was very relieved that nothing in her immediate surroundings hinted at the Games and that she was not reminded of the bloodshed that was currently underway.

To pass the time, the brown-haired girl had retreated to the library from time to time. She had never been much of a reader, but then again, how could she be? Books were scarce in the districts. She had even started practicing her guitar again, but quickly stopped because she found the sounds unclean and had no idea for a melody or song she could come up with. She had only seen Coriolanus briefly over the last few days. She had deliberately avoided him, and he had respected her desire for privacy. She wanted time to think about everything that had happened without feeling pressured by him. Her desire to leave the Capitol had receded into the distance; after all, she knew that the young president had changed towards her. The monster inside him could only be tamed with her, and she was willing to try one last time.

Since the victory celebration would naturally be another big show and all the bigwigs would gather at the presidential palace afterwards, she knew she had to attend the event. After her appearance on the balcony, she couldn't just disappear again. The senators had been provoked and were waiting for a mistake by their president or his songbird so they could tear them apart. Lucy Gray was a major disruptive factor for Panem's leaders, as she could lead the president astray. Basically, she was just showing him that he didn't have to follow the old farts' rules and that a peaceful Panem was possible. Coriolanus had decided in her favor and stood up to the senators, but an immediate renewal of the government would destabilize the Capitol and Panem so much that it could cause great damage. So the senators had to be replaced slowly, step by step.

Lucy Gray sat in Coriolanus' office, making herself comfortable in his desk chair and leafing through the endless documents that lay around in disorder to pass the time. She felt the need to see the platinum-blond man again, to ask him about the current situation and go over the victory celebration with him. She deliberately pushed aside thoughts of the planned engagement, which had fallen through, as she was still torn. Her gaze fell on the large wall clock; she hadn't noticed how late it was. With any luck, she would have to wait a few more hours for the young president.

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Snow stepped quietly through the double doors of his office, earlier than expected. The Senate meeting had ended unexpectedly quickly; the old men were too preoccupied with the upcoming victory banquet to argue with him any longer than necessary. His gaze immediately fell on her, his Lucy Gray, who had made herself comfortable in his oversized leather armchair, her legs swung over an armrest, a stack of confidential files on her lap. Her brown hair fell across her face as she frowned and read a page, as if she could make the dry legal texts sing with sheer force of will. He paused for a moment and just looked at her. Five days. Five days in which he had hardly seen her because he had given her the space she wanted. Five days in which he had proven to himself that he could wait, that he didn't have to lock her up to keep her with him. And now she was sitting here. Voluntarily. In his chair. In his inner sanctum. A barely perceptible smile, cool but genuine, crossed his features as he closed the door behind him. The sound made her look up.

"You're reading my important papers with the Treasury Department? I hope you at least find the tax increase for District 4 entertaining."

His voice was calm, almost amused, but underneath it lay that familiar, deep satisfaction that only she could elicit in him. Coriolanus stopped in front of the desk, leaned both hands on the heavy oak top, and bent down slightly toward her. Close enough that she could smell the faint scent of roses.

"I actually thought you'd keep me waiting a few more hours. But you're here. In my chair. With my papers. And you look like you've finally decided to stay."

His gaze slid over her face, her posture, the way she had settled in here as if she already owned the room. He straightened up again, walked slowly around the desk until he was standing directly behind her. The young president placed both hands gently but possessively on her shoulders.

"Or am I mistaken, my songbird? Because if you're here to talk to me about the victory celebration... or anything else... then you should know that I'm no longer willing to let you go again. "

His fingers brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, very slowly, as if he wanted to savor the touch. A soft, almost tender laugh, more breath than sound.

"So. What do you want from your president, Lucy Gray?"

[coveysmystery]

The decision to visit Coriolanus was relatively spontaneous. As she wandered through the estate, she kept thinking about the senators, who had not seemed very pleased to see Covey at the side of their highly respected president during the opening ceremony. The concern that they had taken their anger out on Coriolanus, putting him under even more pressure, filled her mind, and she felt an urgent need to check on his well-being, to see him again after five days. So she sneaked into his office in the late afternoon, and when he wasn't there, she made herself comfortable in his office chair, threw her legs over the armrest, and waited.

When the large double door opened, she was engrossed in some list of taxes that she could only partially decipher. Her brown curls fell loosely over her face, obscuring her view of the papers she had placed on her legs, which were resting on the armrests. Only the click of the door lock made her look up. It took her a moment to realize that Coriolanus had entered and was watching her with complete calm. When he asked his question, a brief smile flitted across her face and she lifted the papers with one hand, as if to say, 'You mean these?'

"Very entertaining. With the wealth of the districts, one can of course make even more profit."

Her answer was dripping with self-irony as she put the documents back on the desk and sat down properly. A few days ago, such a conversation would not have been possible. But now there was nothing left of the frightened, withdrawn brown-haired girl. Her posture was calm and somewhat defiant, as it had been in the past when she still made her appearances at the Hob. When the platinum blonde stopped in front of her and leaned on the tabletop, the familiar scent of roses wafted into her nose. Her brown eyes sought out those of her counterpart, whose words made her raise her eyebrows.

"Wasn't that already obvious? If I had wanted to leave, I would have done so without this spectacle at the opening ceremony... I trust in what you promised me... Please don't disappoint me this time."

As she spoke, Coriolanus slowly walked to the desk and stopped behind the chair in which she was sitting. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, and she felt no urge to pull away, as there was nothing frightening about him. Even though his grip was somewhat possessive, it seemed less obsessive than usual, as if he were keeping himself at a distance. His words also seemed less demanding than usual, which triggered a feeling of contentment in her.

"You're not mistaken, I'm not going anywhere."

When he withdrew his hands, she took the opportunity to turn her chair toward him so she could look him in the eyes again. Before she could say anything, however, he brushed one of her many loose strands of hair behind her ear, the gentle touch of her skin leaving a slight tingling sensation. At his question, she playfully rolled her eyes, knelt on the chair to be at eye level with him, then wrapped her arms around his neck to support herself. A sincere smile played around her lips as she kissed Coriolanus on the cheek as a matter of course and looked at him with her brown eyes.

"I don't really want anything from my president. I'd like to talk to the handsome platinum-blond man in front of me."

Her smile lingered on her lips for a while before she broke away from him and let herself fall back into the chair. Her gaze became a little more serious as she looked up at the young president.

"Are you okay? The senators were probably pretty upset after you defied them like that. I hope they weren't too hard on you. Is there anything new I need to know? Of course, I already know I have to show up at the victory celebration... It would be a shame not to congratulate the new winner..."

The thought made Lucy Gray's stomach churn. She knew how awful it felt to be recognized and congratulated for the atrocities committed in the arena. She lowered her gaze briefly to refocus on the matter at hand and waited for a response from the platinum blonde man.

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Coriolanus stood motionless for a moment, his hand lingering in the air where her cheek had just been. The slight imprint of her lips burned like a tiny, sweet sting on his skin—a sensation he allowed himself neither to enjoy nor to despise. It was simply... there. Like her. And yet exactly what he needed at that moment. Her brown curls dancing wildly around her face, he looked at her with that cool, piercing gaze that usually silenced entire halls. It no longer worked on her. Perhaps it never really had.

"The senators were, as expected... indignant. Some even threatened to withdraw their support. Others spat in my face that I was giving Panem away to a district creature ."

He looked away briefly, as if the word itself had become unpleasant to him now that he was no longer directing it at her; then back into her dark eyes.

"But they underestimated how little their support means to me when I don't need it. I made it clear to them that the time of the old men is over. That Panem is no longer ruled by fear; at least not only by fear. But by something... stronger. Lucy Gray... you are no longer a risk. You are the message. The victory celebration will take place. And you will be by my side. Not as a trophy. Not as prey. But as the one who proved that even District 12 can produce something stronger than any arena."

He leaned toward her, close enough that the scent of roses reached her. A finger gently brushed her lower lip, as if to check whether the smile from a moment ago was still there. His gaze softened; only for a heartbeat, but she saw it. He straightened up again, turning away slightly, as if he could no longer allow himself this weakness. Then he turned back to her, and in his ice-blue eyes there was something that was almost like a promise.

"I'm fine. Better than I thought I would be. Because you're here. Because you didn't leave. And as for the winner... He'll see you. He'll hear you sing. And he'll understand that you don't have to win to become immortal. Stay here tonight. Wherever you want. I'm not afraid anymore that you'll disappear if I let you go."

[coveysmystery]

Lucy Gray paused for a moment before sinking back into the armchair. Coriolanus seemed somewhat surprised by her action; he didn't show it, but the tension in his body betrayed him. His ice-blue eyes rested on her with the authority he usually used when giving speeches, as if trying to suppress his sudden uncertainty. It wasn't particularly difficult for her to meet his gaze with a slight smile. However, when she told him the reason for her visit, her smile disappeared and something like concern flashed in her eyes.

The senators' reaction was almost as expected, and yet Coriolanus' words made her feel uncomfortable, so she looked away and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the platinum-blond president had also looked away; he didn't seem to like this description of his songbird very much either. Only when he continued speaking did her eyes meet his again, and she could see the determination in them. Lucy Gray let the words sink in, tried to believe him, and gave him a sincere smile.

"That's beautifully said. But do you think they'll make it that easy for us? You said yourself that everything would fall apart if you wrote off the senators too quickly... A radical change would probably do more harm than good, even though I would like to change everything immediately. What if they join forces and vote you out after all? Turn the Capitol against you, they have the means to do so. If the public isn't behind you, we've lost before we've even started. You have power, Coriolanus, but it's standing on very shaky ground right now."

As she spoke, Coriolanus leaned closer to her, stroking her lower lip with his thumb as if to calm her, to cheer her up. The warm smile on his lips reached her as briefly as the scent of roses that surrounded him before he turned away from her. Lucy Gray followed his every move; he seemed distracted, as if he had to calculate his next steps carefully. She looked a little surprised when his ice-blue eyes sought her out again and looked at her with a familiar intimacy. His words were honest, yet they seemed like a protective shield for himself, as if he were only now realizing that he could only keep her if he let her go. Although he seemed to be suppressing it well, there was a certain uncertainty in his behavior, invisible to outsiders, but clear to her. She slowly rose from his chair and brushed back her brown hair, which had fallen into her face as she moved. Her gaze sought his as she placed her hands on his upper arms, as if to support him.

"I'm glad you're okay... I'm not leaving you, not after everything that's happened. It's not the winner who has to understand that you don't have to win to become immortal, but the inhabitants of the Capitol. I think everyone in the districts is aware that winning the Games is not a heroic deed, only the Capitol sees it that way."

She exhaled audibly and lowered her gaze for a moment to formulate her next words appropriately before addressing them to the young man in front of her.

"Coriolanus, the victory celebration is and must be given far more significance than just the coronation. The Capitol wants a good show, it wants to be kept up to date, drama, action... Something they can admire. Something they can look forward to. Like back then at my Games... We must make ourselves irreplaceable to your citizens, bring them over to our side before the senators poison them with lies. We are now cannon fodder... Every mishap, every mistake, every attack will be blamed on you. Since you are incapable of governing, you let yourself be seduced by me, and now the districts sense their chance to come to power."

[coveysmystery]

@coryopureasdrivensnow ᯓᡣ𐭩 ⋆⁺₊❅

In the days since the opening, Lucy Gray had gradually emerged from her isolation. She was out and about on the estate much more often, eating regularly again, and her general condition had improved. She was coping much better with the burden of the games, which had otherwise weighed so heavily on her shoulders in previous years. Perhaps loneliness during this time was not the best solution for suppressing the horror of the games. She did not follow the Games and was very surprised that there were no signs anywhere on the estate that this great spectacle was taking place. Was Coriolanus deliberately keeping anything that might trigger her away from her? Or had the estate never been so festive during this time? She did not know, at least not anymore, since she had only seen her room during the Hunger Games over the years. In any case, she was very relieved that nothing in her immediate surroundings hinted at the Games and that she was not reminded of the bloodshed that was currently underway.

To pass the time, the brown-haired girl had retreated to the library from time to time. She had never been much of a reader, but then again, how could she be? Books were scarce in the districts. She had even started practicing her guitar again, but quickly stopped because she found the sounds unclean and had no idea for a melody or song she could come up with. She had only seen Coriolanus briefly over the last few days. She had deliberately avoided him, and he had respected her desire for privacy. She wanted time to think about everything that had happened without feeling pressured by him. Her desire to leave the Capitol had receded into the distance; after all, she knew that the young president had changed towards her. The monster inside him could only be tamed with her, and she was willing to try one last time.

Since the victory celebration would naturally be another big show and all the bigwigs would gather at the presidential palace afterwards, she knew she had to attend the event. After her appearance on the balcony, she couldn't just disappear again. The senators had been provoked and were waiting for a mistake by their president or his songbird so they could tear them apart. Lucy Gray was a major disruptive factor for Panem's leaders, as she could lead the president astray. Basically, she was just showing him that he didn't have to follow the old farts' rules and that a peaceful Panem was possible. Coriolanus had decided in her favor and stood up to the senators, but an immediate renewal of the government would destabilize the Capitol and Panem so much that it could cause great damage. So the senators had to be replaced slowly, step by step.

Lucy Gray sat in Coriolanus' office, making herself comfortable in his desk chair and leafing through the endless documents that lay around in disorder to pass the time. She felt the need to see the platinum-blond man again, to ask him about the current situation and go over the victory celebration with him. She deliberately pushed aside thoughts of the planned engagement, which had fallen through, as she was still torn. Her gaze fell on the large wall clock; she hadn't noticed how late it was. With any luck, she would have to wait a few more hours for the young president.

[coryopureasdrivensnow]

Snow stepped quietly through the double doors of his office, earlier than expected. The Senate meeting had ended unexpectedly quickly; the old men were too preoccupied with the upcoming victory banquet to argue with him any longer than necessary. His gaze immediately fell on her, his Lucy Gray, who had made herself comfortable in his oversized leather armchair, her legs swung over an armrest, a stack of confidential files on her lap. Her brown hair fell across her face as she frowned and read a page, as if she could make the dry legal texts sing with sheer force of will. He paused for a moment and just looked at her. Five days. Five days in which he had hardly seen her because he had given her the space she wanted. Five days in which he had proven to himself that he could wait, that he didn't have to lock her up to keep her with him. And now she was sitting here. Voluntarily. In his chair. In his inner sanctum. A barely perceptible smile, cool but genuine, crossed his features as he closed the door behind him. The sound made her look up.

"You're reading my important papers with the Treasury Department? I hope you at least find the tax increase for District 4 entertaining."

His voice was calm, almost amused, but underneath it lay that familiar, deep satisfaction that only she could elicit in him. Coriolanus stopped in front of the desk, leaned both hands on the heavy oak top, and bent down slightly toward her. Close enough that she could smell the faint scent of roses.

"I actually thought you'd keep me waiting a few more hours. But you're here. In my chair. With my papers. And you look like you've finally decided to stay."

His gaze slid over her face, her posture, the way she had settled in here as if she already owned the room. He straightened up again, walked slowly around the desk until he was standing directly behind her. The young president placed both hands gently but possessively on her shoulders.

"Or am I mistaken, my songbird? Because if you're here to talk to me about the victory celebration... or anything else... then you should know that I'm no longer willing to let you go again. "

His fingers brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, very slowly, as if he wanted to savor the touch. A soft, almost tender laugh, more breath than sound.

"So. What do you want from your president, Lucy Gray?"

[coveysmystery]

The decision to visit Coriolanus was relatively spontaneous. As she wandered through the estate, she kept thinking about the senators, who had not seemed very pleased to see Covey at the side of their highly respected president during the opening ceremony. The concern that they had taken their anger out on Coriolanus, putting him under even more pressure, filled her mind, and she felt an urgent need to check on his well-being, to see him again after five days. So she sneaked into his office in the late afternoon, and when he wasn't there, she made herself comfortable in his office chair, threw her legs over the armrest, and waited.

When the large double door opened, she was engrossed in some list of taxes that she could only partially decipher. Her brown curls fell loosely over her face, obscuring her view of the papers she had placed on her legs, which were resting on the armrests. Only the click of the door lock made her look up. It took her a moment to realize that Coriolanus had entered and was watching her with complete calm. When he asked his question, a brief smile flitted across her face and she lifted the papers with one hand, as if to say, 'You mean these?'

"Very entertaining. With the wealth of the districts, one can of course make even more profit."

Her answer was dripping with self-irony as she put the documents back on the desk and sat down properly. A few days ago, such a conversation would not have been possible. But now there was nothing left of the frightened, withdrawn brown-haired girl. Her posture was calm and somewhat defiant, as it had been in the past when she still made her appearances at the Hob. When the platinum blonde stopped in front of her and leaned on the tabletop, the familiar scent of roses wafted into her nose. Her brown eyes sought out those of her counterpart, whose words made her raise her eyebrows.

"Wasn't that already obvious? If I had wanted to leave, I would have done so without this spectacle at the opening ceremony... I trust in what you promised me... Please don't disappoint me this time."

As she spoke, Coriolanus slowly walked to the desk and stopped behind the chair in which she was sitting. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, and she felt no urge to pull away, as there was nothing frightening about him. Even though his grip was somewhat possessive, it seemed less obsessive than usual, as if he were keeping himself at a distance. His words also seemed less demanding than usual, which triggered a feeling of contentment in her.

"You're not mistaken, I'm not going anywhere."

When he withdrew his hands, she took the opportunity to turn her chair toward him so she could look him in the eyes again. Before she could say anything, however, he brushed one of her many loose strands of hair behind her ear, the gentle touch of her skin leaving a slight tingling sensation. At his question, she playfully rolled her eyes, knelt on the chair to be at eye level with him, then wrapped her arms around his neck to support herself. A sincere smile played around her lips as she kissed Coriolanus on the cheek as a matter of course and looked at him with her brown eyes.

"I don't really want anything from my president. I'd like to talk to the handsome platinum-blond man in front of me."

Her smile lingered on her lips for a while before she broke away from him and let herself fall back into the chair. Her gaze became a little more serious as she looked up at the young president.

"Are you okay? The senators were probably pretty upset after you defied them like that. I hope they weren't too hard on you. Is there anything new I need to know? Of course, I already know I have to show up at the victory celebration... It would be a shame not to congratulate the new winner..."

The thought made Lucy Gray's stomach churn. She knew how awful it felt to be recognized and congratulated for the atrocities committed in the arena. She lowered her gaze briefly to refocus on the matter at hand and waited for a response from the platinum blonde man.

[coveysmystery]

@coryopureasdrivensnow ᯓᡣ𐭩 ⋆⁺₊❅

In the days since the opening, Lucy Gray had gradually emerged from her isolation. She was out and about on the estate much more often, eating regularly again, and her general condition had improved. She was coping much better with the burden of the games, which had otherwise weighed so heavily on her shoulders in previous years. Perhaps loneliness during this time was not the best solution for suppressing the horror of the games. She did not follow the Games and was very surprised that there were no signs anywhere on the estate that this great spectacle was taking place. Was Coriolanus deliberately keeping anything that might trigger her away from her? Or had the estate never been so festive during this time? She did not know, at least not anymore, since she had only seen her room during the Hunger Games over the years. In any case, she was very relieved that nothing in her immediate surroundings hinted at the Games and that she was not reminded of the bloodshed that was currently underway.

To pass the time, the brown-haired girl had retreated to the library from time to time. She had never been much of a reader, but then again, how could she be? Books were scarce in the districts. She had even started practicing her guitar again, but quickly stopped because she found the sounds unclean and had no idea for a melody or song she could come up with. She had only seen Coriolanus briefly over the last few days. She had deliberately avoided him, and he had respected her desire for privacy. She wanted time to think about everything that had happened without feeling pressured by him. Her desire to leave the Capitol had receded into the distance; after all, she knew that the young president had changed towards her. The monster inside him could only be tamed with her, and she was willing to try one last time.

Since the victory celebration would naturally be another big show and all the bigwigs would gather at the presidential palace afterwards, she knew she had to attend the event. After her appearance on the balcony, she couldn't just disappear again. The senators had been provoked and were waiting for a mistake by their president or his songbird so they could tear them apart. Lucy Gray was a major disruptive factor for Panem's leaders, as she could lead the president astray. Basically, she was just showing him that he didn't have to follow the old farts' rules and that a peaceful Panem was possible. Coriolanus had decided in her favor and stood up to the senators, but an immediate renewal of the government would destabilize the Capitol and Panem so much that it could cause great damage. So the senators had to be replaced slowly, step by step.

Lucy Gray sat in Coriolanus' office, making herself comfortable in his desk chair and leafing through the endless documents that lay around in disorder to pass the time. She felt the need to see the platinum-blond man again, to ask him about the current situation and go over the victory celebration with him. She deliberately pushed aside thoughts of the planned engagement, which had fallen through, as she was still torn. Her gaze fell on the large wall clock; she hadn't noticed how late it was. With any luck, she would have to wait a few more hours for the young president.