Chapter Text
The Capitol had a problem. Many Capitol Women were unable to have children. Why? Nobody could really figure why. Snow believed his wife would be the exception, but Livia found out she could not have children herself. Snow needed the population to grow, for the hunger games, of course. More were dying. Less people. Snow sighed. "We may have problems, Snow said.
One peacekeeper nodded. One of his council members asked, "Sir, How must we deal with the problem?" "I have no clue for now, Snow replied. He really did not. How could he handle such problems when there was nothing he could physically do? Snow loved Control more than anything, even his own wife. "Give me some time, Snow speaks up. One of the council members nodded, leaving the room.
Snow should have known marrying Livia Cardew had been perhaps the stupidest thing he had ever done. She was so needy, so whiny, so stuck up. She was beneath him. Very. In School, she was even more pathetic. Desperate for him to notice her. Well, in her own ways. Snow stood up tall, not that he already was tall. “I will be back, Snow announced, then left. He was quite stressed lately. Especially with the pressure to fix the population problem. Still, he was proud to be President and have full control. And have others rely on him. Because that made things quite better. “Coryo, His wife whined. "I missed you so.”
Snow scoffed. "Haven't you entertained yourself enough, Livia?" She frowned. "What do you mean?" "You've been busy all day, surely you didn't need to me, He said. Livia shook her head."No, I mean... I have missed you dearly, Coryo. So busy, so locked up in your work." If Snow ever felt love, he wouldn't have felt love for her. But nonetheless, He married her.
Coryo. His nickname only friends and people he really loved used his nickname. Livia was neither. Though it was not something he’d strangle her for. In fact, it was fitting for his image. How sweet she referred to her lover as such. It kept his image as clean as possible. Though, The districts knew otherwise. But they had no power to really say anything. And that itself was what made Snow love the power and control of his occupation.
”I know, He replied.”But it’s for the better, Livia. And as you know about the population issue, I may have a way for us to have a child, like we wanted.” Her eyes lit up. That was what She desired the most. It was funny that way. She desired a child more than wealth or even a husband. She said,”Oh Coryo…” Livia hugged him and despite wanting to vomit, Snow hugged her back. Their reasons for a child were different. He needed an heir and she wanted to be a mother to care for someone.
“I should go now, Snow said, standing straight as they part from each other. Livia smiled, wiping her tears.”I’m sorry. I must be an embarrassment.” Truthfully, She was. But he couldn’t say that. “Of course not, my dear wife, Snow assured her, wiping some tears from her.”I’ll be back. you have my word.” Livia nodded, and watched him part ways with her. But she trusted him, almost too much. And that, he could use to his advantage. The long hallway intimidated him slightly, but not too much. The portraits of his mother and father hung there. One of his Grandmother and Cousin, Tigris, who had become a stylist for the games.
He hadn’t seen his cousin in a while. She was always busy and so was he. Besides, It was clear she didn’t love him as much as she used to, and her kindness towards him had become cold and distant. It was a good thing, Snow reminds himself. A good thing that another person that made him weak didn’t love him too. He had sort of lied to Livia. He was going to be back, but wasn’t for the reasons she thought. The room he was in was for when he needed to drink and get away from everything and especially his irritating wife.
But also in moments when he thought about her. She was always in his mind one way or another and that irritated him. Perhaps it was because he found out that She had survived. And that he had not killed her. She remained in District 12, at least as far as he had last checked in and known. But she could’ve been long gone by now. Snow had hoped so. But that wasn’t true. She was thriving somewhere without him.
Each day Snow was reminded of how he was like his father, who also drank and left the room to somewhere separate to get away from everything. He poured the liquor in the glass, and drank it. Not all of it, just big sips. The bitterness of it he had gotten used to, and it tasted good to him. He had another glass, and a third. But stopped. If he had any more, they would know. The perfume on his white rose covered the stench of alcohol, thankfully. But he did not want to show up the next morning hung over.
He placed the bottle of liquor back, and the glass there, and fixed himself, closing the door and leaving. It had become a habit for him to do this. He wasn’t ashamed at all. Dealing with Livia Cardew all day made him want to drink constantly. She was like a headache to him, constantly making his head ache by her own stupidity. He already just tolerated Livia prior the knowledge she could not give him heirs, but when he did hear of it, he had grown to loathe her. He had to remind himself constantly that he was a Snow, an important figure whose image could not be tainted in even the slightest. Snow stared at the mirror for a few seconds, saying that same phrase over and over.
Snow lands on top.
────────────────────────
”Thank you! Lucy Gray smiled at the crowd. "Have a nice night!” It was another night at the Hob for her. She wasn’t sure why she went back to District 12 specifically, but she was fine being back. She wanted to run, but where could she have gone? Someday, Lucy Gray would run. Perhaps it was too much right now. And it was a normal night. The Covey had done well. As usual.
”Maude Ivory, You were amazing, Lucy Gray smiled. Her younger cousin had sang beautifully, alongside her. “Thanks to you, Her cousin replied shyly. Lucy Gray laughed. "You would’ve done well on your own.” ”Good song choice, Tam Amber complimented. "Really swept the crowd off their feet.” “Well, it was a song my Mama sang, one of the only I remember, Lucy replied. Barb Azure smiled, and Maude Ivory as well. The three of them were cousins.
She sometimes wondered what life would have been like if her immediate family was still alive and survived. She wondered that constantly. But she’d forever be traumatized by that. And him. She couldn’t get rid of him. He was everywhere. Now that he was President he had complete control.
It was more painful when he announced his engagement and eventual marriage to Livia Cardew, a woman she hadn’t met before but heard of when they were in love. But she had moved on. But not fully. She still loved him. Though, She had accepted they’d never be together again. That was also why she hadn’t dated anyone else. Nobody could replace him. Not even in the slightest.
She hated that more than anything. Lucy Gray couldn't love anyone else other than him and to her, that was her curse. And she thought of all the good times that came with that relationship. “Are you alright? Maude Ivory asked Lucy Gray who replied, "I'm alright. In fact, more than that! But I was recalling memories to myself. What about you, Maude Ivory?”
“Great! Maude Ivory exclaimed. Lucy Gray laughed, noticing that she wore the dress during the first performance since She came back to District 12 after the games. It was pink and pretty. Barb Azure yawned.”I’m quite tired. We should head home now.” And with that, they headed home. Between The Hob and weddings, they hadn’t had much time for themselves. Lucy Gray had to hold back from falling asleep before going home. She couldn’t let herself do so, even if she so badly wanted to.
Maude Ivory usually preferred being tucked in bed, said her mama would do that when she was alive. And Lucy Gray Volunteered to do so tonight. “What song would you like to hear? Lucy Gray asked, smiling. “The song you sang at the reaping! Maude Ivory said. It surprised her that she remembered. “I’m not sure, it’s controversial, Lucy Gray winked.”No, I insist, I loved it! She giggled. She was still quite young, though she was older than she was during the games. And it didn’t matter with age, she’d still want to be tucked in. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you, Lucy gray laughed, as she began in a soft melody.
“You can’t take my past. You can’t take my history. You could take my pa, But his name’s a mystery.”
”Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.”
“You can’t take my charm.
You can’t take my humor.
You can’t take my wealth,
’Cause it’s just a rumor.
Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.”
“Thinking you’re so fine.
Thinking you can have mine.
Thinking you’re in control.
Thinking you’ll change me, maybe rearrange me. Think again, if that’s your goal,
’Cause . . .”
”You can’t take my sass.
You can’t take my talking.
You can kiss my ass
And then keep on walking.
Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.”
”No, sir,
Nothing you can take from me is worth dirt.
Take it, ’cause I’d give it free. It won’t hurt.
Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping!”
When she stopped singing, Maude Ivory had fallen asleep. Lucy Gray smiled, then left her room, her guitar placed where it usually was, then changed to sleep more comfortably. And then, at last, Lucy Gray could get some rest. She needed it. And she closed her eyes. She dreamt of her childhood, at least the earlier years of it when her family was alive. Her two older siblings too. She’d never thought she would have missed them so much.
But she had. She missed her family so much that it hurt even thinking about them. And when morning arose, Lucy Gray had felt better. She changed. She had a wedding today, and looked fancier than normal. “Everybody up! Lucy Gray exclaimed.”It’s a new day!” “Someone’s cheerful, Tam Amber grinned. “Maybe so, but our pay is generous, aren’t you happy about that? Lucy Gray asked.
”Of course I am, He replied, chuckling a little.”You look great, Ty the way.” “Thanks, Tam, so do you, She teased. It wasn’t often she referred to him as such, but today she did so for jokes.He smiles. They were all very close. And today was in fact, a special day. They often did weddings but this paycheck was fairly higher than the others. And since it was a wealthy couple, they’d get new hires too. “You’ve got a song, Lucy Gray? Barb Azure asks. And Lucy Gray nodded.”I always do, you know me.”
And she did. After all they were cousins. And had grown up together before meeting the rest of the Covey. Most of them had either forgotten about the Games or moved on, and didn’t try discussing it. She hoped it was either of those things. “I hear the Capitol’s having a problem, Maude Igory said. “How would you know? You shouldn’t have to know about those things, Lucy Gray said, as they began going to the wedding. She shrugged in response.”You know how things spread around here.”
“Well then, Miss Know It All, Lucy Gray teased, and not in a negative way, a lighthearted and fun way that Maude Ivory knew.”What’s the problem?” As if she was proud of being the first to know,”The Population is going down and they don’t know how to fix it.”
“Of course it is, Clerk Carmine, Billy Taupe’s younger and better brother said."They kill people off annually. If this means they can stop the Hunger Games or do something, then it’s fine by me. In fact, we should keep it going down.” Lucy Gray shrugged. "I doubt it’s true, Maude Ivory. Don’t believe everything people say.” Maude Ivory nodded.Lucy Gray didn’t want to believe it, But she did. It would make sense. Most Tributes were killed off, and since these games had been going on, people had died. The hunger games this year already happened, and that was traumatic to watch.
It was made into law that everyone had to watch the games. A law that kept Snow more in control. She hated the new law but obeyed it because there wasn’t much she could do. They arrived at the venue which was elegant and showed the wealth greatly. Most didn’t have the luxury of a wedding. Some were, and it was clear this was a Capitol wedding. And it was obvious where they were.
“Are you sure about this? They’re Capitol People, Clerk Carmine whispers. “We’ll have enough money to support ourselves, I’m sure we’ll be fine, Barb Azure assured him, and he nodded. Lucy Gray sang as angelic as possible, as usual. Her dress fit the Wedding Attire and right away charmed the people. She didn’t know exactly who the wedding was for. Or their occupation. And she didn’t need to know. But the moment she made eye contact with him in the crowd, She knew. This was no ordinary Capitol Citizen’s Wedding, It was Arachne Crane’s, and she made eye contact with her former lover, President Snow. Who was a guest at the wedding.
She turned away back to the crowd, she couldn’t think of him while singing right now. But now that he had seen her, He’d probably try to talk to her. And she hoped not. But she sang beautifully. Arachne, despite the fact she had fainted and nearly got herself killed by a Tribute years ago, must have forgotten who she was. Arachne was an important Capitol Citizen. Despite the fact Snow’s Council had no real power, that was all to him, they were prominent figures and Arachne happened to be a member.
“Thank you, She had said, after the song was over, they were fed and Lucy Gray was about to leave when Snow stopped her. She turned around.”Hello.” ”Didn’t think you’d be here, He said. “I’m a musician, Lucy Gray shrugged, then left as swiftly as possible. Her heart was racing. She was acting like a teenaged girl with a crush again. And she could not let him know about that. That he still had the ability to make her heart race.
“Are you okay? Tam Amber asks. "The President scared you? Speaking of, what did he tell you?” “Nothing important, I’m fine by the way, She assured him. "He's just intimidating.” Tam Amber nodded. "Was it something about your past relationship with him?” She shook her head.”No. He’s got a wife who wouldn’t want that to get out.” Arachne Crane approached the Covey. “I loved your song! She said, a grin on her face.
”Oh, well thank you, Lucy Gray wrote it, Tam Amber credited. Lucy Gray blushed. "You're talented too, Tam Amber.” Arachne did not seem as annoying as she used to be, still she was probably like the other Capitol Citizens. ”Of course, you know President Snow recommended you, said you were the best Singer and Band here, Arachne explained. Snow had done that? She found it odd. Considering she thought he had long forgotten her up until that encounter. "Really? Lucy Gray asked, surprised.
She nodded."I wonder how you charmed him so well." Lucy Gray laughed. "Luck I suppose." Arachne nodded." Luck keeps everyone going. You know, I remember you the most in your frilly rainbow dress, you still own it?" Lucy Gray still smiled, slightly bigger. "Yes, the dress was once my Mama's. She performed in it frequently. I feel my best in it." She hums in response, ending the conversation.
But she didn't mind, She didn't really like Arachne. But Lucy Gray wouldn't ever admit so. She was lucky enough on being here. Maude Ivory stood by the food happily. She rolls her eyes, approaching her. "You were hungry weren’t you? Lucy Gray laughed. Maude Ivory nodded. "We barely can get food back home. They’re lucky here.” “Yeah, Lucy Gray agreed. "The food is magnificent I must say. So I don’t blame you. Just be cautious. You know how Capitol People are with food.” Maude Ivory giggled in response, she was so sweet, she deserved so much better.
"I'm glad we were fed, Lucy Gray giggled, alongside her younger cousin, who nods. "Me too. I wouldn't have been able to resist such delicious food!" Lucy Gray laughed, ruffling her younger cousin's hair, who allowed it. She wished Snow would be gone, but he remained, mainly speaking with his former friend, the bride. She swallowed the lump in her throat, and drank her wine which was what most around her drank, besides Maude Ivory of course. She drank juice.
Lucy Gray yawned, noticing how exhausted she was becoming, but she was suddenly rushed up on stage for one more song. Of course. She didn't mind, of course. She loved performing. Her eyes on Snow, singing one song he would know was for him. She smiled."I hope you all enjoy, i wrote this song myself."
"Everyone’s born as clean as a whistle —
As fresh as a daisy
And not a bit crazy.
Staying that way’s a hard row for hoeing —
As rough as a briar,
Like walking through fire"
"This world, it’s dark,
And this world, it’s scary.
I’ve taken some hits, so
No wonder I’m wary.
It’s why I
Need you — You’re pure as the driven snow."
"Everyone wants to be like a hero —
The cake with the cream, or
The doer not dreamer.
Doing’s hard work, It takes some to change things —
Like goat’s milk to butter,
Like ice blocks to water.
This world goes blind
When children are dying.
I turn into dust, but
You never stop trying.
It’s why I
Love you —
You’re pure as the driven snow."
" Cold and clean,
Swirling over my skin,
You cloak me.
You soak right in,
Down to my heart."
" Everyone thinks they know all about me.
They slap me with labels.
They spit out their fables. You came along, you knew it was lying.
You saw the ideal me,
And yes, that’s the real me.
This world, it’s cruel,
With troubles aplenty.
You asked for a reason —
I’ve got three and twenty
For why I
Trust you —
You’re pure as the driven snow."
"That’s why I
Trust you —
You’re pure as the driven snow. "
She finishes off, "Well, there’s a dark and a troubled side of life. There’s a bright and a sunny side, too." She hears everyone clap, including Snow, whose amusement is shown on his expression, his wife, oblivious, clapping, and smiling. She steps off, before The covey group hugs her, even though they were up there. "You did incredible! Maude Ivory smiled. Lucy Gray said, "Well, you guys helped me, I can't completely take all the credit." Her family chuckles. She considered them her family. She had nobody else, after all.
“Well, you’re the singer of this! Maude Ivory said. “You’re a beautiful singer, Maude Ivory, Lucy Gray reminded her, and have her a big hug. Despite exhaustion nearly taking over her body, She remained positive.
“Now let’s go home, I need some rest! She softly announced, the covey laughing.
- -
She plopped down on her bed after washing off her makeup and changed. Her hair was going to be messy tomorrow but she didn’t care. They were able to afford food and possibly extra with their new amount of money. To make sure nobody stole it or spent it, they hid the money. At least for now, to be logical. And they’d discuss it. But nobody would have stolen anything besides Billy Taupe. So she found this slightly unnecessary but did it anyway.
She looked up, the moon lit by her window. Lucy Gray liked nights like these, the moon was almost comforting. For once in years, nightmares plagued her, being replaced by good dreams, though, once she fell back asleep. Her nightmares were realistic, almost too realistic. But for her, she had no idea of her pending fate, which would come soon enough. Tomorrow they would have a day to their own. They needed and deserved it after all. They had been working hard all week. Doing gigs and such. And Lucy Gray was looking forward to that.
Snow
Tonight he couldn’t sleep. And this wasn’t unusual for the President of Panem. He sat in the room he’d often drink in and was on his third. It was similar to Casca Highbottom except his addiction ended up costing his life in a way. And Snow was far from an alcoholic. Her song was on his mind. The song she wrote for him. She knew he would know, her eyes frozen on him, for perhaps seconds, before looking away.
He hadn't thought of Lucy Gray in years. Well, not much. If he ever did, he brushed his thoughts off. But now this was nearly impossible. But he felt pleased when she seemed intimidated by him during their encounter. She had grown, still as beautiful, but love was weak. His weakness. His downfall. He sighed, hearing his wife call out, "Love? Where did you go?" He stopped. Snow groaned, leaving fhe room, closing fhe door behind him.
"Over here, I couldn't sleep, you should be sleeping, Snow told his wife. Livia smiled."I feel safer when you're there, Coryo." He knew how he could bring up fhe population, make his wife feel somewhat happier, and keep up his control, and punish the districts. More specifically, her. She needed to be punished. “Livia? Snow said. She looked up. Hm?” “You’ve always wanted a child and I’m sorry you can’t bear them, but I was up thinking of how to help you, Snow said, smiling, always convincing and manipulative. "I will announce it tomorrow when it’s in effect. And it’ll be your anniversary gift, or part of it.”
Her eyes widen, wrapping her arms around him. Oh Coryo! You know how much I love you, don’t you?” Snow nodded, holding back the urge to vomit when he replied,"and you know how much I love you. I promise, you'll like my idea." His wife grins. "I do enjoy your ideas."
She was quite naïve and easy to manipulate. But Perhaps that’s the only thing Snow liked about his wife. And he was relieved he didn’t love her. He couldn’t love anyone else after her. After what happened. Love hadn’t been a good thing. “Now come on, let’s go back to bed, love, Livia said to her husband adoringly. Livia had changed greatly and for the better. She was a loyal and adoring wife, rather than who she used to be. But it could have been many things, not just him. Snow followed behind her. He didn't feel guilty about having Lucy Gray on his mind. Because he wasn't doing so for good intentions. When did he ever have good indentions? No, he was thinking of how he could punish Lucy Gray Baird.
The Hunger Games weren't enough for him, or her. She had clearly moved on, and healed. Like everything else in her life. But with his new idea, she couldn't move on from this. She couldn't hide or run, or even cheat her way out. He rolled over in his bed, seeing his wife peacefully asleep, being surprisingly not clingy. Normally every night she’d spoon him or at least have her arms wrapped around him, and sometimes he would if she begged or asked. He had to play his part after all. After he made sure his wife had fallen asleep, he turned over, whispering to himself, "Snow lands on top." He repeated this in head, reminding himself he was a Snow, and President, he had complete control, not her, not of him anymore.