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roguerogerss · 5 months

Text

complaining

pairing: coriolanus snow x reader

w/c: 3.6k

warnings: literally full on SMUT, bit of swearing, underage drinking but only if ur american, coriolanus is a warning in himself.

a/n: help my smut writing has gotten so good the past few months this popped off so hard. been obsessed with coryo since the movie came out (you cant expect a mentally ill woman not to fall in love with him. you just cant.) so here’s this. i’m disgusted by myself too. bye. (requests r open, send me stuff here)

Livia Cardew's 18th birthday had been a mistake to attend. The party had been held at Pluribus Bell's nightclub, a place in which you only found yourself when you made an appearance at your friend's birthday parties, and the entire club had been packed, not only with Livia's family and your classmates from the academy, but with their friends and families, too.

Overall, there must've been three hundred people there, all tightly packed together, some drunkenly pressed against eachother, dancing, others swaying silently by the bar or stood by one of the table booths, yelling in eachother's ears to get their points across. You thought that, of the three hundred, you might only have known thirty.

Livia, unfortunately, considered you as a close friend, which was certainly true when you were young children, but, as the years had gone by, you'd actually found her, and most of the other girls in your class, to be almost insufferable. Nevertheless, you'd managed to land yourself an invitation to her family's mansion before the party had started, and you'd pretended to be having a good time, even although the crystal glasses that you were drinking from and the buffet that Mrs Cardew had set out on the gold-trimmed marble dining table, had settled a queasy feeling into the pit of your stomach.

The only other face in the Cardew's enormous living room that wasn't constantly grinning, was Crassus Snow's own son, Coriolanus, who you'd make eye contact with on occasion, and he'd send a small, knowing smile, and an eye roll back in your direction.

You liked Coriolanus, a lot, actually, you considered him to be your best friend, sometimes you even dabbled with boyfriend. But your classmates couldn't know that, simply down to the type of bond that you shared, and so, after every bout of eye contact, every blush-inducing smile, you'd simply turned your body away, back to Clemensia, or Livia, or Arachne, and waited for the next time you'd catch Coriolanus' eye. Of course, he was almost always staring - he thought you were the only thing in the room worth looking at - even while speaking to his fellow classmates, and so, every time you turned around, you'd repeat the process over again.

"Are you even listening to me?" Arachne would say, voice as booming as ever, and Livia would intervene, calling your name to have you rejoin the conversation.

The party had been terrible to begin with, the opulent nature of the Cardew household having you feeling sick, right from the get-go, and had only gotten worse when you'd all left and gotten into chauffeur-driven cars to be taken to the nightclub. You'd been sweaty just looking at the crowd when you arrived, and saying hello to classmates that you didn't like but had to pretend to for the social status of it all had exhausted you even further.

But the night had ended the same way it always did, with you leading Coriolanus Snow back to your apartment, hands loosely intertwined with eachother.

You and Coriolanus lived in much the same circumstances, both in the same apartment building, where the exterior and most of the homes inside were packed with marble and precious stone, the two of yours being an exception to this.

You'd both come from rich families, of course you had, this was the Capitol after all, but, after being orphaned in the war, you lived alone, in an apartment that seemed to have crumbled more every time you arrived home, with pieces of plaster falling from the ceiling day by day, and new cracks appearing in the walls as often as every hour.

Coriolanus was only slightly better off than you were, what with Tigris and the Grandma'am still living with him.

Ever since the war, you'd been on eachother's side, no matter the circumstance. If either of you had chance to sneak food from the dining hall of the academy, you'd share it between you, and if there ever came a cold winter, Coriolanus would invite you over, and let you share the scarce warm clothes and blankets he and his family owned, topped with a bowl of cabbage soup from Tigris.

You supposed your sleeping together after the very occasional night at Pluribus' nightclub had come naturally, and the sleeping together most every night for the past few months had been only the normal progression. You didn't mind it, but, of course, no one at the academy was ever to find out. It would only spark rumours, which would certainly mean that, soon enough, your classmates would find out about both of your financial positions, which could absolutely not happen.

Your nights together remained simply intimacy in the dark, and you supposed you were both okay with that.

Coryo had his first two fingers interlocked with your last two, and your arms swung between you as you walked ahead of him. Neither of you were particularly drunk, a personal choice rather than an inability, as Livia's parents had paid Pluribus Bell extra for their daughter's party to feature an open bar, which could've been taken full advantage of by the pair of you, considering you'd never have enough money to even get into Pluribus' normally, nevermind buy enough drinks to make you both feel lightheaded.

But the Cardew's were high up in the Capitol, and Livia's entire family was in attendance, which meant that, with them, came the rich and famous, government officials, celebrities. The two of you, not having rich parents to fall back on, couldn't risk getting blackout drunk. It was the kind of thing that was funny if you were affluent enough, but embarrassing and ill-mannered if you weren't.

"You know," Coriolanus gave your arm a particularly hard swing, "I think we're getting pretty good at that."

"Good at what?"

"The whole, pretending we don't really know eachother, thing."

You scoffed and turned your body slightly to face him. "We don't pretend we don't know eachother."

"Well, whatever you'd call it. Pretending we're just acquaintances?" Coriolanus moved his tongue around in his mouth a little, mulling over the words like he'd only been asking himself the question. And then he gave his head a shake. "No, we're definitely pretending that we don't know eachother."

"It was your idea." You shrugged. Your conversations seemed to often be pointed, but it was all in good spirits. You knew that you loved eachother really.

"I'm not saying it wasn't." You laughed at his remark, "I'm saying we're good at it."

"And you're happy to do it?" You raised an eyebrow at him and he shook his head almost too enthusiastically. Maybe the posca was stronger than you'd thought.

"Not particularly, but if it means that this keeps happening, and you keep sharing the food that you steal from the hall, then I could keep going." Your mouth fell open in feigned hurt, and you clamped a hand over your chest.

"You're only sleeping with me for stolen leftovers?"

Coriolanus shook his head and grinned at your joke, looking down at his feet, which were aching with how tight his boots were. "I'm kidding, obviously. Of course I don't like it, but you know what everyone's like."

"Yeah, but it wouldn't hurt to be friends in public." You swung your hands between you for a few seconds while Coriolanus considered your proposal. You were nearing your apartment, and you fumbled in your coat pocket with one hand for your key-card.

"No. No it probably wouldn't." He said finally and you gasped.

"Are you agreeing with me for once?" You'd reached your apartment complex, now, and the LED lights on the archway into the building were almost blinding when paired with the crystal chandeliers that lined the lobby. The pair of you began climbing the marble staircase that brought you to your apartment, which was situated on the second floor. You always found it almost comical, how the Capitol had kept it's glory in apartment buildings but that the people housed within some of them were one missed rent payment away from eviction.

"I always agree with you." Coriolanus laughed, giving your hand a tight squeeze. You pressed your keycard against the lock-pad and, the second the door buzzed open, you'd untangled your hand from Coriolanus' to undo the buckle on your too-high heels which had once belonged to your mother, who's feet were only one size bigger than yours and so you were able to just about get away with wearing her old, but still stylish, shoes.

"Only when we sleep together." You gave him a seductive wink which had him laughing.

"Which seems to be more often than not these past few months." Coriolanus took off his blazer and tossed it over your tattered sofa, which was beautiful in it's glory days, but was now cracked and moulting.

Your face had broken into a cheeky smirk as you approached him, your back still to the door as he faced you. "Are you complaining, Snow?"

In one, swift movement, Coryo had backed you into the door and had one hand on your waist, the other above your head. He cocked an eyebrow at you in a way that had you weak in the knees, "Do I seem like I'm complaining?"

"I'm not sure, pretty boy, you'll have to do better than that." Your smirk was still present, and, without hesitation, Coriolanus' lips were crashing down onto your own, with just as much hunger for you as you were used to.

He moved fast, he always did, and he'd removed your coat from your shoulders and thrown it to the floor without even a second thought, and was now twirling the straps of your dress between his fingers teasingly. Your hands roamed his chest, blindly searching for the buttons of his shirt, and, when you found them, you fumbled with them until you'd undone them all, and then you pulled it from his arms, so that he was in nothing but his father's old black slacks.

Your dress was Livia's - you'd told her you just couldn't decide what to wear, and she'd offered it up - and it was huge and puffy and made you vaguely resemble a cupcake, and so, when Coryo's fingers finally slipped under the straps and began peeling them down your shoulders, you felt an incredible sense of relief to finally be out of the thing.

When you'd stepped out of the dress, Coriolanus almost dropped it on the floor, but you stopped him, "Ah, ah! That's Livia's, I can't get it ruined. Her father would probably skin me to make a new one. Can you put it over the sofa?"

He laughed and obliged, he always did, draping the dress neatly over the arm of the sofa before coming back to kiss you, this time even rougher than before. His lips trailed down your neck, hands roamed your body, fingers familiarising themselves with the black lacy set you'd worn under your dress, the only reason being that you knew Coriolanus would be the one taking it off of you that night.

He pulled back from you for a second, admiring your form, how your waist dipped in and you curved back out at the hips, how perfectly the bra sat on your chest, and, most of all, how you were all for him in that moment, how you seemed to always be all for him. "Oh my God." Was all he seemed to be able to muster.

The underwear had actually been stolen from a boutique near your house, one owned by Coriolanus' own cousin's boss. But you figured he didn't need to know that.

Coryo's head had dropped to your collarbone, and his lips travelled all the way across your chest, occasionally sucking or biting, which had your breath hitching in the back of your throat. "You're taking your time tonight." You observed.

"Mm." He hummed against you and then brought his head up so that his icy blue eyes were staring straight into yours, "Do I still seem like I'm complaining?"

"Oh, shut up, Snow." You giggled and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him back down to kiss you again. Coriolanus seemed satisfied with his teasing of you, because his hands had started to travel south, until his lithe fingers had pushed your underwear to the side and he'd pressed one of them inside of you, earning a mewl of approval and making your back arch away from the door.

Coriolanus chuckled against your lips. "Every time."

"Again," You tried to sound convicted but whined when the tip of his finger brushed against a sensitive spot, "Shut up, Snow."

Your hands reached for his belt and he didn't stop you as you made quick work of unbuckling it and pulling it from his belt loops. As soon as it was on the floor, the button on his pants was undone and they were on the floor, too.

"Eager." Coryo remarked and you moaned as he added a second finger and increased his pace. Normally, by this point, he'd have you on your bed, or at least the sofa, but it seemed he wanted things to be different tonight.

As soon as a third finger found it's way inside of you, you were a moaning, whining mess, and your teeth sunk into Coriolanus' shoulder as you tried to stifle your whimpers. Your knees had started to buckle and you knew your legs would give way any moment now. "Coryo...Coriolanus, I can't...I can't stand up." You were so breathless that even trying to get a sentence out was next to impossible.

Coryo's free hand held you steady by the waist, fingers gripping your back and thumb pressed firmly into your stomach. "You can take it, honey. Know you can."

His words had you melting and you felt yourself nearing the edge as he curled his fingers inside of you. "Coryo, I'm gonna...God, you have to stop-"

"I'm not stopping. Want you to finish on my fingers before I fuck you." He'd never spoken so lewdly to you, ever, and it had you wondering what had gotten into him, at the same time as it had you clenching around him.

"Coryo!" You called out as you felt yourself getting there. "Fuck, Coryo-"

"I know, baby. I know, come on." He looked you right in the eye as he said, "Cum for me."

That was all you needed, you came undone right there, pressed against your apartment door, moaning so loudly you were certain that Tigris and the Grandma'am would hear you, ten floors up. You, once again, sunk your teeth into his shoulder to try to quiet yourself, but it was hardly of any use.

Your legs had given out halfway through your orgasm, and Coriolanus' hand had dug into your waist harder to keep you held up. When you'd finished, he grinned at you, breathless, and scooped you up with minimal effort, only to dump you onto the sofa. His underwear was gone in seconds, and you were still wearing your set, but he was hovering over you, seemingly ready to sink into you and make you feel even better than before.

His lips found your neck again, and he was saying right in your ear, "You did so well, sweetheart. So well."

He was one for praising, and you were one for receiving, so it only made your pupils dilate even further. "Are you ready?"

His eyes were locked onto yours, fingers wrapped around your chin, always so caring, whether he'd just finger-fucked you against a door or not, always making sure you really wanted it. You nodded, "Yes. Ready."

"Okay." He kissed you again, "Let me know if you need to stop, yeah?"

"I will. You know I always do." He'd pushed your underwear aside again, and slipped into you with a slight effort in no time, which really reinforced his, 'sleeping together more often than not', statement, as it had taken at least a few minutes and some words of encouragement the first couple of times.

You gasped and dug your nails into his back, which had Coriolanus' face screwing up slightly. He'd always liked when you dug your nails into him, the pain feeling more pleasurable than anything. "You feel amazing. You always feel amazing." His hands found your breasts, squeezing them through the sheer lace.

"Do you want me to take my underwear off?" You asked through breathy moans. Coryo shook his head quickly and kissed over your bra.

"No." He said, almost authoratively, and thrusted into you harder, faster, as his hand wandered over your body and his eyes raked over you. "Want it on."

You nodded and obeyed, unable to do anything but almost scream his name, with how fast, and rough he was pounding into you. "Coryo, I'm getting close again-"

"You can hold it." He threw his head back in pleasure and a guttural moan left his throat. "I'm nearly there too. Can't hold it, seeing you like this." He gestured to your underwear.

"You like it?" You asked seductively, earning another moan and a nod from Coriolanus. "Got it for you, wore it tonight for you. Knew you'd like it."

"Fuck, who's all this for?" You knew he was close now, could feel him twitching inside of you. You were close too, but you liked the hold you had over him.

"Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean." You teased, still breathless but with a smirk on your face. Coryo shook his head at you, convincingly disapproving, and then his hand was on your throat. Lightly enough that it didn't hurt, but just hard enough that your breathing was slightly laboured and he had more power over you than you had over yourself.

"Who is this for?" Coriolanus asked again, voice harder this time. You weren't sure where this was all coming from, but you certainly enjoyed it. You were cocky at the best of times, and you liked having someone keep you in check.

"You, Coriolanus." He groaned and thrusted into you so hard you were seeing stars. "Fuck, Coryo, it's all for you. I'm always all for you."

"Good girl. That's a good girl, all mine." He gave your throat a light squeeze and then released you, leaving you gasping for air. "Shit. Gonna cum." He dropped his head again, still unrelenting in his pace or roughness. "Are you there?"

"I'm there too." Your moans were strangled, so loud you could hardly even quiet yourself by clamping a hand over your mouth. "God, Coryo!"

You came for the second time, Coryo following right behind you, and you felt his load come out in ropes inside of you, only making your high even higher. Coryo collapsed on top of you, both of you breathing heavily and bodies shaking together. "That was amazing, Coryo." You cooed, hand stroking his white-blonde curls back from his forehead.

"Might've been the best we've had." Coriolanus was so out of breath he could barely form a full sentence. You hummed in response, nodding your head and then letting it fall back against the arm of the sofa.

"So you liked this?" You teased, plucking your bra strap from your skin and then letting it ping back on you. Coryo's face turned a light pink colour and he laughed.

"So what if I did?" He lifted his head, chin resting against your belly, "I liked it, a lot. Think you're beautiful. You know that."

You nodded. "I do."

Coryo shook his head, really laughing now, "There's the arrogance."

"Arrogance? You live in the Capitol, Coryo, there's many more arrogant than me." You hadn't stopped stroking his head, and Coriolanus thought he could've fallen asleep, your voice always calmed him, someone safe, and the added touch and his physical exertion made sleeping sound even more appealing.

"I'm kidding. You are beautiful, you should know that." His voice was soft, quiet, and you were glad that his eyes were closed, because your cheeks felt warm and you were certain you were blushing. "Do you think we should start acting like we know eachother?"

"I'd like that." You admitted. "Should we introduce ourselves? Maybe tell eachother two truths and a lie?"

"You know what I mean." Coryo finally stood from where he'd been laid, between your thighs, and gave you a kiss on the forehead as he bent down to retrieve his discarded clothing. You sat up aswell, fixed out your underwear, and reached for your dress. "I'd like people to know that I know you."

"In this kind of way?" You gestured to both of your nakedness as Coryo pulled his underwear back on. Your cheeky grin was back, the one he loved so much. Your constant teasing made it hard to know whether or not the pair of you were actually in love or just best friends sleeping together, but Coryo didn't mind too much, as long as he had you, he was happy.

"Maybe this can wait until we've passed first base in public. Cant skip straight to fourth, you know?" You'd put your dress back on by now, and Coryo had just finished zipping his trousers and was fussing over his hair. You crossed the room to him, and his hands settled on your waist and he pressed a small, fleeting kiss to the tip of your nose.

"Oh, that would be dastardly." You checked the time on your mothers watch, which you still had encircled around your wrist.

"Pluribus' doesn't close for another two hours, should we go back?"

#coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus snow x reader #coryo snow #coryo x reader #the hunger games #the hunger games ballad of songbirds and snakes #tbosas #coriolanus snow

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risingoftime · 3 months

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AGAINST ALL ODDS | CORIOLANUS SNOW X PLINTH!READER | CHAPTER FOUR

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a/n: i'm sorry for the delay! my grandpa (who's like my dad) is in the hospital and it's been a rough month, especially with finding the motivation to write. hope you like the chapter & thanks for being patient with me ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

Coriolanus awoke with a pulsing headache and little recollection of what had occurred the night before and how he had returned to his room, still in the clothes he had worn the night before. The scent of white liquor remained on Coriolanus’s skin, and his mouth tasted sour from being sick. He cringed at the memory of last night when he had shown up drunk in front of the Plinth’s family doorstep. Coriolanus had all intentions of returning to his penthouse suite, yet when it was time to leave Pluribus’s nightclub, he dialled the Plinth residence in hopes of hearing your voice. His body had a mind of its own, guiding his feet back to you of all people. Strabo Plinth’s daughter haunted his mind amid all his thoughts.

Coriolanus had vowed he would not be entrapped by something as fickle as love. Gone was the foolish boy whose heart could be serenaded and swayed by a girl like Lucy Gray—the ghost of District 12 who sings with Mockingjays.

At first glance, Strabo Plinth’s daughter appeared to be the ideal candidate to become his wife. She was beautiful in a way the other Capitol girls weren’t. Although she’s well-mannered, there’s a hint of defiance within her that Coriolanus wants to tame, and most importantly, she is District. Despite your redeeming qualities, Coriolanus had no intentions of falling in love with you. But lust? That he would allow. Coriolanus knew he would be deluding himself if he didn’t admit that he was intrigued and partially awe-struck when he first met you.

You were seven and a force to be reckoned with. Most had assumed that Sejanus was the younger sibling because he crouched behind his sister and parents. Coriolanus had never met anyone his age from the Districts. Everything that he learned of them was from his family and the Capitol. He had heard that the people were vile and undignified.

District were merely scum that belonged underneath his shoe. You were the first person who had made him question if those statements were factual. At the academy, you introduced yourself to your classmates with confidence and poise that he thought uncommon of someone his age, especially from a lower class individual. She didn’t blink twice when no one embraced her and seemed content with having her brother, Sejanus, by her side. Romulus was the only person who could squeeze between the pair.

Years had passed, and as Strabo Plinth had begun solidifying his place within the Capitol’s society, so had his children. Although impulsive and reckless, Sejanus had become Professor Agrippina Sickle’s protégé. He earned himself a spot in the Hunger Games as a mentor to the impudent Marcus. It irritated Coriolanus beyond belief that Highbottom favoured Sejanus and his sister over him. Good riddance.

His daughter excelled academically and in all challenges thrown at her. She had blossomed into a head turner, catching the eye of many suitors she paid no attention to. Many of the boys in his grade whispered and gossiped about how it would feel to be with a girl from the Districts, nonetheless one who could assimilate and possibly surpass Capitol expectations of those who have been low-bred. And they had tried, all failed miserably. Romulus and Sejanus acted as your guard dogs, never allowing outsiders too close. And now, Romulus was trying to do the same again. Coriolanus would not allow it.

Even though he was able to win over Sejanus, Romulus is a different breed that would only learn from sheer force.

The plan was simple. Coriolanus called for a favour from two of his dumb brute classmates to teach Romulus a lesson. He instructed Henric and Reuben to rough him up a little, making it apparent what would come to those who tried to intervene with him. Coriolanus promised the two that he would review their 11th Hunger Games proposals. Henric and Reuben are at the bottom of the class and are Dr. Volumnia Gaul’s least favourite students. She had made it painfully evident that she couldn’t stand them. Coriolanus threatened the duo that he would snitch to Dr. Gaul that they had assistance with their proposal, and he knew very well Volumnia despised liars. It was a form of insurance. No one would find out who was indeed behind the attack. It’s not like the Dolittle family has disposable income to bribe anyone, especially after “downsizing” and moving out of the penthouse building. The Plinth family now lived in their old residence.

Reuben assured Coriolanus that he would notify him once the deed was done. It was easy to pinpoint Romulus’s schedule and routine since he shared the same classes as his fiancee and was Remus’s little brother. Coriolanus knew Remus quite well and had figured out where the Dolittle’s now lived. The thought reminded Coriolanus of the conversation he shared with Sejanus’s sister.

Coriolanus had no one close to him. She stated that it’s hard to know and trust the version of him presented to her. Coriolanus thought he had friends. But upon further reflection, they were rather accomplices and acquaintances. Her observation was correct. It left him wondering what else Sejanus shared with her in those god-forsaken letters. Did he write of his character? Had Sejanus ever suspected his actions of betrayal? Or worse, did he tell his younger sister about the true nature of his relationship with Lucy Gray? It would be strenuous to win her over if she knew that information. Not that it mattered. She would still have to marry him, Coriolanus thought. But it still nagged at him. As Tigris once said, she would do nothing for Coryo if she didn’t trust or believe he cared. The advice had worked with Lucy Gray; why would it be any different this time?

𓇢𓆸

Cold water ran down his body, washing away the night. Coriolanus’s mind wandered to his cousin, Tigris. The empty spot remained from when she had the maintenance man drill holes in the tesserae from the bathroom. Tigris may hate him now, but she will know whenever she buys new fabric and can design a fresh piece. It was because of Coriolanus and his detriments. He was no longer her precious and naive Coryo. Lucy Gray had made sure of that. No other District girl would make him feel foolish again. He knew better. Lucy Gray was glitter and gold, a shiny new toy that caught his attention. She was fascinating and a true performer who could capture her audience. Coriolanus hadn’t realized he was another audience member until the hanging tree.

Grandma’am’s voice echoed throughout the penthouse, singing the national anthem of Panem. Her shaky, shrill voice made his ears ring and head throb. He needed to stop drinking. Coriolanus doesn’t even know why he decided to go to the gin joint; he is just so angry. He could confide in no one about Lucy Gray and the truth behind her disappearance and their relationship. Although Coriolanus has improved, he won’t make the same misstep that he did with Lucy Gray. He would lie better. She was the one exception.

His most intimate firsts would all be shared with those from the Districts. Coriolanus’s first kill was Bobbin from District 8, his first kiss was Lucy Gray from District 12, and now the girl he would marry and bed would be from District 2, the Plinth’s daughter. The thought made his stomach turn. How many associations does one need with the Districts before they're seen as one themselves?

Grandma’am continued to bellow the Capitol anthem at the dining table while the cooks placed food on the placemats. His head still throbbed, and Coriolanus had half the mind to tell her to shut up. He couldn’t blame her. Grandma’am clung to a reality that provided her comfort, her life before the Dark Days. Coriolanus couldn’t imagine how the Capitol must’ve been prehistoric to the war, and the Dark Days remained in his mind. The bombing from the District 13 rebels still shook him to his core.

“Are you going to eat that?” Tigris questioned. The scrambled eggs and bacon lay on his plate untouched. Her face was inquisitive. It was a refreshing break from the usual deadpan expression that she gave him at every glance. He sometimes wondered if Tigris would ever grow tired of her childish grudge against his Father and him. After all, she was the one reaping the benefits from their sacrifices. She should be grateful.

“I’ll just have the bread for now, thank you,” he mumbled.

Coriolanus was unsure if he could stomach anything else. He didn’t think this through. How would he impress and gain the trust of Strabo’s daughter in this condition?” The only currency he had to get him past her walls was his charm and his wits. She isn’t the type of girl who is quickly swept off her feet. He would ask Tigiris, but Coriolanus doubted that she would agree to help him, considering she made her distaste evident when he had announced his engagement deal with Strabo Plinth.

Tigris went on a tangent. She had spoken fast and brash towards Coriolanus, ranting that a woman wasn’t to be owned or bought but cherished for who she is and not her assets or the pleasure she can provide to her male counterparts. Tigris implores that he doesn't seal the Plinth's daughter's fate for Snow's dynasty uprisal. She claimed we could survive without the Plinth's assistance, but Coriolanus knew better. They wouldn't make it through the year if they had to pay the rent fee and his monthly tuition, not off of the pennies she earned from Fabricia Whatnot and her storefront. Coriolanus was above asking Tigris to charge men for favours in the night. However, it did briefly cross his mind. Upon first impressions, Coriolanus had thought Tigris was trying to debate him on his morals. It was more profound than that. Tigris was reminded of the possibility that the Plinth's daughter could have been her if Coriolanus found a respectable suitor willing to pay a hefty sum for the chance to take the name of a Snow. Isn't that what Strabo Plinth had done? He traded his daughter for the power that comes with Coriolanus's last name. Stabo's daughter was now his.

Brunch was short-lived. Coriolanus needed time to gather and prepare for his date with his fiance. Although he had strategized and managed to survive the games alongside Lucy Gray, he needed to figure out how to romance and court a girl. It never crossed his mind.

Coriolanus knocked on the Plinth's residence door with a bouquet of Grandma'am's finest roses. He wanted to make an excellent first impression on their date. When Strabo Plinth’s daughter came to the door, Coriolanus wasn't surprised to see her looking as radiant as ever. Her hair was pulled back into a slick and neat ponytail, her enticing features on display. Whenever she tied her hair up, sinful thoughts plagued his mind. Coriolanus had to fight the urge to take hold of the flowing strands and pull her closer. He was tempted to laugh at the audacity of performing such an action but chose against it and handed the bouquet to her.

“These are for you,” he grinned.

She gracefully accepted them, returning his smile with her own. But her nose wrinkled at the sickly sweet fragrance when she brought the flowers closer to her face as if the smell unnerved her.

"You don't like roses?" It was a question, but it was apparent that Plinth's daughter was not entirely pleased as she initially led him to believe when she took the bouquet.

"You had never asked."

Coriolanus narrowed his eyes at her. It was true. He hadn't bothered to get to know the girl that he was to be married to. Call him naive, but he assumed it wasn't necessary, as the wedding was just another transaction along the road to his presidency. A minor misstep, he would make up for it later.

𓇢𓆸

The vehicle pulled up to the Citadel, and Noll escorted them out of the car. The cold, brisk winter air knicked his face as he grasped his trench coat closer to his body and clenched the picnic basket in his hand, seeking comfort and stability to calm his nerves.

"Coriolanus, if your idea of taking me out on a date is bringing me back to school, I promise you won't get far with me." Her tone was deadpanned as she stared at him with an unimpressed expression. He couldn't help but chuckle. Coriolanus was not only bringing Strabo Plinth's daughter to the Citadel. Dr. Volumnia Gaul had designed a prototype environment for the next Hunger Games. A large gilded cage-like room that encapsulates lush green plants of all kinds, bright, breathtaking butterflies that are poisonous to the touch, and tropical Jabberjays that flew overhead. It is a cornucopian change of environment from the Capitol of Panem. A small escape that only Coriolanus could provide her. "Trust me, just for today. Take a leap of faith that I'm not as bad as you believe I am," Coriolanus pleaded. He brought his hands together and put them under his chin with the basket to give her his best sad puppy dog expression. He felt like an idiot doing so until she let out a whimsical laugh at his expense and shook her head.

They walked through the Citadel, and she followed behind Coriolanus, silently taking everything in as they approached Dr. Volumnia Gaul's sector. He remembered the first time he had visited the lab personally to deliver his paper assignment to Dr. Gaul. His stomach turned at the memory of Clemensia and the attack of the rainbow snake mutts. Doubt settled in Coriolanus's mind. Was this a bright idea? Would she appreciate the lengths he has gone for this to happen? Dr. Gaul only allowed authorized scientists and doctors like herself in the lab without supervision. It took a lot to regain her trust after the stunt he had pulled with Lucy Gray and his handkerchief. But she softened slightly when he told Dr. Gaul why he wanted to access the gilded cage exhibit. Coriolanus had a sneaky suspicion that Dr. Volumnia Gaul wished to recruit Strabo Plinth's daughter as an apprentice in the future. It would be the perfect demonstration to the districts that their own could turn on them and align with the Capitol. That's what he would do.

Coriolanus ushered Ms. Plinth to the changerooms and placed the picnic basket carefully into his locker. "Here, change into these." Coriolanus handed her white cotton coveralls, gloves, and matching beekeeper hat with disposable shoe covers; these were required to enter the exhibition. She eyed them carefully, "Why do I have to change?" Coriolanus felt unsure if he should ruin the surprise. She looked at the clothing with great suspicion. You'd think that he was handing her a wild animal. They wouldn't make any progress if she were going to doubt every step of the way.

He let out an exasperated sigh, "You're going to want to wear them for where we're going." Coriolanus knew that if he mentioned the butterflies, she would surely leave him right then and there.

"And why-"

"Please," Coriolanus cut her off before she could question him again. He must've looked as desperate as he felt because she offered him a tight smile and huffed, "Fine, but turn around when I change."

She snatched the coveralls from Coriolanus and found a locker across from his to place her belongings and coat inside. He watched with her back facing him as she struggled to unzip her dress. "Here, let me help you," Coriolanus got a hold of her zipper and slowly dragged it down to reveal more of her skin. His fingers grazed her mid-back. The feeling was electrifying and invigorated an excitement within him that he hadn't felt since District 12.

"I told you to turn around!" Plinth's daughter playfully shoved him back. Coriolanus chuckled more to himself. What was that? he thought. The goal is to make her fall for him, not vice versa. He needed to focus.

They returned to their respective sides of the changeroom to put on their assigned uniforms. She stifled her giggle when they faced one another as Coriolanus adjusted the beekeeper's hat on his head.

"You look ridiculous," she snorted.

"You're not a sight for sore eyes either," he retorted.

Strabo Plinth's daughter was swimming in the fabric of the coveralls, and the hat made her head appear bigger than it was, yet she still captured his eye.

“Follow me and stay close,” he cleared his throat and turned for the exit to return to the Capitol’s War Department. The endless white hallways made it easy to get lost, but Coriolanus had spent almost every day with Dr. Gaul as her apprentice and practically memorized all the ins and outs. The guards must’ve been informed of their visit. They eyed them curiously but did not utter a word.

Finally, Coriolanus arrived in front of door 50. “You ready?” He faced her, trying to read her facial expression, but seeing past the thick mesh was hard.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she quipped.

He fished for the key card in his pocket and opened the door to reveal the hidden tropical rainforest. From the outside, you wouldn’t have guessed that such a thing existed inside the Citadel. Hues of vibrant dark green leaves and foliage surrounded the two of them.

“Wow,” she gasped.

“I’ll take it that you like it?”

“Like it? I love it!” She walked past him to take it all in. District 2 is one of the districts closest to the Capitol, mostly made of rocky mountains and stone quarries. It was a shared first for both of them. He’s only seen such forestry in textbooks about the green forests that thrived during the pre-dark days. Coriolanus made a calculated guess that she had also never seen anything like it. The butterflies flew freely around them in an array of colours and shades. "Wow," she repeated the word quietly with each step she took further into the gilded cage. She brushed her gloved hands across the leaves in awe, taking it all in.

"Coriolanus, this is beautiful."

One of the butterflies landed on her forearm, another, and another. It was like she was a walking magnet. Strabo Plinth's daughter froze in place, mimicking a statue. "Oh... my... God," she whispered.

"No sudden movements. They're poisonous, after all," Coriolanus replied calmly.

Her body jerked at the word poisonous, knocking the creatures off her in one motion. "Gentle! They won't cause you any harm," he exclaimed. The last thing he needed was Dr. Volumnia Gaul penalizing him over dead butterflies.

"You're such a jerk!" She punched his shoulder hard. That's going to leave a bruise in the morning. "You're horrible at this," she muttered.

"At what?" Coriolanus obliviously asked.

"Dating."

"Go easy on me. This is my first time." It bruised Coriolanus's ego to admit it. "You're lying," the surprise was obvious in her tone. She was facing him now, just a mere step away from them being chest to chest. The butterflies continued to fly overhead, but Plinth's daughter didn't seem to care anymore.

"Why would I lie?" He countered.

"You're the Capitol's golden boy! Of course, it's safe to assume you know your way around." She said dryly.

"I know I have quite the reputation, but I haven't had much time to think about who I would've brought to the Cornucopia Ball." Coriolanus wasn't unaware of the whispers from his peers about who he might ask to be his date. Sejanus had even pressed him about it a couple of times. The ball occurs each year a couple of weeks before graduation. Considering that Coriolanus had been banished to District 12, he never got the chance to attend.

"What about Lucy Gray? You say that you and she were never a couple?"

Coriolanus's body stiffened. Hearing her name come out of Sejanus's sister's mouth unsettled him to his core. It was a question, no, a test. She was baiting him. But how would she know anything? Silence stretched in between them.

"Sejanus was quite the gossip." She continued. Yes, he was. It was one of the reasons why he was killed. Sejanus never knew when to shut his mouth and turn a blind eye. It was against his whole being. Even in death, Sejanus's voice will haunt him.

"I had feelings for Lucy Gray, but she didn't feel the same in the end. I was just another part of the games to her."

"That's not what-"

"Sejanus is a idealistic romantic." He cut her off abruptly. "Maybe in another lifetime, things could be different." Coriolanus side-stepped Sejanus's sister to walk further into the gilded room. The air had begun to feel too thick, too hard to breathe. This was not a part of the plan. She was ruining it, just like her brother. Coriolanus needed to gain control and shift the conversation. Yet his mind wouldn't cooperate, his brain filled with nonsensical thoughts. He could hear her footsteps follow after him, but he chose to focus on the three butterflies that landed on his hand—taking slow, deep breaths with each flap of its wings.

"I'm sorry- I didn’t mean to upset you."

“It doesn’t matter anymore; she’s lost in the trees.” It wasn't a complete lie, and he wouldn’t explain further. It was up to her interpretation at this point. Lucy Gray could've been dead for all he cared, and it would be for the better. Coriolanus closed his eyes to refocus and center himself. His last two loves would lay to rest in District 12. They couldn’t reach him now.

The butterflies flew away when he let out his last exhale. In the blink of an eye, it was idle and empty when he looked back at his outstretched hand.

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phoward89 · 10 days

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Series Masterlist

Chapter 5:

Coriolanus is at the PK Base in the communications center, sitting in one of the video phone booths. He's holding the receiver to his ear and watching the staticy small screen; waiting for Tigris to answer. He has so much to tell her. In fact, he's over the moon to tell her all about the love of his life: you. He's absolutely positive that she'll be happy for him.

When the static breaks and then clears slightly to show his cousin, he smiles like a madman. “Tigris, it's so good to see you!” Coriolanus exclaims, so much excitement in his baritone.

Tigris' gentle blue eyes widened slightly at her cousin's chipper demeanor. He was usually sullen during their sporatic calls. “Oh, Coryo, you look so much happier since the last time we talked. Did something happen?” The blonde girl asked, curious to know why her cousin was suddenly in a better mood.

“Yes.” Coryo nodded. Beaming, he blurted out, “I got a girl, Y/N, and she's just a perfect sweet darling.” His baby blues were sparkling with pride as he added in, “We’re serious, have our own place and when I pass the Elite Officer's Examine we’ll be able to leave 8.”

“Oh…” Tigris trailed off, her face full of shock. She wasn't expecting her cousin to be so serious with somebody so soon. Especially after he seemed so heartbroken about never being able to see Lucy Gray ever again.

Was Tigris wrong in her assumption that Coryo loved the songbird? If so, then she truly hopes that he's found love with you. But she also knows that her cousin has the genetics that can easily make him become like his father: General Crassus Snow.

Hearing him say that he's taking an Elite Officer's Exam makes her skin crawl. Tigris knows how cold the officers are in the various branches of Panem's military; she doesn't want her sweet cousin to be turned into a cold, heartless, hateful man to be used as a tool for the country.

A country that kills tweens and teens for entertainment disguised as punishment. Gosh, everything about Panem makes Tigris sick. And to think that her cousin, her sweet little Coryo who's a good person, could be used in a way to support the country's propaganda and skewed outlook bothers her. Makes her blood freeze up in her veins.

“Isn’t it great news, Tigris?” The platinum blonde peacekeeper asked, fishing for praises.

“Yes, yes it is, Coryo.” Tigris replied, her smile a bit too tight, too forced, and her voice a bit flat.

Coryo's face fell at his cousin's overly fake reply. “I thought you'd be happy for me Tigris.”

“I am happy for you, Coryo. I am.” Tigris weakly assured her cousin.

“I've found somebody that makes me happy, who needs me; makes me feel powerful, and I'm one step closer to getting us back home, to the Capitol. But, you don't sound as happy about it as you claim to be.”

“Coryo…” Tigris sighed, trying to find the right words to tell him about the hardships that have fallen upon their family within the last few weeks.

“Is Grandma’am around?” Asked the platinum peacekeeper. “I'm sure that she'd be happy to hear about my accomplishments.”

“Coryo, Grandma'am’s in hospice.” Tigris revealed, her tone sad as her face twitched with sorrow.

“Hospice! What do you mean she's in hospice? She was fine a month ago, what the hell did you do to her, Tigris?!”

“Me? Oh, Coriolanus, do you hear yourself right now?” The blonde aspiring fashionista snipped. Shaking her head, Tigris started to explain, “Grandma’am just shut down and started to wither away after we lost the penthouse-”

Coriolanus icy eyes popped out of his head. “Y-you lost the penthouse?! When were you going to tell me this, Tigris? Huh?”

“The back taxes were just too much to pay, so the penthouse was put on the market. But, Pluribus is letting me stay in the apartment above his club.”

“Okay, but what does any of this have to do with Grandma'am being admitted to hospice care?”

“Coryo, having to declare bankruptcy and sell the penthouse; letting all of the Capitol know that the Snow's are poor just broke her dear old heart.”

“She's dying from a broken heart? Really?” Coriolanus asked in disbelief.

“Yes.” Tigris nods. “The doctor said that Grandma’am lost the will to live; that it'll only be a short matter of time before she goes. And she's already in a catatonic state.”

“Are you still working for Fabricia Whatnot?” Coryo asked, his baritone colder than it had been mere minutes ago.

“Yes, I'm still working for her.” His cousin confirms with a nod.

“Good, because I won't be sending half of my pay to you anymore. The Grandma’am will be dead soon, due to her own pride and self induced delusions, and my money, honestly, is better suited taking care of my girl here in 8.” Coriolanus told Tigris in a chilly tone. One so chilly that it'd cause hell to freeze over.

“Coryo-” Tigris began, confusion all over her makeup slathered face, only to be cut off by Coriolanus’ icily steady voice saying, “I'm all my girl’s got, Tigris. I have to take care of her.” Looking at his cousin like he didn't even know her anymore, he remarked, “Unlike you, Y/N doesn't lie to me about how bad things are. At least she's honest, but you've had to have known for months about the past due back taxes on the penthouse and you never said a damn word to me about it.”

“Coryo…I didn't want you to worry about us. I was taking care of everything.”

“Time’s about up, Tigris.” The platinum peacekeeper announced, feeling betrayed and lied to by his cousin, who he viewed as more of a sister then a cousin.

“Coriolanus, you sound just like your father right now.” Tigris pointed out, her heart breaking at hearing the frostiness in his baritone and seeing cold deadness in his eyes.

“Well, I am his son. Perhaps I'll follow in his footsteps; rise to military greatness.” Private Snow told his cousin before saying a curt goodbye and hanging up on her.

It's getting close to the time that Coryo usually comes home from work and you're in the small kitchenette making dinner. It's nothing too fancy, just a simple stew. But your platinum peacekeeper never complained about what you made. He always ate his supper with a smile plastered on his face. In fact, he'd usually get seconds; pester you into eating another share too (he always said it was in order to build up your strength so you'll heal faster).

You're stirring the pot, making sure that nothing sticks to the bottom, whenever a faint knock appears at your door. You almost don't hear it over the sound of the radio, that's how light the knock is. Not wanting the stew you worked so hard on this afternoon to burn, you turn off the stove before going to answer the door.

“Ashlie, what're you doing here?” You asked your brother’s former girlfriend as she stood in front of you.

“Some of the girls at the factory are worried about you; I said I'd stop by and check up on you after my shift.” Ashlie answered as you heard the sound of Coryo's boots clambering up the building’s staircase.

Nodding, you simply said, “I'm fine.”

“Are you, Y/N?” Ashlie pressed.

Nice of her to worry about you now, but where was she before?

“There's been rumors that you've taken up with that blonde peacekeeper. That he's been living with you.” Ashlie all but hissed in a shameful tone.

“It's not a rumor.” You told her while noticing Coryo's tall denim clad frame appear at the top of the stairs, right down the hall.

“Look, Y/N, I'm sorry about not being around as often as I should, but if you need help gettin’ away from that peacekeeper I'm sure that Declan can help smuggle you out of the district.”

Smuggle you out where? You don't have any money and you're all alone. How are you going to survive hiding out in another district? Districts you're sure are just as bad if not worse than 8. The poor, lower end districts are all clumped together and, frankly, they seem to get worse and worse as you start going between them.

At least with Coryo your rent's paid, you've got enough food to eat, and you're not cold anymore. He’s decent company, when he's not in a condescending mood, and he seems to be devoted to you despite not knowing you that long. With Coryo you're comfortable for the first time in a long time. For once since moving to 8 you're not tempted to do a swan dive off the bridge into the toxic river surrounding the district.

You'll take your chances with your peacekeeper.

Shaking your head, as Coriolanus trudged down the hall, you told Ashlie, “I'm fine here with Coryo. He takes good care of me, so you don't need to worry.”

“And what happens when he gets bored of you; tosses you aside for another girl?” Ashlie asked as your boyfriend got closer. “Y/N, sweetheart, don't be a fool and trust him. He's a Peacekeeper for Christ’s sakes.” Berates your once sister. “One bred straight from the Capitol as I understand too.” The brunette spat out in disgust, right as your platinum peacekeeper appeared behind the girl that's slandering him.

“Darling, is this ratty whore bothering you?” Coryo coldly asked, his icy eyes narrowed at the girl blocking his way into the apartment, as he came to a stop right by the door.

His frosty timbre startles Ashlie; has her jumping out of her skin. Coryo's tone of voice doesn't bother you one bit. Why should it? His coldness isn't aimed at you.

“She was just leaving.” You assure your boyfriend, only to give Ashlie a look that reads ‘you need to go, now'.

“Well the girls at the factory are worried about you; hopefully you'll be able to return to work soon.” Ashlie remarked instead of leaving, like she should’ve done.

“She won't be returning to work at the factory.” Coryo bluntly announced, pushing himself by Ashlie and literally shoving you inside of the apartment. He blocked your view with his tall, sinewy frame while standing right in the doorway.

The platinum blonde's head lifted up in superiority. His glacier blue eyes bore into the former Seam girl with disdain as he explained, “As Y/N’s man, I take care of her and pride myself in treating her the way a proper Capitol born man treats his girl.” Gripping the door so hard that the wood began to splinter and crack, he barked out, “You're not needed around here. She's got me, so leave or else I'll bring you to base and turn you in as a rebel.”

Ashlie's Seam grey eyes widened in fear and horror at hearing Coriolanus’ words. With the rumors that she's heard about you being kept under lock and key by the platinum blonde peacekeeper, who by now everyone knew was sent from the Capitol; was a second generation military man, Ashlie was starting to worry about you. And when the girls that worked with you on the looms in the PK uniform factory’s weaving room started to express their worries to Ashlie, well she decided to pay you a visit.

Offer you some much needed support. A lifeline out of the predicament you're in.

But the brunette wasn't expecting you to turn down her help, to insist on staying with your oppressor. She also didn't think she'd be threatened by said oppressor, the pretty boy peacekeeper from hell itself. Ashlie feared for both her own safety and yours.

Maybe she should've came around more often, then maybe you wouldn't have become such easy prey for a peacekeeper with a cold hateful glint in his eyes.

“And the next time you show up to my house I'll have you hanged off the bridge’s trestle.” Coriolanus darkly promised, his face a mask showing no feelings, before slamming the door shut in Ashlie's face.

Coryo was quiet as he shed his coat, hanging it up on the hook near the door. “I made stew. I'll go dip it up.” You told him while he began to unlace his boots.

“It smells good, darling.” Coriolanus complimented, slipping out of his black boots, as you grabbed some bowls from the cabinet.

“You say that about everything I make.” You teased, portioning out the stew into a pair of bowls as Coryo pulled off his denim fatigue shirt.

Walking over to the table and laying his denim overshirt on the back of his chair, the platinum blonde simply said, “Because it's true.”

The atmosphere in the room wasn't heavy per say, but it wasn't light either. You felt like something happened today, something to put him in a sort of mood. And not a good one either. You really didn't want to stoke his mood into a roaring fire of unliveable sassy attitude, so you didn't say a teasing word back to him.

No, you just carried the bowls of stew over to the small table as Coryo took his seat at it. You couldn't help, but slip on a smile at the sight of your giant of a boyfriend dwarfing the sorry excuse for a kitchen table you had. Hell, the table looked more like a small school desk as he sat at it.

Silently, Coryo followed your every move with his icy eyes. He watched as you set the food on the table before fetching the bottle of milk from the fridge. Coryo knows how luxurious fresh milk is, so he's proud that he can buy it for you. He himself went without it for so many years in the Capitol.

The Snow family always seemed to go without; to struggle within the safe borders of the Capitol. Something that he was supposed to change. Coriolanus was supposed to dig his family out of poverty, but instead his family's been torn apart.

All because Tigris lied to him about how bad things really were.

Fuck!

He would've found a way to get her the money for the back taxes, to avoid a foreclosure on the Snow ancestral home, if she would've only told him that she couldn't pay.

How could Tigris, his own cousin, do that to Grandma’am; to him? And most of all to you.

You!

Who he promised to whisk away to the Capitol once he was able to. Now where are the both of you going to go when he gets clearance as an Elite Officer to return home: to the Capitol? He sure as hell can't bring you to the above club shoebox apartment Pluribus gave Tigris.

And to think that his Grandma’am's dying from a broken heart because her home was taken from her. Her beloved rooftop rose garden that was her joy is now withered if not destroyed by the highest bidder. To think that the old lady's in hospice, due to no will to live, all because Tigris couldn't be honest about the back taxes.

Damnit, fucking bitch should've worked a few corners to come up with the money. Anything to pay the past due taxes; keep the Snow family penthouse in the Snow family.

Where it belongs.

The sound of the milk glasses lightly clinking against the warped wooden table tore Coriolanus out of his thoughts. Watching you sit down next to him, he grabbed his spoon and told you, “Darling, let's promise not to lie to each other. Shall we?”

Oh boy, something definitely happened to him today. You didn't know what, but his remark about lying to each other tipped you off that he was lied to and he's upset about it.

Picking up your own spoon, you tell him, “I promise I won't lie to you, Coryo.”

“And I won't lie to you, Y/N. Which is why I have to tell you something very unsettling.”

Something very unsettling? What the hell did he do, shoot somebody during target practice? Murder somebody for a spot on the Elite Officer's Examine roster? Hell, the suspense is killing you.

Not literally, just figuratively.

“Today I talked to my cousin, Tigris, on the phone in the base’s communications center and I learned that things are worse than I thought they were back home: in the Capitol.” He revealed in between eating his stew.

Having a bad feeling, you asked, “What's wrong, Coryo?”

“The Snow penthouse has been seized and put into foreclosure for unpaid back taxes.” Coryo spat out, his eyes full of anger, as he held his spoon so hard that it was about to bend between his fingers.

His family home foreclosed due to back taxes. Oh boy… You weren't expecting to hear that. You can only imagine how high priced the taxes are in the Capitol considering how pricey things are in the districts. Capitol City, Panem is full of rich elites or wannabe rich elites, so…Yea…The price tag on things in the Gem of Panem, the Capitol, is surely higher than in the rest of the country.

“Tigris told me that everything was fine, but she lied.” Shaking his head, he tossed his spoon in his bowl, causing a loud clang to ring out. “I've been sending home money, assuming that Tigris was using it wisely, but now I don't even know what she did with it.” Reaching for his milk glass, he dryly added, “She didn't pay the taxes, that much I know.”

Reaching forward and placing your hand on top of his, you gave him an empathetic look. You felt for him, for his family. “Coryo, I'm sorry she lied; made you think everything’s ok when it isn't.”

Your boyfriend threads your fingers together, holding your hand, as he sips on his milk. He can't help, but feel lucky to have you. You're being so supportive and understanding about his family's fall from grace.

About him losing the Snow ancestral home. The home that he was supposed to take you to.

Placing his glass down after drinking from it, Coryo shook his head while gritting out, “And now Grandma’am's in hospice, dying of a broken heart, because she was forced out of her home.”

Poor Coryo…

To lose his home, his grandma, and to be lied to by his cousin.

“Seems like we've got more in common than what meets the eye.” You told him, letting him know that you sympathized with his situation.

“It seems we do, darling.” Coryo nodded. Picking his spoon up and scooping a portion of stew out of his bowl, he repeated, “It seems we do.”

You're washing the dishes whenever you feel a pair of strong arms wrap around your waist. Coryo's right behind you, hanging on you, but you don't pay him any mind. You just keep on washing the bowl in your hand with the sponge- a sponge that has seen better days.

Your boyfriend nuzzles his nose into your temple, inhaling your scent. Kissing your cheek, he swears, “I promise, once I'm an officer and get into a wealthy position I'll buy back our home. We'll live in it once again.”

“Don't make promises that you can't keep, Coryo.” You advised him, rinsing out the bowl and setting it aside on the makeshift drying rack (which was a cookie cooling rack resting on a dishtowel).

“I intend to keep that promise, baby.” He told you in between peppering kisses up and down your neck.

“Coryo, stop that. I still have dishes to do.” You sighed, trying and failing to wiggle out of his hold while starting on the second dirty bowl.

“One day when I become President and make you my First Lady you won't ever have to lift a finger to wash a dish ever again.” Coryo smoothly murmured, kissing the sweet spot right below your ear.

“To make me your First Lady you'll have to marry me, Mister President.” You sarcastically pointed out, rinsing soap suds and bubbles out of the bowl.

You're placing the bowl onto the drying rack whenever Coryo spins you around. Tipping your chin up, making your eyes lock onto his baby blues, he seriously tells you, “Once I get my officer’s stripes I'm going to marry you.”

The weight of his words comes crashing down on your head like an anvil in an old cartoon. “You really want to marry me?” You asked, not quite believing the situation to be real.

You're just some district girl that he got into trouble and felt pity for. Yes, he takes care of you, but making you his wife's a whole other story. That's a lifetime commitment considering divorce was abolished in the early years of Panem's creation- which was after the end of both WW3 and the 2nd Civil War, which coincided.

“Yes, baby.” The platinum blonde nodded. A wide smile spread across his face as he cemented his fate with the words of, “I'm going to marry you and give you the life that we both deserve as Snows once I get my officer's commission.”

“You know, people in the districts have different ceremonies then Capitolites do for marriages.” You informed him; knowing that you're going down a path you can't turn off of as you do. “Couples in 12 do a toasting by breaking bread at the hearth over a fire they stoke.”

“Too bad we don't have a fireplace.” Coriolanus seriously pouted.

Oh wow, he's serious about this marriage thing. Lucky you.

“Yes, too bad.” You half heartedly agreed with him. Resting your hands on his chest, you decided to explain what you learned about weddings in District 8. “I've heard that here in 8 most weddings are typically held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in November and December.”

Your boyfriend’s brow rose with interest. “December you say?”

“Yes.” You confirm as he strokes your cheek with his thumb. “The bride sews her own dress, which is typically blue or purple, and makes a large amount of food for the guests who stay for dinner and then a late supper. While family and friends are gathered at the house, the couple’s joined hands are bound by a strip of cloth; then they recite words or poetry to complete the ritual.”

“And this ritual’s binding in the eyes of District 8?” Coriolanus asked, holding your gaze with his icy eyes. Eyes that were filled with both trepidation and hope.

“It's binding in all of the districts. I'm not sure about the Capitol tho.”

Bringing his forehead to rest against yours, he simply said, “Mary me on Thursday. I'll bring Sejanus home with me and we'll do the 8 ceremony.”

Believing it impossible to marry so soon, you react with, “But that's in 2 days, Coryo. I'll barely have enough time to make a dress. Plus I have to cook food.”

Bringing his other hand up to your face, so he was cradling it between his large calloused hands, the platinum blonde told you, “I'll bring home some material for your dress tomorrow and the only guest you need to cook for is Sejanus. You don't need to cook up our entire pantry.” His lips ghosted over yours. “Let me take care of you; marry me, baby.”

If you say yes to this sudden spur of the moment wedding you'll be giving up your freedom. In the districts’ eyes you'll become Mrs. Snow, wife of a Peacekeeper. One who's certain he'll become an Elite Officer. Is that what you want?

Hell…

You honestly don't even know what you want. But you do know that you refuse to go cold and hungry ever again because you're alone and can barely get by.

So, for survival purposes, you give Coryo a smile and tell him, “I’ll marry you.”

Without warning, Coryo kisses you. His lips hungrily pressed against yours, as if he was a man starved and his only fulfillment came from your mouth. You moved your lips against his, which only caused him to deepen the kiss by slipping his tongue into your mouth. Your fingers twisted and dug into his white T-shirt as your tongues intimately danced while your lips clashed, pushing and pulling for purchase.

You let out a little breathless sigh as Coryo broke the kiss, pulling back slightly so the two of you could catch your breath.

Coryo's icy blue eyes were nearly black with lust as he looked into the windows of your soul. His large hands still cup your face as he confessed, “I’d love nothing more than to bring you to our bed and fuck you right now, but since we're to be married in 2 days I'll wait til the wedding night.”

“Oh, so you're going to make an honest woman out of me first before you corrupt me?” You asked, your tone a bit light and teasing.

What difference was a couple of days? It wasn't like you're from a rich aristocratic family that needs to see the sheets in the morning for proof of innocence lost and consummation.of marriage. You're a district girl, nobody in the districts care about purity til marriage, etc.

Besides, even before you agreed to marry him you knew you'd be fucking Coriolanus. He's your boyfriend, it comes with the territory. The only question was when.

Now you have your answer: this Thursday night- your district style wedding night.

Leaning his forehead against yours, Coryo steadfastly declared, “You can't corrupt someone who's willing to drink from the silver cup, my darling.”

Tags: @kuroosbby001 @purriteen @poppyflower-22 @meetmeatyourworst @whipwhoops @bxtchopolis @readingthingsonhere @savagenctzen @ryswritingrecord @erikasurfer @tulips2715 @universal-s1ut @thesmutconnoisseur @squidscottjeans @sudek4l @wearemadeofstardust0 @mashiromochi @gracieroxzy @belcalis9503 @shari-berri @aoi-targaryen @whiteoakoak @spear-bearing-bi-witch @gisellesprettylies @loverandqueenofdragons @qoopeeya @mfnqueen1 @permanentlyexhaustedpigeon88 @v-love @swiftieblyth @joyfulyouthlover @harvey-malfoy @tian-monique @chxrrybomb22 @marvel-hiddles-stark @xjinnix @devils-blackrose @zombicupcake3 @jacesvelaryons @tempt-ress

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tainbocuailnge · 1 month

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[sanae voice] no, old fgo chapters is like orleans and e pluribus unum right, lostbelt 5 is still pretty new

#anyway i love cuchulainn

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xalonelydreamerx · 4 months

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Part II: The Prize - Chapter 11

You could hear a pin drop in the auditorium when she finished. Then there were a few sniffles, some coughing, and finally Pluribus’s voice shouting out “Bravo” from the back of the auditorium and the thunderous applause that followed.

#snowbaird #coriolanus snow #snowbaird edit #lucy gray x coriolanus #coriolanus x lucy gray #tbosasedit #lucy gray baird #tbosas #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #movieedit #my edit #xalonelydreamerx edit #can you guess how much I adore this book?#anyways made this for twt and thought to share here as well

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nocteacakes · 4 months

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Snowbaird, canon divergent AU -- Lucy Gray is never a tribute, Coryo doesn't meet her until he's in University

(Prompt was 'Inheritance' from Snowbaird Prompts on Twitter; go give them a follow!)

There had been rumours that the Plinths had brought back a district girl from Sejanus’ posting in District Twelve. His unfortunate death had been hushed up, paid off with the Plinth fortune. Coryo had only known about it because Sejanus’ insufferable Ma had reached out, assuming that he would have wanted to know. The funeral was a quiet affair, quickly over. All Coryo thought about during the proceedings was who was to be heir to the Plinth fortune now. He had been invited to the funeral hadn’t he? If Sejanus’ parents thought he had some significance in their son’s life, surely that could be expressed monetarily.

But it seemed that wasn’t to be, as the Plinths had found some other district trash to throw away their money on. As it was, he had taken an apprenticeship with Dr. Gaul to help pay for University, but it wasn’t enough. He would have to do something drastic and soon.

And so he had found himself once again at Pluribus Bell’s club, but not looking for handouts this time. He had heard the new Plinth charity case was playing small shows at the club on occassion, and he wanted to see for himself.

—

She was alright looking. But put some makeup on a girl and a decent dress and anyone could look like a Capitol citizen. It wasn’t her looks he was attracted to, but her voice. Sweet and girlish, but there was something else behind her words. Something he couldn’t put a word to. He tried to follow along with the lyrics — she sung songs he had never heard before. Was this even allowed? But she had enchanted the audience members clearly, and they didn’t seem to mind. Seemed to enjoy them even.

No matter. He didn’t need to think too deeply about her songs. The only thing that concerned him about this girl was her inheritance. She had a peculiar name. Pluribus had told him. Lucy Gray.

Poor Lucy Gray wouldn’t stand a chance. He would charm her just like his teachers, his classmates. She didn’t understand the Capitol, wouldn’t be able to fit in. He could help her. It was the gentlemanly thing to do, of course.

-- -- --

If you're 18+ and interested in chatting with other snowbaird fans about the ship, TBOSAS, or the hunger games franchise in general, I invite you to Rainbows and Roses, a SnowBaird discord server :) Invite [here].

#snowbaird #snowbaird fanfic #my writing #lucy gray x coriolanus #coriolanus x lucy gray

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harringtonstilinski · 26 days

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Always The Babysitter - Chapter Twenty-Three: E Pluribus Unum

Author: @harringtonstilinski Characters: Steve Harrington x Olivia Henderson(OC) Word Count: 1,757 (short chapter this week) Warnings: angsty Smut: no | yes; A/N: Hi, friends! We get a lot of Dustin and Erica in this chapter <3 Also, no Steve gif this chapter! We're getting a Dustin one 'cause of this iconic line!! If you like this chapter, please do not hesitate to reblog and give some feedback, whether it be in the reblogs, comments, or my inbox. As always, read at your own risk and enjoy 😊

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Dustin looked up at me - well, past me to look at Steve, both of them saying, “The gate.”

I backed up from between them making my way back down the steps. “Ya’know, Dustin, I really hate being doubted.”

“I don’t understand,” Robin said. “You’ve seen this before?”

“Not exactly,” Steve said.

“Then what, exactly?”

“Trust me when I say it’s really bad,” I said.

“It’s really bad,” Steve added.

“Just said that, babe.”

“Like end-of-the-human-race-as-we-know-it kind of bad,” Dustin said.

“And you know about this how?” Robin asked.

“It’s a long story,” I said.

“Uhm, Steve,” Erica said. “Where’s your Russian friend?”

I turned around to look at the ground behind me, seeing that the guy was indeed gone. “Sweet shit.”

Next noise to hit our ears was the alarm blaring, Steve rushing to the door to open it and look out into the hub space we sneaked through moments earlier. I heard “Halt! Halt!” before Steve closed the door, saying, “Shit!”

We ran through a couple of doors that led us straight to the control room, all of our feet stopping when the men turned to face us. Looking to my left, I saw another flight of stairs, running towards them.

“Come on!” I yelled, hearing Steve’s voice repeating the word go. I ran down a walkway, screaming as I pushed one of the hazmat suit guys out of the way, stopping once I reached the end, almost falling to my untimely demise.

I felt Dustin’s arms around me, pulling me back, both of us repeating, “Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!”

I breathed in deep before I screamed out, “Holy shit!”

“Guards! Go!” Erica said.

I turned around to face the rest of the group, my arm being tugged by Dustin as Steve yelled, “This way!” and led us down another set of stairs, pushing a guy out of the way before pushing a set of barrels towards some more guards.

I rushed towards him, running past him and to another door, leaving it open for the rest of our group to run through. Hearing it close, I turned back around, seeing Steve and Robin leaning against it to keep some weight on it.

Dustin and Erica went to a vent cover, opening it, Erica yelling out for us to come on. I looked between my brother and boyfriend, wanting to protect both of them, but knowing I’d have to leave one.

“Liv, go with Dustin!” Steve yelled.

“I– I–” I stammered.

“I’ll find you,” he said. “Go!”

“Steve–”

“Go, get out of here! Go get some help!”

I wanted to rush to him, to plant my lips upon his, but knowing I couldn’t against his struggle on the door. Feeling myself being pulled up the stairs, I kept my eyes locked on Steve before I had to look away, almost falling into the vent shaft. Looking back at Steve, I yelled, “I love you!”

“I love you!” Steve replied before I ducked into the shaft, closing the cover as I heard Robin yelling out, guns being cocked.

“He better not die,” I muttered, following after Dustin and Erica down this vent shaft.

~~~

Sitting in front of a giant fan, Dustin explained to Erica what happened that first year when Will went missing and then explained what happened a few months ago with Dart and the demodogs.

“And now, for some insane reason, these Russian assholes want to reopen it, for God knows what reason,” I said, using my hand to fan myself… even though we were by that giant ass fan. “Destroys everything we’ve risked our lives for.”

“By we, you’re including Lucas?” Erica said.

“Yes. Even Lucas was there. Matter of fact, everyone was there, aside from our mom, your parents and Mike’s parents.”

“So, all that shit he told me, Lucas was there?” Erica asked.

“Yes, Erica, he was there.”

“My brother, Lucas Charles Sinclair?”

“Yes!” Dustin and I exclaimed.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Wait, wait, hold up,” I said, sitting up a little and facing the young girl. “You mean to tell me that you believe everything about El and the gate and Dart, but you don’t believe the fact that Lucas was there helping us protect Hawkins?”

“That’s correct.” She looked from me to Dustin before she asked, “You need help with that?”

“No,” Dustin replied.

“Well, I mean, it’s taking a while, so–”

“Yeah, no shit, Sherlock.”

“Dustin Wade!” I exclaimed.

“Alright,” Erica said. “So, if we don’t find a more efficient method to stop these fans, we’re never gonna find help, and your ice cream buddies, slash boyfriend and best friend, are screwed.”

“Yeah, with that attitude, they are,” Dustin and I said.

“Jee-zus,” Dustin added.

“I’m just being realistic,” Erica said. Looking at her watch, she said, “I mean, we’ve made it about point-three miles in nine hours. Then we had to walk three hours down that tunnel, so I’d estimate ten miles back to the elevator, which should take us approximately twelve-and-a-half days.”

I looked at her with a stunned expression as she did all that math that quickly. “Holy shit. You just did all that… in your head?”

“I’m good with numbers,” she deadpanned.

“Holy shit,” Dustin said.

“You’re a nerd!” we exclaimed.

“Come again?” Erica scoffed.

“You,” Dustin said.

“Are.” Me.

“A.” Dustin.

“Nerd,” we both ended.

Pointing her finger between the both of us, Erica said, “Okay, you better take that back, nerds.”

“Can’t put that truth back in the box,” I smiled.

“But it’s not the truth.”

“Okay, let’s examine the facts,” I said, scooting a little closer, holding my fingers out while I counted the facts. “Fact One: You’re apparently a math whiz.”

“Pretty straightforward equation.”

“Fact Two: you’re a 10 year old political junkie.”

“Just because I don’t agree with Communism as an ideology–”

“Fact Three: you love My Little Pony,” I said, grabbing her backpack and turning it to face her.

“And what does My Little Pony have to do with this?” she asked.

“Ah, let’s recall the ponies’ latest adventure, shall we?” Dustin said, which caused a confused look to come from me. “The evil centaur team and Tirek turns Applejack into a dragon at Midnight Castle, and then Megan and the other ponies have to use Moochick’s magic to defeat his rainbow of darkness, saving them from a lifetime of enslavement. All the pink in the world can’t disguise the irrefutable fact that centaurs and castles and dragons and magic are all standard nerd tropes. Ergo, My Little Pony is nerdy. Ergo, you, Erica, are a nerd.”

“Bro, what the fuck?” I murmured.

“And how do you know so much about My Little Pony?” Erica asked.

“Because I’m… a nerd,” Dustin said, taking the panel off the wall that he unscrewed during his little rant. He pulled the wires from their slots, the fan next to us powering down. “Let’s go… nerds.”

~~~

After we crawled through the blades of the fan, we made our way down the vent shaft. Whenever I spotted holes above us, I started feeling around for a loose square. Once I found it, I pushed it up and out of the way, climbing out of the shaft and onto the floor that we were crawling beneath, seeing a whole bunch of that green stuff they were putting into, what I’m calling, a gate drill.

“Jackpot,” I said, helping Erica and Dustin out of the shaft.

Spotting what seemed like a golf cart, I smiled and made my way towards it. “Hell yes!” “Do you even know how to drive?” Erica asked.

“Of course,” I said. “I’ve been driving on my own for a year. Damn it. There’s no keys.”

“You seriously thought they’d just leave keys in there?”

“There’s always a spare,” I said, more to myself. I started looking around, hearing Dustin’s rustles as he helped me look.

“Hey, Hendersons,” Erica said.

“Yeah,” Dustin and I said, getting out of the golf cart to look around more.

“How big did you say that Demogorgon was?”

“Huge,” I said.

“Nine feet or so,” Dustin said.

“Why?” we both asked.

Dustin moved to another panel box, using his screwdriver to open it, grabbing a key to the vehicle inside. “Found ‘em.”

“Dustin,” I said. “Look.”

What I was looking at was a crate, big enough for a Demogorgon.

“Ah, shit,” I said.

“Erica?” Dustin and I said, jumping at the sound of a loud zapping noise.

“What the fuck?” I breathed, holding my hand to my chest.

“What the hell is that?!” Dustin yelled.

“A deadly weapon,” Erica said, almost like she was in love with it. “Could be useful.” She zapped it again, Dustin and I jumping once more.

“For what?”

“What do you think? Taking down Commies, saving your friends.”

“Thought you were more realistic than that, nerd?”

I took the keys from him, not wanting to hear anymore of their banter for the moment. As I got behind the wheel and put the key in the ignition, I said, “We don’t even know where they are, and even if we did, there’s a million guards up there with way deadlier weapons. The best thing we can do is get out of here and find help.”

“Easy with that,” Dustin said. “Our chance of surviving, and theirs, rises substantially. Just trust us on this. Please?”

~~~

Stopping at a certain point, I got out of the cart and looked in the back, seeing boxes of that green goop sitting in it. Grabbing a couple of them, I walked a few feet in front of the cart, taking a deep breath. “Steve… this is for you.” Slamming the glass containers on the ground, I watched as they shattered, the green stuff once again eating away at the floor.

I quickly made my way back behind the wheel, trying my best to speed off. Stopping a few feet from a door, I told Dustin to charge in with that laser thing, to which he immediately did.

I charged in after Erica, standing in between her and Dustin and watching as an evil looking doctor fell to the ground. I turned to face Steve, seeing his eye bruised and swollen.

“Hey! Henderson!” Steve said, excitedly. “That’s… crazy, I was just talking about you.”

Sighing, I undid the bonds that were around his arms, hands and legs before putting my hand on his cheek. “What happened to you?”

“Oh, my god,” Robin said.

“Get ready to run!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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~~~

A/N 2: hi, friends! pls be kind and reblog! it really helps us content creators out <3

Additional Note: i absolutely love it when gaten screams shit. it's the best thing ever, lol

~~~

Forever / Everything Taglist: @stiles-o-dylan24 @stixnstripesworld @fandom-princess-forevermore @quanticobae @mischiefandi @kellyashcroft @lauren-novak

Steve Harrington Taglist: @madaboutjoe

If you’re tagged and didn’t want to be, please let me know.

~~~

*Please don’t post my writing anywhere else without my consent. The author of this work will always and forever be @harringtonstilinski.

All characters, story lines, and plot aside from y/n and her storyline & plot, are all of the work of The Duffer Brothers.

*These works contain material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited.

No part of these works may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

Posted on April 2, 2024

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omniishambles · 5 months

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@hvbris // & Lucy Gray

Tivan had been keeping quite the close eye on Lucy Gray Baird, captivated like so many others by her performance during the 10th Hunger Games. He'd admired her charm, her sweet singing voice, and just that little bit of fire, enough to make her a perfect candidate for his new pet project.

The Victory Club was growing, and already proving more lucrative than he'd ever imagined. But he knew exactly what he needed to make an invitation even more desirable. What he wanted.

The beauty of Mags Flanagan was an excellent start to his new collection. But she was damaged, internally. She couldn't speak well, couldn't converse with his guests in the manner that Tivan needed after her vocal chords suffered in the arena.

He needed a chatty little songbird to join the table. And he knew exactly where to find her.

"Miss Baird....it's a great honour to meet you at last." Tivan told her, bowing graciously low as he caught her coming off stage at Pluribus' night club. Hardly a fitting venue for her.

#lmk if you need anything changed!#& lucy gray baird #tivan ; hg v

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empty-dream · 1 year

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Just read FGO Anastasia

It’s finally crossed out from my rotting to-do list.

This chapter with lots of Fate/Apocrypha call back… It might as well be GO/Apo event 2.0. Like, you get 2 servants from there; the main villains being a cold empress servant, her butler-like master, and the romantic inclinations between them; and alliances to take down huge common enemies.

KADOANA KADOANA KADOANA *faints* I haven’t go this crazy over a Fate villain ship since Achilles/Atalanta.

Koyanskaya, Rasputin and Caenis all straight up refer them as couple, and they don’t even deny it. At best, it’s some kind of “That’s rude.” retaliation. Then again, it doesn’t even deny anything. What the fuck. HNGHNGHN. And that’s not even getting to the official materials which confirm that indeed, they have feelings for each other, a lot apparently. They might as well be a couple already without announcing it.

I think I might have fallen in love with Billy the Kid. I didn’t read E Pluribus Unum so I didn’t know his personality is like that. (Like Kadoc grumbles about in LB2, “Aren’t cowboys supposed to be laid-back and stuff?”) I love that he’s friendly and easy-going, yet highly pragmatic at the same time, to the point of sounding like an asshole. All without so much as raising an eyebrow, sometimes with a casual smile, even. And he’s short, so cute. He really voices my own concerns regarding the turns of events in the story.

Salieri…I’m looking respectfully. I wanna give him a pat on the shoulder. It must not be fun and healthy to be that angry all the time. Angry Piano Man, indeed. The thing that he did for the climax and the end is top notch.

Beowulf… I’m looking respectfully… not 0_0. But on serious note, he (with Billy) serves as juxtaposition for Atalanta in terms of leadership. And it shows from early on, long before that certain truth is revealed.

AviceBROOOn. I am still surprised that the writers choose to give him redemption after what happened in Apocrypha. In fact, it is the event of Apocrypha that he tries to atone for, a decision which I really like. Now he’s total bro. Viva golem. I like that scene where he, despite not liking socialization, wants to keep socializing. That’s a bit close to home, so I can relate.

I think Atalanta Alter serves as the punching bag of the story. If you think Atalanta has the short stick in Apocrypha, boy is it worse in Anastasia. Now I get why it’s the Alter version instead of the normal version, cuz the latter’s story is finished by the time Apocrypha ends with the help of Achilles.

PATXI MY BOY LET ME GIVE YOU A RUB LET ME PAT YOUR HEAD. I like the twist and turns that put him into his own ordeal. That “I’ll be there when you fall into despair” scene gives me shivers. And not to mention what he says in the climax chapter.

Ngl I was a bit like “Is this addition really necessary?” when Musashi came out of nowhere, even though it’s justified with all her drifting hijinks. Then then when she drifts out again, I was like “NOOO where did you gooo we need youu!!!”

Ivan is really just there sleeping and mammoth-ing. Although the very last scene of his is bone-chilling.

A world that values strength about everything else, the strong eats the weak, the weak serves the strong. Tbh the very definition of starter level: Simple and to the point. If you want to imagine “a world that is wrong”, this is one of the simplest idea of that concept. You definitely won’t live a good life if strength (or talent) is the only thing you pursue, if you even get to live in the first place.

What Koyanskaya does in one of the village is one of the most unnerving scenes that, ngl, may very well happen irl. People raking obscene profits out of other people’s suffering.

Not that it makes it easier to do what Chaldea has to do to the Lostbelts. When the climax is over and Salieri is doing his thing, I feel very sorry for all the hope that couldn’t be.

Even though I know it already, but when the epilogue broadcast is revealed, I was like OOOOHHH YEAHHH WANDERING SEA BABYYYY FUCKING FINALLY

“I will never forgive you for as long as I live.”

“My dear, sweet Kadoc.”

#fate grand order #cosmos in the lostbelt #type moon #random saying

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human-souls-buy-dopamine · 5 months

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would anyone like a blog where we post 'n take submissions of ai-generated images 'n try ta search for the art they stole ta make tha image? like I know it'd be hard 'cause they steal so much art but. idk jus' an idea

#theo says some things #the voice of pluribus #tha brain has thoughts today

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multipleoccupancy · 2 years

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@hvbris for Lucy Gray

A shock return to the Capitol had left Coriolanus at an advantage, how better to reunite with Lucy Gray than with a surprise? Tigris had explained in letters that she was working at Pluribus’ nightclub. After Dr. Gaul explained her plans for him and released him he went straight home to his Grandma’am’s house to change out of his peacekeeper’s uniform and into something far more suitable. Pinning a white rose bud to his favourite jacket, now a little tighter for his time spent with more ample food in District 12. He picked out the best of his Grandma’am’s roses, choosing lavender and white for his bouquet before rushing off.

Pluribus’ club was not all that far, he hurried to find himself a suitable seat, near the centre of the room so that he might be spotted but realised as he sat down that it was likely too dark to see him from the stage. No matter, all the better for him to be able to see her performance without interrupting her he supposed. It did make him restless though, as she emerged onto the stage he felt the rest of the room turn to a blur, his eyes fixed so surely on her that he resisted his blinks for as long as he could. He felt elated in seeing her and hearing her sweet voice in his ears again, it was as if a lifetime had passed since he last had the chance. He felt lightheaded and as the song drew to a close and Lucy Gray accepted her applause, he was quite sure his heart was about to burst. He had to move there, standing up and making a b-line for the entrance backstage.

It took some persuading, the guard stood there trying to convince him to leave the flowers at the door and he would make sure she got them, but Coriolanus as ever managed to get his way. Stood outside the dressing room as the next performers passed by him, he quickly ran a hand through his hair to make sure it would be sat right, straightened out his jacket and tried to decide how best to actually surprise her. With one final deep breath and a nervous bite of his lip before release, he knocked on the door and waited with the roses cradled carefully in his arms and his heart still fluttering madly in his chest.

#Hvbris #Lucy Gray #Snow #OH BOY! >.>#Let me know if you need anything changing but he wanted to surprise her #again XD

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dankusner · 18 days

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Ann Coulter, other prominent figures will debate border security issue at event in Dallas

Two high-profile pundits will meet in Dallas on Thursday to debate the issue Texans have said is at the top of their minds: border security.

“Should the United States Shut Its Borders?”

This will be the day’s question at a debate held at Dallas’ Majestic Theatre, where speakers will face off before a live audience.

The event was organized by The Free Press, an Internet-based media company based in Los Angeles.

The Free Press’ founder and editor, Bari Weiss, described the debate — which she will moderate — in a press release obtained by The Dallas Express.

She referred to the values of honesty, doggedness, and independence as “the bedrock of great American journalism.”

“Those values are why we are so committed to reviving civil, passionate debate about the most urgent issues facing Americans. Including immigration,” she said.

Weiss also nodded toward the greater political impact of the issue and its implications for the presidential election.

“On April 11th, at the historic Majestic Theatre in Dallas for a debate about the topic voters left and right say will determine the election in November,” she said.

“Bestselling author Ann Coulter and Sohrab Ahmari, founder of Compact, will face off against Nick Gillespie, editor-at-large for Reason Magazine, and Cenk Uygur, founder of The Young Turks.”

Weiss has long worked to support pluralism and tolerance of alternative political voices.

Before resigning from The New York Times in 2020, she regularly penned columns critical of political intolerance.

She also defended older free speech advocate staffers at the paper of record while they were being attacked by what she called younger “wokes” during a controversy regarding the publication of an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (AR-R) calling for soldiers to be sent to support police efforts to prevent violent riots.

The speakers invited to the debate are known in whole or in part because of their views on the topic of immigration border security.

Ann Coulter and her partner will be arguing in favor of a restrictive immigration policy.

One of her best sellers is her 2015 work Adios, America: The Left’s Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole, which former President Donald Trump called a “great read” before he announced his candidacy in 2015, according to The Atlantic.

youtube

Coulter also authored the 2016 book In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome! supporting Trump’s presidential bid because of his tough stand on unlawful migration and other issues, and she spoke on behalf of his candidacy at a rally in Iowa.

Both Coulter and the book Fire and Fury by Michael Wolf, chronicling Trump’s days in the White House, noted her early status as an outside advisor to the 45th president.

However, Coulter’s relationship with Trump soured when she claimed he was not pursuing the issue of border security hard enough, amongst other faults she saw in his administration.

Gillespie is popular in libertarian circles and has previously supported a more open immigration policy, calling for “an Ellis Island approach to immigration.”

At times, Gillespie couches his view of immigration in personal terms.

“The grandson of four uneducated, poor, unskilled immigrants who would not be allowed entry into the country under today’s laws, I will proudly and lougly [sic] argue the US should not shut its borders to peaceful, law-abiding people,” Gillespie said in a post on X promoting this week’s event.

Coulter and Gillespie’s partners are both foreign-born American citizens.

Ahmari was born in Iran but received a law degree in the United States after teaching for several years in South Texas near the border with Mexico.

Uygur was born in Turkey and previously ran for Congress in California.

If the debate has piqued your interest, there is still time to get tickets. There will also be a VIP afterparty, but be quick to reserve your spots because “they’re going fast,” Weiss said.

Ann Coulter was hoping Texans would write in Greg Abbott for the GOP presidential nomination

After The Free Press and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression held a roughly two-hour-long debate on Thursday evening addressing whether the United States should close its borders, a number of participants spoke with The Dallas Express.

The debate was held at the Majestic Theatre in Downtown Dallas, where Ann Coulter, Cenk Uygur, Nick Gillespie, and Bari Weiss spoke.

Like the debate, the post-debate interviews with the guest speakers focused on immigration.

DX asked Coulter, the author of numerous bestsellers, including ¡Adios, America! The Left’s Plan to Turn Our Country Into a Third World Hellhole, a 2015 attack on U.S. immigration policy, what she thought about Gov. Greg Abbott’s move to secure Eagle Pass.

“I was hoping something would incapacitate Trump so you [Texans] could write in Abbott’s name for the nomination,” Coulter quipped.

Coulter had previously supported former President Donald Trump, speaking at his rallies and releasing a book in 2016 titled In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome!

However, her relationship with him soured when Coulter believed, among other things, that he was not keeping his promises when it came to unlawful migration and immigration policy writ large.

In 2024, Coulter supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom she often called “miracle Governor Ron DeSantis” because of his work to protect personal liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

DeSantis even appeared on Coulter’s podcast, UNSAFE, shortly after he announced his presidential candidacy.

DeSantis eventually dropped out of the 2024 Republican primary, stating in a January 21, 2024, video, “It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.”

Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, also mentioned Trump when speaking with DX.

“Biden should’ve had his own immigration policy, and he never really had one,” Uygur said. “Biden is begging Trump to do Trump’s policy.”

Uygur clarified that he opposed Trump’s stance on migration but acknowledged that the 45th president’s plan contained a vision: “I don’t agree with Trump’s plan, but it signaled to his voters and his base that he was willing to do something.”

Gillespie’s sentiments were more expository. When asked about Eagle Pass and whether unlawful migration was a state’s rights issue, the former editor-in-chief of Reason.com and Reason TV said, “In general, border control is a federal issue, but whenever it fails, it gives rise to the states.”

He compared the matter to the issue of marijuana laws, noting what appears to be a political realignment concerning state rights because the federal government has been widely perceived as failing when it comes to unlawful migration.

True to her role as moderator, Bari Weiss did not speak to any issue directly. Instead, she spoke generally about the debate itself.

“The fact that Ann Coulter and Nick Gillespie can be on the same stage in 2024 gives me hope,” Weiss said.

She said the April 11 debate was “so exciting” because it was “in the spirit of the free press,” the namesake of the outlet she co-founded with Nellie Bowles after Weiss resigned from The New York Times. To Weiss, the event offered a “passionate, civil, and urgent debate to cities across the country.”

#Youtube

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writer59january13 · 2 months

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Insomnia welcomed courtesy high test coffee

consumed later at night than usual finds me bright eyed and bushy tailed amply lively to learn about an American radio and television personality and pioneer Wee Willy Weber, who prominently and popularly reigned across air waves and small screen kept in the living/family room then an obscure square box

frequently exhibiting local entertainers second half of twentieth century

I chanced to Google and revisit his popularity night time hours of temperate March first two thousand twenty four, reckoning, jump/kick starting, and forcing me to confront a deluge of issues ricocheting within sixty plus shades of gray matter

(such as association with females - such as you my dear despite being a young looking sixty five year old beatle browed, fool on the hill, paperback writer wannabe day tripper), whose prized (at least by me) encephalon approximating roughly the size of two clenched fists, and weighing about 1.5 kilograms,

rattles and hums abuzz with the sound of silence, yet fires off thoughts about how the webbed wide world circa MMXXIV based upon

the Gregorian Calendar,

a scary place indeed, which helter skelter violence finds me fantasizing escaping into an enchanted edenic Octopus garden in the shade,

where camaraderie prevails among variegated creeds, gender orientation, nationalities, religions, et cetera and conflict resolution predicated upon a win/win paradigm allowing, enabling, and promoting community among habitats for humanity, hence collective bargaining. Vox Populi which translation means literally means "voice of the people." The leaders of tomorrow bravely take to the dais justified their precious life, liberty and pursuit of happiness - stolen under their figurative nose asper an unparalleled heist recouping quintessential basic human rights, and will NOT yield an inch (or any other minuscule amount),

if for no other reason (and many more valid claims prevail) such inalienable American birthrights (codified decrees endowing freedoms - tattered to shreds via frenzy of bullets) guaranteeing harm inviolable unjustly out priced sacrificed by lax second amendment spiced within epidemic of wanton

murderous sprees wherein assassin literally calls the shots supplanting assigned storied halls with din of firearms acquired from pennies on the dollar, or bartered for a bottle of gin within the underbelly (viz black market) of society, where pistol packing trigger happy jinn nee

as slaughterhouse blood soaked, sans killing fields mount with resignation vis a vis discovering masterly carded misfit

to collective shrugging shoulders prithee giving Atlas a run for his money and upend safe havens i.e. storied academic re deuce sing self preservation (UNFAIRLY) to activist minded students

treat each day as a survivalist course, thus WE as coined on legal tender (E Pluribus Unum) MUST unite against love affair with pistols, no matter one or more mere mortals think Matthew Scott cray ZEE up in arms spouting poetic license against proliferation of firearms.

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childofchrist1983 · 2 years

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Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 15:5-6 KJV

There is a special bond between Christians. No matter our language or customs, we all share one mouth that we use to glorify God. I am reminded of the phrase used throughout American history, E Pluribus Unum. Through many, one. God believers' numbers are many, but the message is one. Through God Almighty and Jesus Christ, the one true God, we are one. Thanks be to God!

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time daily to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Word daily, May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful Lord, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in the Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

Father God Almighty, Lord Jesus, You are my light and my refuge. I am grateful that You have surrounded me with other loving and passionate members, O Lord. Give us the wisdom and humility to approach one another with grace and understanding that it is not a competition between believers. We should be selfless and through the many voices share a singular message. We are all grateful that You love us and we will all love You with all of our heart and strength.

You and Your Holy Word and Spirit give us hope, peace, salvation, and so much more! Let our relationship with You be the foundation and pleasing in Your eyes, so that we may hear Your praise as we gaze upon Your face and enter Your Kingdom. Lift our spirits and our hearts. Light up our lives, O Lord. May we abide in You for all our days and beyond!

You are Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End! We know Your promises are true and we place our hope in You! May we continue to pray and seek You. Present us with daily opportunities to go to others with Your message of eternal salvation. May we live our lives with a spirit of thankfulness and may we always magnify You, O Lord. Allow our praises to You encourage others to seek Your face. Help us all to be humble and obedient to You. And help us to be courageous enough to seek You daily and to humbly and faithfully do our duty to You, spreading the truth of Your Gospel to all in all nations, as You commanded before You ascended back to Heaven (Mark 16:15-16). May our lives show the world Your light and Truth and that You are a loving God and Heavenly Father who delights in showing love and mercy. May we all be humbly and faithfully honored and excited to worship, glorify and serve You daily and to do Your will. You have been so good to us, far more than we as wretched sinners deserve. You are so good! So wonderful! Forever and always!

Thank you for keeping me and helping me in times where I am tempted to go astray. Praise be to You today and every day of my life and let me never forget all of the blessings that are given me by You. As much as the enemy will try, he will never be able to successful breed doubt about who You are, in the minds of anyone who truly believes and follows You. And I will follow and serve You all the days of my life and beyond! Thank you for the connection with You that we are given through Your Holy Word and Spirit. Thank you, O Lord, for all Your creation and Your miraculous ways. Thank you for being our stronghold and my refuge. Thank you for seeing us as worth the sacrifice. Thank you for sustaining us, loving us and defining us according to Your will and love for us. Thank you for making sure we are taken care of. Thank you for being the best friend we could ever have! Thank you for Your endless mercy and love that has saved us. Thank you for always protecting us and providing for us and for Your Spirit to help us when we are in need. Thank you for abiding within me and may I abide with You, my Lord. Thank you for giving us a chance to be saved from our sin and spend eternity with You. Thank you for adopting us as part of Your family in Heaven and making us one of Your own. Thank you for being our present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Thank you for always being near and for loving us. Thank you for giving us a reason to love others and so many more reasons to love, praise, serve and follow You. Thank you for Your selfless and sinless sacrifice. Thank you for Your guidance and protection. Thank you for Your Truth and light. Thank you for Your wisdom and strength and grace. Thank you for giving life to the world and to us. You give and take away – And we thank you for it. Thank you for everything! Your will be done! Blessed be Your mighty name! To You and Your Kingdom be the glory forevermore! In Your name we humbly pray, Amen and amen

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