*Drusilla dress above, scroll down below if it doesn't work to see.

"Drusilla's father was a feared man of the Capitol. He had a presence that had even the most respectable of people in the Capitol feel unsettled"
— Extract from the biography of Drusilla Snow found in Academy library of 100 most influential people of Panem.

Tigris had cried the entire night, crying herself to sleep as Coriolanus took over the tedious affairs of the family's next step after the death of the matriarch of the prestigious Snow family. On Tigris insist, the brunette stayed. Staying by Tigris and trying to get her to eat as she wrapped around her mother's fur shawl that she grabbed as well from her workshop.

The Snow cousin, falling fast asleep and tear dried on the private wing's chaise lounge with her mother's shawl and a blanket provided by a nurse.

Tigris would probably move out soon Drusilla thought now that the only reason why she stayed at the Corso was for the sake of her late grandma'am.

On the other side of the wing divided by a wall she heard two people walk in. She stood up from the adjacent chair next to Tigris and made her tiredly to the door where she quietly opened it revealing the Plinths with Coriolanus who was held in a hug by Ma Plinth.

"Dru," Strabo exclaimed in a hushed manner.

Ma Plinth and Coriolanus turn to her tired state but offers them a kind smile as she leans on the door frame. 

"Tigris is asleep, I managed to get her to eat an hour ago," she informed to Coriolanus who sent her a thankful smile.

"Oh Dru dear!" Ma Plinth cried giving her a hug. It felt odd the gesture but she took it in with familiarity and warmth that Sejanus always loved about his Ma.

"How's Tigris?" Strabo asked as his wife let go of Drusilla.

"She's shook, she hadn't eaten all day," Drusilla answers.

"Poor thing," Ma Plinth wiped her tears. "Coriolanus if there is anything—, I mean anything. Just tell us."

"Thank you," his voice was almost hoarse. He had been making calls and decisions left and right in the past few hours. 

"You should eat Coryo," Drusilla added looking at him. "I can get you something."

"Scilla dear, it's fine I still need to sign—"

"Coryo you should give it a break. An hour of taking a break won't hurt," Ma Plinth had rubbed his arm. "You too Dru dear."

Drusilla only nodded as Coriolanus followed, Strabo ordering the private wing's cook to whip up something.

It was remarakble how quick the chef had cooked such a nice meal. Stir fry that Drusilla was shocked by how well the flavours worked well with one another for hospital food. The two sat under the stars on a table within the wing's private terrance.

"Figured you might need this," she brought a cup of poured whisky. 

"Thank you," he replied as she sat down next to him. She looked out into the view of city lights of the Capitol. A rather oddly beautiful sight to see. The beauty that caused such violence and brutality that was masked by justice. Justice she supposed was a funny thing now, a funny concept. 

She found justice much like art. Beauty and justice was in the eye of the beholder. 

"Thank you," Coriolanus intertwined his fingers into hers. 

"No worries," she replied contently. "So what happens now?"

"We're going to hold the funeral by the end of this week. My assistant is already been making calls. Grandma'am's assests have already been settled between Tigris and I," he informed as he took a sip of the whisky. "It would mean a lot if you could be there. Not just for Tigris but for me as well," Coriolanus looked at her.

"Coryo—, I—, I'm not family and it would be inappropriate for me—"

"Please Scilla I need you," he held her hand tighter with a pleading look. Drusilla's kindness had gotten the better of her, there was a pain within his eyes that she couldn't ignore and had gotten the best of her. A trait that she sometimes scorned herself for having. 

"Alright," she sighed in defeat. Popping the piece of meat in her mouth as she looked out again in the sea of lights.

⎯⎯⎯

Drusilla wore a modest sharp fitting black dress for the funeral not wanting draw to much attention. Silk gloves and dainty black diamond necklace that she had borrowed from her aunt who was to attend the function as well with her latest partner.

The funeral was held at the private Capitol cemetery, where late matriarch would be buried with her husband, sons and daughter-in-laws. 

Cars were lined up from the entrance as members of the elite were all dressed fashionably for the funeral. Dresses with frills and suits with long meticulously crafted embroidery were all blurred in the sea of black.

Once she had handed her car over to the valet she had followed the crowd past security where she was met with strong aroma of roses belonging to the extensive flower arrangement.

It had perhaps been homage to Grandma'am's liking to roses that she grew from her knowledge. 

She held her clutch tightly, trying to find someone she would know. There was no sign of someone of she knew that she could hold a conversation with.

There was the governor, the dean of the Capitol university she found too patriotic for her taste and Armadaea Ostran an esteemed donor that donated a generous amount every year to the faculty ever since her son died and had divorced her husband a year after. Although the spinster of a woman had talked long and hard with Drusilla she enjoyed her tales that could get quite raunchy from time to time as she spent her money at a concerning rate that even the trust fund couldn't even handle.

Then there was Aunt Esmerelda's younger step cousin Justinus Trinket and bethrothed Euphemia or 'effie' who was still in highschool as she had heard that Justinus reffered to her as. She had seen Justinus around the university. He was fresh out of school graduate and studying law and came to her for some advice every now and then. He was currently in a conversation with a friend of his with a rather interesting kilt that was styled well with his suit. He should have ironed the back.

On the other side she spotted her aunt dressed glamorously in her black velvet dress that was lined with diamonds on the collar as she pressed her breasts against her new man of the week—, hold on was that Armadaea's ex-husband? Aunt Esme was quick to snatch her way into his bed—, arms—, trust fund—, who knows really what she had to do Drusilla dismissed the thought but her glamorous aunt was not one she judged in what she had to do with what she did to survive.

Drusilla walks around a bit more till she spots Tigris behind the bathrooms. She was pacing, her hands shaking and tugging her mother's shawl tightly.

"Tigris," Drusilla calls to her. Tigris turns and sends a relieved look as she wipes away her tears.

"Dru—, I don't think I can hold myself. Not like Coriolanus," she sobs.

"You don't have to Tigris you should be allowed to mourn," she says rubbing her back.

"I should have worn a veil, I must look horrid" Tigris mumbles as Drusilla tries to help her with appearance. Fixing her eyeliner with her own and readjusts her shawl. "You Tigris are beautiful," Drusilla smiles warmly. "You are the fabulous Tigris. But more importantly you're human, we all deal with things differently and you should have no shame for how death treats you. You will heal," she readjusts her hat.

"Thank you," she barely says with a nod. "I should probably find Grandma'am's sister."

"Do you need me to come with you?" 

"I should be fine—, but you won't be too far right?" 

"I'll stick close by," she says.

"Thank you so much Dru," Tigris sent a grateful look.

"Anytime," she nodded in return. Following her out behind until she had halted at the sight of everyone hushed with gasps as the sea of people split to reveal her father who stood proud in his funeral military attire. 

"What's he doing here?" Drusilla gulped.

"I have no idea—, I swear," Tigris said.

They made their way in the direction of Cierco von Tougaard who stood proud with an unreadable face as he took off his hat.

"Dru," Cierco's voice was low, gruff but had a alluring refinement in how he spoke. A mix of Capitol and the districts that Tigris had caught onto that Drusilla had seemed to inherit as well.

"Papa," her back had naturally straightened.

Cierco inspected her, looking at her attire. "Hm. You look like your mother," he said.

Drusilla didn't say anything, there was no small talk and light banter between any of his children and himself. It was short and sharp.

"Tigris, my condolences for your grandmother," he looks to Tigris. 

She remembered the days she studied him in school in her time at the academy. His eyes that never shook and scared her as a child. A mean and dark looking figure. But now when he stood in front of her with looming height she could barely get a word out.

"T-thank you," she looks down wiping away her tear shaking.

Cierco reaches for his pocket in his coat and offered her his handkerchief. She hesitantly took it an gave a nod in thanks.

"We should probably offer our condolences to your cousin," he says looking at Drusilla. "Come Dru," he offers his arm.

What was doing here? Perhaps once upon a time the Snow and von Tougaard's had close relations but it had been a while since Cierco was barely prominent in Capitol affairs before the war.

"You'll find out why later I'm here Dru," his eyes even didn't flicker towards hers.

"Didn't expect anything less from you," she mutters earning her father a low chuckle. He was one of unpredictability. He spoke in riddles.

Drusilla dismissed any further thoughts that would flood her mind and allow her father to read them with a simple glance. She saw the familiar blonde with the Plinths in a deep conversation with the Cardews and the Creeds. Festus was reeling his wife in from burying Livia on the other side with Coriolanus' grandmother.

 It was Clemensia in her first trimester who noticed Drusilla with her father in arm. Festus then followed his wife's gaze followed by everyone who began to feel unsettled by the man's presence.

It was clear that Festus along with the Cardews who wanted to speak up and greet the famed Major Warden but were unsettled by the look on her father's face that made them to run and hide.

"Coryo, this is my father," she softly spoke. It was clear even Coriolanus hadn't expect him to show up.

"Sir," Coriolanus with his black suit and white rose lapel shook his hand firmly with confidence.

"My condolences to your grandmother. My mother was in her class at academy. My eldest also sends his condolences too but he's acting in place," he says.

"Thank you sir, it means a lot that you are here," Coriolanus had tried matched his presence. 

"Papa, you remember the Plinths right?" she introduced.

"Uh yes, Strabo, Lucretia it's been a while," he refrains from shaking their hands.

"It has," Strabo attempts to smile.

"Papa this is—"

"You're the spitting image of your father Coriolanus aren't you? Except a little taller by the looks of it?" he turns to him.

"Thank you sir."

"I knew your father, he served under me for a little while before he was sent to twelve," he tested. Drusilla squeezed his arm slightly. Don't.

"I wasn't aware."

"Brilliant mind he had, nerves of steel." he goes on.

Coriolanus Snow doesn't say anything and only looks at him in the eye unsettled. "I've heard."

"Well, it seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as well. Dr Gaul has talked about you a fair bit when we contact one another," he switches his direction of approach.

"Thank you sir, I do what I can," Coriolanus smiles.

Drusilla glances at the others who feel like they all can't breathe. She mouths a sorry to Festus and Clemensia.

"Papa, we should say hi to Dr Gaul should we not?" Drusilla cuts in.

"Hmm," is all he lets out before agreeing wordlessly.

⎯⎯⎯

"My, my is that Cierco I see and his daughter—! Oh my me!" Dr Gaul venomously smiles.

"Dr Gaul," he acknowledges with a smile.

"My, my if it is death that lures you out should have told me," she chuckles. "And Dru dear, I must say you looked like a pretty pretty rose in the news last week, shame it has been overshadowed by death."

"There is no shame Dr Gaul," Drusilla says.

"Uh, so Cierco you've received the mockingjay I sent with the message correct?" she gleamed.

"I did," he nods.

What message?

"What do you think of my proposal?" she takes a sip from her flute of posca.

"We shall see," he drawled.

"I'm not a patient woman Cierco you know that."

"I'm aware but these matters I take very seriously. Especially since the stunt Augustus pulled," he muttered.

What stunt? Drusilla looked at him.

"Such wasted potential," Dr Gaul sighed. "But Dru here seems to know what she's doing no?"

"Of course," Cierco smiled. She's in control.

"You'll talk with him?" Dr Gaul asked.

"In time."

"Papa, Dr Gaul. Looks like we should be heading in," Drusilla looks at the crowd being escorted inside the building. 

Drusilla follows her father followed by Gaul. Her mind pends on what stunt her brother had pulled to piss him off this much, not since he had married a girl who was known as the drifters. People from the Capitol who fell on hard times and drifted away in to districts. A person of kindness and not someone of her father's approval.

Once they were seated, Coriolanus gave a long eulogy about his grandmother as the holographic screen rotated photos of her from her younger days from the academy to more recent ones. He went on about how she was a patriotic woman of Panem and it's ideals. Talking about how she told them about Panem's golden age and what it stood for. Then talking about her rose garden and sharing the very few memories he had with him, grandma'am and his mother.

Livia's mother was then next, giving a small speech similar to Coriolanus', followed by President Ravenstill and then the minister of the interior who was a second cousin or something to his grandmother.

A choir of young school students then walked in, and began to sing the national anthem as everyone stood up and joined in chorus.

Coriolanus, joined by Festus and two other men helped carry her casket to the burial site not too far as they were saluted by officers. Close family then surrounded casket as it was lowered, Coriolanus being the first to toss a white rose followed by Tigris who was sobbing hard at Coriolanus' side.

When it was finally her and father's turn to throw in the rose, she glanced below at the casket now almost covered with white roses with a sense of familiarity. She had seen too many in her lifetime to count that were shrouded by death.

"Come Drusilla, let's not keep the line waiting," Cierco says.

She takes one last glance at the pool of white death before she leaves with her father.

⎯⎯⎯

Drusilla hated the reception. Everything seemed to go back to normal so naturally. The guests started to go back to talking about business deals and whose wife cheated on with who or which tutor to hire for their kid.

She did as she said to Tigris, she sticked close by not far out of reach as he father had a line of people struggling to talk to him and make conversation. 

"— so if you think about in theory—,"

"I'm sorry Mr Sickle but I should leaving soon. I have to resume to my station," Cierco cuts in. "But you can send your details over to my secretary and I can find some time to read over it." No he won't Drusilla refrained from rolling her eyes.

"O-oh! Of course!" The man exclaims out of character. The brunette internally face palming.

"We should probably find Coriolanus and Tigris," Drusilla suggested to her father not wanting the man to suffer any further.

The two beehived around the reception for a bit, finding Coriolanus with Tigris in a conversation with the Harringtons. 

The eldest Harrington who looked at the two nodded at the Snows before moving on.

"My father has to go, I should probably too see him off," Drusilla walks up to two of them.

"Thank you for coming," Tigris hugged her.

"Anytime," she put her hands on her arms, "just give me a call if you need me, ok?"

After Tigris nodded, Drusilla turns to Coriolanus and gives a smile. "You'll be alright?"

"I will," he hugs her and gives her a light kiss on her head that catches her off guard. Maybe he does have nerves on steel as well, not fazed by her father's presence.

"Take care of yourself," is all she replies pulling away as her father joins her.

"Thank you for the handkerchief sir," Tigris says.

"No worries," he nods then turns to Coriolanus. "You're an interesting man Coriolanus," he shakes his hand. Coriolanus only nods wordlessly before the two head off.

⎯⎯⎯

Her clicking against the gravel, she sees at the end of the footpath her father's car awaiting with two officers who salute him and Drusilla. 

"Come in the car with me, you'll be sending me off at the station," his door his opened by his driver.

"My car—"

"I've already have someone take care of it," he gets into the car. The driver looks to Drusilla who follows and slides in.

Drusilla watches as her father pulls the divider up and waits for the car to move.

"So what do I owe the visit?" she inquires.

"To see how you are doing," he doesn't look at her.

"And what have you discovered?" she scoffs.

"You've grown quite popular. It seems you do indeed have your mother's charm."

"Don't compare me with my mother," Drusilla leans her cheek on her knuckles and looks at the window. "I'm not interested of the Snow boy if you think I'm scheming behind your back."

"His mind is fascinating is he not? But he has much to learn, he lacks many things," is all her father comments about him. 

"I'm not moving back father," she tried again. 

"So you've said." Drusilla turns to him awaiting his big reveal. He was a man of short words and riddles, a man of purpose in every word. "You've inherited your mother's stubbornness as well, so I will work with it."

"I have a marriage prospect for you, he works under me and graduated from the university last year," Drusilla turns to him in shock. "He plans to oversee the military unit in the Capitol so you can still have the luxury of staying in the Capitol and maintain your residency."

"I don't plan on getting married father I thought I was quite clear about that before I left," she snapped.

"You will do as I say Drusilla Aurelia von Tougaard and that is final, you must marry—"

"I AM NOT A BLOODMARE!" she exclaims.

"Your insipid brother has doomed this family name with his future to be insipid spawns with that drifter! He dares murk the bloodline that I have built!" his voice booms Drusilla could feel the driver sink into his seat and hands shaking.

Drusilla scoffs at her father. "You should have just shot me as a child."

"You are a selfish girl—"

"I have never been given fucking choice! You've controlled every fucking aspect of it!"

"And what Drusilla? Let you become one of those vapid spoiled children of the Capitol or worst district? Marry into district?"

"S-sir?" the driver interrupts, pulling down the divider.

"What you fool?"

"We're here sir," he informs.

He looks through the window to see the station. Drusilla only turns at the opposite direction not bothering acknowledging her father in farewell. 

"I'll send over his details on the train, he arrives next week," is all her father says before nodding to the driver.

Fuck you father.

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So... what do you think about Drusilla's father?

What do you think Coriolanus' reaction going to be...?