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NOW PLAYING........
"the way things go"
1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:47
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
"can't remember how to say your name, let alone count all the freckles on your face"
"a distant memory i used to know"
"in my mind, you'll always stay the same"
"and there's so much left to say"
after our rude interruption, coryo & i were escorted to the classroom by the principal, something that filled me with shame to no extent. i'm used to never getting in trouble, for god's sake, i'd never been yelled at by a teacher, much less personally escorted by the principal.
as we slink into the shadows of the academy, the principal's stern voice echoing behind us, i can't shake off the realization that our escapade might have jeopardized our position as mentors. the heavy weight of consequences hangs in the air as we make our way back to the classroom.
the door creaks open, and we re-enter the room to a sea of curious eyes and sly whispers. professor highbottom, a truly horrid man, shoots us a disapproving glance. "coriolanus and astrid, breaking the rules, i didn't expect this from you both. are these the examples we're setting?"
coriolanus smirks, a hint of defiance in his eyes. "sometimes, professor, one needs to venture beyond the ordinary to truly understand the game." i glance at him, the freckles on his face visible clearly from my angle. my mind flashes back to us, merely 10 years old, when i used to count every single freckle on his face.
highbottom raises an eyebrow, clearly unamused. "the games have rules for a reason, snow. the system thrives on order. remember that."
the class snickers at the exchange, amplifying my discomfort. coriolanus and i take our seats, the atmosphere around us charged with speculation. the news of our impromptu zoo visit has spread like wildfire, and the rest of the academy will undoubtedly catch wind of it. i can't help but worry about how this might impact their perception of us, of me.
highbottom resumes the lesson, but the occasional glances and stifled laughter persist. during a break, as we head to the cafeteria, i confront snow about the potential fallout. "what if we're disqualified from the prize contest? what if the capitol sees us as liabilities?"
he grins, his confidence unwavering. "astrid, the capitol loves a good show. we just provided them with one. the others will see us as mentors who don't shy away from risks. it adds an element of unpredictability."
i'm not entirely convinced, but his charisma has a way of easing my doubts. as we reenter the classroom, the whispers amplify, and highbottom shoots us a warning look. i sigh, being in his bad books was honestly draining.
during the last lesson of the day, the atmosphere in the classroom is tense, and rumors about our escapade in the zoo have spread like wildfire. as professor highbottom drones on, the door swings open, and dr. voulima gaul strides in, her calculating gaze sweeping over the room. when she addresses us, her tone drips with disdain. "coriolanus snow, astrid starling," she utters our names with an icy precision. we stand up, uncertain of what's to come.
as the whispers echo through the room, coriolanus and i share a knowing glance. he senses an opportunity in the air, a chance to turn the tides of the games, to make them more than a mere spectacle. his sly smile reveals a plan forming in his mind.
she begins, a subtle challenge in her voice. "your recent adventure in the zoo has sparked quite the commotion. care to enlighten me on what led you to such a... unconventional decision?"
coriolanus, ever the charismatic speaker, meets her gaze without flinching. "dr. gaul, the games have become predictable, a shadow of their former glory. we sought to inject a sense of unpredictability, to reignite the spark of interest in the hunger games."
a moment of silence hangs, and dr. gaul, intrigued yet skeptical, probes further. "unpredictability, you say? and how do you propose to achieve that?"
i inject suddenly, "donations, dr. gaul. interactive donations that allow the audience to engage with the tributes, to feel a part of the action. a way to make the common public care about the tributes, one that captivates the audience at a personal level, where they can even bet on tributes."
as our proposal hangs in the air, i find the classroom in disarray. my heart is against putting innocent people on display and make a skeptical out of them, but nevertheless, my brain makes me willing to do anything to get ahead.
a/n-
HEY LOSERS!! im back
all my love, forever,
rory.
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