#the balad of songbirds and snakes

[malice-kingdom]

Sejanus angst ✨

———

This was a request by @sejanusxfan

I apologize that I took liberties with the prompt. Hope you like it anyway :)

[sunsetling-12]

if suzanne were to write more about the hunger games series i ask nothing more but a little short story about tigris and snow's relationship falling apart

she loved him so much, her "baby cousin", she did so many things so he could live and in the end she smiled at the thought of his death

i have a theory it probably started when he became a gamemakers and began with all of the changes so the games would be more exciting to watch since tigris was always against the games, but i want suzanne's views on this so much!

[etfrin]

Do you ever think of Sejanus Plinth, the boy from district 2 who blatantly spoke against the Capitol and Hunger Games, and so deeply loved his friend who made him believe he could bring change only to flash forward a few decades and his district thinks of Hunger Games as a form of glory, and they're blindly loyal to the Capitol, just like he was to Coriolanus

[ear-a-corn]

TBT to this piece from last year!

[khami-the-raccoon]

I hope I’m not interrupting you or anything! But I was wondering if you could do Coriolanus Snow x Insane!Male!Reader?

Reader is from the capitol, but doesn’t support the capitol, nor the districts. Despite being looked down upon by the others in the Academy, he still tries to befriend Coriolanus. Even though Reader has terrible memory, he is somehow able to remember the people he sees as someone he could trust, names.

Reader tends to stare off into space, forgetting what he was even saying or doing in the first place.

Rumors have circulated that the reason that Reader is like this is due to an incident that had happened in the Academy. Something that had to do with Dr. Gaul. This could also be the reason behind Reader and Dr. Gaul’s relationship with one another.

He is always going around smiling and laughing like a mad man.

Again, I’m sorry for interrupting whatever it was you were originally doing!

Hi! Thank you so much for your request, this is what I mean when I say ‘nice request’. I loved the idea :) I hope you like it, have a good day!

Coriolanus Snow x Insane! Male! Capitol! Reader

Summary: Coriolanus Snow (young) x insane male reader, who is trying to befriend him even if his reputation and behavior don’t help much.

Word Count: 1704

Coriolanus Snow Masterlist

General Masterlist

Part 2

Y/N walked confidently through the opulent corridors of the Capitol Academy, his simple presence defiant to the disdainful gazes of his peers. Though Arachne and her clique attempted to cast bad glances his way, they were mere blips in his determined stride.

Approaching the group, Arachne's lip curled in a taunting sneer, her friends echoing her hostility. "What brings a loser like you here, Y/N?" she jeered, her words dripping with malice.

Y/N merely smirked, unbothered by her attempts at intimidation. "Just passing through," he replied, his gaze fixed on Coriolanus Snow, the central figure in the group.

Brushing aside Arachne's disdain, Y/N walked over to Coriolanus, a confident grin playing on his lips. "Mind if I join you?" he asked casually, his tone laced with nonchalance.

"Of course, why not?" Coriolanus responded with a polite smile, though a flicker of surprise danced in his eyes at Y/N's audacity.

Y/N smiled and sat down next to Coriolanus. His smile was… something. It could easily make anyone feel uneasy or even uncomfortable.

As they engaged in conversation, Coriolanus found himself drawn to Y/N's effortless charisma and sharp wit. Their discussion flowed seamlessly from Capitol politics to literature, each topic blending into the next with ease.

Y/N laughed insanely at one of Coriolanus's jokes, his eyes gleaming with genuine amusement. His loud laughter made people around them look bad at them, well, at Y/N. "You have quite the sense of humor," he remarked, leaning in closer.

Coriolanus felt a flutter of excitement at the proximity. "Thank you," he replied softly.

However, as their conversation progressed, Y/N's attention began to waver, their mind drifting off a few times, which Coriolanus couldn't help but notice.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, genuine concern tingeing his tone.

Y/N blinked, refocusing. "Apologies, I got a bit distracted," they admitted sheepishly.

Coriolanus smiled understandingly. "It happens to the best of us," he reassured, gently patting their hand.

Their conversation resumed, though Y/N made a conscious effort to remain focused this time, despite Arachne's attempts to disrupt.

Arachne sneered, "Still lost in your own little world, I see."

Y/N's gaze hardened, meeting her icy stare. "Arachne, always a delight," he retorted sarcastically.

Their verbal exchange threatened to escalate until Dr. Gaul’s assistant intervened with news of an urgent summons.

"Y/N, Dr. Gaul wishes to see you immediately," the assistant announced, her expression inscrutable.

With a nod, Y/N excused himself, leaving Arachne and her friends fuming in his wake.

As he made his way to Dr. Gaul’s chambers, a sense of unease washed over him. He knew what would happen, it had been happening for the past months, and his body and mind were staring to see the consequences of it.

Meanwhile, Coriolanus was looking at Y/N as he left. He was confused and concerned, he didn’t understand why Dr. Gaul wanted to see him specifically. It could’ve been for his grades… but no, Y/N wasn’t exactly the best student. “Why did Dr. Gaul want to see him?” He asked Arachne and the rest of the group, the girl laughed.

“Haven’t you heard what they say?” She said, Coriolanus shook his head. “Well…” she leaned in closer to him. “The rumors say your ‘friend’ is nothing more than Dr. Gaul’s little experiment,” she said, her friends laughed.

Coriolanus turned to look at her, starting to get angry at the situation and horrible rumors about the boy, who, well, yes, was strange, but he was also nice and interesting, at least for Coriolanus. “Rumors are nothing more than just that; rumors,” he said angrily and got up from his seat to follow Y/N and see what he did with Dr. Gaul.

Once he was outside of Dr. Gaul’s laboratory, he stayed quiet to hear what was going on and leaned over the door to see. He heard Y/N’s voice first. “They’re spreading rumors about me,” he confessed, his words laced with frustration.

Dr. Gaul regarded him with an icy stare, her lips curling into a predatory smile. “Rumors are the least of your concerns, Y/N,” she replied, her voice dripping with malice.

“But they might find out” the boy complained as Dr. Gaul prepared him for another experiment, Y/N felt a wave of dread wash over him. The cold, metallic instruments gleamed ominously under the harsh fluorescent lights, sending shivers down his spine, and it didn’t help at all that Dr. Gaul ignored what he had said.

With meticulous precision, Dr. Gaul strapped Y/N onto the operating table, her movements swift and calculated. Each restraint tightened around his limbs, immobilizing him completely as he lay vulnerable beneath her gaze.

Y/N’s heart pounded in his chest as Dr. Gaul approached, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of anticipation and sadistic pleasure. “We will make sure nobody finds out.”She said as she took out a syringe and filled it up with a liquid “You’re nothing more than a pawn in my game, Y/N,” she hissed, her voice like a dagger slicing through the silence.

Despite his mounting unease, Y/N knew better than to defy Dr. Gaul’s authority, his fear outweighing any sense of rebellion. And as he endured her manipulative machinations, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach, reminding him of the precarious position he held within her grasp.

Coriolanus had to stop looking as he saw the horrible treatment Y/N had to endure, he saw Dr. Gaul injecting him with the syringe, and then how Y/N started having hallucinations. Gaul would then ask him questions, and give him electric shocks every time he said the wrong answer.

He started thinking about Y/N’s usual behavior. How his smile was the one of a sick and insane boy, and his laughter was… scary. How he couldn’t focus on class and how he zoned out while having conversations. Could all of that be the secondary effects of whatever Dr. Gaul was doing to him?

After enduring yet another harrowing experiment at the hands of Dr. Gaul, Y/N stumbled out of the laboratory, his body wracked with pain and his mind clouded with despair. With each labored breath, the weight of Dr. Gaul's manipulations bore down on him like a crushing burden.

As he emerged into the dimly lit hallway, Y/N's facade shattered, and he succumbed to the overwhelming anguish that threatened to consume him. Laughter bubbled up from deep within him, wild and unrestrained, echoing off the sterile walls in a cacophony of madness.

Coriolanus, drawn by the sound of Y/N's manic laughter, rounded the corner just in time to witness the spectacle before him. Shock etched across his features as he watched Y/N's descent into madness, the boy he had known unraveling before his very eyes.

"What's happening to you, Y/N?" Coriolanus demanded, his voice laced with concern as he approached cautiously, unsure of how to approach the situation.

But Y/N's laughter only intensified, his eyes alight with a manic gleam as he stumbled backwards, his movements erratic and uncontrolled. "It's all just a joke, isn't it? A sick, twisted joke!" he exclaimed between fits of hysterical laughter.

Coriolanus felt a pang of helplessness grip his heart as he watched Y/N's unraveling, his mind racing to find a way to reach through the chaos and bring him back from the brink. "Y/N, listen to me," he urged, his voice cutting through the madness like a beacon of clarity in the storm.

But Y/N's laughter continued unabated, his grip on reality slipping further with each passing moment. And as Coriolanus looked on, a sense of despair washed over him, the realization dawning that the boy he had once known may be lost to the darkness forever.

He tried to touch his shoulder to hopefully bring him back to reality, but Y/N recoiled at his touch, his laughter turning bitter and tinged with desperation. “You don’t understand, Coriolanus! None of you do!” he exclaimed, his words laced with a raw anguish that cut through the facade of his insanity.

Coriolanus felt a pang of guilt grip his heart as he watched Y/N’s torment unfold before him, his own helplessness mirrored in the depths of the boy’s haunted eyes. “I want to understand, Y/N. Please, let me help you,” he pleaded, his voice a whispered plea amid the chaos.

For a moment, Y/N’s laughter faltered, his gaze locking onto Coriolanus’s with a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume him. “You can’t save me, Coriolanus,” he whispered, his voice barely audible above the tumult of his thoughts.

But Coriolanus refused to give up on him, his resolve strengthened by the bond that had formed between them in the face of adversity. “I won’t leave you to face this alone, Y/N,” he vowed, his words a silent promise to stand by his side no matter the cost.

He could still see how affected and vulnerable Y/N was, and without thinking much, he hugged him close to his chest. “It’s Dr. Gaul, isn’t she? She has been experimenting on you” he said as he slowly caressed Y/N’s hair.

Y/N was feeling too ashamed and anxious about the whole thing, so he just nodded his head and held onto the other boy.

“It will be alright. I promise” Coriolanus said and softly kissed his forehead. “Now, come with me. I’ll take you to my place and take care of you, alright?” He said. “Are you not worried what people will say about you hanging out with me? If Dr. Gaul finds out…“ Y/N said a bit worriedly “she won’t.” Coriolanus cut him off and softly helped him walk. Y/N smiled and let himself be helped.

Coriolanus then took him to his home and helped him change his clothes and also healed some of the injuries Dr. Gaul did to his beautiful body.

“Thank you, Coryo” Y/N said as he started to fall asleep. “You’re welcome, Y/N” Coryo answered and caressed his face and hair until he fell asleep

[coccinelle-et-chaton]

i've been listening to Can't Catch Me Now for days now.

it is my entire personality. it has consumed me. i-

the beauty, the rage, the sadness. i am BANGIng my head against the wall, do you understand me? 2023 is for the dystopic girlie reinassance and i feel so ALIVE.

[mizzensnumber1fan]

Hunger games meme. Very true, lol!

[sherlockholmeshound]

No gonna lie but I feel like such a hater because I have watched BOTH Dune Part 1 and 2, and I...dont...get....it.

So much of the hype feels fake to me because I seriously can't like these movies as much as I wanted to. They felt too long, boring, weirdly paced and exposed, I didn't see characters but like a long, long, series of epic and beautifully crafted photoshots with super well known actors.

The worms are fun, but besides that I'm... At loss here. Perhaps I need to read the books.

But no only that, this is bringing some fandom wars between Star Wars and Dune and LOL, yeah not shocked there. But it's so interesting to me how badly people equal Paul and Anakin as the same, yet I love Anakin so much and Paul....he is there.

Maybe it's because how it was presented in the movie, but I didn't buy Paul and Chani's relationship at all and his supposed commitment to her, nor the internal struggles Paul is supposedly undergoing. It's like when people say Coryolanus Snow's backstory and motives were exactly like Anakin all over again (I did like BOSAS a lot though!!) ....but that's another rant.

Disclaimer that this is not me telling others to not enjoy Dune. This is me being frustrated because I don't get the new shiny big thing and I can't enjoy the party, it looks so fun :(

(it is me, however comparing about how every single protagonist guy gone villain are talked about as if they're the exact same when their enviroment and personalities are so different but ppl go around like they're exactly the same wahhh)

[windswept-fields]

My favorites of 2023

I wanted to make little wrap up of 2023, so here are my favorite movies and performances from 2023

Top Five Favorite movies

#5 The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snake - dir. Francis Lawrence

I am a YA/dystopian boy through and through. I thought this was a very faithful adaptation and very visually stunning. The performances were all great and I just really liked it. However, I had my problems with the book itself and I felt the movie didn't do a great job truly villainizing Snow (I found him too likable until like the end of the film) All in all though a fun watch.

#4 Saltburn- Dir. Emerald Fennell

If there's one thing I'm gonna do on this account, It's support a boy's wrongs. This movie has so many visual details and story details, it truly blows my mind. The soundtrack? Banger after banger. I'd never heard Murder on The Dance Floor before this movie but now I want to dance around a mansion to it. The cast? I mean just look at them. I do think occasionally this movie occasionally felt like it was just being shocking for shocking's sake and I got a little tired of it.

#3 Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse- Dir. Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, and Joaquim Dos Santos

I love art. There's no other way to say it. I am in love with creativity. The amount of details that are in this movie are so utterly mind blowing that every time I read about a new one, I feel like I have to rewatch this movie. The first Spider-verse film is an absolute masterpiece and this movie was not about to disappoint it. From the voice performances to the bleeding-water color, to animating on every other frame, this movie just had me floored. I hope it wins an Oscar for best animated feature or I'm throwing shit. I do want the second part before I fully judge the story but so far I think this is one of the best superhero stories in a while

#2 Barbie- Dir Greta Gerwig

I have never cried harder to a Nikki Minaj song. But actually, this movie made me fall in love with the simple act of being alive. It's a movie about a doll and yet its about enjoying life and growing up and how everything's so messy and it's so beautiful and we're so beautiful and I just. I get it. I get why Barbie wanted to be a human. We are all so fascinating. The ending montage alone is enough to make anyone with a heart cry. I hope that one day everyone is as in love with the world around them as this movie made me.

#1 Asteroid City- Dir. Wes Anderson

If you don't know the I'm Wes Anderson's number 1 fan, I'm doing something wrong. Truth be told, I didn't get this movie at first. I left the theater knowing that there was some deeper meaning but...what? So I thought about it for two weeks and then it hit me. There is no clear answer. There's no clear answer because the actors can't find a clear answer. There's no clear answer because the in-universe playwright didn't write one and maybe Anderson himself didn't write one. The movie has clear themes of grief and love and identity but at the end of the day what you choose to make of it is all up to you. There's also a lot to be said about how the play is existential and about uncertainty in the future and I think that's another reason I liked Asteroid City. I'm always so worried about the future. It terrifies me. But what can I do. And with that I once again realized that Wes Anderson was truly genius, and I don't think I'll ever see a film quite like Asteroid City again.

Favorite performances from each film

#5 Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird

I never got the hatred for Rachel Zegler. She was absolutely phenomenal in the 2021 West Side Story and she ate up Lucy Gray Baird. I just felt through the screen that Rachel understood her role so well. She played Lucy to all her vulnerability and strength and goddamn I am in love with her voice!! The old therebefore gave me absolute chills.

#4 Allison Oliver as Venetia Catton

being complete honest she's who I wanted to be in like middle school. Allison Oliver managed to play her as both such a free spirit and then to haunted on such the drop of the dime. From her subtle emotions to her snapping at Oliver in the bathtub she had me eating out of the palm of her hand. She would've loved Tumblr.

#3 Shameik Moore as Miles Morales

He had me laughing, crying, cheering and getting goosebumps the whole time. The absolute power Shameik Moore gives Miles is truly what tie the whole movie together. I feel like his performance often gets overshadowed for some of the bigger names in the cast and I truly find that shame. He gives Miles such a powerful and realistic portrayal that I admire it so deeply. From "Nah, I'mma do my own thing." to his conversations with Gwen to arguments with his parents, Shameik Moore makes Miles feel like a teenager who's trying to figure out who he is and a superhero saving a multiverse from collapsing

#2 Margot Robbie as Barbie

I'm fucking sick of only hearing Ryan Goslings name mentioned when we talk about the BARBIE movie! It is Margot's movie!! SHE ATE THAT SHIT UP!! She managed to so subtly bring in the changes of barbie being only a doll to being a real person. She provides so much of the movies comedy too. Her laying down crying had me wheezing not gonna lie. But she also shows us that how strong Barbie is and how she's so multi-faceted.She is truly someone little girls should see and be inspired by. Margot truly brought Barbie to life in all the ways that the audience and the script needed. She had me laughing, crying and smiling so goddamn wide the whole film. Here's to you, Margot.

#1 Jason Schwartzman as Augie Steenback/Jones Hall

It was the year of Schwartzman and nowhere was the proved more than in Asteroid City. Here we see, Jason Schwartzman playing and actor playing a single dad war photographer. Schwartzman manages to play all these layers so well, letting them blend together through on intense common factor: grief. Jones' grief bleeds into Augie in such a fascinating way that you might not even realize at first. It's so subtle and yet, it complete makes the performance. When we see Jones on his own a few times, though Jason Schwartzman manages to make him feel like a completely different man than Augie. The entire scene from Jones walking offstage to us being returned to 'Asteroid City' is truly some of my favorite acting of the year. Even through subtle expressions, we can truly see everything that Jones is experiencing. It's just such a sight to watch and it blows me away.

Some honorable film and performance mentions

Oppenheimer- Dir Christopher Nolan. Good film but a little too long if you ask me. Sorry!

Fav performance- Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer. She might not have been in a lot of the film but she stuck with me

Renfeild- Dir Chris McKay. Sorry I like fun camp! sue me!

Fav performance- Nic Cage as Dracula. I'm sorry Nic Cage is just so goddamn funny

Poison- Dir. Wes Anderson. Maybe the real snake was the Benedict Cumberbatch we met along the way.

Fav performance- Dev Patel as Woods. Wes please cast Dev Patel in a longer on of your films he ate this up.

Five Nights at Freddy's- Dir. Emma Tammi. I wanted to like it more but it felt like 3 different films until the last 20 minuets

fav performance- Matthew Lilard as William Afton. I want Stu Macher back after this.

The Swan- Dir. Wes Anderson. (Last time I mention Wes in this post I swear.) Hey Wesley! Quick question! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?? Thank youuuu!

Fav performance- Rupert Friend as Narrator/Peter Watson. Yeah he was the only guy speaking and he carried! The one moment where he breaks the stoic delivery and truly pleads for them to not kill the swan? Wow.

Gaurdians of The Galaxy Vol 3- Dir James Gunn. I have never cried over cgi this hard in my life!

Bradley Cooper as Rocket. Just hearing him scream sob almost had me open mouth sobbing in public.

Scream 6- Dir. Matt Bettinelli-olpin, Tyler Gillet. Starting to get real pissed at radiosilence.

fav performance- Jasmin Savoy-Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin. She's so funny, I love her.

If y'all want I also have a favorite tv shows of 2023 post

[andreamorgan19]

Dystopian Novels

[malice-kingdom]

Judging you!

-

I got a request from @snowcote to draw Coryo and Clementia and it actually motivated me to finish a big tbosas fanart I had abandoned.

I hope you like it :)

[sunsetling-12]

re-reading ballad for the movie (as if i do not have a thousand assignments due this end of semester lol) and let me tell you that lucy motherfucking gray knew how to play the games was insane

play as in the same way peeta played the games, if you know what im saying

that girl was a performer, and she was performing since the reaping, maybe not intentional *then* but later? in the zoo cage in the capitol?? oh, my girl was playing the popularity game and she was fucking winning it

she couldn't know about the capitol's plan to make the games more entertaining, and she also couldn't be thinking (in the very beginning, i mean) that it would be possible to get out of there alive, but she wasn't going to allow herself to die as a nobody

if the capitol was going to kill her, they better remember her name

[chaoticacademicjournal]

Part Time Popstar (Dad!Coriolanus and Daughter OC)

Chapter 1: The Newest Status Quo

A shrill and annoying noise wakes me from my heavy slumber. Groaning, I slowly sat up and pressed the button on top of the alarm clock to stop it from annoying me further. I sigh and look at the time. It’s six thirty in the morning. I step out of my queen-sized bed to change into my uniform. I sit at my golden vanity and brush my hair with a wide toothcomb. With a flick of my wrist, I tame my light blonde curls and tie my hair into a bun crossed with a messy ponytail. I avoid looking at the mirror because my eyes are the same shade as my mother’s. I prefer to forget her sometimes.

This is my first day as a freshman at the Academy. Frankly, I think the Academy is elitist and stuck up, especially after witnessing that god-awful orientation video. The way the younger version of my father says ‘noble birth’ makes my skin crawl. It’s nails on a chalkboard. No, literally, nails nailed on a chalkboard. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t attend that dammed school. But my father is an alumnus of that school, and he donated a sports complex to buy his kids entry to the school. So, if I refused to go, it would be a waste of a building.

I go through my wardrobe and fit on my light blue collared shirt, a ruby red blazer paired with pants, and a long skirt. God, I hate the uniform too. Why is the skirt so long? What if it gets snagged on something? And what’s with these fuckass shoes?! Why can’t I wear socks for these? They’re so restricting, and there's barely any arch support. So, to make my shoes remotely comfortable, I wear transparent stockings to protect my skin against the harsh leather of the boots.

Sighing, I grab my academy-issued backpack, walk out of my room, and close the door softly.

I walked downstairs and witnessed my family gathered around the table, waiting for the maids to serve breakfast. They all talked amongst each other, discussing the state of the Capitol and various interests like horseback riding and tennis.

My father is seated at the head of the table, symbolizing his role as head of the household. I sit by his right hand since I’m his favorite and next in line as heir to the fortune. Not to mention, I’m in charge whenever he’s not here. My brother Piper sits by his left hand, and Theodora, my 3rd youngest sister, sits beside him. Piper and Theodora are twins, so my father likes to sit them together. Aria sits next to me on the right side of the table. Usually, his favorites are seated at the right side of the table. Our placement on the table is important because it signifies our age, from oldest to youngest, and our importance, which seems ridiculous from an outside perspective. But my father is very particular. I’m just glad he stopped picking out our outfits.

“Cyn, finally, you woke up. Come and sit down; breakfast is about to be served,” my father says with a measured smile and a concise tone. I walk to the table and sit in my designated seat. My siblings pipe down when I sit down, respecting me enough to let me talk to my father without distractions. Sometimes, I wish they treated me like their sister instead of their authority figure. But if I’m being honest, I lost that role the day my mother died.

“I thought it was my job to wake the kids and prepare them for breakfast.” I politely point out, with my arms folded politely on the table. I’m slightly confused; I purposefully wake up early every day just to wake them up and prepare them for breakfast.

“It was, but today is your first day at the Academy, and I couldn’t require you to fulfill your daughterly tasks and focus on school. You deserve to rest for the long day ahead.” My father responds with a practiced smile. This puzzles me: do I deserve a break? No, that’s not right. Before I raise my concerns, the maids walk in with platters of poached eggs, bacon, toast with jelly, and other breakfast items. I silently thank the maids as I load my plate with various food.

“Father says he’ll drop us off this time.” Aria excitedly tells me. My eyes narrowed in confusion. Okay, what the hell was going on? First, he wakes up the kids and wants to drop us all off. Since when did my father wake up and say, ‘Oh, I’m actually going to raise my kids this time and be an emotionally available and physically present father’?

“Dad, what about the uprising in District 4? You must be in the office as early as possible to focus on that. You can’t dilly dally when the Capitol faces a serious situation.” I earnestly remind him. Since when did he put his family before the needs of the Capitol? He hasn’t done that since mom died. So what is it? He dismisses me with a wave of his hand. I hate when he does that.

“Cyn, it’s your first year at the academy, and the road that the kids bike through to get to school is closed for construction,” He replies after sipping his black tea with cream. “I wouldn’t miss your first year for the world. Besides, my colleagues have the uprising handled.”

I sigh in stress, burying my hands in my hair. Almost messing up my hairstyle, “No, Dad, it’s beneficial to you to arrive early at work. Don’t worry about me. Have the driver drop off the kids, and I’ll take my moped to school.” My father frowns at the mention of the moped. He’s always hated that moped for idiotic reasons, of course.

“You’re going to drive to school in that piece of junk?” He scoffs. “No, no daughter of mine will drive to school by herself using a moped. I will drive you to school, but you need to get rid of that moped, and I’ll give you a car instead. End of discussion.”

“A car. You’re going to give a fifteen-year-old a car.” I scoff. “Dad, come on. Just think for a second. Even if I know how to drive, the moped is economically efficient and doesn’t omit a lot of fumes that pollute the air–”

“If you want an economically efficient and environmentally beneficial mode of transportation, I’ll give you a used hybrid car.” He cuts me off. I feel the anger rising in my chest, but I push it down for a peaceful breakfast. Plus, I don’t want my siblings to see me angry. It’s unbecoming of an older sister.

“Fine. But I choose the car and who to buy it from.” I lay down my terms. My father knows nothing about picking the right car. He thinks the most expensive car works, but there are variables included that I have to control.

My father simply nods. “I’m sure you’ll put a lot of forethought and research into picking the correct car for you.” I roll my eyes.

“So you’re still driving us to school?” my brother Piper asks. My father nods in response, smiling assuringly.

“I’m assuming that this won’t be a frequent thing?” Theodora crosses her arms in suspicion. Out of all of us, she resents our father the most and gives him the pushback.

“No, this is going to be a frequent occurrence.” My father clarifies. Everyone erupts in reaction. Aria, ever the quiet one, smiles widely. Theodora groans in frustration. Piper looks at my father in interest, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. Since when did my father decide to do his job and become a parent?

“Wait, wait, What about work? Don’t you have to get into the office by seven thirty in the morning?” Aria timidly asks. I’m surprised that she knows his schedule. I’m not. My dad once brought Aria into his office for a week because he got paranoid about losing her. So she must’ve learned his work schedule. Yes, I know it’s not healthy. But what can I do?

“I pushed back my time to find time in my schedule to drop off all of you.” He replies with a slight smile. “You all are growing up so fast; I don’t want to miss out on anything.” I look at him in confusion. When did he want to spend more time with us than running the country and working on the next Hunger Games?

“Dad, I can drop the kids off at school once you get the car, you don’t have to–”

“Nonsense, Cyn. That’s not your responsibility. Just focus on being a good student.” I tightly grip the edge of my table. Now, he wants me to be a kid? I haven't been a kid since my mother died. He rips away my childhood in the blink of an eye and dares to turn around now of all times and treat me like a teenager. The fucking gall.

“Okay,” I finally grit my teeth. “Fine.” My father grins in victory—a smug grin that I loathed my entire childhood. He loves winning, but most of all, he loves to rub it in my face. I may be used to it, but it never fails to piss me off majorly.

After our hearty breakfast, we put on our coats and shoes at the front door. As Theodora helps Aria put on her boots and Piper fastens his tie on his neck using his pocket mirror, I hear my father speak.

“Cynthia,” my father softly calls out to me. I turn to him and see a single pale rose at his fingertips. He’s wearing his signature red jacket, red slacks, a black collared shirt, and a matching red suit vest. He walks closer and pins it to my breast pocket. His hands swiftly guide the sharp end of the pin to penetrate the red cloth and fasten the rose on my breast pocket, tucking the stem inside.

“It’s a Snow family tradition to wear a rose from the garden.” He explains to me. “It symbolizes the strength in beauty and elegance. It’s an enduring sight of loyalty to your country and, most importantly, your family.” He proudly smiles, a sight I rarely see. “I expect to see you achieve great feats. I know you’ll never let me down.” With that, he hugs me. I freeze when he wraps his skinny arms around my shoulders and pulls me close, my head resting under his chin. My father barely hugs me; he hugs my siblings, but me? All I’ve gotten since my mother’s death is a handshake or a slightly comforting touch. So I slowly return the hug; it’s awkward and stiff like I’ve forgotten how to hug my father. God, that’s depressing.

–

I was in the passenger seat of a sleek Tesla car as my father drove us next to me. I look out the window, noting the passing houses.

“So, Cynthia, what club are you going to join?” My father asks, trying to make conversation. I absentmindedly shrug, watching the houses pass as we drive out of the suburbs.

“I'm not sure. My time is precious; I can’t waste it on some stupid extracurricular.” I sigh. All I think about is passing my classes, and I didn’t even get to school yet.

My father frowns in disapproval, which does nothing for me since I’m used to seeing it.

“Your grades may be necessary, but having a life outside of academics is equally essential. Don’t you want to make more friends?” I roll my eyes. What’s wrong with the friends I have right now?” I defensively say, crossing my arms.

“Cyn. You need to expand your horizons. Look, here’s an assignment.” I groan, god I hate these weekly assignments. “Join a club by the end of the week.” He tells me, grinning back at me in encouragement. I glare at him, but all he does is smile back, unbothered by my grumpy demeanor.

“Fine.”

—-

The school the kids attended was closer to our house than the Academy, so it was just me and my father in the car. He drove to the Academy and tuned to the pop radio.

“Cynthia. I want to tell you something.” He spoke up through the music playing on the radio. He turns the music down. Judging by the tone of his voice, it’s probably something important.

“I know you have a huge sense of responsibility and obligation on your shoulders, and most of those were put on by me.” He recognized, “I want to tell you how thankful I am for your help raising your siblings. I know things were… difficult once your mother died.” He frowns, a tinge of grief reflecting in his eyes.

“But I want you to know that your role in our family isn't to be a parent. It’s to be a sister and a daughter.” He firmly says. I look at him, confused. Okay, what the hell is happening?

“So, this year, just focus on your studies.” He tells me. My doubts start cropping up.

My father is a busy man; he might pawn off his responsibilities on the maids. Or worse, he might smother them like he smothers Aria, and what happens if he comes home from work irritated–

“Cynthia. I promise I’ll try my best. It won’t be like last time.” He says in a gentle voice. It’s a tone I wasn’t used to. My father was always stoic and hated to be ignored or viewed as vulnerable. He was so gentle that I barely heard what he said. His gentle demeanor made me believe that things would be different this time. That maybe I’d at least have an everyday teenage life. All I did was nod. My father smiles and turns up the music.

He hugged me so tightly that I doubted he wanted to let me go. I opened the car door and closed it behind me. A sizeable arching column and the vast Academy building behind it greeted me. Groups of students walked under the column and into the Academy with excited energy and hopeful faces.

I already hate it here as I see lines of limos and expensive cars dropping off their students. God, they’re dropped off by the driver, not their parents. So their parents didn’t even bother to see them off. This place reeks of entitlement, elitism, and prejudice. But I couldn’t talk since my father embodies all those traits.

“Cynthia!” Someone calls after me; a honeyed voice peppers the air as I turn around.

My friend, Marie Lou Pennyholt, tackles me in a big hug; I instantly wrap my skinny arms around her soft frame. I can hug her; I rub circles on her back and lightly grip her waist. Her dyed light pink frizzy hair almost covers my eyes as I brush her hair out of my face.

“Oh! I missed you so much!” She excitedly tells me. Her long, curly, and silken hair grazes my fingertips. She’s wearing the Academy uniform with a navy blue headscarf.

“You saw me a week ago.” I point out with a subdued grin

. “But a week without you is too long!” She pouts. Her little pout almost lights a fire in my eyes, but I keep it hidden. It’s not appropriate to show affection. Not in front of others. Not when anyone could be watching us.

“I know it is.” I smile slightly. She holds my arm as we walk to class.

“What club will you join?” She asks me. “I’m joining the cooking club, of course!”

“I’m not sure,” I reply, looking around as we walk to class and taking note of our surroundings.

.“None of these clubs seem appealing to me.”

“What about the music club?” An irritating and deep voice speaks up from behind me. Please tell me it isn’t that fucking Cardew boy. I hate that guy.

We both turned to him; Octavius Cardew stood before him with his signature smug grin. The very sight of him boils my blood and makes me want to strangle him with my bare hands brutally. He is the most irritating, loathsome piece of shit I have the displeasure of knowing.

“Tavius! Come! Walk with us!” Marie grins; I fight the urge to grimace.

Tavius smugly smiles at me as he joins me by my side. He leans over to talk to us, his arms behind his back.

“Marie, why do you invite him to walk with us? He’s so annoying.” I groan, gripping the edge of my academy bag strap.

“You only find me annoying because I’m a Cardew,” Octavius says arrogantly.

“I find you annoying because you don’t even know what District 12 does, and you don’t care about anyone other than yourself.” I hatefully retort sharply, glaring at his dopey grin and teasing eyes. Fucking Cardew bane of my existence.

“C’mon Cynthia, he’s changed.” I scoff, rolling my eyes and sharply reprimanding her naive view. “No one changes; they only get better at hiding their misdeeds.” I glare at Octavius.

“Cynthia, you hate me because other than Marie, I know you’re good at music.” He grins. “Although, I don’t know why you’d hide it.” He shrugs. That struck a nerve as I almost hit him with my bag.

“I hide it for a reason–”

“It’s a waste of talent. If you have a natural aptitude for something, why won’t you pursue it?” He complains. I frowned; he seemed to have a point, but as the daughter of the President, I had no time to chase after frivolous ventures.

“Being a musician won’t help the country. It won’t bring glory to the Snow family name–”

“But why is it your responsibility to help the country? Just because you’re the president's oldest daughter doesn’t mean you have to pursue a career like his. It’s your life–”

I cut Marie off, feeling frustrated and fed up.

“No, it’s not my life; it’s never my life. It’s my father’s life. My sisters and brothers. It’s selfish to pursue a career I like.” My tone is edged with resentment and conviction. Even if it’s true, it’s not like I wanted this. I didn’t want to devote my life to bettering my family's reputation. It was just... Chosen for me.

“Is it?” Marie looks at me warily, “Or is that how you were raised?” My frown deepens. We’ve always argued about this. She’s always known these expectations smothered me, but I can’t admit that. Admitting it makes it accurate and based on reality.

“Whatever,” I say as I walk ahead. This conversation pulls my deeply hidden doubts to the surface, and it’s something I don’t appreciate.

—-

I prop my head up with my arm as I listen to the Music Composition teacher talk about composing music on the music sheets. She explains every note and beat as if she were teaching elementary school music.

I was going to sign up for fencing for the extracurricular class, but I signed up too late, and Music Composition was the only class available. So now I’m stuck here hearing about many things I figured out independently. The class is tortuous and slow. But, if I pass this class, I’ll be moved up to Advanced Music Production next year, which seems interesting at least.

“Now, let's introduce ourselves. We’ll go around the class and say our name, future career, and fun fact,” the teacher, Mrs.Viola, says. I internally groan as the class starts this stupid activity. Can’t teachers find a more creative way to get us to introduce each other?

When it gets to me, everyone turns to hear my answer. Of course, they would; I am a Snow, after all. Everyone cares about every word I speak, so I am concise.

“My name is Cynthia Snow. My favorite color is Gray.” I bluntly reply.

“And your future Career?” the teacher prompted. I sigh. I haven’t found the answer to this question yet. I’m fifteen years old; how can I know my future career at this age?

So, I say what everyone expects to hear.

“Politician.”

—

The cafeteria was large, with multiple tables in the center, and the smell of fine dining filled the air. The lunches are ordered on the academy app and walked to you by servers. It all screamed privilege. Would a regular district student get lobster for lunch? Of course not; they’d most get a small bowl of potato stew, rice, and yogurt.

“The chefs outdid themselves on our first day.” Marie grins as she eats her lobster ravioli. She went on to identify every ingredient they used and critiqued the cooking time.

“Eh, I’ve eaten better.” Octavius shrugs.

I look through my bag and set down my lunchbox. I open the lid and stare at the Beef Stew with rice, vegetables, and crackers.

“You brought your lunch? Why? You obviously can afford the lunch here.” Octavius scrutinizes my lunch.

“Why have someone do something you can do yourself? Besides, what if they don’t cook up to my standards?” I scoff. “I know how to cook, so I might as well cook something I’d want to eat.” Octavius frowns, not liking my logic here.

“You’ll look poor, they might think–”

“Why would anyone think that a Snow is poor? Besides, I don’t care about what they think because deep down, everyone knows their place, and their place is under me.” I coldly retort. I don’t mean the words I say. But there is an image I must maintain.

“Okay, okay, let's simmer down here.” Marie smiles reassuringly. “I think it’s cool that you cook your food. I love cooking!” She grins, changing the topic to keep me and Octavius from bickering.

“Yeah, I know. Remember when you’d bring food for me to taste at school?” I calmly reminisce. “You’d test out your recipes on me.” Marie lights up, surprised I remember an elementary school memory.

“You remember that?” I grin in response. “Of course I do; eating your food was the highlight of my day.” Marie smiles warmly and wraps an arm around my shoulders.

“Anything for my best friend.”

—-

After my last class, I walk down the hallway, ready to find Marie and leave school, until I hear a beautiful melody across from the classroom. I slowly approach the classroom door and pull it open slightly to peek in at the stunning performance.

That’s when I finally saw a girl with long black hair playing the piano. The teacher decorated the classroom head to toe with Musical instruments, staff paper, and a big grand piano. I listened to the melodious song streaming out of the piano. The sigh almost made me cry. I took a deep breath, wiping away stray tears as I closed the door.

But taped on the door is a signup sheet. Upon reading it, I realized it was a signup sheet for the music club; they have a whole classroom just for the music club.

I hesitate. What would I do in the club? Would I finally find a space to practice my guitar? What would people think? A Snow is pursuing something so… sentimental. Then I realized I should do at least one thing for myself—to have one thing that I love doing—not for the sake of reputation but for my sanity.

So I wrote my name in small, neat letters, hoping no one would recognize it on the sign-up sheet.

–

After signing up for a club I regret, I take out my phone to find Marie. Marie and I agreed last year. I would share my location with her if she did the same. So, I skipped along using my phone and found myself in the Academy Gardens.

Marie busily waters the white rose bushes lining the whole garden. Octavius also helped as he trimmed the overhanging branches of the oak tree. The garden club uproots the weeds and spruces up the Academy garden to prepare for this year.

“Cardew. I didn’t know you could do manual labor.” I cross my arms. He only smiles at me while cutting off the larger leaves with gardening shears.

“Marie was asking for help; I couldn’t refuse to help my friend.” Friend? No. I’m her friend; you’re just an inconvenience, a mosquito I’ve yet to squish. I take a small breath and hold back my irritation.

“Whatever.” I turn and walk toward Marie.

“If you wanted help, you should’ve asked me.” I coldly told her, crossing my arms in annoyance. Why does she seek help somewhere else when I’m here?

She turns around from the white roses, smiling brightly at me. “But I wanted to give you some time to pick out a garden.” she clears the tension in the air, and I wonder how she does it so quickly.

“Well… I did.” I look away in embarrassment. I was wondering what she’d think of my club selection. Would she say she told me so?

“Really?! What club did you join?!” She excitedly asks.

“...Music club.” I reluctantly admit, bracing myself for scrutiny. Marie Lou melts into an earnest smile.

“So you’re following your passion?” She proudly asks me. I blink for a second before gently smiling.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

—

When I finally left school, I saw my father’s luxurious car parked at the side of the pick-up curb. I saw my siblings in the back and my father in the front, wearing sophisticated sunglasses. Sighing, I waved goodbye to my friends and stepped inside the car. Marie happily waves her hands as Octavius says goodbye.

“How was school?” My father starts with the usual pleasantries. My younger siblings are in the back, talking amongst themselves.

“Okay.” I casually shrug. “Nothing much. Just the same old classes. I mean, the food is great, of course. But nothing out of the ordinary.” I drum my fingers on the Tesla dashboard, fidgeting.

“Did you sign up for a club?”

“Oh. Yeah. I signed up for Music club.” I casually reply. Not thinking anything of it. He wanted me to be a regular teenager, right? This is what teenagers do; they join fun clubs for recreation.

“Oh.” My father’s voice drops into a disappointing octave. His voice is tinged with tension as I turn and see him deeply frown. But it wasn’t the usual stoic frown that I’d grown accustomed to; this time, a look of pain in his eyes accompanied his frown. It's like something in the past hurt him, and he’s reliving the pain. But what harm can music possibly do?

“I don’t think that’s a good fit for you, sweetie. Have you tried the art club? Or even chess club?” He asks with a wavering voice, deflecting from his true intentions.

“Uh. Well… none of those interest me like the music club does. That music classroom has every instrument under the sun. I think I’ll learn the drums–”

“Cynthia, you’re not going to join the music club.” He cuts me off with a strict order, his voice hardening and his pain turning to resentment. But resentment towards whom?

“...what?” For some reason, I felt a sudden loss. I felt like I cared about joining the music club. And for the first time, I felt like talking back and rebelling.

“Why? It’s just music club–”

“You’re not joining a music club, end of discussion. And that’s an order. Understand?” I hold back from retorting. When my father orders me to do something, I must do it, or he’ll punish me.

My father’s punishments are not like those of other parents. So, I simply nod in agreement.

—-

I shyly stepped into the Music Club classroom as they started their first meeting. I was met with a mismatched group of students, all talking about music theory and tuning their instruments.

“Uh. Hi.” I raise my tone to get their attention. They all stopped and looked at me with curious eyes. Some recognized me as the president’s daughter; I could tell by how they tightened their posture, giving me a practiced smile. Others looked at me, interested in who I was.

“My name is Cynthia, and I can’t go to music club anymore.” I refused to elaborate, feeling guilty for signing up and wasting their time.

Suddenly, a taller person walked to me. He was about 6’1. He looks at me with gentle eyes. They’re blue. But a brighter and more vibrant color than my father’s. He has slightly curly brown hair.

“My name is Thomas, the president of the music club. Are you sure you want to quit the music club? This is our first meeting.” He has a slight accent, and his voice is soothing. Is he a singer? I wouldn’t be surprised if he were. He was so polite and kind that I felt even guiltier for quitting.

“Well. I’m not allowed.” I stiffly reply, but his gentle demeanor makes me add more. “But being honest, I don’t want to quit. It’s just—”

“How about you stay for one meeting, and if you still want out, then I’ll accept your decision? he tugs me along, grabs my red sleeve, and shows me around. He gently guides me around the room, greeting club members and introducing me.

“This is the piano corner. We own the big Steinway grand piano, but people can play their piano keyboards around here.” He gestures to all of the piano-playing students as they wave and say hi.

He opens one of the practice rooms. “Built into this room are three single practice rooms. Three people can fit at a time. The rooms are padded with soundproof foam that dampens the music playing. So no one can listen to you play. Usually, these are for the rock students. This is the percussion room.” He points to the room on the far right that holds a drum set. “This is the guitar room.” He points to the middle, with a guitar in the middle and a small amp. “And this is the piano room.” He gestures to the room on the far left with a brown piano in the middle.

“This is the area for the choir and singing kids. Mr.Grace is currently tutoring the newest choir kids.” He gestures to the group of choir kids practicing their scales.

“The acapella group sometimes comes by and practices in here, too. But they’re too busy holding auditions for new singers.” He turns to me. “And that’s it! The middle of the room is for people who just want to chill and do homework. The whiteboard and blackboards are reserved for music composition and music theory. Some people come by with their instruments to practice or form bands. Others just want to vibe with like-minded people.” I nod, feeling acquainted with my surroundings.

I then spot a small pad on a lone desk with two drumsticks. The pad is circular and small, with raised edges. It is a white, worn-down pad. I don’t know what it is strictly used for, so I approach the tool.

“What are those?” I point to the items. He turns and looks at the items.

“Oh, that is a practice percussion pad and drumsticks. I’ll show you how to use them.” He goes over to the items and picks up the drumsticks.

“You’re supposed to grip them between your thumb, index, middle, and ring finger; leave your pinkie out so the stick can bounce off the pad.” He hits the pad with the drumstick, and it makes a soft noise. “It’s all in the wrists. Try it.” He hands the drumsticks to me.

I awkwardly grip the sticks with my large hands. I slowly hit the drum pad with a simple beat and picked up the pace when I got comfortable. Then, I started drumming against the sides of the pads, envisioning them as the snares and cymbals. I improvise a little. I get absorbed in the drumming, my ears listening closely to the beat and wanting to up the tempo and create new beats. When the classroom got quiet, I looked up from the pad only to see all the students looking at me.

“I’m sorry, I suck–”

“No! No, no.” Thomas waves his hands to reassure me. “No, that was pretty cool. You have talent; you need to tighten your technique.” He paused. “How much experience do you have with music?” He calmly asks as the members resume their activities.

“I know how to play the acoustic guitar; my mother taught me,” I respond. Nodding, Thomas smiles. “Well, do you want to learn to play the drum?.” He grins at me, handing me the drumsticks. He looks at me with hopeful eyes, eager to teach someone new. I can see how he regards me as some sort of prodigy.

When I gripped the sticks again, I felt like I belonged, that somehow, this was what I was supposed to be doing. Not politics, or debate, or whatever the fuck my father wants me to do. I got into music to fill the silence of a cold household, to fill the hole my father left in me.

But now, instead of music being a trauma coping mechanism, it morphed into a passion I was willing to fight for, a discipline I’d risk punishment to practice; I wanted to learn more. Most of all, I wanted to be the best.

“Yes. Yes, I do.”

[amethystsoda]

🐦‍⬛🐍❄️

[khami-the-raccoon]

𝙼𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

You can request for whoever you want! Please specify the gender of the reader, the situation, and whatever else you want me to add! :) in the following list, the character’s whose name is in blue or pink have already a Masterlist, the ones whose name is in white/black, haven’t got a Masterlist yet, if the name of the movie/series is underlined, it means it has an own Masterlist with headcanons about all the characters (or many of them at least).

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children

Enoch O’Connor

Jacob Portman

Emma Bloom

Olive Abroholos

Victor Buntley

Millard Nullings (Platonic only)

Horace (Platonic only)

Fiona (Platonic only)

Bronwyn Buntley (Platonic only)

Claire Densmore (Platonic only)

Hugh (Platonic only)

The Umbrella Academy

Luther Hargreeves

Diego Hargreeves

Alison Hargreeves

Klaus Hargreeves

Five Hargreeves

Ben Hargreeves

Viktor Hargreeves

Alice In Borderland

Arisu

Chishiya

Niragi

Kuina

Usagi

Death Note

Light Yagami

L

Mello

Near

Misa Amane

Harry Potter/ Fantastic Beasts and where to find them

Harry Potter

Ron Weasley

George Weasley

Fred Weasley

Hermione Granger

Fleur Delacour

Luna Lovegood

Ginny Weasley

Scorpius Malfoy

Albus Severus Potter

Regulus Black

James Potter

Remus Lupin

Gellert Grindelwald

Albus Dumbledore

Newt Scamander

Tina Goldstein

Queenie Goldstein

Jacob Kowalski

Theseus Scamander

Letha Lestrange

Draco Malfoy

Viktor Krum

Cedric Diggory

The Black Phone

Vance Hopper

Finney

Robin Arellano

Hannibal (nbc)

Hannibal Lecter

Will Graham

Abigail Lecter Graham/ Hobbs

Alana Bloom

Margot Verger

Bedelia Du Maurier

Bodies

Alfred Hillinghead

Charles Whiteman

Sahara Hassan

Iris Maplewood

Henry Ashe

Hunger Games and Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents

Katniss Everdeen

Peeta Mellark

Finnick Odair

Johana Mason

Lucy Gray

Coriolanus Snow (young)

Good Omens

Crowley

Aziraphale

Beelzebub

Gabriel

Sherlock (BBC)

Sherlock Holmes

John Watson

James “Jim” Moriarty

Mycroft Holmes

X-Men

Kurt Wagner

Charles Xavier

Erik Lehnsherr

Jean Grey

Peter Maximoff

Scott Summers

Logan

Hank McCoy

𝚃𝚒𝚙𝚜

(Please, please, please ignore the name of the account, I am not able to change my preferred name legally) Don't feel forced to give me tips, but l'd really appreciate it, I'm trying to make money for my top surgery and hormone treatment, and to be able to move from my abusive household. All is appreciated.

[visd3stele]

...no kid is trully a kid in the hunger games universe. kids born in the districts have the threat of the games looming over them since birth. they all know they might get reaped from the moment they are able to understand the surrounding world. and if they're poor they have to help their parents earn money, or with chores around the house. and if they have siblings they have to lok after them. they will get tesaare and increase their chances to be reaped. children, who understand what the games are and how they could die if they are ever reaped, consciously choosing to increase the chances to end up in the arena just so they, their parents and siblings could have something to eat. and if they're careers, they train for death since as long as they cam remember. they're not kids, but well oiled machines to make their district proud in the eyes of the capito. they know what killing means and the best ways to inflict death. they know how to survive in all sort of worst case scenarious. knowledge no kid should have to learn. and id they're reach they are still living under a tyrant's rule. they still might end up reaped and dead in the arena, so they must prepare for a day to say goodbye to their loved ones forever. they are still expected to work hard to keep their fortune and kiss up capitol's ass. and if they *are* from the capitol, there is the heavy weight of expectations from their families, obsessed with their names and fortune. they are surrounded by powerful people who can end them and their loved ones of they think the wrong thing. and if they are part of one of those powerful people's families, they still have to be careful, because capitol's elite are hienas, all the time ready to feast on their opponent's carcass. and if they are above law, they have parents or families to worry about. because they have to be the perfect heir, the pride of the family name. and if they are poor in the capitol they have to be sneaky or ass-kisser to level up their family. and if...