The Love of Snakes | Coriolanus Snow

2. Hang Around

Scarlett tapped her fingers against her desk, her thoughts drifting far from her Uni professor’s monotonous lecture. He was droning on about something she couldn’t care less about, and she couldn’t summon the energy to even feign interest.

For the past four days, she had been consumed with trying to figure out how to break through Coriolanus's well-built defenses. It was proving to be an impossible task. She had observed him closely, noting every detail about his behavior, his habits, his interactions with others. Yet, every time she thought she found a crack, he would reinforce it, becoming even more impenetrable.

Her frustration grew with each passing day. She replayed every conversation, every glance, searching for a clue that would give her an edge. But Coriolanus was a master of control, revealing only what he wanted others to see.

"Scarlett, are you paying attention?" The professor’s voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. She blinked, realizing that the entire class was now looking at her.

"Yes, sorry," she mumbled, trying to focus on the board. But her mind quickly wandered back to Coriolanus.

How could she get close to him? How could she make him trust her? She needed a plan, something that would make him lower his guard.

An idea began to form, slowly taking shape in her mind. She would have to be patient, methodical. She would need to gain his confidence, become someone he relied on. It wouldn’t be easy, but if she played her cards right, she could get him to trust her.

She just had to make him believe that she was on his side. Then, and only then, could she truly strike.

____________________________________

As Scarlett left her class, she stood at a crossroads, both literally and figuratively. To the right lay the exit, a straightforward path away from the university and the oppressive weight of her thoughts. To the left, however, was the route to Coriolanus’s usual lunch spot, a chance to observe him, perhaps even interact with him.

She chose to go left.

Her heart pounded as she navigated the familiar hallways, her mind racing with potential strategies. She needed to appear casual, as if her presence was nothing more than a coincidence. As she approached the cafeteria, she spotted him at a table near the window, engrossed in a book.

Scarlett took a deep breath and walked over, forcing a friendly smile onto her face. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, trying to sound breezy.

Coriolanus looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes before he composed himself. "Not at all," he replied, gesturing to the seat across from him.

She sat down, pulling out her lunch and arranging it meticulously. "What are you reading?" she asked, glancing at the cover.

"Just some material for Dr. Gaul's class," he said, closing the book slightly to show her the title.

Scarlett nodded, pretending to be interested. "Dr. Gaul's classes are always so intense," she remarked, taking a bite of her sandwich. "How are you finding them?"

He shrugged. "Challenging but fascinating. She has a unique perspective on things."

They lapsed into a silence, the hum of the cafeteria around them. Scarlett's mind raced, trying to think of a way to steer the conversation towards something more personal. She needed to build rapport, to find common ground.

"You know," she began, keeping her tone light, "I’ve been thinking a lot about Sejanus lately. He always had such a different perspective on things. I miss our conversations."

Coriolanus's expression darkened slightly, a fleeting shadow crossing his features. "He was... unique," he said carefully.

Scarlett seized the moment. "He really valued your friendship, you know. It meant a lot to him, especially during the tough times."

Coriolanus looked at her, his blue eyes sharp and assessing. "I valued his friendship too," he said, his voice steady. "It's been hard without him."

Scarlett nodded, trying to convey empathy. "It’s been hard for all of us. But I think he would want us to look out for each other, to stay strong."

He studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "You're right. We should."

Scarlett allowed herself a small, genuine smile. It was a tiny crack, but it was something. She just needed to keep at it, slowly chipping away at his defenses until she could find a way to bring him down.

____________________________________

Scarlett brushed her long dark hair, replaying the lunch in her mind. They hadn't said much after the initial polite conversation, but she supposed it was a start. Coriolanus was a hard nut to crack, but she had seen a glimmer of something in his eyes—a hint of vulnerability, perhaps.

Turning from where she sat on her bed, Scarlett stared at herself in the mirror. She supposed she was pretty; her ma always told her she was. Her dark eyes were striking against her pale skin, and her hair framed her face in a way that drew attention.

Her mother often told her that if she wanted to find a good man to marry one day, she would need to be more appealing to the male eye. Scarlett thought that was ridiculous; she would never marry someone so superficial. But as she stared at her reflection, she wondered if she could use that advice to her advantage in a different way.

Could her looks help her get closer to Coriolanus? It wasn’t something she liked to think about, manipulating someone with her appearance. But if it could get her the trust she needed, if it could help her tear down his defenses, maybe it was worth considering.

She stood up and moved closer to the mirror, examining her face with a critical eye. What did Coriolanus find appealing? He was from the Capitol, a place where beauty and charm were tools of influence and power. If she could play that game, perhaps she could get him to open up more.

Scarlett’s mind raced with possibilities. She would have to be subtle, of course. She couldn’t afford to appear too eager or too obvious. But small changes—a bit more attention to her appearance, a touch of warmth in her interactions—might start to shift his perception of her.

She sighed, putting the brush down and letting her hair fall naturally. It was a dangerous path, but she had already decided she would do whatever it took to bring Coriolanus Snow down. If that meant using every weapon in her arsenal, then so be it.

Her resolve hardened. Tomorrow, she would try a different approach. She would be friendly, engaging, perhaps even a little flirtatious. She needed Coriolanus to see her not just as Sejanus's sister, but as someone he could confide in, someone he might even care about.

With a final glance at her reflection, Scarlett turned away from the mirror. It was time to start playing the game on her terms.

Sorry I disappeared for months. School is exhausting 😭😭. But I'm out now so trust the updates will be legit. Please let me know if you enjoyed!! Thanks for reading 🩷🩷