HEART OF GOLD | CORIOLANUS SNOW

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 83

For a moment, Snow was speechless. For a moment, Lilith feared she had gone too far.

Then he smirked.

"Point taken," said Snow, and there was nothing else different about the day.

They received updates on the muttations developed for this year's Games, approved train schedules for outgoing crew and incoming tributes, confirmed the list of sponsorship items, which comprised various outdoor survival essentials in addition to the standard food and water.

That night, the gang—sans Olympia, but including not-that-scratched Clemens—went to Pop's for dinner. The ginger joined them for the eight forty-five, though, and everyone marveled at a different aspect of the film as they watched Captain Nemo explore the depths of the ocean in three dimensions. From the high-tech submarine to the lifelike computer-generated imagery that made Lilith feel like she really had travel twenty thousand leagues under the sea to Linus Carpenter's chiseled upper body.

Amused by her eagerness, Tigris acceded to Lilith's proposal—but she must be paid. Lilith managed to negotiate for her internship wage rate, and was delegated to focus on the arena outfit. Her two stylists couldn't come to an agreement: Titus preferred a bodysuit, but Tigris believed loose-fitting garments to be more appropriate. The former leaned toward black for camouflage, while the latter claimed white would be more bearable in the heat. Deciding both arguments were valid, Lilith spent some time incorporating all their ideas into a single costume.

Considering their time and budget, or lack thereof, she opted for ready-made pieces, albeit not from her usual activewear label, which was too expensive. After personally trying several others on her own runs, she settled for an alternate source that was sufficiently absorbent, relatively well-priced, and didn't cause a rash.

Contrary to Lilith's expectations, the brand seemed eager to partner up with the Hunger Games even with the knowledge that their clothes would be worn by members of the districts. Then again, the representative they'd met with positively adored Snow. Lilith wasn't sure how much of her pitch had truly been heard, given the woman eyed him the whole time and hardly spared her a glance, but none of her requests were denied.

Tributes would be donned an airy, olive green short-sleeved t-shirt, padded for females, matching leggings, and a reversible hooded windbreaker that was the brand's best-seller—dove gray on one side, olive on the other. The lady even threw in complimentary trainers, a customization to print the numbers and alphabets corresponding to their districts and genders, and upgraded the jackets to the ones boasting their latest UV-cut technology.

On Saturday, the Gold Residence teemed with kids in coned hats celebrating Val's sixth birthday. Criseida had long since engaged the gang's help, but it was only as Lilith manned a scavenger hunt station alongside Archie that she became inspired to do the same during the Games. Those involved in The Arena agreed to be of assistance to the stylists; Olympia even volunteered to do makeup for the tributes. Lilith secured consent from the other Gamestudiers from the Academy with little more persuasion.

Every Tuesday, Lilith dressed in sensible shoes and they embarked on site visits, either to the new arena or the old, checking on renovation statuses. When Pontius Penworth took a tumble on the school playground on June 1, Gaia, who was normally as calm and steady as her employer, became frantic. Lilith covered for her for the rest of the day; by the next, news that the poor boy had sustained fractures in both legs and a wrist cast a dark cloud over the division.

Snow didn't hesitate to grant her leave of absence, and with pay. Repeatedly, Gaia expressed her indebtedness and apologized for the inconveniences she would be causing. She understood it was next to impossible for him to find a satisfactory stand-in on such short notice, but perhaps Lilith could step in whenever she could? Immediately, Lilith said yes. Simultaneously, Snow said no. She could still remember how her heart clenched—exactly as it had when he refused to let her buy him a birthday gift—in those few moments before he explained that she couldn't do it for free. What was it with the Snows and their obsession with salaries?