voulez-vous

04

The morning began with sunlight streaming through the heavy velvet curtains of Adira's suite, illuminating the quiet stillness of the room. Cecilia, bundled under the plush covers of the guest bed, was an unmoving lump. Adira stretched lazily, her gaze drifting to her sister, who was blissfully unaware of the ticking clock. Adira sighed, amused at Cecilia's ability to sleep through practically anything, including the chiming Capitol bells outside. Walking over quietly, she leaned down to her sister's ear and whispered mischievously, "If you don't wake up, then I'll eat all of the pancakes." The effect was instantaneous. Cecilia bolted upright, her dark curls wild and eyes bright with alarm. "Not my pancakes!" she cried, scrambling out of bed so quickly she nearly tripped on the blanket. Adira laughed as Cecilia darted out of the suite, her slipper-clad feet making a hurried pitter-patter down the corridor.

Still chuckling to herself, Adira turned to get dressed. She selected a dark pink lace blouse and paired it with a short black skirt, appreciating the combination of elegance and ease. It was a routine day, but she never missed an opportunity to look her best. As she slipped into black heels and brushed her hair into a neat wave, she wondered how long Cecilia could last before sneaking an extra pancake. Shaking her head fondly, Adira headed out toward the breakfast room, her heels clicking softly against the Capitol's polished marble floors.

"Good morning, Grandpa!" Cecilia's cheerful voice rang out as Adira entered the breakfast room. Cecilia had already claimed her seat at the table and, unsurprisingly, two pancakes sat stacked on her plate, dripping with syrup. President Snow, regal and composed as ever, watched her with mild amusement, handing her a fork. Adira took her place beside them, smirking as she noticed Cecilia shoveling pancakes into her mouth with little regard for decorum. "Oh, close your mouth, would you?" Adira said, raising a perfectly arched brow at her sister. Snow chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Yes, would you?" he added, his tone light but his authority undeniable. Cecilia rolled her eyes dramatically but obliged, cutting a neat piece with her fork before popping it into her mouth.

Breakfast continued with the hum of casual conversation and the clinking of silverware. But then, Adira's eyes caught the glow of the television in the corner of the room. The screen displayed a replay of past Hunger Games footage, showing victors in their gruesome moments of triumph. Blood and chaos filled the screen, making Adira wrinkle her nose. "Oh, would you turn that off?" she sighed, placing her fork down. "I don't need to see the bloodbath while I'm eating." Snow didn't bother looking up from his plate, but Cecilia giggled, swallowing her bite with exaggerated speed. "Addy called it a load of shit," she teased, a smirk spreading across her face. Adira's eyes widened, and she quickly covered her mouth in mock horror. "I didn't say that! Don't listen to a word she says," Adira scoffed, shooting her sister a playful glare.

Cecilia, clearly enjoying herself, shook her head dramatically. "Yes, you did! Oh my god—" She paused mid-sentence, her eyes suddenly glued to the screen. Adira followed her sister's gaze and inwardly groaned. The television had transitioned to past interviews, showcasing none other than Finnick Odair, District Four's golden victor. Finnick's face, charming and devil-may-care, filled the screen, his easy smile captivating even through the years. "He's so cute!" Cecilia exclaimed, her voice pitching higher than usual. Adira rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smirk. Snow glanced at Adira, a knowing look in his eyes. "Well," he began slowly, "your sister thought so when she was younger."

Cecilia's head whipped around so fast that Adira thought she might get whiplash. "You had a crush on Finnick Odair?!" Cecilia practically shouted, her excitement contagious. Adira groaned, leaning back in her chair as if to escape the mortifying memory. "I was a teenager," she admitted begrudgingly, her tone exasperated. "Hormones, puberty. Can you blame me?" Cecilia erupted into laughter, leaning on the table as she processed the revelation. "Oh, that wasn't hormones," she teased. "How could you not love Finnick Odair?" Adira shook her head, trying to maintain her composure, but even she couldn't completely deny the charisma Finnick had in his earlier years.

Snow, sipping his tea with a faint smile, observed the exchange in silence. Finally, he interjected, his tone curious. "Look, he doesn't look that bad, I suppose," Adira conceded with a half-shrug. Cecilia was positively scandalized. "Doesn't look that bad?!" she gasped, clutching her chest as if Adira had just insulted a deity. "Finnick Odair is gorgeous!" she declared emphatically. Before Adira could respond, Cecilia grabbed a pancake and tossed it at her sister. The syrup-covered pancake landed squarely on Adira's blouse, making her gasp in surprise.

"Oh, you're going to regret that," Adira said with mock menace, grabbing her own pancake and launching it back at Cecilia. The syrupy missile hit its mark, and Cecilia let out a squeal of laughter. Snow sighed deeply, shaking his head at their antics. "Now, now, girls," he said, his tone somewhere between amused and exasperated. "No need to throw pancakes over a boy." Adira wiped syrup off her blouse with a napkin, her cheeks flushed with a mix of annoyance and laughter. Cecilia crossed her arms dramatically, still giggling. "I can't believe you had a crush on Finnick Odair," she muttered, her disbelief evident.

Adira shook her head, picking up her fork to continue eating her now slightly disheveled breakfast. "Yeah," she said dryly, spearing a piece of pancake. "Me neither." Snow chuckled softly, his gaze shifting between his granddaughters. Despite the chaos, there was a warmth in the room that made even the most mortifying revelations bearable. Adira glanced at Cecilia, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself.