↫↫↫ HURRICANE↬↬↬

cressida had no idea what primrose meant by breather but it didn't seem to be the important part of what she had said. there wasn't much room in cressida's mind to ponder the offhand remarks of strangers in thirteen, mostly it was full of battle notes and formations and the parts of her newly issued rifle. "you're kidding, right? i realize you're some kind of medic but i'm gonna bet i've seen more blood than you have." she realized quickly that primrose didn't know who she was and a big part of her wanted to keep it that way. "but yeah, i'll take that as a compliment."

the warning didn't feel in any way sincere, in fact it felt more like a threat than anything. "you seem to make a lot of assumptions --- about what i'm used to." she spoke slowly but it was hardly on purpose, she felt sort of sick and put out the cigarette as if that would help. she sunk into the floor a little more, legs straightening and restoring some circulation. "you don't know anything about me." there was no bite, it was simple fact. she nodded, her eyelids heavy now "i'm not sure they'll be giving me chores while i'm still a prisoner. i should get back to my room." she didn't move though, her limbs were heavy and she felt a pull in the back of her neck, like she was gonna be sick.

her eyes slid lazily over them, she was actually pretty tired, it was an unusual feeling. and there was nothing they could give her for it, or nothing they were willing to give her for it. pandora was pretty sure thirteen had more supplies then they'd likely admit, especially to her. but she was here, she had been rescued, that was the hard part. even now though if they didn't believe her or figured out the game they'd just kill her and she had accepted that possibility. she didn't want to live in a panem run by failures and weaklings anyway. so in that case there wasn't much to be afraid of, there never had been. "why would you want to leave? we're safe here." she practically whispered, it was so hard not to laugh but she managed it. she shook her head and felt a bit dizzy, leaning into the wall for support until the room stopped spinning.

Pandora was one of the last people he'd expected to see here, but it made sense. Capturing the Snow family was probably an important leverage for the district problems. He refused to say rebels just has his president had, he was loyal to the capitol. No matter what the stupid bracelet had told the invaders. "They shouldn't have done this to you." He replied looking her over.

He knew that she didn't trust him, his cursed surname, it haunted him. Even if he'd proven to President Snow he was loyal, it didn't matter to everyone. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

it was so funny to see one of granddad's chew toys here, and even more hilarious that apollo crane was still pathetic enough to be loyal. of course none of this crossed her face, she infused her gaze with fear and distrust, even had the presence of mind to take a gentle step away from him. in no other circumstance would she behave this way because of a crane, any of them, but it was necessary in this one. ooh, maybe if she added a tremble, she was pretty good at trembling. "my own family did this to me." she gestured to the parts he could see, her wrists were pretty raw from restraints. her voice was actually weak, it felt terrible but again necessary. "what do you mean?" she took another step backwards, stumbled on purpose, whimpered even. god this was too much fun.

yeah, she was kind of sad it was true, it wasn't exactly the kind of boat anyone wanted to be in. she nods, grins even and it feels mechanical, stiff on her features. but the joke is kind of funny, and nothing has been funny for long enough that she appreciates it all the more. their name was pollux, i don't know if they're still alive, but i'm hoping. hope was all they had, right?

being in the captiol for the three months after the games had been the worse time of blake's life and that a challenging task when so much of her life had been so difficult. she'd heard the word hijacking thrown around but that word didn't mean too much to her, all she knew was the rage she felt when she saw certain people. there were memories in their brain that felt jumbled and confusing and most importantly, it was getting worse the more they were forced to be cooped up in the hospital wing.

it didn't take too long of wondering around for them to run into somebody, somebody that didn't make her feel intense anger just to lay eyes on. it felt like it had been forever since blake said anything to anybody and so when words leave her mouth they're quiet and scratchy. "c-can i help with anything?"

cressida wasn't wandering, or ignoring certain parts of the schedule on her arm. she was enjoying the training, really she was but everything else was a littlle bit unpleasant most of the time and she still wasn't great with all these strangers. granted, they were strangers because she'd made little effort to change that. "umm, probably? i'm not in charge, of anything so --- carry on?" she sucked at this, sighing before trying again "can i get you some water maybe?"

the smile on the others lips rubbed calico completely the wrong way, she had no idea how some people found it to be disarming or whatever. "i couldn't possibly care less about you and what you would like. go find some other charity case." she didn't want anyone touching her, too many people had touched her without kindness for what some kid told her had been three months. three months they had left her and everyone else to rot. herself she understood, but some of the others were worth saving. no, no one touched her now unless she said so and she wasn't going to.

"i don't need your fucking help." she takes two seconds to size up the blonde who was already invading her personal space, desperate for a weapon but the people that had brought her in had kept everything remotely sharp out of her reach. "just get away from me." it wasn't really a request, more of a demand.

they awaken slowly , and it is strange . has aurora heavensbee ever felt a surface so tough beneath their back ? they are use to the slow , soft hug of a fine mattress , the comforting weight of feathered blankets stacked atop their lithe frame and the smell of coffee pulling them from sleep like a loyal servant each and every morning . as their eyes flutter open , they are met with grey . cold , harsh grey everywhere as though it hangs dully in the very air . aurora looks for the rich crimson and black detailing of their room back home and —

with a jolt , she sits upright . peacekeepers grab hold of her . . . no , not peacekeepers . they are clad in grey too , colourless and strong holding . she screams , roars like a caged animal and soon four of them are holding her down . a needle in her neck , and she is asleep again .

for the second time , they awaken to cold and to grey , and they know it was not a dream . the first thing they notice is that they are alone in a room . . . with their twin . aurora stares blankly at atticus , brown eyes brimming with tears forged by hot , hot anger . the second thing that they notice is that they are handcuffed to the bed . " are you real ? " they croak , blinking wearily as though it will make him disappear . " and are you . . . part of this ? "

the first time they woke up he wasn't there, he was down in his dark and gloomy and tiny lab testing a new weapons technology and continuously zapping his fingers in the process. someone was kind enough to alert him that his twin was awake but by the time he got there aurora was out again and someone had handcuffed them to the bed. this distressed him greatly but he didn't have a lot of sway down here so the cuffs stayed on. he knew he had a deadline on his current project but he took a seat next to the bed and settled in, he'd wait as long as he had to, he had so much explaining to do. his leg bounced uncontrollably, his hands tingling with the after effects of his experiment several levels below this. it usually stopped after a few hours, as long as he wasn't near the machine. he jolts when aurora wakes up, the guilt and pain all over his face. he had always been good at pretending, but that mask had fallen away the moment he got here and he was rusty on putting it back in place. the tears are strange, in all their lives atticus was sure he'd never seen aurora cry, it unnerved him. "the answer to both your questions ---- is yes." he admits, pleading with his eyes for her to understand. "i hope you'll come to understand." wishful thinking.

@aureums

she shrugged, pretty nonchalant considering the situation. "well, someone told me to find you." she hadn't made the choice, she made very few these days and it was kind of a relief. the oversharing was probably endearing to most people, but cressida was not good at making friends or having normal conversations, she was definitely the wrong audience for primrose. "uhh, no because i was sent here instead of with him. but i'm sure it won't be hard to find him, he is ... quite loud and knows a lot of colorful words." she smirked, she found it kind of funny, and then realized it was an inappropriate time to be laughing. "but i'll go with you, we should get going."