#lysander.threads

it is...surprising—seeing livina at all. they had seen her at work a handful of times, spoken in a purely professional setting—all too brief and curt. but there was always distance between the two since...

well, since.

but after the events of the day, lysander lowers his guard, even if only slightly. even if they still bristle slightly as they see their cousin—there's a noted softness around their eyes as they look her over. "...it is nice to see that you're...alright after everything." it was unexpected. even lysander didn't know the rebellion would strike so harshly and so soon. they had allies in the capitol...it left him questioning some things. but those were thoughts for a different time.

"does it truly take an attack for us to speak nowadays?"

lysander watched from backstage, eyes glued to the screens as each tribute took the stage, an arm folded across his chest while a finger rubs at his lips as he thinks. so lost in thought, that they barely notice their cousin's approach, turning after a moment to raise a brow at her.

"purple is quickly become associated with you. and him." they muse, turning back to the screen. their tone wasn't accusatory or even upset—although the color being worn by them both again did not escape their notice. "are you quite sure that's a good thing?"

the interviews were done, everyone had dispersed and the rebels had done what they aimed to do—the footage had been seen by many. and no doubt snow would be after someone's head for this. but that was a distant problem, something far off...something to think about some other time. for now?

lysander was only focused on running their fingers up and down volt's arm, feeling the weight of him at their side, pressing a light kiss to the top of his head...all those soft gestures of affection that the two couldn't share outside this apartment. it was quiet, blissfully so, before lysander hums, looks down at volt. "...you know, i wish you would take me up on my offer. we can still just...leave. head for thirteen..."

they always had to watch what they said, what they did -- that ever present threat of president snow loomed over them, perhaps tonight more than ever given that lysander was in the man's house. a surprising move, one that certainly caught him off guard. they couldn't help but wonder the motivation for making such a play. but as they socialize and drink, it was hard to tell that he was thinking of anything more than the glass in his hand. an act they had spent years perfecting. but it slips -- for just a moment it slips when they catch sight of that victor wearing augustus's handiwork. it might have gone unnoticed by most. but given lysander's history -- it should come as no surprise that they are very familiar with that particular shade of purple. and snow would be as well. it didn't take long for them to track down their cousin after that. "what an interesting color choice." they muse, moving to stand next to augustus. the underlying meaning was easily read no doubt, lysander knew. "dare i ask what was going through your mind when you picked it?"

as a sponsor, lysander always played close attention to the scores assigned by the gamemakers. there's a memory, something distant and blurring at the edges, of a hand on his shoulder as lysander watched tributes demonstrate their skills, a calm voice that explained how the process worked, patient with all the questions a child had for their father. it all seemed so intriguing at the time -- the games viewed with wide-eyed curiosity and awe. it was only when lysander got older that he learned to take those scores with a grain of salt. especially this year. but the twelves catch his attention, how could they not? and it doesn't take long for lysander to make his way over to volt, already holding a drink out to the other as they speak, "with a score like that, you're going to have sponsors throwing money at you." they note, although he doubted volt needed to be told that. "...i'll be one of them." as if that were ever in doubt. "whatever you need in that arena, you'll get it."