Chapter Text
Lucy Gray stays in the Capitol.
What?!?!
Did he hear that right?
Lucy Gray stays in the Capitol?
How come?
Where will she live?
Why?
Coriolanus thought about it. What does that mean? Was that the punishment for her cheating? But she didn't cheat alone. He gave her the idea to cheat and to put the rat poison in his mother's powder box.
Is that even a punishment?
Not for him!
But for her?
Yes!
She would be separated from her family and have to stay alone in the Capitol.
But was it really that bad?
Separated from dirt and scum, from poverty.
But how should Coriolanus know that she won't go to prison?
To prison?
He hadn't even thought about it.
They both cheated, and that is strictly forbidden in the games. Now she will go to prison, and so will he! He did everything in vain. He did everything for nothing!
He won't get the Plinth scholarship either. Of course not.
He could already imagine himself sitting in the rotten prison for the rest of his days and regretting having met her. Lucy Gray is his downfall. If only he hadn't given her the powder box or brought the handkerchief to the Snakes. Then he wouldn't be here! He wouldn't be in this situation.
But then she wouldn't have won either.
And Lucy Gray would be dead.
He didn't want that. He didn't want Lucy Gray to die. He liked Lucy Gray; she wasn't like the others. She is special.
Damn!
How is he supposed to tell Tigres that he is going to prison, or worse, what would the others think? How embarrassing would it be if everyone knew he cheated? How embarrassing it is when he goes to prison. This is absolutely not possible! He should persuade Dr. Gaul to spare him. He would do anything!
Damn
Damn
DAMN
"What?" Coriolanus murmured quietly.
"She will stay in the Capitol as punishment for cheating. She will sing and promote the games every year. She will also sing and perform at some club to entertain people," said Volumia Gaul.
Oh
"Since you also cheated, as punishment I will give you an internship as a gamemaker for the Capitol over the whole summer holidays. I have to say, you cheated really well, I'll give you that!" She laughed cruelly, and Cornwall shuddered at the sound.
That wasn't really a punishment for him. That was actually a good thing.
"Oh." That's all he said.
"Your ideas for the Hunger Games were actually really good, Mr. Snow. So it would be a waste without them. Your ideas enrich the Capitol. Mr. Highbottom was of the opinion that the right punishment for you would be to work as an anonymous peacekeeper in the districts for 20 years."
Coriolanus widened his eyes in disbelief.
What? 20 years?
"But I didn't think that was appropriate for a young talent like you," Gaul continued. "We need new ideas, and you have them. You have proven to me that you will do everything to win, and I need people like that on my team."
"That's why I decided that you will get the Plinth scholarship despite your fraud," Dr. Gaul finished in her rough voice.
Coriolanus was speechless.
He hadn't expected that.
"Your songbird will also live with you, and it is your responsibility to keep her in the fence and make sure she doesn't cause any harm and always shows up at the games," she continued.
Lucy Gray would live with him?
Now she's all his own!
And they could be happy together.
They would love each other, and he would take care of her.
His ward
His Lucy Gray
Coriolanus briefly considered what to say about all the new information.
"Thank you, Dr. Gaul, for your mercy on me."
And with that, he headed out the door to inform Lucy Gray about the news.