hopeful dreams {zoe; blitz}

saffron lowe

She remembers warmth. Smiles, and kind words, and feeling safe. All those years ago as she stammered through her speeches, perched on a stool to reach the microphone echoing through One, she remembers Opal's warmth the most. The grandness of One's buildings she remembers, oh yes. The translucent figures of Emery and Darren lingering beside her and the tears (or lack of) from their families. The death glares from children trained to kill and their furious parents, outraged that a ragged girl from Ten could have outlived their latest offering to the Capitol. She remembers all of it - and amongst the darkness, their was light in the form of Opal Earnest.

Mason clutches bouncing her shoulders, babbling on about Daddy and Crayons and Home soon, Saff? Her heart clenches at the thought of home: returning empty-handed once again and falling back into the arms of her family. Going home is bittersweet, just like the word: bitter, then sweet. Questions flit through her mind like morning sunlight streaming through windows and one flares up to catch at her vision, containing ideas of Mace and hands and even more questions - but she pushes them away with a kiss on Mason's head and promises of home.

Her tiny friend stretches for the doorbell of Opal's temporary sanction, inching forward to let small fingers press the button down with a shriek of delight. Nervousness threatens to put on a show of silence and shaking hands but she swallows it down, stubborn and determined to get through this night without a lack of words or earthquakes for hands. If there's any way she can find traces of home for Mason and herself, it's bound to be within someone warm.

saffron lowe

Mason leaps from her arms in youthful delight, Saffron a distant memory as Ky's face swings into view. The wriggling boy hits the ground and toddles along to his smaller friend, leaving her face to face with a friend and a stranger rolled up into one. Opal Earnest had been Opal Shore the last time they held a conversation, so much taller than she remembered. So much happier. The same old sadness lingers underneath her smile and Saffron thinks of Mace and the way he shakes every time they hear more than a whisper of Elon falling through some Capitolite's mouth. She would tighten her grip on his hand in those moments - a lifeline to get him through the pain. Whether or not it works she wouldn't know. But Opal isn't Mace, and Saffron cannot simply squeeze her hand and take in the ground-shock of her grief.

But she can hug her still, and it still feels as comforting as that day all those years ago.

"Howdy" she smiles, stepping into the room not unlike her own Training Centre apartment. Arms extend outwards to pass the bowl to Opal, taking in the chaos underneath the children's loud chatter. It was comforting, somehow - like the constant whirl of life in the nursery, or the anonymity that the hustling streets of the City Centre gave her.  "I brought dessert - it's my Mom's recipe, but I can't guarantee I made it right" the Victor confesses. "Anything better than that processed Capitol junk, right?"