savor it. (clarity and brigham)

Clarity sat quietly with her aunt, Pashmina Bryze as day seven of the Sixtieth Annual Hunger Games unfurled on the large screens throughout the District Square. With the finale so close at hand, public viewing had been made mandatory for the Bryze family. With Serge away in the Capitol as Julian’s mentor, it left Pashmina alone forced to watch in the special section left for the family. With that, Serge’s brother and daughter joined her so she did not have to watch in solitude. As a former victor, though Pashmina was able to hold herself with grace as she watched her only son fight for his life—she was still watching her only son fight for his life, and the support was appreciated.
Julian’s cousin sat poised with her hands in her lap as she watched Julian’s brutal slaying of the girl from District Eleven. She applauded softly as the crowd erupted into celebration. The scene in the graveyard was far from over; she knew where Julian was heading. Clarity couldn’t help but scowl as Julian unraveled before the gravestone of Midas Farrow. She had of course always disliked the boy, claiming him to have stolen her closest family member away from her since childhood. However, Clarity could not deny the strong bond between the two boys, and had been with Julian so often since the loss of his love. She noticed the change in him, the devastation he was left with. Hatred for Midas aside, she didn’t find pleasure in her cousin’s pain at his loss.

Then of course the fit was over and she watched her cousin approach the statue of Mace Emberstatt. She remembered the odd effect his appearance during the victory tour had upon her cousin. Something had shifted in him then, he was far more brutal after, if that was even possible. With the drama of Julian’s on screen mourning for Midas over, the crowds had once again began to chatter loudly, making observations about Midas, about Julian’s chances at victory, about the family of what could be three victors. Clarity found herself clenching her teeth and glaring at nothing in particular at the chatter of the latter. She had trained so much of her life too. Spent so many years trying to impress her father…

Something annoyingly buzzed in her ear. Words. Someone was talking to her. She tossed her long blonde hair to the side as she turned to find the tall, well built body of a former career in training—Brigham Holden. Her large, almond shaped eyes rolled upward. Why was this loser who had already lost his chance at glory speaking to her? Of course, that didn’t stop him from still getting around. Clarity had her fifteen minutes with him once upon a time too, and she also remembered the day he set his sights on Julian. Clarity may not care about a lot in this world, but if there is one person she has ever had any assemblage of concern for, it was her cousin. He was the closes thing she had to a brother, someone she could always trust. Since that day, she despised Brigham Holden.

Her nostril twitched so similarly to Julian’s as she sneered up at the boy before her. “Obviously…,” she said snidely. She raised her eyebrows as if waiting for him to leave, but soon realized he was not going anywhere. “Is there a reason you’re talking to me?”