on gold & gallows / emmett + ridley
Jun 3, 2020 23:59:36 GMT -5
Post by Stare on Jun 3, 2020 23:59:36 GMT -5
Peppermint tea was supposed to be soothing, but Ridley had already shattered three ceramic mugs against the far wall of her train car before she finally calmed down enough to pour some.
She only stopped because the avoxes were the ones who would have to clean up the mess and they were the last people that she was angry at. So while the tea sat steeping Ridley gripped the back of a chair and tried to compose herself.
They reap Victor families. Those were the whispers that had circled around her as soon as she'd won, always within earshot but out of reach. Capitolites thought it would make her proud, a legacy Victor who would bring even more glory to her family. People back in One thought it would make her afraid, watching the family name that had protected her for so long crumble brick by brick. The truth was that Ridley's blood had been proven to run red, not gold, and when she'd come home she'd realized that no crown was ever going to change that. The Capitol thought that reaping her family members would keep her in her place? It would have been a perfect plan if the Le Roux famly had ever given a damn about her.
Reap them, she'd always thought, anger twisting between her ribs like a snake. Let them see what glory really is.
And then Emmett had volunteered and instead of satisfaction all she'd felt was a cold, acute dread. Not that one. She'd kept her expression stony as the cameras all spun toward her, trying to steal her reaction, but inside something sinister reminded her that she'd gotten exactly what she wished for.
When the tea was ready Ridley picked up the two steaming mugs, glaring at the one clutched awkwardly in her gold hand. Two years and she still hadn't completely adjusted. She made sure to find him alone, closing the door to the car quietly behind her. Emmett Le Roux. She stood there for a moment, studying him, the wheels in her mind whirring.
She wondered if he was a lion.
You'll find out soon enough.
"No bullshit." She said it like a threat as she approached him, eyes narrowed and golden fingers curled around the mug like claws, but Ridley was no lioness. All of Panem knew what she really was. Reaper. She held the steaming cup out to him but kept her gaze focused on his face. "How are you feeling?"
