excuse any spelling mistakes/grammar...

"To my dear student Eregia. I apologise I cannot congratulate you in person but I had organised a small gift for you. I'm positively glad to be informed that you have picked military strategy as a course in order to take my honours class that I'm sure you will find no trouble of getting into with a person of your intellegnce. I leave you with a set of chess and poker. For in order to survive in a world like ours we must understand that powerful people play chess, dangerous people play poker. You must learn to play both, in games and life."
— signing note of Egeria's birthday card from Drusilla Snow.

Coriolanus Snow was a changed man. He was cold, calculative and patient. When he first met Drusilla he thought she was one of those deities that the people of the old world believed in. The second time he had met her he felt like timed had stopped and she was the most beautiful woman in the room.

He played on with his her leading on with him. She knew too and participated here and there with his flirtations. She wasn't daft nor oblivious to his interest which only made him want her more.

At first there were no current competitors for Drusilla's hand in marriage. Every person in his college batch was married and started a family, her suitors from her Aunt Esmerelda as he researched were no match for him and she seemingly had no interest in anyone in the Capitol.

He was a patient man. He would wait a bit longer for their friendship to become closer and more flirtatious till he would properly officiate their status to the public. But there came along Marcellus Thread from his advanced military class, standing next to his future bride and future mother of his children.

At first he was no threat to Coriolanus Snow. He was a smart person who proved his worth during the first semester of their first year in college. A nobody who was given the right environment to thrive in.

In their second semester they were considered rivals amongst their classmates. Coriolanus always landing in the top spot and Marcellus always falling just short behind on second. While his friends were partying and fucking their way through college like many of the well born students in Dr Gaul's class, Marcellus was always found huddled in the corner of the library studying his arse off. 

He worked hard, Coriolanus admitted at first. A respectable person. At first. But a small thorn to his side.

In his second year things started to begin out of hand. It all started with a small misunderstanding with Festus, Hilarius and Marcellus. One thing led to another and an ongoing grudge had led to Festus and Hilarius throwing pranks and insults at Marcellus.

Marcellus fought back of course. But Festus had threatened him to buy his family's business and move them out into the districts. Coriolanus kept his distance at first, but a small fight that he had gotten involved with when Marcellus accidentally spilled wine on his father's coat at a house party with one insult leading into another. Soon, Coriolanus found himself joining in every now and then with Festus and Hilarius.

When Festus made snide comments on his during their classes with Gaul, she would turn the blind eye and sometimes even join in.

But it was one incident that had changed all of it during Coriolanus' final year in the lead up to their final assignment. Something that had Marcellus miss out on the opportunity of a life time and sent to the barracks.

"I don't like that look on your face," his cousin walks into the room. He doesn't bother to glance his head in her direction. "Coriolanus." 

"Must you be so loud in the morning?" he dragged his hand across his now sober face.

"I know that face Coriolanus." He finally looked up at her, his nose scrunching slightly in disgust at her dreadful outfit. He thought it was overly done, distasteful with its bright arrangement of colours and ruffles. Drusilla would never wear such a thing like that, no his Scilla was far more elegant in what she wore.

"I heard from Clemensia that Drusilla was on a date with Marcellus, your old batch mate," Tigris stood in front of him. His name alone made his glare icily at her.

"He insulted my mother Tigris," Coriolanus straightened his posture. "Drusilla is a smart woman I have no doubt, but she doesn't know Capitol affairs. Is not rather odd that Marcellus aims for Drusilla out of all people?"

"Coriolanus I do not deny he has wronged you for that, but don't think I don't know about what monstrosities you've done to him. You think too much of it Coriolanus. She seems happy—"

"SHE IS NOT HAPPY!" Coriolanus threw a nearby whisky glass at the wall beside her. "SHE WILL NEVER BE TRUELY HAPPY TILL SHE IS WITH ME!"

"Do you hear yourself?" Tigris scoffs. "You are mad. You have lost yourself."

"Have you found an apartment yet?" Coriolanus changes the subject, restlessly fixing his cuffs.

"No but—"

"Well I'll have my secretary find you a suitable place," he nods getting up.

"I—"

"I'll have your stuff moved within a week," he nods with a short smile.

"Where are you going?"

"That is none of your concern Tigris," he snaps.

⎯⎯⎯

Drusilla grumbles as she stomps towards the door. Why was someone banging their knuckles so loudly in the morning? She was barely dressed appropriately in silk singlet top and pants, with her hair looking like a bird's nest.

Oh panem what does he want? she looks at the camera seeing Coriolanus.

She unlocks the door letting him in, "Morning," she groggily says. "T—"

Before she even gets a word out Coriolanus storms into her apartment, and paces around her lounge room.

"Nice to see you to Drusilla, How are you Drusilla, nice to see you too Coryo nice of you to greet me first," Drusilla rolls her eyes and closes the door.

"I have demonstrated my utmost affection for you, I have gone out of my way to give you roses to your office—"

"Coryo, what is the matter?" Drusilla sighs and sits on the lounge chair rubbing her temple.

"You went on a date with Marcellus—, out of people!"

"He seems to have a returning distaste for you too," Drusilla snorts. "You know a reasonable man would ask first why I was with him—, a friend at that. He is not a man of my taste."

Coriolanus halts and turns to her. 

"At first my father presented him as a marriage prospect, but it was reasonable now to believe he is testing me," Drusilla looks at him.

"Testing you?" Coriolanus raises a quizzical brow.

"I know my father, he is not a man my father would be interested by," she sighs rubbing her thigh with her thumb. "He is one who believes in... superior genes."

"I see," Coriolanus smiles slightly with relief.

"You sound relieved," Drusilla chuckles.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't," Coriolanus quips.

"I see," Drusilla sighs but looks to him. "Coriolanus... will you be honest with me?"

"Of course."

"What do you want from me?"

"Pardon?"

"What is it exactly do you want?" she shifts her position. "I know you want me as your wife Coriolanus. But what I can't figure out in particular is why? Sex, my name, money— and if it is that so than I'm sorry to tell you that our fortune will go to my brother and as of now I don't have much either. I live on my salary and my connections."

"Where do you get all the clothes then?" his brows furrowed.

"Well my Aunt Esme helps mainly, they're archival piece and prototypes mainly. But let's just say I'm really good at poker. But back to the subject. Do you want me as a trophy wife? Suitable heirs? A political strategist?"

Coriolanus only chuckles shaking his head as he takes a seat on the adjacent seat. "I've never met a woman as so forward as you."

"I want to get the fluff out of the way. I don't want to lead you on."

"I thank you for that."

"So tell me please honestly. What do you want exactly Coryo?" she lifts her fingers slightly.

"It's quite simple Scilla dear, you make me happy—"

"That's why we're friends Coryo, I too enjoy your company."

"You know what I mean," his tone shift as he refrains from curling his fist into a ball and maintains his composure.

"Coryo," she sighs but tilts her chin up slightly and relaxes her shoulders. "I know this much. I don't want you to take offence in any way. I know your a man with ambitions, ambitions for president so you would marry for some sort advantage naturally, someone like Livia. Am I wrong?"

"No. You're not."

"But I know despite your efforts you despite Livia, why?" 

"You've met her."

"I've met her but that's not what I asked."

Coriolanus chuckles softly, leaning back into his seat and holds the same set of eyes he does when he was playing chess. "She's vapid but it would be easy to persuade her, our ambitions obviously align."

"She's easy to control."

"That's not what I said," he defended.

"I know, but I know people like you. You want to make sense of the world and resort to finding control of things... people," she eyes at him. "Don't take offence to what I mean to that, we all commodify people... use them. That I admit. But what else Coryo, what else do you want?"

"Marriage is a long time commitment is it not? I want to find it bearable."

"So why not marry a person you were close with. Before everyone got married. You could have gone for Clemensia out of people," Drusilla snorts.

"As I said Scilla, I love you—"

"Stop lying to yourself Coryo, it's much easier if we skip lying to each other," she snaps watching his gaze hardening and posture now stiff. He was losing control. He wasn't in control. "You don't know how to love."

"How dare you—!" he stops himself and sharply inhales and exhales before relaxing himself back into his seat. "You don't know anything. You don't know how much I have put effort to show you my affections."

"You've given me roses and gave unconsentingly held my waist. Yes Coriolanus you're putting a lot of effort," she mocks and gives him a condescending look. "So I ask you one last time, what do you want from me?"

There's a pregnant pause from him. A pause she can see him running the cogs in his complex little brain of his. "I want all of it. I want you Scilla can't you see? I do truely care for you... I do even if you don't understand love you. I'll make you see it somehow."

Drusilla mentally sighs as she simply rests her temple on her knuckle. He was persistent, she gave him that. A good trait she supposed for a man in politics. But for a man who craved control she still didn't understand why he wanted her. He knew somewhere deep down she wouldn't back down, would play their volley back and forth instead of a quick game that she knew he preferred.

"I just don't understand you sometime Coryo, I'm not interested in marriage. It is a promise I've made to myself and I'm not one who betrays their word. If you want me as an ally and assistance as an asset to your... presidential endeavours I can support you. But I just don't see how if as you said.. everything... I can support you without marriage to you."

"Are you afraid of marriage so much?" Coryo tilts his head.

"Pardon?" she blinked.

"You're afraid aren't you? Of marriage," the corner of his lips crept upwards.

Drusilla only furrowed her brows. Afraid? She had never thought about it that way. She had always thought about detesting it but never afraid.

"You are," he laughed. "You are afraid of marriage my dove. But fret not. I will show you that you have nothing to fear."

"You're quite good," Drusilla had let out a practiced chuckle shaking her head. She was losing control. She could never lose control. 

Never lose control Drusilla, you're a von Tougaard, von Tougaard's never lose control.

"I think I have all I need," Coriolanus got up. 

"Excuse me?" Drusilla tried to calm herself. Do not panic yourself.

"Do fret my darling rose," he walked over to her leaning down and giving a peck on her crown. "I will shed your fears and all will be right." 

"Coriolanus—"

Before she could get even another word out, Coriolanus who had held a prideful grin had walked out of the door.

"What have I done?" she looked to Lucifer who tilted his head and purred lowly.

⎯⎯⎯

People argued that one's addiction to poker was considered a lowlife, an addict or something. Drusilla argued otherwise, that if you won all the time that was a different story. An investment she called it.

She learnt a few lessons in poker. As cliche as it sounded life was a little like poker. That sometimes you had to gamble on people you've only met once, that critical decisions were calculated gambles. That as her morals found it although people had patterns life had triumphed due to it's unpredictable nature. 

Learning that dangerous people played life like poker. People like Dr Gaul, herself and her late mother. 

But then she looked to people like Coriolanus and her father. Powerful people. Powerful people played life like chess. They made moves eight steps ahead and dealt with people one at a time. 

Once her screen chimed, she clicked on the call to reveal her father. 

"I know what your playing father," she bitterly says. "If this is some insipid test just tell me your point."

Cierco only lets out a sick laugh and shakes his head. "You are my daughter indeed."

"Papa," she urged.

"All will be revealed soon. But as for Marcellus, I wanted to toy with him for a bit. His punishment for particular incident... however by the looks of it his worth is shorter than it took for you to figure it all out."

Powerful men were cruel men. Powerful men treaded a careful line.

"You didn't answer question papa, what are you planning with Dr Gaul exactly?"

Dangerous women were unpredictable women. Dangerous women walked the fine line between life and death.

"All is for the good of Panem and it's future. If you know any better my Dru my daughter you will work with us and not against the tide."

"Funny I usually swim against it," she clicks her tongue watching her father give a warning glare at her. "Have I annoyed you enough to give me a clue?"

"I believe you should make a trip to Dr Gaul and find out."

⎯⎯⎯

Drusilla's black and chained dress glimmered sadly at golden hour of the Capitol citadel. The setting sun crawling up the steps as Drusilla had left the last remains of the golden patch as she entered the building and past security.

"Dru dear!" she exclaimed, standing in front of her eel pit.

"Dr Gaul," she drawled.

"Oh dear, you don't sound too happy," her mismatched eyes gazed at her's.

"Let's just say I don't feel too glad about being left out on plans, especially if they concern me."

"Ah! Yes. Well, I had the best of thoughts that as you see here," she gestures to her mutations, "I wish to make a reality. You see my dear a thought occurred to me upon your introduction to my star pupil. That you and Coriolanus, Coriolanus and Drusilla will be united in marriage and build the future your father and I had only imagined."

"I've made it quite clear that I do not wish to marry," Drusilla bitterly says across the pit.

"Oh Drusilla dear, marriage is not so much a bad thing. Well, for me. You see I was married once," she reveals.

"I wasn't aware."

"It was before I started to rise in power. In fact I took my husband's name, opened more opportunities for me. Of course though once it wasn't enjoyable I got rid of him. He was thorn to the golden future of Panem," she feeds her eels another piece of chum. "Of course you won't need to do that for Coriolanus," she chuckled, "he is more than capable. He knows what Panem needs and you my dear," she points the tong at her, "you will bridge the future and the present."

Dr Gaul noticed her dissatisfied look. Sighing she put the bucket down and placed her hand over her other. "Dru you are by far one of the most, if not the most brilliant minds of our time. You are what Coriolanus needs—, what the future of Panem needs. You and Coriolanus will be our shining beacon, your children will be shining beacons that I hope in the future one of them will continue my work here. But of course there is time for discussion about that later. The both of you are the only ones who understand the true reality of our world, ourselves."

She did in fact agree, that in a world as broken as this one where in what the old world called North America, only survived the great catastrophe that people had been reduced to their primitive state. That people had become hungry. Starving. However, she never agreed on Hunger Games serving as a reminder of that. That there were other ways to instil that through fear but not as cruel.

"If I don't comply?" Drusilla asks without a sign of fear. Dr Gaul smirked, admiring how well she treaded the line between life and death.

"Then Dru dear, I ask you to take my advice from experience. Dangerous women like us need powerful men, and powerful men need dangerous women to survive. Or else, fates worse then death get the better of us," she venomously eyed at her, admiring the chains the guarded or perhaps coiled her chest tightly.

Author's note:

Fashion does play a big part in the book, especially for showing Drusilla's journey. Her house colour/uniform always consisted of black, however when she gets to the Capitol she wears blue a lot however you wanna take that metaphorically. You'll see a change in wardrobe in Drusilla in part 2!

Other questions about Drusilla please ask here, I really want to do a bonus q&a about Drusilla!

END OF PART 1

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