Cressida needed to join the gym or find a hobby to occupy her mind. The Capitol people normally purged their stomachs or set up an appointment to get the shape they wanted. After living in thirteen for a brief time Cress had learned she liked exercising. Good and exhausting work didn't allow her mind to wander. She needed that routine to sleep. It was past one in the morning and Cress was wide-awake in the living room. Pollux had shared his fears with her and now she couldn't stop thinking about it. For the first time in decades, the Capitol was in an unstable condition and what happens now will affect future generations.
Too keep her mind from wondering all that could go wrong she had logged into the archives and searched Loras Tyrell and found that he came from the second most richest and influential family in Panem. The Tyrell's military power and the Redwyne's agriculture. It was a risky move, joining two powerful families and she had no idea why Snow had permitted it. Apparently, the Tully's were not the only ones able to bring peace and stability through carefully bridged marriages.
President Snow had married Catelyn to Ned Stark after his sister, Lyanna Stark was reaped. What Katniss had done wasn't new, years before Brandon Stark had volunteered to protect his sister in the games but ended up dying by some strange creation from the Capitol. It was for the best that the Stark sisters should stay with her and deprive Cersei the opportunity to make a dig at them.
Speaking about Cersei, according to the Flickerman news (Cress internship there was a nightmare) she was incredibly happy to be marrying war hero Robert Baratheon although the picture of her and Robert showed otherwise. The blurry pictures were of the family feasting at the most expensive restaurant in the entire world Hot Pie. The Baratheon's were there and the Lannister's were there too, if Cress squinted, she could almost make out Joffrey throwing his plate at the direction of the photographer. She pitied everyone at the restaurant because she knew how unpleasant the Lannister's could be and how exhausting it was to be in their presence. Poor Renly wouldn't even try to flirt with Joffrey and Tywin there.
She didn't notice Sansa had crept down until she reached the last wooden step that did squeak. Cress' eyes jumped to the tall figure and it took a moment for her to calm down and regain her composure.
"I didn't know you were down here," Sansa says almost apologetically.
"Pollux needs his privacy," Cress explains quietly. In truth she doesn't like to hear his whimpering and he doesn't like for anyone to hear his whimpering and he couldn't fall asleep due to her tossing and turning. She sends a reassuring smile to Sansa who responds with her own tired smile. Sansa really has grown up in such a short time and it's depressing to see innocence gone. "If you don't mind me asking what're you doing awake so early in the morning?"
"Nightmares," Sansa admits and Cress gives her an understanding nods. "And the fear Arya will accidentally gut me in her sleep," Sansa sighs and Cress snorts.
Cress makes room for her and Sansa keeps just enough respectable distance between them. "Do you want to talk about it? The dreams?" Cress asks softly.
"No," Sansa says and Cress bites back a sigh. She can't push when she doesn't talk either. Cold blue eyes check hers and Sansa's hand creeps to rest over hers. "They're not as bad as they used to be," Sansa says quietly but Cressida sees a girl huddled under the covers with a sad faraway look.
"Did you want to come? To the Capitol?" Cress asks. Sansa might not know what people the Lannister's are but it's not like the Capitol residents had a good reputation. Catelyn wouldn't have let her precious children come here. Tywin Lannister wasn't a gentle persuasive person.
"Sending only Arya would have been disastrous," Sansa shakes her head.
"So your little sister is serving as your bodyguard?" She chortles. "Did she become a black belt in that short season after I left?" Granted, Arya had a fiercer air about her but her eyes were as sad as Sansa's and she doubted Arya could actually hurt anyone.
"Robb's ideas aren't always the best," Sansa fixes her braid over her shoulder.
"Robb is a smart boy," Cress remembers that he was a gifted boy and the times the played chess together.
"And I heard the Capitol is advanced in medicine," Cress sighs and wishes she had a lemon cake to cheer up Sansa.
"If it was the best then Peeta would have his leg. They do have pills to deal with depression," the college therapists usually didn't bother with the therapy part and simply prescribed drugs to their patients. Cress had been careful on what she consumed to get past college it, her class mates on the other hand.
"Do the pills work?" Sansa tilts her head to her and Cress wants to comfort the sweet girl by caressing her cheek.
"I suppose so. My friends were always in a euphoric state...until they had to be taken to the hospital," they were not the most responsible of people and they certainly loved to live on the edge. One time they had partied so hard that Cress couldn't even recall how she ended up in jail and how the house had blown up but she did befriend Renly and Brienne. "I think your mother just needs time," Cress says and Sansa nods. "It's late. We're visiting Peeta tomorrow. Would you like to come with?"
"Yes," Sansa's eyes lit up. "I've wanted to meet him since his first interview," Cress laughs relieved that Sansa has gotten better in pinning at nicer people. "I also promised Jon and Rickon I'd bring back a souvenir."
"It seems the sham of a wedding isn't gaining much popularity," Genna Lannister-Frey tuts. "Not that anyone is surprised. You might want to give more of an effort to look happy even if you're not."
Tyrion drinks his wine to hide his shit-eating grin from Cersei. Genna was one of the few that could put Cersei in her place.
"He's fat, hideous, and unfaithful. I refuse to dishonor myself by playing this charade," Cersei snaps and downs her cup quicker than Tyrion could. If alcoholism was a gene they'd surely received it.
"You need to think about the bigger picture. As it is, he'll help your popularity and you might even gain a seat through him," Genna carefully picks at her lettuce and Cersei eyes brighten. "He is well loved and respected. He'll mend your public image only if you put in the effort."
"And if you don't I'm sure father won't be upset," Tyrion says aloud. Their father hasn't threatened her yet but it was a matter of time. Sending aunt Genna was the appetizer. Cersei flinches before sending a glare at him.
"Truthfully, play your cards right and you might grow to be the strongest woman in Panem," Genna tempts her and Tyrion could applaud her. Power was Cersei's favorite treat.
"Second," Tyrion corrects. "The title of strongest goes to either Olenna Tyrell, Brienne Tarth, or one of the Mormont ladies . Very impressive woman didn't even have to grow up in the Capitol to gain reputation," Tyrion comments just to spite his sister and she gives him a nasty look. The look his aunt gives actually does make him shut up.
He heard that Olenna was in a verbal battle with Snow once and won. He heard that she was able to cement an alliance with the Martells when rumors of rebellion were sparking. She had proven to be just as useful as Varys, Littlefinger, and the Lannister's, definitely more useful than the Frey's. Although Tyrion wishes, she didn't have such a haughty scolding tongue but if she's been able to live this long he supposes she had the right to say what she wanted.
"Don't you and Podrick have someone to annoy. Preferably anybody but me," Cersei growl.
"I'm your little brother. It's my duty to annoy you," as usual Cersei bristles at him and she might have hissed if they didn't have company.
"My tragedy started the second you were born," Cersei reminds everyone.
"Now, don't be so dramatic," even with all the technology some women just died. Their mother made it very clear that if it came between her and Tyrion, they should save Tyrion and he would always love her for it. "I think the day your dramatic misery started was when you fell ill with penis envy," Cersei turned red.
"Tyrion why don't you go help your Robert and Jaime with their matter. It seemed important if they were willing to cut dinner so quick," Genna suggests.
"I think father decided it was time to leave after Joffrey shucked the goblet at the photographer," Tyrion is sure that's the primary reason. "I can take a hint. I'll show myself out."
Tyrion excused himself to let the ladies talk. Bronn was waiting for him outside fingering his empty holster. Even with the new law prohibiting citizens of holding weapons Tyrion trusted that Bronn had some out of sight.
"It's too late for all this clamoring?" Bronn asks as more white soldiers pass them in the hallways. "Can I go deaf by the sound of marching?" He grunts and cleans his ear. "More rebellions?"
"I don't know, nobody tells me anything. Jaime should know," Tyrion asks some servants where his brother was in sign language.
They find Jaime as he's arguing with Renly Baratheon. Neither looks pleased with each other and they look just as ferocious as their families sigils.
"You might as well take Brienne with you," Renly smile is less than friendly. "As well as all the weapons for your mission," they both look tired and annoyed. Renly's beard was almost the length of Robert's big bushy one. Looks like the stress of his job has kept him less than tidy and twice as fast to snap.
"No thank you. The ones I have are enough," Jaime's face is as stony as their fathers.
"Those are my best soldiers. Don't get them killed."
"I don't plan to lose a single one and make you work overtime signing papers," Jaime responds pleasantly and Renly steps back.
"Hello, Tyrion. Excuse me," Renly says with a polite smile.
"Of course." Tyrion waits until he's away from earshot to talk to a worried Jaime. "Ours is the fury," Tyrion mutters. "Better be careful there Jaime. Renly might get his big brothers to take you down. What's happening?"
"When isn't something bothersome happening," Jaime grumpily. "Cleaning after Snow isn't going easily. There's been two explosions at the north and south labs that Snow had Qyburn make his...game creatures," Jaime scrunches his nose.
"Oh good, I thought Lannister tower would come under fire," Tyrion laughs. "I'm off to bed then, have fun with cleaning duty. Don't get your other hand bitten off," Tyrion jests and he feels Jaime roll his eyes behind him.
"That's it? I have a good chance of dying and not even a last goodbye hug," Jaime huffs and Bronn might be snickering.
"Oh I know you won't die before you give Brienne a friendship bracelet. Good luck," Tyrion waves.