My notes:
I was recently inspired by "the ballad of songbirds & snakes". I don't really know how to introduce my story, which is why I have written a preface. I don't know if there is any interest in the story, but I think it's an interesting thought that I wanted to put into words. In essence, this story is about Coriolanus ten years after the events of The Ballad of songbirds & snakes. While this story will be in character, which means that it won't be a particularly happy story, it's not canon because the story of Katniss will interlace with a much younger Snow. This means that much of the original trilogy will not play out as it does in the canon version. This story evolves around what would happen to Panem if Katniss was alive around the 20th games, when the dark ages was still very much fresh, and explores if the effect Katniss had was a product of her time or not.
The whole story will be in third POV, since I don't like to change between POVs, and since this story includes to main characters, both of which are essential for the story. It's M rating. Hope you like it!
Preface
Coriolanus watched the events on the screen in front of him unfold, never letting his cold eyes stray from the projector for even a second. It was as if he'd been thrown back in time to ten years ago and was watching the show of Lucy Gray Baird all over again. The song bird that sang him ballads to conceal the poison of her soul. Some might call him a snake, but none knows the true nature of Lucy like he does. He had bestowed her with his love and she had betrayed him and flown away, somewhere far outside of his reach. Even now, with resources as the Head gamemaker, her absence was still a mystery, like so many others lost to time.
Secretly, it frustrated him. She was a loose end, the last piece that could connect him to Sejanus death. He could not afford to loose the Plinth fortune, not when he has risen this far and was closer than ever to the Presidency. Coriolanus Snow never left anything to chance, and that he had this one time with Lucy pricked at him. He had managed to suppress it for the last ten years, until now.
As he watched this girl in front of him, this scrawny girl, he suddenly felt 18 years old again. Her eyes glowed with so much determination that he almost saw the blue dress transform into one of rainbow colours. It was uncanny and he could feel the hatred for the songbird he once loved start to burn in his chest. This was his punishment for not tying up loose ends. He was sure of it.
He swore out loud, something he only did when he was alone. No matter the situation he would never let anyone see him loose control, which was why he only ever did it when he no one was there to see him. No, Coriolanus Snow was the epitome of control. He never lost it. He would not loose it now.
"Katniss Everdeen, may the odds be ever in your favour." He muttered to himself bitterly, as her word echoed back as if mocking him.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"