I DO NOT OWN THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
FACE CLAIMS
LARUEL SIMMS- MASON DYE
Farmer's market. Logan, West Virginia. A month later.
As winter turned to Spring in West Virginia, Coriolanus Snow felt that he was finally adjusted to life in pre-Panem. He'd managed to work his way out of the shop and took over secretarial work and sales. This still wasn't the work that a Snow should be doing, but at least now he didn't come home to Lucy Grey smelling of oil.
As for Lucy Grey Baird, she too was starting to branch out from just being an assistant homemaker/babysitter. Mrs. Howell had enjoyed the recipes that Lucy Grey had brought from the Covey so much, that she encouraged the songbird to start selling them in town. There was a local farmer's market in the town of Logan that often sold homegrown produce and homemade baked goods. When Ruth and Lucy Grey began baking what they referred to as Covey Confections, it was an instant hit with the people of Mingo County who partook in the farmer's market. Lucy Grey cooked all of the snacks that her mother and the older Covey members had taught her from the time she was a young girl: Sticky Buns, Apple tarts, blue berry tarts, strawberry tarts, among others.
Coryo found a pretty decent sized crowd standing around the Covey Confections booth when he and Joshua decided to stop by the farmers market after the auto shop was closed for the day. The market too was wrapping up as it was right about dinner time, but there were still a lot of people trying to score some last minute goodies. Lucy Grey's face lit up as she saw her capital boy walking up.
"Hey handsome." She said as she leaned over the stand to press her lips to Coryo's.
"I'm glad to see that business is going so well for you." He replied as he took Lucy Grey's hand in his.
"Can I get you anything, sugar?" Lucy Grey asked as she didn't want the customers to raise Hell because she was distracted by her boyfriend.
"I was thinking maybe I could try one of your sticky buns?" Coryo asked in return as he had been sampling her berry tarts that she had been whipping up and each was more delicious then the last. The sticky buns had until now though, eluded him. Lucy Grey smiled as she grabbed the treat from a near empty tray, put it on a napkin and handed it to Coryo. The sticky buns were rolls topped with a homemade brown sugar caramel sauce and crunchy pecans. Coryo had to admit that they looked scrumptious.
"Here you go, darlin." She said as he eagerly took a bite. The bun was rich and gooey as he consumed the treat, putting a smile on his face. Coryo had very rarely gotten a chance to eat pasties; the Snow family could hardly afford such a luxury and when he had a chance at a public luncheon for the academy, he didn't dare stock up and raise suspicions about his finances or lack thereof.
"I think I might be addicted to sticky buns now." Coryo said, earning a giggle from his songbird.
"Sure beats the Hell out of paste, don't it?" She remarked as she raised her pointer finger to wipe a smidge of caramel sauce off his bottom lip.
"Without a doubt." Coryo agreed as Samuel walked up to the stand, looking a tad nervous.
"Hey Lucy Grey, you're gonna be home tonight, right?" He asked awkwardly.
"Last time I checked." Lucy Grey replied nonchalantly.
"Cool." Samuel said as he walked off to his father, leaving the former Panemians confused and curious.
"What was that about?" Coryo asked as he was getting a bad vibe.
"Couldn't tell ya." Lucy Grey shrugged as she started to close up the stand.
Howell House. Logan, West Virginia. Later that night.
After dinner, the Howells were watching a new episode of some show called ER. Coryo found the hospital drama intriguing, but Lucy Grey couldn't stomach the blood and guts after her experience in the Hunger Games. He was sitting on the couch with the family until something caught his eye. He heard Samuel motioning for Lucy Grey to follow him out the back door. This definitely raised a red flag for young Mr. Snow.
"I need to use the toilet, excuse me." Coryo said as he got up and slowly followed behind the 2 as they went to the backyard where a handsome looking man was waiting for them. He had slicked hair and looked as though he was in college. Coryo crept behind a bush as he eavesdropped on the conversation.
"Lucy Grey, this is Laurel Simms: he goes to Shepherd University and he's the President of the school fraternity." Samuel explained as he made introductions. "Laurel, this is Lucy Grey Baird: the girl I told you about."
"Nice to meet you." Laurel said as he kissed Lucy Grey's hand, sending a wave of jealousy through Coryo's system.
"Likewise...so what's this big opportunity that Samuel was telling me 'bout?" Lucy Grey inquired as Samuel cleared his throat.
"Well, I'm gonna be attending Shepherd in the fall if I graduate and I really want to be in the frat." Samuel stuttered as he tried to remain calm. "Laurel's been here on spring break and when he saw you at church, he thought you were really pretty. So he said that he'd put in a good word for me...if you'd go on a date with him." Coryo was seeing red as he heard what Samuel said. How dare this backwoods shit try to pimp out Lucy Grey just to join a fraternity. She was his; HIS. He wasn't gonna let some ball scratching frat boy ruin her.
"What the Hell Samuel?" Lucy Grey asked as she seemed pretty pissed herself at being used before turning to Laurel. "Look, I don't know what he told you, but I already got a fella and I ain't looking for another."
"Couldn't you just skip out on Coriolanus for 1 night?" Samuel pleaded anxiously.
"Coriolanus, sounds like a loser." Laurel said as Coryo glared at him. If he wasn't going to kick his ass before, that remark confirmed it.
"If you think that I would ever go 2 timing on my man, then you don't know me at all." Lucy Grey spat as Coryo's heart was filled with pride at her faithfulness to him.
"I ain't the kind of guy who takes no for an answer!" Laurel exclaimed as he took Lucy Grey in his arms and began to cover her in rough kisses. All bets were off as Snow's rage took over all other thoughts as he rushed from his hiding place.
"Let go of me, help!" Lucy Grey tried to exclaim before Laurel slapped his hand over her mouth as he pressed his lips to her neck. Samuel looked disgusted, but couldn't bring himself to speak up. Before Laurel could do any more, Coryo jumped on him like an animal. He punched the frat boy over and over and over again until he started to strangle him with his bare hands. Laurel tried to free himself, but Coryo gripped his throat tightly as he looked down on him with an inhuman hatred. Eventually, a loud snap was heard and the struggling stopped.
"Coryo...he was gonna...he was gonna..." Lucy Grey wailed as she began to cry. This snapped Coryo out of his rage and he quickly moved to comfort his songbird.
"Shh...it's ok Lucy Grey...I'm here and I will never let anyone harm you." He assured her as he rocked her in his arms as they sat on the grass and held each other. Meanwhile, Samuel went over to Laurel and after feeling him, looked up at the couple in horror.
"Coryo...you killed him!" Samuel exclaimed in pure terror as for Coryo, remorse for this deed was non existent.
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