A Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes - Blog Posts

Kenneth Branagh has the opportunity to do the funniest thing possible

Thinking about the lyrics from ballad of Lucy Gray but applied to Haymitch and Maysilee Donner, and his girlfriend, and his family, and literally all the people haunting him while he slowly drinks himself to death after winning the games

I am going to be checking this hashtag everyday until it updates!!

This series is SO GOOD!!!

Shadows of Affection

warnings: minor smut

slow burn Coriolanus Snow x reader, slight Felix Ravinstill x reader

Chapter 10: Make up your mind

You and Felix sat side by side in the Capitol's grand viewing hall, surrounded by the buzz of excited chatter. The Hunger Games preview event was in full swing, the tributes and their mentors each stepping onto the stage to perform for the Capitol’s elite, trying to make a lasting impression. The entire room was entranced, the audience eager to see who could captivate the most, who could leave them with something unforgettable.

Felix squeezed your hand lightly, the warmth between you two a welcome relief from the chaos of your respective worlds. As you watched the tributes, the tension in the air was palpable—everyone on edge, trying to get a glimpse of the next big star.

“Did you see the guy from District 2? He’s definitely overdoing it,” Felix whispered, shaking his head with a small laugh. “It’s like he’s auditioning for a role in a gladiator movie.”

You snorted quietly, leaning your shoulder against his. “Yeah, I was expecting him to pull out a sword or something. Not really my style.”

You both shared a brief, soft chuckle, and the moment between you two was comfortable—easy.

But the energy in the room shifted as Lucy Gray Baird walked onto the stage, her bright gown sparkling under the lights. Coriolanus Snow stood beside her, his cold eyes scanning the crowd, calculating. As Lucy began to sing, her voice floated through the room, delicate and haunting, drawing the crowd’s rapt attention. The Capitol’s citizens reacted immediately, their applause loud and thunderous as she finished her performance.

Your jaw tightened, a flash of irritation crossing your face. You glanced at Felix, then back at Lucy Gray, who was basking in the spotlight. You couldn’t shake the feeling of resentment building up inside you, your frustration with the entire spectacle bubbling to the surface.

“I would almost call that beautiful,” you muttered, your tone bitter. “But I’m not about to give her that kind of credit. She’s just... too much, don't you think?”

Felix, sensing the change in your mood, gave a slight, knowing smile and gently wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer. “She’s not a patch on you,” he said softly, his voice warm but serious. “You’re way better than her—way prettier, smarter...” His thumb gently brushed your jaw, and he tilted your face toward him, his gaze locking with yours. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on your cheek, lingering for a moment before pulling back slightly to look at you with a tender smile.

The touch was small, but it held more meaning than words could convey. You felt a warmth spread through you at the gesture, and for a moment, all the bitterness, all the tension, melted away.

As Lucy Gray smiled from the stage, basking in the adoration of the Capitol, Coriolanus caught sight of Felix and you in the crowd. His gaze flicked to you both, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly before a spiteful smirk curled at the corner of his lips. The look was sharp, filled with something you couldn’t quite place, but it set you on edge.

Felix, feeling the subtle shift in the atmosphere, tightened his grip around you, his expression hardening just a little as he followed Coriolanus’ gaze. But he didn’t let it linger, instead focusing entirely on you.

“Forget him,” Felix whispered, his words a soft promise. “You don’t need to let anyone steal your spotlight, especially not him.”

Your lips twitched into a faint, appreciative smile as you leaned into Felix’s embrace, your head resting against his shoulder. “I’m done worrying about him,” you murmured, your voice low. “But it’s nice to know you’ve got my back.”

Felix pressed a kiss to your temple, pulling you closer, blocking out the rest of the room

The afterparty was everything you had expected it to be—exclusive, dazzling, and filled with Capitol elites who were all too eager to congratulate themselves. The air was thick with the smell of expensive perfume and the clinking of champagne glasses, and you felt an undeniable rush of excitement as you walked into the venue with Felix. The moment you stepped in, your black lace dress caught every eye in the room. It was elegant, alluring—just enough to spark intrigue but not too much to be considered immodest. You made sure every step was purposeful, feeling the eyes of the crowd follow you, and Felix's arm was firmly planted on your lower back, a quiet declaration of ownership and confidence.

As you entered, Festus, Livia, and Agrippina were already mingling by the bar, and you couldn’t help but smile at the sight of them. You could already feel the tension of the day slipping away, the excitement of the night taking over. Felix kept his arm around you as you approached the group, and everyone greeted you warmly.

“You two look great!” Olivia said, eyeing your dress with an appreciative look. “Damn, girl, you really know how to turn heads.”

You smirked. “I try,” you said, glancing up at Felix, who shot you a playful grin in return. “Thanks. You all look great too.”

Saja raised her glass, giving a wink. “You’re definitely making an entrance tonight.”

You leaned in to join the conversation, your mind briefly drifting away from the nagging feeling in your chest. It was a good night. You looked good, and Felix was by your side. This was the life you deserved.

But then, just as you were about to lose yourself in the moment, the doors swung open, and in walked Coriolanus Snow. His presence filled the room immediately—calm, collected, and unbothered, like he owned the place. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes, though you quickly masked your irritation. You weren’t about to let him ruin your night. Not now.

“Ugh, look who it is,” Olivia whispered under her breath, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Did you hear about his performance today? He and Lucy Gray are practically unbeatable.”

“Of course they are,” you muttered under your breath, but you couldn’t help the simmering frustration bubbling inside. “He thrives on attention. It’s all he’s ever cared about.”

Agrippina nodded, looking over at the couple. “I’m kind of sick of hearing about Lucy Gray. It’s like she’s already won.”

You fought the urge to snap, forcing yourself to stay calm. “Yeah, well, if they want to crown her queen, they can. I’m not wasting my time on it.”

“Coriolanus and Lucy Gray are all anyone can talk about,” Festus chimed in. “They’re just... the perfect duo. It’s kind of sickening, actually. They’re all anyone talks about these days.”

You shot him a tight smile, but inside you were boiling. You wanted to shout, to scream that they were all just fawning over the wrong people—people who didn’t deserve the recognition. But you held yourself back. You were better than that now. Felix was beside you, and that was more than enough.

“Don’t worry about them,” Felix said softly, his voice low enough only for you to hear. “You’re way more than they’ll ever be.”

You smiled, looking up at him. “Thanks, Felix.”

You took a deep breath and excused yourself, needing to step away from the crowd for a moment. “I’m going to grab a glass of champagne. I’ll be right back.”

Felix hesitated, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. “Are you sure? I can go get it for you.”

“No,” you replied with a small shake of your head. “I’ve got it. I just need a moment to... breathe.”

Felix nodded, not pushing it, but you could see the concern in his eyes. He kissed your cheek softly. “Alright, I’ll be here.”

You were standing at the bar, your fingers tracing the rim of your glass, when you felt it—the familiar presence behind you. You didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Coriolanus Snow.

"You look good tonight," he said, his voice low and smooth, like he was savoring every word.

You didn’t flinch, but you couldn’t ignore the wave of irritation washing over you. “Thanks,” you muttered, not turning to face him. “You’re looking sharp as always.”

He chuckled, that all-too-familiar smirk tugging at his lips. “You really think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” He took a step closer, his presence almost suffocating.

You rolled your eyes but didn’t respond. The way he looked at you—like you were something he could control, something that belonged to him—made your blood boil.

“I see you’re still hanging on to Felix,” he said, his voice tinged with an edge of something darker. “Does he make you feel... safe?”

You felt your stomach tighten. "Felix is nothing like you, Coriolanus," you shot back, not bothering to hide the bitterness in your voice. “And you really should stop pretending to care about me.”

Coriolanus moved in even closer, his breath warm against your ear. “You know, you’ve always been so easy to read,” he whispered, his words dripping with arrogance. “You want me. You always have.”

You spun around to face him, fury flashing in your eyes. “You’re insane,” you hissed, pushing him back. “You don’t own me. I’m with Felix, and you need to get that through your head.”

Coriolanus smirked, but there was something dangerous in his eyes now. “You think he can give you what I can? Felix can’t even come close. You’re wasting your time with him.”

You gritted your teeth, fists clenching. You could feel your anger rising, but you didn’t want to show him the weakness he was trying to provoke. “You’re pathetic. You don’t even know what you want, Coriolanus.”

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I want.” His voice dropped to a low growl, and before you could react, he grabbed your arm, pulling you toward a quieter corner of the event hall. The music and chatter became muffled as you moved into the shadows.

“You can pretend all you want, but you belong with me,” he said, his grip tightening on your arm. “Not with him. He’s nothing.”

You jerked your arm free, your heart pounding in your chest. “No. I don’t belong to you. Don’t ever touch me like that again.”

He didn’t listen. In one swift motion, he pinned you to the wall, his body so close you could feel the heat radiating off him. His face was inches from yours, and you could see the hunger in his eyes. “You don’t get it, do you?” he said, voice low and dangerous. “You’ve always been mine.”

You could feel your pulse racing, your breath coming faster, but you fought to keep your composure. “I’m not yours, Coriolanus. I’m nobody’s.”

His lips were on yours before you could say another word. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t tender. It was urgent and hungry, like he couldn’t wait another second to have you.

Your hands clenched at his jacket, but the kiss was overpowering, consuming your thoughts, your anger, everything. You wanted to pull away. You should pull away. But his hands were everywhere, his lips demanding more.

When he finally pulled back, you gasped for breath, your chest heaving. Your eyes burned with rage as you tried to push him away, but his grip on you stayed firm.

He stepped back slightly, still smirking. “You can pretend like you’re not into it, but I know you are.” He gave you one last look, something like possession flashing in his eyes. “Never tell anyone about this.”

Your heart was pounding in your chest, your mind reeling. “What the hell is wrong with you?” you spat, your voice shaking with fury. “You think you can just kiss me and walk away like nothing happened? You don’t get to do that!”

But Coriolanus didn’t answer. He simply turned on his heel and walked away, leaving you standing there, breathless, furious, and completely and utterly confused.

You stood there for a long moment, your fingers trembling at your sides. You couldn’t believe what had just happened. How could he just kiss you like that? How could he leave you there, like it meant nothing?

You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. You needed to pull it together. You weren’t going to let him control you. You were done with him.

But as you made your way back to Felix, your heart was still racing. You weren’t sure what to feel. You couldn’t tell him what happened—how could you? You didn’t even know what to think about it yourself.

When Felix saw you, he immediately took note of your disheveled appearance, the way your lips were slightly swollen and the fire still burning in your eyes.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft but filled with concern.

You quickly composed yourself, pushing the anger and confusion aside. You smiled tightly. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

Felix didn’t look entirely convinced, but he didn’t press you. He wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you close as you rejoined the others.

But you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were caught in

The rest of the night carried on smoothly, or at least that’s how you made it seem. No one could tell anything was wrong—you’d mastered the art of pretending to be fine. You laughed, you mingled, and not once did you falter. You didn’t see Coriolanus again, but a shiver crawled down your spine every time you caught sight of someone with similar blonde hair. It was a shadow you couldn’t shake, no matter how much you smiled or how much champagne you sipped.

At the end of the evening, the goodbyes were warm and polite, filled with well-wishes for the Games in two days. You and Felix left together, sliding into the sleek black car waiting outside. The low hum of the engine filled the space as the city lights blurred past the windows.

Felix sat close to you in the backseat, his hand resting loosely on his knee, but his eyes kept darting toward you. The silence stretched just long enough to feel heavy before he broke it.

“Are you really okay?” His voice was soft, but there was an edge of concern he couldn’t quite hide. “You seemed... distracted tonight.”

You glanced at him, forcing a small smile. “I’m fine. Just tired, I guess. It’s been a long day.”

He frowned slightly, studying your face like he didn’t quite believe you. “You sure? You don’t have to pretend with me, you know. If something’s on your mind, I want to know.”

You sighed, leaning back against the seat. “I appreciate that, Felix, but there’s nothing to worry about. Really. I’m okay.”

He tilted his head, his expression softening. “You don’t have to carry everything on your own, you know. I’m here for you.”

His words made your chest tighten, but you pushed the feeling aside, flashing him a teasing smile instead. “You’re sweet, you know that? But I promise, I’m fine. Just needed a moment to breathe tonight, that’s all.”

He smiled back, though his concern lingered in the way his gaze lingered on yours. “Alright. I’ll take your word for it. But if you need me, I’m not going anywhere.”

The sincerity in his voice made your cheeks warm, and you looked away briefly, trying to focus on the passing lights outside.

“You’re too good to me, you know,” you said quietly, your voice carrying a note of something you didn’t entirely mean to let slip.

He chuckled, leaning just slightly closer. “Well, someone’s got to keep up with you. Can’t have you outshining everyone all on your own.”

You turned back to him, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, I see. So this is all just self-preservation? Keeping up appearances?”

“Exactly,” he said, grinning. “But you do make it easy. You’re kind of impossible not to be drawn to.”

His tone was light, but there was something else in his eyes—something deeper, more serious. The teasing smile on your lips faltered just slightly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you asked softly, your voice quieter now.

He hesitated for half a second before leaning in a little closer, his voice dropping just enough to send your heart racing. “It means you’re incredible. And I don’t think you even realize it half the time.”

Your breath caught, the words hanging heavy between you. The space in the car suddenly felt smaller, the air warmer.

And then he said it, his voice so low it was almost a whisper. “I love you.”

Your heart stuttered, your chest tightening as the words settled over you. For a moment, you didn’t know what to say, your mind racing. His face was so close to yours now, his eyes searching yours for any sign of how you felt.

You didn’t think—you just moved, closing the gap between you and pressing your lips softly to his.

The kiss was gentle at first, tender and cautious, but then something shifted. Coriolanus’s voice echoed in your mind, the memory of his smirk, his accusations. You wanted to prove him wrong, to prove to yourself that he didn’t matter. You kissed Felix harder, your hands moving to his shoulders as you pressed closer, needing to feel something real.

Felix responded immediately, his hands finding your waist and pulling you into his lap. The kiss deepened, your fingers tangling in his hair as the world outside the car disappeared. There was only the warmth of his hands on your back, the way he held you like you were the only thing that mattered.

The sound of the driver clearing his throat broke the moment, and you both froze, breathless and flushed. “We’ve arrived at your house, miss,” the driver said politely, his voice cutting through the haze.

You and Felix pulled apart, your foreheads resting together for a moment as you caught your breath. His hands lingered on your waist, and his eyes were dark, still searching yours.

You smiled softly, reaching up to gently cup his chin. Leaning in, you pressed a quick, sweet kiss to his lips, your thumb brushing over his jawline. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” you said, your voice soft but steady.

Felix nodded, still looking a little dazed. “Yeah... tomorrow.”

You slipped out of the car, the cool night air brushing against your skin as you walked up the steps to your house. Your lips still tingled, and your heart was still racing, but for the first time all night, you felt like you were in control.

I’m sure someone else has already said it but…

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes should’ve been a 6 episode miniseries.

With how obsessed some studios are which short seasons (with long episodes & single seasons too) adapting songbirds where each part is two episodes would’ve been great.

The movie left so much out and doesn’t do a good job of depicting Snow’s psychological/philosophical journey. I get that it is hard to make internal narration show when adapted for viewing, but there are ways especially if the teams have more time to work with. (Playing with light and perspective or even voiceovers.) The movie also missed out on some cool characters like the nightclub owners, Ma, and the rest of the Peacekeepers and Covey too.

Even as a two+ hour movie, if you haven’t read the book you lose a lot of the context.

Seeds of resistance 🪐🌊

[ Reaper Ash. Hunger Games. ]

I can’t get Reaper out of my head. Out of all the characters, he truly stays with you. He was so raw and had a rage so many can relate to. One thing that truly gut punched me was the parallels to real life. The outrage from the crowd as a flag was torn down. Meanwhile not a word for the countless lifeless bodies of children. My heart hurt for Reaper, and my heart breaks for what’s happening in Palestine.