funeral package debate (jb: lionel x wren)

[lionel estrada d5 ᥫ᭡ kiah]

I pace the room anxiously. My demands to speak with the mayor, the escort, or any gods damned person with authority had gone ignored. Worse, the peacekeeper by the door had straight up laughed before slamming it shut in what I assumed was my stupid dumbass dumbfounded face. "Yeah, well, you breath smell like ass!" I had yelled through the door before the pacing had begun. Regretfully, not one of my finest moments, however embarrassingly, not my worst.

In the back of my mind I knew that my priorities were a little twisted. That I should be more focused on the fact that I was being shipped away to the capitol like a prized cattle to be slaughter as a show of power, and not the fact that Father was going to be so fucking disappointed that I had managed to fuck up so royally and potentially damaged a business deal transaction that we had been working on for months.

He hadn't come to see me yet, and I couldn't quite decipher it it was relief or shame that washed over me at the thought. Maybe a little bit of both.

Suddenly the door flies open and instantly I feel an apology rise in my throat like a tidal wave. But it is not my father who wondered in like he owns the fucking place, but my little brother, Wren.

I stop my pacing as my arms fold across my chest. A smirk tugs at my lips, "come to see me off little brother? I would have thought you'd be digging up my plot by now and picking out flowers for the funeral."

[fox]

Heard we got a twenty-five year old nepobaby in office.

Why's the Justice Building still so ugly.

Old as hell dude, smells like mildew from the goat era of Five. I thought nepo babies were supposed to be into style and amateur photography and taking spots at schools.

Li was dragged in, kicking and screaming, and I had to pretend not to know him for a minute. He has no chill, for real. Just get up there, flip them the bird, and call it a day. No one's ever been able to outrun the Reaping. It's kinda cringe when you try.

Mom was crying, and dad was upset about the deal, you know, normal family dynamics. Supposed to say goodbye, but she's still sobbing, so dad sends me in.

The keepers pat me down in the hall, but when they get to the vape in my front pant pocket, I just tell them inspection gets me off.

They let me go through real quick after that.

It kinda sucks actually, that Li's gonna die. It means Dad'll want me to do whatever the hell Lionel was doing. He started talking about the pipeline deal the minute he laid eyes on me. Knew that's why he had two kids. Well, can't be mad at a guy when it turns out he's right.

The PK opens the door. Tell him thanks. My brother's trying to wear a hole in the carpet with his pacing. Dude's still all worked up. Red in the face.

“Nah. Need the notes for the deal,” and I'm shrugging, pulling out the vape. The air tastes like lemon drop. The keeper doesn't even move 'cause at least it smells better now than the goat piss in carpet scent clinging to the corners.

“Dad said to get ‘em.”

[lionel estrada d5 ᥫ᭡ kiah]

“Nah. Need the notes for the deal." Instantly my smirk turns into a scowl. Wren looked so smug, and the urge to wipe that look off his face simmered wildly in my veins. “Dad said to get ‘em.” A sharp pang in my chest has me turning away from Wren. I refused to let him see his words landing their desired effect. The feeling reminded me of something like hurt, which was preposterous because I knew that Wren was just here to pull my leg, and to twist the dagger I felt shoved between my shoulder blades. But even though his words were mocking, the hidden truth behind them was enough to have my slumping onto the couch.

Flicking my gaze back to my brother I feel my scowl deepen. Between his teeth a vape was perched lazily, and as I watched him in hale and then slowly exhale the smell I am hit with a waft of citrus. "That shit is going to kill you, you know?" Leaning into the back of the couch my arms are once again folded over my chest. "I'm not giving you the notes. If father wants then he can drag his ass in here and get them himself."

Sudden and jarring realisation hits me then. I was probably going to die. Probably was a generous term for definitely but thats not here nor there at the moment. Lips twitching I cross one of my ankles over my knees. My death meant that Wren, my sweet little brother, would become our fathers next obsession. And man, that thought alone was enough to have my lips pulling back as amusement and delight rushed through me. Once again, I realise, that my priorities were so damned twisted.

"You and father are going to have so much fun once I am dead." I pout slightly, "I'm kinda disappointed that I won't be able to watch him try and turn you into the new me. I just know how much you'll love it."