"And uncle Baldr appeased the beast with a cake, you mean," Baldr said in a hushed tone when he escorted Astrid toward the food. "Major's just as bad," Brayden clarified and imagined the two creatures keeping each other company while the family had a rare breakfast without them. But Astrid quickly turned to serious topics and Brayden's face became more grim. "Yes..." he answered her question about their favor with a bit of a manic smile. "Happy Hunger Games and may the odds ever be in your favor," Rayd quoted Effie Trinket because it felt appropriate.
"Yeah, he hates these things," he said of his father while he selected food and merely placed it carefully on Astrid's plate. His arm still entwined with the Princess'. "He never takes the stick out," his face became long and foreboding. "That's his secret," he then looked almost scandalized. "Mom's better," he started and his expression mostly returned to normal. "I've had to promise most of my free time to her," which he wasn't thrilled about. He loved her - not Iowa. "And my dad brought in Russ to help her, still conflicted on that point. Probably just going to bury my emotions for now and let them reemerge as something terrible later," Brayden admitted candidly, because that's what he did with Astrid. "By the way, you were made for velvet," he complimented her outfit then rubbed his cheek against her shoulder. "If your mom was serious about this conference, it would just be you slaying a runway," and Mateo chopping wood outback for the manly men... he supposed.