The Sound of 23 Cannons: The 48th Hunger Games

Livia Millton, Dictrict 2, Victor of the 41st Hunger Games

Livia swirls the deep purple liquid in her glass. Above, the lights of the dingy club pulse red, blue, and green. The crush of bodies on the dance floor gives off a dizzying haze of perfume, and underneath it all sweat.

"What brings a pretty thing like you to this neighborhood?"

She smiles up at the capital man, with his fish scale tattoos and ridiculous aqua hair. He doesn't recognize me. She can't exactly blame him. The radiant girl who clawed her way out of the 41st games has long since been replaced by the sort of austerity that only comes from watching your tributes die year after year.

She raises her glass. "Same as you." It's a universally acknowledged truth among victors that the only way to spend the opening of the games is spectacularly drunk.

"Perhaps I can buy you another drink then?"

Before she can respond a gruff voice breaks through the crowd of partygoers. "Out of the way." The next moment Luster Cassel appears between two heavily tattooed women. The capitol man melts away.

Livia smiles. "Good evening Luster."

The victor of the 43rd Hunger Games scowls and crosses his arms. The scars running across his face look particularly fierce in the half light.

"What are you doing here Livia?"

She nods her chin to the screens that line every wall. "The opening interview is on." On the screens Caesar Flickerman is talking. This year his color is a lurid pink. The makeup around his eyes makes him appear diseased.

"Well no one has forgotten last year's excitement." Caesar says to the much more subdued looking gamemaker across from him.

Livia snorts. Last year. Her tribute had died on the second day, poisoned by contaminated water. It had been a disgraceful end for the district two girl.

"Mind if I join you?" Luster is already sliding onto the seat next to her.

"Of course, of course."

He takes a sip of his drink, eyes fixed on the screens. Caesar Flickerman is giving a lively recap of last years games.

"I hear you're mentoring again this year."

"Straight to business I see." Livia tears her gaze away from the screen to look at Luster. "I suppose you want assurance that the alliance will stand?"

"We can't have another disgrace like last year." In that at least she agrees. The alliance had fallen apart early last year, and a scrawny boy from 6 had snatched victory away from the more qualified tributes from 1 and 2. "A career alliance is the best chance of bringing one of our kids home."

"And have you talked to Mags?" The tributes from 4 could be a wild card.

He nods. "She wants a victor as much as the rest of us."

"As long as they give us strong tributes this year. Has your academy picked its volunteers?" Livia is not privy to the method by which District 1 chooses its tributes, but she assumes its similar to her own district. After all it's no secret that the girls and boys from 1, 2, and 4 come to the capital well trained.

Luster nods. "Naturally. And yours?"

"They'll be good contenders."

"Anything special?"

"We'll see." She'd received the profiles of this years most promising volunteers only a day ago. Still they seemed capable. "They'll do better than last year for sure."

"Good."

"Have you heard any more about the arena?"

Luster shakes his head. "The game makers are being unusually tight lipped this year."

"A shame." Livia picks at surface of the table. Competition was one thing, but in the end it would be the arena that would make or break the tributes. Her own games had been pitted in a dense tangle of wild scrubland. There had been nowhere for the other tributes to hide.

On screen the interview is wrapping up. Livia silently curses Luster for making her miss it. She'll have to watch a recording later in her hotel room.

Caesar grins directly into the camera, giving his signature farewell. "Happy Hunger Games everyone. And may the odds be ever in your favor."

"To the odds." Luster raises his glass before downing the amber liquid in one long gulp.

Livia pressed the cool glass to her lips. "To the odds."

Hello and welcome to the 48th Hunger Games. The form to submit tributes can be found on my profile, along with the list of open slots. Each user can submit up to 2 tributes. I also ask that people try to keep their tributes realistic (ie there shouldn't be tons of volunteers from non-career districts). I look forward to reading your tribute profiles. May the odds be ever in your favor!