A/N - please note this is the sequel to The War Isn't Over and Tour of A Victor (One Shot). It is an SYOT with slots still open. please PM the form in my profile. It still revolves around Evan, however the new tributes and mentors will get their own POVs too.
'Famous I don't know about. It's hard to be famous and alive. I just want to play music every day and hear someone say "Thanks, that was great, here's some money, same time tomorrow, okay?"' - Terry Pratchett
Evan Lawrence - Victor District 5
It's early morning and for the first time in months I've spent the night in district five. I'm staying at Ruffes' home of course, although the official line is that I stay with the May family. I'm sat in the gorgeous rustic kitchen, that is a far cry from the chrome impersonal space I have in the Capitol. I feel content here, yet saddened it could be a good few years before I'm released from my responsibilities and allowed to live here. When I won my games I had a lot of help from both the gamemakers and President Scarlet Snow. In return I was to sign a contract committing me to 'escort' the Captolian elite, up until my 25th birthday.
'Morning baby' Ruffes is coming down the stairs. His hair is all messy and gorgeous, his eyes just a little dopey.
'Hi you' I smile 'I hope I didn't wake you?'
'Nope. It's reaping day. I'm like clockwork on reaping day'
Reaping day. Last reaping day I saw Ruffie at the lake, just moments before he became my mentor. Just moments after I had woken up next to Donny May. Donny was also reaped that day and we eventually became good friends. Sadly only one of us could come out alive. That had to be me.
The Hunger Games brought me instant fame, wealth and power. Yet I feel like the smallest girl in the world. This year I'm to mentor the new district five tributes. I offered so Ruffie could take a break, however our good friend Bullet thought it would be a wonderful idea for districts with multiple victors to mentor other districts. Ruffes requested district 6 in honour of Jenna, the tribute who saved my life. Districts 3 and 12 are also getting mentors from district 2. I think as a gesture of goodwill for previous games.
District 1 are incredibly excited about the games. Pearl, the mentor, helped open a Bullet Academy like the one in two. Her two tributes are apparently in a fiery relationship that Pearl thinks the Capitol will love, given the reaction to my 'relationship' with Donny last year. I saw them sparring. Emerald is stunning, with beautiful red hair. Shine is a typical heartthrob, muscular and tanned. Very district one.
I agree with Bullet that district five also need an academy, however Ruffes is completely against the idea. I would never go ahead with opening one without his full support. Ruffes and I have, well, different attitudes to the Games. He hates everything about them, but I've seen the doors they open for people like me. I've seen sights I never imagined before, socialised with wonderful creative people and have more money than I'll ever need. Ruffes just sees me as Capitol property. He worries about my soul.
I haven't been to any of the 'lower' districts since my tour. I'd like to see the Dunois family again, but I'm not welcome in district 11 and thanks to districts 1 and 2, there is no way anyone gets out of that place, unless they are reaped. The Hunger Games brings fire to the hearts of the districts and right now it seems like we take it out on one another. Ruffes thinks we need to hit back at the Capitol. I'm not so sure...
'You there Ev?' I'm awoken from my daydreaming.
'What? Oh umm sorry. I was just thinking about, well...'
'Them again? Listen Evan you have to forget about that family in eleven. They are what they are. We can't help them you know.'
'They lost everything'
'Just be thankful you didn't and move on'
I keep quiet. The Dunois family are a source of contention between Ruffes and I. Ruffes worries that they are too well known as rebels and fears the link with them could destroy everything. I'm confident the President knows I would never rebel though. I love the Capitol. Why would I want to destroy it?
'So do you still think we'll get a crazy volunteer this year?' I change topic.
'Why not? All district 5 hears is how wonderful winning the Hunger Games was for our beloved Evan Lawrence. Girls want to be you, guys want to date you. Who wouldn't want to try and win your life?'
'Ugh. They'd be crazy.'
'Bullet rang the other day. He's had no end of female volunteers this year. Says he still hasn't chosen his tribute. They all want to be the new you.'
'President Snow wants another me. Apparently we make her very wealthy.'
He looks at me for a split second. It reminds me of the look he gave me when Donny May announced we had slept together on the train to the Capitol. Jealousy. Ruffes hate seeing me with all those men, splashed across the cover of Panem Weekly or some other glossy magazine. He knows he can't complain though. He helped set up the franchise, in exchange for my life support in the games. He put me in debt to them.
'I need to shower' I proclaim and head upstairs. I flick on the tropical rain shower Ruffes had installed just after my games. The President wanted to honour him for his part in making me who I was and sent over a team of interior designers to do up the house. He was also given a title, 'The Honourable Ruffes Devant', although he refuses to use it, proclaiming it silly and pretentious. I step in the shower and relax in it's calming feel. I notice the fading scar on my calf. The one physical memory of the games I have left.
Meeting the new tributes will be interesting, but difficult. What if I don't get volunteers? What if they're upset or frightened? How will I be able to help them overcome fear and win? I'm not sure I know...
A/N – Pleeeease send me your tributes. We have plenty of slots left, including Evan's very own district!
