I'm back from my short hiatus after my break up. I'm back with a new story and plan for my SYOT's to be stronger than ever. I hope you enjoy.
Crimson Parkway
The Capitol
3:54 am
The high rise bedroom was still in darkness, despite the flickering light of the colorful Capitol, visible through his open window. The cool breeze that flowed into the room caused the flame at the end of his cigarette to dance wildly. The flickering flame cast threatening shadows across his gaunt features. His slicked back, green hair seemed out of place next to his sunken, pale blue eyes, untouched by Capitol technology. A strange sight for a Head Gamemaker.
Just over five months was all Zircon had in regards to the opening ceremony of that year's Hungers Games. However, the deadline for the Arena's blueprints was far closer. A few weeks if President Snow was feeling Generous. It was more than likely to be the end of February which was a week away. Snow wanted the dull the rebellion in Panem so he wanted the Games to roll about as fast as possible. It was why he had invented such a twist.
His eyes drifted away from his cigarette and towards the blank sketch pad before him. A thousand Ideas had raced through his head from a bombed city to a tropical island, none seemed to fit the importance of the Games. It needed to be something simple that could distract from any interference The Capitol would have to carry out.
Simple? Nature was a given. Long-running? Large Arena. Easy to survive in? An abundance of food for people who needed it. Very few deaths to begin with? The bloodbath would not take place on flat ground, the uneven ground would also benefit those who wanted to hide.
His mind twisted and turned these thoughts around in his head, fixing each piece like a puzzle until it made up an Arena.
With a jerk, Zircon straightened his back, staring at the empty book before him. His hand shot out, his finger touching the bulb allowing the small lamp on his desk to flicker to life. The sudden surge of light impaired his vision yet with the help of memory, he was able to feel around his desk for the thick, charcoal pencil.
There was only one thing Zircon could think of that matched what Snow wanted but it wouldn't be easy to recreate. A very different environment to anything The Capitol had seen before. It would be the perfect backdrop for a love story.
Tribute Walk
The Capitol
9:48 am
Snow stood up straight as the stylist before him fiddled with his stiff collar. A stylist that had passed a thousand tests to prove he served no intention to harm the President. People who worked so closely to Snow were always vetted but now, more than ever.
The Capitol was angry, The District was ecstatic. Both seeking rebellion and to remove Snow from office. He would succeed if he was not to suffocate the flames soon. It was all Seneca Crane's fault.
The previous year, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark had threatened to eat a set of poisonous berries rather than watch the other die. Snow knew better than anyone that it was a bluff, at least, he thought it was. Seneca stood by and watched as the pair placed the berries into their mouth, expecting one of them to chicken out. He only realizes how serious it was after their cannons had sounded, leaving Panem without a victor. Riots broke out among The Capitol, angered that they had no victor and the star-crossed lovers died. In the Districts, they rebelled, seeing the act as a sign of rebellion, not just two children who accidentally poisoned themselves.
With Seneca dead due to public execution, something that allowed Snow to direct the anger, there was nothing left to do than get rid of the upset once and for all.
With a loud squeak, the golden doors opened, allowing Snow to see the mass of people that had gathered at Tribute Walk. Most cheered for him as he walked towards the microphone while some looked up at him, waiting to be impressed. Overall, the old man could feel the tension in the air, trying to keep a brave face, even though he held the golden envelope in his hand tighter.
Once he had reached his mark, Snow raised his hand, shushing the audience.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the seventy-fifth year of the Hunger Games." Snow paused as the crowd gave a dull cheer, although, even the ones that remained silent gave a cheerful clap. "And it was written in the charter of the Games that ever twenty-five years, there would be a Quarter Quell. To keep fresh, for each new generation as a reminder of those who died and the uprising against the Capitol. For the first Quarter Quell, to remind the Districts that their children were dying because of their choice, each District held an election to vote for that year's Tributes. The second Quarter Quell, as a reminder that for every two rebels that died, so did one Capitol citizen, twice as many Tributes entered the Arena. And now, we honor our third Quarter Quell."
Snow turned a small boy in a clean white suit and placed his hand in the wooden box his held. He pulled free a golden envelope and proceed to take a glossy card from inside. Without hesitation, he began. "On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder that even the Capitol can make mistakes and correct them, the reaping age has been shorted this year to sixteen to eighteen, and two victors, two star-crossed lovers will become this year's victors." It got the crowd cheering at least yet Snow felt his pride shattering a little bit inside.
Countermoves, that's all it was. The Districts may think they have the upper hand, that they had the Capitol on their knees but Snow would show them in the Arena. This year was all about love but the pain they experience would be the same as any Quarter Quell. He felt sorry for the two Tributes who came out alive.
Right. This is a passion project of mine and here is how it goes. Twenty-four Tributes will be chosen, like always. However, before the chariots, there will be an interview. Each Tribute will be interviewed individually, asked about their ideas on love, sexuality, personality and all of that. Then the Capitol will get to pair the Tributes up by vote. The District does not matter.
Once paired up, they will be sorted in the Chariot rides, Arena outfit and room in the Tribute Tower based on who they are paired up with. They are told, rather sternly, that although the pair are not connected, if they act in love, they will get further. Each one will still be mentored by their respective mentor. If they only have one (D12, I'm looking at you), one of the Tributes will have to share their partner's mentor.
In the Arena, if one member of the pair dies, The Capitol will make sure to pair them up again, once again by public vote. The victors will be forced to marry, even if they were never paired up (although the Capitol would rather this did not happen).
You will get to vote for who is paired with who. However, you can withhold your votes for a bit if you don't think they fit with anyone who is alone at that moment in time.
The form is on my profile and is first come first served (you can reserve spots for 3 days, after that it will be open again). No guest reviews. The Tribute list and link to the form will be on my profile. I hope to see your tribute soon.