PROLOGUE
"Television is a rat race, and remember this - even if you win you, are still a rat." - Jackie Gleason
Three, two, one.
Action.
Out on the stage, the entrance theme plays and the audience cheers. Standing in the wings, waiting for her signal to go on, Kit is starting to get a fucking headache.
She hears the host talking into the microphone, but it's muffled from where she's standing. He's riling up the crowd, hyping himself up - he's new to the job, his head is still stuck far enough up his own ass that he thinks any of this is about him. Master of Ceremonies is a tough position to come into, and the newly retired Caesar Flickerman's shoes are a hard pair to fill, but despite his ego, Ambrose is doing a half decent job. Or at least, that's what Kit might think if she didn't hate the guy's guts on principle.
Her stylist, Isadora, places a hand on her shoulder. She flinches out of the touch and shoots the older woman a glare, which she backs away from.
"I'm just-"
"My makeup is fine," Kit snaps. "How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me?"
"Kit," Darian says. "Chill out."
Kit sighs, slumping her shoulders and muttering an apology in Isadora's direction as she slinks away, indignant. Darian gives her a brief look of warning before his expression softens, and he doesn't need to say anything else, but Kit knows what he's thinking. He gets it. That's all she needs.
"You gonna be okay out there?" He asks.
"Do I have a choice?"
He doesn't get a chance to reply. Ambrose is still talking, raising his voice as the stagehands approach and motion for Kit to come closer to the stage. "-our most recent victor, from District Eight, Kit Damask!"
The crowd erupts in cheers once again, and Kit forces a smile as she walks out onto the stage. She struggles not to squint against the bright lights which only exacerbate the growing pain in her head, a sting behind her eyes that's slowly spreading all the way around. Ambrose extends a hand to her and she puts hers out to meet him, which he grasps tightly and lowers his head to kiss. His lipstick leaves a golden imprint on the back of her hand.
"It's lovely to finally meet you, my dear," Ambrose begins, taking his seat. A lie. They met earlier that day when they went over the contents of the interview, each making sure that they were saying the right things.
Kit, of course, lies right back. "And you as well, Mister Valour."
"Oh, Mister Valour!" He chuckles. "No need to be so formal, Kitten, you make me feel old."
Kit's eye twitches at the use of the nickname. They hadn't discussed that. If they had, she would have shot it down immediately. "As you wish, Ambrose."
"So, tell me. How have things back at home? Your family is doing well, your brother?" Small talk, like they're old friends catching up. That's what this is to them, the Capitol. Catching up with their old friend Kit. She just keeps smiling. She knows what she has to say, and she knows what she wants to say.
"They're good." It's not the same. I'm not the same. We don't know how to talk to each other anymore. They're afraid of me. "Victor's Village is a lovely place, it's everything we've ever wanted. I'm glad that I can finally provide for my mother after all the years she spent providing for me."
"So sweet," Ambrose coos. "So sweet. And what have you been up to since your return home, still working on your designs?"
No. I haven't touched my sketchbook in months. "Naturally. I've been working with my stylist, Isadora, trying to perfect them. Who knows? They might be making it to the Capitol someday soon.
"I'll be keeping my eyes open," he promises.
Kit wracks her brain, tries to remember what the next line is. There's a pause, she hopes it isn't awkward. "Maybe I'll make something special, just for you."
Ambrose widens his eyes, which already look unnaturally wide. He's got contacts in that gradually change the color, and she watches as it shifts from purple to pink. "Just for me? I'm honored!"
"Yes, just for you. Something worthy of your colorful personality," Kit says with a laugh, and the audience follows suit. It bothers her, for some reason, more than anything else has. It wasn't even fucking funny. Her eye twitches again.
The audience settles as Ambrose begins speaking again. "Well, it's getting to be that time of year again, ladies and gentlemen. The 79th Hunger Games right around the corner. I know I'm excited, and I know all of you are excited...Kit? Are you looking forward to the show this year?"
They didn't discuss this either. Kit nearly loses her smile, blinking in confusion at Ambrose's bright grin as he awaits her answers. Is she looking forward to the show? Is she looking forward to watching twenty-three more children die? What is she supposed to say?
How much more of a monster do these people want to make her out to be?
There's another silence.
"Of course," she manages to choke out, putting all of her effort into matching her host's energy.
The audience erupts into applause again, Ambrose clapping along with them. Kit's head pounds, and her vision starts getting a little fuzzy. She needs this interview to end now.
After what feels like an eternity, Ambrose begins to speak over the slowly settling crowd. "We're going to take a short break, but don't go anywhere! When we return, we have an exclusive interview with our Head Gamemaker, the genius behind last year's masterpiece, Belladonna Korei!"
The tune plays them out as the stage lights dim and the house lights come on, and Kit practically jumps out of her seat, swaying as she makes her way backstage. Darian is there waiting for her when she arrives, concern already written all over his face.
"Come here," he says, reaching cautiously for her. "Sit down, there's only a little bit more to go, and then we can get you home."
"I don't want to do this anymore," she says, something in her tone verging on hysteria. "I can't-"
A voice behind the two interrupt the conversation, cutting Kit's impending breakdown short.
"Miss Damask," it says. "I don't believe we've met yet."
They turn and find themselves face to face with the Head Gamemaker herself. She matches Darian in height which means she towers over Kit, who gets a chill down her spine as she examines the woman. There's something imposing about the woman that she can't quite describe, from the sharpness of her features to the coldness of her stare. Her sleek white gown is sleeveless, showing off the tattoos covering her arms, and just looking at them makes Kit's head hurt even more. They're like some kind of optical illusion, strange rune-like patterns that she just can't make out.
Belladonna Korei gives her a slight smile. It's just as cold as her eyes. "I never did get a chance to congratulate you, did I? For what a wonderful job you did in my arena last year."
"Thank you, Miss Korei," Kit says. Her voice feels too weak, too shaky.
"You'll be a mentor this year, won't you? Both of you?" She adds, looking at Darian. Kit can only nod. Her smile widens. "How lovely. Wish your tributes the best of luck for me. This year's arena is really going to be something special."
With that, she makes her exit, pushing between the two of them to walk in the direction of the stage. Darian and Kit both watch her leave, saying nothing.
"Fuck," Kit mutters. "I can't keep doing this, Darian."
"You can," he responds. "You have to."
She looks at him, ready to argue, but the words die in her throat as she she's the hollowed look to her mentor's face. He's still looking at the space where Belladonna was with a faraway look in his eyes.
"You get used to it," he whispers.
It's SYOT time! Yep, after weeks of browsing and submitting to a whole bunch of these, I'm gonna try my hand at writing my own. And I'm really hoping it goes well!
Optional Reading About The World Of This Story: This world is the same as in canon, with a few big differences based on some minor changes. In this story, Katniss was the sole Victor of the 74th Games, with Peeta sacrificing himself to knock Cato off the Cornucopia. They both fell to their deaths, and Katniss lived. The rebellion never really took off, though there is definitely still unrest, and a lot of people do see Katniss as sort of a figure for things based on what she did for Rue/some controversial statements she made during her tour. Since then, however, she's largely fallen out of the spotlight, and is only ever heard from when mentoring during Games.
Shortly after the 74th Games, President Snow passed away, succumbing to his illness. He was replaced by the current president, Cassiel Notus, a young, charming, and generally well-liked man. Seneca Crane served as Head Gamemaker until the 78th Games, when he was replaced by up-and-comer Belladonna Korei. The 78th Games were extremely well-received due to effects of the arena and the surprising displays of brutality by the tributes.
Within the past few weeks, Caesar Flickerman retired and was replaced by Ambrose Valour. This happened for no reason other than my reluctance to try writing canon characters, and I'm not going to attempt to hide that from you.
And with that...the form! (But first some rules.)
No relatives of canon characters, or really mentions of canon characters at all if possible. Certain characters will appear, it's unavoidable (Katniss and Haymitch, mostly), but I want to try and keep everything as original as possible.
You can submit three characters, and the third must be offered up as a sacrifice to the bloodbath.
Submissions through PM only, please. I'm a fool and this said review before and for that, I am Big Sorry.
Keep characters realistic and all that, no Mary Sues or whatever.
NOW the form! Optional sections are marked with a *, anything optional not answered will just be filled in my me when/if the time comes!
Name:
Age:
District:
Backup District:
Gender:
Appearance:
Personality: (As detailed as you can be! This is the most important thing for me to have, include anything you can think of.)
Backstory:
Family/Friends:
*Thoughts on Games:
*Thoughts on Rebellion:
*Reaping Outfit:
Reaped or Volunteered?:
Reaction to Reaping/Reason for Volunteering:
*Token:
Strengths: (As many as you want, as long as they're balanced by weaknesses.)
Weaknesses: (As many as you want, as long as they're balanced by strengths.)
*Chariot Outfit Idea: (Can't guarantee I'll use it, but ideas would be nice!)
*Interview Outfit:
Interview Strategy:
Training Strategy:
What They Show Gamemakers:
Weapon of Choice:
Allies?:
Cornucopia Strategy:
Arena Strategy:
*Preferred Death/Placement:
*Anything Else?:
Form will be on my profile as well! I hope you decide to send some characters in, folks!