WAKE UP TO A NIGHTMARE: THE 302ND HUNGER GAMES
disclaimer: nothing owned. Enjoy the story!
A strangled scream erupted from the speakers, prompting a round of cheers from around the table. Glasses clinked; lips parted in laughter as the circle of Capitolites observed the bloody fight played from different angles on the screens. The weaker tribute crumpled and fell, writhing as his wild-eyed opponent ripped the spear out of his abdomen, blood and innards spilling onto the ground. Another round of cheers as the final cannon boomed.
"Marvelous work, Gamemaker Horace! I didn't expect you to make such a great show of the 301st! To think it's even better than a Quell, how unbelievable! Were you holding back on us for the 300th?"
"Small wonder he's the Head Gamemaker, eh? To best the drama of a Quell immediately after it ends...so, what do you have for us this year?"
Head Gamemaker Horace Talonne offered a thin-lipped smile in reply, draining the last of his champagne. "Now, now, my friends! These lips are sealed- besides, the Games are almost upon us, you don't have much longer to wait."
"Exactly! There's not much longer to go, surely it wouldn't hurt to drop a hint or two."
"Eager, aren't you? Don't worry, you have every right to be. I have plans to make this year's Games even better than the last, and my team have been working hard to bring those plans to fruition." As the fanfare for the Victor's Interview ended and the credits began to roll onscreen, Horace put his empty glass down rose from the table, waving away the Avox that stepped up to refill his drink. "And I'm afraid my duties must take me away now! See you soon, mmhmm?"
"Goodbye, Gamemaker H-" The other Capitolites chorused their goodbyes, but he wasn't listening. Not anymore, not now that he didn't have any reason to care- the urge to slam the door as he went was there, but he brushed it off roughly. He had a reputation to maintain, had a whole city of idiots to answer to, had to work to the whims of the Capitol like any tribute because it wouldn't do to upset his viewership. Between poring over atrocious mutt suggestions by the ignorant populace and thinking of excuses to refuse the ever-worsening Arena ideas that the Capitol officials tried to suggest, there wasn't much time for Horace to be appreciating the idiots that inhabited this gleaming city with him.
He turned a corner and climbed a flight of stairs, entering passcodes and swiping thumbprints as he passed various security clearances, his mind already miles away from the quaint little lunch party. The airheads back at the restaurant were probably still buzzing over the footage of last year's Games like flies over carrion, but his mind was filled with plans and blueprints, traps and themes for the Games ahead. The 300th may have been great, the 301st may have been spectacular, but the 302nd would surpass all expectations- he could see it in his head, the majestic Arena rising above the tributes as they ascended on their platforms, all the nooks and crannies of it that provided everything a good murder needed.
"Burke, get word from the camera crews covering the Reapings. Cygnus, put your progress for the water systems up and we'll look it through." Horace didn't even register the words leaving his mouth as he entered the Control Room, adrenaline seeping into his blood simply by being here. They were his team, working like an well-oiled machine, a hunting mutt bent on its single goal- a successful Hunger Games.
"I have some new plans I need you to work on immediately. We don't have time."
Gazing down on a hologram of the Arena, the Gamemakers nodded mutely and spread out to their various stations; pulling out windows from touchscreens, entering in commands. On its white pedestal at the center of the room the Arena's hologram flourished, colors blooming across its surface as construction continued, glowing dots on the map showing traps and cameras and mutts. Horace regarded the hologram fondly as the team bustled around him, indulging himself for a moment to reach out and pierce the formless display with his fingers.
His beautiful creation.
Gamemaker Cygnus shook his head as he readied the projector, watching his Head Gamemaker marvel at the Arena. A technological marvel, yes, but one about to be used as an execution site. It was almost a little sad, if he had the time or energy to think more about it. Putting the thoughts away for the moment, Gamemaker Cygnus simply shook his head and displayed his work as instructed, with a little mutter under his breath-
"Madmen and their dreams..."
SYOT- THE 302ND GAMES
A/N: Below is the from for this SYOT. The optional sections will help me in writing the Games, but it's okay to leave them blank if you have no idea. Do send your applications in by PM, I'll be a little adverse towards accepting review apps or anonymous apps.
Name:
Age: (Careers must be at least 16!)
Gender:
District:
Appearance: (Match your District! Someone from the double-digit districts isn't likely to be muscular.)
Personality: (The more detailed, the better! I'd like a lot more than just a few adjectives, please! How do they talk, how do they act, how do they treat their friends and enemies? How do they perform under pressure? What's their life philosophy? Etc. etc. Help me help your characters!)
Background: (What friends and family do they have? How was their childhood? Were they a Career, and how did they take their training? How did they view the Games before their Reaping? It's up to you what important events of their life you'd like to put.)
OPTIONAL SECTIONS:
Reaction to Reaping: (As short or as long as you'd like. Were they Reaped or did they volunteer?)
Tribute Token:
Chariot Costume: (If you have suggestions it would be much appreciated! I'll have to take your tribute's district partner into account though, so I may not use all ideas.)
Training Strategy: (What training stations will they focus on during training? What might they show off during their private session with the Gamemakers? Will they try to be friendly with other tributes during training or will they show off? What would be their preferred weapon?)
Interview Strategy: (What angle will they try to take during interviews, and what might they talk about?)
Arena Plans: (Every tribute thinks about how they're going to tackle the Games ahead of them. What plans would you tribute have? Would they want to run straight for the hills or make a grab for the supplies at the Cornucopia? Are they studying their opponents during training and planning how to take out the competition, or are they too scared to think of anything beyond running and hiding and trying to survive? What would be their priorities?)
Alliances: (Would they look for or be open to alliances? Are they a loyal ally or would they be plotting a betrayal?)
Death: (Do you have any ideas for how your tribute would die?)
Thank you all for reading til here and have a Happy Hunger Games~!