The Capitol
Two weeks after the conclusion of the Twenty-seventh Hunger Games
"In remembering our dear President, Laomedes Augustus. A man who has fought for this country to unite and nurture them under his wing, able to quell the greatest of rebellions. May he rest in peace, may he watch over us for the trying times to come."
He shuts off the television with a scowl on his face. There's nothing more condescending than the daily news outlet and stations painting you as a villain for succeeding a now deceased leader of Panem. He throws the controller across the room, shattering it into various pieces.
"What could you possibly be angry about now?" Sighs one of his assistants as he walks into the room.
Penelope Deim, with her striking orange hair and white framed glasses look the man in the eyes with fierceness, daring him to say something, even a little bit. He thinks himself out of talking back, he knows full well how much he depends on his assistants. She looks at the television screen and the controller for it across the room, lying in its broken form.
"Don't mind the media, Julius," she says as she puts the clipboard she holds down on the dressing table. "Makeup and stylist will be here in an hour, I've sent Jacob to get you some food. Everything is going according to plan."
"Thank you, Ms. Deim." He says, always the polite gentleman that he is. "It just…riles me up how they still clamour for their president, he's dead. Cardiac arrest is a bitch, it's time to move on."
"Rightly so, sir." Penelope says as she picks the clipboard up and heads for the room. "I have some more things to organise, people to see and stages to set up. Do you think I can leave you along in that time?"
"Yes, I won't lose my temper again."
She only smiles at the sentiment, she knows that it's not going to be the last time he loses his temper. Ever since campaigning to become President of Panem, Julius Nepos has been in a lot of stress. Eating and drinking has become but mere hobbies in his pursuit to become the highest ranking official of Panem.
He sighs as he sits on one of the leather seats of the dressing room, he made it. He's here and yet he doesn't feel like the most powerful person in the world, not yet anyway. He needs to distract the citizens from that old man and focus the light on him.
What that is, he doesn't quite know yet.
Penelope Deim
Assistant to President Julius Nepos
Capitol Square
They stand there, the two of them, her and Jacob Phob, watching their new president take the mantle of the previous office. They both believe in him, wholeheartedly. They've been together ever since the First Quarter Quell, where they hear whispers that the president at the time was in bad health.
Penelope is recruited first, out of ten or so applicants, she excels in talking and spinning. She graduates first of her class at the University of Panem, first honours and everything else. She has potential to be one of the greatest citizens of Panem, but she throws it all away when she meets Julius Nepos, a graduate of the same university only, talk about reform and changes to how they handle the Hunger Games.
She is enthralled with the man, admires him from afar, so much so that she applies to be his assistant. A politician graduate under another politician can not only help boost her status but her job prospects.
In essence, she strikes terror in those that cross her. A sweet outer shell and pure business within, she leaves no stone unturned. So, she's proud when her president makes it to the stage, the balcony overlooking the citizens of her home city. She stands there, proud, along with Jacob as they listen in on his speech.
"It is hard to believe that twenty-seven years ago, I didn't know if I was going to live or not, a student back in those days ripped from his family to join the efforts of quelling the rebellion. It was quashed, in part because of our mighty strength and loyal allies, but also because of our dear President.
Not only did he single handedly unite the districts together, but he also made sure they are kept in line and treated fairly. His diligence and strict nature are what drew me to strive for greatness, after the war that decimated our Panem, I went back to school, studied to become a politician in hopes that one day I can lead Panem much like what he had done.
And it's all thanks to you, my citizens of the Capitol and of Panem, that I stand here today. My aim is to uphold the legacy he leaves behind, but also add my own. Together, with your cooperation, we can make the Capitol and her district greater, stronger and better!"
She claps for him, everyone does. She knows that the man can be very convincing, he's the epitome of charisma when it comes to the public, she only helps along with anything. She goes to hug him when he comes back into the room, away from the noise; the cheers and claps of the citizens.
"Well done, sir." She says as they pull away from the hug.
"Thank you, Penelope, I wouldn't have made it without the help of you two." He says.
She nods as he is escorted by a league of Peacekeepers into his car, back to his new home. The presidential mansion located on the outskirts of the Capitol.
Jacob Phob
Assistant to President Julius Nepos
Presidential Manor
The party is in full swing, a band plays melancholic music, loud enough to as to not disturb all the guests as they dance, talk and engorge themselves on all the food. Jacob Phob, however, is standing by the side-lines, beside the punchbowl leaning against a cream coloured pillar.
"You're not going to join in?" Penelope appears beside him, she's dressed in a crystal coloured dress, jewels hang on the hems of her dress, enough for him to dub her 'ice queen'.
"Not a party person," he replies, he's wearing a similar coloured outfit, something about the president's stylist stating that they should match as they are both the assistants or something like that. "Besides, I have to be vigilante of a certain person."
"And who might that person be?" She raises her eyebrows with that question and he just puts a single finger to his lips.
"My secret mission from the boss-man himself." He says as he smooths his platinum blond hair.
He disappears into the dancing crowd, enough to make sure that Penelope cannot see him anymore. When he emerges on the other side of the ballroom he meets, eye to eye, deep green ones with soft brown ones.
"Mr. Price?" He approaches him with enthusiasm. "I was wondering if I may have a word?"
"Me? Well, yeah, and you are?"
"Jacob, Jacob Phob." He says as he shakes the man's hand. "I'm one of President Nepos' assistants."
"Of course! How can I forget you?" He says as he pulls away his hand. "Would you like to go somewhere quieter?"
"Yes, I know just the place." Jacob says, and he leads the way, away from the crowds.
They end up somewhere in the garden, the night air is chilling, yet it doesn't warrant any extra coverings on. The sky is clear, no clouds in sight as the deep black and navy blue display an array of stars. The men sit on one of the benches in the garden, the smell of flowers invade their nostrils as they do so.
"Now, what is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"Simple." The tone in his voice shift slightly, enough to make the older man raise an eyebrow. "You are to give up your position as Gamemaker."
"Are you threatening me?" He stammers as he looks around.
"Not a threat, but a strongly worded advice." He says as he watches the stars in the sky. "Would be a shame if you turn up dead somewhere for not following our instruction?"
"Our? Did President Nepos put you up to this?"
"Him? Oh, no." He says with a faux shock. "He would never do such a thing, I am doing this for him. You are part of the old regime, the one with that old fart, therefore you, Mr. Price, need to go."
And with that he leaves the man alone by himself, feeling confused and scared. He doesn't turn back as he makes his way back to the party, to enjoy himself a little maybe. As a recent graduate of the University of Panem as well, Jacob Phobs was and continues to be second in everything, but he doesn't care about that.
Where Penelope brings terror to those that cross her, Jacob brings the fear that can shake everyone to their core. Devoted only to the president, Jacob will act as his left hand if he wanted him to.
Hey, Alec here back with a brand new SYOT, a sort of tie-in to my Victor Compendium: 'The Lazy Lamentations of Cade Valentine'.
A bit of backstory there, I have always intended for TLLCV to have victors made by authors, I didn't how quite to do it instead of having people just submit. I wanted them to give them history, personality, all those things that make a character. So there are certain points in the timeline where I have reserved them as SYOTs, and this is the first one.
As any other SYOT, I don't know who the victor is going to be, it is literally up to whomever makes the winning character I suppose. In my excel spreadsheet, I have the victors of the 27th and the 29th Hunger Games already but not the 28th. Who the victor is, well that's what this story's purpose is I suppose. I'll list down the rules here. A copy of the tribute form will be here and on my profile.
Rules:
- Submit as many characters as you want. Preferably between 1-3, let's not saturate the character count to few authors. If you submit more than 3 then I'll probably just pick 1 or 2.
- Please mail all submissions through PM. Guest reviews and whatnot take the magic away, let's keep the secrecy and the waiting alive! With that said, feel free to reserve a spot, if you're dead set on only submitting one tribute and have a district in mind, let me know and I'll do something about it!
- No resubmissions! Or atleast if it is a resubmission, then make sure the fic you submitted to is long gone and have no prospect of staying alive, or change it enough that I don't even recognise the character.
- Details, details, those damn details. I only really ask for you ro be slight detailed, it helps me out a lot and gives me an understanding of your character(s).
- Patience! I have a full time job, there are days I've not had any time at all, at least expect something from me every two weeks, if not then you can kick me and poke me for a chapter.
- This isn't a first come, first serve thing. I want to see a variety first before I choose, make it a real Sophie's choice for me here!
- Follow along with the side piece, 'The Weary Whims of Vincent Cait'. This is a companion piece to all my future SYOTs and Victor's Compendium, it helps you decide how you name your tributes and also provide information on what it's like for tributes to live in my universe.
- If you want more information, or if your answers haven't been answered by the above rules, or it leaves you with questions, don't hesitate to PM me! I have other tidbits and stuff if you want to go with something I'm planning! My universe is composed of what happened during my last SYOT and it's been a tough and amazing ride.
Form:
Name: (Fitted with the district profiles if possible, add backstory if not)
Age: (12-18)
Gender:
District: (Provide backups if possible, preferred at the front and as per preference)
Appearance: (Detailed if possible)
Personality: (Detailed if possible)
History and Background: (Split this up if you want)
Family/Friends:(Everyone has either a family or friend)
Strengths: (1 word adjectives to describe them, make it balanced with weaknesses)
Weaknesses: (Ditto^)
Reaped/Volunteered:
Reaction/Reason:
Allies: (Will they try to go lone wolf or take someone with them)
Preferred Weapon:(Can't guarantee that it'll appear in the arena, my weapon and arena is set already)
Pre-Games Plan: (From Train Rides to the night before, what do you want them to do?)
Bloodbath Strategy: (What will they do at such a crucial time?)
Games Plan: (What do you want them to do? What strategy will they have?)
Other:
-Things like Reaping outfits, chariot outfits, etc. please put here
-Please provide a face-claim for the tribute, I will say if that face claim is already in use. There is a Victor's blog that is slowly being updated. It is imperative that you submit a face-claim, it's not everyone's cup of tea, I understand, but a blog really helps me keep track of everyone.
-To ensure you have read this, can you please submit a piece of music you're currently listening to or love listening to.
Well that's that, I'll add more info on my profile. But back to the story, what do you think of the current president, Julius Nepos? What about the other two guys? Will Rexton Price take the threat lightly? Bonus to whoever guesses the traits for both Penelope and Jacob.
Have a nice day/night wherever you are! I look forward to your submissions!
~Alec