This is my first fanfiction on this account. If people like it, i'll update as regularly. If not, we'll see what happens. I wasn't going to write this initially but this story has been in my mind for sometime now. It will stick as close to cannon as possible and we'll defiantly see some familiar faces along with quite a few new ones. It's also multiple POV so if you don't like that don't read With that being said, sit back, relax, and enjoy the story.
CORIOLANUS SNOW I: Drinks at Twilight
THE CAPITOL
The sun is beginning to set over the city skyline and into the mountains. Taking a sip of my wine, I watch as the lights of the Capitol glow in the twilight and the city comes to life. The drink burns against the sour's of my mouth, a pain all to familiar to me. It has grown easier to ignore over the years. At times, I even find my tongue lazily dragging over them without even realizing.
The Reaping will occur soon. By this time tomorrow, twenty-four fresh faces will greet mine at the opening ceremony and, in a few short weeks, one of them will emerge the Victor. We've been lucky these past couple of years. The last few Victors have been deemed Gods on earth by Capitol Citizens. Each one a beautiful in their own right, bringing more revenue than I could have dreamed. Well, most of them.
It's not like when I was a boy. When the games were more of a free for all than a show and the Victors were never heard from again. The Gamemakers in these years have learned how to give the people what they want. A story. A story filled with romance, friendship, backstabbing, betrayal, and, finally, victory.
"President Snow," I hear my secretary say behind me, "Bellona Euvandrus is here to see you."
"Send her in," I tell him. Bellona Euvandrus has been the Head Gamemaker for the past several years with her arenas spawning the best line up of Victors the Capitol's ever seen. However, after the events of last year, it doesn't appear as though we are on the same page as I thought.
"You requested to see me, sir?" She questions, making her presence known. Wordlessly, I gesture to the empty seat next to me.
"I don't want a repeat of last year." I announce once she's sat down. I look over to see her face turn to stone.
"No one predicted that Finnick Odair would do away with his competition so swiftly especially given his age." She states in defense of herself. I slam my glass down so hard that majority of the wine spills out onto the side and onto the table. I watch her body jerk in surprise.
"I don't recall asking for your predictions, Euvandrus. Millions of dollars wasted on an arena that majority of went unexplored. Not to mention the money we wasted on unused muttations. And for what? A Victor I can't even sell for another year. The fact that your head isn't hanging on my mantle is a blessing in and of itself!" I find my voice raising towards the end.
To her credit, Euvandrus doesn't appear to be as raddled as another would be at my outburst. I feel blood beginning to form in my mouth and swallow it as I regain my composure.
"What are the steps you've made to ensure we don't see the same thing this year?" I ask as an avox wipes down the table and refills my glass.
"We've decided to redo one of the older arenas that hasn't received any visitations from the general public in years." She informs as the avox hands her a drink. "It'll save costs and, after the games, bring us more money than it was just sitting there taking up space."
I nod at this, "Which one?"
"The frozen tundra from the 49th games." I raise an eyebrow at this. What a travesty that arena had been. It raked up the largest number of tribute deaths at the bloodbath than ever before in the history of the games. Those that did survive either froze to death or were killed by a pack of wild wolf mutts. The games didn't sit well with Capitol viewers but, lucky enough, they preceded a Quarter Quell and were quickly forgotten.
"Improvements have been made." She rushes out once seeing the look on my face, "A woodland modification has been installed along with alterations to the weather machine allowing for it to be warm enough during the day for the travel of the tributes."
I nod at her words, "I want a usable victor."
"That can be arranged." She assures me, knowing the underlying message of my words. Despite the popularity of our newest Victor, Finnick Odair, he is still unusable for 'escorting' for another year. We've managed to make some money off of him from interviews, appearances, and photoshoots but that's nothing compared to what we could be making if he were just another year older.
"I want to give the people a show this year, Euvandrus." I say, "A true show."
"Trust me, sir," She starts with a smile, "The people are in for quite a performance."
And there you have it. I'll be posting the next to chapters very shortly so stay tooned.