President Octavia Basilicus, Capitol
There's a little thing nobody tells you when you become Panem's president. No, it's not how you probably should take the time to visit the Districts to remind them of your's and the Capitol's eternal benevolence, nor is it how so many people want to speak to you all the time (the introvert inside of me cries nightly). In fact, it's much more fun; it makes the job a little more interesting.
They say that all Quarter Quell twists were created at the end of The Dark Days, guidelines as to how the Games would progress on the monuments occasions and, partially, it's true. Every Quarter Quell there's a choice between three quell ideas, some being multiples of past ideas. Your job as president is to pick the most fitting one in light of recent events. Some are deliberate, like President Snow with the 75th Hunger Games and others are simply because the president feels like it, the reasoning behind the 50th Hunger Games. Last Quell I chose the twist of the children of victors to enter the Games as an ode to the Quell before it, to symbolise it, if you will. That means that this year I can pick one simply because I feel like it.
The three porcelain white cards that have the quells written on in a neat calligraphy are always presented at the desk of the president a few hours before the nationwide announcement of the quell. Some say it's to replicate the snap decisions that the Tributes have to make when they're in the arena and how you need to be sure with your choice, forcing you to choose between your gut feeling or what you logically think. Others, myself include, believe it's just a way to hype the event up even more; if the president is still giddy from reading it hours prior, the Capitolites will feed off the excitement which, in turn, heightens the Districts' dismay.
And, at exactly two hours before I take to the podium before the crowd of Capitolites where the chariots will be held in just a week or so time, I get given the three letters.
'On the 125th anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that they willingly sent their men to war, leaving the women at home with their families and to remind them of the Capitolite men that were killed, the tributes this year will all be male.' A rather... basic quell. Below it sits another card, altered to fit the same twist but for females, the reminder being strictly that many Capitolite women were killed. As interesting and perhaps dramatic seeing one single gender fight it out amongst each other, the quell doesn't excite me and that is a critical criteria.
The second letter is perhaps more dramatic; 'On the 125th anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that during the war that they raged families were torn apart and led to their deaths through loyalty, each tribute must select one of their siblings to accompany them into the arena. The sibling can be of any age.' A definite front runner of the two options so far. I, personally, like this one because it ensures double the tributes whilst causing double the devastation for the Districts.
But then, my eyes land on the final one. It isn't as dramatic as the second quell idea, but it isn't as boring as the first. It is a perfect way to destroy the hope that the Districts create around the reaping. It's an ode to the 75th Hunger Games, the quells similar in the aspect of losing hope after reaching a certain point in life. I take it from the tray and wave the avox off. I've made my decision and, as it should be, I'm excited about what is to come. Perhaps I'll write a note for my successor to choose the second quell for the 150th Hunger Games.
Nobody's PoV, Capitol
The crowd beyond where the president stands waving formed hours before, the anticipation being too much for some people. If one was to think that a regular Hunger Games got a load of excitement, they clearly haven't ever seen a Quarter Quell Games.
The scene that the camera pans on is reminiscent of a festival; bright colours are seen in the Capitolite's clothes, the flags they wave, the banners behind them. Everything marks a celebration; one that reminds the Districts how, to the Capitol, their lives are entertainment. A rebellion tried to put a stop to that fifty years ago. Tried, and failed. They had hoped to end the Games once and for all. The response? A one-off Hunger Games was held; double the tributes for two attempts at rebelling. Any attempts died down after that.
The cameras pan on her looking around, waving not only at the Capitolites but too all those in the Districts watching on their televisions. It's her second Quarter Quell and, naturally, she has more gusto than she did before, though everyone's excitement grows with each Quell that passes.
She taps on the microphone a few times and clears her throat, introducing us to the ceremony before presenting the white envelope to the crowd, parading it.
As expected, the audience creates a deafening cheer of applause, silenced only with the sound of us opening up the envelope.
"On the 125th anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that they destroyed their own hope and the hope of those in the Capitol, the tributes will be reaped from a pool beyond the traditional reaping ages. Instead of twelve to eighteen, the reaping pool will be nineteen to twenty-five."
For Capitolites who adore the brutality of the Games, having older people enter who might have started their own families or achieved the job of their dreams enter the arena could entail the most brutal Games ever. The crowd cheers deafeningly again and, with President Basilicus' waves, the Fifth Quarter Quell has begun.
! Sighs yes it's me with another SYOT.
Hear me out! I had multiple chapters written for both the 100th and 55th Hunger Games' and all of them got deleted. It wasn't because they expired because the other week I made sure to create new documents to ensure that but... they've gone... so my motivation for both SYOTs has dropped significantly. I like having multiple ones on the go because, should I lose motivation with one, I can go to another to write and that's what I enjoy.
For all those entered in the 100th and 55th Games', I will be continuing them, I just need my motivation to come back so until then, here's the 125th Hunger Games! The form to submit is as follows;
Name:
Age:
District:
Gender:
Appearance:
Personality:
Backstory:
Family:
Strengths (no more than three):
Weaknesses (at least three):
Weapon:
What were they doing on reaping day?
Reaped/Volunteered:
Reaction/Reason:
Token (if any):
Chariot Outfit:
Interview Outfit + Angle:
Wanted Alliances:
Game Strategy:
Ideal Placing:
As always, the way I accept tributes is half first come first served and half not. If someone is first to submit a tribute and I want to accept them, I will do so. Likewise, if someone submits a tribute and I want to hold off on accepting them, I reserve the right to.
There will be no reservations.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY! TO HAVE YOUR TRIBUTE ACCEPTED YOU MUST TITLE YOUR PM '125TH HUNGER GAMES - DISTRICT POSITION.' THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME TO FIND THE PM WHEN I'M WRITING. (so to clarify, if you were submitting the D1M you'd title your pm as '125th Hunger Games - District One Male'
Hope to see you all soon!
~Oli