Prologue Part 2: That Which Is Apparent
Capitol Waterfront: High-Rise Bar
Gamemaker Fiora Elphinstone
Damn, I hate Hunger Games rerun night. It always seems to bring out the obnoxious, drunken dregs of society, all so eager to watch teenagers tear each other apart.
And of course Capitol TV is airing HGR the one night I decide to go out for a drink.
It's pathetic, really. Every one of the dozens of glass screens set into the various walls of the High-Rise Bar is playing through the end of last year's games. Large groups of gaudy Capitol citizens, most in various drunken states, stand grouped around each of the screens, cheering on Amar as he beats his competitor's brains out with a brick. The Hunger Games are great and all, and I understand the meaning behind them…
…But there's just so much blood. My hemophobia definitely does make running the Games hard sometimes, but I've learned to look away at the worst moments. Thank God Magnus realized how intelligent I was; otherwise, I'd be right back where I was before.
"Another drink madam?"
The bartender snaps me out of my reverie, leaning expectantly over the glass bar top. The mustachioed man looks tired, his blue locks of hair hanging limp over his face. Granted, if I knew I'd be herding drunken cattle out of my bar in a few hours, I wouldn't look that great either.
"Yeah, I'll take the same thing."
The bartender nods, before turning away to attend to my drink. I give another sigh, turning and glancing at one of the holo-screens hanging from the back corner of the bar. The 147th had been brutal; one of the tributes had gone cannibalistic and had eaten six of his competitors alive, the bulk of the killing had been done with blunt objects… it really was a great shame, especially considering the high quality of the map Magnus and I had created. Almost felt like a waste when you consider the Games ended in four days. Fortunately, President Cordelia had been very pleased by the arena, leaving our families safe for another year. Not that I had a family to go home to, but at least I was safe from Thorn and his Peacekeepers for a little while longer.
The bartender places another glass of sparkling purple liquid in front of me, before walking down the counter to serve another customer. I take a sip of the wine, drumming my fingers on the glass bar top. It had been a long day at the Gamemaker Facilities today. Magnus and I were behind on the arena plans, and apparently President Cordelia would be coming to assess our progress within the next few days. My Gamemaker companion seemed relatively confident that the creativity of this year's arena would distract Cordelia from our lack of progress, but I wasn't so certain. And if Cordelia did decide that our work was unsatisfactory…
Well, it was safe to say a new Head Gamemaker would be brought on next year and I would be returned to the hellhole I've worked so hard to climb out of. I don't know how I'd live if my one meaning in life, to climb the Capitol socioeconomic ladder, was shattered.
Really hoping that Magnus is right about Cordelia.
As if on queue, I hear the sliding glass doors the mark the entrance to the bar slide open. The bartender, currently busy wiping out a spiral shaped glass at one of several sinks set into the wall behind the bar, immediately stops what he's doing.
"Ah, Mr. Erwin," he smiles, silver plated teeth glinting in the bar's flashing neon lights. "I'm honored to see you here at my bar. Please, take a seat, take a seat."
"Thank you," Magnus's smooth, lilting voice responds as he takes a seat in the bar chair beside me. "I'll just take Snow's Moon, small."
"Right away sir," the bartender smiles once more, grabbing a glass. "At your service, my dear Head Gamemaker."
The Head Gamemaker gives the bartender a warm smile, before turning towards me. "You will not believe who paid me a visit a few hours ago," he says, voice quickening with excitement.
Oh lovely. Guessing games. My favorite.
"I don't know," I reply, taking a sip from my drink, ignoring another round of drunken cheering from the television screens. "Please feel free to enlighten me on your midnight visitor."
Magnus gives another massive smile. God, he's in a good mood today. "None other than Panem's dear president. And guess what? She seems to really like what we've done with the arena!"
It takes a minute for that to process. Magnus had been right; Cordelia had actually appreciated the creativity behind this year's arena. I'm safe until the 149th.
"I… wow…" I manage to get out. "I'd hoped for the best… but actually knowing that she likes it…"
"Didn't I tell you?" Magnus replies, grabbing his drink from the bartender's hands. "We had absolutely nothing to worry about. President Cordelia would see our genius; I knew it all along!"
But despite the bravado and confidence, I can tell that Magnus is just as relieved as I am. We've worked together too long for him to fool me with this act.
"I say this calls for a celebration," Magnus laughs, raising his filled glass above his head. "A toast to both of our successful futures, and too another spectacular year as Gamemakers."
"Can't forget a toast to endless reruns of last year's Games," I smirk, raising my own glass up to meet his. "To another successful year."
Author's Note: Yes, I know that this chapter was very short/ felt like filler. Apologies about that, but I want to wait for the bulk of the tribute apps to come in before jumping into the story. But before anything, I just want to thank everyone for their tremendous support on the first half the the prologue. That tiny chapter amassed 10 followers, 6 favorites, and 7 reviews, and I am grateful for every single one of you. Thank you!
Tribute submissions are still open! Spots are running out though (at the time of posting, I believe there are 8 spots left), so if you're interested in submitting a tribute, go check out my profile. You will find the application and other important information regarding this application process within.
But so far, I've gotten a bunch of great tributes, and I can't wait to share these characters with the rest of my reader base. I'm hoping that the first Reaping chapter will be out one week from now... and that's when things'll get good. Once again, thank you so much to every single one of you for your amazing support, and I hope you're as excited as I am for what's to come...
