Greetings, readers! If you are coming from my last Syot, welcome back. If you have no idea what I'm taking about, welcome to the cult. Please stay.
I'm really excited to get it rolling. I'm almost done TBITW, but I'd like to start getting characters in order and planning out this one, so I probably won't update this one until I'm finished TBITW. So you know the drill. Rules and submission at the bottom as well as on my profile. Please enjoy the prologue
The Beginning of the End
Daria Lakke, President of Panem
"Madam President?" I look up from my current task, some boring report sent in by the Head Peacekeeper in 6. Boring stuff really, just about a minor rebellion in the factory sector. It was assured to me within the report that the rebel leaders were promptly executed. I barely paid attention to the names. A Garfield Nixx, Naia Clearwater, and a few other names.
It was Lionus, my head gamemaker. And husband, at least for the past six months. His hands fidget with the collar of his fine purple dress shirt. The colour matches his hair and eyes almost perfectly.
To relax him, I try giving him a warm smile. "I told you, when no one's around you can call me Dari," he looked down, flustered and nervous. As usual. Damn, he was cute when he was nervous. Cute, but annoying. I just need him to state his business and get out. The games are just a week away. Then again, this might be more important than those files. They were a bore. At least with Lionus I have an attractive face to look at.
"I know," he said, "I just want to keep it professional." I roll my eyes, pulling out a chair beside me. He takes the one on the opposite side of the desk. The papers are between us. He peeks over, but I doubt he can read it upside down. I flip it for him, and he jerks back as if I just shot him. Of course, my gun is in the top drawer to my right. It's loaded and everything, I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
"I'm here on… urgent business. About the arena." I narrowed my eyes, "that's your responsibility. As head gamemaker. That's literally your title." He ducks his head. I feel only the slightest bit of guilt for the harshness of my tone. The thing with Lionus is that he's a puppy. Cute, a fun time, and endlessly loyal. That's great and all, but it would be even better if he had any sort of back bone. I love him, but that doesn't blind me to what he is. A pushover.
"Yeah, and I think I've done a good job. I just wanted to know your thoughts on the new twist we just sent in for approval." My muscles relax, and I stop giving him the death glare. All things considered, I lighten up pretty considerably.
"Oh. Well then, if that's all." I haven't actually looked at the new report. Even if he did send it to me last week. I pull it up between us. The hologram is seen by both of us, and he watches as I pull up the report. As soon as I click the link it takes me to the blue prints. Intricate, almost artistic. One of the reasons he was the new head gamemaker. Nepotism played only a small role in the hire. Most of the arena is the same as earlier, a new patch of trees here, a new river there. I was focused on the centre. The looming pyramid stood tall in the centre. It was triple the size of anything else on the screen, hulking and brooding.
"Really?" I asked, "a bit tacky, isn't it?" I met his eyes again, the modification was well done. You wouldn't know he had them dyed if you didn't know him. They used to be blue; a slightly darker shade than my own, but still wide and innocent. Now he looks even more like a puppy. A sheep, in wolf's clothing. It seems kind of unair, throwing him into this cruel political game, but it sure is fun to play. He'll see it the same way in a few years.
"I guess, but I think it works. Especially with the current twist, here," he steps over to my side of the desk. He's a lanky man, everything about him is long. His hair—tied neatly back and to his shoulders, his fingers, arms, legs. He has the air of awkwardness every time he moves, like if he moves too quick he'll snap his legs like twigs. That doesn't stop him from leaning in over my work. I take the file and drop it on the floor. He doesn't even notice.
That's another thing, he doesn't pay attention to anything else when he's working. If you looked close enough at his eyes you could see the gears of his brain churning out new ideas. His index finger scrolls down, past the model and to the detailed description of the arena's specs, all of which I've memorized. Quarter Quells are a big deal after all. They only come around once or twice in a career. And this year will be one to remember. I don't say anything for a moment, and his panic is pungent in the air. He's cute when he flustered.
Finally, I stand, meeting him at the side of my desk. Staring deep into his eyes, I place my hands on his shoulders,
"I love it, Lionus," I love you. He nods, hair bouncing as he refuses to meet my gaze. Laughing, I press a short kiss to his lips.
"Well I love that," both of us are still awkward around that word. Love. Especially after the word 'I' and when it's followed by the word 'you'. We've only been married for a little while now, and we were only dating for a year before that. But that doesn't make it any less true.
"I'm glad," then I do it again. I press him over the desk, making the hologram disappear. Unprofessional my ass. I'm the president. I can do whatever the hell I want. And right now, I wanted to kiss my husband.
I heard a knocking at the door, but ignored it for a moment. I'm not done yet. But when the voice yelled, "President Lakke?" I pull back, nodding to Lionus. He promptly sits in a chair, before I pull open the door. It's just another mindless Capitol worker.
"Yes, sir. What do you need? I was in the middle of a meeting with my Head Gamemaker."
The man looks down at his shoes. I always like making people feel inferior, one of the best things that comes along with the title of president.
"Yes, Madam. But I was sent to inform you of the quarter quell announcement to the public."
The man's voice shook, and I had to suppress my smile, "Of course. Thank you. I'll be there soon." I wait for him to leave before turning back to Lionus,
"We'll finish this tonight, in our room." I blew him a kiss before walking out the door. He'll show himself out soon enough. Right now, I have to prepare myself for the public.
After the twists and turns of the Presidential Palace, I prepare myself to step out to the balcony, overlooking a wide. On the plexiglass podium already placed there, I see the card with what I just say written on it. I won't have to look at it at all. I know what I have to say. With a heavy breath, I step out to the podium. Cheers from audience members. I smile, leaning into the microphone.
"Welcome, citizens of Panem, to the announcement of the 150th annual hunger games, the sixth quarter quell. I suppose you are all dying to know, so I'll just cut to the chase. For the 150th Hunger Games, as a reminder of the brothers and sisters slain in the uprising on both sides, the two tributes, with ages ranging from 12 to 18, from each district will be brother and sister. Thank you, and goodnight." I step back, knowing that all the cameras zoomed in on me will pan out to the audience. They can think about that for the next month before the games truly begin.
I head to my room, not speaking to anyone. I softly knock on my door, silently cursing myself as I remember the folder left on my office floor. I'll get to that report tomorrow. Right now, I have a husband to see.
So, the 150th games are about to begin. I would like one person to submit both tributes per each district. The only rule that they have to be brother and sister anywhere from the ages 12-18. And unless I can't find any tributes, I'd like to limit it 1 district per person (I already have district 6, but the rest are fair game). Reservations will last for a week, but you can reclaim them after 2 days if no one else does. So, here's the Submission form. Please PM me with the title-
OTSC: District-Tribute/age/gender and Tribute/age/gender
For example:
OTSC: 6- Elia Nixx/17/Female and Jessper Nixx/14/Male
JOINED PART:
District:
Backup district:
Family: for each one, I'd like a description of personality, appearance, age, and how they feel about each tribute. Not including the two tributes
Backstory: wealth status, how they grew up, traumatic things that happened to each tribute, and much info as possible
INDIVIDUAL:
Name:
nickname/preferred name:
Age:
Gender:
Sexuality: straight, gay, ace, etc.
Appearance: detailed please. Like: Hair colour and what style, ethnicity, eye colour, and important features, height, etc.
Personality: detailed
Friends: same as family
Significant other:
Feelings/relationship with sibling:
Who says goodbye: who comes after they're reaped or volunteer. If yo want, tell me what each persons reaction is too
Strengths: (max. 5)
Weaknesses: (min. 3)
reaped/volunteered: if they are from an outer district, make sure the reasons for volunteering are good (you can only volunteer as a duo. You can't force your sibling to go with you.)
reason/reaction:
Training: what will they spend the most time on?
What did they show the gamemakers?: In their private session
referred/predicted training score:
Weapon of choice: it's fine if they don't have one or if it's not a weapon (like traps)
Interview angle:
Game plans: anywhere from getting on the train to being in the arena
Bloodbath tactics: do they want to be in it at all?
Likeliness of dying in bloodbath: because there's got to be a few (also, if you submit more than two, at least one character has to be a bloodbath- I didn't say that last time and then had to kill people that should've made it further)
Feast?: if a feast was announced, would they go? What would they do? What are their tactics?
Alliances?: with what type of character if at all?
Predicted placement: 1-24
Preferred placement: 1-24
Reason to win: if you put 1rst for either of them
What would they do if they won: who would they talk to, what would they do back home, how do they feel about winning, et cetera
Preferred death:
Reaping outfit:
Chariot outfit:
Interview outfit:
Romance?:
Token: if so, what is it?
Important scene to add in: can't promise I'll be able to write it in, but I'll try
Preferred Arc: how do you want the character to change?
Anything else important: things about the character that don't fit in anywhere else