Victory! Magazine, Issue 92 - June 12th, ADD 44 (2244)

cover article

OFFICIAL CAST FOR THE 44TH HUNGER GAMES!

Well well well! Now that the reaping is over, there has been much discussion over potential contenders for the crown. People have already started to make their bets, and there is much excitement that will only continue to grow in the coming weeks. Right now, we have compiled a preliminary list of the standouts based on the impression we first got from them. As they say, first impressions are often entirely wrong, but who knows? One of these might just end up being our Victor!

REMUS IRVINE, DISTRICT ONE - I think we may have spotted our Victor already! Strong, silent, and good-looking to boot, he exudes confidence that has surely been well-earned. No doubt he will be the one to hold the Career pack together with his wisdom! We are looking forward to an exceptional performance from him!

GINA MARBLE, DISTRICT TWO - She will undoubtedly be the powerhouse of the Careers. Just look at those muscles! Look at that determination in her eyes! Sure, her bloodlust is a little over the top, but that just means more action in the arena! I can't wait to see her in action!

ATARI PELLAEON, DISTRICT THREE - My oh my! Now that's what I call a gorgeous specimen! Admittedly, we didn't choose her because she's strong, but with her looks, she will undoubtedly be very popular with the sponsors. And with the kind of gifts that sponsor money can buy, I bet that she's capable of wreaking some kind of havoc!

TESLA MARTELLO, DISTRICT FIVE - The class clown of the bunch! I'm sure that joke he told at the reaping had more than a few of us holding back tears of laughter! Again, no muscles to speak of, but he'll certainly be an entertaining watch!

WEFT CLEMENS, DISTRICT EIGHT - The last time we had a cripple in the Games was the 28th. It should be obvious at this point that he has no chance, but who knows? He might still be able to get a few good knocks in with that walking stick of his!

WYNNET BRAN, DISTRICT NINE - Raise your hand if you got shivers when she mounted the reaping stage dressed in a prison uniform? I sure did! Currently it hasn't been revealed what she did to get locked up, but it can't be good, mind you! If it was something violent, then that behavior might help her in the arena!

That's it from us! The six most interesting tributes based on what we saw at the reapings. Of course, opinion might change in the coming weeks but until then, this is it!

The Official Hunger Games Betting Forum, Post 2,457 - 14th July, ADD 44 (2244)

[MOD]Chylms: Now that we've seen the tributes at the reaping and the parade, who are you going to bet on? Why? How much? This is the official megathread for the 44th Annual Hunger Games!

Please respect the site's rules and guidelines. Anyone breaking these rules more than three times will be banned. Please ask the moderators if you have any questions!

Simp-for-Hilo: Atari. Girl from Three. Without a doubt. Hot women are my weakness

starry_clouds: unlike you, ill think with my brain and not my dick. im putting my bet on remus.

1984wasthebestyear: And unlike you, I'm waiting until the training scores are revealed before I make my decision. I'm not just going to waste my money betting on someone who ends up getting a one in training.

Bluuuue: This right here. I genuinely don't understand people who bet based only on first impressions and literally nothing else.

Egg-lord: I do it cuz I like to live dangerously…

Bluuuue: Have fun losing all your money then.

Egg-lord: With pleasure!

greenhairdontcare: I'm betting on that girl from nine. She looks powerful.

fuckyeahpeanuts: yeah she'll totally fuck shit up

IlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIl: she's got that look about her. I'm really curious what she got arrested for…

greenhairdontcare: I'm sure you get asked this a lot, but how the fuck do you memorise your username?

IlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIlIl: I dunno lol

elmierda: I'm betting on the boy from Twelve and no one can stop me.

Corioloser_Snow: WHY? He's basically a skeleton that looks like a gust of wind could knock him over!

elmierda: Remember ten years back when everyone thought Lonnie Dressel would lose? What about Jemima Sinclair? Or Porter Tripp? Well they ended up exceeding everybody's expectations. Ever since then I've always bet on the weakest tribute. You never know, they just might surprise you :)

Lyme Lachlan's Diary, Entry for 15th July, ADD 44 (2244)

This is my first time being in the Capitol without Mom. Matty's mentoring this year and she said that I could go with her! Yayyyyy!

Mom was really sad to see me go though, but it was really annoying because she was acting like I would be gone for two milion years!

But anyway, Matty and I are gonna have lots of fun together! She's going to show me all of her favourite restaronts and shops and I'm gonna show her all of mine too! And I got to meet the volunters! Gina is kind of scary but Rocky is nice. Matty also said that if I behave really nicely, she'll even let me go into the mentoring room with her!

I have to go now. We're going out for dinner and I have to go get ready. Bye!

Excerpt from page 7 of the novel We Met At the Poolside by Kevelina Dayblossom.

Outside, I find refuge from the noisy, drunk crush of people. The house is the wildly beating heart of the party, the veins flooded with sloppy people with their drinks and dancing and hooting. But out here though, the music is dampened; instead of a painful throb, it turns into something almost pleasant to listen to. Out here, it is dark, save for the lights strung up in the branches above me, and in the pool. Out here, I am alone.

Except it turns out I am not, for a shadow moves towards me. I freeze, fight or flight having no control over me.

He steps into the light and I see that it is a man. Another partygoer, I thought.

He is tall and roguishly handsome. The kind of person that inspires cautionary tales about chastity: "Don't even think about it! He will run off and leave you as soon as someone better comes along! He is filthy. Don't let him defile you."

He looks at me and smiles. "Are you having fun?" he asks. His voice is as smooth as melted chocolate.

I smile back at him shyly, trying to be polite. "Parties aren't really my thing," I respond.

"Is that why you're out here?" He moves closer to me. I nod, wondering who he is.

"Partying isn't my thing, either. Too loud." His smile grows wider and wider until it engulfs his whole face. "Out here though, we can be alone. No one can disturb us."

He's standing right in front of me now. His hands creep to my waist. I look right into his eyes. They are the colour of the deepest darkest brown. Deep in my belly, something begins to slowly uncoil.

He chuckles and my face glows red. His hands tighten around me, pulling me closer. I bump against his hips. Something hard bumps back into me. I shiver.

He brings one hand up behind my head and pushes me forward. His lips crush against mine.

Stars explode behind my eyes. It's the most attention that I have ever had in my whole life. His effect on me is magical. Just from one little kiss, he has made me feel alive, more alive in one moment than all my twenty-one years on this earth.

As we kiss, his hands slide further to my neck and begin to pull at the straps of my dress.

We Met At the Poolside is basically Panem's answer to Fifty Shades, only slightly less problematic. Slightly.

Also I had way too much fun coming up with these usernames lol.