Warning: this entire chapter will contain spoilers for RaS!

Six months after the 21st Hunger Games:

And I find it kind of funny

I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you

'Cause I find it hard to take

When people run in circles it's a very, very

Mad world

I remember my Victory Tour like it was yesterday.

Really, I don't have to be here. But I think the newest Victor deserves some sort of support group. As much as it pains me to know that I failed six months ago, I don't hate her. More like pity, really. District 5's star showman, Marie Cation is only 13 and has already killed a kid.

Plus, she was Amelie's ally. And this is pretty much the only way I can indirectly honour the little girl I let down in that arena. We didn't talk much when she stopped by in 10. I couldn't bring myself to face her, to be reminded of my failure.

Cheyenne says that you never forget the first tribute you mentored. Ever. And I think she's right.

Everyone here is all dressed up and buys piling their plates with food. They're mingling, talking, laughing, and I feel very out of place. When you go from a Capitol starlet to just another face in the crowd in less than a year, it's very jarring.

The glass I'm holding feels very cold, with a thin layer of condensation forming on the outside. But it's really refreshing, with how stuffy this big ballroom is, having so many bodies packed in here. Normally, I'd want to run outside and avoid the crowds, but I'm on a mission tonight.

Wrapping my good hand around the glass (the hand with all five fingers intact), I casually take a stroll around the room, trying not to flinch as people bump into my shoulders or their hands float by, barely grazing me. In my head, I silently thank my stylist for the dark blue sleeveless gown she's given me, to keep me from working up a sweat.

Marie huddles up on a small leather couch, finally getting a moment to herself. She's wearing a short lilac dress where the skirt stops just above her knees. A matching feather boa has been draped around her neck. She looks so much older than 13.

I just give her a small wave and she suddenly looks really embarrassed. "Sorry. I can move."
"It's fine. I was just coming over to say hello anyways."
"You're Vera-Ryanna Kingsley."

"You can call me VR if you want."
"Ok...VR..." Marie's really interested in the half-eaten cupcake sitting on a nearby plate. "I'm sorry about Amelie."
"It's alright. I'm sorry too. Honestly, there was nothing either of us could do to help her."
"But I feel really bad about it! I wish I could've saved her!"

I do too. Amelie was the sweetest thing I had ever met. She understood her fate, but she was determined to do as much as possible in her last few days and enjoy everything life had to offer. She even died with a smile on her face. When the tributes rose up and the countdown was all over, the pair from 2 went straight for her.

It was a dirty move. It was a revenge tactic. It was getting back at me for what I did one and a half years ago.

At the expense of the little ray of sunshine who was caught in the crossfire.

Marie spits out a stray feather from her boa. "I feel so bad about losing all my allies. I just...why!? Why did they have to die so horribly!?"
"I don't know. That's just the way it is. But every single death is horrible."
"Even when you killed someone?"

I tap my fingers against the edge of the couch. The sound of metal against leather is a welcome distraction. "Yeah. Even when I killed someone."

"I could barely kill Lindsey myself." Marie shudders. "How did you manage to do it?"
"You should probably go talk to someone else about that. All the other Victors think I'm tame by comparison."

A bright camera flash rudely interrupts our conversation. I look away, right as someone takes his fork and stabs it straight into the hunk of roasted meat on his plate. The sound it makes is absolutely dreadful. My stomach lurches thinking about it, just like that time when I let another girl stab me...

"It's an absolute tea party over here! What are we doing tonight, ladies?"
I take a sip of my fruit punch so I don't end up making a rude face. "Royal, what are you wearing?"
"This nice hat. It was a gift from a really sexy babe."

Marie giggles, but I don't see what's so funny. "Are you gonna give it back?"
"Sorry, Mom."
"You're four years older than me. And you probably have better things to do than trying to smooch up everyone here."

Royal just stretches his arms behind his head. "Don't be silly! Everybody wants a piece of Royal Bauer!"

"Oh wow..." Marie's trying to hide behind her boa now. "Sorry about Lindsey...I guess?"
"Eh, it happens. I'll just have to make District 1 proud this year!"

Marie suddenly turns pale. I grimace. "Royal, now isn't the time for that."
"Oh relax, Kingsley. You get used to it after a while."
"This was your first time mentoring!"

That's news to Marie. "Wow...that explains a lot about Lindsey," she says thoughtfully. I snicker.

Royal pushes back all of his hair, tucking it under that stupid hat. "Well, I'm off so you two can continue your little chat. Don't wait up for me!"
"Is he always like that?" Marie asks. "Because he seems like one of the nicer Victors."
"Some of them are pretty nice. Some...aren't. How's Rufus?"

"He's...I don't know. He's always drinking. Always." Marie sniffs. "He never wants to talk to anybody or leave his house, unless it's to buy more alcohol. And it feels like ever since I've won, it's gotten worse. I've tried talkign to him, but he...I...I might have to mentor alone..."

"Oh..." I've never had to put up with that. Even if my own mentor can be a bit rude at times, at least she'll carry her weight. "That must suck, huh?"
"I don't know if I can do it."

I've had that own doubt myself. But this is a lot different. And I'm not sure exactly what to say to her. We just sit there for a while before Marie gets up, crumpling up the boa in her hands. "My escort needs me. Thanks, VR. I really enjoyed talking to you."
"Take care of yourself, alright?"
"Okay..."

She just nods and walks away. I feel bad for her, if she ends up doing everything for the District 5 team. She's a teenager, she should be out doing teenage things and enjoy being a kid. Then again, I could make the same case for myself...

I don't really want to think about mentoring, especially after the absolute disaster I was last time. But if winning the Hunger Games has taught me one thing, it's that you can't hide from your problems forever; you'll have to face them eventually. And really, all you need is a stroke of luck, being in the right place at the right time. That's how I got my ass out of there, after all.

What's this!? Another SYOT!?

Yep, the long-awaited Rainbows and Storms sequel is finally out!

So first, a few things to address. This SYOT will be entirely from VR's POV as a mentor for the 22nd Hunger Games. However, all 24 spots will be open for a period of time for you to submit to! But first, a few quick rules and guidelines:

Maximum three submissions per person, just so I can ensure that as many submitters as possible are included. They do not have to be designated Bloodbaths or anything like that, since I have a track record of not actually killing Bloodbath tributes in the Bloodbath. You can submit to whichever spot you like!

I do have the spots labeled as District Male or District Female, but that's just for my own convenience and organizing purposes, so your tributes don't have to be cisgender! Non-binary subs are more than welcome!

At this point in time, Career districts exist in 1, 2, and 4, but they are nowhere near as furnished as they are in canon. Tributes from these districts should be trained volunteers, but there is a small chance a Reaped tribute may slip through the cracks. PM me if you have any questions.

This isn't first-come-first serve and there will be an eventual due date, which has yet to be determined, depending on how many submissions I have by the time we hit the actual Reaping.

And that's about it! We do talk a lot about this story and RaS on my Discord server, so PM me if you'd like to join and I'll send you a link! Also, don't be afraid to PM me if you want to know something specific, have a question about worldbuilding or want to share an idea for a rather...spicy...submission :3
Have fun and happy submitting!

-Vr