Just a reminder that submissions are still open! The form is up on my profile.

Honouria Crass, 19
Victor of the 8th Hunger Games

District 2 always looked beautiful in the wintertime.

There was something about the snow-covered mountains, so tall and intimidating and sturdy. Honouria admired the view from her little home in Victor's Village. At the same time, she could imagine the struggle for the workers who dug their way through the mineshafts cut into the mountain's surface.

Sure, it was cold and windy, and everyone seemed to be in a bad mood because of the weather, but Honouria couldn't care less. She missed everything about District 2. She missed the scenery, the people, even the sound of slush on the streets as it sloshed everywhere and all over her boots by the grumpy passerby. Honouria had just come back from her mandatory Victory Tour, in which she was dolled up and paraded around the districts, claiming to be sorry for this, sorry for that.

Thirteen days had never lasted so long and every passing minute felt like entirety as Honouria stared at face after face, the families of her victims becoming a single blur. Then, in the Capitol, she had never eaten so much fancy food, then she was constantly pulled to her feet and danced about, until she was on the verge of throwing up. In District 2, that wasn't going to happen. In District 2, she was going to live a happy life in Victor's Village with the man of her dreams. She wasn't going to think about her Games, or her tour, at all.

So that was why Honouria stared at the snow as if she was in a trance, despite all the unpleasant things that came with the dreaded winter.

Honouria's fiance, Jupiter, saw a lot of things unpleasant with the season. "Ugh, it snowed again last night!?"
"Yep. Blizzard."
Jupiter grimaced as he came up behind Honouria and kissed her on the cheek. "I still have to go to work, you know."

"Oh, you do?" Honouria giggled. "What a shame...it's a great day to stay home."
"And do what?"
Honouria wriggled her way under Jupiter's arm and wrapped his hands around her. "How about nothing? We can just cuddle."

"I'd love to cuddle," Jupiter said, pushing back his miner's helmet on his forehead. "But not like this. Maybe under a big, fuzzy blanket?"
"With hot chocolate and homemade cookies!"
"Now you're speaking my language!" Jupiter purred as Honouria buried her face under his neck. "You see, this is why I love you."

"Same goes."
"Now let go. It's time for breakfast, then I have to go to work."

"You sure you don't get a day off?" Honouria asked, rummaging through the cupboards while Jupiter toasted some bread. "It's so cold outside. The streets got iced over. And wouldn't all that snow pose some sort of safety hazard?"
"I don't know. But the big guys hate giving everyone days off."

Honouria passed Jupiter a jar of jam, then started working on brewing a pot of coffee. "Claymore even called off training classes for today. And the Academy's within walking distance of us. That's how cold it is."
"You think one of the Peacekeepers owns a snow plow or something?"
"I wish."

Jupiter polished off the last of his toast. Honouria passed over a thermos filled with freshly brewed coffee, then accompanied him to the door. As soon as Jupiter opened it, the wall of snow caved in, falling onto their feet. Honouria shivered as the cold winter air blew inside. She could see Claymore Regans all bundled up, gritting his teeth as he tried to shovel a clear pathway and slid around on his icy porch.

"Hey babe?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you still have to work?"

"I..." Jupiter gently shut the door. "I think I'll stay inside today."
Honouria grabbed her fiance's hand and pulled him along with her.

"What are you doing now?"
"If you're staying home, let's make the most of it." Honouria led Jupiter to the living room. "Come on, then! Let's cuddle!"

Claymore Regans, 23
Victor of the 3rd Hunger Games

Most people, most sane people, would not have bothered to shovel the snow. Instead, they camped out inside their homes and waited for spring thaw.
Maybe Claymore had been looking for a challenge. Or maybe his brain cells were as frozen as the rest of him. Because if he was thinking straight, he would have not agreed to shoveling the huge, frozen driveways that came with each of the mansions in Victor's Village.

In the doorway, Vanessa cackled to herself. She was holding a mug of hot chocolate and still dressed in her fluffy pink robe, but it was more to spite Claymore than it was to keep warm. Though he wouldn't mind switching places with her, even if it came with ridiculously small bunny slippers.

"You missed a spot."
"I'll get in a second."
"Better hope the snow doesn't cover it while you're over there!"

Claymore heaved the shovel over his shoulder. "Gee, I never thought about that! Do you want to come out here and do this with me!?"
"And freeze my ass off? Not a chance."
"Can I at least have some hot chocolate?"

Vanessa headed back inside. Good. If she was just going to taunt him, Claymore would rather not see his wife again today, until she had a hot mug just for him. When he heard the front door open again, he flung the shovel upwards, spilling bits of snow all over the porch. "Come to laugh at my predicament?"

"No...but don't tempt me."
Claymore shook the snow from his hair. "Oh, hey Arch. Care to join me?"

Archer Regans chuckled. Behind him was Claymore's teenage nephew, Isaac. "No, I'm good. Unlike you, I do not have a wish to freeze to death."
"I was outnumbered three to one."

"But four hands are better than two..." Archer clamped a hand down on Isaac's shoulder. "And since you don't have school today..."
"Come on, Dad!"
"Why don't you help your uncle shovel the driveway? Trust me, it will go by a lot faster."

Soon, Isaac had a shovel in his hands. Claymore decided to hide his amusement. "Ah, cheer up kid. You get to spend time with your favourite uncle!"
"You're my only uncle."
"Am I not the favourite?"

"Shut up."

Claymore smirked. "Oh, all right. but when we get back to the Academy, you promise you won't slack off on your training? Good Peacekeepers always stay up-to-date with their work."
"I'm not slacking off."
"Sure thing, buddy."

Isaac put down his shovel. "Uncle Claymore, what if I don't want to become a Peacekeeper?"
"Who said you had to become a Peacekeeper?"
"Nobody..." Isaac gave an awkward shrug. "But I just don't want to. I don't think...it's something I'd like to do. I mean, I'm grateful for the training, but if I had to decide what I want to be when I grow up...y'know!"

"I get it, kid." Claymore heaved another round of snow over his shoulder, then proceeded to try and stab at the ice covering the driveway. "And don't worry too much, alright? You're only thirteen; you've got time to figure things out. But you know why I put you into Peacekeeper training and why I think you should continue it."
"The Games?"

"The. Hunger. Games." Claymore put emphasis on the last two words. "But I did so as a precaution, not to encourage you. You see those people who abuse my Academy and my materials and then jump at the chance to volunteer, just because they've done two years of training? Remember what I've taught you about your odds in the arena and how many tributes form 2 have actually won?"
"But Honouria volunteered and she won."

"But you're not Honouria." Claymore finally broke through the ice. "You're Isaac. My nephew. And I want to keep you safe. Because God forbid I let anything happen to you."
A goofy smile broke out onto Isaac's face. "Yeah, I get it. Okay, I promise."
"You promise what to whom?"

"I promise to my uncle, Claymore Regans, that I will never volunteer for the Hunger Games."

"Good." Claymore reached out and gave Isaac's shoulder a shake. "Now, back to work. No slacking off on the job!"
"Boys! I've got drinks!"

Isaac had just reclaimed his shovel, and he dropped it again, in favour of running up the porch for a cup of hot chocolate. "Yeah, well shoveling can wait. Come on, Uncle!"
"I'm coming!" Claymore took the mug from his wife, before she slammed the door in his face, leaving him outside in the cold. The snow began to fall. Claymroe could faintly hear the rest of his family laughing hysterically. Clearly, he was not allowed inside until he finished shoveling the driveway.

At least he had hot chocolate.

Still collecting submissions for TMH. I like what I see so far, since age and gender have been fairly even, which is good. That being said, I think I have enough to the point where I can finalize the due date for submissions. This due date may be extended if the majority feel it's not enough time.

Too Much Heaven's submissions due date: March 31st.

I hope that's enough time for everyone, but if you need an extension, PM me and we'll work something out. I hope you enjoyed the prologue and meeting some of the Victors (because I love my Victors; half of them are walking disasters) and we'll get ot meet others in the next prologue!

-Vr