Is there someone you look to for guidance? Are you following their advice without question? Should you take a moment to question it?


Theodora Vidia, Head Game maker
Gamemaker Centre, Capitol


The sun rises once again following an eventful night. The festivities within the Capitol truly begin now as the Hunger Games is due to start once again. A new selection of tributes will be on full display for the Capitol today. A new set of tributes for the Capitol to obsess over the latest girl or boy.

The Reapings are due to start any moment as do most of the jobs within the Capitol. The morning light cast itself across the tallest of buildings, the sunlight waking everyone up, urging everyone to get themselves ready for the day to come.

She swipes her card at the front desk letting her have access to the elevators. Peacekeepers bow and salute her as she walks in, black leather bag in one hand, a brown coat in the other as she moves towards the elevators of the Gamemaker Centre. Once she enters, she looks at herself in the mirror, tired brown eyes looking back at her, lipstick, red, shoddily covering the frown on her face.

She once loved this job.

There used to be some form of excitement when it comes to the Hunger Games. Seeing the tributes from the Reapings to the Private Sessions used to fill her with so much joy. She truly loved her job, and whilst she still likes it, it does take her away from her social life.

From the moment a victor is crowned and that fanfare blares across the arena, and the whole of Panem, Theodora Vidia sits back on her chair. In her head she plans the next Hunger Games, the brain never resting, always thinking of what she could have done better.

The years since seizing the position of Head Gamemaker have been kind to her. The money is good, she had managed to elevate her family's well-being, without the help of her brother might she add. Her kids, now eighteen and sixteen respectively, have grown into such wonderful children.

However, Theodora regrets not seeing them grow up. She had missed so many milestones from the minute she took the position. Birthdays, achievements, and important life events have been missed by Theodora because the Hunger Games never takes a break.

She is often distracted by the notions, ideas that would pop into her head had to be written down and then dictated to her team, meaning phone calls at the dinner table are frequent. Her children's day is forgotten about as she jets off to her office to start writing everything down.

Theodora Vidia once loved this job and now she is fed up with it. There was a time when she was jealous of the position, once throwing a tantrum that they had handed the position over to someone younger. Now she would do anything to take it all back just so she can see her children grow up.

She sighs as she sits at her large desk. Head resting on her hands as she looks at the finalised blueprints of the arena. Construction had begun more than a month ago, but she looks at it, she does this constantly, scrutinising everything, adjusting something at times.

It must be perfect.

Although the blueprint, presented by Magnolia, her little protege, is near perfect. The tweaks that she would often look for are close to non-existent. She expects this from her, learning from her for five years would make sure Magnolia scrutinised her work at all times and never use shortcuts, she is as much a perfectionist as Theodora.

There is no doubt that she should take over as Head Gamemaker when she retires after these Games. Five years under her as the intern has made Magnolia grow into the best of the best. She is meticulous and creative, she uses her free time to come up with ideas, and she is unhindered and unmarried, which means she had all the time in the world to sink into the Hunger Games.

There is a knock at her door and she eyes the person lazily. One of the other Gamemakers letter her know that the Reapings have begun. She sighs pushing away from the desk as she follows the person into the large viewing screen. She can see that Magnolia had brought along her six interns, all tucked away in the corner, quietly speaking to each other.

"Magnolia," She starts and she appears beside her, notepad in hand already, ready to take notes. "Why don't you let the interns join us two at the front seat? I'm very curious to see what you have done with them the last few months."

"Yes, of course!" She says eagerly and she waves all six of them over with a stern look.

"Oh my! It's her!" Anisa, one of the interns approaches her eagerly shaking her hands. "I can't believe it's you! I love you!"

"Anisa!" Magnolia practically shouts at her intern. "Show some restraint!"

"Yeah, Anisa, show some self-respect!" One of the boys speaks up, Theodora remembers him as Leo from the selection process, as he appraises her and shakes her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

She can see Anisa roll her eyes and the others just show their general interests before going to sit behind Magnolia. Anisa and Leo take their seats behind Theodora and she can feel the stares from the both of them, intense and unending. She smiles to herself, thinking about how annoyed Magnolia must be at them.

"Right then, where are we off to first?" Theodora claps her hand as she looks at the other Gamemakers.

"District Twelve, ma'am." She says as she turns the large screen on at the gleaming

The screen opens up to a beautiful landscape of sweeping trees and past large coal mines and mountains. She has seen this many times. It never becomes easier looking at such fake imagery of Twelve. She knows how much they struggle and yet she is perfectly happy to send two kids away every year for their possible doom.

The Capitol hides most of the atrocities of the districts, only because it doesn't bode well if the citizens of the Capitol see how much they struggle. They get attached every year, and it makes them harder to control. That's how her brother viewed it anyway, and she knows that he is always right.

"It's starting!" Anisa whispers to Leo who, despite acting cool, is equally as excited, they stay quiet when Magnolia flashes them a warning look, making Theodora smile.

The first Reaped tribute is an Amorette Lokiran, a name vaguely familiar to her and many others as the girl looks horrified for a moment before making her way towards the stairs. She doesn't seem to control the look on her face as she looks outwards at the crowds, resigning to herself slightly before the next name is read out, only for a volunteer to shout and name themselves as Sora Higurashi.

"A Twelve volunteer?" Theodora says eyebrows arched. "Have we ever had one in the history of the Games?"

"Never!" Leo practically leaps out of his seat and she can hear Magnolia sigh.

"How interesting." She says as she watches the boy stand resolute and smiling at the cameras, the screen fading black as the next district is shown.

"He doesn't seem that interesting." Peter, one of the interns says out loud as he notes down his name.

"Always expect the unexpected from the tributes, Peter," Magnolia says as she writes down the names. "A backed animal will fight it to the very end."

"I suppose you're correct." He says leaning backwards contemplating that statement.

"This is also a good item to watch them and garner weaknesses and potential strengths, to see if they're going to ally with their distract partner or not." Magnolia continues and Theodora nods proudly at her, meticulous as always.

"From the ten-second clip we got?" Easter sighs. "How does that help us?"

"Just keep watching."

The next district is Eleven, a brief outlook of the bountiful harvests turn into orchards and fields. The camera changes to that of the Justice Building as it pans towards the stoic citizens, some look mad and some look famished. She watches as the girl reaped stands equally as stoic a quiet rage seemingly building up in her as she can hear her family wails in the background.

The boy, however, smiles as he is reaped. Walking with such a smile and confidence on his face. He shakes the girl's hand when he makes it to the stage, beaming smiles and all. She can hear Anisa and Leo scoff behind her and she ignores them. The escort claps, although it's only her doing the action as everyone looks at her angrily.

"Juniper Cassidy and Rohn Sapote, everyone!"

"Thoughts?" She says to no one in particular.

"The boy is a load of confidence," Easter says looking at her nails. "He won't last long."

"Why do you think that?" Theodora looks back.

"He doesn't seem the type, and he's too young." She says looking back at the boredom on her face.

"We'll see Ms Lily." Theodora smiles as she goes to face the front again.

A brief preview of the warehouses emerging from the fog can be seen as the next district comes into view on the screen. Eight almost looks picturesque despite not having any greenery, a sharp contrast to the first two districts. The Justice Building is shining in light as if a fog had never touched it.

The escort wastes no time in picking a name. Reaping the girl, Tyra Canorzia, shock on her face as tears begin to well up on her beautiful face. She shakily makes her way to the stage and just as she does so the boy's name, Tullio Escobedas is picked.

"Poor boy," Michael says behind them. The intern watching as the boy is frozen in shock, having to have the Peacekeepers drag him from the pens and onto the stage, the boy collapses momentarily on the wooden stage before standing up, still frozen in fear.

The camera doesn't waste any more time as the rolling fields and dusty ranches come into view. Various animals fade in and out as the camera focuses on the centre of the district. Ten looks on as the escort picks the name of Mallory Corbrey, the older girl looks on in shock, and slight anger, as she makes her way over to the stage.

What she did not expect from her is the second look of shock as the boy, Angus Allergot is Reaped alongside her. The camera zooms on Angus' freckled face, his momentary shock is all Theodora can remember before the older boy strides toward the stage. He shakes Mallory's hand, the girl looking at him suspiciously now as their names are called out once again.

"They know each other," Anisa says.

"Or they're fucking each other," Easter says now interested in the Ten tributes. "Did you see the way the girl looked at him!?"

"You're right!" Anisa says. "We should watch out for them."

The prairie fields and dusty land turns golden now as the screen turns back on. District Nine shines during the morning as the sun reflects off its grain. The district shines only in its production as the Reapings begin. She leans forward as the girl volunteers for some younger child and then she raises her eyebrows once again as the boy also volunteers.

"Two volunteers for District Nine! Riley Farina and Flax Moonewort everyone!"

"Volunteers are plenty this year," Theodora says and Magnolia nods her head.

"It seems too suspicious." She says as she notes down her suspicions on her notepad.

The golden fields turn themselves into industrial buildings once again as power plants and windmills, the famous damn of District Five coming into view, passing over the man-made lake. She views the stage as the camera zooms in on the victors speaking to each other just before the name of the female tribute, Ziva Matterson, is picked.

"Is that correct, ma'am?"

"What? Yes, I'm afraid so, my dear, hurry along now."

"Yes, ma'am."

"She must be a nutjob," Leo says and Anisa hits him. "What? It's true asking to do a recount, it's laughable."

"She looks interesting though." Peter pipes up. "She's not wearing fancy-his clothes, instead she's wearing a jumpsuit."

"Even more of a nutjob if you ask me." Leo sighs as he looks at the boy that is Reaped.

Azrael Asterin's face is zoomed into immediately. Theodora noted the slight curl on his mouth appearing before disappearing faster than the camera zooming away. His neutral face takes over as he makes his way toward the stage in a slower manner.

Two very interesting tributes from Five. She remembers Kenna briefly, her very first victor. The feisty girl from the same district is all but subdued momentarily as she participates in the Hunger Games. She knows what she had done, and she knows that she regretted everything about it, and yet she continues to mentor, despite knowing what she had done.

The camera changes quickly to District Six now, the endless train hubs and flying hovercrafts being used as the centre of the district are shown in full view. The district is covered in Peacekeepers and emaciated people, it's unavoidable at this point, she knows that Six doesn't do well.

The girl, Lily-Rose Damery is Reaped, her shock contributing to her fear. Theodora can hear her begin to cry and shout as she is escorted by the Peacekeepers toward the stage. Her crying face in full view of Panem, she doesn't stop as the boy, Saint Pancras is Reaped.

The younger boy seems to hold it together for a moment before crying too. She can see the sorrow in both of them as the screen fades to black belong replaced by the landscape of District One. The small gem mines are scattered as the aerial shot lands in the centre of the district.

"This is one of my favourites." Anisa chimes in at that moment leaning forward. "District One always delivers."

"I think District Two always delivers," Leo says beside her, and she just glares.

Theodora agrees with them both. One and Two always deliver good contenders to the Hunger Games. She thinks it's likely down to the rivalry of Balas Beacon and Leroy Ramnes, the second and first victors respectively. They had had this rivalry for more than a few decades now and they have passed it on to some of their victors too.

It doesn't help that their tributes are almost always trained for the Hunger Games. The inner circle of the Capitol knows that One and Two, and to a point, Four, are secretly training their tributes for better chances of winning and sweeping the rewards. At present they have been left unpunished, although with Leroy Ramnes arrests recently that may begin to change.

The black-haired girl volunteers first, Ilia Orloff, standing resolute on the stage as she looks at the crowd. She raises an eyebrow at her, a deviation from the normal tribute. It's normally pretty girls that are Reaped, girls with angelic hair and eyes that can charm anyone, like Sibyl Hawkes the recent One victor.

This Ilia seems sharp and her eyes unassuming.

Cal Acheron is the other volunteer, the boy meekly makes his way over to the stage. Ilia nods her head at him and he nods his head back. He stands beside her awkwardly as they wait for the escort to say their names once again. The cheering from the crowd is a welcome change, a district that celebrates the Hunger Games is always welcome to the Capitol.

"Ilia looks interesting," Anisa says. "I'm voting for her to be the victor."

"You haven't even seen the rest of them yet." Leo rolls his eyes earning another hit to his shoulder.

Anisa is about to reply when the screen flicks towards tall buildings and a smoky sky. The factories of District Three seem to be always on as the camera zooms closer to the ground viewing the citizens as they await the next two tributes.

Portia Sanada is Reaped first, the shock on her face unable to be shaken off as she makes her way towards the stage. Her black hair was long and straight. She wipes off a few tears from her eyes as she stands and waits for her inheritable district partner.

"Another volunteer!" Leo shouts as he leans forward.

The lanky boy, Uri Fukuro, stands up tall and shouts his aims to volunteer as he makes his way forward. He looks at the girl suspiciously before striding up and standing beside her. He smiles and gives a curt bow, a few girls in the crowd seem to sigh wistfully at him as the screen fade to black.

"How many volunteers is that?" Theodora asks as she takes out her little pad, lighting up to see the statistics of the current Reaped tributes. "This is very interesting."

"That's six so far," Magnolia says reading off her list. "There are three more districts to go."

"Proceed then."

"District Two! Let's go!" Leo says excitedly.

The grey quarries of Two come into view firstly as it views the Peacekeeper Academy shining in everlasting white. It feels patriotic as the camera pans several Peacekeepers in their white uniforms, guns held close to their chests before the screen fades to the stage where the escort reads out the first name.

As soon as she reads the name a shout for a volunteer arises. The girl, Ancartha Redlock, strides excitedly towards the stage, and the cheering begins again as she does so. She raises a hand in a fist to the air to massive applause. A clear contender for the Games.

"I like her," Leo says.

The next volunteer, Domitian March, seems to take longer to volunteer than his future district partner. Slowly making his way to the stage, a bit more reserved than that Ancartha. The crowd, nevertheless, cheers him on just as loudly, arguing that it could be louder than Ancartha. She notices his face scan the crowd before turning stoic and stone-faced.

"Two has it in the bag, for sure," Leo says smugly as he leans back.

"You wish," Anisa says glaring.

"You willing to bet?" He says.

"Will you two shut up!" Easter pipes up. "I'm tired of you two."

"Easter is right," Magnolia says looking back, her stare enough to bring chills even to Theodora.

The quarries soon turn into forests, and endless evergreens propagate the area. The small centre surrounded by the trees feels almost comforting as the tributes are being called out. The girl, Briar Ackers, is first. Her calm demeanour seems to forget that the Reapings are happening as she seems to quietly think to herself, having the Peacekeepers escort her to the stage, her calculating face still on as she seems to try and recall something.

Her district partner, Vincent Vine, is called out next. The large giant figure, strong and stable, walks towards the stage. Theodora always eyes the Seven tributes, they have the most capacity to win out of the outer districts. Although with two volunteers from Nine and a few scattered about, she seems to shift her thoughts slightly.

"Last district." She says to herself as she watches the screen intently.

The open waters replace the forest. The camera seemingly plunges into the water and then arising to view the Justice Building. The stage is in full view as the escort dips a manicured hand only for a girl to volunteer before the name is even called out.

Adrastea Belisama is her name, a strong-looking competitor as she jogs toward the stage. Her face is stoic and calm. She is looking at the crowd before relaxing her shoulders. She waits eagerly for her district partner as the name Dylan Manta is called out. Adrastea looks at the crowd for the other volunteer but no one seems to volunteer.

The boy seems to panic for a moment, looking from side to side, waiting for the volunteer that is not coming. Theodora leans closer to see the boy beside Dylan make a move but he is stopped by the other boy. Though panicked at that moment, he steels himself, making his way toward the stage.

"He doesn't look weak though," Peter says. "He could be hiding something."

"Indeed." Michael agrees.

The screen fades to black and thus the Reapings are finished. Theodora sighs as she gets up to face Magnolia and the interns. Her pad was in her hand and the other hand was on her hips. She eyes each of the interns in turn before speaking. Her voice changed to teaching mode.

"What are everyone's thoughts then? Anyone stood out?" She says and before anyone can speak she holds her hand up. "Leo, you go first."

"Definitely Two for me." He says smugly standing up in excitement. "They always deliver."

"District One for me," Anisa says when she is prompted by Theodora. "For the same reason as Leo."

"Okay, Peter?" She asks the boy.

"District Nine had piqued my interests the most." He says calculatingly. "Two volunteers from a district that isn't One or Two, and even Four is unheard of."

"Well what about you, Michael?" The Head Gamemaker directs her attention to the quiet boy.

"District Five had interesting tributes." He says curtly and nothing more.

"Well, I think District Ten has a history together," Easter says looking at her nails. "I can't wait to delve into them."

"Iris?" Magnolia speaks up this time. "You haven't said anything. What are your thoughts?"

"I like One and Two, but Four is interesting too." She says shyly and Magnolia nods.

"I agree that Four is a contender this year. I can't wait to see them all in action at some point." She says looking back at Theodora.

She nods at all of them. She is impressed at the calibre of these interns. She did not expect them to be quite insightful. She moves her sight to Magnolia who is scolding Leo and Anisa, she is beyond impressed with her growth. She smiles as she makes her leave, her black heels clicking against the polished white floors. Magnolia Kuboshi will make a great Head Gamemaker.

She has decided.


A/N - Hello there!

An update so early on from the last one? How!?

It's because it's a subplot chapter that's why. These are somewhat easier to plan because I write like three sentences on paper and then go from there lol. Also, this is an excuse to run away from a Reapings chapter that can be somewhat repetitive although this chapter might be repetitive itself. That doesn't matter now because Theodora Vidia is here!

She seems ready for retirement and has found her replacement already. Good for her.

This also gives me an excuse to do more intern things. I love them.

Anyway Stan Seventeen!

Cheers!
~Alec