Kraken McAulay, District 4
"And Danger! Danger!
Drawing near them was a broad boat.
And the water! Water!
Running clear beneath the white throat."
Joanna Newsom, Sprout and the Bean
President Snow sat and watched the Twenty-Second Hunger Games in his office. It was pretty obvious that Kraken McAulay, the boy from Four, was going to win. Despite the viciousness of the pair from One, both seemingly chosen to follow in Amber LeClerc's bloodstained footsteps, Kraken had been a natural in the new arena - a shipyard full of ancient-looking boats. Currently, he was holding the boy from One's head underwater until the thrashing boy went limp from lack of oxygen.
Surf Depthell, a guest in Snow's office, was smirking. Snow knew how deeply Surf got involved in the competition to mentor a victor every year. He was certainly one of the more ambitious mentors.
Sometimes a little too ambitious.
"He's quite a specimen, your boy," Snow said.
"He'll make a fine victor," Surf grinned.
Snow fought the urge to scowl. He'd married Livia Cardew earlier that year and that...
That was enough to put anyone in a bad mood.
"Didn't you say you had urgent business to discuss?" Snow asked.
"Ah, yes," the victor folded his hands. "The urgent business. I understand that when one usually wants to take a mistress, one would choose someone much younger and prettier than one's wife. So all I want to know is, why Io Jasper? Why the head gamemaker?"
Snow's face reddened but it was more from anger than embarrassment. It was true that Io was the same age as Livia and nowhere near as pretty. But she was also unshakeably loyal to Snow. She did everything he asked of her and, unlike Livia, she did it without complaining. It had only seemed right to start paying Io back for her loyalty.
"Do you deny it?" Surf asked. "Because Io didn't, when I asked her about it."
Snow suddenly realised why the arena this year gave Four such an advantage. Surf was a very smart man, blackmailing both the president and the head gamemaker.
But not smart enough to realise he'd just made two very powerful enemies.
"I can call her," Snow said. "And she can kill your tribute in a matter of seconds. So I'm going to ask you a few questions and you are going to answer as truthfully as you can. Firstly, I'd like to know how you found out."
"You're not the only one who sleeps with gamemakers." Surf leaned back in his seat, calmly.
Snow raised an eyebrow. He doubted that Io would have told any of her colleagues about her affair. He'd also heard about the type of lover Surf preferred - young, pretty and female - and he didn't think any of the gamemakers were his type.
"Tell me the truth, Mr Depthell."
"Fine," Surf snapped. "It was Luka Starkwain."
Snow sighed, "The truth, Mr Depthell."
"I swear on my mother's life it was Starkwain," Surf said, hurriedly. "I know he's not the kind to go around spilling his beloved president's secrets but when you're blackmailing him as well... you get results."
Snow was momentarily very confused. "What could Luka Starkwain have done that he wants to hide? That man is the most honest, law abiding- Oh, he's sleeping with Io's sister, isn't he?"
Suddenly he had an explanation behind District 5's only victor both knowing about his affair and being forced to tell Surf. Most victors were comfortable with talking about their various relationships with Capitolites. But Luka Starkwain had a wholesome, squeaky-clean reputation to uphold. His relationship with Callisto Jasper, one of his tributes' stylists, would surely cause a scandal.
"You know as well?" Surf's eyes widened. "When did you find out?"
"Seven years ago." Snow said.
"Seven years!" Surf cried. "That is far too long to spend with one woman."
Snow imagined living with Livia for the next seven years and fought the urge to shudder.
"What do I need to give you to ensure your silence?" Snow asked.
"Remember when I asked you if I could set up a training academy in District 4 and you said that I couldn't?" Surf asked.
"It seems I've changed my mind." Snow said. "You may have your academy. But if anyone finds out about me and Io, I will send a squad of peacekeepers to burn down your academy and shoot every child training there. Does that sound fair to you?"
"Yes," Surf said. "I'm glad we came to an agreement, Mr President. I wish I could stay longer but I have to get back to the Control Centre. Enjoy your marriage."
He pushed his chair back and left the president alone with his thoughts.
Snow turned back to his screen, to watch Kraken drowning some kid from Five. Snow considered calling up Io and getting her to kill the boy but he decided to let Surf have one victory. District 4 could have its third victor and its training academy, alright, but, after Kraken's victory, a lot of them would start dying to arena hazards. Instead, he decided to call someone else.
"Hello, Mr Starkwain. Commiserations on the loss of another tribute. Please could you come to my office as soon as you can. I have some urgent business to discuss."
Snow was going to make sure that Luka Starkwain would never prioritise his own secrets over his president's again. After all, Snow knew that there was someone the victor would sacrifice everything for. As long as President Snow had guns he could hold to Pann Starkwain's head and loyal peacekeepers to pull the trigger, Pann's older brother would do as he was told.
It's a pretty good year for District 4. They finally get the training academy they've been waiting for. Unfortunately, their tributes are doomed for a few years, since Snow is pretty angry at Surf. It's an in-universe explanation behind why I probably didn't give District 4 enough victors.
Another key moment in Hunger Games history is when President Snow figures out that he can threaten victors' families to manipulate them. Fortunately for Pann, Snow likes Luka enough to let him off with just a warning this time. Things might not end so well when another character discovers Snow's affair.
