Author's Note: I am still accepting tributes. Right now I have 11 total. It's about an even split between girls and guys and the first round and second round. While I still need 48 tributes total places that could use some more attention:
Outer districts. Pretty much anything besides 4, 2 and 1. I've gotten a lot of Career tributes from 4 in particular. Everywhere else needs some attention.
Young ones: my youngest 2 submissions are 14 years old.
Tributes with rebel inclinations / leanings / relatives etc. Though the Games have been going on for 25 years and I don't expect an onslaught of rebels, I would expect a couple, especially in the second round. (reapings) Something to bear in mind is that the district one female tribute in the 24th hunger Games commit suicide rather than enter the arena.
Also, I will be extending the deadline tentatively until January 31th, subject to change if I get like 70 tributes by the end of December. Please submit via the tribute form on my profile and if you have questions ask. I don't bite.
Disclaimer: I still do not own the Hunger Games!
Prologue Part 2 - Till death
Isidore Thorne – District 12 Mentor
Isidore stood near the wall, not in a standoffish sort of way. He was simply observing, the way he always had, analyzing everyone strategically before he made his move. The celebrations had already begun in the Capitol of course; they never stood on ceremony, awaiting the victor for his own tour, especially not this year when there was so much more going on. Between the preparations for the wedding and the anticipation over the quarter quell everyone was bustling about. No one had yet turned their attention to District Twelve's new mentor.
Not that Isidore was surprised. After all, it had never been a position of much significance. Years ago when Aphrodite had taken the position she had brought spunk to it, a determination from within her, driven by her own motives for glory. She had failed to get a victor that year and then had been immediately moved to District five, a district of much more prominence, even if they had yet to secure a victor. Since then District Twelve had fallen back into anonymity alongside the victorless district 11. Isidore was content with that; after all, that had been the precise reason he had requested District 12.
"Hector," Brutus came up behind him, but Isidore cut him off.
"Don't call me that. I don't want everyone to be terrified of me," Isidore said in a low voice, masking his strictness with a placating smile. He could tell even Brutus was cringing at the idea of having someone of his own previous experience as district twelve's mentor. The last thing he wanted, though, was to terrify all of his potential allies. That wouldn't do him or his tributes any good. To that end, he's chosen to leave his old name behind and along with it any ties to his past that would alienate him from his fellow mentors.
"What can I do for you?" Isidore smiled again, doing his best to make Brutus at ease.
"I need your advice," Brutus's voice dropped low too. "The President is demanding I announce the quarter quell tonight."
"An interesting decision," Isidore replied. He studied Brutus, whose expression was carefully guarded. "Why come to me with this?"
"Because, I believe as President Emmanuel's hand-picked successor for district twelve it would be appropriate for you to make the announcement. He has told you, hasn't he?"
"No, I haven't heard a word, only that it is supposed to be a true spectacle," Isidore stroked Brutus's ego. It was certainly worth his while to keep the Gamemaker in the dark as to all what he did and did not know as a man who had the president's ear. Brutus eyed him with some skepticism and then handed him an envelope.
"Use your discretion," Brutus said and then dissolved into the crowd.
Haspereek Cloven – District Nine Mentor
The fanfare heralded Viggo's arrival and the excitement radiated through the crowd. One look at the most recent victor, though and Haspereek could tell he needed some distraction and fast. When the tour had passed through District Nine, very early on, Mags had whispered to Haspereek that Viggo was already tiring of the attention. She wouldn't be more specific, but from the look on the boy's face, his lips pursed and his clenched fists, Haspereek could tell it was all he could do to keep from exploding. The smile he wore was obviously forced.
There would be distraction soon enough, Haspereek knew, thanking Leunam and Iris for their decision to wed.
"Are they almost ready?" Haspereek asked, catching Riker's eye. The girl smirked.
"Please, they've been ready for years. Why? Do you not want to see Viggo lop someone's head off? I think it might be therapeutic for him." Haspereek sighed. So it was that obvious.
"Relax," Riker laughed, but behind the laughter Haspereek suspected Riker was a bit on edge too. "I'll make sure Leunam's set."
Leunam Valeres – District Three Victor.
It certainly wasn't the wedding ceremony he had had in mind. If Leunam had had his way, he and Iris would have been wed in the company of their friends and family in District three. But the situation had demanded it and, as Iris continued to remind him, their family would see the wedding live. The entire tour, and by extension, their wedding would be public viewing, if not mandatory.
Beside him, helping him with the final preparations, including a bow tie which he never could quite seem to secure correctly was Jonas Tanner.
"Move your finger," Jonas instructed as the two of them fidgeted with the bow.
"If I move it that part of the bow will never stay secure. It'll turn into a curlicue or something," Leunam argued, leaving his finger firmly in place as Jonas tugged at it.
"Please confide in me. I'm the one who can visually perceive what we're attempting." Leunam sighed as he reluctantly inched his finger to the side, still keeping hold of the ribbon. Jonas gave him a frustrated look, but continued to fix the difficult bow.
In the years since Jonas's victory he and the younger mentor had certainly bonded, but that was without the added stress of pomp and circumstance and uncertainty. Today it was all that he could do to keep from strangling the young man. If they had the ceremony in District Three he could have appointed his laid back, quiet brother as the man of honor without having to worry about all eyes in Panem being on him. This wasn't district three, though, and, try as they did, Leunam and Iris simply couldn't think of a best man who would be more comfortable in the spotlight and had been a friend to them than Jonas had. At least not one who hadn't already said no to them.
Unwelcomed, Riker Deign's face popped into the room.
"Goodness, are you two ready yet?" With that Leunam's bowtie drooped unceremoniously into a very undistinguished curlicue hanging from his neck by one side and Riker couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Just leave the tie already. Iris and the crowds are getting so impatient I think Brutus might have threatened to announce the quarter quell before the ceremony."
"Ultimately whether the proclamation is in advance or subsequently is of little import," Jonas interjected while taking hold of the bowtie problem once more. "It will take place."
"And part of our job is to distract from that you numbskull!" Riker retorted, walloping Jonas over the head with one of the shoes Leunam had rejected.
"Ow!" Jonas exclaimed. "Do take care to remember whose side you're on!" Riker stared him down. "Excelcia," Jonas muttered under his breath as he secured the bowtie in the correct shape. Leunam glanced over at Riker, who was gracefully pretending she hadn't heard Jonas's last comment.
"Congratulations. You will go down in history as the man who tied a bowtie! Can you please get out here?"
"How's my hair?" Leunam jibed, half nervous, half simply wanting to irk Riker just a tad more. He'd never seen her so tense, not even in the Games. One would have thought she was the bride, not Iris.
"Looks wonderful. Now let's get you married," Riker grinned as she darted back to the courtyard entrance where Iris waited. There was a fanfare and they were off.
All eyes turned to the front of the room. Viggo, who was already there, stepped aside gratefully and returned to anonymity as streamers adorned the stage in white. Leunam processed up to the altar, all previous worries forgotten. Jonas took his place, silently, behind him. Riker, dressed in a becoming dark blue dress and still smirking ear to ear took her place parallel to Jonas. Leunam could have sworn he saw her stick her tongue out at him from the corner of his eye and he smirked in approval at her. Then the wedding march began and a flurry of doves took flight as the aisle cleared for Iris.
In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not Viggo turning beat red as one of the pushy Capitolites tried to get his attention, not Jonas and Riker, now standing behind them. Not any of the other mentors or the upcoming games. This was a new beginning for them, a way for them, at least one of them, to leave the Games behind and start a family. At last.
The vows came easily. He and Iris had long known they were the only two people in the world for each other. After their Games, they had so long had a shared understanding. Now the vows just legally recognized that. And their kiss sealed it. It had begun.
Riker Deign – District 3 Mentor
It had begun. Riker smiled almost as widely as the bride and groom as her two friends joined their lives. They deserved it, perhaps more than anyone. Winning back to back games nearly twenty years ago, all they had wanted after the Games was to find consolation in each other's arms. But, being the logical pair, they had made a pact; they hadn't allowed themselves to think of their own lives until it was certain District Three would have an undistracted, unattached mentor when one of them needed to be home with the children. Their mentorship of Riker and her subsequent victory had made that possible. Riker only hoped she would do them both proud this year.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Jonas had gotten his signal and was now preparing his toast. "Though our events of tonight are extremely varied, I would make the irrefutable thesis that this is the most important event of them all. In its singularity we have witnessed the love of not only two humans, two soulmates, but two victors, the first union of its kind that Panem has ever seen. Though I have only known them for six years, not the lifetime they have spent together, it is the fellowship that binds Leunam and Iris that has kept us mentors united. They have leant their strength in times of difficulty, their laughter in times when it was necessary and in times when levity was, as they say, the best medicine. And now it is our pleasure to unite in a time of joy with them as they pledge their eternal love." Jonas paused, his glass raised to the couple. "I have no doubt this amalgamation will inspire multitudes, here in the Capitol, in district three and all across Panem. These two are sincerely the best of us, the sum of our aspirations. So Leunam, Iris, congratulations and may your path, now integrated together, be illuminated lustrously. To the bride and groom!" The courtyard echoed the toast as Iris and Leunam kissed to the clinking of glasses.
Now it was her turn.
"Well, that'll be hard to follow," Riker smirked, glancing snarkily at Jonas. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Riker Deign, Leunam and Iris's protégé." The got the laugh she wanted at that. Of course there wasn't anyone in the Capitol who didn't know her, no one in Panem who didn't recognize her face as the victor of the 23rd Hunger Games, but it was always good manners to introduce yourself in case there was someone who was drunk enough that they forgot. "I am so grateful and blessed to know Leunam and Iris. Though Iris was officially my mentor in the 23rd Games, they have always worked best as a team. Their strengths and weaknesses play of each other so well, and for that, I owe them everything. I owe them my life and the lives of any tributes I bring home in the future. Iris told me something before I went into the games, something I'll always remember. It seems simple, but today it's come back. She told me to be grateful for every breath, every moment, and reminded me to not stop looking for the good even when things looked dismal. Well, we don't have to look very far today. Iris, you are the best mentor, best woman and best friend I could ask for and you and Leunam deserve every moment of happiness today and in the years to come. To the bride and groom!" The room echoed again and the toasts were concluded.
Riker smiled. Nothing could spoil this day for two of the people she loved most. She would see to that.
Esthelrir Grey – District 11 Mentor.
It had begun. Esthelrir smiled widely from his place beside Aeden Sanderling. Yet in his smile there was a hint of trepidation, especially as he kept his eye on District Twelve's new mentor.
He had mixed in with all of the other mentors after the ceremony, rubbing elbows and smiling. Esthelrir was utterly unaccustomed to seeing him in this light. The last time he'd seen this man had been nearly twenty five years ago. That man, Hector Benetikt had been a great deal of the reason the Capitol had won the war.
And now he was in district twelve.
No, Esthelrir corrected himself. He was at the stage. While Esthelrir had been trying to discern his motives, trying to figure out why this man of all people would have been put in District Twelve, Hector had taken charge of the ceremony.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Forgive the interruption. Unlike our esteemed Riker, I feel I do need to introduce myself. I am Isidore Thorne."
Esthelrir paused, scanning the crowd to see if anyone else had been taken aback. No. Was it only he who knew this man from old? This man, who had now assumed a different name. Esthelrir eyed Hector, or Isidore, with great suspicion. Clearly he had his reasons for using an alias now. He'd always worked behind the scenes, so he'd never been in full view of the Capitolite audience when he had been a member of the war effort. But what was he up to and why was he on the stage.
"Before we continue, I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to both Leunam and Iris and our newest Victor, Viggo Helden of District Four. Also the President and the Head Gamemaker, Brutus Laertes have requested that, as the newest mentor, I announce the quarter quell." Isidore, if that was what he was calling himself now, paused and Esthelrir drummed his fingers on the table, fearing what was to come. If Brutus was too cowardly to come forth and announce the quarter quell himself, it had to be some truly terrible affair indeed.
"As you know, when the Hunger Games were established, every 25 years there was to be a quarter quell, an extra special Games. This year each district will select its own tributes. The same age restrictions apply, but the district members must vote and decide upon a male and female tribute. These votes may be influenced by campaigns until the voting, which will be conducted on the usual reaping day."
A hush went over the crowd.
"Come on, everyone. It's not that bad," Riker Deign's voice raised over the crowd. "At least now we can pick who has the best chance, just for one year. It's merciful, even." She was stretching, Esthelrir could tell, desparate to turn everyone's thoughts away from the horrors of the Games. How could anyone say the Games were merciful, especially someone who had volunteered so her own sister wouldn't have to enter them. "Now, let's get back to the wedding!" Riker shouted out loudly, raising her glass, probably trying to fool the crowd into thinking she was drunker than she was. "These two love birds have waited almost twenty years to celebrate their marriage. Now, let's not make them wait another minute."
Esthelrir sighed, surveying the remaining mentors as they struggled to forget what they'd been told. He had no doubt some, especially the budding career districts, would agree. Excelcia's unmistakable grin a few tables away clearly conveyed her feelings. Jonas, no doubt agreed with Riker, that it was logical. But Esthelrir couldn't help but feeling that this was only the beginning.
"To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."