Isaac Templeton

Gamemaker , he/him


...

Three months prior to the games.

Sliding the tinted, glass spectacles further down his nose, he focussed on the shape of a mutt forming in front of his very eyes. The creature was small, but it's long fangs and claws would send shivers down a normal person's spine. He enlarged something or another, and then continued to make slight adjustments, all in all making the mutt more and more grotesque with each focussed movement.

He fiddled around with the proportions, taking huge pride in creating these creatures that could maul apart a human in mere seconds, before being turned off seconds later by the Gamemakers. They were so complex and lifelike, the littlest details often having the bigger impacts. It fascinated him.

These mutts he liked to play with, that he liked to reshape and redesign, would most likely never see daylight. He was only a part time worker, he held no authority in the creation of such mutts, but in the night, after his shift was ended, he was allowed to do whatever he wished. He found it entertaining when his fingers pressed against invisible panes made of strange substances, slipping across deftly and changing the shapes of their head, enlarging the paws and furthering the definition of the veins along his back. Making it more and more threatening.

It was late, the sky outside the large, floor lengthen glass windows was pitch black. The occasional white star catching the light of thousands of capitol buildings added to the beauty of the night. It probably didn't help the eerie atmosphere when he was disrupted. Someone walked up to him, tapping him on the shoulder, startling the focussed game maker. With a glance upwards, Isaac paused what he was doing. The Avox that had come to grab his attention bowed his head, before gesturing towards the President, who was stood at the doorway, cocking his head intently as he watched, waiting for Isaac to notice him.

Having never been in the President's presence, Isaac was uncertain what to do, perhaps coming across flustered, he scrambled to stand up, shutting down the scrap-design (instantly losing any and all progress in his design) and dipping his head. "Sir, may I help you?" He prompted, soon standing properly.

He was a peculiar man, in appearance, by Capitol standards. Standing at only 5"6 and strangely put together - gangly limbs and a very thin frame for a Capitolite, a figure more suited to someone in poverty, and short dyed hair that didn't compliment his skin tone whatsoever.

Snow gave a small, approving smirk as he watched and listened, shooing the Avox away as if he were insignificant. That's how Avox's were treated around here. "Mr. Templeton.. I presume you knew - know - Andrew Smith, Head Gamemaker of games 76 through 81? Yes?" He paused, very briefly to watch Isaac nod affirmatively. "Well, he has had to.. resign.." the last games had started to get repetitive of the years before, it got far too boring at some point, according to later made comments, "and I would like you to take his place as Head Gamemaker in the preparation of the 82nd Hunger Games." He broke off, clearly not well.

Clearly startled, Templeton stumbled over his words. "I.. it would be a great honour, Sir, are you quite sure I'm suited to the role?" He instantly winced. Why was he questioning the President? Rookie error on his part. Drumming his fingers on the desk behind him, quietly enough that it wasn't noticeable.

1, 2, 3, 4.

1, 2, 3, 4.

The pattern continued like that.

"Of course I am.." - this prompted a nod from Isaac, his smile broadening - "but please, make sure that these games are unforgettable Isaac, whatever you do." Snow smirked inwardly, before turning and leaving. Not another word spoken as he waved the newly appointed Head Game-maker back to what he as doing previously.

Isaac collapsed back into his chair the moment the President was out of earshot, stunned into silence by what was going on. What a strange but gladly welcomed experience, to the 26-year-old amateur. How strange indeed..


Another brief prologue here, I'm so excited for the pre-games chapters and readings ahh! Thank you to everyone who has submitted so far, I really appreciate it!

If anyone has spare time and would like to submit another tribute, somewhere else, I recommend stillbejeweled's "where the sun can't find you", it's also a new SYOT and super good! :D

Tribute form is on my page, as is all the slots open and stuff .. thank you for reading!

thg.