Lucia Bright, Assistant Gamemaker

This is all I've ever dreamt of. Ever since I was little, I loved watching the Hunger Games. I was always gutted that I could never afford to sponsor tributes - Dad had a fairly good job, as a peacekeeper in district 2, but my mother died when I was young, and single parent families don't exactly own a fortune, even in the Capitol. The more rebellious outer district citizens always seem to think everyone in the Capitol is incredibly rich, but we're not; not all of us, anyway. I suppose in comparison to people who are starving to death or something we are, but still, we never had money for holidays, or fancy houses, or cosmetic surgery; anything like that. Plus, Dad was away a lot, working in district 2, which meant I was often home alone.

I got by, though. I worked hard; started off by designing a Hunger Games computer game, based on the 85th Hunger Games. At first I just sold it to some of my friends at school, but then someone on the lower ranks of the Gamemaker's team found out about it and offered to buy it off me. He took most of the credit for it too, but I didn't mind. Not really. I needed the money, and anyway, five years later, that gamemaker eventually was promoted to Assistant Gamemaker, the title I hold now. He needed ideas, and he knew I was full of them, so I ended up on the team, aged only 19. It was literally the best thing ever.

And then, a couple of years back now, the Head Gamemaker at the time disappeared in mysterious circumstances. That same Assistant Gamemaker, Justus Sharpe, took the title and suddenly there was an opening for me as assistant.

Now, finally, my dreams have come true, and I can't wait to share my ideas with everyone. My folder is filled with notes and sketches, ones I've been building up for years, ever since I was a kid. I have a pretty one track mind there.

President Snow is already in the room when me and Justus Sharpe arrive. I flash her a smile as I come in - I've always liked her. She's friendly and confident and full of good ideas. Plus she has an amazing fashion sense. Okay, that might be her stylists; but she wears it well. You can't argue with that.

Also, there's this clip which I watch sometimes, which she's in. It's from the 76th Hunger Games, which I don't remember much of, of course - I mean, I was six. But I sort of admired her, even then. She doesn't make an appearance until the end of the video, when the Games have finished and the victor, a quiet district 1 male called Jet Campbell, is watching the recaps. It is a 14-year-old Aconite Snow who presents him with his crown, wearing her signature Katniss Everdeen braid, never mind that Katniss died two games ago. Even now, that's something I notice about the president - she sticks with her favourites, no matter whether they're winning or not. She's stubborn. Anyway, in this clip, little Aconite wears her Katniss braid, threaded with multicoloured flowers, and a pretty dress. It's plain, much more outer district style than something the people of the Capitol would wear, but its plainness gives it a solidity that really sets off the flowers...

Okay, most people wouldn't care exactly what she was wearing. But I always notice things like that. It's a gift. And anyway, I think that clothes can reveal a lot about a person. But, back to the point. So little Aconite Snow gives Jet the crown, and I think she expects him to just take it and thank her, but he doesn't. He just sits there, looking lost, and there's this really awkward silence.

And then Aconite goes, "It's okay. You don't have to take it." And then she leans over, close enough to whisper - forgetting she's wearing a microphone so everyone can hear her - and says, very softly, "You could give it to one of the other tribute's families, maybe."

That's when her grandfather, the original President Snow, suddenly snatches the crown off her. She looks round, eyes widening. I really don't think she meant for anyone to hear - even at 14 she's no fool. And she knows she's messed up.

And the first President Snow holds out the crown to the District 1 victor, and something in his eyes tells him that refusing, this time, is most certainly not an option. And Jet takes it, finally, and puts it on his head.

I haven't actually been able to find any other clips of Aconite Snow, at least not while her grandfather is president. She appears later, of course, and earlier, when she is still sweet and innocent and not stupid - or wise - enough to say things she shouldn't say. I have a feeling, too, that this particular clip of Aconite Snow was never actually aired. All I remember from watching it the first time round was her dress and her hair. But somehow Justus Sharpe has it in his office. He's clever like that; has all sorts of extra bits and pieces of information about people.

Now, President Snow, the younger one, returns my smile. Her cheeks sort of strain with it, like she's not used to smiling - I guess she knows how bad that sort of thing is for wrinkles, and it makes me feel great that she thinks enough of me to sacrifice that. I imagine what my six-year-old self would have thought if I had told her that one day I, Lucia Bright, would be working alongside Aconite Snow. Aconite Snow! It's a dream come true.

"Hello, Lucia," President Snow says. "Any idea what Justus has planned for the arena? He was being very... mysterious, but I daresay he has something exciting up his sleeve."

That's all the invitation I need.

"Oh, he has!" I say. "Well - we do. It's - oh, I don't know if I'm allowed to say -"

"Oh, I'm sure it's okay, Lucia," President Snow says. "I'll know by the end of the meeting anyway, I'm sure."

"Yes, of course! Right. Well - " I take out my notes again, showing her. I sort of want her to comment on the design on my folder - it took me ages to decorate, and it didn't turn out bad at all if I do say so myself - but she keeps quiet. Never mind. I carry on. "So, the arena. We were thinking - we want to keep it traditional, the tributes themselves at the core, you know? But at the same time, do something pretty spectacular, something to get the audience watching in time for the quarter quell. So I was thinking - ice. And snow. In honour of you, as president, but at the same time giving the viewers something really good to watch. And then - well, there's this other twist I was thinking about..." Well. By me, I sort of mean me and Justus. Okay, maybe just Justus. But what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Besides, he stole my game all those years ago, so what harm will a little karma do?

Okay, this prologue ended up massive. Sorry about that! I just wanted to give Aconite some more depth and I got kind of carried away. Anyway, keep the submissions coming! I haven't had quite as many recently, which is kind of a shame, especially since I've nearly finished the blog (after working on it till midnight last night - I got carried away with that too!) Now I just need the tributes!

The next prologue will be from Jet Campbell's point of view, as a District 1 mentor.