I wanted to bring some more Capitol perspective to this Games. The Mentors and escorts might show up now and then if I remember. A reader suggested that I write something about the politics of the Games and the President/Gamemaker relationship. Galba's a lot different than Snow. She's more focused on just keeping Panem together and doesn't involve herself in the Games as much as Snow does. I also decided to finally give her some attributes other than being female. Thanks Estefan Garfield for the idea for this first part.
Head Gamemaker Exsequia Exil POV
I entered the office. President Galba was behind her desk. Her brown eyes bored into me, and her graying hair just made me feel younger and more incompetent.
"Madam President," I said.
"Come in, Exsequia. Sit," she said.
This isn't going to be an easy meeting, I thought as I took a seat. I'd barely slept an hour since yesterday. Just when I was getting to sleep she summoned me.
President Galba looked at me from behind her folded hands.
"I want to discuss some details from the Games with you," she said.
"Of course, Madam President," I said. I tried to keep looking her in the eye.
"The last two annuals were less than desirable," she said.
"I know, Madam," I replied. I crossed my legs tightly.
"I would go so far as to call them a disgrace. The twenty-third Games were a disaster. The Capitol doesn't want to watch half the Tributes freeze to death. I crowned a frightened girl who killed no one and held her last opponent's hand," President Galba said.
"We made some great strides with the next Games," I pointed out.
"The twenty-fourth Games were an improvement thematically but a step down for the Victor. Peppermint has done nothing yet to anger me, but I suspect she's not as timid as Cornflower," President Galba said.
"Despite your best efforts, this does have its advantages. Cornflower is too afraid of her own shadow to do us any damage. But such an Arena will never be tolerated again. Neither will any more technological upsets. Muttations are not pets," President Galba finished. Last year's Muttations were quite a hit with the Capitol, but not for the right reasons. Hysperia was flooded with requests to release the raccoon-muskrats for the Capitolites to carry around in their purses.
"There will be no flops this year," I assured the President. "The sarcocrododilius was highly effective, as were this year's hounds."
"Yes, those were more adequate. Tell me, can you send the hounds after a specific Tribute?" she asked.
"If that is what you want, we can manage it," I said on Hysperia's behalf. Goodness I hope so.
"I aim to let the Victor sort herself out, but I will be pleased if I have such an option," she said. "I am already seeing the Districts taking advantage of our Quell to rid themselves of undesirables. The brutes from Eight and Eleven for example, or the females from Four and Twelve. I would be very disappointed if such a Tribute were to win. It would reflect much better if our Games removed those entrants and a more agreeable Tribute was spared."
"I'll do what I can, Madam," I said. My voice cracked as I spoke.
"See that you do," she said.
Peppermint POV
I stuck my brush through the canvas and swept my arms toward it.
"I call it Postmodern Angst," I said to Orchard. She was not amused. She struck a line across her paper once again. Soleil stifled a laugh, and Azure glared at her.
"Your talent is not painting. It is also not acting, modeling, baking, singing, or poetry," she said.
"Sorry. I'm just not good at fancy stuff," I said.
"What did you do back home?" Orchard asked. All us Victors were back in the Capitol for the annual Mid-Season Reunion. Basically, we stood around and let the Capitol stare at us and feel our muscles.
"I fought with Apollo and worked the fields," I said. I addressed the milling group of Victors. "All right, wise guys, what's your talent?"
"Dancing," Soleil said.
"Bird calls," Hyden said.
"Calligraphy," Jonah piped up.
"Interior design," Sequoia said as she rolled her eyes.
"Tattooing," Crag offered.
"Sculpting," Cornflower said.
"Mine's makeovers," Doris said with a scowl. "Anyone wanna make something of it?" she said when Azure could hardly hide a smile.
"Bird calls? Calligraphy? Why are those talents and fighting isn't?" I complained to Orchard. She ignored me.
"You don't have to be very good. They got no taste here," Acee said. "I told them my talent was code writing and none of them want to admit they're too dumb to read my coding."
"Cornflower only knows how to sculpt cats and rabbits," Fluvius said. "They're very nice- I have a kitty myself- but the Capitol didn't care at all when her debut collection "Cats and Rabbits" was just that."
"I don't make the rules. The Capitol didn't get all hung up on "talents" until I'd already been here six years, so I had plenty of time to find out I actually like whittling," Orchard said. She scanned her paper.
"What would you like to try next, embroidery or wine tasting?"
Screw it all.
I continue to emphasize that while I may be writing the chapters, this story is for everyone who submitted a character. If you send in backstory, quotes, or elements, I'll do my best to add them, like Estefan's idea. If you think your character isn't going to make it and request a certain death, I'll try to at least give you that much. Finally, if you have a Victor, I won't just forget about them. Peppermint and all future Victors will continue to be part of this universe.
One more thing: Like my doppelganger Cornflower, I really do sculpt and all I can sculpt is cats and rabbits. We all have our talent XD