now let us observe how a clown jingles softly into the circus he has avoided for years.

yes, for i am the clown writing another syot

(hopefully better than the oli2fab4u days)

Mnemosyne Tanana, Head Gamemaker, 45

August, 114 ADD. Three days after the finale of the 114th Hunger Games.

Mnemosyne was experienced enough to know not even the strongest coffee could cure a Crowning hangover. Hell, that was one of the first things she had learnt twenty-seven years ago on her first year as a Gamemaker.

Old habits died hard; the President's will for those around him to drink alongside him seemed to die harder.

In hindsight, she should've known that this year's Crowning would be a grand celebration; President Augur had a soft spot for District Five. His mother had been a native there, invited by the Capitol to live there as she revolutionised some power grid systems or something. Mnemosyne hardly remembered, nor did she care. Such minor details needed to be remembered by new Gamemakers, ones that had to prove themselves to the President. She, a Head Gamemaker of five years, had cemented herself as one of his favourites. That had it downsides too; needing to remember miniscule facts about the President's life had taken on a new form, instead having to be within the President's inner circle. If he wanted to spend the night drinking as he had done at the Crowning, it was the obligation of his inner circle to do the same.

Being in favour with the president was arduous work, underpinned by how harsh he could be.

Mnemosyne's personal avox had been a subtle reminder from President Augur that he was in control. Quintis had been an old childhood friend of her's who had been on the receiving end of a parental punishment. His parents had rebelled during the Second Rebellion so he, naturally as the old president had put it, had to suffer too. As he came of age at eighteen, he was stripped of the life he knew and avoxed without a second warning. At first Mnemosyne felt guilt before accepting quickly there was nothing she could have done. Not back then, not now.

The president underestimated the small rebellion even she had within her. Instead of fearing what had happened to Quintis and treating him as she did other avoxes, the two rekindled some of the old friendship. It was nothing as it had been - he couldn't talk, for starters - but there was a mutual understanding; he worked hard and she, in return, would give him extra food and be a little kinder to him.

She grimaced at the taste of coffee on her tongue, the ghost of the night before still leaving a sour taste in her mouth. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she noticed the small quirk of an eyebrow Quintis used to do when he found something amusing.

"Don't judge me," She said, a small smile etched onto her face. "I still remember the party at Camillus' house when we were seventeen."

The small exhale of breath that made up all of Quintis' laughs never went unmissed. Mnemosyne secretly revelled in it; she felt it made her a little more human. Surely someone who makes an avox laugh can't be bad, right?

"Besides, you'd drink a lot too if you had to be with the President for an entire Crowning."

Quintis was silent as he always was - as he had been decreed to be for the rest of his days. Mnemosyne knew it was pointless speaking to him; he could offer nothing back but a quirk of an eyebrow or an exhale whenever he felt daring.

"Ms. Tanana, President Augur would like to see you."

Thalia Goldstein, the assistant of the President, lacked tact at the best of times. She scarcely knocked, even when entering someone's private chambers. The President found it endearing; Mnemosyne found it rude. No matter. If she gets the escort allocation to District Two like she wants, she'll be gone.

"Where?" Mnemosyne asked, eyes flicking to Quintis. He moved obediently to gather her things and, again, Mnemosyne felt some guilt. The Quintis she had known was a rebellious wild child. She supposed having your tongue cut out changed things.

"The Presidential Palace."

Only three days after and we're to discuss next year's Games?

Mnemosyne smiled thinly, nodding. "Tell him to expect me."

At least three days was longer than he had given her last year.

Axis Amppet of District Five, Victor of the 114th Hunger Games, 17

August, 114 ADD. Three days after the finale of the 114th Hunger Games

Axis traced a finger over the delicate engraving work, appreciating it for the first time. Etched gently on the front of the tiara, so faint it was only visible in certain lights, were the simple words: Victor of the 114th Hunger Games. It was a work of art - a masterpiece. Nothing short of the perfection the Capitol bragged it bestowed its Victors. For a brief second, she wondered if it was made in District One. Venus spoke highly of her father's profession early into the pre-Games. If this was a testament, I'd brag about it too.

Her heart ached for a click, regret reminding her that she had killed Venus. She was a Career chasing you - don't feel regret. She remembered quickly why she killed Venus. Survival; killing Venus guaranteed her own life. That'd been on the seventh day of the Games and, even some week later, it still didn't feel real.

"I'm not a murderer." Axis said quietly, not to anyone in particular - not even herself. It was an affirmation; a statement.

You are though. Venus and Chrysalis; one of them would be here had it not been for you.

She walked to the mirror in the room and held the Victor's Crown to her head. Allowing a small smile at the thought of her stylist going crazy that the crown just wouldn't work on the messy flurry of red hair that greeted her every morning, Axis placed the crown on her head. She remembered their faces; Venus from One and Chrysalis from Nine. She had been two different tributes when she killed them. Venus' death was at the hands of a scared little girl who never considered herself a contender; the girl who ignored her respectable 7 training score and wilfully rejected the hype the Capitol gave her. Chrysalis' murderer was a tribute who was prepared to fight to go home - an uncrowned Victor who refused to place second. Murderer. Victor. Murderer. Victor.

"I am a Victor." She straightened her back and tilted her head upwards just like she had been told. Regal and befitting of Panem's newest starlet. "They didn't have the drive - I did. I do." Her voice was quiet, scarcely above a whisper.

She was exhausted, Keepers only knew. It felt as if, by some cruel twist of fate, winning the Games was more tiring than being in them.

The first day out of the arena had been a day of 'rest;' a thinly veiled way of reminding her that she needed to look pretty. That day, Capitolite doctors worked their magic on her, removing any immediate ailments they could. She was told she had been lucky - a few years ago a Victor needed his leg amputated. Even now, Axis shivered at the way they had laughed so easily at it. Where the doctors left off, her stylist team picked back up. They cut her hair into something more manageable, shaved hair that they deemed unnecessary and stained her body a healthier colour. She was cooed at and fussed over, being treated as if she was something precious. "A porcelain doll," one of her stylists had said. Axis supposed that was meant to be a compliment.

Yesterday had been the Crowning. It was the moment her team had been excited for. Even Wattson, the gym teacher at her school who volunteered to be Five's mentor, buzzed with anticipation. The Capitol saw it as a joyous day; she would receive her crown from President Augur and then watch highlights of her Games. That was, of course, after she had been paraded around just like she had been on her first night in the city. Instead of that lumpy, unflattering silver jumpsuit she wore, she was dressed in a deep blue gown. The first parade had been just for the District Five girl, the second was for Axis Amppet, the Victor. Everything had gone according to plan - the President even called her radiant. She had seen then what she blocked out before; the Capitol liked her.

Watching the highlight reel of her Games was harder than she had thought it'd be. Axis hadn't wanted to see Vixor's face again. It was bad enough that she had to see his decimated corpse in her head at night; seeing him living, breathing and smiling punched her in the gut again and again. I can't do this, she had thought, I'm gonna barf. She knew what was at stake, forcing herself through it. Smiling with thin satisfaction at her kills and furrowing her eyebrows in pity at some of the sadder parts. Axis was numb to it all now. As she had learnt in the arena; feelings made you vulnerable. A Victor had to be exemplary. She would be exemplary.

There was a knock at the door. Axis half-expected for her escort to burst through like she had done the entirety of the pre-Games. Since leaving the arena, it seemed she gained some respect for people's boundaries. Or I gained a beloved title.

Unlike before, when Fantasia would simply speak as soon as she appeared, she stopped to give Axis a second.

"Another busy day today!" Axis found herself warming to Fantasia's voice. Keepers knew she needed to - they were a team now. No more volunteers from Five changing year by year. "You're got be a guest on The Iridescent de Calconny show - isn't that exciting? Then we have th-"

Fantasia stopped as she took in the sight before her. It was the first time in days that she had seen the Axis she had reaped nearly three weeks ago. The beautiful crown couldn't distract from the messy hair, tired eyes nor fading skin stain. It was the first time she realised Axis, her Victor, needed rest; needed time to heal. Such a thing could never be allowed, however, for the schedule was tight and steely.

Gingerly, she brought a hand to the mess of red locks and tucked some behind Axis' ear, smiling gently. "But first you need some breakfast. Signal an avox when you're ready and we can get your favourite - okay?"

Although Axis offered Fantasia a soft smile and a nod, she wondered if she'd ever be ready.

Hopefully mentoring will be better.

Hello everyone and welcome to another SYOT from an old clown trying old tricks.

This chapter is simply an introduction that allows us to meet two characters who may have a central part within this SYOT.

There are a few things to note;

- Every user is entitled to two tribute entries. I have the right to accept both, accept only one, or decline both of them.

- There are no reservations; I will simply pick and choose the ones I feel inspired by the most. I will, on my profile, keep a tracker of the interest/how many people have submitted.

- This SYOT may turn into a partial one. If this is the case, all submitted tributes will have guaranteed survival past the deaths of non-submitted tributes.

- Please read the Google Doc carefully as it outlines some worldbuilding I have established - the link is on my profile.

I hope to see some submissions B)