tw: Allusions to victor prostitution and a bit more swearing.

Iresse Crane grew up knowing the value of stories.

What the stories were wasn't really important. Her mother would go on and on about old stories dead people used to tell each other. She didn't really get why. They were gone, so what did it matter what they thought the sky was made of?

But stories were more than just ramblings about made up sky people, or Grandma Lilia's picture books that always said the same things about how great the Capitol was, like they didn't already know what the Capitol thought of itself.

No, there was a story in everything. In everyone. And if Iresse didn't control her own story, others would make up their own about her. For too long, she'd been stuck with the role of "Violette Crane's boring twin" She was going to make her own fate. Forge her own destiny, first as a Gamemaker, and now as Head of Tribute Affairs.

If only her mother hadn't insisted on bringing Violette with her.

So as she bends over the Pre-Games plans she and her twin were supposed to be working on together, while Violette instead went on and on about how ugly and unflattering the Gamemaker robes are, she can't help but contemplate what Violette's outfit says about her.

Violette could technically be said to be in dress code, but only just. Her robes ahad been tightened dramatically and slit strategically. ("I spend good money on this figure, I'm not going to hide it). Glitter had been applied liberally, and was shed even more liberally. The front of her robes hung low thanks to the pounds of jewelry hanging off it. And topping it all off was that blasted wig. Made to resemble a bird cage of hair, complete with birds inside. At least they were fake, this time.

Iress had spent enough time around her twin to know she considered herself the picture of a Capitol Lady, with all the best embellishments, outfits, and enhancements money could buy. She knew that Violette considered Iresse's choice of ordinary Gamemaker robes, and long flowing auburn hair with only a single golden leaf as an accessory to be hopelessly dowdy. After all, that was how they had been their entire lives.

She had no idea that here, in the Stem, the place where the Gamemakers worked to collaborate on Hunger Games-related projects, she was a missed the irony whenever Marcel, head of Muttations, complimented her latest cosmetic change, the contempt in her boss, Galetea's eyes as she assigned Violette busywork that wouldn't matter if it didn't get done.

Her story was clear: A nepotism hire on behalf of the Head Gamemaker, who would be the first one out the second something went wrong in the games. If Iresse had any sense, she would have distanced herself from Violette the second she stepped in.

Unfortunately, she was family, and that meant something in the Capitol.

Iresse needed Violette, for now at least.

If only she wasn't so irritating.

"I swear, they make these things uglier every year." Violette said, tossing her head and yet another cloud of glitter onto Iresse's proposal. "And to what purpose? The only things these things are good for is how easily they-"

"Violette!" Iresse snapped. "Do you really think we have time to talk about this? I'm-"

"Oh please," Iresse could hear the eyeroll in her tone." You're Head of Tribute Affairs, not Head Gamemaker like Uncle Sonny. "

Head down, stay calm, Iresse.

"I mean, compared to what we do in Personnel, you have it easy-"

You are a professional.

"You don't even have any tributes right now. You only really need to work a few weeks a year-"

And professionals don't strangle their sisters in the middle of a workday.

Iresse finally found a space to interject ."It's not just tributes," she replied, proud of herself for how steady she managed to keep her voice. "Head of Tribute Affairs also includes Victors and they cause enough trouble for three people."

"Oh right." Violette said with a smirk in her voice, like they hadn't had this conversation dozens of times. She leaned over into Iresse's face, and whispered hot breath on Iresse's ear "You know which Victors I'd love to get in trouble with."

That was enough. Iresse jerked back. "No." She snapped as she gathered up her papers and headed to the door.

Iresse caught a glimpse of her sister's pout as she turned to leave. "Oh come on." she whined, following Iresse into the hallway. "I was just fooling-"

"No you weren't." Iresse tried to hustle away, but the Gamemaker robes did make it difficult to move quickly. Violette quickly caught up.

"I'm just saying, you're the one with The List-"

"STOP!" In a flash, the anger rushing through Iresse's bloodstream froze into a cold panic. She whirled back around and frantically began shushing Violette,

frantically checking to see if anyone was lingering in the area. "Violette, you can't talk-"

Violette laughed. "It's not like anyone here doesn't already know."

That wasn't the point. Iresse hadn't even gotten settled into her new position as Head of Tribute Affairs before she was informed about the list, and how managing Victors' appointments with the rich and powerful was another of her duties. She had been told that discretion was a key to this part of her duties.

But Iresse had to tell someone. Had to ask someone when Panem had gotten this fucked up, and what the fuck could she do about it.

Instead, Violette asked if Iresse could get her an appointment with Augustus Braun.

Any last remains of respect Iresse had for her sister died that day.

And the worst part was, she kept on bringing it up at the worst times. Like when they were supposed to be working. No matter how many times she told not to.

Iresse straightened up, and took a deep breath. Maybe this time would be the one that got through that thick skull of hers. "Listen. It's not-"

"Miss Crane."

Just when Iresse had managed to calm down. She had to hear the voice that could send chills down the spine of any Citizen of Panem, Capitol or District.

Iresse only spared herself a moment to breathe before she turned around to face him. "Hello, Mr. President."

President Snow raised a single eyebrow. As usual, the man was dressed in a simple, though obviously expensive suit. His only embellishment was the fresh rose kept in his front pocket. Yet the man radiated power in his simplicity. While the masses in the Capitol bankrupted themselves following trends and attempting to show one another up, Snow transcended it all. He didn't even bother to dye his hair.

This is what true power looks like in the Capitol, Iresse thought.

Iresse gave a short curtsey as she arranged her face into what she hoped was a pleasantly professional expression. Inside, her thoughts whirled. President Snow, even at his age, was known for arriving unexpectedly at the workplaces and homes of people he had business with. And it was never to tell them "Well done, good job."

Violette was there too, of course. Practically falling over herself curtseying, and babbling about the honor of working for him, how exciting the Quell was going to be, how much he was going to love the Pre-Game events they were planning.

President Snow kept his gaze firmly on Iresse, ignoring Violette completely. Iresse didn't know whether to be grateful, or terrified. "I have work for you, Miss Crane."

Iresse nodded, heart sinking slightly. Don't let it be about The List. "Always ready to serve, Mr. President."

President Snow nodded. "There are certain… arrangements that need to be made concerning the Tributes. The Reaping Balls need to be thoroughly checked in certain Districts, to make sure that the correct number of slips are added."

Oh, so not the List, but rigged Reapings. Not as bad, at least. Someone had to be reaped each year anyway. That's what Iresse always told herself. She even managed to force a smile as she nodded in understanding.

The President continued. "In addition, the fact that this year is a Quell, and we have older tribute means we need to be diligent in keeping track of them. We cannot dismiss any of the tributes as potential troublemakers. The areas where the Tributes will be staying need additional security and surveillance to ensure our potential Victors won't be causing any problems.

Violette broke in. "Of course, sir. I'll put our best people on it! No one can compete with your brilliance, sir-"

"I'll take care of it immediately." Iresse interrupted. Violette huffed slightly but didn't contest her. Iresse outranked Violette, and the management of the Tributes was her job, not Violette's. "Do you wish for us to investigate our potential tributes before the Quell?"

"Only if it can be done subtly." His voice was soft, but firm. "The twist cannot be leaked early." he continued.

He didn't need to say what the consequences would be if the Quell premise was leaked. Iresse knew how the success of the Quell hinged on the Districts being surprised. If the Inner Districts found out, they'd immediately start training any nineteen-year olds left in the District. And If the Outer Districts found out…

Well, she knew how many Peacekeepers were set to be deployed to the Districts after the reading of the Card. And how necessary it was to keep the eligible tributes from bolting. She also knew how stretched the corps were covering the nine Outer Districts for two days. If they needed to be watching for months, it would just be impossible. Potential tributes would escape, and someone would need to be blamed.

So Iresse knew what she needed to do. She pasted on a smile and replied. "That won't be an issue. I have contacts with Capitol Cultural Heritage and Panem's Center for Artistic Outreach. Our investigations can be done under the cover of their research. They can say it's for a project in honor of Seventy-Five years of peace. "

She waited. Hoping desperately that she had worked out what he wanted to hear. That he was willing to trust her that, nepotism hire or not, she was capable of doing this.

Slowly, the President nodded. "Get on it at once. I want a detailed description of the environment surrounding the potential Quell tributes by the Victory Tour, and a proper analysis of the actual tributes before training begins. "

Relief, cold relief, flooded her. "Of course, sir." She curtseyed once again, then added. "And I'm ready to meet with you regarding the Reaping Balls whenever you want."

"See that you are." Then, without even a word of acknowledgement to Violette, he turned and left.

Iresse and Violette were alone once more. For a moment, neither moved.

Then with a humph, Violette turned and strode back through the door to the Control Room.

Iresse walked back through in a daze. This was what she wanted. A role with real responsibilities. A chance to actually do something other than go to parties all day and night. She would indeed, be able to make a difference in Panem.

Just not the kind of difference she pictured.

Instead of heading over to their desk Violette sashayed over to Galatea. "You would never believe it! The President was just here, and he gave me a special task! The President himself needs me to do something!"

"Well, it is your job, Vi," Marcel, from Muttations, called out from across the way, their head still buried in papers.

Violette shrugged off the comment as she continued to chatter about how very important and very secret her task was, how no one could even know she was given the task.

Iresse made her way to the desk. As she sat down, a flicker of movement caught her eye.

She looked up and saw Marcel. Iresse didn't consider herself close to them, considering the two of them worked in completely different fields. But Marcel was giving her a thumbs up. Next to them, Galetea gave her a sympathetic smile before turning beck to Violette and once again tried to get her to understand that, as Violette's boss, she needed to know what Violette was working on.

Odd. Iresse had always considered Violette a liability here. And she was.

But she was more than that. She was a foil.

Violette was ridiculous, outgoing, and oblivious. Iresse was serious, thoughtful, and at least tried to be competent. Iresse was used to being overshadowed by her sister, but her, the worse Violette was, the better Iresse looked by comparison.

And there was the other thing.

Violette was a nepotism hire. An obvious nepotism hire. With her here, no one would question how Iresse, also the niece of Seneca Crane, and far more serious about work, managed to get her position. Nepotism was a way of life in the Capitol.

But it wasn't the only path to power.

Iresse had more going for her than the right family and talents. She had tools and ambitions she couldn't let anyone know about just yet.

She didn't need anyone looking at her, wondering why someone who didn't even enjoy the Games became a Gamemaker. Wondering how far her ambitions ran.

The President had been a Gamemaker, once. And he couldn't live forever…

A/N: And that's the last (planned) prologue. Might have a fourth one, or the next chapter might be the first introduction to the tributes. All of the slots are filled, and 3/4ths of them are 100% ready, so I'm pretty excited.