Hi, everyone! Before starting with the current chapter, you can have a look at the scheme of my next updates (I think you might find it useful, since my updates are not that frequent these days):

- 76th: interlude 2 (the current chapter is interlude 1)

- 99th: day 3

- 99th: night 3

- 76th: sponsor chapter 1

- 76th: training day 1

And now, enjoy your reading :)

First day in the Capitol

Ismene Flair (45)- Head Gamemaker

As soon as Falcon concludes his speech, he gets back inside, his dark silhouette shadowing the light coming from the crowded square. He looks unperturbed, not even an inch of his body betrays his true feelings. If I didn't know that something to be hidden is stirring in his mind, I'd think he's a rather cold-blooded man, considering that he has just talked to an immense crowd without hesitation.

"Concise and straightforward. Well done, sir," I comment with a smile.

"Thank you," he replies.

I take him by the arm, and we head to the corridor connecting the room with the balcony to Falcon's private chamber. A head-down avox opens the door for us. Falcon waves for his bodyguards to leave us some privacy. This mansion is meant to be the house of Panem's president, but Falcon has decided not to live here. He doesn't like the combination of luxury, sterility, and looming sense of duty exuding from the crystal chandeliers, the antique pink walls with gold-framed pictures of all the prior presidents, and the moquette emblazoned with Panem's crest. Honestly, I cannot blame him. This place makes you feel like you're unworthy of Panem's glorious past, no matter what you do. Therefore, it is used only for social events. Falcon is sleeping here tonight for convenience only.

"How was it?" I ask Falcon at some point.

"What?" he replies with another question.

"Seeing him," I specify.

He takes a deep breath in response. "I didn't even look at him... I didn't look at any of the tributes."

"Ignoring the problem is not the solution to it," I point out.

"You think I don't know that?" he rebuts, clearly annoyed.

"I'm sorry, Falcon, I didn't mean to anger you, just… we need to agree on what to do. He's your son…"

"He might be my son," Falcon corrects me.

"The fact that the possibility exists is more than enough for me to worry. He's going to be sent to the arena in a few days, and you have no idea what we managed to create for this year. You wanted a spectacular arena, and you'll get it, I assure you. However, I don't want you to suffer."

"Why should I suffer? Even if he was my son, it doesn't mean that I have to love him and mourn his death."

"You're right, but…"

"No buts, Ismene!" he says, interrupting me. "I want you to be the Head Gamemaker… only the Head Gamemaker, not his guardian angel, okay? No favouritism!"

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!"

In the meantime, we've got to his door. He leaves my arm.

"Good night, Ismene," he says, while opening the door.

"Falcon, wait…" I reply in a whisper.

He turns to me, his deep blue eyes meeting mine.

"What if he won?" I ask.

"I doubt it. He's just twelve… and I know that I can trust you," he answers.

"And I'm honoured… honestly, I don't want to question your decisions, just… I'm here to help you… even if you regretted…"

At this stage, Falcon gently takes both my hands, and I immediately stop speaking. He gets closer to me. My heart is beating like crazy, I can only hope he cannot hear it.

"Ismene… believe me, I know I'm asking you too much. I told you what happened, because I trust you, but… well, I wish things were easier… you know, it's not just family business in this case: Panem needs a strong, incorrupt president now more than ever… if rumours went around…"

"I'm discreet, you know that!" I rebut, interrupting him.

"Yeah, I do know that, just… presidents shouldn't affect the Games… or, rather, they aren't supposed to do it, but we all know they do. Sometimes, they even menace Gamemakers… like Snow would do, but… I don't want to be like him…"

"And you're not like him, indeed!"

"But one needs sometimes to be cold and merciless, Ismene. For my sake and for Panem's stability, I order you to make sure he doesn't win. I don't want you to rig the Games, but I'm sure you can understand that we cannot have such a victor now, right after a rebellion…"

I don't reply immediately. I take my time to choose my words, inevitably keeping Falcon on his toes.

"Ismene…" he whispers at some point.

That's not the attitude of a leader demanding answers from their underlings, but who cares at this stage? The image of Falcon I used to have is spoiled beyond repair now. That's good, after all, for it was just an idealization… the idealization made by a woman in love. Love… that's the first time I give such a name to what I feel for Falcon… I've never dared to before, not even in the secrecy of my mind. Love used to be a forbidden name, even thinking of it was a sin… a sin against my own sister… but things have changed. It's sad, though… I'm finally willing to give the right name to my feelings only after realizing that I no longer want to feel them.

I take a deep breath. "I agree with you, he cannot win. If he dies…"

"When he dies," he corrects me.

"No, if is better. If he dies, no one will think you wanted him dead, because the arena of this year is extremely insidious… Ancient Greece and the monsters of its myths… guess surviving gonna be hard, don't you think? Just remember that if he dies, he'll pay for your mistake, not his. He's innocent. I just hope you can bear to have his death on your conscience."

Quite an interesting chapter, don't you think? I've decided to add another dialogue between Falcon and Ismene, because I like describing how their relationship is developing. Since this chapter is an interlude, submitters cannot assign points. The next chapter gonna be an interlude as well, and I'm going to introduce a sponsor… and a dramatic turn… but no more spoilers! The arena is already a big spoiler. By the way, is there a Greek myth you absolutely want me to write about? And do you think Ismene will obey Falcon? Let me know it in your reviews!

Message to readers: a poll is available on my bio. It's about Love Is the Deadliest Weapon, but I think I'm going to make it valid for this story too. It focuses on sponsor chapters and reaction chapters (i.e. chapters in which the reaction to a tribute's death is described), which are not yet present here, but I'm going to write some of them soon. If you want, have a look at this poll.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. Have a nice day :)