Author's Note

I do not own the Hunger Games.

The Capitol

Thorin Marcoussis, 17

Thorin had been Enki for seventeen years of his life. It was the name the fathers that loved him blessed him with, it was the name his family wanted him to have.

And now it was the name of the rebel that had killed so many people.

Kids.

Innocents.

He'd wanted revenge, but there was so much blood on his hands. Enki would never be able to wash them clean.

So Enki had to be Thorin. Thorin had only been a mask to hide behind as he played the Game, but it was also the name of the boy that Vivaldi loved. It was the name of the boy that Vivaldi thought he was.

Thorin could be Thorin if Vivaldi wanted him to be.

The door clattered open, and footsteps clattered inside. A moment later, Vivaldi fell into the room, his usually beautiful clothing rumpled, his hair ruffled, his eyes bloodshot.

"They're doing it again," he said, throwing himself against Thorin's chest.

"Doing what again?"

"A Game. A competition. But not like the simulation. More like… some twisted challenge? For District kids. As punishment." He dragged a hand across his face. "Thorin, we've got so many killed."

"No, no, this isn't your fault–"

A tall, dark haired boy appeared in the doorway. He was wearing pristine white gloves and a suit with a fucking cape. It took Thorin a moment to recognise Andreas Amandiel, the survivor of the simulation that didn't come to visit him on a regular basis.

Andreas stared. "What the fuck is this?"

"Andreas, this is Thorin," said Iridescence, ducking into the room.

"Thorin– I can see that! Why is he here?! Why are you with him?! Why the fuck is Vivaldi kissing him?"

"Thorin's his boyfriend," said Emeria, flopping down on one of the sofas.

"Because it's totally logical to date the District savage that spent most of the Game we were trapped in trying to kill you."

"Thorin never tried to kill me," Vivaldi muttered.

"It's complicated," said Phoenix.

"Complicated," muttered Andreas.

Thorin sighed and guided Vivaldi over to one of the armchairs. "Does one of you want to explain to me exactly what is going on?"

According to Luminita, they had been seen by the President, who wanted to explain that they were holding a competition for the Districts. There would be forty eight players, regardless of District or Gender, and they would enter a series of traps. They could all get through alive, if they worked together, but they could also favour themselves and earn more money, at the cost of the others.

"They won't get forty eight kids from across all the Districts working together," said Thorin.

"We know." Vivaldi wrapped his arms around his neck. "They're all going to die, and it's all our fault."

"Never mind the fault!" Andreas jabbed a gloved hand at Thorin. "I would still like to know what he's doing here!"

And this was one of the reasons they'd all been just a little thankful Andreas had never agreed to join any of their meetings. It took them some time to explain, and longer to talk him into not going straight to the Peacekeepers.

Throughout all of it, Zephyr never said a word.

Author's Note

And so ends the introductions!

Confused at not seeing your tribute? Worry not! I'm not really following the usual structure for SYOTs with this, and not every tribute will be seen in every section. This is because I want to streamline things and keep them moving.

But! This chapter does also start a new thing: the building of the tribute list! Rather than release it all at once, I'll be adding tributes to it as we see them. In addition, I won't be releasing who submitted which tribute until/unless their eulogy. Though you can of course include them on your own lists as I know many people like to. I just thought it might be fun. I will reveal now that as I received far more interest than I was expecting, there are 24 submitted tributes and 24 of my own.

Without further ado then, here's the tributes we've met in the introduction section!

DISTRICT ONE

Female: Daisy Jetson-Brie, 15

DISTRICT TWO

N/A

DISTRICT THREE

Male: Toshiro Micron-Bundar, 13

DISTRICT FOUR

N/A

DISTRICT FIVE

Female: Rusudan Murtov, 13

DISTRICT SIX

N/A

DISTRICT SEVEN

Male: Terro Fields, 18

DISTRICT EIGHT

Female: Meredith Singer, 18

Female: Nadine Stitcher, 16

DISTRICT NINE

Female: Amarine Feller, 14

Female: Wren Willows, 18

DISTRICT TEN

Male: Callum Tanner, 15

Male: Diego Butcher, 17

Male: Hunter Maren, 16

DISTRICT ELEVEN

Male: Dove Greenling, 14

Female: Cashew Murphy, 12

DISTRICT TWELVE

N/A

Next chapter we'll add some more!