I. Golden Age

Chantilly Apsinthos, 22.

Gamemaker.

There's nothing Tilly loves more than a good bit of drama.

Now, that's not to say that she's a vulture for it - she knows when to wait, take her time for the next big story. She's been working under Head Gamemaker Antares Mangjeol since her eighteenth birthday; waiting is something she's very much accustomed to. After all, the Games are only once a year, and she's got a lot of time off before the next batch of tributes arrives at the slaughterhouse. Though she's a natural at Gamemaking, placed in charge of tribute research, she knows it's not for her, not like it is for Thea. That's why, when Dorian Auclair shows up at her office one warm July morning shortly after the conclusion of the 161st Hunger Games, she considers a change in career path.

"Miss. Apsinthos," the old man (he's not really that old, four years younger than father) starts politely, shyly. "I quit. Good Mr. President's letting me pick my own replacement -"

"Say no more." Tilly replies without waiting a beat. "Come in, won't you? Sorry for the mess."

Not many regular Gamemakers have their own offices - most of them are relegated to one shared space, chaotic and loud and entirely unsuited to concentrating on important work. Those Gamemakers are in the labs most of the time anyway, so it isn't like they need it. Tilly's special, though; she's a researcher, yes, so she needs her own space, but not many of her coworkers can say their father was once Head Gamemaker.

(Well, one other can, but that's only because she's her sister.)

Her desk is overflowing with sticky notes, sheets of paper, scattered stationary and empty coffee cups. She hefts up a stack of files and drops them unceremoniously on the floor, allowing herself some room to lean her elbows on the table and actually look Dorian in the face as they talk. She meets with him often, helping him formulate questions for interviews and being the liaison between himself and the Gamemaking team so his commentary is wholly accurate. The man looks ragged as he drags a seat over to sit opposite Tilly, his long black hair unbrushed and dark bags under his eyes uncovered by makeup. She perches, chin resting over her hands, and Dorian avoids meeting her eyes.

"So," he starts, voice shaking. "I decided I'm done. And, uh… Well, you seem like the best person to take over for me. I know your dad always wanted my job."

"I never heard the end of it," Tilly says with a click of her tongue. Head Gamemaker had never been enough for Adonis - no, he needed it all, but he'd been forced to take the position for the stability of the nation. Of course, that was all before her own birth. "Do you need me to tell Mangjeol, or…?"

"No, no," he fumbles, laughing awkwardly. "Vasi - I mean President Karnak will, when I report back to him. I'm just glad you wanted the position - wait, you do, right?"

Tilly stifles a giggle with a carefully manicured hand. "Is it not obvious, Mr. Auclair?"

He looks embarrassed. "Right. I suppose it is. Well, as I was saying - I really would've hated to look anywhere else. You're a good replacement, y'know? Basically been doing my job for me these past few years, haha…"

Auclair's been pathetic as long as Tilly's known him. She's never faulted him for it, exactly. She's heard enough from her dads about why he's like this - he's just lucky the President has such a strong attachment to him, that he's good at putting on a unflinching mask of calm in front of the crowd. If it weren't the case, Tilly's certain he would have been axed long ago. Really, she's surprised he's lasted this long at all with how much he seemingly hates the attention his role affords him.

Tilly, however, loves nothing more than the crowd. Perhaps it's because she's her father's daughter - but she revels in the attention being Games staff grants her, and thankfully embraces the privileges her lineage affords her.

"Well, then, Mr. Auclair," she says, carding a hand through her golden hair, sweet smile plastered on her face. "Seems like it's time to run back off to your 'Vasi' and let him know that I accept your offer."

It's not wise to blatantly disrespect the President - this, Tilly knows. She also knows she can get away with it. Thea turned off the CCTV in her office long ago, and Dorian's too much of a coward to report her for something as silly as calling the President by his own pet name.

He visibly flushes, hastily standing up from where he's sat opposite her. Once he puts his hand on the door handle, jacket held tighter around his shoulders, he turns back her way - "Um, thank you, Miss. Apsinthos. I really owe you one."

As he leaves, Tilly leans back in her plush swivel chair, smirk plastered on her lips. As soon as the door closes behind him, she breaks out into a grin and excitedly spins in her chair - whizzing in circles like a little girl. At twenty-two, she's first new Master of Ceremonies in over thirty years, finally sticking it to dad and all his ridiculousness - oh, but she'll have to tell Thea about this, too, she's sure she'll positively lose it…

Finally, the Games will be able to move forward. They've been stifled by Dorian and his old-fashioned ways for far too long. She needs to start preparing for her debut now; the 162nd Hunger Games will be the most bombastic yet - or at least their most bombastic in decades.

If she must engineer good drama herself, then so-be it. Expansion of the career system was just the beginning; no matter what, the Hunger Games will enter their true golden age next year. Chantilly Apsinthos will make sure of it.

A/N: Welcome to the reboot of The Guide to Success! I started this syot back in uhhh (checks ffn) October, but went on hiatus in December because of writer's block. I was unhappy with the format of the fic, all-too aware of how dated it was by modern syot standards, so like after I finished VE I just decided to entirely overhaul it. Majority of the tribute cast remains the same; we'll be advancing with a different format for intros (4 per chapter), no more prologues (this one is really short and to-the-point for a reason, most of the wb will be expressed in intros), a lot of the fat cut off the subplot so its a lot more streamlined etc etc because the focus of this fic is on the tributes. We'll also stick to weekly updates - let's say Tuesdays, since today is a Tuesday! I was actually planning on posting this next week but I got bored and decided to do it on the train to Edinburgh to visit Ali (sock-feet-and-stirring-sand) - even tho ur not reading, hi, Ali! Blog is the same: tgts162 . weebly . com. Still needs some work but it'll be done by the first intros chapter, which is out whenever it's out, which won't be next week because I still have to stockpile all the intros. Hope you're all still on board for the ride, because it'll be a lot; buckle the fuck in.

Erik.