Everything is different now.
Things weren't supposed to be like this. The Games were to be a shadow in the night, as inexplicable as they were unexpected, just like the death they heralded. Even the President can agree that it was all an honest mistake.
(Not to say that the President had very honest intentions. Even he could admit that he wanted a spectacle, something frivolous to stave off the guilt of so many dying beneath his watch, and still he refused to change anything. Even he might say that in willingly closing his eyes, he was letting it happen—maybe even propelling it.)
And even in this, things aren't as they should be. The President is only such in name—he won the title not by vote but because of his parentage. And even then, he's only ever made a few disastrous choices. Most others were made by the puppet-masters.
(Not that he feels very worthy, just between the two of us. After all, there was a bit of a close call last year. The Capitol swept it under the rug, but it did involve a knife and an angry Blade Cassidy and the both of them somehow unharmed. Mostly.)
(But no one's supposed to know that.)
One can see it everywhere, the wrongness. In the ruby-lipped smile of the once-withdrawn Head Gamemaker who finds she quite likes the publicity. Before, the Arenas were painstakingly glamorous, but meant only for the eyes of whose who would never testify of their beauty—Victors aren't supposed to say a word about the Games. That's how they stayed secret.
Now, though, Head Gamemaker De La Lune has a millions-strong audience to please. And it's different.
Not that secrets are in any scarcity. Stylist Chalet O'Shea, in fact, has a secret weighing his shoulders down, heavy as the fur cloaks he's making for the Ten Tributes. It's a secret that, despite his guilt, is at least kept to himself.
Isn't it?
And even if one ignores that mess as Chalet would wish, there is more to worry about. (Though that depends on who you're allied with.)
After all, though the revolution failed to execute any real activity last year, they now have an extra Victor on their side. Blade Cassidy almost died more times than he can count, but he's finally found something to live for.
Maybe this year, unlike so many years past, they'll be strong enough to fight back. Maybe with President Graymore looking tactfully the other way, there will finally be an opening to stop this.
Two is pumping more and more money into their Training facilities—once underground, now finally sanctioned by the Capitol. Despite their efforts, they haven't had a single Victor. One and Four have prospered not just because of the training facilities but also because of their preternatural strength and grace—at least compared to the malnourished crops that the Capitol reaps from other districts. This may have been advantage enough in the past compared to war-torn Two, but Tremor Atilius' final rebellion has made them all the more hungry for victory.
Perhaps a spoonful of Capitol gossip will curb their bitterness. After all, ratings for the Master of Ceremonies are only plummeting. Perhaps it's all the stress of keeping his mutinous wife in check (she's the head of the revolution, you see, and the fact that he can't do anything about this infuriates him, much to her delight.) In any case, he's perhaps the worst Master of Ceremonies the country has ever seen—though he's also the only one. People aren't exactly clamoring for the chance to interview children. Many are still squeamish over the idea of the Games in the first place. It shouldn't take them long to warm up to it, not after this year.
In any case, Pericles isn't planning on relinquishing his minuscule power. It's just small enough to be tantalizing. Thankfully, he has a plan—and blackmail at that.
Everyone is waiting with bated breath for retribution from the Capitol due to certain Tributes' rebellious actions last year—Blade's open distaste for the Capitol, Marquis' refusal to fight, and Luz Contreras' escape attempt to name a few. This only seems to reinforce the Capitol's belief that bad apples are more plentiful than good. But the Capitol hasn't lifted a finger against the Districts.
Not yet, anyway. It's July again. The only thing left to do now is wait.
And it's only a matter of time.
…
So… hiiii!
First things first, to those who subbed to WDWC, I am STILL keeping all of y'all's children unless you choose to withdraw them! Don't fret! The only things that are changing are the amount of kids in the fic, and the content of the fic itself. Now that that's out of the way, lemme explain why I'm revamping this!
I had really hit a wall in writing WDWC. I think that from the beginning, it was difficult for some reason; maybe because it was my junior year and I was just so busy. But now I feel like I'm in a phase in my life where this is more feasible and will be more fun for both me and you guys! I did want it to be a full though, just because fillers aren't very enjoyable for me to write and because Iwnt to welcome more new readers! It's been years, after all.
Please see the google form on my profile for more information! Love you all, and thanks for joining this wild ride!
Miri