71st Victor Presentation Ceremony

The president of Panem stood on the magnificent stage in the City Circle, addressing his people as he had done numerous times before. Another of his prized Hunger Games had come to a close. On the surface, they had been an enormous success, featuring enough blood, death, and tragedy to satisfy the viewers. But Snow was not convinced that the Games had been sufficient to subdue the thoughts of rebellion that the high government official knew were brewing in the minds of some of Panem's citizens.

The president did little to mask his displeasure on stage. A third consecutive victor from District Eleven of all places was a serious problem. Perhaps the president had been too subtle when Kirito Miristioma had emerged a victor from the previous arena. The Hunger Games were meant to offer hope in small doses and heartbreak in spades; one district — especially one district whose place under the Capitol's thumb was crucial to the wellbeing of Panem — was simply not supposed to keep winning. District Eleven had enough hope for decades to come; any more, and the president had concerns about — dare he even think it — uprising.

This year, he'd had unexpected trouble with his Gamemakers, one sacked for attempting to rig the Games in District Four's favor (a grim thought crossed Snow's mind that perhaps he should've allowed that to transpire) and the other refusing his demands with respect to the agriculture district — that is, before fleeing the Capitol before she could be held accountable. The only Gamemaker he could pin any responsibility for the catastrophe that was Harbinger Rhodes's victory was a rookie with only half a hand in half the Games.

Somehow, lacking a person to punish was as frustrating for the president as the level of disaster that was District Eleven getting its third crown in a row. He could only hope that the fresh blood he was bringing in for the next Games would be more compliant than the stubborn veteran Gamemakers that he'd mistakenly held in high esteem.

District aside, Harbinger Rhodes was a worthy victor: strong and sturdy, with a compelling history — the younger brother of a well-liked tribute, one that was struck down and drowned by the victor three Games prior. Someone who, without Katelyn Persimmon's influence, would certainly be malleable for the president's own purposes.

But the Hunger Games did not happen in a vacuum, and President Snow could not pretend that the Rhodes boy wasn't a harbinger of political turmoil and strife for all of Panem.

He knew that Harbinger was waiting just below him right now, ready for the platforms to lift him up and out into the light for the first time since he'd left the arena three days ago. The usual upholstered throne was placed in the center of the stage, ready for the victor while he watched a recap of what had been his hell for the past two and a half weeks, including the preparations. It was always torture for the tribute, but the president enjoyed it very much. He wouldn't deny the sadistic delight that he took in watching each victor witness their own atrocities from afar, powerless to change the course of Games, even if they wanted to. Many of them, it seemed, wanted to indeed.

President Snow quieted the crowd and prepared to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to welcome you to the victor presentation ceremony of the Seventy-First Annual Hunger Games!" As usual, there was the deafening roar of approval that followed. "Tonight we will show a recap video of this year's Games, so be sure to stay tuned!" Like they have a choice, the president thought. The recap video was required viewing for all of Panem.

Snow went on to announce the prep team, stylist, escort, and — through gritted teeth — the mentors of the victor; all were received with tremendous applause. But then, the moment they were all waiting for... Snow plastered a smile across his face before speaking once more. "And now, may I present the victor of the 71st Hunger Games... Harbinger Rhodes!"

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OOC- RPing is permitted in this thread by Capitol characters and past victors. This is the place to have your Capitol character react to viewing the recap video, if you planned on doing that. All characters from other districts can create their own threads in the districts, if they wish.