to victory. { leia chevallier election speech.

She's good with words.

Well, she's good with pretty much everything, but that's what they keep telling her. That she's got this in the bag, a surefire victory, how they will just adore her. Red lips and doe eyes and hair curled immaculately - it helps in a District obsessed with keeping up appearances but none of it will matter if she can't hypnotise them with her words. Thankfully the silver lain in her mouth from birth was not a spoon but a tongue, chiseled and sharp and sultry. Yes, she is good with words.

But she's even better at lying.

"Thank you all for joining us here today" she begins, clear and courteous and with a smile. "It brings me great joy to be able to stand in front of citizens who care deeply about who represents their District and how they do it.

"I, like many of you, am proud to call District One my home. To work at the Justice Building for so many years," (she gestures to the great building behind her) "to see how this great District runs and to be able to serve you, the people, has been an honour, an education, and a privilege.

"I have learnt many things whilst living in, and working for, this great District of ours. I seen how we rebuilt after the tragic earthquake truck us down. I have seen our stocks boom, our residents thrive, our children blossom into bright, bold, beautiful and brave individuals. I have seen how we brought home victors year after year after year. I have seen how we have flourished in victory - but I have also seen our downfalls."

Silence skims through the crowd, their murmurs of praise whisked away.

"For too long our District's reputation has been overthrown by victors from double-digit-districts and poverty, stealing our limelight and glory. Their grimy hands snatch away at our hard-earnt distinction, crowns on heads that stumble their way on only luck and chance - undeserving of their titles and fame. The Capitol lusts after scum and street-rats, turning a blind eye to the greatness of One."

Shouts of disapproval and a wave of nods flow throughout the crowd, restlessness unfolding as she speaks. Good, Leia thinks. They're eating it up.

She smiles again, white teeth and red lips and cunning in her bones. The devil stares her in the eye and she stares right back: street rats, girl gangs, drug busters, sprinkled in the crowds. She sees them all as allies.

The rest are just a means to an end.

"But I believe we can restore what once was, as we did when the earth opened up beneath our feet. I envision a District I know to be true. One I grew up in, one I call home, one I know in my heart of hearts we can be.

"If you will let me, I will lead us to victory. We will train harder. We will work harder. We will invest our energies into becoming bigger and better, mightier than we already are."

The crowds roar, fists bobbing in the air, flags waving and banners lifting and she grins - drinking in their adoration. Drinking in their gullibility.

"And we will do it together, as one District - as District One!"

An outcry - she hears symphonies.

"To victory!"

"To victory!" the crowd bellows back.

Lies never tasted so sweet.