71st Victor Presentation Ceremony

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aya
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"GUNNERRRRR~"

71st Victor Presentation Ceremony Dec 24, 2015 12:39:20 GMT -5

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Post by aya on Dec 24, 2015 12:39:20 GMT -5

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.

{characters}

certified kindergartener
stranded in "beach" "city"
leader of the crystal gems

Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)
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71st Victor Presentation Ceremony Dec 25, 2015 12:00:39 GMT -5

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Post by Noah Vau - D2 (Cato) on Dec 25, 2015 12:00:39 GMT -5

White walls dance around me pressing closer and closer to me with each breath that passed through my lips, but today it’s not just my breath. No, it belongs to Annora, Chloe, Kitty, Beretta, the girl from four, the male from one, the male from four, and district seven. All of twenty-three lives collapse towards me making this moment almost impossible to bear. How much time has passed since my release from the arena is beyond my wildest imagination. But one thing I look for immediately is still gone. I remember it perfectly when she sliced clean through it. I can see her face, but soon all I can see if the blade of my weapon driving through her eye.

The sound of footsteps grow closer and closer, and I immediately shut my eyes because I don’t want to deal with anyone right now. Kirito and Katelyn didn’t honor my request. Annora should be standing here, not me, but here I am. Alive while the rest are dead. Slowing my breathing down, I listen to the chatter buzzing around me as two males argue with one another. One of them wants to wake me so they can show me something, yet the other one wants to let me sleep. If only they knew I’m awake. I chuckle softly to myself before opening my eyes and turning my gaze towards them.

My heart sinks deep into the pits of my stomach when my eyes rest on the fake piece of plastic. A fake leg. Like it’ll make up for what I’ve just witnessed. It’ll never compare to the pain I’ve experienced throughout the duration of the games. My hands ball into fists. My jaw clenches shut tightly as I stare into their smiling faces. Nobody should smile right now. Not a single person in this room can comprehend what I’ve just experienced, and they want to give me something they’ll think make up for it? No, it’s not happening. But how can I walk without it? Shaking my head, I turn away from them. "I don't want nothing from you. You don't want to help me, so get out of my face." But they ignore me as they place the stupid thing on my stump.

Sighing to myself, I realize that fighting won’t do any good because all they want is the best for me. Perhaps they genuinely want to help me, but then again it’s beyond my wildest imagination. Tears stain the brim of my eyes as they clap happily together. Soon the world will see me for the first time since the games ended. I’ll have to look into the eyes of the crowd as they cheer for me. I’ll be forced to relive the hell I was forced through. I’ll have to watch them all die again.

"Harbinger, we should get you up so you can walk around some." One of them reaches over to help me sit up, and it aggravates me. They’re treating me like I’m some helpless being lost in a world, but I’m not. I just survived the hunger games. "I don't need your help. I can do this myself." I snap before forcing myself into a seated position. With pants on, nobody would ever notice the leg isn’t real. They wouldn’t see the fake plastic holding my body up. Sitting on the side of the bed, I stare at all of them daring them to help me.

Yet when I try to stand, I stumble around unable to keep my balance, and I almost collapse. One of them reaches a hand down to help me, and as much as I want to push it away, I grasp it. I need the help right now. I need more than they can offer me, though. Which is why when one of them comes over with some sort of cane, I take it without any problem. In a way, I feel it matches me. A solid black stick with a golden handle on the top. Pressing my weight against it, it makes me feel at ease because it’s helping me to remain standing. For a while, I walk around the room getting use to my new leg before I’m quickly ushered away by the design team.

One by one they start making me look clean, and they have a nice outfit for me to wear. It’s better than that stupid skirt the gamemakers had me in. If I had my way, I would wear it for the rest of my life because of all the memories resting inside it. None of the memories will ever fade away because each second of the day I’m forced to relive the horrible decisions I’ve made. Killing Chloe. Betraying her. I’m sorry, my friend, will you please forgive me?

Finally I’m standing below the stage listening to the cheers of the Capitol residents. It infuriates me knowing that they enjoyed watching this happen. They enjoyed watching me kill people. They enjoyed the blood that was shed in the games. Taking a deep breath, I do the best I can to wipe the tears away. President Snow may want me to smile, but he’s not getting any of that from me because he doesn’t deserve it. I hate him for everything he’s done. I hate that he’s the mastermind behind all of this. I hate that he’s going to expect so much from me now. I will not bow to him because I am not his pawn. He has another thing coming if he thinks I’ll play this game for the rest of my life.

One by one the design team is called to the stage, and they’re followed by Katelyn and Kirito. Taking a deep breath, I fight against every chain holding me down. "And now, may I present the victor of the 71st Hunger Games... Harbinger Rhodes!" The crowd begins to cheer loudly as my own platform rises into the air. Biting my lips, I fight against the screams threatening to pour from my lips. My heart pounds inside my chest beating heavily against my chest wall. A lump forms in the back of my throat. Each breath catches beneath it as I stare into the eyes of those around.

Slowly, I make my way towards the chair in the center of the stage. I watch as the crowd quiets again, but soon my attention shifts to the screen. On the screen is the recap video. It starts with the reaping, then the training center. I watch as I make friends with Chloe. I watch as Beretta chooses me for an alliance. I watch the private training scores float across the screen. Tears stain my eyes, and I’m about to scream at the top of my lungs. But soon it’s switched to the games. All twenty-four of us stand around the cornucopia as the timer counts down. I watch as we all run, and I see him laying on the ground. Then it’s over, and it’s switched to the spear driven into the tiny girl’s neck.

And it keeps going on. Showing every single death. Annora was killed by the male from four. Then it shows me and Chloe fighting. I can see the anger in my face. The rage. The pain. All of it from seeing Annora’s face in the sky. Tears roll down the side of my face as I deliver the final blow. What have I done? And then I’m watching myself fight the girl from four. I’m watching each blow. Even the one where she severs my own leg. I gave her the chance to kill me. I told her to because I was going home to a life of freedom. And then I cringe as the blade drives into her eye. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.. My hands shake at my side as the finale slowly takes place across the screen. Part of me is glad he died, district four, because he killed her. But all in all I regret it.

Raising a shaking hand, I wipe the tears away as it all ends. Slowly rising to my feet, I listen as the crowd chants my name over and over. It makes me sick, and I feel like throwing up. Snow carries over a crown. It’s a grim moment. One I wish I didn’t have to experience right now because none of this deserves this huge celebration anymore. With a nod of my head, I accept my crown. The crowd goes wild, and for the first time since this all began, I’m finally glad it’s over. But in all honesty it’s never over. The only way to escape is in death which obviously isn’t an option anymore because somehow I managed to survive. I escaped, and now it’s time to live my life how I want to. Not how they want.

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