A/N: WhoooOOA! Hey, wassup friends and heckers!
Before we get to this introduction here, I just wanted to let you know that this is a partial SYOT that will lead into a full SYOT that will take place within a year or two after the events of these Games! If you decide to send in a tribute for this partial, unfortunately they will not have a chance of winning, but they will have some sort of effect on the victor of this story.
Depending on the character, they may play a large role in the next SYOT, as the victor of this story will appear as a mentor in the next SYOT and carry on a small narrative from this story, so don't feel like this is the end for your tribute if you decide to submit! I don't have any preset ranking either (aside from the winner) so your tribute may be around for the majority of the story!
The submission form for this story will be at the end of the chapter here! Keep your eye out for the full SYOT submission form toward the end of this story, and I hope you enjoy the ride!
Theresia Kaeppler
Head Gamemaker
The sound of the woman's bright red heels clicking against the stark white floor brought a smile to her face. Theresia loved this part, meeting with her subordinates to review their monstrous creations for the year's Games. Oh and of course this wasn't just any Hunger Games, no, it was a Quarter Quell. The biggest event of the century... well the second biggest event of the century. But if she had any say it would be the best damn Quell Panem had ever had the honor of witnessing.
A smile graced the woman's lips, sparkling with a glossy dark red lipstick, contrasting brightly against her pale complexion. She came to a stop against the locked sliding doors that led into the meeting room. The subtle sound of voices behind the doors peaked her interest on one hand, then on the other.. the fact that they hadn't waited for her to arrive before beginning the discussions evoked a bit of an anger within her.
She shifted her bright aqua gaze toward the scanner beside the door, holding her ID in front of the microscopic camera protruding from the top of the scanner. There was a faint beep and the camera briefly flashed green.
Theresia brought her head down for a moment, composing herself as the doors slid upon. She then slowly folded her hands behind her back and flickered her gaze around the room, satisfaction dripping over her as silence and wide eyes were the only thing to meet her. There wasn't a single person in the room who didn't immediately snap into attention, all eyes on her.
"At ease."
She stood there for a moment, watching them all relax while allowing herself to bask in their mindless obedience. It was truly amusing, the fact that some of the most powerful people in the nation were practically bowing down to her before she even stepped into the room. Theresia stepped down the stairs, offering small smiles to those around her while briefly reflecting on her past... about two years ago when she too was under the command of yet another incompetent, moronic excuse for a Head Gamemaker.
Gamemakers were never as loyal.. or as afraid as Theresia knew they were ... where they'd drop to their knees and worship the Head Gamemaker as if she were some sort of Goddess. But Theresia had noticed the faults. How after 149 years the Gamemakers were beginning to get lazy. How they took mutts from previous years and altered them just a little before putting them back in the arena claiming it was new. They were just biding their time until they could replace the Head Gamemaker when they inevitably screwed up and bit the dust.
They all thought they were going to be something special. They thought they'd be invincible if they got the job. Theresia watched time and time again just how wrong they all were. She dedicated her life to her work and earned the promotion. And she wasn't going to just take the position and rub it in her co-workers' faces. No, she was going to take it and make it her own... make it better. She was in charge and she intended to change the system. Starting with teaching the other Gamemakers some respect and proper work ethic.
"Let's see what you've got then, pull it up."
At Theresia's command, the Gamemakers broke out of their wide-eyed stupor and scurried about the room. A young man in the crisp white Gamemaker uniform began to approach her, a tablet in hand, but Theresia held her hand up toward him.
"Shh- just show me. Don't speak."
The man stopped short, staring at her for a moment, then quickly turned and retreated back around the table, setting the tablet down.
Theresia herself slowly paced around the circular table in front of her, peering at the empty space where a hologram should be. She glanced to the young woman by the control board and snapped her fingers once, flickering her gaze to her. The woman furrowed her brows then quickly realized her error and turned away from Theresia.
The Head Gamemaker watched as the young woman frantically punched in a few numbers on the control board. As she did, a hologram flickered to life above the table Theresia was currently leaning on. The woman's impatient eyes slid from the Gamemaker, to the holographic creature before her, a small smile beginning to stretch across her face.
The creature before her stood hunched. Whatever it was... it was original... The strange and twisted proportions were reminiscent of a human but there was something perfectly wrong about it. A crescent of nails curved into an alienating imitation of a smile whilst two jagged yellow orbs she identified at its eyes glowed in perverse eagerness. She had no spoken of the devil, yet he, or something far worse had been created just for her Games.
She adored it.
"Not bad, darling." Her gaze flickered up to meet the young man standing across the table from her. The man responded only with a shaky smile and picked up the tablet, beginning to fiddle slightly with it before the image of the beast suddenly enlarged.
"It looks terrifying yes, but we've added a feature to-"
"Miss Kaeppler."
A familiar voice reached the young woman's ears and she slowly turned her head toward the doors, settling her gaze on the young president positioned on the steps.
"Do you have a moment?"
The woman's eyes travelled down to the slip of paper clutched in the man's hand and she straightened her posture, moving away from the table as excitement rippled through her.
"Only if that's what I think it is."
Theresia watched as the president's icy blue eyes slipped into a squint, but she didn't miss the quite subtle smile that was pulling at the corner of his lips. Damn, she was lucky.
"Straight from the vault.. and all for you."
She smiled up to the man and slowly reached out for the slip of paper, taking it carefully and flipping it over to read the text on the back.
150th Quarter Quell.
She slowly ran her hand over the paper then stopped as her fingers brushed over the seal. She then carefully moved to tear open the envelope, glancing up to the president slowly before looking back down at it. The paper crackled slightly in her hands as she moved to unfold it and read what as inside. Slowly, her smile grew into an intrigued grin.
"Oh my..."
A/N: Aallll righty folks! Very short and sweet, but you'll be sure to see a bit more of these characters Soon™.
The spots currently open for tributes can be seen here and active updates will be posted on my profile so make sure to check that out too:
District 1 Female: Open
District 1 Male: Closed
District 2 Female: Closed
District 2 Male: Open
District 3 Female: Open
District 3 Male: Open
District 4 Female: Closed
District 4 Male: Open
District 5 Female: Open
District 5 Male: Open
District 6 Female: Open
District 6 Male: Open
District 7 Female: Open
District 7 Male: Closed
District 8 Female: Closed
District 8 Male: Open
District 9 Female: Closed
District 9 Male: Open
District 10 Female: Closed
District 10 Male: Open
District 11 Female: Open
District 11 Male: Open
District 12 Female: Open
District 12 Male: Open
For the time being, here's where you can fill out a submission form, just delete the extra spaces!
forms . gle / tWS dmqFHWg kQYoC38
I find Google Forms to be very easy to fill out so I hope I made your life easier. Hope to see you guys again soon!