Chapter 1: Prologue

Head Gamemaker Mercedes Virgo woke up with images of previous Games still swimming around in her mind from the night before, which she'd spent making notes that would prove very useful in the preparation of her own arena. Mercedes was doing her best to evade the fate of the previous Head Gamemaker, Hammond Sharp, who, after the discovery of a large amount of similarities between his games and the ones before them, had found his career cut short.

Well, his career wasn't the only thing that was cut short. Everyone knows what happens to Gamemakers that are found wanting.

Shaking that morbid thought out of her mind, Mercedes climbed out of her monumentally large bed and nearly disappeared into the fabric of her oversized bathrobe made entirely of opulent black fur. "Bigger is better." She thought, making her way to the bathroom and calling out to her shower. "Short and sweet today, model thirteen, I have a lot to do!" Looking into the mirror at her aging face, the hopeful woman waited as the shower changed it's assorted shampoo, water color, and water pressure settings accordingly.

After the regrettably short shower, and four hours of hair and makeup, Mercedes finally stepped off of her front step and into the crowds of people on their way to post-Games entertainment and shopping. Her target was the small but exclusive "President's Club" reserved only for those greatly favored by President Snow. She'd never been inside the place before, but after today's meeting she was hoping to find a place among the regulars. Escorted into a small, private room upon her arrival, Mercedes set all of her plans and assorted visuals out in an orderly manner and waited. She was kept waiting for several long, agonizing minutes before President Snow finally walked in, fixing her with an uncanny stare. Mercedes held her breath as he walked silently forward and began assessing the blueprints for the up and coming forty-ninth Hunger Games, his pale hands shuffling through the pages quickly and methodically. "It needs something." He said, shattering the stillness of the room.

"Something?" The Gamemaker stammered. "What kind of something?"

"Something that will stand out, keeping our people interested, and their people afraid." He said, sitting down and pulling out a pen, his hand expertly sketching something on a piece of paper just outside of Mercedes' view. "Over the last decade, Ms. Virgo, some have been saying that the Games have become predictable. This not only defeats the purpose for which the Games were initially created, but is frightening in its consequences." She nodded, realizing that the odds of pulling off a successful Games might not be as much in her favor as she would have liked. "I trust you will be up to the task that Hammond Sharp was not?" The President raised his eyebrow at the end of his question, fixing his eyes on Mercedes once again.

"Certainly, Sir." She said, glancing around the room, trying to break his stare. "But, what kind of something are you expecting? Landscape? Mutts?" Snow stood, walked across the room, and dropped the scrap of paper he'd drawn on in front of his new Head Gamemaker.

"Something," he said, walking towards the door. "Like that." As President Snow left, signaling the end of the brief meeting, Mercedes looked down at the drawing.

There was certainly nothing predictable about this.

A/N

Hello everyone! This is my first writing venture in fanfiction, and I'm excited to get deep into the Games! As this will be an SYOT, so I would love for you to submit some possibile candidates!

PM me the tribute name, basic physical description, character traits, and any other information you think is relevant such as family, economic status, stuff like that. Remember to submit real people with real flaws. I already struggle with idealism (making everything perfect, everyone beautiful, physically fit, intelligent, and ready to win the Games), so try to help me out by sending flawed tributes my way!

Let me know if you have an suggestions for my writing as well, I'm completely open for some constructive criticism!

Thanks! And may the Odds be Ever in your Favor. ;) -IceVeinsVillain