Light the Way

Twenty One

Coriolanus and Olivia stood in front of their classmates, ready and eager to present the final piece of their paper. The final spectacle before Dr. Gaul would announce the winning team and the glory that came with it. The last bit of their paper seemed to flow naturally like the others, tossing out ideas and debating them before writing them down. They even had enough time to take some breaks in between, rolling around on her bedroom floor like teenaged lovers. All part of their creative process it seemed.

The Victory Tour idea had stemmed from both of them – it was similar to how sports events would show highlights afterwards and throughout the year, commemorating all of the highs and lows, bringing more attention and anticipation to the next game. The Capitol's attention span was short, and therefore there needed to be multiple events, one every few months almost, to keep the games fresh in their minds. The excitement fresh.

The Districts needed to be reminded too, Olivia had added on. That even by winning the Hunger Games, it did not guarantee someone would be untouchable, especially in the eyes of the Capitol. They'd be paraded throughout each District, coming face to face with the homelands of the other fallen Tributes. Staring at the sad, poor families whose children had died in the arena for them to win. Preventing unity and sparks of hope was the goal.

It all went hand in hand with Coriolanus' plan for the Victor's village. A cluster of nicer, more luxurious houses to be built on the outskirts of each District. Houses built specifically for the Victors of the Hunger Games. Once they had won, they simply couldn't go back to just being a random District kid. The Capitol would balk at seeing video footage of them emerging from a shack, hands covering their mouths at the impoverished conditions they were watching. To them, being a Victor meant you'd become famous, and therefore your lifestyle had to match at least a bit. They'd be offered the housing and a monthly allowance, enough to keep the class division strong.

The separate living quarters would keep the Districts in line, including the Victor, Olivia had pointed out. The winner of the Hunger Games was now stuck in this purgatory in between – better than everyday District scum, but still not good enough to be considered Capitol. To avoid them getting lost, they decided that carving out a special place for them seemed like the ideal solution. Keeping them separated from the other people in their Districts also furthered the class divide. A Victor represented strength and valor, which would be a good tool to be used in starting a rebellion. But if their fellow District mates stared at them with eyes of jealousy and betrayal, it would be harder to bridge that gap. After all, they'd have to kill someone from their own District too.

It was an unfortunate reality for the Victor at the end of the day, but wasn't that the point? Rebels, even through ancestry, were to be punished. Living in the gray and not knowing what your future really held was quite the punishment. Feeling like you'd never fit into your community again, banished to the outskirts where rations and warm water were no longer a worry. But not being to share it with anyone else outside of your family for fear of being taken advantage of. Never knowing when the Capitol would call on them again. No longer at peace. 

Their presentation went smoothly, aside from the loss of having to present first. They couldn't weave in additional ideas this time. Coriolanus wasn't worried though, their plans for after the games were unmatched. As they presented, he watched as his classmates faces twisted around in worry, knowing they had something much less to share. 

Olivia finished off their presentation with the Victor's village idea, being sure to thoroughly explain their plan and the overall divide it would cause. How even as a gift to the Victor, their new lifestyle, came with the cost of loneliness and segregation. How they'd never truly fit in again. Their trauma engulfing them.

They finished off their presentation standing, shoulders brushing against one another, smiles on both of their faces as they gave a united front.

How terrified they all must be of us, Coriolanus thought. Being sure to take in the faces in front of him.