My Feels for the 74th Hunger Games

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. - Helen Keller


Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. You can't see the future, yet you know it will come; you can't see the air, yet you continue to breathe. - Claire London


Without faith a man can do nothing; with it all things are possible. - Sir William Osler

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the 74th Hunger Games adventure. It has been a long, hard fought journey. There were times when I sat back from my computer and went, is this really happening? Like the crazy bloody Bloodbath (I think we’ve redeemed the term Bloodbath btw), and the surprising number of solo tributes, and the steady march to the one v. one finale. I definitely could not have predicted pretty much anything about these Games but I wouldn’t have wanted to, in the end. You all wrote the story that needed to be told. Thank you so very much for that.


When Geebs, Ros and I began to talk about the Finale title, a few weeks before the end, we discussed the narrative these Games - which is nothing at all to do with us. Yes we threw in some fun (they were really fun guys I swear) Random Events, and we set up the mandates, but those didn’t make the 74th come alive. You all did. And when the GMs put our heads together, we realized these games weren’t about love or revenge or even friendship. They were about faith and belief - in a higher power, in others, in yourself. I can’t think of another Games when that has been true. So what you’ve given us is the power of a new story for THG RPG, conveniently during our not-canon Games. I’m deeply grateful for that.


And now for some individual notes of love!

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Geebs - This note, despite the first in order here, took me the longest time to write. Thank you for making these Games happen. You were here, day in and day out, tackling problems and dreaming big and loving every minute of it. You were steady when you needed to be, passionate when you had to be, and you approached every situation with your trademark sense of humor. I literally could not have gotten through these Games without you and I would be honored to GM with you again someday, Geebs. Thank you for everything. <3


Rosetta - I’m hoping (but also okay I already know xo) that these Games were a far superior GMing experience. Thank you for all of your help. I know the college internet + ripred situation was totally unfun for you. Thank for offering to do other work whenever you had time. And thank you for your RE ideas and you mutt ideas (still love the Medimutt) and for generally be a chill and upbeat presence in our GM chat. I definitely became closer to these Games and I’m very grateful for that. <3


Noodles - honestly so glad and so horrified that you joined our 24th Club. It’s an oasis but also ahhh I so wanted to see more of Sabrina. Next time. Thank you for being so gracious about bowing out first.


Dawg - Dawg. Just. No more dying in the Bloodbath, okay? </3 <3 </3 Thank you for being your sunny, enthusiastic self, no matter what.


Avalon - I think we’ve said all we need to say privately, but I think of you often, and certainly Myara will always be with Mace and I.


Azaleah - still SOBBING tbh. I wanted to plot and ship with Ryanna from the moment she chugged some vodka and told the GMs to suck on that. Keep writing beautifully and keep collecting those gorgeous FCs. Someday we’re gonna get our ship out of the drydock!


Yoya - I’m pretty sure this is the most we’ve ever talked, which is a shame. You make me laugh. Thanks for being cool with me pestering you and for reaching out.


Ele - Oof. I’m still so very sorry. Mordecai clearly had more story to tell. I absolutely _loved_ your PTS. One of my all time favorites. It’s a nightmare Capricious will never forget. Thank you for that and for all of your counsel throughout the last few months. <3


Cato - my wife <3 I know the Games are always hard on you. Thank you for writing Torka now, for being our canon D2M. And thank you for standing tall when you were ready to bow out.


Tom - Our Sheriff, gone too soon. </3 You did a wonderful job of writing a story for Mitchell, not just reacting to the posts in front of you. I admire that. I loved his cards, I loved his interaction with his alliance. Good work here all around and thank you for caring for your allies, even after Mitchell’s end.


Charade - when I got to your name on this list I had to take a break. I am still heartbroken. I miss you. I miss the absolute fuck out of sassy, strong Maye Talliago. I always will.


Marr - you did a great job developing Deja, both before the Games and in the arena. It is tough going it alone but you made it work for you. <3 Thank you for being in the 74th!


Darsily - I have to admit, I was completely horrified when Reese died. I mean, c’mon, when don’t I have a huge crush on your tributes? Thank you as ever for being 100% on top of your shit. I never worried about you getting your stuff done. And thank you for listening to me and really hearing me. You did fight hard, dars, and you wrote another memorable tribute. I miss him. <3 </3


Chevi - Girl!! Holy hell. Congratulations on doing so very well your first Games ever. I know these were not the easiest Games to be a part of (or to observe for research, for that matter). Thank you for rolling with the punches. Bolts had just enough District Three in him to make him a little quirky but also completely lovable. I very much look forward to reading another tribute of yours.


Ems - Aw ems </3 Your dedication and passion for the Games rivals none. Thank you for keeping your chin up and fighting onward, even when the going got tough. Rolf was pretty unpredictable at times, and I really liked that about him. I also think he reminded everyone that the name Parks to be remembered. <3


Grim - These Games were rough, no doubt about that. Thank you, in the end, for treating me gently and giving me space. I appreciated that. You wrote Desimae beautifully.


Frankel - I think Jenoah was one of our more conflicted tributes. He had a sense of power - of his own, of other’s - but he wasn’t ever totally sure what to do with that. I liked that. I liked that you asked a bigger question (beyond “am I willing to kill in order to live?”) in the arena. In the end, the friendships he forged in the arena were bigger than his faith and his philosophy. That resonates so deeply with me. Thank you for sharing his story. <3


Fox - you are a peach of a person, Fox. Thank you for being chill and accommodating throughout these Games. I know you have a lot going on in your life, but I loved getting to know Sacha. Hoping to see another tribute from you very soon. <3


Zoe - the curse is broken!!! And by curse, I do specifically mean the dying early curse because girl, you still can’t hit the broadside of a barn Tbh it’s one of the things I love most about you. You write these amazingly introspective, poetic posts. It would ruin them to being insta’ing people left and right. Somehow the flailing makes me want to laugh/cry even more over your tributes. Sam - just Sam - is a beautiful soul. Your DP is already one of my favorites. It is quiet and moving and speaks so powerfully of her need to stay and fight.


Kousei - I’ve already said this but thank you for breathing life into Asha Lumiere. He is complex - unintentionally funny, cerebral, vicious when he needed to be, articulate, and the colorblind imagery you wove through was just a joy to read. It wasn't just dice or strategy or excellent writing. It was everything. You should be so proud of these Games, Kousei. <3


Tris - you are so precious and so kind and you are literally the ray of sunshine that kept the GM team chugging along through the darkness in the middle of these Games. Thank you. I watched you so closely, in the Games, in the public Slack chats, in the logs I was given. I don’t know if I just wasn’t paying attention before to the glory that is you or if something changed, but whatever it is, I am grateful to know you, Tris. You gave me one of the best damn apologies I’ve ever heard in my entire life. You consistently backed away from drama. You found the fun in the challenge and you wrote the absolute shit out of Pillar “We are Not Equals” Fray. In my not so humble opinion, Pillar has no equal, Tris. I’m still grieving her. Thank you for writing her with love, for making her so complex. She wasn’t just a career, or just a sibtrib, or just a beautiful face. She was real, and I miss her.


Python - my heart breaks for you, Monet. I’ve been thinking back five years ago, because it was also December and because I also loved my tribute the most. Those weeks were torture. I wondered what Charade would do - knowing he would pick the victor - and then every time Lalia logged in, I obsessed. I hoped and I feared. Remembering all that, I so badly wanted to help you through this Finale. I don’t know if I accomplished that at all but I wanted you to know that my thoughts were always with you. Hyacinth is more than I could have asked for in a tribute - from her bloody, beautiful PTS to her intelligent and brutally honest interrogation in the Finale. Thank you for being a part of these Games and thank you for Hyacinth. I won’t forget her. </3


Lyndis, Fuzzy, Kaplan - Thank you all for contributing to these Games, even if it was brief. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of this PTS sessions and TC threads.


Lancelot - I know you weren’t in these games but you kept me sane throughout. Bless you for that. I hope you enjoyed mutt writing as much I enjoyed reading your mutts. <3


Aya - thank you, for your friendship and leadership, throughout these Games, and always. <3


Kire - Our 74th victor eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee <3333 I literally cannot believe it. Well, I mean, I can, having had you in two of my finales before this one. xD I felt the most nostalgic for the 67th, for good reason. There’s no comparison between Ansgar and Siren, and you (as a person, as a writer, as a Game player) have changed so much. And yet. You still have this intensity, this focus, this pragmatic way of seeing the world that bleeds into your posts. I can still see that, in the way that you block out Ansgar’s movements, but the rest of him is faith and poetry. His questions, which start so small and end up so big, are the best part of him. I absolutely cannot wait to see what you do with him and obviously dibs all the threads with Capricious and Mace and Regalia. Congratulations on a hard fought victory, Kire. <3