victor!AU headcanon things

[couldmakeit]

-Reaped at 16 for the 72nd Hunger Games
-Won his arena by adapting his hunting snares and traps to trap and kill other tributes; the final fight was between him and the girl from Ten
-Since he was already 16 when he won, Snow pretty much gave him the ultimatum of being a "Capitol darling" or having his entire family killed as soon as he was crowned victor. Of course he agreed.
-Has intentionally distanced himself from his family since his win. They don't know what he really does in the Capitol, and he intends to keep it that way. It kills him to stay away from them but he absolutely doesn't ever want them, especially his mother, to know what he does to keep them safe and well cared-for in his Victor's Village house.
-Doesn't drink quite as much as Haymitch but he's getting close
-Speaking of Haymitch, they get along super well in a "we show our affection by constantly arguing and grouching at each other" kind of way. When they team up to annoy Effie it's epic.
-And speaking of Effie, that's an awkward relationship. As his escort she's in charge of Gale's schedule when he has to go to the Capitol, which includes all of his "clients" and wow it is just the most painfully awkward thing ever
-Victors who he likes spending time with: Cashmere, Gloss, Johanna, Finnick, Mags, Cecilia, Annie, Chaff. Basically he's gonna get mean and drunk with half of them, and occasionally go to the other half for comfort and mothering that he can't get from his own family anymore.
-Has been in on the rebellion conspiracy since he became a Victor.
-When Katniss and Peeta are reaped for the 74th Games, Gale doesn't mentor them. He keeps his distance on the train and throws himself entirely into getting sponsors for them in the Capitol, because he can't watch his best friend and the boy who loves her turn into people like him.