Zatanna dismissed the team and made me move around the room in the dress and shoes, which were shorter than the ones Dinah had me practice in. An added perk was that the dress hung in such a way that I didn't have to lift the skirt when I walked. One less thing to worry about.
"All ready for your interview?" Zatanna asked. Her face said everything I needed to know. She and the Lance's had talked with each other, and she knew how awful I was when it came to the interview.
"Not even. I suck at it. No matter what we tried I couldn't do it. I can't be what he wants me to be."
Zatanna thought that over for a minute before she said "Why don't you be yourself?"
"Because Oliver said myself is sullen and hostile."
"Well you are... to Oliver." Zatanna grinned at that. "I however like you very much. The girls adore you. You even won over the Gamemakers. And the citizens of Metropolis can't stop talking about you, trust me on that. Everyone can't help but admire your spirit."
My spirit. That was news to me. I didn't really know what it meant, but it suggested that I was tough. In a kind of way that people admire. It wasn't like I was never polite. Sure, maybe I didn't go around greeting people with hugs and kisses, maybe a smile from me was hard to come by, but I did care about others.
Zatanna took my hands in hers and said "If you thought you were talking to a friend back home when you answered the questions, could you do it?"
It was a thought. "Maybe. But who would I tell anyone who knows me already knows everything about me."
"What about me? I like to think we're friends."
Out of all the people I'd met so far from Metropolis, Zatanna was easily my favorite. "Okay. But-"
"I'll be sitting on the main platform with the other stylists. You'll see me plain as day. When your asked a question, find me, and answer it as honestly as possible."
"Even if what I say might be awful?" It could have been.
"Especially if what you say might be awful. You'll try it then?" Zatanna asked. I nodded. It was a plan. Or at the very least a straw to grasp at.
Too soon it was time to go. The interviews took place on a stage constructed in front of the Training Center. After I'd left my room, it wouldn't be long until I was in front of the crowd, the cameras, and all of Metropolis.
As Zatanna turned the doorknob, I grabbed her free hand. My mouth opened but nothing came out. Zatanna understood. "They already love you," she told me, raising her hand to my cheek, rubbing her thumb over it. "Just be yourself."
Everyone else crowded around the elevator, waiting for us. Bumblebee and her had been hard at work. Kaldur'ahm looked handsome in a black suit with flame accents. We were dressed similarly, but not identically. It was a refreshing change.
Dinah looked stunning in a dark blue, floor-length backless gown, and she'd made Oliver clean up for the occasion in a matching suit. Queen Bee actually wore a crown. That's right. A crown.
Oliver I avoided, but Dinah's and Queen Bee's compliments I accepted quietly.
When the elevator opened, the other tributes were being lined up to be taken to the stage. All twenty-four of us stood in pairs next to the stage, through each interview. I was last, well, next to last technically, because girl tributes went before their male counterparts. I wanted to be first just so I could get it all over.
Each interview only lasts three minutes, which was three minutes to long of getting to listen to all the other tributes be charming, amusing, witty, fierce or humble, lulling the audience into boredom, just like before with the Gamemakers. And I wouldn't exactly be able to shoot an arrow into the audience to grab their attention.
Before we were paraded onto the stage, Oliver came up behind Kaldur'ahm and me and whispered "Your still a happy couple. Make sure you act like it." as low as he could without his words being completely unintelligible.
Seriously? I had thought that game was over when Kaldur'ahm had asked for his coaching to be separate from mine. Of course that probably hadn't been announced to the world or anything. Besides there wasn't much chance for any interaction then, as we stood last in line.
I think I blacked out. I must have because I don't remember walking onto and across the stage to my chair. At least I hadn't tripped or something.
It was evening, but the square was brighter than day. An elevated seating unit was set up for the prestigious guests, with the stylists having commandeered the front row. The cameras would turn to them when the crowd reacted to their handiwork. A balcony loomed over them all, reserved solely for the Gamemakers. Television crews had claimed most of the other balconies.
But the square and the streets that fed into it were packed to the brim with people. Standing room only. Anyone in Metropolis with a television would be watching that night.
My attention was caught by G. Gordon Godfrey, the host, and the most unusual man alive, walking onto the stage. For one thing in spoke in a rather nasally voice, with the strangest accent I had ever heard. For another thing, he always managed to work something nasty about the tributes into their interviews, and obviously took great pleasure in it. He was perpetually in his forties, had been since I was a child watching the games. Same pale brown hair, pushed back to show a wide forehead. Same pale white skin that said he rarely, if ever, saw any sunlight.
I don't remember any of the interviews. It sounds pathetic now, but I think I blacked out for them to. All I remember is hearing "Artemis Crock" being called out.
I remember I managed to stand and get up on stage. I remember I shook Godfrey's hand, and he made it a point to wipe it off on his suit before sitting down. "So, Artemis, Metropolis must be very different from District Twelve. Actually getting to bathe everyday! But what has impressed you so far?"
Oh crap. Was he talking to me? What had he said? I was drowning.
I managed to lock eyes with Zatanna in the crowd. I had an anchor. I closed my eyes. In my mind it was just me and Zatanna, in my home in District Twelve. My anchor doubled in size. What about Metropolis has impressed you?
My eyes opened. "The beef stew." Hey, at least I was honest. The crowd laughed. Godfrey gave a kind of smirk, like he had expected no less from the District Twelve rube.
"Understandable. I can only imagine how many ways there are to cook squirrel. Now, the opening ceremonies is what got you Metropolis' attention. What did you think of that costume?"
"After I got over my fear of being burned alive you mean?" It wasn't Godfrey asking. It was Zatanna.
"I thought Zatanna was a genius, and that is easily the most amazing outfit I will ever wear in my life. Though this dress runs a close second."
The crowd oohed and aahed. Some of them sounded like their were dying. Godfrey waved it away like a swarm of bees was attacking him. "Yes, yes, yes, now let's get to what's really on everyone's minds. You training score. Eleven. What happened for you to get that, hmm?" His face was politely pondering, but his eyes said it all. He thought I got my score based on how well I'd performed on my back. It made my blood boil. And then a little part of me was relieved that I'd felt something other than sheer terror.
"You know the rules just as well as I do Gordon. We're not allowed to say. Sorry." The timer sounded off. "Well, looks like we're out of time. Good luck, Artemis Crock of District Twelve."
The applause went on even after I'd sat down. I found it disgusting. At least I was able to pay attention to Khaldur'ahm's interview. He had the crowd's attention at least. He was charming, polite. Godfrey had a tough time finding a proper slur for him.
"So Khaldur'ahm. Is there a lady waiting for you back in District Twelve?"
Khaldur'ahm looked uncomfortable when he said "No."
"Handsome lad such as yourself? I don't believe it. C'mon now what's her name?"
Khaldur'ahm sighed in that kind of defeated way before he said "Well, there is a girl. She has had my attention ever since I moved to District Twelve. But she did not know I existed before the Reaping."
The crowd aahed in sympathy. Even they could relate to unrequited love.
"She with another lad?" asked Godfrey.
"Maybe. A lot of boys do like her."
"Well then it's simple. Win, go home. She wouldn't dare turn you down then", Godfrey said, in the tone of on telling one that 1+1=2.
"That would not work." Khaldur'ahm told him. Even Godfrey was confused. "Why ever not?" Khaldur'ahm breathed deeply before he said "Because she came here with me."
Christmas, man. I'm so over it.