Chapter Fourteen.
Interviews, Part One.
Shine Lenette, 28 years old;
District One Victor.
I kick my feet up and rest them on the chair in front. Whoever occupies the seat turns to stare at me, narrowing their lilac colored, freak eyelash framed eyes.
"Excuse me."
I cough and lean forwards, smiling. "I'm a Victor. Deal with it."
And with that, I fall back into the comfort of my chair and watch Lysander, confidently stride onto the stage. He holds himself well, almost too well. He's always been a bit stiff in the shoulders for my taste. Too much going on inside that head of his that stops him from opening up properly.
Lies upon lies. It's all too fake.
"Lysander! The Capitol certainly loves you!"
"I suppose I just have to show them that they've put that love into the right person." He politely smiles at the entire crowd, nodding his head and reshuffling himself into the seat, hands crossed over one knee.
"Any juicy little details you could spare about your fellow tributes? Anything?"
Lysander thinks for a minute, pausing. The Capitol is literally on the edge of their seats, whilst I just munch away on a packet of weird flavored snacks. I'm only here because it's required of me. If not, I'd probably be out drinking somewhere... it's a shame alcohol isn't permitted tonight.
"Whatever you might think, Tallis does have a brain. It's just a bit hard to find."
People laugh. Too loudly. Tallis on the other hand is probably reeling with shock, but I know what Lysander's up to, he has her on a leash. And he wants to make sure she's his and his only.
Up next the very same girl swishes on the stage, faltering only when several cameras click and flash at the same time. The poor girl looks very much swallowed up by the armchair the moment she sits down, crossing one leg over the other and grinning for Caesar.
"Tallis! Care to say anything about what Lysander had to say?"
She bites her bottom lip. It happens only for a fraction of a second, but I pick up on it because I was waiting for her to show it. The fear. The sadness over being made out to be someone... stupid. Well, surely she already knew that? She's never exactly come across as a genius.
"Oh that Lysander, he's always been great at making us all laugh. Don't worry, I can guarantee you this girl does have a brain, and it's one of the many things that will impress you come the Arena."
Almost as fake as Lysander. He's asserted her position as a pet, and she's starting to realize it. And she'll blindly follow him through everything thrown their way because if not, he'll kill her, and she's afraid to die.
All normal humans are.
"Anything you'd like to say, just to wrap up your interview?"
Again, the pause to think, but it's less effective with Tallis. The no brain comment has already taken its toll on her reputation.
"Looks can be deceiving. So can numbers. I didn't score the highest, but that doesn't mean I'll fail you all in the Arena. Place your faith in me and I promise you, I'll return it a thousand times over."
No you won't Tallis. Am I the only one who sees it?
I know her type. Maybe, years ago, I was her. But in the Arena I did what had to be done. She won't because she can't.
That's what will get her killed.
The fact she's too... human. Too kind.
And it's what will help Lysander win.
Because he isn't.
Ellis Conroy, 23 years old;
District Two Victor.
Wherever Cornelia is, she should be ashamed.
I've dedicated every single waking moment on helping Dario become the Victor the Capitol sees him has. Molding him into not just a fighter, but a star on the outside, a character they can fall in love with. Cornelia has done squat to bring out Leven's inner fire.
Dario is my responsibility. But now, so is Leven. I can't pin my hopes on both of them returning, which makes it a thousand times harder. Neither should die, but neither can they both live.
So what do I do?
Before I can come up with anything, Dario replaces the girl from One, walking composed and ready in a black, sleek tuxedo. He smiles kindly at the audience and greets Caesar with a warm hand shake and a clap on the shoulder.
It's not over the top, but it's not too brushed under the carpet either. There's a good balance.
"Dario, Dario. What should I be asking you..."
"Can't help you there, that's your job." Dario jokes. The audience laps it up and Caesar, ever the character, throws it back and starts laughing along with them.
"Too true. Well," he takes a moment to calm down, leaning forward to level his eyes with my tribute. "What would you say is the one thing that gives you the edge over everyone? We want to know what drives you above the competition."
There are plenty of qualities about Dario that do just that. But there are plenty of drawbacks each one proposes as well to his chances. Some Careers are trained in both mind and body, some just body, others focus entirely on using what's inside their head. Dario has a good balance, but he also has restraint, and sometimes that's just as deadly as it is helpful.
I'm trying to kick it out of him.
"First, I'd say you only have to look at the scores and I think you'll see that my chances, my skills, are higher than most. And I think second is I'm not going in there thinking about the end result. I'm the kind of person that will take it day by day and adapt to fit whatever's thrown my way. It's good to be flexible."
But it's also good to have a plan. And I don't think he does. He sees victory, but he doesn't see how he's going to get to it. Because he doesn't want to think of what he'll have to do to get there.
Leven drags a sequined ballgown behind her. The dress covers a long stretch all the way to the end of the stage where she just arrived, until she sits down and hitches it up, folding it over her lap.
She looks as comfortable as someone like her can be. As long as she holds it, hopefully, they won't see the things that I'm again having to try and get rid of inside her.
"Leven my dear. First, I must say you look very beautiful."
She blushes modestly and smiles. "Thank you. You're rather dashing yourself."
The audience cheer the two of them on and Leven relaxes backwards, soaking it up. As long as she feels valued, maybe she won't draw in on herself and hold back. She won't feel like she's a nobody, when really, she's one of the biggest somebodies this year.
"A ten, Leven. You and Dario with the highest scores. District Two's chances are looking very positive this year, what do you have to say about it?"
The microphone clipped round her ear echoes Leven's voice back to the very end. It's nice to hear a sort of confidence there. The ten really gave her a well needed boost. She even beat their leader. Both my tributes and myself couldn't help but feel smug.
Take that Shine.
"I don't want to come across as arrogant, but I have to agree. I think we have good chances, and I don't want to squander them by acting out of character and becoming too big for my... boots, as it were. I just want to do it like Dario and take it day by day. With no regrets."
A part of me sees a Victor in her, or Dario. Another part only sees future destruction. Their friendship is what will make them a force to be reckoned with, but will also give them a harder time come the Games.
I'm scared of what's to come.
Because I can't decide who to support. As long as they're together, it'll work just fine. But when they have to split, and if both survive, I have to focus on somebody.
Who that somebody is, I haven't got a clue.
Dessa Emrick, 27 years old;
District Three Victor.
"You've got to have faith in them, Dessa."
Beetee looks more worse for wear than usual, slumped backwards, brow sweating and eyes bloodshot. I sigh and shake my head. "I put my faith in people I know can come back. Soren and Meva can't."
"You don't know that."
The stadium erupts into cheers the moment Soren walks on in. Pale. Terrified. Tiny.
"Sadly Beetee, I do."
I glance back at the stage and watch Soren literally sink into the folds of the armchair. I've always hated that chair. It's a tactic from the Capitol, and surprisingly it works. Stronger tributes stand out from it, confident tributes lean forwards, and people like Soren fall backwards to be as far away from the spotlight as possible.
Unfortunately, the spotlight has been following him for too long now. In someways he should be happy. I know all he's ever wanted is to be recognized, and he has that recognition. Country wide. But this isn't the sort of stage he wants, the sort of attention. Because it only leads to death.
"Soren my boy, how are you coping?"
Beads of sweat roll down his nose, amplified by the light shining on him and the wide screen hanging above our heads giving us a clearer view of what's happening. Soren shifts uncomfortably, gulps and straightens his back.
"I... I've been coping well. As well as I guess you could expect."
Caesar nods his head. I know he only wants to move on from Soren. Tributes who don't shine. Tributes that fail to impress and give Caesar the right nudge to make them stand out. All we can expect from people like Soren is an early death.
I see the truth. As sad as it is. And I've come to terms with it.
"How has your time in the Capitol been? What do you like that's different from District Three?"
Everything would be the correct answer. The smart answer. Those who know how to boost the Capitol's ego automatically gets points in the eyes of the rich and stupid. But Soren is struggling to even breath let alone put together the idea of the smartest thing to say.
Instead, he mumbles something along the line of food, and that's it. He closes himself off completely.
The rest of the interview goes by faster than usual, with the buzzer going off seconds – if not minutes – earlier than most. Meva however, as hopeless as she may be physically, at least carries herself well onto the stage.
She glides past Soren with a smile to rival the most confident tribute. Her hair's been curled and left to fall over her shoulders. A green, glowing gown sweeping past her feet and past the back of the chair.
She looks pretty. But there's only so much pretty can get you here. If you're from One, Two or Four, pretty goes a long way. If you're not, pretty only gets you a few more cheers. A few more claps.
Then you reach the same end everyone else gets.
"Meva! Good to see you."
"It's great to see you too Caesar, I've been excited for this."
No one normal would be excited. But intelligent tributes are, and Meva's tuned into that. The way she must play it – for a girl that exudes naivety, she's awfully put together well in that head of hers.
Maybe I was wrong.
I was wrong about Beetee after all.
"Made any alliances? Any rivals?" Caesar arches an eyebrow and winks at Meva. The idea of a rival is much more exciting. Only Meva isn't the sort to make intentional rivals, so even if she had, she wouldn't be aware of it.
"An alliance. With Clarence. Oh he's ever such a good friend Caesar. I could learn to shut up," she laughs, throwing some of her hair back over her shoulder, "but we get along like two peas in a pod. We balance each other out, and that's important in a friend. Someone you can relate with, but has differences to keep you interested."
I clap along with the rest of the audience. Because, this time, Meva's shown me a spark of something that I don't see much in tributes from Three.
Most are stoic, distant shells that sit in the chair and mumble facts about their chances. Depressing the atmosphere. Others like Soren want to be greater than they truly are and that ambition closes them up.
But Meva has shown me that she has the potential to do well. If she can play the crowd, then maybe she can play the game.
Guess there's not long left to see if she can do that.
Tomorrow it begins.
Soren will be dead. Meva could be too. But now, I'm managing a little bit of faith. Just enough to push me in the right direction. Enough to give me hope.
Wyatt Lowsley, 36 years old;
District Four Victor.
Sheen has the potential to be the strongest out of the alliance. In the whole Games. As he whisks himself onto the stage, coattails swept behind, he smiles at the cameras and waves for them.
It's the growth through these past few days that has given him this confidence boost. That he can survive.
I don't want to see Gemini die, or really, anyone die.
Years of this has taken its toll. Humanity starts to piece itself back together after becoming a monster, but Sheen is my tribute. My sole focus. So he's the one I have to root for, and looking at him soak up the attention and deliver it back out there with surprising charisma, I think I made the right choice back on the train.
Sheen became mine.
Gemini became someone else's responsibility.
"Sheen, Sheen, Sheen. Excellent to see you here."
The formalities are quickly dealt with. Sheen shaking his hand, bidding him an equally enthusiastic welcoming, and then it's straight to business. Both hold themselves with smiles that are almost too... much. But the Capitol can't seem to get another of it. They love it when tributes act happy to be in their home. Act like this is an honor.
Sheen doesn't think like that. He's here for his own reasons, reasons I think will give him that extra edge over the others who are here for the pointless, trivial reasons of fame and fortune. Mine were something more complex.
And I think that's what got me here today.
"You have a lot of bright characters in your alliance this year, Sheen. It's hard to tell who will make it the furthest. Who will shine in the Games. What is it about you that makes you stand out over the people that got, say, higher scores than you?"
Sheen equaled the girl from One. The girl he says attaches herself to her District partner like an obedient puppy.
He wasn't happy with it. But, what he showed them would never be appreciated more than the skill to brutally dismember inanimate dummies. He just has to remember that and keep focused, even when there's doubt.
"It's funny how the interviews started off with that little joke about Tallis and her lack of a brain. Because, that happens to be what I was raised to perfect. I thought it would be good to be different in that respect and it's done be good. Being smart and skilled with weaponry gives me that little boost above the competition."
Confidence.
Some of the others make it sound so fake. His is genuine enough to hopefully collate some sponsorship money for his time in the Games. Lysander is no doubt equally as strong, but it's his arrogance that will let him down, whilst Sheen's ability to remain down to earth despite hardship is the greatest strength he could have.
When he walks off, I try my hardest to remain focused. But Gemini has never been the brightest character. Being around Sheen who's so full of conversational topics I can join in on, and then Gemini who's most riveting conversation happened to be about a mascara wand... you lose respect for her.
"My my, you certainly are gorgeous tonight."
At least she has something she's good at. Looking the part. Out of everyone Gemini is the true stunner, and she knows it, flaunting it around as she struts on stage to the other curtain, turning around and blowing a kiss to a particularly flashy looking man dressed up in the front row.
One cameraman awkwardly zooms in a little too close to her cleavage, the sight showing up twenty foot wider above our heads, and then it's back to the two on stage gossiping together.
It's always gossip with her.
"So you had a good life in Four?"
"The best!" Gemini cheers, clapping her hands together. "Party by day, party by night. I think whilst you're young, you shouldn't waste it. You never know when something will happen and that lifestyle is taken from you."
"Are you happy to be here then?"
Gemini nods her head eagerly, relishing the applause the Capitol throw for the enthusiastically air-headed girl, happily dishing out her compliments for their inflated egos. "The most glamorous place in all of Panem? Course, Caesar. All I have to do is win and then I'll be back here, showing you all how it's done!"
Like it's that easy.
Especially for a girl like her.
I roll my eyes and lean back in my chair, crossing my arms and watching her laugh like it's nothing important. Nothing serious.
For some I'd compliment them on a sound strategy. But with Gemini, the bad thing is it clearly isn't a strategy. This is who she is.
And that will get her killed.
Being herself.
The saddest lesson some tributes learn. Identity can kill. Changing who you are... that can save your life.
Unless you're Sheen. Being who he is is the very asset he has to use. The one sure way he'll be returning here, as Victor.
And the results for favorite alliance are:
1st: The Careers – 5 votes
2nd: Meva, Clarence + Etolie, Septimius – 4 votes
3rd: Charles, Tamarin, Cayden, Dilara – 3 votes
4th: Celeste Damount + Chiffon Vander – 1 vote
5th: Soren, Ash + Alfie, Sayla, Riva + Assisi Umbria – 0 votes
The next poll is just about the Careers, with more members than usual, I'm curious how you think it's going to play out, so go ahead and vote :D I think I can probably tell who will win the poll, but still, I'm curious xD
Favorite POV?
Standout tributes?
First part to the interviews. Two more of these I decided, I think I'll get through them quicker when I don't have to write as many POVs in one go. Instead of six POVs per chapter, it's gone down to four. The original plan was just for two interview chapters, ah well!
Tomorrow I'll try to get another one out. I really need to get to the Games before Sunday since I'm not sure how long it will take until I get internet at university. Hopefully it'll be instant.
Yeah so thanks for reading! I loathe interviews, but hopefully they still turned out alright.
Let me know what you thought!