Selena Arthtome, 27, Assistant Gamemaker

I applauded with the rest of the game makers as the live feed from the parade cut off, leaving behind a blank screen. Hiram nodded grudgingly, turning back and taking another swig of his canteen of coffee. I had replaced his usual cup with a steel container so that he didn't continue to break all of the cups in the office. It had started to take a large sum out of our office budget.

Hiram walked over to me, handing me the clipboard and pointing in a general direction. "Find someone and figure out how you're going to do the first odds for these tributes. The people also want popularity numbers. Get those finished in the next fifteen minutes."

I nodded and walked away, surprised that he hadn't yelled it for once. It seemed as if Hiram, somehow, had gained a form of respect for me after I had managed the arena crisis and the serum. It was almost as if he thought I was worthy of working for him. No, that couldn't be. Hiram didn't even respect President Ember.

I ushered one of the game makers over, having them sit next to me and grabbing a sheet of all of the tributes. "Hey, Elise! We're going to have to do the first odds and popularity points for the tributes. Do you have the footage from the parade?"

Elise nodded, producing a remote and switching on the television. "I made sure to record three times, just like Mr. Grisham said. Will we start with the odds first, Ma'am?"

"Sure!" I said, setting down the paper on the table. "Let's start with the girl. Taffeta, if I'm correct?"

"Taffeta Paisley, 18, a student of the Academy for Intuitive Minds." Elise rattled off the information listed of Taffeta automatically, looking at me for approval. I nodded. "So, she's a career. Anything else?"

"Her teachers say that she's intelligent, but she can be very vain and self-absorbed."

I frowned, tapping my pen on the desk. "But she's also made a big splash at the parade. Say, 5 to 1 odds?"

"Sounds reasonable. Next is her peer, Luxx Mortem, 18, a former student at the Academy for Intuitive Minds. He was… oh, dear."

"What is it?" I asked, ready to scratch down 5 to 1 odds for the boy. Elise nodded, continuing. "He was an unofficial volunteer. Ben Quick has asked to heighten his odds and lower his popularity as a result."

I nodded, writing down 9 to 1 odds for Luxx. "He'll still be relatively high in the popularity poll for his kiss with the girl from Two. They're on the front page of a third of the papers in the Capitol, with the rest showing Taffeta and the pair from Seven. What's the girl from Two's name, again? Zora?"

"Yes, she's Zora Stikander, 16, an attendee at Clay's own Academy. She's reputed to be a good fighter and a good student, but also has a blind eye from an incident at the Academy."
I nodded. "So she's an underdog. How about 7 to 1 odds?"

Elise smiled, continuing. "Her partner is Ajax Hollix, 17, also an attendee at the Academy. He was an official volunteer, but our sources confirm that there were several changes before he was listed as one."

"Then he's 7 to 1. Next is the Mira Bevoire girl. She's 15, right?"

"Actually, she's 16. She doesn't have any home listed in place of residence. She is apparently homeless. Her mother divorced her father several years ago and apparently did not take her in after the father died in an unexpected fire. I recommend 11 to 1 odds."

I frowned again. "So high?"

"She did help to subdue the Collector after he murdered the original Three Male."

"Of course, then. Next is the replacement. Shawn Andersen, 14, if I'm not mistaken. I'm thinking… 13 to 1 odds?"

Elise shook her head. "His grandmother was killed under the order of the government by a mysterious group. The Capitolites call them the Midnight Sun, if I'm not mistaken. His family is also rumoured to have been rebelling along with the grandmother. President Ember herself recommends 17 to 1 odds."

I whistled, impressed that the president herself had made sure to lower Shawn's odds. "Got it. Monique Rivera has made a big splash in the Capitol for her relation to Craig. Would you say that she gets 4 to 1 odds?"

Elise nodded, turning to the next. "Keelan Spinnaker is also another 4 to 1. I would say that Ashrifah Kayeut has made a splash as well. 7 to 1 because of her volunteer status?"

I nodded, writing down the numbers. "How about her district partner?"

"Wyatt Blink-Box is a smart student but does not get along well with his peers. I would recommend 25 to 1 odds for him."

I smiled. "Isa James is known for collaborating with peacekeepers to help catch criminals. Would you recommend 13 to 1 odds?"

"That sounds like a good number. Her district partner, Tony Dongalls, is one of those criminals. 16 to 1 odds sounds reasonable." Elise waited for me to write down the numbers, then continued. "Aris Orchards only lives with her mother, as her father was executed by peacekeepers for treason. 14 to 1 odds."

I smiled. "I know that the boy, Ryker, is the son of one of the heads of the lumber industries. He also is registered as a worker for the group. I'd say he deserves 9 to 1 odds."

Elise nodded, pushing her hair back from her face. "Hollister Cuero and Nehemiah Bunting were among those arrested in the recent riot in District Eight. They also only live with their fathers, as both mothers perished in the Great Influenza Epidemic several years ago. They both should receive 18 to 1 odds."

I nodded. "And Giovanna Fillinfini seems like a good choice for 10 to 1 odds. One of her students was reaped as well. Would you say that Paxton Webb deserves 23 to 1 odds?"

Elise snorted. "Try 26 to 1 after his meltdown in the reapings! My children wouldn't stop laughing for the entire day."

I laughed, remembering Paxton's meltdown. "Carol Farrier seems to be a good choice for 18 to 1 odds. Young, but her teachers say that she's level-headed."

Elise nodded. "Sources say that she might have been one of those who lost their homes in the Ten Fire before the reapings. The male tribute was involved as well, and has been noted for saving several herds of cattle from the flames."

"So Marshall Furr will receive 7 to 1 odds. And Pepper Maywell seems to be the type to receive 16 to 1 odds. She's faded into the background as of yet."

Elise nodded. "Yes, Capitolites haven't mentioned her much. Cornelius Fields hasn't been mentioned many times as well. I'd say he would receive 22 to 1 odds."

I wrote it down furiously, making sure that my writing was legible. "And Moon should receive 13 to 1 odds."

Elise shook her head. "Moon Kraków is suspected of leaving District 12 boundaries. Nothing's been confirmed, but she should receive 17 to 1 odds to be safe. We don't need to give higher odds to someone who might be breaking the law."

"Sure thing." I wrote it down quickly. "And Bernard Hancock?"

"His race towards the stage demands something better than 24 to 1 odds. Say, 21 to 1?" Elise asked.

"Sure. I've finished the popularity poll as well." I handed the document over to Elise, letting her look at it. She wrote a few things and scratched others out before she was satisfied. "It's ready for Mr. Grisham to check over."

I walked the document over to Hiram, letting him take it to the computers in order to type it in. He nodded brusquely as I handed him the papers, and fed them into the computer. "You're free to go, Arthtome."

I smiled, walking up to the door and opening it quickly. I looked one last time at the document and saw the official popularity and odds flash onto the screen.

District One Female: Taffeta Paisley, 18: 5-1

District Seven Male: Ryker Underwood, 18: 9-1

District Four Female: Monique Rivera, 18: 4-1

District Two Female: Zora Stikander, 16: 7-1

District Ten Male: Marshall Furr, 16: 7-1

District Seven Female: Aris Orchards, 16: 14-1

District Nine Female: Giovanna Fillinfini, 18: 11-1

District Six Female: Isa James, 15: 14-1

District Three Male: Shawn Andersen, 14: 12-1

District Twelve Male: Bernard Hancock, 12: 20-1

District Ten Female: Carol Farrier, 13: 17-1

District Three Female: Mira Bevoire, 16: 11-1

District Four Male: Keelan Spinnaker, 17: 4-1

District One Male: Luxx Mortem, 18: 9-1

District Eight Male: Nehemiah Bunting, 15: 18-1

District Two Male: Ajax Hollix, 17: 7-1

District Five Female: Ashrifah Kayeut, 16: 8-1

District Six Male: Tony Dongalls, 17: 17-1

District Eight Female: Hollister Cuero, 14: 18-1

District Eleven Female: Pepper Maywell, 16: 16-1

District Nine Male: Paxton Webb, 13: 26-1

District Eleven Male: Cornelius Fields, 13: 22-1

District Twelve Female: Moon Kraków, 17: 18-1

District Five Male: Wyatt Blink-Box, 14: 25-1

Hey, guys! I'm back ;) What did you think of this interlude? These are the most popular tributes as of now in order of their popularity, factoring in the reapings, the parade, and any things that might have caught the Capitol's attention. Any surprises? Were Selena and Elise correct in their judgments? Well, next up is training! Excitement! By the way, I've also got a new SYOT called Et Vici Mundum. Check it out! Until next time, TheAmazingJAJ