Ricky Lightman, Games Interviewer
Okay, Ricky, you've done this a million times. Just focus. You da man. You got this. Show those tributes who's boss. You're the boss.
I step out on stage, glimmering in my golden suit. The shoes alone cost more than a million dollars, since they're encrusted with flashy golden diamonds. As usual, the audience loves me. They scream my name and throw roses at the stage, and I make sure to wink at a few ladies as I walk to my seat. I'm single and ready to mingle.
"How do you plan to win the Games?" I ask Nolan. He's wearing an expensive suit that rivals my own. After I get over being jealous, it's easier to focus on the interview.
"Complete domination," he says coldly, "I'll kill off the other tributes one by one. Then I'll pick off my alliance one by one. It can't be that hard."
Good job, buddy. You just told them your plan.
Jules is wearing a short green dress, with black heels that strap all the way up her legs. And boy, what gorgeous legs. Her striking red hair is tied up with a black pin. She's sort of attractive, and I find it hard to focus on talking.
"How do you look so lovely- I mean menacing," I stammer.
"It's all about the eyes," she says, "If you have tough eyes, nobody will mess with you."
"Do you think you're at a disadvantage?" I ask Cendko, who's dressed in a simple, old-fashioned suit. One of the sleeves is cut off so it doesn't dangle.
"Yes and no," he says, "Yes for obvious reasons. But other people will underestimate me, which is definitely an advantage."
Kiara's blue dress immediately catches my eye. Her stylist did a good job. She looks pretty shy and tries to shrink back in her chair. Then she remembers that she's supposed to look emotionless. Maybe I can help her out.
"Kiara, those are some strong arms!" I exclaim.
She smiles and flexes nervously for the crowd. Even though she's skinny and not muscular at all, the audience begins to ooh and aah. They'll do anything I tell them to do. Capitol people are sort of dumb.
"LAAADDIIEESS STINK!" Mugger screams. He's wearing underwear and a tight jacket, so I assume the stylists couldn't find anything that fit.
"I beg to differ!" I say, winking at the crowd. Mugger walks off stage, trips, and a prop falls on his head. An Avox tries to drag him away and fails. Two more Avoxes struggle for a while. FInally, six Avoxes manage to get him off the stage.
Moira doesn't say anything. She just stares at the crowd with a smirk. Her black dress fits her personality.
"You gonna say anything?" I ask. No reply.
Frank is the King of Atlantis. I wish I had abs like that. "Do you have a special someone back at home?" I ask him.
"My lovely Sienna is waiting for me," he says, flashing a charming smile at the crowd.
I don't even recognize the girl that walks on stage. Lusi is completely enveloped in a dress made of grey and blue swirls, and it somehow moves in a rolling motion like waves. She looks like a glob of the ocean grew legs and a head. I'm so speechless that I have to glance at one of the prompts that I hastily prepared on a notecard for situations like this.
"Do you prefer ketchup or mustard?" I ask, cursing myself as soon as the words come out. Stupid nephews! Always messing with my stuff.
Lusi owns the question. "Mustard because it matches your outfit. I'm a big fan!"
Why do we have so many silent tributes this year? Dorian sits on stage in his suit, glaring at the crowd. It's unnerving, so I glance at my notecards again. Might as well read one of them, since he won't reply anyways.
"Does Ricky have tight buns- WHAT? Forget that. Um, do you prefer blondes or brunettes?"
He doesn't answer, as expected. I'm sort of glad he didn't.
Finally, someone I can work with. Sabrina's dress is a bright orange, sort of like electricity. She smiles sweetly at the crowd. "What would you say to your family if you could see them right now?"
"I'd tell them not to worry," she says, "I'll do my best."
Vaska is wearing a bronze suit, and it seems his lips and eyes have been lined with bronze makeup. His hair is slicked back with gel.
"So, I heard you murder chickens?"
"Torture, Ricky. They're two different things."
"Venus, that's a beautiful silver dress!"
She shyly plucks at the fabric, and eventually turns away from the crowd and begins shaking. Her wobbly legs can hardly support her, so I stand up and help her backstage. Something smells fishy. Her nerves almost seem fake. The crowd sympathizes with her, though.
Hideki has a baby blue suit with a red shirt underneath. Not a good mix of colors. He's a very likable person, though, and hardly needs any help from me.
"Try living in the same building with Ivy for five days!" he exclaims.
"HA HA HA!" I exclaim with an overexaggerated laugh. The crowd joins in, and Hideki blushes.
Ivy's wearing a dark crimson dress and strappy black heels. She walks on stage with waving hips and pursed lips, and the dress clearly is designed to create the illusion of curves. She's acting sort of slutty. Jessica must have rubbed off on her.
"Nobody's gonna beat me," she assures us, "Just you wait and see."
"I believe it," I say. My eyes keep darting to her chest, and she shoots me a glare. Hey, I'm only twenty-eight. She's what, sixteen? It could still work out.
"The Gamemakers rigged the scores," Hudson says, holding out his hands. "Trust me, I'm way better than a 4. They're just idiots."
"I'm sure you are," I say, rolling my eyes. Why are all the guys wearing stupid black suits? So creative, stylists. Geesh.
Calico's wearing a yellow sundress that makes her look small and innocent. Her large blue eyes blink at me, and I suddenly feel guilty. She shouldn't be here.
"I heard you're a polite girl," I say.
"I can get dirty," she says, winking, "Sometimes I talk about smooches with my friends."
Matt is wearing...wait for it. A black suit. "Matt, that's a sharp black suit you got there. Props to your stylist for the original idea."
The crowd laughs, and Matt grins. "Hey, at least I'm not naked."
At first, Avery's interview goes smoothly. She's wearing a beautiful blue ball gown that makes her look like a princess. But Avery isn't a princess. She tries to keep it clipped and professional ,but soon she's trying to bite my head off.
"He's a dirty liar!" she hollers, pointing at Matt.
"Oh yes, I'm sure he's terrible," I say. Sometimes the best defence mechanism is to agree with them.
I'm delighted to see Chander is wearing something besides a black suit. It's a white suit with black dots. Does that count at a black suit? He looks like a cute little cow, and even has a cowbell around his neck.
"You must be strong from wheeling yourself around all the time," I say.
"I'll need to wheel super fast during the bloodbath, but I think I can do it," he says, "Catherine will protect me."
I'm sure she will. She's like the most amazing protector in the history of protectors. I bet she could take down a dragon.
"I LOVE my outfit!" she squeals, spinning around to display her frilly skirt.
"I LOVE it too!" I exclaim.
"Lookin' sharp in that black suit," I say to Darren, "You gonna win this thing?"
"I have to," he says emotionlessly, "My family needs me. I'm coming home, Tarren."
I'm super happy to see Palata. Her father is the most famous orthodontist in all of Panem. She's the billboard child. It's like I've known her my whole life. Her glittery gold dress matches my suit.
"Do you know how to clean teeth?" I ask.
"No, but I can throw a knife," she replies.
Gordon is the mayor's son, so I expected big things out of him. But on stage he's actually a really boring person. He sort of dejectedly answers all of my questions without any emotion. To make things worse, he's wearing a black suit.
"Is your dad going to sponsor you?"
"I don't even know anymore," he sighs.
Finally, the one I'm looking forward to the least. Sunny. I feel bad for the poor girl, but I don't know what to say to comfort her. Should I comment on her skinniness? Or should I just avoid her appearance? She steps out on stage in a beautiful silver dress. Her hair has been curled and silver high heels jut out from her feet. She must be five inches taller with those shoes. She's the most stunning tribute all night.
"Sunny…. I'm speechless."
"Really?" she asks, trembling.
"Really," I say. And I mean it.
Again, credit to LCS and Silver for this interview format. I think it's better to get a small glimpse of each interview. It all flows smoothly this way. Plus I don't have to write 24 interviews.
1. Rank the top three interviews and give an explanation why.
2. Rank the bottom three interviews and give an explanation why.
3. Name the five biggest threats and give an explanation why.
4. Which six tributes will die in the bloodbath and why.
You don't have to answer all of these, I'm just giving you some options. Or answer all of them. Long reviews are fun.
(Fun fact: Ricky's shoes really cost that much. Nick Cannon wears diamond shoes that are one million dollars per shoe.)