Sawyer Burns, 18
District Seven Female


Sawyer was satisfied with the color she'd chosen. Purple was a good color for dresses. Of course, she'd chosen it because she liked the color, but it worked well. Better than some of the other colors, that's for sure. Alder's stylist had gone with a laughably cartoonish bright yellow suit for the boy with a matching yellow hat. And Rochas was wearing a neon green shirt under his black suit. Naturally, most of the girls had chosen better colors than most of the boys. Henley was the only girl who had chosen what Sawyer would consider a questionable color, and it even wasn't so bad.

Sawyer was most impressed by her stylist's commitment to the color. She was not only wearing a purple dress but also matching heels and a matching hair piece. She was glad that they hadn't chosen to match her lips to her color, though. (That would have been cool for whoever got red. But Chloe picked red. Sure, she was a girl, but she was also twelve. Twelve was too young for red lipstick.) Sawyer's favorite part of her outfit, though, was that she was wearing her engagement ring. She hadn't been allowed to wear it on the chariot rides for "aesthetic" purposes. And she'd chosen not to wear it for training just in case. But now, it was back on her finger, right where it belonged. While Sawyer had admittedly chosen to get to know her fiancée for his wealth initially, over the past year especially she had truly gotten to know Michael better. And she was prouder than ever to be marrying him, especially now that she realized that she actually missed him. They hadn't spent this much time apart for quite a while, and Sawyer really couldn't wait to get back to him.

"Hey, Sawyer! How are you?" said Amazon, joining the girl from Seven in the holding room and breaking Sawyer out of her thoughts. Amazon also could have had her dress match her lips, but that would be a bit of overkill, Sawyer figured, with the shade Amazon had picked.

"I'm good. I like your dress."

"Thank you."

"Are you and Lucy matching?"

"Yep. They designed my dress so that it could look good on Lucy too."

"They're really playing up your mom card."

"I know. But I like that. It means I get to spend more time with Lucy."

Sawyer suddenly noticed something odd. "Why does she have earmuffs on?"

"They're headphones so that things aren't too loud for her."

"That's so cute!"

"I know!"

Over the next little while, the rest of the competitors filtered in. When everyone was assembled, the stage manager began. "Hi everyone! My name is Portia, and I'm the stage manager for the interviews. I'm going to go over some procedures really quickly, and then we'll begin.

"Each of you is going to have three minutes on stage with Dorian for your interviews. There will be a quick three-minute break after the seventh and the twenty-first interviews, and a fifteen-minute break after the fourteenth. If you are on deck, you'll wait in the wings and wait for Dorian to call your name to come out. You're going to sit in these chairs and move down until you get to the closest chair to the stage. When you're done, you can feel free to go back upstairs to your rooms for the night.

"Now, for the order. As you know, we do the order randomly, so your district will not apply. I'm going to start at the farthest chair and call your name one at a time for your seats; so, in a confusing twist, the first name I call will be interviewing last, the second name I call second-to-last, et cetera. As you can see, there are only 26 chairs. The first person going for their interview will start on stage, and the second in the wings. Clear? Good. Listen up. In the farthest chair is Mallory. Then Sage. Luna. Winsley. Sharen. Jessamine. Aelyx. Rochas. Liana. Amazon. Aviel. Chloe. Sinsya. Crixus. Silas. Ramona. Alder. Morrel. Henley. Solomon. Lyric. Myranda. Kitt. Ventus. Nell. Alexei. Sawyer, you're starting in the wings. And Serenity, you're up first. Good luck everyone!"

Sawyer followed Serenity to the wings. Serenity had probably made the best color choice; regardless of the reasoning behind it, choosing black was a really good move. Once Dorian and the stage were set, Serenity joined him in the chair on stage. Sawyer was glad to be going after Serenity. That girl had not made a good impression on anyone during training, and from what she could remember, her chariot performance wasn't much better. Sawyer knew that things were randomized, so there wasn't anything they could do about Serenity starting things off. That meant two things for Sawyer. On the one hand, she would have an easy time doing better than Serenity. On the other hand, she had to do better than Serenity, or all of the interviews would be messed up for everyone else. That was a lot of pressure. So Sawyer decided not to think about it and just go with her gut: be cute and bubbly and in love.

Who didn't like love?


Ventus Gorva, 18
District Six Male


These interviews had the potential to either go really well for Ventus or really poorly.

On the one hand, Ventus had the potential to come off as a really good guy to the assembled Capitol masses. He would be broadcasted to the entire country; this would be the best way to tell what really happened to his family and to clear his father's name while simultaneously dragging his mother's. That would be the ideal outcome.

On the other hand, Ventus was pretty sure that someone was watching him. He knew that he had a history vastly different from that of everyone else in the Events; meaning, he was pretty sure that he was the only one with an actual criminal record. He'd watched the way that the bigger criminals had been received during the Games. It wasn't good. Now, that wasn't to say that he had a major record. Ventus's Statutes were all for… he didn't know the official name. Brawling? Fist fighting? That sort of thing. There were much worse Statutes out there. But in the Events, when nobody else (he assumed) was under a Statute, he would stand out. Ventus knew that he needed to play up the family history part of things to make sure that he didn't become the most hated competitor right off the bat.

"Ventus, you ready?" the stage manager asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," smiled Ventus. He got up and straightened his gray suit jacket out, then buttoned his button before coming to the edge of the wings. On Dorian's cue, Ventus joined the interviewer on stage to a smattering of applause.

"Hi there, Ventus. How are you?"

"I'm doing well! Really enjoying myself here."

"How has the training process been going?"

"Good, all things considered. It's been great to get a sense of the things that are going to be included in the Events."

"Would you say you know what they're going to be?"

"Not entirely. Though, I do know that there will be a cooking competition involved."

"How are you so sure?"

"There was a cooking station. There is no other reason for there to be a cooking station unless cooking is involved in the Events."

Dorian nodded. "That's a fair point. Now, tell me about your home life. What is it like where you're from?"

"Well, the question of where I'm from is complicated. Because I live in Six, but I was born in One. So I don't really consider myself 'from' either district yet."

"You wouldn't say you're from One?"

"Not after what happened with my mother."

Dorian looked confused. "I have a feeling there's some intense backstory here. Do you want to tell us more?"

"Sure." Hopefully this worked. "So, I was born in One, as I mentioned. Unlike most kids in One, I didn't start training right away. My father didn't really want me involved with that. But then, when I turned ten, suddenly I started training. And then Malva, my sister, also started training at ten. I didn't understand how my father allowed that to happen. As I got older, we figured it out: my mom was abusive and manipulating my dad."

"Oh! That's horrible."

"Yeah. "Once that happened, we figured out that she was only having me and Malva train so she could have a Victor. It wasn't for our gain or district glory or any of the actual good reasons to volunteer. Once we figured this out, two things happened: first, I stopped being super into training. And second, my father filed for divorce and custody of Malva and me."

"So that must have been good for you, then."

"Well, sort of. Mom decided to try to make my dad's life hell. She began basically smearing his name everywhere and ruining his reputation in One. That made it really tough for him to actually get the divorce. But luckily, we did. And now we're in Six."

Dorian nodded sympathetically. "Are you still in contact with your mother?"

"I mean, no. We still hear about what she's doing in One, but we try to avoid it. I don't know if we could have stayed in One even if Mom hadn't sullied my father's name. But after that woman messed up my dad's reputation, there was no way we could stay. My mother was manipulative and abusive. There is no reason to stay in touch with her after she made my father's life worse so she wouldn't be harmed in the lawsuit that much."

"Very fair. So what are you going to do if you win?"

"You mean when I win?"

"This is a when situation."

"Yeah! There is no reason that I won't win. I've got this in the bag."

The buzzer sounded. "Well, Ventus, I wish you the best of luck in the Events. Anything you want to say to your mother before you go?"

"Mom, if you're seeing this, I'm sure as hell not doing this for you. I'm doing this for me."


Ramona Wayland, 13
District Ten Female


Ramona was aware enough of her position in the lineup that she had a feeling that it wasn't a coincidence. She was fourteenth, right before the intermission. They usually saved someone significant for that slot, which meant that her interview had to be really, really good.

Ramona wondered why they'd chosen her for the fourteenth slot. Technically, it was random. But Ramona figured that if they'd chosen someone like Rochas or Ventus for the fourteenth slot, they would have re-randomized so that, if one of them bombed, they could have a popular or nice competitor follow them. So they must have been satisfied with her there to leave the random order as it was. But why?

"Ramona, you're next," said the stage manager as Alder from Twelve took his place on stage. That was one really good thing: Ramona was following Alder. He was cute, but that was about it; going back-to-back with Alder meant that Ramona would be able to play up her intelligence in comparison. She knew that it would be hard to be the smart one this year, with Sinsya, Alexei, and Morrel all not only in the Events but in her alliance. But that was the best angle for her that she and her mentors could figure out. So that was what she had to go with.

"Last before intermission is our District Ten girl, Ramona Wayland!"

Ramona smoothed her hands out on her short-sleeved, deep purple dress before confidently striding onto the stage. She took her seat next to Dorian, giving him a polite handshake. "Hi, Dorian!"

"Hello there, Ramona! How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thanks! How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thank you."

"So tell me, Ramona, how have you been enjoying your time here in the Capitol?"

"It's been great! It's been so cool to explore an area outside of Ten."

"And you got to reconnect with your friend, right?"

"Yeah, Alexei! We grew up together in Ten before he got into a special program in Three."

"I was talking to him about that earlier! It's quite impressive. Did you keep in touch with him while he was away?"

"A little bit. We were pen pals, but we didn't really do a good job of keeping in touch. But now we get to see each other!"

"That's so exciting for you!"

"Yeah! It's been really cool to get to know him even better still."

"Have you been nervous at all about being here?"

Ramona was confused. "Why would I be nervous?"

"Well, you are the third Wayland to be here in the Capitol. And things didn't go so well for the other two."

Now Ramona understood why she was in the fourteenth slot. She was the legacy competitor; of course they would want to highlight her. "Well, I'm not personally nervous because I trust President Emerald that these won't be the Games. They're the Events. I know that I'll be safe here."

"Do you carry your aunt and uncle's legacy with you?"

"Well, I'm named after Rowena. And my brother Hunter is sort of kind of named after Viktor. So my brother and I do always have their legacies with us. The function of our lives is to remember them."

"Do you think that's why your parents only had two children?"

"I mean, I don't know. That would only impact my father, and my mother may have had another reason to not want more, or my dad did actually want more and my mom didn't. I don't know. I'm not my parents. But, I do have this." Ramona pulled a necklace out from her pocket. "This is my Aunt Rowena's token from her Games."

"The real one she used?"

"The real one. My dad gave it to me when he said goodbye. He said that he made the wolf charm himself and that my Aunt Fleur, his younger sister, made this mockingjay charm. In the Games, Rowena had one half of the heart and Viktor had the other, but this time, I have Rowena's half and Daddy has Viktor's."

"That's amazing! Have you watched any of the Games in which your aunt participated?"

Ramona sighed. "No, I haven't. My parents never let me. Which, considering that I now know what the Quell twist was, was probably a good thing. Didn't those Games get pulled from circulation as a result?"

"Well, there were other reasons," Dorian smiled. "Now, tell me about what you like to do at home."

"I mostly like reading and stuff like that. Things that challenge my brain in that way. But I also like writing and telling stories the same as reading them."

At that moment, the buzzer went off. "Well, it was great to meet you and get to know you, Ramona! You're doing your aunt and uncle very proud."

"Thank you!" That was the best compliment anyone could have given her.


Chloe Antoni, 12
District Two "Male"


Chloe sat in her assigned seat, between Sinsya and Aviel, the weight of what she was about to do fully apparent to her. Sure, she knew that she'd been announced at almost every other point during the Events as Chloe. But her chariot costume had been fairly agender, all things considered. Today, during her interview, she'd be publicly proclaiming her gender, distancing herself permanently from her parents.

Now she just had to win.

Chloe was confident in her gender, that was for sure. When her prep team put her in the red taffeta dress she was to wear for her interview, she had exploded in happiness. But there was a certain fear that came along with rejecting everything she'd ever known at home. Regardless of how the Events panned out, she would need to move somewhere else once they were done.

Thankfully, she'd met Winsley. That kid was so special and confident. He'd already told her that if she was unable to return home, she could come to his house. That was so sweet of him! Chloe was lucky to have met him.

When she thought about Winsley, Chloe's stomach fluttered. But she was a little bit nervous about forming a relationship with him. She wasn't sure if she would feel the same way about Wins when he was male and when she was female. She'd been selected as a girl, but Chloe had only really known him as a boy. So it would be interesting to see tomorrow, when Wins identified as female, how Chloe felt. Maybe she could love wins in both cases. Because Chloe did think she loved him.

"Chloe?" said a stage manager. "You're up next."

Chloe stood up and made her way to the wings. She waited patiently for Sinsya to finish her interview. Then, as Dorian introduced her, she strode out confidently onto the stage, climbing into the chair next to him. To her dismay, her feet didn't reach the ground. They didn't even come close.

"Well, hello there, Chloe!"

"Hi, Dorian! How are you?"

"I'm doing very well, thanks for asking! So let's get right into it. I'm sure you have an idea of what we're going to talk about today."

"My gender?"

"That's right! What a smart girl," Dorian smiled. "So tell me, how did you discover that you identify as transgender?"

"Well, I think I've always known it. From a very young age, I hated the suits and ties that my parents made me wear on formal days. I didn't like my name, Plato, and I didn't like being forced into a masculine box. It took some time for me to figure out whether I wanted to be a girl or whether I just didn't want to be a boy. But then, once I really started wearing dresses and such, it became clear to me that I was a girl!"

"That's so sweet! How did you choose the name Chloe? Did you choose it?"

"Well, there are a few reasons. The name Chloe means 'blooming,' which I liked because I was blooming into more of who I want to be. But also, Chloe was a name that my parents had considered for me, and for the sister I never had. So when I chose a name, I wanted to choose something that my parents would like so that they would accept my new identity."

"Did they?"

Chloe knew this question was coming. "No. I came out to them about a year ago now, and they refused to accept my identity. They kept calling me Plato, no matter what I said otherwise."

"Do they now?"

"Nope. They said I could only earn the right to be called Chloe if I won the Games. But I get the best of both worlds with the Events. I have a chance to win without dying. And besides, I've already come out as Chloe to the world. If they don't accept me when I go home, so be it!"

The audience applauded. "Chloe, you're a brave girl," Dorian marveled.

"If I can be myself with my identity, then maybe some other kids around Panem can be brave enough to come out to their parents as well. Transphobia and homophobia have no place in this country, and I aim to be an ambassador for those who cannot come out."

"Do you think living in Two has an impact on the opinions of those around you?"

"Potentially. Two is still the most binary district; we train by gender still, and one person of each gender enters the Games. But I think it is possible to rise above the opinions strengthened by the culture in your district."

"That's very wise, Chloe. Now, to move on to the Events. Do you have any sense of what could possibly happen while you're in the Arena?"

Chloe thought for a moment. "I think it's going to be a variety of things, obviously. But I'm not sure. I don't think speculating is going to do much good, though. We'd be better off just waiting and seeing."

The buzzer sounded. "Well, that's all the time we have today. Thank you so much for being with us, the inspirational Chloe Antoni!"

Chloe left the stage to cheers and applause. She, more than ever, felt that she'd done her district proud.


Rochas Augustus, 17
District Five Male


Rochas watched as competitor after competitor took their turn on stage. It was all making him sick. These children, who were, by all accounts, good kids, were stooping to the level of the Capitolites, who were energy-guzzling swine. And not just stooping to their level, but sticking up to them! There was no reason that they should be doing that. And Rochas was going to show them how it was really done.

"All right, Rochas, you're up next," the stage manager said, as Amazon, holding her daughter, crossed paths with Aviel in front of Rochas.

"Got it," Rochas drawled. He stood up and smoothed out his dress pants, then stood up at the edge of the wings. He watched as Aviel did incredibly well at his interview, demonstrating a mix of eagerness and determination while being utterly charming.

Rochas was not utterly charming. Nor did he intend to be.

Aviel finished his interview to respectable applause. As he exited the stage, Dorian said, "Now, let's welcome everyone's favorite environmentalist, Rochas Augustus from District Five!"

As Rochas came onto the stage, he sensed the audience's attitude shift. While they were totally willing to support and applaud Aviel, they were hesitant to throw the same support behind him. A wiser competitor would have tried to get the audience on his side. Rochas was not so wise.

"How are you, Rochas?"

"Meh."

"Are you enjoying yourself in the Capitol?" Dorian attempted to get Rochas to talk.

"No."

"Well, why not?"

That opened a whole can of worms. "I think that the Capitol is a horrendous place because of the extreme waste of resources and energy that perpetually takes place here. You… people are spending so much money on clothing that you do not need and exorbitant amounts of food and use up so much energy on the lights and I just don't understand it."

"But is it not beautiful?"

"Waste is not beautiful! We are destroying our planet because of you!"

"But we have moved towards renewable energy in the past few years, especially after the redistricting."

"But the light pollution is still bad! I have had half a mind to destroy transformers and whatnot to prevent that very problem."

"Clearly, you're very into the importance of our environment," Dorian quickly jumped in, attempting to save Rochas's butt.

"Why, yes! I don't understand why any imbecile wouldn't always be thinking about that. We've already had one apocalypse of mass destruction; why risk a second one? You Capitolites are destroying the ecosystem by eating so much meat and consuming and wasting everything!"

"How did you get interested in saving the environment?" encouraged Dorian.

"It was the right thing to do," Rochas said. "The world has the potential to be a gorgeous place. Why don't we work towards making it better?"

"Did your family have any impact on that?"

"My parents both passed in a quarry accident. So definitely not."

"Do you miss them?"

"Meh. I can't think about my parents when the whole world is at stake!"

Dorian again attempted to change the subject. "Rochas, where did you grow up?"

"Unfortunately, in Two. The district with the worst environmental efforts in Panem, and they definitely haven't been getting better since the redistricting. We quarry and we knock things out of places and ruin our world!"

Despite Dorian's best attempts, Rochas finished off his interview by yelling, screaming, railing and basically doing everything that he could possibly do to make the Capitolites hate him. Rochas saw the relief on Dorian's face when the interview was over. The boy was perceptive enough to recognize that his interviewer had been trying his hardest to make him likable. But there was nothing that Rochas wanted less than to be liked by those vile Capitolites.

Having finished his interview, Rochas went back up to the Five floor to wait for the rest of the team; after all, Luna still had yet to go. There were only seven or so people after him, so it wouldn't take all that long until everyone was back upstairs. Rochas could have chosen to get something to eat, but he didn't want to support the Capitol system. He could have chosen to turn on the television to watch the interviews, but that would have meant using electricity. Instead, Rochas requested a candle. He went into his quarters, turned off the lights, lit the candle, and pulled out a book to read.

Rochas didn't know how much time had passed. The last thing he remembered was something stabbing into his neck, and the world quickly went black.


Well, there are the interviews! What did you think? Did you like Sawyer's section? I wanted to try something new. What's going on with Rochas?

A couple of housekeeping things. This is our third or fourth audience participation point (I lost count)! As a reminder: this is mandatory for those of you who have competitors in the story, and HIGHLY ENCOURAGED for those of you who do not. The code word for the chapter is WINE.

Secondly, I'm going to have to push back the start of the Events by one chapter. I can't say why yet, but I can give you the following hint: my story does not have something that most of the other good stories on this site have. Any guesses?

Goldie031