Interviews
It's my first time sitting with the Gamemakers. We're so close to the tributes on stage. It's almost scary, because I already know them so well. From the biographies TGL has been running almost nonstop, to the training scores that I helped compile.
They have already done so much more than I ever could. And it hurts me to watch them walk into a death trap that I designed.
Now, I stand to learn even more about them. I'm worrying, though, even as I sit between Xenia and Epicure, the two of my compatriots that I trust the most. Epicure has done so much to get me here, on this board… his son was a friend of mine during university. And Xenia… who could not appreciate her? She's brought my arena to life… supported me… taught me so much…
It would be ungrateful of me not to sit through the games with them. Especially now that I can understand how hard it is. How many facets there are to the games, other than just 'right' and 'wrong'.
No one could ever replace Caesar Flickerman. But the man who joins the seated tributes onstage is obviously trying, though the pale ecru decorating his eyelids and lips merely gives him the illusion of a completely uniform color.
"Hello, and welcome to the interview portion of the Hunger Games!" he cries, standing up with his arms outstretched. "Now I know you're all anxious to get started- so am I! Now, let's meet the boys and girls here to make this year the best ever!"
This is Julian Feynman, the unfortunate chosen as Caesar Flickerman's replacement. He tries so hard to be Caesar… but he isn't.
This first District One girl walks up, in a shimmering blue drape that functions as a dress.
"Diele Hobel!" Julian exclaims with a broad smile. "The highest scoring girl in the arena! That's got to feel good."
She looks mildly embarrassed.
"Well, I've worked hard for this, for so long. I'm just grateful to be here."
"Absolutely. Now, I understand you'll be going into the arena with family?"
"Stepfamily," she says, an almost imperceptible edge to her voice. "My step cousin Lycra."
"A regular family reunion, then!" he says, obviously attempting a joke. A few of the more inebriated members of the audience laugh.
"What would you call your greatest advantage in the coming games?"
"I don't give up, and I've got nothing more than my life to lose. The games are my life. And I'm going to do my best in there, no matter what."
She's not playing the obvious angle- a little more relatable than most of District One tends to go. But she's not giving away much, either.
They continue with a bit of give and take, though Diele continues to be evasive about her plans and her family, which leaves very little to actually talk about. Finally, a bell rings, and she returns to her seat.
"Lycra Dietrich!" Julian cries, and the next District One girl, in a sparkly turquoise gown, joins him.
I am soon distracted by the fact that Xenia, once watching the proceedings intently, is muttering into the phone that is never far from her hand.
"I'm sorry, President. No. She's here. I'm very sorry. I'll send Epicure up with her. It's probably my fault. She'll be able to fix it. Sorry."
Then she hangs up, giving me a pitying look.
"Oh, Cinian, I truly am sorry. The President would like to see you in his office. Epicure will walk you there. It's about the arena, but… I'm sure it's nothing big. Don't worry."
I stand up and shoot a furtive glance at Lycra Dietrich, who is detailing her plans to kill the other contestants. As if she would help me… as if any of them would.
Quickly and quietly, I follow Epicure to the bullet elevator. A little screen shows the interviews going on, muted, but with subtitles. Chalice Patel is switching places with Lycra Dietrich, awkwardly tripping on one of her heels, and fairly falling into the interviewee's chair.
"Don't say anything unless he asks you a question," Epicure says quietly as we exit the elevator. "He is an unpredictable man."
I nod, though I have never met the President before… not in person. All the Gamemakers have seen him holo'd in for meetings, but… I'm scared. From everything I have heard of him. He has almost a cult following in the university. His exploits are exaggerated and twisted to no end, until the people who say 'I hear that President Norris gets his beard trimmed at Florham's!' are scoffed at, and those who swear he knows how to kill a man with a single finger are fervently believed.
Epicure types in a number on a keypad, and a bare stretch of wall slides open. Two Peacekeepers immediately converge on us, and I hear two more marching behind.
Somewhere ahead of us, a television is playing loudly. The interviews are on- Lucian Gray is being called up. I've missed one. Suddenly, the volume drops.
"Come in," the president calls, and a Peacekeeper enters another string of numbers into yet another keypad.
Yet another panel of the wall slides with a hiss, and we step forward, my heart beating so loud that, surely, someone must be able to hear it.
President Norris is behind his desk, watching the interviews. He seems relaxed and composed, tilting back in his chair, his feet on his desk. Upon seeing us, he nods sharply at the two chairs before him, and Epicure and I sit down. The Peacekeepers don't leave. I wasn't expecting them to.
He finishes watching the interview of Demetra Boise from District Two as if we aren't there. Finally, he presses a button and the television turns off altogether.
"I like that girl. She has interest value. The niece of a close friend," he comments, locking eyes with Epicure.
"Noted," Epicure replies, smiling thinly.
The President nods.
"Now, Gamemaker Liaison," he says, directly to me. "I need your reassurance that the arena is inescapable."
I swallow, as my throat goes suddenly dry.
"O-of course, Mr. President. I wanted to save the budget on the force field… we don't really need one, with all the precautions I've had the builders take. The only way out is certain death."
"And you are willing to stake Head Gamemaker Udine's life on this?"
"Yes, Mr. President. She is in no danger from me."
"I would like to give the girl from Two my personal recommendation," he continues. "And I have approved Gamemaker Grissom's muttations."
My stomach knots. I was so hoping that those beasts of Justinion's would not be released on my tributes… and, of course, the public. People will talk. But, surely, if the President has approved them, then he would approve of what the public will say.
"Thank you, Mr. President," I say.
"You," he says sharply, staring behind me with a raptor's gaze. I whip around to see the Peacekeepers having trained their guns on Epicure and myself.
"Don't move," one of them says. "Or they die. The girl goes first."
I freeze.
Slowly, President Norris raises his forearms.
"Put the guns down," he says calmly.
"I'll shoot her."
"I won't hurt you if you put the guns down," the President says quietly. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
No one moves. My heart is about to burst out of my chest. I want to run, but I know I can't. I just wanted to watch the interviews… but then, those tributes are in even more peril than I. So I feel bad, terrified, and shocked at the same time.
The President makes to put down his pen, and the fake Peacekeeper behind me cocks his gun.
President Norris breaks his nose.
I'm not sure exactly how it happens, but the President, who was standing behind his desk, is behind me as well. He disarms the fake Peacekeeper and shoots the other one through the shoulder. Epicure pushes me behind the desk. There is no scuffle, no more blows are exchanged.
"Come on out, Gamemaker Liaison, Gamemaker Goodwin."
Epicure is the first to raise his head above the shelter of the desk, and I follow tentatively.
"They get farther every year," the President comments, nudging the two unconscious fake Peacekeepers with the toe of his boot. Is he really wearing steel-toed boots?
President Norris dials a number on the phone at his waist. I make sure I am all right, and then I check Epicure for injuries.
"Yes," the President says into his phone. "No. I will interrogate them myself. I suspect that they are from District Eight. No injuries to the Gamemakers. I want a security overhaul."
He gestures at the door, and we leave, stepping over the prone forms of the two false Peacekeepers. I hold Epicure's arm to keep myself steady.
"Are you okay, Cinian?" he asks, as we board the elevator in time to see the last few seconds of the reaping.
"I'm… fine. But I'll have to watch the recap when I get home."
I try to laugh, but it comes out as a strangled sort of sob.
"This is what being a Gamemaker is," Epicure reminds me quietly. "No one would blame you for going back to work as a historian."
"No," I say. "I can't leave now. It's too late to back out. It wouldn't be fair to the twenty-one who don't have that option."
So many assassination attempts… on the President, on anyone in power. Panem has not totally recovered since the Great Rebellion. I know what Xenia would say.
The Hunger Games are more important than ever.
Those who could not watch the interviews turn on their television sets in the night. The names flash onscreen, accompanied by the most memorable clip from the interview.
Diele Hobel, District One, Score: 10
"The games are my life, and I've got nothing but my life to lose."
Lycra Dietrich, District One, Score: 8
"Remember my name. It's the one to put your money on."
Chalice Patel, District One, Score: 7
"I miss them, every day. And I'm going to make my brothers proud."
Martial Sutter, District Two, Score: 10
"They might as well be dead already."
Lucian Gray, District Two, Score: 7
"There is nothing wrong with me. Rather, something went right."
Demetra Boise, District Two, Score: 9
"Of course I want to go home. It's not like I chose thi- Oh, wait. I did."
Lectic Riggs, District Three, Score: 5
"If I can survive a homicidal kitten on a daily basis, why shouldn't I make it through the Hunger Games?"
Dylan Ahava, District Four, Score: 10
"Sure, I miss District Four. But I plan to make it back."
Gull Trillby, District Four, Score: 8
"I may not have volunteered, but that doesn't mean I don't have a chance."
Rippel Clark, District Four, Score: 9
"The odds are in District Four's favor this year."
Iezsa Monet, District Five, Score: 4
"If I can take care of Gerrison, I can take care of myself."
Rachel Goldberg, District Six, Score: 3
"As for my older brother, he can go die. I don't need anyone."
Forester Montgomery-Cunningham, District Seven, Score: 7
"Who needs nicknames, anyway? I'm Forester Montgomery-Cunningham. But you can call me Forester Montgomery-Cunningham."
Asha Woodlawn, District Seven, Score: 6
"Who needs parents when you have a grandma? I'm better off without them."
Holland Love, District Eight, Score: 5
"Maybe Skiff and I could… polish them to death. All we'd need is a can of shoe lacquer. It would be a sad way to go, but they'd have a beautiful finish."
Perl Bolton, District Eight, Score: 4
"Her name is Moire. She isn't even a year old. I'll miss her the most."
Tanner Faustus, District Nine, Score: 7
"I'm not a bad bet, as such things go. Forester and I make a good team."
Auroch Vachel, District Ten, Score: 11
"Does this have a point? Or do you just like the sound of your voice?"
Lissom Henley, District Ten, Score: 5
"Don't count me out because I'm small. Find a better reason than that."
Pasque Lunette, District Eleven, Score: 3
"I'm not nearly as stupid as I look. I know why I'm here. To die."
Skiff Child, District Eleven, Score: 6
"I'm going home, one way or another. But I'll go down fighting."
Sorrel Primrose, District Eleven, Score: 7
"I can do it. But I need all of your help to survive."
When all is said and done, by the next day, the twenty-two children will meet in the arena. They will fight, and they will die. All of them.
Winning does not mean immortality.
-x
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(Edit: Effeffdawtnet will not let me center anything. I will try to fix this. c:)
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