District 8
James Blacksworth
(Markus's brother)
"So, why do we have to interview with the Capitol, again?" I ask. Mother enters from the other room, caring a plate of cookies in one hand.
"It's about Markus," she replies, setting the plate down in front of me. I choose not to eat one, because my experience with Mother's baking has not been pleasant.
"Well, I know that," I say. "But why do they care about him? He's not getting out of that arena alive." Mother immediately frowns as she seats herself at the armchair across from me.
"Why would you say that?" she asks in a hurt tone. "Remember, James, we need to stay optimistic. We need to have hope that Markus will win."
"What good would that be?" I ask. "He's not, and I'm not even sure if I want him to." Mother immediately gasps and clutches her heart in shock. I try to recover. "We'd have to move to the Victor's Village and stuff! Everyone would know who we were - and Markus would always be the center of attention."
"We need Markus to return," Mother insists, firmly.
"Need?"
"Want," she corrects. In the hall, I hear the doorbell ring. "Morton, will you get that?"
"Okay!" Father responds in the background. I hear Father pleasantly greet the crew and invite them inside as Mother struggles to make herself look presentable. She fluffs her skirt and reapplies a coat of lipstick just before Father enters with Cupid, Leandros, and the film crew. I notice that the camera's already rolling.
"Hello!" Mother greets the crew. "I'm Markus's mother. Would you like any cookies?" She offers the plate to Leandros and Cupid, who look delighted at the offer.
"I wouldn't eat those," I warn them. Mother sends a glare in my direction, and I just shrug. Her baking skills are superbly awful.
Leandros and Cupid ignore my advice and each take a bite of a cookie. They both immediately grimace and set down the remains of their cookies. Mother doesn't seem to notice, as usual.
"Okay, let's get started," Cupid says, still wincing from the awful taste of the cookies. "Everyone has been dying for this interview - Markus is a very mysterious guy, perhaps the most mysterious this year. He scored an eight in training, has amazing sword skills for someone from District Eight, and has never really talked about his personal life. Is there anything about Markus's childhood that specifically stood out?"
"Well, Markus has always been a mysterious guy, even in our eyes," Mother explains. "He refused to talk about school, never brought any friends over, and he was always sneaking off places."
"Do you think he was sneaking off to train?" Cupid asks.
"Huh, I never thought about that," Mother says. "It makes sense - I always thought he was just drinking or doing drugs, or whatever those young kids do."
"And you were okay with that?" Leandros asks. Mother shrugs.
"I was a bit disappointed, but we had good James to even things out." Mother smiles and sets a hand on my shoulder. I flash my blinding smile at the camera. I would be confused about Mother's attitude, but I've seen her in front of crowds - she's always determined to put up a facade that we're this perfect family. I can see right through her act, but I guess other people can't, because they're always falling for it.
"So James is the good one?" Cupid asks. We all nod in unison.
"Yeah, I always got the good grades and helped out my parents," I told the camera. "I didn't get a lot of opportunities to hang out with friends, but it was worth it. I was helping out my parents, after all, and they've done so much for me. I just felt bad that Markus didn't behave the same way toward them. He completely took us for granted." Cupid and Leandros are soaking this up, hanging onto every word.
"So, did he treat you badly?"
"Not badly. He was just always really distant and cold to me. Although he would pick on me when we were children. We'd fight about the smallest thing - all children do, don't they? I would try to settle the argument using words, and he'd use a different approach by using his fists."
That's also a lie. Markus and both used our fists to settle arguments. I would usually beat him, up until about a year ago when he started getting suspiciously good at hand-to-hand combat.
"Did Markus have any friends -"
"No," I immediately say.
"How about a girlfriend?"
"He didn't have any friends - why would he have a girlfriend?" Cupid shrugs.
"I don't know? He's not too bad looking. We only have time for one more question, unfortunately. How far do you think Markus will make it?" Cupid asks.
"10th?" Father asks. Everyone's quiet for a moment. Finally, I decide to say something.
"Father, there's only seven tribute remaining." Father's face morphs into surprise and then pride.
"Really? Markus made it to the Final 7? I'm proud of him."
"So where do you think he'll place?" Cupid asks.
"8th," Father says with confidence.
"You really are an idiot," Mother says with a complete look of disgust on her face. I stifle a laugh as Father attempts to calculate what he did wrong. Cupid and Leandros both turn around to the camera.
"Well, next time you see us, we'll be in District Four, chatting with Malakai Maverick's family and friends! Be sure to tune in, Panem!"
