There is nothing like the high of being on stage and reaping applause.
-Douglas Wood
Zenobia Vanity Harrison (16) POV
Capitolite
The interviews before the Games have been my favorite ever since I was a little kid. I just love the opportunity to get to know the tributes on a more personal level. It's important to know what you're rooting for. Sometimes, you think you know a tribute and you claim them as your favorite, but then they have their interview and they're a total dud. It's so embarrassing, and you always have to just pick a new one and pretend it never happened. So far, I really like Topher from District 2, Elijah from District 5, and Tessa from District 12. I think that Topher is so hot and he'll probably win, Elijah is super fashionable, and Tessa is literally so stunning, I'm so jealous.
Magnus Griffin takes the stage, and I get excited all over again. He didn't take on the job until about half way through the Games last year, so this is his first time hosting the interviews with the tributes before the Games. I'm so excited to see how he does! I'm so close to the front of the stage, I can practically touch him. Maybe one of the tributes will even sweat on me.
"Good evening, Panem!" Magnus starts. The audience screams with approval. "Are you guys as excited as I am to meet the tributes for our nation's 227th annual Hunger Games?"
The audience erupts into screams, cheers, and whistles, myself included. He's already doing such a great job, and he doesn't even have anyone up there interacting with him yet.
"Alright everyone, I want to get things started as soon as possible to maximize our time with each of our tributes. So without further adieu, everyone please welcome Linda Hemmings to the stage!"
Linda walks on wearing a shining midnight blue gown with a slit up the right leg. She gives a dazzling smile and waves at the crowd before taking her seat next to Magnus.
"Good evening, Linda," Magnus says. He takes her hand and gives it a gentle kiss. She giggles. "So how has the Capitol been treating you?"
"Oh, very well, Magnus," she says. "The people here are so lovely, especially the men."
She throws a wink and a smirk out towards the audience, and I hear men cheering. Some even throw roses up to the stage at her. She catches one in her hand and blows a kiss out into the audience.
"Present company included, I hope!" Magnus exclaims. The two share a laugh. "So, Linda, how are you feeling about the Games starting tomorrow?"
"I couldn't be more excited," she says. "I can't wait to get the opportunity to show everyone what I'm made of."
"And what is it that you're made of?" he asks, leaning forward in his seat.
"Well, I could tell you…" she begins. "But I would hate to ruin the surprise! So I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
"Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we can't wait to see," Magnus says, reaching out to touch her hand. "Is there anything that you are able to disclose about your strategy in the arena?"
"Well, I hope everyone knows that my team and I have big things planned, and we're going to be a force to be reckoned with."
"Your team?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. "Is it everyone that we would expect the young lady from District 1 to team up with?"
"For the most part," she says. "Although, there might be something that could surprise you."
With that, the buzzer goes off and Linda is standing up and shaking Magnus's hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big round of applause for Julius Helios!"
Julius comes on wearing a gray suit with a deep purple tie and gives Magnus a firm handshake. The women in the audience cheer and shriek, myself included. He's so hot. Why does he have to be gay?
"Julius, thank you so much for being here tonight," Magnus says.
"The pleasure is all mine," Julius replies. "I'm so glad to be here."
"We're glad to have you!" Magnus exclaims. "So let's talk about that training score. A ten! How did you pull that one off?"
"Private sessions are supposed to be kept private, right?" Julius jokes. "I'd tell you if I could, but I think that would be frowned upon."
"Ah, fair enough." Magnus sighs. "Though, maybe if you win the Games, you can come back and let us know what you did!"
"Oh, I plan on it," Julius says, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee. "I hope you'll all see by tomorrow exactly what I'm capable of doing."
"And what exactly is it that you're capable of?"
"Let's just say I wouldn't have volunteered last week if I wasn't a hundred percent sure I would win."
"I'm sure everyone out here believes in you, isn't that right, everybody?" Once again, the crowd cheers, claps, and whistles, and for good reason. If Topher wasn't in the Games, I'd probably be backing Julius. "Now, your District partner mentioned an alliance. What can you tell us about that?"
"We all decided that we wanted to keep things private until the Games start," Julius says. "But once the Games start tomorrow, everyone will find out really quickly!"
Before Magnus can ask for clarification, the buzzer is going off. Magnus gives Julius a firm handshake and a slap on the back before welcoming the next tribute.
"Everyone give it up for Alecto Caraway!"
Alecto walks on wearing a black and white lace long sleeved knee length dress and simple black ankle boots.
"Hello, Alecto, how are you doing tonight?" Magnus starts.
She hesitates for a moment before responding with a simple "Hello, good. You?"
"I don't know how I could be better on a night like this!" he exclaims. "Great company, great food, a great party later. Wouldn't you agree?"
Another pause. Her jaw twitches. "Yes. It's very… It's… It's wonder- wonderful."
"Oh, I can only imagine what it's like to be 18 years old and seeing the Capitol for the first time. I was born here, and it still takes my breath away on occasion," Magnus says. He really is doing a good job with Alecto. I didn't think he would be able to make her shine at all. "Tell me, Alecto, what about the Capitol have you liked the most so far?"
Alecto pauses again, but this time it's clear that she's simply thinking, not trying to get the words out.
"The city," she decides. "The lights, and… the lights and the- the music."
"Music is wonderful," Magnus agrees. "Cornelia Skyheart has got to be my favorite singer of this generation, don't you agree?" Alecto nods. "Perhaps if you win, you'll get the chance to meet her when you get back!"
There's a brief silence before Alecto's mouth twists into a smirk, and she says "I plan to."
As soon as the words have left her mouth, the buzzer is going off. Her interview wasn't boring, per se, but by the end of it, I felt like I learned more about Magnus than I did about Alecto, but I'm so fine with that. He seems gay, but the magazines say that he's bisexual, so I still have a chance at him.
"Everyone please welcome to the stage Christopher Price!"
This time, I'm the one screaming. I think Topher is easily one of the hottest guys that's been involved in the Games in years, and I just know he's going to win. Even if he wasn't the biggest and strongest tribute in the Games, he's definitely the most attractive, especially in that navy blue suit. With skills like that, you don't even need to be skilled, you just need to be hot. Sponsors will take care of everything.
"Welcome, Christopher," Magnus starts. "How are you doing on this fine evening?"
"Man, I'm doing great," Topher, says, flashing a smile. "And you can call me Topher."
"Alright, Topher," Magnus says. "Let's talk about your Reaping ceremony. You volunteered. Why?"
"Well, some of it is obviously because I know I'm going to win," he says. "Winning the Games would be an honor, and I'd love to bring that honor to my family. But beyond that…"
He trails off, seeming to make a decision.
"My girlfriend, Rachel…" he begins. "I love her more than anything. Winning the Games would mean that I could come home to her, and we'd have a house. And I could use the prize money to buy her a ring with the biggest diamond District 1 has to offer." He shifts his focus, staring directly to the camera. "Rachel, I love you. And I hope that when I come home, you'll marry me."
There's a chorus of "aww" from the crowd, but I'm pissed! He has a girlfriend? And he's getting engaged? That's bullshit! I knew I would have to pick a new favorite after the interviews.
"Well, Topher, that's very sweet," Magnus says, touching his own heart. "Now, you mentioned that you're sure you would win. Are you able to expand a bit about what makes you so sure?"
"Without giving anything away," Topher starts, "I know I have the skills. I can kill someone a hundred different ways with ten different weapons, so no matter what the arena has in store for me, I know I'll be able to cope."
The buzzer goes off before he can say more. He stands, raising an arm triumphantly towards the audience, as if he's already won.
Topher leaves and is quickly replaced by the frail looking girl from District 3. Her dark brown hair falls in soft curls down her back, and she's wearing a pale yellow halter dress that falls just to the knee. She's a stark contrast to Topher before her.
"Hello, Heather, how are you doing tonight?" Magnus asks.
"I'm okay, thank you," she responds, timidly. Her eyes are big, and they keep darting around. Everything about her screams "nervous."
"So, how about we talk about that training score?" Magnus is already being much more gentle with her than he was with the tributes from 1 and 2. "A six! Now, you don't seem like the kind of person to yield a weapon, so I'm at a total loss with my guesses for what you showed the Gamemakers."
"Well, I know I'm not really supposed to say what…" she trails off, looking up at the Gamemakers' booth. They don't stop her. "It wasn't a weapon. But once I'm in the arena, if the others don't know where I am, they won't be able to… get me."
"Ooh, very mysterious!" Magnus says, seeming genuinely excited. "That's a beautiful necklace you're wearing. It's not from here, is it?"
"No, it's not," she begins. She takes a deep breath, finding her voice. "It's my token. It belonged to my old babysitter, Lana. She… she was in the 221st Hunger Games. But it's a locket, and inside is a picture of the two of us."
She twists a knob at the side, and the camera zooms in on the locket. Sure enough, there's a picture of a much younger Heather smiling next to a familiar looking teenage girl.
"That's beautiful, Heather," Magnus says, a ghost of a smile appearing on his face. "We'll have to make sure we get you home to honor her memory."
She nods, and the timer goes off. She's replaced by her District partner who looks even more pathetic than her. Cyno is wearing a pale blue vest and bowtie with a white button down and black pants. They didn't even give him a suit jacket. They must really be trying to play up his youth. He's shaking like a leaf.
"Welcome, Cyno, how's it going tonight?" Magnus asks.
"I- Good," Cyno says. "I mean, not great. I've been better. I've also been worse, probably. Actually, that's a lie. Um, I'm fine. Thank you."
Magnus is unfazed by his intense awkwardness. "Well, I know I'm having a great day. I don't know how I couldn't when I get to meet all of you guys!"
"Oh, I don't know how that feels," Cyno says. Not very many people have wanted to talk to me. Only three tributes."
"Three tributes?" Magnus leans forward. "Are you able to share which three they were?"
"Well, Heather, obviously," he says. "But besides that? I'd rather not say."
I bet it's the boys from 7 and 11. They probably teamed up because they all know that they don't stand a chance.
"What can you tell us about home?" Magnus asks. "What's District 3 like?"
"It's alright," Cyno says, slowly. "My parents work a lot, so I'm on my own a lot of the time. It's nice having people to talk to."
"So, are your friends going to stay with you in the arena?"
"I don't know if I'd call them friends, but yeah, we've decided to stick together."
"I'm glad you've found some people that you feel comfortable with," Magnus says with a smile.
Cyno's time is up and he is quickly replaced with Penny from District 4, wearing an emerald green mermaid style dress, her red hair pulled into an intricate updo.
"Penny, you look stunning tonight," Magnus says, reaching out to shake her hand.
"Thank you, Magnus," she says, lingering on the handshake a bit. "You don't look too bad yourself."
"Why thank you," he says. "I wasn't sure about the gold, but if you like it, I might just have to wear it more."
"You should!"
"I will!" Magnus laughs. "Now, let's talk about your Reaping ceremony. You volunteered! But it seemed like there was some commotion. Are you able to speak on that at all?"
"Yes, I'd love to." Penny crosses her ankles and leans forward in her seat. "Another girl wanted to volunteer for these Games, but it was my own personal opinion that she was not capable of bringing home the crown. These past two years, a tribute from District 4 has come in second place both times. District 4 has come second for too long, and I will not let it happen again. I volunteered so that I could win and bring honor to my District."
"How about the District pride on this one?" Magnus shouts, inciting thunderous applause from the audience. So far, I think Penny is my new favorite. She really gets the idea of the Hunger Games, unlike most tributes. "And with that 9 in training, I have total faith in you as a contender to win."
"Thank you, Magnus," she says, genuinely beaming. "I know my score wasn't as high as a couple of others, but I hope no one will count me out because of it."
With that, Penny's time is up, and her District partner takes the stage. Dustin saunters on in a charcoal gray suit, oozing confidence. When Magnus reaches out to shake his hand, he shakes it and pulls him in, giving him a slap on the back.
"Welcome, Dustin," Magnus says, grinning ear to ear. "How's it going tonight?"
"I'm doing great, Magnus," he says. "Great atmosphere, great people, and great food. What more could you ask for?"
"I have to agree!" Magnus exclaims. "Now, I'd like to cut right to the chase. What made you decide to volunteer this year?"
"District 4 always volunteers," he says. "Always. Daniel, the guy that was Reaped, is a close friend of mine. He was the one that wanted to volunteer originally. But when his name was called, I realized that there wouldn't be a District 4 volunteer, and that just didn't sit right with me. And it just felt like a sign that I was meant to volunteer."
"Well, with a training score of 10, it looks like you made a good choice," Magnus says, nodding his head. "Do you think this increases your chances?"
"Absolutely. It's about time District 4 had a victor. I'd be shocked if it wasn't myself or Penny who took home the crown." He pauses for a moment. "Actually, I'd be dead."
"I have to admire the pride that you and Penny have for your District," Magnus says. "Would it be safe to assume that the two of you are teaming up in the arena tomorrow?"
"That's definitely a fair assumption,"he says. "But you'll find that we do have our fair share of tricks up our sleeves."
"I think I speak for everyone when I say that we're excited to see what those tricks are."
On that note, Dustin's interview time is over, and I feel my shoulders drop. All of the tributes that actually stand a chance are done speaking. It's still going to be exciting to hear from everyone else, but I won't have the same excitement as I did thinking that I might be looking at the victor of the 227th Hunger Games.
Clio from District 5 comes on next, and I'm shocked at how pretty she looks. Her blonde hair, usually curly and unruly, has been straightened and pinned back. She's wearing a bright pink sleeveless dress with a puffy skirt that stops at the knee. It makes her drab pale skin look rosy and inviting.
"Clio, hello!" Magnus says, seeming shocked. "You look amazing tonight."
"Thank you, Magnus," she says. Her voice is much lower than I expected it to be. "My stylist says that bubblegum pink is my color. I have to say, I'm not a fan."
"Well, she's certainly right. How about a big round of applause for Saggitaria Fairbanks?"
The audience cheers and I can't help but join them. Anyone who can make someone as plain as Clio look beautiful has some real talent. After a couple of seconds, Magnus shushes the crowd.
"So, Clio, how about that 7 in training?" Magnus asks. "That's historically very good for District 5. How did you pull that off?"
"Alicia has been a wonderful mentor," Clio says in that low, gravely voice. "It helps that I've known her for as long as I remember."
"You two are friends?" Magnus seems intrigued.
"I wouldn't say friends," she says, hesitantly. "But we were classmates. We've definitely crossed paths. Two years ago, we were lab partners in science class. Then she got Reaped."
"What's it like going to school with such a celebrity?" Magnus asks.
"Oh, Alicia doesn't go to school anymore," Clio says, sounding very matter-of-fact. "After she won, she needed to take time off to recover, and then there was the Victory Tour, and then mentoring, and now baby stuff. Besides, the only reason we go to school is to work in a power plant after we graduate, and it's not like she has to do that. But Magnus, if you don't mind, I'm not here to talk about Alicia."
"Right, so tell me about you. What's District 5 like?"
"There's things that happen that you would never believe," she says. "Women get their hair caught in machines all the time at work. If you walk away bald, you're one of the lucky ones. Most get completely sucked in and shredded. That's what happened to my mother." She pauses. "But at least I know that no matter what happens to me in the arena, I'll never have that fate."
Magnus's mouth hangs open for a moment, and I can't help but join him. What just happened? The buzzer goes off and Clio leaves, her skirt bouncing with every step she takes. After her comes her District partner, Elijah, donning a gold suit that flashes under the spotlights with a blue shirt underneath. He grins and waves to the audience as he comes out, and when Magnus reaches out to shake his hand, Elijah pulls him in for a hug.
"Hello, Elijah!" Magnus says, caught off guard. The difference between Elijah and Clio is insane. "How are-"
"Hi, Magnus!" Elijah says with a wide grin. He starts waving. "Hi, Panem! Hi, Mom!"
"Well, Elijah, you're certainly in a good mood!" Magnus exclaims. I can't blame him for being so excited about Elijah After Clio, we could use some happiness.
"How could I not be?" Elijah asks the room. "I'm in the Capitol! I'm wearing this awesome suit! I'm on TV! Hi, Mom!"
"So, what's impressed you the most so far about the Capitol?"
"Oh, everything!" Elijah gushes. "The buildings, the food, the music, the fashion-"
"The men?" Magnus cuts him off.
"The men?" Elijah asks, furrowing his brows. "Why would I-" The realization hits him and he scowls. "I'm not gay! Why does everyone think I am?"
"My mistake, Elijah, I'm sorry for assuming. So, we've determined that you're excited to be in the Capitol. Are you also excited to be heading into the arena tomorrow?"
"No," Elijah says, wistfully. "I love the Capitol. I wish I could stay here forever."
"Well, just think," Magnus says. "If you win the Games, you'll get to come back as often as you want."
"I didn't even think about that!" Elijah exclaims. "I guess I'll just have to win, then!"
"I guess you will!" The buzzer goes off, and Elijah's time is up. "Ladies and gentlemen, Elijah Stork!"
Elijah leaves and on comes Alayne from District 6, wearing a floor length navy blue dress made of velvet. Her long hair has been pinned up in an intricate bun.
"Hi, Alayne, how are you doing tonight?" Magnus asks.
"Very good, Magnus," Alayne says with a sweet smile. "How are you?"
"I'm doing great, Alayne, thank you!" Magnus says. "How has the Capitol been treating you so far?"
"It's been wonderful," she says. "Everyone has just been so kind to me, I can't believe it."
"Well, we at the Capitol are known for our hospitality," Magnus says. "What's been your favorite moment here so far?"
"I don't really have any specific favorite moment," Alayne admits. "I've just enjoyed being here so much. I'm just trying to make the most of my whole time here at the Capitol. Back in my District, I would never get to experience such luxuries. Since I'm here, I might as well enjoy it!"
"What a great attitude to have!" Magnus says. "If you could bring back any Capitol luxury back home to District 6, what would you choose?"
"Definitely the food," Alayne says without missing a beat. "I could live off of nothing but that roasted chicken with the garlic and rosemary. And oh my God, my little sister, Lynn, would die for the desserts."
Maybe her sister should volunteer for the Games! Then she could actually die for the desserts!
"Well, here's hoping you can win the Games and take some desserts home to your sister," Magnus says.
"I hope so," Alayne says. "But if it can't be me, I just hope the victor's little sister likes raspberry pie."
Before Magnus has time to respond, the buzzer goes off, signaling the end of Alayne's time. She leaves and Brian comes on, dressed in a white tuxedo with a black shirt and red tie. He looks better than I've ever seen him, since his Reaping clothes were ripped, and his Chariot costume was a disaster.
"Good evening, Brian," Magnus says, shaking his hand.
"Hello, Magnus," Brian says. "How's it going?"
"I'm great, how are you?"
"Excellent, thank you."
"So, Brian," Magnus begins. "Let's talk about that 7 in training. Did it come as a surprise?"
"No, actually," Brian says. "A 7 was exactly where I was expecting to be considering what I shared."
"I don't suppose you can tell us what you shared," Magnus says. "But could you give us some idea of what your plan is in the arena?"
"Sure," he says. "I know that there's going to be tributes in the arena that are stronger and better with weapons than me. That's a given, and I'm not going to try to deny that. But I think I have the upper hand. No one is going to be able to find me. So yes, killing me is one thing, but finding me is another."
"Very clever," Magnus says. "What's your plan if the other tributes are able to find you?"
"I don't want to give too much away," he says. "After all, any number of other tributes could be paying attention, trying to figure out my plan. But they'll only see me once in the arena; just before they die."
"That just gave me chills!" Magnus says, both to Brian and the audience. "Well, I know that if I was a sponsor, I definitely wouldn't count you out!"
The buzzer goes off, and Magnus stands, raising Brian's arm above his head.
Brain leaves, and is quickly replaced by Lydia from District 7, wearing a mermaid style forest green dress covered in sparkling stones, her hair curled neatly around a gold flower crown.
"Welcome, Lydia, it's nice to see you," Magnus begins.
"Nice to see you, too, Magnus," Lydia responds.
"Lydia, I have to say, the difference that I see in you between your Reaping ceremony and now has been night and day," Magnus says. "How did you pull that off?"
"It was simple," she says. "I realized that I was too focused on feeling sorry for myself. The minute I stood up and said 'Lydia, you need to at least try,' as the minute I realized that I do stand a chance. I'm not the same girl I was in District 7. I'm here to win."
"The confidence on this one!" Magnus exclaims, inviting a thunderous round of applause from the audience. I don't usually like outer District tributes very much, but District 7 tends to be less pathetic than the rest. Lydia is a pleasant surprise so far! "So, let's talk about that 6 in training. Any comment on that?"
"Yeah, I'm disappointed in myself, honestly," she says. "I didn't perform as well as I could have, and it reflected poorly on me as a result. But I'm hoping no one will count me out because of it, especially once they see what I can do in the arena."
"And what is it that you can do, exactly?"
"Let's just say that back in District 7, my father is the butcher," she says, raising her chin. "I've been the sectioner for the past four years. For those of you that might be confused, that means that I'm the one that cuts the meat up into pieces. I'm very precise."
With that, the buzzer goes off, signaling the end of Lydia's interview. As she is leaving, Edison comes out wearing a classic black and white tuxedo. I take back everything I said before about District 7 being less pathetic than other outer Districts. This kid is absolutely puny.
"Hello, Edison," Magnus says, shaking his hand. "Thank you for being with us tonight."
"Thank you for having me," Edison says. "It's a pleasure."
"So, Edison," Magnus starts. "Historically, the younger tributes tend to have a harder time winning the Games than the older tributes. What would you say to those who are immediately counting you out due to your age?"
"Magnus, have you heard of the multiverse theory?" Magnus shakes his head. "The multiverse theory states that there is an infinite number of parallel universes, each one slightly different from the last. As we know, infinity is not divisible by any number other than itself, meaning if I tried to take only some of those parallel universes, I would just end up with another infinity, but smaller this time. Therefore, in an infinite number of parallel universes, I am the Victor of the 227th Hunger Games. Who's to say we're not in one of those universes? So what would I say to those who are already dismissing me? I'd say that the science has already proved them wrong."
There's a moment of silence, and in that moment, I know that I'm not alone in having no idea what he just said.
"Edison, kid, I'm gonna be honest," Magnus says. "I have no clue what any of that means. But it sounded very smart.
"I don't understand what was hard about-" The buzzer cuts Edison off, and he leaves with a small huff.
Up next is Calico, from District 8. She's wearing a short strapless lavender dress with a black sash, and simple black heels. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She has the hollow look of a girl that could be very beautiful, but is too broken inside to worry about something like that.
"Welcome, Calico," Magnus says. "How are you doing tonight?"
"Been better," Calico says, leaning back in her chair. "Although, this isn't the first time I've been close to death."
"A near death experience?" Magnus asks, intrigued. "Do you care to elaborate on that?"
"I guess," she says, picking at her nail polish. "There was this one time that I got so blackout drunk off white liquor that I couldn't figure out who I was or where home was. I ended up waking up in a ditch covered up in someone else's jacket. And this other time, a Peacekeeper told me he'd give me a whole roasted turkey if I-"
"Right!" Magnus claps. "How about the arena? What's your strategy?"
"I don't have one, to be honest," she says. "How am I supposed to strategize for something that I have no idea is going to turn out?"
"So you're just planning to-"
"Wing it, yeah," Calico says. "I've been winging it my whole life and it hasn't failed me yet. It's probably the easiest way to approach new situations. Just don't get your hopes up or expect anything, good or bad."
"Well, here's hoping it works out for you this time," Magnus says.
The buzzer goes off and she leaves, lighting a cigarette (inside!) as she goes. Her District partner, Conn, comes on wearing a silver suit that looks vaguely like something I've seen in a history book.
"Welcome, Conn," Magnus says. "That's an interesting suit."
"Thank you," Conn says. "My stylist modeled it after the suits of armor that the knights used to wear in the medieval times."
"Medieval times?" Magnus asks. "What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure exactly when it was," Conn begins. "But I read about it in a history book, and it may have helped me strategize for the Games."
"In what way?"
"Well, the Middle Ages had a lot of new wartime strategies," Conn begins. "Infantry, as well as missile troops, would usually be employed at the outset of the battle to break open infantry formations. Cavalry attempted to defeat the enemy cavalry. Once one side coaxed their opponent's infantry into breaking formation, the cavalry would be deployed in an attempt to exploit the loss of cohesion in the opposing infantry lines and begin slaying the infantrymen from horse top. Once a break in the lines was exploited, the cavalry became instrumental to victory - causing further breakage in the lines and wreaking havoc amongst the infantrymen, as it is much easier to kill a man from the top of a horse than to stand on the ground and face a half-ton destrier carrying an armed knight. Now, obviously this isn't a war and that isn't my particular strategy but you can see how that could be useful, yes?"
"Yes, I- I suppose," Magnus says, getting exasperated. I can't blame him. What's with all these boys droning on and on about smart things? Luckily, the buzzer goes off, signalling the end of Conn's interview before he has a chance to say more.
Oneka from District 9 takes the stage wearing a purple gradient ball gown and a frown on her face. She takes her seat, crosses her legs, and stares deadpan at the wall past Magnus.
"Hello, Oneka, thank you for coming," Magnus says.
Oneka sighs, purses her lips, and continues to stare ahead at nothing. Magnus tries again to engage her in conversation, but she keeps refusing to say anything. For a moment, Magnus is quiet, trying to figure out what to say next. This moment of silence gives Oneka the time she needed to find her voice
"Don't waste your money on me," she says, looking directly into the audience. Without a word, she stands up and walks off stage.
Is she stupid? Now nobody is going to sponsor her. She's not going to have any chance at winning the Games with that attitude.
The next tribute to give their interview is Marsellus, her District partner, wearing a gray suit with a red vest and tie.
"Good evening, Marsellus," Magnus says. "Thank you for being here."
"Thank you for having me," Marsellus says.
"So, Marsellus, what would you say is your driving force to try to win the Games?" Magnus asks.
"That's tricky," Marsellus says. "I have a big family with lots of younger siblings, so I definitely want to be able to make it home for them. We're pretty poor, so winning the Games would help a lot…"
"I get the sense that there's something you're not telling us," Magnus says. Marsellus gives a shy half-smile, which was apparently all Magnus needed to go off. "Come on, you can tell us. Your secret is safe with Panem!"
"Well…" he hesitates. "There's this girl back home, Annie. Annie Parker. I've liked her for a long time, and I think… I think I might be in love with her."
"You think you might?"
"No, I know I am," Marsellus admits. "And she knows, too. We decided that we're probably going to get married when we're older. And we both have big families, so we both want lots of kids. For boys, we like the names Erwin, Levi, Jinx, Lander, and Luca, and for girls, we like Clo, Maddy, Kat, and Celly."
"Well, you're certainly prepared!" Magnus says. "And I have to say, there's no surprise that you have a girl waiting for you back home!"
"I just have to work really hard to get back to her, but I think I can do it!" Marsellus says.
With that, the buzzer goes off, and Marsellus leaves the stage. Up next is Terry Kartcher from District 10, and I'm so excited for her. I heard she's really close friends with Fenton Henderson, and if he didn't have a baby with Alicia Schripe, I could almost believe that they're more than that. She was always pretty, but in her short white dress with the red boots and hat, she looks… sexy.
"Hello, Terry, welcome," Magnus says, reaching for her hand. He kisses it gently and she giggles. "How are you doing tonight?"
"Well, Magnus, I have to say I'm better now," Terry says. She leans over a touch, giving the audience and the cameras a clear view down the front of her dress. The men in the audience scream with approval.
"I'm glad to hear it," Magnus says. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to cut right to the chase. In Fenton Henderson's interview this time last year, he didn't let on that you were any more than friends. However, during his family interview, his younger sister seemed to think that there was something between you two. But now, he's with Alicia Schripe. So, clear everything up for us. What's going on?"
"Well, if you must know," Terry begins, crossing her ankles. "Fenton is a sweetheart, but like he said, he's like a big brother to me. And like big brothers do, he made sure to teach me how to protect myself in these Games. So don't be surprised when I show you some of my moves in the arena."
"Would that explain your 7 in your private session with the Gamemakers?"
"You could say that," she says. "But I do have some… natural talents that he didn't have to teach me."
"And what talents might those be?" he asks.
"Oh, Magnus," she says, coyly. "Why would I tell you now and ruin the surprise? I'd much rather you see it for yourself in the arena."
"Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say that we can't wait to see what you have in store for us," Magnus says.
The buzzer sounds, signaling the end of Terry's time. Her District partner, Rowan, comes on next wearing a simple light gray suit that shimmers slightly in the light.
"Welcome, Rowan," Magnus says. "How has your night been going so far?"
"In a word? Long," Rowan says, chickling to himself. "Angus and Aurora woke me up first thing in the morning today, and I haven't even had a nap in between."
"Oh, my heart goes out to you," Magnus says. "Make sure you get a good night's sleep tonight. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow!"
"Oh yeah, I plan on going to bed the second I get back up to my room."
"Great plan!" Magnus says. "Speaking of the Games, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"Well, obviously I'd like to win by any means necessary," Rowan says. "But my friends did tell me that if I can sense that I'm about to die, I should at least go out with a bang."
"Oh yeah?" Magnus laughs. "And how are you planning on doing that?"
"I'm thinking lots of theatrics," Rowan says. "Like a 'no, God, please! Don't kill me, please! I have so much to live for!'"
"Oh, that would make for a great show," Magnus says. "So, aside from trying your best to win, do you have any other plans for the Games?"
"As a matter of fact, I do have a partner," he says. "We decided among the two of us that we would keep it a surprise until the Games begin. But between you and me, she is very pretty."
"I smell a romance!" Magnus exclaims. "We'll all be sure to keep an eye out for you two tomorrow."
Following Rowan comes Adelaide from District 11, wearing a pale pink shimmering ball gown. We're almost done with the interviews, and it's so bittersweet. On the one hand, I can't wait for the Games to start tomorrow! But on the other hand, I wish the interviews could go on forever.
Adelaide flounces onstage, her shoulders back and her head held high. She takes her seat and crosses her ankles primly.
"Thank you for joining us, Adelaide," Magnus says.
"Thank you for having me," she says. "It's such an honor to be here representing District 11."
"What a great attitude to have!" Magnus exclaims. "We don't see a lot of that from the outer Districts, but you certainly have a whole lot of District pride."
"Of course I have District pride," she says. "It's my home. It's where I grew up. No matter what, that's not going to change. I'm always going to be proud to be from District 11."
"What would you say is your favorite part of District 11?" Magnus asks.
"Oh, definitely the orchards, especially at night," she says. "The moon shines on the trees, and they cast these shadows on the ground, and it feels like you're in an alternate dimension. And sometimes, if you're really lucky and it's the right time of year, the nightingales will start singing. It just feels perfect. Like a fairytale."
"Oh, Adelaide, that was beautiful," Magnus says. "So if you were to return home, what would be the first thing you would do?"
"Well, I'm assuming you mean after I see my parents and my friends," she says. "But yeah, I would definitely want to go back to the orchards and breathe in the smell of the warm peaches in the summertime."
"Is it just me, or is this making you all want to visit District 11?" Magnus asks the audience.
"I wouldn't, if I were you," Adelaide says. "I love District 11 because it's my home. But I can imagine for someone from the Capitol, it would be a huge culture shock. I don't think you'd find it as dreamy and romantic as I do."
"Regardless, it's definitely on my bucket list to see each District at least once," Magnus says.
"Well, good luck to you," Adelaide says, with a forced-seeming smile.
When Adelaide's time is up, her District partner Coy comes out in a simple navy blue suit.
"Good evening, Coy," Magnus says. "You're looking dapper tonight."
"Thank you," Coy says. "I'm glad I'm dressed well to represent my family for the second year in a row."
"Oh yes, your older brother was with us last year," Magnus says. "Goodness, it must be such an honor to be able to represent your family this way."
"I guess so," Coy says, looking contemplative. "I just pray for my little siblings, Ryland and Tivel, in case I don't make it home."
"I'm sure everything will be okay," Magnus says, awkwardly. "They seemed like very strong little ones when we met them last year. Failing that, I guess you'll just have to be absolutely sure you can make it home."
"I'm going to try my best," he says.
"So, how are you going to try?" Magnus asks. "What's your strategy?"
"Well, I won't be going at it alone," he says. "Ralix had an ally, and that's probably what kept him alive for as long as he did."
"That is historically a very smart plan," Magnus says. "Especially among younger tributes. So, what's your biggest motivation to get back home?"
"My siblings, obviously," he says. "But also, it would be nice to have a big house and lots of money."
"That is the dream, isn't it?" Magnus says. "Well, here's hoping you'll get to achieve that dream."
The timer buzzes, and Coy is replaced by Tessa from District 12, wearing a tight green dress with a slit up the side, with gold sandals that lace all the way up to her knees.
"Well, we've officially made it all the way to District 12!" Magnus exclaims. "Thank you for bearing with us, Tessa."
"It's not a problem," she says.
"Oh, wonderful," Magnus says. "So, how are you doing this evening?"
"I'm doing great!" she says. "I can't wait to show off my skills in the arena tomorrow."
"Any chance you could clue us in to what some of those skills might be?" Magnus asks. "Maybe what you did to score that 6?"
"I don't want to spoil the fun," she says. "But make sure you keep your eye out in the arena. Subtlety is everything."
"Ooh, mysterious!" Magnus exclaims. "Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say we can't wait to see what you can do."
"I can't wait either!" Tessa says.
"So, tell me," Magnus starts. "What's it like in District 12."
"Oh, Magnus, District 12 is nothing compared to the Capitol," she says. "I would stay here forever if I could. I feel so at home here already."
"So would a life in the Capitol be incentive enough to win the Games?" Magnus asks.
"Are you kidding me?" Tessa says with a small laugh. "Not only do I get to leave District 12, but I would also get to stay in the Capitol forever? Sign me up!"
"Well, I know that I, for one, would be happy to have you! Who's with me?"
This invites a cheer from the crowd, and Tessa beams. She really would fit in perfectly here. In the midst of the applause, the buzzer sounds, and Tessa struts offstage, waving and blowing kisses the whole way.
Lastly is Adrian, who emerges in a gray pinstriped suit with a navy blue tie. He might be handsome if he didn't seem like such a player.
"Hello, Adrian," Magnus says. "Thank you so much for your patience, as our last tribute of the night!"
The crowd cheers, and I don't hesitate in joining in. Once the interviews are over, I get to go to a block party that lasts all night long.
"Well, I'd like to thank everyone in the crowd for not getting bored!" he says, flashing a winning smile. "It can't be easy keeping your excitement up for everyone, so it means a lot that you're as excited to have me as I am to be here."
Well, maybe he is a little bit charming.
"Oh, it's our pleasure," Magnus says. "We always have time to get excited about our tributes!"
"Well, I'm flattered," Adrian says, grinning again.
"So, now that you have everyone in the country watching, is there anything you'd like to say?"
"I just want to give a shoutout to my lady back home!"
"Alright!" Magnus says. "Now, onto the Games. Do you have a strategy?"
"A strategy?" he asks. "All you guys need to know about my strategy is that I'm going to win. I guarantee it."
"Well, how's that for confidence?" Magnus asks the audience. "Do you have anyone by your side to get through the Games with you?"
"Nope, I sure don't," Adrian says. "I'm more of a lone wolf."
And then, finally, the last buzzer goes off, and the interviews are over. Everyone in the audience stands up out of our seats and cheers and screams for all of the tributes. To think, the Games are starting just tomorrow! I have to say, after the interviews, my favorites are definitely Lydia and Terry now. I can't wait to see how they do tomorrow!
"Thank you all for tuning in tonight!" Magnus says. "Happy Hunger Games, everybody, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Guys, this took so long to write. Please tell me you read it all the way through. But the next chapter will be the bloodbath! Get excited!
If you're still reading, let me know in the reviews whose interview was your favorite (if you have a tribute, don't say your own), and your least favorite (saying Oneka is cheating).
-What do I say to these faces that I used to know?