Molly McNamara, 16.
District 4 Female.
"Molly, time to get up. It's interview day and we don't have a minute to spare!" Erica called out on the other side of the door. Molly put her paintbrush down and made her way to the door, opening it carefully as to not get paint on the handle.
"I'm up, I've been up for the past two hours." She said as she opened the door to see Erica.
"Of course you have, why am I surprised. Now time for breakfast!" They made their way to the dining room, and both she and Cress ate quickly. As they finished, Lexington and Erica spoke up to share the plans for the day.
"So today is the dreaded interviews. You'll spend the morning with us, we'll work on your interview angles and then in the afternoon you'll be with your prep teams." Lexington said, one of his hands braced on a chair.
"Who's going with who?" Cress said through a mouthful of food.
"I'll be taking you Cress, and Molly is going with Erica," Lexington replied.
"Ready to go Molly?" Erica stood from her spot. Molly nodded and stood herself.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
"Okay, go back to your room and get dressed and then meet me back out here," Erica said. Molly nodded and headed back to her room to find an outfit of a simple shirt and pants, both in their signature Four blue. She pulled the outfit on and quickly braided her hair back into two braids. She quickly exited the room and returned to Erica, who was leaning against the wall next to Lexington. Molly remembered when Lexington won, just seven years prior. It was the third year her parents had let her watch the Games, and she remembered cheering for him to win.
"Alrighty, let's go," Erica said, gesturing towards the elevator.
"Where are we going?" Molly asked as they stepped into the elevator.
"We're gonna go to the best place in this entire building," Erica said with a slight grin. She hit the twelve button, but the elevator went down instead of up.
"Wait where is it taking us?" Molly said.
"Probably just going down to pick up somebody below us," Erica said. Molly internally smacked herself for forgetting how elevators worked. The elevator continued downwards, arriving at what she thought may have been the second floor. The doors slid open to reveal Matthias and his mentor Omega. Molly remembered Omega's games well too, they had been just over three years ago. She wasn't expecting him to win out of the fifty or so tributes, but he did making it out of the arena with a total of seventeen kills. Molly had always been interested in the Games, having memorized most of the victors in the past fifty or so years, and Omega had been a recent favourite of hers. He reached out to push a button, and as he realized the twelve button was already pushed he retracted his hand. The elevator took off, moving upward.
"Are you going to the twelfth floor too?" Erica asked.
"Yes ma'am, we are."
"You sly bastard, you're stealing my idea!" Erica said, lightly smacking Omega on the shoulder.
"Hey, hey, just cause you showed me doesn't mean it's yours, there's plenty of room up there for all of us," Omega said, laughing. It was sort of strange to see mentors goofing off like this, acting like normal people. She figured they were always serious and mentor-like. They quickly arrived at the twelfth floor, Omega and Erica continuing to casually chat, and Matthias and Molly ignoring each other. Molly figured Matthias wasn't too pleased with his score of eight when his fellow careers scored nines and tens. The elevator arrived at the twelfth floor and the doors slid open once again, revealing a very similar apartment to the one they were staying in, but this one was all navy blue and grey rather than the lighter blues and whites of their apartment. Everything matched back to their district colours since Molly knew Iara always had navy blue on during training. The group stepped out into the empty apartment, and Omega gestured for them to follow him.
"This way to the coolest view of Panem you will ever see," Omega said with a grin. They all followed him toward the once noticeable difference in the apartment, a small staircase against one of the walls that led to a door. They climbed the steps and Omega opened the door to a large terrace of sorts. It was like a small rooftop garden, and Erica gestured for Molly to follow her.
"C'mon, this way. We don't wanna be anywhere near these two." Erica said, heading towards the far end of the large space. It was windy, but not so windy that she was cold, more a pleasant breeze. She followed Erica across the terrace and they arrived in a small square, surrounded on three sides by wooden lattices and vines wrapping around them. On the furthest side, it was open looking out at a beautiful view of the lake the capitol sat on. Erica sat on one of the benches, patting the space next to her.
"C'mon, take a seat. Let's talk about your interview angle." Erica said. Molly sat as she was told.
Alvino "Vino" Thornton, 12.
District 11 Male.
Vino was ushered into the elevator by his mentor, Josh.
"Okay next up is lunch and then you'll be heading to your prep team to get ready for interviews," Josh said. They had spent the morning preparing for the interviews in a quiet corner of the lobby of the training center. Vino had been people watching, watching all the strange Capitolites walk by outside the window. Josh hit the eleven button in the elevator and the doors quickly slid closed and the elevator took off. Vino still hadn't gotten used to the speed of the elevators, and he usually had to hold onto the railing to keep himself steady.
"Alright eat quickly okay? We don't have a lot of time." Josh said as the doors slid open to the eleventh floor. Vino nodded and they stepped out of the elevator, heading towards the dining room. Briony and Lazaro were seated at the table already eating. Vino waved at them and slid into his usual chair. He ate quickly as instructed by Josh.
"You finished Vino?" Josh said, standing.
"Yep, let's go," Vino said standing from the table. Briony and Lazaro had left just a few minutes before them, heading down to the prep rooms. They stepped into the elevator for what felt like the fiftieth time today, and Josh this time hit a button that he'd never seen used before. The elevator took off moving downwards and Vino once again braced himself.
"So, how are you feeling about your interview?" Josh said, crossing his arms in front of himself.
"I'm freaked out having to talk in front of that many people," Vino replied.
"That's fair, I remember before I went up for my interview I was scared shitless. Have you ever seen my interview?" Josh said with a grin.
"No, why?" Vino replied, intrigued.
"Oh well, the first thing I did after I got up from my chair to leave the stage was trip and fall flat on my face," Josh said. Vino laughed at this.
"So the moral of the story is to not do what you did?" Vino said with a grin.
"Well I guess, but it made me more memorable. You already had your little fainting spell back at the reapings." Josh said. Vino groaned and he could feel his face flush as he remembered what happened at the reapings.
"Ah, it's okay kid. You'll do fine up there." Josh said, patting him on the shoulder as the elevator came to a stop. They stepped out into a grey hallway and Josh gestured for Vino to follow him.
"C'mon this way." He said. He followed Josh down the hall, they took a few turns, no sound but the slap of their feet against the cold grey floor, occasionally a voice could be heard from behind a door. They arrived at one of the doors, it loomed stark and white. Josh opened the door revealing another prep room, that also contained his prep team.
"Good luck Vino, I'll see you soon," Josh said as Vino stepped into the room.
Vino sat on the plush couch, pulling the thin robe around himself tighter. He was once again, cleaner than he'd ever been in his life for the second time in a week. His stylist, Veneer slid onto the couch across from him.
"So, how are you feeling?" Veneer said, sipping water out of a glass.
"Clean," Vino replied, tapping his fingers together.
"Oh well, that's good. Wanna see your suit?" Veneer said, setting down the glass he was holding.
"Uh, sure!" Vino said, interested to see what he would be wearing. Veneer pulled a bag out and unzipped it pulling the suit out. It was a bright spring green colour. He held it up to Vino.
"So, what do you think?" Veneer asked with a grin.
"It looks great," Vino replied. Veneer passed the suit over to Vino, gesturing to the corner where some panel type things were blocking the view of prying eyes.
"Go try it on." Veneer said, grinning wider. Vino took the bundle of green fabric and stood moving behind the panels.
Vino stepped out from behind the panels, adjusting his jacket.
"How does it look?" Vino asked.
"Looking sharp kid, come here so I can tie your tie." Veneer said, holding up a darker green tie. Vino obliged, padding across the room to Veneer, who quickly tied the tie and slipped it over his head, tightening it around his neck.
"Alrighty, that's it. Now, let's get going."
Armitage VanBreck, 18
District 5 "Female"
Armitage adjusted the collar of his shirt, shifting in his seat. His eyes were glued to the screen of the tv in front of him. He was nervous, but he was trying to put what was about to happen out of his mind, instead of focusing on his fellow tributes interviews.
"And so we begin our interviews, with the lovely Jade Amberlynn from District One!" Quill gestured to the side of the stage where Jade stepped onto the stage, in a long green dress with scattered emerald coloured gems around the bottom. She smiled at Quill as she took her seat.
"Ah, welcome Jade! How are you on this fine night?"
"I'm quite good Quill, thanks for asking," Jade said.
"So, your older brother, Mallard, was sat exactly where you were five years ago. You're following in his footsteps?" Quill said, shifting in his chair.
"Yes sir I am, I'm gonna do what he did, but I'll win," Jade said. The crowd cheered loudly.
"What about friends, family? Who are you trying to return home to?" Quill asked, obviously trying to get interesting answers out of Jade.
"My mom and dad, and my best friends Tyran and Cesarina," Jade replied with a smile.
"Is there anything you'd like to say to them with your last few moments up here?" Quill asked, returning the smile.
"Mom, Dad, Ty, Cessy, I love you all and I'll see you soon I promise!" Jade said, excitedly. The buzzer rang, and Jade stood
"Please give it up for the enigmatic Jade Amberlynn!" Quill said. Jade stood and bowed before walking off the stage to thunderous applause.
"And now if you would please welcome the next tribute, from District One, Sarmiento Polar Torres!" Quill practically shouted into the mic. Sarmiento stepped onto the stage, dressed in a sharp-looking purple suit, his black hair now dyed a deep purple to match. He walked up to Quill and shook his hand before both took their seats.
"So, an impressive score, tied for the best score with the lovely Scipia Karthus for the top score. How do you feel about that?"
"I'm quite impressed by Scipia, and I'm not sure how I managed to score so high," Sarmiento said with a sheepish grin.
"And what about the fact you've seemed to be elected a sort of leader within the careers?" Quill asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, the others sort of elected me I guess. I trust their judgement." Sarmiento replied, dodging the question a little.
"Such kind words. Tell me, what do you think of your allies?"
"Oh, well I think they're all so incredibly talented." The buzzer rang out suddenly, cutting off whatever else Sarmiento was gonna say.
"And so our time has come to a close, please give it up for lovely Sarmiento Polar Torres!" The crowd once again went wild, as they generally did for higher scoring tributes and careers, as Sarmiento walked off the stage waiving.
"Now we move onto District Two, would you please give a warm welcome to the fabulous Scipia Karthus." Scipia stepped onto the stage in a quite revealing red dress. She sauntered over to Quill, who took her hand, pressing his lips to her knuckles. Scipia giggled and smiled, taking her seat.
"So Scipia, how have you liked the Capitol so far?"
"I've quite liked it, Quill, thanks for asking," Scipia replied, clasping her hands in front of her.
"So you've landed yourself quite the score. What are your plans once you get into the arena?"
"I guess I have landed quite the score and I'm not gonna reveal too much about my plans, but it will be bloody I know that," Scipia said. The crowd, who were as equally bloodthirsty went wild cheering.
"I see, I see. And if you don't mind me asking, how did you land your high score?" Quill asked, leaning forward in his chair to seem more interested.
"Oh well, I can't tell you that Quill! You know that." Scipia replied, with an added flirtatious giggle on the end. The buzzer rang out, and Scipia stood from the chair.
"Our time is up Scipia, I wish you luck! Once again, give it up for Scipia Karthus!" The crowd cheered excitedly, as Scipia walked off the stage waiving.
"Continuing with District Two, would you please welcome Matthias Laune!" Matthias stepped onto the stage in an impossibly shiny tux. He waived to the crowd excitedly and shook Quill's hand before taking his seat.
"So Matthias, that's quite the outfit you've got on there."
"Yes sir, I look like a disco ball," Matthias replied. The crowd laughed audibly.
"So Matthias, what do you miss the most about home?" Quill asked.
"Well, I'd have to say, my sister and my uncle," Matthias replied.
"Is there anything you'd like to say to them?" Quill said, shifting in his chair.
"There isn't anything I wouldn't give to have one of Quickstone's oatmeal cookies right now," Matthias replied, smiling sadly. The crowd laughed again, and the buzzer rang out.
"Well, our time is up Matthias. I wish you well in the arena. Everyone give it up for Matthias Laune!" The crowd cheered as Matthias walked off the stage waving and smiling.
"Nice chap he is. Well, how about we crack on and meet our next tribute, would you please welcome Janna Coil!" Janna stepped onto the stage in a large, poofy blue dress.
"Ah, welcome Miss Coil!" Quill said as Janna took her seat.
"Thanks, Quill!" Janna replied, with a smile.
"So, Janna you've built yourself quite the little alliance, with Harry and Keenan, tell me what do you think about your alliance members?"
"Well, Harry and Keenan are both so talented with their survival skills and my traps we'll outlast everyone!"
"So you're gonna play the waiting game then?"
"Well, maybe. I shouldn't say any more about our plans."
"Ah, that makes sense, you don't wanna go and give away all your strategies. Now, I've heard you like science?"
"Yes, I do! I've been doing experiments and things for years with my brother. We were the ones who blew up the science wing of our school last year!" Janna said excitedly. As she realized what she said, she clapped her hands over her mouth with a gasp. Quill feigned a look of surprise as the buzzer rang out.
"A surprising reveal from Miss Coil!" Quill said. The crowd cheered, but they were noticeably quieter than with the careers. Janna walked off stage, look of shock still on her face.
"And so we continue, would you give it up for Malec Bridon!" Armitage himself clapped as Malec stepped onto the stage, in a black tux that had various glowing lights on it that were pulsing in intervals. Malec walked up to Quill, who held his hand out for Malec to shake. Malec instead went for a fist bump which surprised Quill slightly, however, he recovered with grace, returning the fist bump. Both took their seats.
"So Malec, you volunteered. Why?" Quill said.
"Well, I volunteered for my boyfriend, Yelsel. He's my best friend, I'd do anything for him." Malec replied. There were audible cries of "aww" from the crowd.
"And tell me, what are you planning on doing if you get home to him?" Quill asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I'd like to marry him" Malec replied with a sheepish grin. The crowd cheered louder, they usually liked these sorts of things.
"That is, impossibly cute. Is there anything you'd like to say to him?" Quill said with a grin.
"Yels, I'm sorry. If I don't come home know I love you more than anything." Malec said, his voice cracking slightly. The buzzer rang out as he finished his words, and he stood, wiping tears away from his eyes. Quill patted him on the shoulder and Malec left the stage, the crowd going wild for him.
"Quite the heartbreaking story from Malec, good luck to you sir. Well, now we continue onto District Four, please welcome to the stage, Molly McNamara!" Molly stepped onto the stage, barely covered in her blue and white glitter-covered dress. She looked very uncomfortable as she crossed the stage, taking her seat and carefully crossing her legs.
"So Molly, you've got quite the alliance but curiously enough they aren't the careers. Care to elaborate on them more?"
"Well, I'm not exactly trained as a career and I didn't want to ally with them because of that. When Briony approached me, I decided to take her up on the offer." Moly said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
"I see, and what do you think about your alliance members?" Quill asked.
"They're all so amazing and talented, I'm very glad to have them," Molly replied with a slightly awkward smile.
"And what about your score? You scored quite highly for someone untrained. What do you think about that?" Quill said with a smile.
"Well, I'm quite surprised I got such a high score, I was expecting a five or a six," Molly replied with a small nervous laugh. The buzzer rang out and Molly stood, walking off the stage. She appeared to almost trip over her dress as she neared the stairs but she recovered herself.
"Ah the charming Molly McNamara, give it up for her!" Quill said into the mic quite loudly. The crowd cheered, not quite so loudly as they had for Malec or the other careers but it was still a decent amount of din.
"And now please welcome the highly intriguing Cressian Vanderhall!" Cress stepped onto the stage, in an iridescent blue and green fish-scale tux. He had a massive grin on his face and his bright red hair was slicked back. He practically bounded across the stage, and he bounced to a stop in front of Quill, who held his hand out for Cress to shake. Cress took it and shook it excitedly and the pair broke apart and sat in their respective chairs.
"So, Cress, you are not a typical career. Tell me, why did you volunteer? We're all dying to know!"
"I volunteered because I knew I was ready. This year is my year to win!" Cress replied, bouncing in his seat excitedly. Quill nodded, thinking for a moment.
"And why are you so sure this is your year? You're the youngest of all the careers, do they underestimate you?"
"Yes, they do, but I know otherwise. I'm just as capable as they are!" Cress replied, his face flushing slightly.
"I see, well I don't think they should underestimate you. Your score is quite impressive for someone of your age, tell me what you think about that?"
"I'm not exactly happy with it, I think I could've scored just as high as some of my allies," Cress said, a slight look of annoyance on his face. The buzzer rang out and Cress stood, walking off the stage, a bounce in his step.
"He's quite the little spitfire, isn't he. Now shall we welcome the next tribute?"
Genevive Tarro-Snow, 32
President of Panem.
Genevive shifted in her seat, watching as Armitage VanBreck stepped onto the stage in a bright yellow suit.
"Welcome Armitage, take a seat. Tell me a bit about yourself." Quill said.
"Oh well, I have a fiancee back at home I guess," Armitage said, looking slightly nervous. There were audible reactions from the crowd, they always ate these kinds of things up.
"Oh do tell more!" Quill said with a look of intense interest on his face.
"Well her name is Beth, and she's the smartest, prettiest girl in the entire district," Armitage replied, blushing a little. The crowd reacted, eating it up even harder than they had been.
"That's so incredibly cute. Now is there anything you'd like to say to your Beth?" Quill asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I want her to know that I'll be home soon to her, I won't break my promise to you Bethy," Armitage said, a hopeful look crossing his face. The buzzer rang out, and Armitage stood to leave the stage to thunderous applause.
"Well, sweet words from Armitage. It brings a tear to the eye, doesn't it? Anyways, we will power onwards please welcome Beck Vars-Dyer!" Beck stepped onto the stage in a black leather jacket and skinny jeans, quite a different look from everyone else so far.
"Welcome, welcome Beck, please take a seat," Quill said as they shook hands. Beck took his seat.
"So Beck, what is life like back at home? What are your dreams? Life goals?" Quill asked.
"Well, I've always planned on trying to live a high-class life, living comfortably with a husband or something you know?" Beck replied. Quill nodded at this.
"Yes, that's understandable, living comfortably is always a good dream. Is there anything you miss the most about your home district." Quill asked.
"Probably my pet crab, Stryker. He's my best friend as well as my roommate." Beck replied, pulling a little stuffed crab out of his pocket.
"Is that your token?" Quill asked, a look of mild confusion on his face.
"Yup, it's a plushie version of Stryker," Beck replied with a grin. The buzzer rang out, cutting off whatever else Beck was going to say.
"Well thank you for that wonderful interview, and insight on your crab, please give it up for Beck Vars-Dyer!" Quill said, exuberantly as Beck walked off the stage.
"And would you please welcome Alexzandra Laison to the stage!" Z stepped onto the stage in a black and white striped pantsuit. They seemed quite nervous about the whole situation, brushing their short black hair out of their eyes as they took their seat.
"So, Z how have you been liking the capitol so far?" Quill asked, adjusting the collar of his jacket.
"It's fine, I guess." Z said, their eyes glued to the floor.
"Is there anything you miss about your home? Anyone special?" Quill asked, obviously trying to get a better answer out of Z.
"No," Z mumbled. Quill looked slightly annoyed, but he persevered.
"I'm sorry to hear about your mother, do you have any other family back at home?" Quill said, trying to play the sympathy card.
"No, I don't. Don't be sorry anyways the bitch deserved it." Z snarled, looking up from the floor finally. A strange, furious light had entered their eyes.
"Pardon me?" Quill asked, looking unnerved but keeping his cool.
"I said, she deserved it," Z repeated.
"Well, why?" Quill asked, continuing to keep his cool.
"Because she was a horrible person to me! And I don't regret what I did!" Z shouted.
"What did you do?" Quill asked again.
"I stabbed her! I killed her with a kitchen knife!" Z shouted, this time louder. A group of peacekeepers rushed onto the stage suddenly and grabbed them, dragging Z off kicking and screaming profanities. Quill wiped the sweat off their forehead before continuing.
"Wow, yikes. That was uh. Interesting. Anyhow, let's move onwards. Would you please welcome Harry Ritchwell to the stage!" Harry stepped onto the stage, pale and afraid of looking after the recent events. He stumbled across the stage to Quill, and nervously wiped his hands on the pants of his ruby red tux, before shaking Quill's hand. He took his seat, clasping his hands in front of him.
"So, Harry welcome to the stage. Tell me, what do you miss about home?" Quill said.
"My friends and family I guess," Harry replied, his voice quivering a little.
"Anyone in particular?" Quill probed.
"I guess my best friend, Hero," Harry said, his voice still shaky.
"Is there anything you'd like to say to your friends? Or your family?" Quill continued pushing the question.
"Yes. I'm not a girl. I never was, I just said I was to get those asshole bullies off my back." Harry said, his face turning bright red. The buzzer rang out, and Harry hurried off the stage, keeping his head down. Quill watched him leave the stage with a perplexed look.
"Quite the revelations from District Six huh. Well, then shall we move on? Would you please welcome Tovah Pines!" Tovah stepped onto the stage in a dark green velvet dress. She walked up to Quill, and shook his hand firmly, then taking her seat across from him.
"Welcome Tovah, how have you been liking the Capitol so far?" Quill asked with a smile.
"It's been fine I guess, the scenery is quite different from Seven." She replied, her face staying completely cold and neutral.
"I see, that makes sense yes. We've had one of your fellow alliance members on already, but I'd like to hear your take on your allies." Quill pressed her for better answers, but he probably wouldn't get them.
"Oh they're quite pleasant, I think we're all gonna work quite well together in the arena," Tovah responded, with a slight, pleasant smile on her face.
"Oh well, that's good to hear. Do you have a game plan for once you get into the arena?" Quill asked.
"We do yeah, but I'm not gonna share any of it. That would be stupid of me." Tovah responded, the slightly unnerving grin staying on her face. The buzzer rang out, and Tovah stood walking off stage looking straight ahead.
"And so the mysterious Tovahs interview is finished. Shall we move on? Would you please welcome Sylvan Walton to the stage ladies and gentlemen!" Sylvan stepped onto the stage in a black and white tux, with green accents. They walked across the stage and shook hands with Quill before sitting down.
"Why hello there Sylvan, how are you on this fine night?" Quill asked.
"I'm quite alright, a little nervous but fine other than that," Sylvan replied with a smile.
"Ah yes, being nervous is understandable. Are you nervous to enter the arena?" Quill shot back.
"Well yeah, obviously but Fervin and I have a plan, and if everything doesn't go to hell we'll hopefully be okay," Sylvan replied.
"I see I see, do you want to elaborate on this plan?" Quill pressed.
"No, not really. You'll get to see it soon though." Sylvan replied with a cheeky grin. The buzzer rang out and Sylvan stood, walking off stage.
"And so we move onto District Eight, would you please welcome Scarlett Hale!" Scarlett stepped onto the stage in a deep red, flowing dress. She walked across the stage and shook Quill's hand, and then took her seat.
"Welcome Miss Hale, how have you been enjoying your stay here in the Capitol?"
"I've quite liked it, it's beautiful and the food is so amazing," Scarlett said with a grin.
"Yes, I quite agree with that, the food is to die for. Now we've had two of your fellow alliance members on already, Tovah and Molly. What is your take on the alliance?" Quill asked.
"Oh, the alliance. Yeah, it's pretty cool I guess. I think we can all go pretty far together." Scarlett said, looking a little confused about what to say.
"Is there anyone, in particular, you think you could go far with?" Quill pressed.
"Probably Molly or Briony, I trust them the most I think," Scarlett said sheepishly. The buzzer rang out and Scarlett looked relieved at her interview being over as she walked off the stage.
"That was pleasant eh? Now shall we welcome our next tribute, Saxony Paccino!" Saxony stepped out, in a fitted black suit. His face appeared as if it had been powdered to be paler, and he walked across the stage dead serious. He shook Quill'd hand and took his seat.
"Good evening Saxony."
"Good evening Quill."
"How are you feeling. Missing home at all?"
"I guess yeah, I miss my parents and my friend Will," Saxony said, quite bluntly.
"I see, yes. What about your choice to go into the arena ally-less?" Quill replied.
"Well, I think I'd be better off going at it alone. Less chance of betrayal if I don't have any allies." Saxony replied, looking sort of bored.
"That makes sense, yes. Better safe than sorry. How are you feeling about going into the arena?"
"I'm not nervous. Just ready to go in and see what happens." Saxony said, his tone stoic as ever. Quill nodded as the buzzer went off. Saxony stood and stalked off the stage, quietly stoic.
"As we continue down the line of District line, would you please welcome Tima Bluebell of District Nine!" Tima stepped onto the stage, in a whimsical green and yellow dress, ribbons tied into her hair. She practically skipped across the stage, a large smile on her face. She shook Quill's hand daintily, and took her seat, practically being swallowed by the chair.
"So Tima, I've heard great things about you and your love of dogs," Quill said with a grin.
"Yes, I love dogs! We just got a new one before I had to come here." Tima said, beaming.
"Oh, and what is this dog's name?" Quill asked, leaning forward in his chair.
"Her name is Rosemary! My dad and I got her as a gift for my mom!" Tima said, excitedly.
"Oh, you must love her very much. Is there anything you'd like to say to your mom and dad?" Quill asked.
"Yeah, sure! I want them to know that I love them a lot and that they need to make sure to take care of Rosemary for me!" Tima said, smiling into the camera. The buzzer rang out, and Tima stood, skipping off the stage excitedly.
"What a ray of sunshine she is. Now shall we welcome her district partner, Emmerson Finch!" Emmerson stepped onto the stage in a dark brown suit, a massive goofy grin on his face as he bounced across the stage. He shook Quill's hand, and then bounced to his seat.
"So Emmerson, I was told you've got quite a little alliance going on. Would you like to talk about your alliance members?" Quill asked.
"Yeah! Vino and Tima are the best allies I could ask for." Emmerson replied with a goofy smile and a giggle.
"And I've also heard you and your mentor, Geoff Ichiro are quite close. What do you think of him?"
"Oh Geoff is amazing, he's probably the best mentor and friend I've ever had!" Emmerson said, enthusiastically. The buzzer rang out, and Emmerson bounced back off the stage, with the same amount of energy he had bounced onto it with.
"Man, I wish I had his energy levels. Anyways we shall move on whether or not I have energy. Would you please welcome to the stage, Keenan Briggan!" Keenan stepped onto the stage in a similarly cow-themed suit to the one he had worn at the parade. He shook Quill's hand and took his seat, looking slightly nervous.
"So Keenan, welcome to the stage. To begin, why did you of all people volunteer?" Quill asked.
"Well, because I hated the detention center I was in, I wanted to escape it." Quill nodded a sad look flashing across his face but it quickly returned to his regular smile.
"Is there anybody there that you miss?" Quill asked.
"Yeah, my best friend Jason. He gave me my bracelet." Keenan said, holding up his wrist so they could see the bracelet on his wrist. Quill nodded, thinking for a moment.
"And what about your feelings going into the games? How are you feeling?" Quill asked, probing for more answers.
"I'm fucking terrified if we're being honest with ourselves here. Who knows how long I may have to live." Keenan said with a shrug. The buzzer rang out, and Keenan stood, stalking off the stage.
"Strong language from that one eh? Well, we will continue along, please welcome Noah Skall!" Noah stepped onto the stage, in a blood-red tux with a long flowing cape sweeping over his shoulders and nearly brushing the floor. He dwarfed Quill, whose hand was swallowed by Noah's significantly larger one. Noah sat, glaring around.
"So Noah, you managed quite the impressive score for an outlying district. Tell me, are you going to continue your success in the arena?" Quill asked.
"Well, hopefully, I will yeah. I could take on most, if not all of the tributes you've already had up here." Noah replied, looking almost bored.
"Oh yes, I don't doubt that being your size must be quite helpful in this situation," Quil replied, nodding.
"Yeah, I guess," Noah responded, looking as uninterested as ever.
"Do you have any arena strategy? I know you don't have any allies, so what are your plans."
"Kill anyone who gets in my way," Noah responded, still looking completely bored out of his mind. The buzzer rang out, and Noah quickly stood and moved off the stage.
"Wow, that was, something else. We shall move on thought, we're nearly finished so would you please welcome Briony Payne to the stage!" Briony appeared on the stage in a fitted black and white suit, complete with a dark green tie. She moved across the stage quickly, shaking Quill's hand with a smile.
"So Miss Payne, there's been quite the hype surrounding you. Tell me, how are you planning on taking on the arena?"
"Well, I've got my plans which I won't be sharing, but I'm prepared to do anything to get home," Briony said, crossing her legs and clasping her hands over her knee.
"Anything? Really?" Quill said in disbelief.
"Yes sir, anything. I can't let my mom lose another child to the games." Briony replied, smiling sadly.
"Yes, your brother Rook placed second in the 198th games. Tell me, how will you differentiate yourself from him?" Quill said, interested in what she would say next.
"However prepared he was, I'll be a hundred times more so," Briony said, her eyes turning to steel. The buzzer rang out, and Briony walked off the stage to massively thunderous applause.
"Wow, all the love for Briony. Now would you please welcome Alvino Thornton to the stage!" Quill said. Alvino stepped onto the stage in a spring green coloured suit, grinning. He walked across the stage, and shook Quill's hand, taking his seat.
"Welcome Alvino, how are you doing?"
"I'm pretty nervous, there's quite a lot of people watching me right now so," Alvino said, shifting awkwardly in his seat.
"That's true. Is there anybody at home that's watching that you'd like to talk about?" Quill asked.
"Yeah, my parents and my siblings. And my friend Holly." Alvino replied.
"I see, would you like to talk about them more? Or is there anything you'd like to say to them?" Quill said.
"No, not really, I just want them to know that I miss them a lot," Vino replied. The buzzer rang out, and Vino stood moving off the stage.
"And so we near the end of the night. Would you please give it up for Iara Novaia!" Iara stepped onto the stage in a flowing pink gown. She walked across the stage, and she shook Quill's hand with a smile, taking her seat.
"Welcome to the stage Iara, you're looking wonderful tonight. Now, tell me how you're feeling about going into the arena." Quill said with a smile.
"Thank you, Quill. And I'm quite jittery about it. I know my alliance has a plan of what we're gonna do but I'm just afraid it's all gonna go south." Iara replied.
"Yes, yes that's a fair worry. Nothing is ever guaranteed to go to plan in the arena. Now would you care to elaborate more on this plan?" Quill said.
"I would, but we don't want to give it away," Iara replied with a sly smile.
"Yes, yes I understand. It couldn't hurt to try though. Is there anything you'd like to say to anyone back at home?"
"No, not really. Thanks for asking though." Iara replied, a sad sort of look on her face. The buzzer rang out, and Iara hurried off the stage.
"What a night we've had, huh. Now would you please welcome the final tribute of the night to the stage, Fervin Nowledge!" Fervin stepped onto the stage in a matching pink tux to the dress Iara was wearing. He strutted across the stage, looking quite confidant as he shook hands with Quill.
"Welcome Fervin, the last interviewee of the night. Now, do tell me why you volunteered." Quill said.
"It was a spur of the moment decision I guess. I had just had an argument with my friend about an arranged marriage my parents were forcing me into and I decided I'd rather risk going into the games than be forcefully married to someone."
"I suppose that makes sense. Why did you decide to ally with Sylvan rather than, let's say your district partner?"
"Well, Sylvan is very talented in their way and because Iara was the girl I was supposed to marry."
"Ah, I understand. How tragic is that you were slated to be married, but here you are in the Hunger Games together." Quill said, feigning a sad face.
"Yes, quite poetic I guess," Fervin said. The buzzer rang out and Fervin stood, walking off the stage.
"And that's all ladies and gents! Give it up for your tributes!"
Hooolllyyyyy SHIT. This chapter took me FOREVER. I'm way too tired to add the point rankings or do anything other than type this little note, so I'll see you all soon for the final chapter before the bloodbath. Now its time for a little promo, go submit to TheAmazingJAJ's Thrill of the Chase, as well as Platrium's Playing with Capitalism. Signing off, Times.