I am still missing check-ins from the following tributes:
Pryce Alymer (also missing check-in 1)
Elaena Peverell
Hydra Battle
Academia Robinson (also missing check-in 1)
Siren Nguyen
Tansy Tavish (also missing check-in 1)
Lockhart Tikkas
Velour Crusida
Echo Montero
Lavender Ridge
Sawyer Lacey
Nileen Laclunne
Swift Stoovgard
Esmerelda Olivero
Sara Ananda
Elsorian Raiken
Brea Ainslee
Matzo Lavash (also missing check-in 1)
Petra Inkess (also missing check-in 1)
Please see the bottom of Chapter 14 for the check-in question and submit your answer either through PM, or DM on Discord. If you haven't submitted the first check-in yet, please see Chapter 7.
I stand here waiting for
You to bang the gong
To crash the critics saying,
"Is it right or is it wrong?"
If only fame had an IV, baby could I bear
Being away from you, I found the vein, put it in here
"But I don't wanna have to go onstage and pretend to like everybody!"
That's the first thing I wake up to the morning. Micah griping about the interviews. Hey buddy, they're not my favourite part either. But they're crucial if you wanna get people to like you. The mentors can't do all of the work, after all.
Sure enough, Cheyenne is cementing my thoughts into Micah's head. "If I can pretend to like everyone I meet for a week, you can do it for three minutes. Just don't fight the stylists, do not say anything that will piss anybody off, and that's it. That is seriously all I'm asking of you."
"You're both gonna have to practice being a little more charismatic," I add politely.
Honestly, I'm surprised Cheyenne didn't throw her morning coffee at me.
I take Sara up to the roof after breakfast so we can get some peace and quiet. For this interview stuff...I don't really have a plan. Just gotta get Sara to appeal to the sponsors. Fine, that should be easy. She's cute and innocent. Who doesn't like that!?
"Interviews sound scary," Sara says quietly. "I mean, I'm not afraid of people, but what happens if I don't do so well?"
"Honestly, I don't think you can. You'll be amazing. Trust me. I'll help you."
Sara perks up at that. "Okay. I do trust you!"
So we spend hours sitting up there, talking. Sara goes over and over what she is going to say, with me throwing random pointers and tips in. We have to sell the innocent little girl angle; I can't think of anything that works better. And the Capitolites will love her, even if they have no problem with watching her potential death broadcasted live like a national events.
Bunch of hypocrites.
Anyways, it's crazy how much of my work boils down to making my tribute win a popularity contest. You won't see me complain, though. I'd gladly take all this ass-kissing and sucking up over the arena any day.
"You're doing great," I say as the elevator brings us back to the District 10 floor. "Seriously. Sara, there's probably nothing else I need to do. You got this."
"I hope so." Sara gives me a nervous smile.
"Girl, if you know as much about surviving as you do about flowers, you'll be okay. That's why we've spent so much time together today. Because I have faith in you. I know you got this."
Am I trying to convince Sara? Or myself?
It's lunchtime and I realize we could've gotten the food delivered to the roof, but I kinda have to use the toilet and hey, a check-up on the rest of the team wouldn't hurt. I pull Cheyenne and Rhiannon aside. "What's up, ladies? Do we wanna switch?"
"No, no. I'm good." Cheyenne shrugs. "Thankfully, Micah gets it. I've trying to drill into their head that this is their last night to get shit right, short of pulling out an actual drill."
"Yeah," I mutter quietly. "Oh God, they're going into the arena tomorrow. We can't fuck this up."
"You're not gonna...pardon my language, hun...fuck this up," Rhiannon tells me. "Trust me on this. You've already seen your mistakes and improved them."
"Okay, well...that was before I knew that Troy's sister was gonna be here and um..."
I stop myself before I can mention Ace. If Rhiannon's probably heard the rumours, I hope she doesn't believe them. And I don't need to let it out that I'm not doing my best to quell suspicions either. So yeah, we'll just pretend Urzelynne's my biggest worry.
She and I haven't crossed paths yet and it makes me so nervous. I'd personally would like to keep it that way.
Lunch is pretty heavy because I know for a fact most tributes will have to skip dinner in order to get ready. Even the mentors, in their haste to dress up nicely and find their seats in time, may not have an opportunity to eat.
I sit down across from Micah. We haven't really had the chance to talk much. "Hey Micah! How's it going? You ready for tonight?"
"Oh yeah," Micah cackles through a mouthful of carbonara. "I'm gonna give them my hell."
"Heh heh...um...how about you give them some of your hell and save the rest for tomorrow?"
"You're not my mom," Micah says dismissively.
"Sorry, bud. Just want to help you knock it out of the park with your interview."
"I know." There's a sudden softness to Micah's voice. If their whole stubborn teenager shit is just an act, then it's dropped, very briefly.
The second everyone has finished their lunch, there's a knock on the door. It's the prep teams. They're here to get the tributes ready. "Good luck!" I say as Sara awkwardly lets one of her prep team members drag her out the door.
Cheyenne bumps my shoulder. "Come on. Our turns to go get sexy."
"Sexy?"
"Or slutty. Or hot. Whatever. I don't care."
A dress has been set out for me to wear, lying in a bag neatly on my bed. First order of business, I go take a shower. I gotta look my best tonight and that means smelling my best too. Wrapped up in a towel and a pair of fluffy slippers, I take a look at my dress.
Mmmmm...it's not...really my style.
Yeah, I get what the stylists are going for. I may be young, but as far as the Capitol and the people running the Games are concerned, I'm not a little kid anymore. Not some child they can just chuck into an arena and watch me run like a lab rat for their entertainment. I've grown, changed, and matured.
The little black number is really pretty and makes me feel much older than I am, but at the same time, also very cold. I pull it up as much as possible; no disrespect to anyone who wants to wear this piece, but...I don't know...it's a bit short...and it feels like my boobs are gonna fall out any second now...
I quickly retrieve a small cardigan from a dresser. That's a bit better.
Alright, it's time to go. There's only a few hours until the interviews begin and it will go by much quicker than it seems.
Again, with a slightly shorter chapter. This section was originally gonna be part of the interviews, but ended up much longer than I expected so I said "fuck it" and turned the interview prep into its own separate chapter.
If you haven't gotten your check-in yet, please see the bottom of Chapter 14 (and Chapter 7 for the first question) and send your answers to me! Thanks! :3
See you all next chapter as the Games loom ever closer!
-Vr