I ended up with only Harper left so here's the interviews too instead of an awkward stubby chapter.
Harper Newman- District Twelve female
There were twenty-three other children in the Capitol with me. That was twenty-three chances to make a friend. I'd made friends a few times in my life. I just never kept them.
"Hey," I said to Rachel. She was the girl from Eleven, so she was my first stop. "What are you up to?"
"Seeing how this crossbow is put together," she said. She turned back to it without saying anything else.
I moved in closer. Maybe she didn't know I wanted to be friends.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm trying to make friends," I said. "Do you like hurting people?"
"Noooooo," Rachel said. She got up and moved to another station, looking back over her shoulder at me like I smelled bad.
"Hey," I said to Angus. "I'm looking for a friend."
"I always like meeting new friends," Angus said.
"You want to come explore the building with me after training is done? Aicalzaara said I could," I said.
"Who's Aicalzaara?" Angus asked.
"God," I said.
"Hey," I said to Pik after he threw a knife. "You're doing pretty good with that."
"Thanks," he said. He put down the knife he was holding and smiled.
"I've never used a knife before. Not to hurt someone, I mean," I said,
"Me, neither. It tears me up to think of cutting someone," Pik said.
"Oh, I don't mind that part," I said.
"Hey," I said to Camille.
Caesar Flickerman- Interviewer
"What brings you to the Games?" I asked Alsace.
"Honor," he said. "Eight years ago, my cousin Lyon was robbed of his victory. I'm here to finally make it right."
"My, you look positively radiant," I said about Andromeda, who was glowing in her cinch-waisted hourglass gown. She smiled and her eyes lit up.
"Thanks! I love it," she said.
"How do you intend to play the Games?" I asked.
"I have my own strengths and my own weaknesses. I'm going to use what I have and compensate for what I don't. Like everyone else, pretty much," she said.
"I'm what the Games needs," Sagar said. "I'm a strong volunteer who knows what he's worth and isn't ashamed to say it. I'm here, I'm deadly, and I'm going to stay. Here I come, ladies and gentlemen."
"What would you like people to know about you?" I asked Medusa.
"I'd like for them not to know much. I'm sure the other Tributes know there's a lot to be afraid of, but I don't want them to know what exactly that is until it's too late."
"What's your big asset in the Games?" I asked Ryx.
"My intelligence," he said. "I work really hard to always be studying and learning. I've saved up a lot of stuff over the years and I'm ready to use it. You'll have to be pretty quick to outthink me."
"You're a Leo, right?" Andrea asked me. "I have a fortune for you."
"Ooh, what is it?" I asked.
"Your personal relationships need space to grow. If you're feeling someone slipping away from you, the best thing to do is give them some space. It's important for both people to have their own identity." she turned to the audience. "And what are the odds, I see great futures for every one of you!"
Cyrene looked friendly and inviting in her soft blue dress tailor-made for a tropical island. She sat easily in her chair as she gave me warm answers.
"I'm just happy for this opportunity. It's been wonderful seeing our amazing Capitol and everyone has been so friendly."
Percy's interview was like pulling teeth. What had seemed like a perfectly normal and well-spoken boy became a bundle of nerves and stage fright as soon as he sat down. And when I asked about his brother, that was all she wrote. He just didn't know what to say, so in the end I did most of the talking.
"Here's Erwin Jackson's precious granddaughter!" I said as Aurelia sat down, wearing a green tuxedo.
"Oh, it's just Aurelia," she said. "I'm not as exciting as he was. But I'll do my best and you never know what might happen."
"Presenting... Raina!" I announced, drums rolling as the gorgeous ruched ballgown came into view. Raina sat down with a shy smile.
"We're all very excited to be part of your debut appearance," I said.
"I brought a little book I made. I want to read a few pages if that's okay," Raina said.
"Of course," I said. "I'm sure it's adorable." And it was.
"It's great to be here. And don't be sad when I go, because I'll be back in a few weeks," Tony said. His easy demeanor and cheerful wink gave you the feeling that he really would be.
Siobhan flitted to her seat in the fairylike dress stylists usually gave to Tributes her age.
"Everyone thinks I won't win because I'm young. So no one will come at me at the Bloodbath because what a stupid waste of time. So I won't die. If I don't die I win," she explained with helpful hand gestures.
In Rigel's silence, he shouted. There was no need for words. His presence was his message. He was strong, formidable, and daunting.
"So turns out I'm kind of terrible at weapons," Katrina said. "But I'm good at making fires so I got that going for me which is something. I also did water purifying and some other stuff and to be honest I'm really bad at interviews so can we stop mine early?"
The audience had clearly been wondering about the satin sheet draped over... something on the stage. Fryderyk revealed the surprise when he pulled off she sheet to reveal a grand piano.
"Instead of talking about my talents I thought I'd show you," he said. Hearing a performance like that was once in a lifetime. What a waste to squander it on the Arena.
"I don't think there's much to say that others haven't said," Cerise said, wearing a sharp pantsuit. "I'm going to do what I think will keep me alive and I'm going to try to be the only one left."
"You're our youngest-ever volunteer," I said to Arthur. "What makes you think someone like you can win the Games?"
"I've survived this long in worse conditions and I know what it takes to stay alive," he said. I wondered what that meant and decided in the end I was better off not knowing.
"What are your plans for if you win?" I asked Camille.
"I'm going to help the less fortunate in my District. A lot of people don't know how difficult life is for those that aren't privileged. There are people out there breaking their backs just to keep their families afloat. It isn't fair that-" time ran out before she finished.
I appreciated Ten's devotion to their brand, as reflected in Angus' brown-and-white jacket.
"I'm going to roll with it and take it as it comes," he said. "I don't think there's much point in making rigid plans. None of us know what will happen until we're there. I'll adapt to whatever I find."
I am a dignified, beloved Panem icon. People respect me. Yes, I am sitting across from a potted plant in a chair wearing a white dress. Yes, we're going to be here until the time runs out. But I am not asking the plant any questions.
"Oh, you know, I'm just going to try my hardest and see what I can do," Pik said, managing the herculean accomplishment of being more boring than a plant.
"I hear there's quite the story behind your nickname," I asked 'Switch'.
"These two guys attacked me in an alley and apparently I fought them both and won," Rachel said, and shrugged her arms. "I don't really remember it but I'm sure it was super badass."
Jay had a strange way of talking like he was always trying to keep a lie straight. It was odd, since he only talked about normal things like his family. Some people are just awkward, I guess.
"I'm more than willing to kill people, so if you want a show, sponsor me," Harper said. Plenty of people angled for the crowd, but few so honestly as Harper. It was unnerving to see a child who so clearly saw our love for violence.
"There we have them folks! Twenty-four of our country's finest, risking it all to bring us another year of spectacle and glory. Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in their favor!"
