Author's Note
I do not own the Hunger Games.
And here we go with the interviews! A big thank you for all the reviews so far!
All twenty four tributes were seated in seats to the left of the stage behind a large pane of dark glass to wait for their interview. The girl from One, who was wearing a partly see through silken white dress that she did not look comfortable in, was first. She spun a pirouette on stage and spoke animatedly with the interviewer, Shearra Sunstar.
"And can I ask what we can expect of you in the arena Nike? I can call you Nike can't I?"
She giggled. "Of course can. But Shearra, I can't go telling you my plan! You have to do the opposite of what people expect of you!"
"Oh of course, of course!"
The audience screamed and applauded as she pranced off stage.
"Nike Arellano everybody! Next up we have Damon Newbury!"
Damon, the boy from One, was wearing a blindingly garish silver suit, his shaven blonde hair shining with glitter.
"He looks like a disco ball," Azarayk muttered.
On stage, Damon laughed and flirted with Shearra, batted his eyelashes for the audience, and flexed his muscles for the cameras.
"Make no mistake, I'm here to win this," he said, leaning sideways towards Shearra. Luciente wrinkled her nose.
"And what drives you to that?"
He laughed. "Destiny."
The girl from Two had been dressed in a low cut, high skirted black dress with tall silver heels. She crossed her legs at the knee and ankle and leant forwards with her elbows across her knees.
"This is something I've always wanted to do. It's a way to prove myself." She raised her gaze to the cameras. "I'm more than worthless."
Shearra laughed. "And who is there cheering for you back home?"
"My parents."
"Why don't you tell us a little about them?"
"Well, my mum has always wanted me to train, and my dad just wants me to be my best self." She brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, which were sharply highlighted in red. "And my friends of course, they're all waiting for me."
"I'm sure you'll make them proud."
She smiled. "Of course I will. I'm one to watch out for Shearra; don't doubt that."
Her District partner had been dressed in a black suit, looming ominously over the stage. For a moment she got the impression he should be cold; colder than anyone or anything had right to be, impossibly cold-
And then it was gone and he was introducing himself as Cairn Aphelion on stage. She shuddered. Hyperion squeezed her wrist.
"Things that might be."
"Now Cairn, you volunteered. Would you like to tell us about that?"
"I suppose I must have just been the best."
Echoes of darkness trailed around him, cold, rippling. There was something else with him as well, someone else, a ghost, a girl, dark haired like him, covered in blood, but she couldn't get past the traces of shadows, beaten back every time. Her mouth opened and closed in a silent scream, her hands beating at her shoulders. Luciente extended a thought to her, but the cold stung her back and the girl fell away, ice tears slipping down her cheeks.
"Yes; and that was quite the training score you received," Shearra said. "Would you like to tell us about it?"
He shook his head. "You'll have to wait."
"Well, we'll all be expecting big things from you, won't we everyone?"
The audience screamed. She tugged at Hyperion's hand. "We need to make sure that one dies."
He squeezed her fingers. "Happily."
"And how do you feel, knowing that you're going to be entering the arena tomorrow?"
"I suppose some people would say it's fucked up to do it. But to those people, I say we're all fucked up. Some of us are just better at hiding it."
The girl from Three was a small, wiry thing in a soft blue dress that made her look younger than her sixteen years. She tried to keep her head up and give shaky smiles.
Her District partner, a small, thin, dark haired boy, was holding back tears. He kept his head down and whispered his answers. It was painful.
Ilenia wore a sharp black pantsuit with a white undershirt, her dark hair twisted up into thick braids.
"Now Ilenia, I have been told that it was in fact your brother who was reaped last year, except of course he had a volunteer."
Ilenia scowled, and the fire raged hotter around her. "That's right Ilenia."
"Could you tell us a little about him?"
Ilenia seemed to flinch, glaring out at the cameras. "I'm doing this for him. He deserves better; we all do."
"What do you mean by that Ilenia?"
Her scowl deepened. "The Capitol says its rule protects the Districts. That we're all safe under it."
"Well we are, aren't we folks?"
The audience laughed and cheered their approval.
"No," Ilenia growled, "we're not. Every year – every week – people in Four are dying because no one's upholding the law!"
A deathly hush fell over the audience.
"According to my research, your mother was killed in a rebel attack orchestrated by a group later executed by Peacekeepers upholding the law."
Ilenia leant forwards in her chair. "If they were upholding the law, why didn't they stop the attack in the first place?"
"No operation is perfect."
The fire in her burnt hotter and her wildness screamed. "I'm going to make sure all of those fuckers who didn't protect people that needed them burn!"
The buzzer went off, loud and violent. One of the Peacekeepers stepped forwards to usher Ilenia off the stage.
Azrayk whistled softly. "Beat that."
Luciente smiled and watched the screen as Ilenia took her seat on the tribute balcony and her District partner was led out. He was wearing a soft green shirt and black trousers, his hair slicked down, and looked deeply uncomfortable as he took the chair at Shearra's side.
"Aros, Aros, it's good to see you!"
He managed a smile. "It's good to see you too Shearra."
"And I must say, don't you look smart in that shirt?"
He tugged at his collar. "Thank you."
"Now, Aros, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?"
She saw him steel himself, try to look confident.
"Well, a lot of people underestimate me because I don't look strong."
"Aw, I'm sure that's not true. How about you folks?"
There were screams and whoops and cheers from the audience. Aros blushed pink, and she saw those cheeks splattered crimson by blood. By this time tomorrow he'd be dead.
"Thank you Shearra. I think anyone can be a threat in the right circumstances. Even me!"
There were a few misplaced laughs at that. Of course, anyone could be a threat, if the situation was right.
"We look forward to seeing it!"
Aros managed a smile. ""Strength comes in many forms and everyone has different skills."
"Very true, that's very true. Isn't it folks?"
Another round of applause came. They loved him, especially after the fire shock that was Ilenia.
But that wouldn't stop him dying.
"Do you have any final remarks before you have to go?"
He gazed out at the audience. "No one should be underestimated in these games, including me."
Shelley was next. She wore a floor length, ruffled, orange and peach dress with a dropped neckline, her brown hair piled up in a twisted bun. She spoke a little of her home and family, and then moved on to say a little about their alliance. "Yeah, I'm allying with Nine and Ten this year. And little Nathaniel of course."
She said the name as though it was poison.
"And what do you think of your allies? You're an interesting bunch this year."
Shelley shrugged. "We work together just fine. I mean, I wouldn't tell him, but Hyperion's a little scary."
Luciente smiled. The audience laughed.
"But I can work with most people."
"That's good to hear."
Nathaniel was wearing a soft blue suit that made him look about six, and looked to be less than pleased about it.
"Now of course, you're one of our youngest tributes this year Nathaniel! How do you feel about that?"
He shrugged. "Just because I'm little doesn't mean I'm harmless."
"Well said! And I'm sure you have a family back home, don't you?"
"My mother and sisters."
They spoke a little about his family, and then she bent the conversation back round to his alliance.
"What do you think of your allies?"
Nathaniel smiled. "They treat me like I'm no different from anyone else. They wanted me for me."
No.
She wanted him.
Azrayk and Shelley had been dragged along, but she wanted Nathaniel and they could go drown for all they were really worth.
"That's good to hear Nathaniel."
And then it was Arielle Wayne's turn.
Her stylist had done a lacklustre job really, dressing her in a soft yellow dress with the skirt shorter at the front than the back. Her chestnut hair had been curled and styled around her face, framing her pale skin. She looked pretty, but she wasn't a standout.
She was allying with her District partner, Wylie, she told Shearra, and the boy from Three. They would die and leave her alone eventually, Luciente thought, but there was no telling Arielle that.
Wylie was next, wearing a vivid purple suit with a lime green tie. Luciente wasn't overly keen on the colour combination, but maybe it was style here in the Capitol.
"Wylie! That is quite an outfit!"
Wylie (was that his name?) grinned widely. "Thank you! Isn't it great?" He tugged at the hems of his jacket, flapping it out. A few laughs came from the audience.
"I'm sure your stylist is glad you like it!"
"Oh, I hope so!"
Wylie laughed and Shearra smiled. She asked him a few bland questions about himself and he babbled on about his family.
"I'm going to do my best to make my brothers proud of me!"
There were 'aw's and hums from the audience.
"I'm sure they'll be proud of you no matter what."
"I hope so!"
"How have you enjoyed your time here in the Capitol?"
"Oh, it's awesome! And you have so much food!"
"Do you have a favourite food?"
"Fruit!"
"Any particular type of fruit?"
He frowned for a moment, shook his head, and then said 'fruit!' again. There were a few laughs.
"Well, you enjoy your fruit! Wylie Cooper ladies and gentlemen!"
He received some applause, and hurried off the stage trying to keep smiling.
"We have officially seen half our tributes ladies and gentlemen, so before we move on to District Seven, we have a short break! Please, feel free to stretch your legs and refill your beverages, and we'll return shortly!"
I've broken the interviews up because they ran super long compared to all my other chapters. Next chapter will continue!
