XII. MOTIVES

THE INTERVIEWS

MERLOT MONTAGUE, DISTRICT 1 MALE (18)

Being first was something Merlot enjoyed. After all, who wouldn't?

But lately he'd been coming in second a lot. First with the predictions, now with the interviews.

Second was the first loser- who would predict him second?- but then again the rankings probably jinxed Hestia. Of course, it was stupid to rely on luck. He was first in popularity and Hestia wasn't even close, coming in at eighth. Again, that could easily change- the interviews were the second biggest night in the Capitol other than the parade.

With the current sponsoring and his upcoming interview, Merlot wasn't anxious.

His biggest worry- if you could call it that- was the girl from 9 who was only a few dozen dollars behind him and possessed charm like nobody else could (except for Merlot)-and in the rich Capitol that could switch in a second.

Flickerman was new to the stage, his first year having been the forty-eighth Games. Yet for the year, he'd dyed his hair and his eyebrows a flashy gold, with a suit to match it.

It was good foreshadowing if Merlot did say so himself, given the fact District 1 would be taking home another victor this year.

"So, how's everything going so far, Merlot?" Caesar asked cordially.

Merlot definitely didn't like the fact Tempest had control over the pack now. While it was not necessarily that Merlot enjoyed leading, it was being in control that mattered. Plus, it would've given him a bonus at this very interview, being able to say that he had the rest of the Careers at his helm. But no.

He was going for both brutally candid as well as charming, which was a tricky combination but Merlot was sure he could handle it. On one hand, the district one boy had been told it would be

"I mean, the pack's coming together pretty well even if some of the other Careers are idiots." He gave Caesar a meaningful look and the interviewer faltered in a comical way.

"Hestia from 2," he teased, and Caesar's face stretched into a smirk.

"Well, I wonder what Miss Mclearson thinks of that!" the interviewer roared, several chuckles in the crowd echoing. Caesar leaned in, "She is up next, you know."

The Capitol loved drama between tributes- it only increased the suspense and the fun aspects of the Hunger Games in general. The district 1 boy was more than happy to give it to them.

Caesar didn't say anything about Merlot's choice of dress, which was, quite literally, a dress. The cutoff reached the District 1 boy's knees and they'd styled hair and makeup too in a way that was dramatic to say the least. The Capitolites seemed to admire his choice of wardrobe though, and in a way the silver dress went with Caesar's gold.

"On a more serious topic, what's your motivation to win this thing, Merlot?" Caesar asked.

Merlot considered the question for a second. Nonchalance was the essence of charm even if his answer wasn't casual at all.

"I had a twin brother, but he died in a car accident," Merlot indifferently, though it killed him to be so. Even though he and Ezra had eventually grown apart because of different interests, who wouldn't be upset when their twin died?

Merlot continued, "Everyone thought he'd be the victor, because he was really good with weapons, y'know, and after he died nobody was sure who'd volunteer when we got older. So I had to step up to the plate."

"That's terrible," Caesar sympathized. "I can only imagine how terrible that must have been for both you and your family."

Make light of it.

The thought occurred just as Merlot was saying the words, "Well, at least now I get to volunteer," the district 1 boy said dryly.

Caesar laughed heartily, changed in an instant by a joke. "So, out of the bunch, who's your favorite Career so far?"

Merlot didn't even have to think twice about it. "Angelo. He's cute."

The crowd roared in appreciation and Caesar chuckled. "Well, I'm sorry to say our time is up."

"Merlot Montague, from District 1!"

Basking in cheers, Merlot couldn't help but mentally add, "And your next victor."

EUAN DARLING, DISTRICT 7 MALE (16)

"Audelia Glidden from District 6!" Flickerman roared, and the crowd cheered.

The girl muttered something that sounded like, "I said Audi," but none of the Capitolites paid attention. As the district 6 girl brushed past Euan as she left the stage, she looked immensely frustrated despite the light pink gown she'd been dressed in. Her tall district partner took the stage, winning it over with a charismatic sense of humor.

Distantly Euan heard the same cheers signifying the end of the interview. Aspen and Lyana passed in front of the district seven boy, who tried to offer his encouragement.

The interview seemed to be much briefer than the previous ones as it sped by and Euan watched Caesar tell the girls their time was up, his face ghost pale.

Wait. It was his turn? Euan felt something in his stomach plunge as he was guided onto the stage. Euan had never had stage fright, but he was pretty close to that now.

Flickerman guided Euan to the stage as Euan stumbled rather clumsily before smiling anxiously as he sat down.

"So, Euan, what's your life back home like?" Flickerman asked.

Euan's face shone as he thought of his family life back home.

"Well, I have two moms," he began. "And I have a brother Jude. They're all the best family I could ask for. My brother is one of my best friends, and my moms too."

"Are you adopted?" Flickerman asked a bit too curiously for Euan's liking.

He shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "Yes. My brother and I are from the same household."

Caesar nodded.

"But that doesn't make us any less of our moms' kids," Euan added defensively. It was true, it didn't, but the Capitol seemed to think so.

"Oh, of course not," Caesar soothed. "Did they come to say goodbye?"

Euan smiled, savoring the moment in his memory. "Yeah, they did."

"What'd they say? Any special words?"

Euan felt his heart ache. "Well, see, my mom Acacia had to leave on a trip once."

He paused, looking out over the crowd. They were hanging onto his every word.

"And so we made her this necklace, 'cause we're all so close." From underneath his shirt Euan took out the log charm, leaning to show it to Caesar. Around him the cameras zoomed in.

We love you.

-your family

"That's so sweet," Flickerman simpered. Euan tucked it back under his shirt. "Did they give you any advice?"

Euan nodded. He wanted to leave the stage and run home, Flickerman having made him only more homesick. "Tessa told me to stay positive." His voice sounded strangely distant and Euan found himself wondering what he would have done in his life had he not gone into the Games.

Don't say that, Euan could hear Tessa say. You can do anything you set your mind to.

That had always been a motto in Euan's life- determination. If he had ever needed help, his moms, especially Acacia, would make him try and find a solution first instead of taking the high road and not actually figuring out how to do it. Euan had definitely benefited from this method of learning.

"And they want me to win too, of course," Euan's voice was unsteady.

Caesar gave Euan a pat on the back, a cue for Euan to get back into his angle. The family guy. Which he was.

"Are you going to try?"

Euan was slightly offended- yes, he was going to go up and just die. Of course he wasn't! He could try to win and try he would. It wasn't selfish to say his family needed him, because he knew they truly did.

"Yes," Euan's voice was much stronger than he thought it would've been and he flashed the audience a confident grin.

"Well, I'm afraid our time is up," Caesar said apologetically. He raised Euan's arm into the air as the pair stood, "Ladies and gentlemen, Euan Darling from District 7!"

As he was ushered off the stage Euan felt an overwhelming joy he couldn't place. Why was definitely beyond him.

Maybe it was because he knew he could win.

He had one of the highest scores in his alliance, and the sponsors liked him.

As Euan walked back to a waiting Blight and Paige, the District 7 escort, he gave Aspen and Lyana an encouraging grin.

"You were so good!" Paige congratulated him. Blight gave Euan a nod.

"Lyana's up next, right?" Euan was still breathless from the excitement of his interview.

"Yes, she is. So far you and Aspen have been well received, though. You should be proud of yourself!" Paige gave Euan's shoulder a squeeze.

He smiled, finally registering that he might be able to actually win this thing. And if he didn't, at least he could protect his allies till the end.

LYANA ALYSSUM, DISTRICT 8 FEMALE (16)

When she was reaped, Lyana had been worried about doing one interview. And now, don't get her wrong, Aspen was sweet, but with two interviews, she thought she'd hurl.

While the deafness was biological in Lyana, she'd learn to speak from reading lips and copying the form onto her own. Sure, her speech could be a little less clear than others, but she still prided herself in being able to speak at all. Her cousins had learned the form as well, but when Lyana was with the whole gang, they rarely spoke and only signed.

As Aspen's district partner, Euan, finished his "touching" interview, the district eight girl felt her heart thud in her chest. He came off the stage with his usual large grin, and Lyana felt sweat drip down her back.

Did he know what Lyana was going to do?

Linteum was in the wings with Lyana and Aspen, anxiously fiddling with his fingers. Lyana felt a stab of pity for her district partner. He wasn't a threat, so she worried for him for a different reason than she did about some of her "allies".

"Was the previous interview good?" Aspen signed.

"I don't know. Were they clapping?" Lyana asked.

"Yeah, they were."

"Then it was."

"I guess you're right," Aspen conceded.

"About what?"

"That it's what they think that matters most."

When one could say that a voice could have barely controlled anger, Lyana having been deaf her whole life knew when someone signing a remark had anger or not.

Aspen did.

That in itself was surprising because Aspen was a genuinely sweet, if emotionally blank at times, type of person. Lyana supposed the latter part of Aspen's personality was due to Aspen having been possibly bullied once long ago.

Aspen hadn't told her this of course, but Lyana did pride herself in being able to read people well. The district 7 girl was an enigma to Lyana, even though she was the only one she could talk to.

"And the duo is back again- Lyana Alyssum with Aspen Meredith!" Caesar's voice boomed. Lyana took one last breath before she was blinded by the stage lights.

Lyana usually had a grace to her very few could acquire, so she was shocked when she stumbled and almost fell. Her head was spinning- but she'd already done an interview for Aspen and it had gone fine. Why was speech failing her now?

Caesar guided Lyana to her chair, the district 8 girl barely noticing there was an extra chair for Aspen which the brunette sat down in.

She also barely took notice of the fact Caesar's lips were obviously moving, and that he was speaking directly at her.

Aspen tapped her, and Lyana had to squint under the bright stage lights to see that her ally was saying, he's asking you if you're blind as well because he had to help you to our seat.

Irritation filled Lyana's veins- this washed up interviewer was making fun of her? She couldn't resist a below the belt jab, saying dryly, "Unfortunately, I'm not. Being so would exempt me from seeing what you consider fashion."

Caesar turned towards the audience with a comically shocked expression on his face. He was saying something, and Lyana wished she could hear what it was. From the way his mouth was moving, she imagined something like, "Oh, we have a bold one here."

The gold-clad interviewer turned back to Lyana, and she directed her attention to Aspen, who once again signed, "He wants to know if I'm your only ally."

"No," Lyana said crisply. "I'm with Euan and Tristan and Peri too. One would think you'd know since it's been shown so much during training. Any more useless questions?" Lyana's snappy responses were all voiced in a sweet tone so Caesar could interpret them as joking when, obviously, they really weren't. She'd come into the interview intending to play up the sweet, anxious angle, but Caesar's unintentional joke about her being deaf had been low.

Aspen continued signing, "Caesar said, 'Yes- who do you think is your biggest competitor?'"

Lyana scoffed, but her smile remained, "We're going up against trained Careers. I don't know, maybe the little girl from Ten who got a three in training? Yeah, that makes definite sense. I think the girl from 2 who got a ten in training will definitely die in the bloodbath." She rolled her eyes.

Smile like you haven't got a care in the world.

In reality, her stomach was turning and Lyana had never been so nervous.

When is this interview going to be done?

Aspen tapped Lyana on the shoulder again and she returned to reality as her friend signed, he's got one more question- do you plan on winning?

How utterly stupid could the Capitol get?

"No, Caesar, I'm planning to place last," Lyana said brutally. Her smile almost faded, but she kept it up.

Caesar threw his head back and laughed, pulling Lyana up, probably calling her name to the crowd.

DEMETER JARNIVEN, DISTRICT 9 FEMALE (16)

Demeter had bitten off more than she could control.

She knew this because while she prided herself in being the charming manipulator, it was Reyena who had her wits about her. She was wrapped around Reyena's finger and hadn't even realized until now.

Of course, she had to break free from that. Demeter didn't feel the slightest bit bad about plotting to kill a thirteen-year old- Reyena was just as dangerous as the eighteen year old Careers.

All of her allies were highly cynical and analytical, both of them matching Demeter's intellectual levels in different ways which made them both threats. Demeter had told one of her allies to meet up with her after the bloodbath and she'd kill them then.

They'd dolled her up in a reflective and incredibly revealing gold gown. Demeter had stiffened when she saw it- she wasn't a prize to be goggled at in front of millions. In anything else, she would be fine with being one, if they thought she had a mind that could actually help her win. One wouldn't think from Demeter's outward appearance the teen was fine with wearing jeans, not slathering on makeup like they'd made her for her interview.

Yet nevertheless the district nine girl had been forced to paste on a smile for the crowds. They were all in high anticipation to see what the second most popular tribute had to bring to her interview.

"Hello, Demeter," Caesar grinned, "That is one fine gown you're wearing."

Shut up.

"Thank you, Caesar," she purred.

"Thanks for coming to see us tonight, Demeter," Caesar began.

I don't have a choice, you fucking idiot.

"I'm glad to, Caesar," Demeter's voice was oddly shrill and she cringed.

"So, how have you liked the Capitol so far?"

Are we counting the fact it's overshadowed by imminent death?

"Oh, it's a big change," Demeter admitted. "You know, District 9 is too small for someone like me." She flashed a pearly white smile.

"I can imagine," Caesar laughed.

No, you can't.

"So, Demeter, what have you liked about the Capitol so far?"

Demeter considered the answer for a moment. She knew what she should say, but if she won they would tie her down to it. Her mentor and her escort had given Demeter lines to play to her angle, and being a natural born actress only helped with that.

But she wasn't willing to say something to play sassy. And Demeter Jarniven, being the daughter of a rebel leader, wouldn't do anything if she didn't want to.

Then again, her wits and her guts told her what was smartest, and Demeter always went with them.

In the end she stayed with her angle. Brushing back blonde hair, her grin was artificial, "I mean, everything's so great. The fashion is completely over the top cool, and it just looks good on everyone," she said.

"I'm glad you think so. Despite being reaped, you're confident. Do you think you can win?"

There's fucking illegally trained Careers!

"Of course, Caesar. I'm District 9's best." Demeter gave the interviewer a cocky smile, "Ignore my district partner's interview. He's an idiot."

The blonde's wry smile remained as Caesar cackled, despite the fact she had only been half-joking.

Caesar moved on. "Do you have any allies? Or even in general have you made any enemies?"

"I mean, I'm allied with District 5's girl, y'know, Ayla," Demeter casually picked at her nails, not mentioning her alliance with Reyena since it was obviously pretty secret at this point in time, "but obviously these sort of things are temporary. I guess I'm not really scared of making enemies. Everyone has them eventually, but then again, I've got sponsors, so…" Demeter gave Caesar a smirk.

Obviously, she was lying. The only way for an outer district kid to survive was to lay low and keep their mouth shut, so Demeter obviously planned to do just that when they got to the arena.

"Well, looks like someone's confident," Caesar chuckled, leaning towards the audience. "Well, I'm sorry, but that's our three minutes." He stood, pulling Demeter up with him.

"Demeter Jarniven from District 9!"

The district nine girl felt sick as she left the stage, feeling hungry glares burn into her skin.

Leon was in the wings, readying for his interview. He gave her a look of pity.

"Do you want to talk-"

Demeter held up a hand, abruptly cutting him off. "No. Now shut up and go out there."

ARTEMIS JADE, DISTRICT 10 MALE (16)

The audience loved Reyena. Her bubbly nature just flowed in her pink dress that the crowd adored.

Reyena was a symbol of innocence in every aspect, and she wasn't even acting.

They- and by that he meant Hudson and his mentor- had told him to play the Games as likeable. From the moment their escort had suggested it, Artemis had felt anguished.

He was just another boy in the endless waves of the Games. Having to play up the crowds was exhausting. The girl from 3 hadn't even tried to do so, and in her interview had sworn at the Caesar Flickerman more times

By his interview Artemis knew the Capitol citizens in the crowd would be drunk and giddy and hardly coherent of any word he said. They had easily been for the last few

If it wasn't for his schizophrenia Artemis could imagine what his life would be like. He was an artist, lover of music and books.

He remembered the farm that used to be a paradise to live on years ago when his family was still around. He and Bracken took care of the horses and in their slightly competitive natures raced them around the farm. It didn't matter whoever won at the end

Artemis knew he could make it out of the bloodbath, but it was a question of whether he actually wanted to.

He wanted to make it home for Bracken, but the voices kept telling him he deserved to be reaped.

And, to be fair, Artemis was starting to believe them.

As he watched Reyena's interview end, the district 10 boy gritted his teeth. I have to make it home. I can't leave Bracken alone.

"Let's hope he's not a goddess, please welcome Artemis from District 10!"

Cheers resounded through the crowd as tiny Reyena passed him. She shot him a smile, "Do good."

The boy's long black braid swung as he walked onto the stage, greeting Caesar with a smile. Everything's okay, he steeled himself.

"Hello, Artemis!"

"Good to see you," Artemis greeted the interviewer with the same vigor he used to have.

"Sit down, sit down," Caesar motioned and the pair took their seats.

"I imagine it's been a long time waiting. Almost an hour."

"Yeah," Artemis agreed sheepishly, "I was wondering if I'd ever come on."

Caesar laughed a bit too hard at Artemis's pathetic joke. "

Artemis shifted in his seat, uncomfortable, but Caesar didn't seem to notice this.

"I have a younger brother, Bracken, and we live on a farm," Artemis began. The audience wasn't completely hinged on him- after all, growing up on a farm was pretty much the norm if you lived in District 10.

The teen continued, "We have a-"

And then he froze.

There it was, the face he'd made for the interviews just broke. No tears slipped but the mask completely fell and Artemis couldn't say anything as the voices completely wormed their way into his headspace.

"Hello?" Caesar joked, waving a hand in front of Artemis's eyes.

A few tears surfaced but Artemis tried to blink them away, "I-I'm sorry. I can't."

"Please, it's-" Caesar started, but Artemis had already brushed past him.

I need to get out of here.

PERIWINKLE CALLOWAY, DISTRICT 12 FEMALE (17)

Having sat through over an hour of interviews, Peri had simply had to watch her allies have their interviews while her stomach turned.

The district 12 girl wasn't foreign to anxiety, but nor had she experienced it a lot. Back in 12 she'd had a pretty much normal life, probably on the more popular side of the school spectrum due to a bubbly nature.

At Peri's request, her stylists had given her a periwinkle dress. The ruffles Peri hadn't really envisioned, instead a smoother, more elegant creation. She was going to go to her death and the teen easily valued elegance over flashiness- even though she did enjoy bright colors.

The tall nonbinary from 11- Bailey, wasn't it- finished their interview to scattered applause. They weren't one of the greatest thrills of the night, Peri thought. Much unlike some of the drama filled previous ones, and Lyana deadpanning hers.

Observation was something Peri did well. When Sam had started to like her, she'd seen the little changes in his behavior until she had to finally go along with it.

Peri wore the shade of the fib for years. Best friends to sweethearts. All of District 12 ate it up, and to Peri it almost felt like a reality show that came out of the Capitol. Of course, she couldn't lie forever. Nobody could.

"Periwinkle, you look lovely tonight," Caesar guided her out from the wings.

"Thank you, Caesar," she said formally with a small smile. She didn't know if he was lying but it felt good to be complimented. The district 12 girl smoothed her periwinkle skirt and waited for his first question.

"So, Periwinkle-"

"Peri, please," Peri interrupted, flashing a small smile.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," Peri assured him.

"Well, I have a question for you. When you were reaped, how did you feel? We saw your reaction live through District 12's cameras but we want to know straight from the source."

Peri's heart ached, but she answered truthfully. "I mean, it was scary," the district 12 girl said quietly. "There's so much more I wanted to do but I just

"What do you mean by 'wanted to do?'" Caesar asked curiously.

Peri could've lied because she didn't want her and Sam's "love" story to become national news with the Capitol- however what was Peri supposed to do, if she wanted sponsors? And with a very formidable pack of Careers, sponsors would definitely come in handy.

She did her best to imitate a shrug, "I mean, there was this boy."

The Capitol oohed like one entity. Caesar was quite literally on the edge of his seat

Brushing back dirty blonde hair, Peri continued anxiously, "Um, and we were best friends."

Caesar motioned for her to go on.

Peri cut to the chase. "And then, yeah, he fell in love with me and we started going out."

The crowd made several aws and Peri blushed, embarrassed, before hesitating.

Was it really worth exposing her privacy for a couple of parachutes?

Maybe not, but it's worth you and your allies's lives.

Emboldened by this thought, Peri continued. "Um, but then we broke up and then we stopped talking for a few years. And then I saw him at the goodbyes after the reaping, but I didn't get to say sorry."

Caesar patted her hands, which Peri had scrunched into tight balls at her knees. "Do you plan to win for him?"

Peri thought for a moment. "Well, not for him. I have a family to incentivize that, a win I mean, but maybe I want to win to make things right, I guess?"

"And make them right you will," Caesar teased. Peri blushed again out of embarrassment.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Peri Calloway of District 12!"

This was met with a rousing cheer as Peri greeted the crowd with a smile before rushing off the stage.

Tristan was waiting in the wings, knotting his hands anxiously. Peri felt a rush of delayed excitement from the interview and she elbowed her district partner. He looked to her anxiously and she smiled.

"You're gonna be fine. Just go out there and show them what Twelve can do."

"Thanks." Tristan took a deep breath before Peri watched him go out onto the stage.

Her shoulders sunk about a foot when the realization that her interview was over sunk in. She had succeeded, and even though tomorrow she had to go into the arena, Peri was definitely slightly more relaxed now.

—

A/N

Well there's the interviews! This chapter took a bit longer than expected- sorry about that. I'm officially in quarantine because someone in my class at school got COVID so I'll have some more time to write the next two weeks. Only two more chapters till the bloodbath drops- I'm gonna do the night before next, then the launch. Also, I just finalized the POVs up until the finale which is awesome and I've finally decided my victor. As usual, the dividers between POVs aren't working. Sorry about that. I've opened a new poll which is displayed on my profile page, so be sure to check it out

And I just realized we hit 100 reviews last chapter! Y'all, that's huge for me. I just want to say thanks to everyone that subbed, continuously reviewed or even reached out to me in any way. It means a lot.

I also haven't done sponsor questions in a while, so here's a few: (they're 5 each)

1. Which interview did you like best?

2. As of right now, who's your victor?

3. Is it even possible for Demeter to snub Leon even more?