~~Anastasia Flickerman Hunger Games Announcer~

"We're halfway done already!" I exclaimed. "Anways, let's invite Aurora Mae Flemmen from District 7 to the stage!"

The crows gave a slight cheer as she walked up. Aurora Mae's auburn curls were pulled back into a simple ponytail, and her dark skin was slightly powdered with rose colored blush. She was wearing a bark patterened gown down to her knees, which had bright green vines climbing up the sleeveless dress, then wrapped around her arms.

"Good Evening Miss Flickerman," Aurora Mae smiled.

"Yes, it is a nice evening, eh?" I responded. "Anyways, I've wanted to know this since I first heard your name called out at the Reaping. Is your first name Aurora Mae, or is Mae a middle name?"

"Mae is part of my first name," Aurora Mae responded. "But everyone is welcome to just call me Aurora."

"That settles that!" I exclaimed, a smile creeping onto my face. "Anyways Miss Aurora, do you have any other talents besides defense?"

"Well, my Grandmother teaches me sewing and embroidery," she told me. "I don't like it though. I'd rather be out in the woods, chopping trees and getting dirty. My Grandmother is the type of person who believes all ladies shall be prim and proper."

"That must be a pain," I put out a wince for emphasis. "I know that here in the Capitol we can't really relate, but I bet some of the District Boys can see how hard that would be."

I ignored the nods from Miles and Julian.

"I just want to know more now though!" I confessed. "Why do you live with your grandmother?"

"My parents got divorced when I was young," Aurora explained. "My mom and I moved in with my mom's mom, and that's that."

The buzzer sounded as she was saying her second 'that'. I waved goodbye, and she did as well before turning back to her seat.

"Let's see, next let's introduce Woodley Forrester from District 7!"

Woodley walked up, wearing a glittery green suit, bright green hair dye, and green dress shoes. He smiled as he sat down.

"Good evening Woodley!" I told him. "Lovely day, eh?"

"Uh huh."

"Well, Woodley, everyone has a story, and we're here to know yours! Anything unique about you?" I asked.

"For starters I'm one of the only vegetarians in 7," he began. "And I live in the woods 24/7, and work 15/7."

"Amazing! I'm not a vegetarian, but I've always liked the premise," I replied. "What about your family? Do they live in the forest with you?"

"Actually..." Woodley remarked. "My parents died when I was young, but relating to Spark, my friend May is like family!"

"Oh Woodley, that's so sad!" I exclaimed, then the buzzer went. "Have a nice stay! Anyways, let's invite up Bera Mether from District 8!"

Bera waltzed up, wearing a royal blue gown with golden embroidery. Her brown hair was neatly parted, and rested just above her shoulders.

"Good Evening Miss Flickerman," she said sweetly.

"Good Evening to you as well Bera," I told her with a smile. "Let's begin. You seem like a sweet person, why do you act this way?"

"Honestly, I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago, but it made me appreciate what I had and made me kinder," she explained.

"That's so sad, yet so sweet," I responded, tears filling my eyes. Real tears. "Anyways, what about your free time?"

"Well, I teach embroidery to young kids in the afternoon," Bera told me with a smile. "The kids even say that I'm like a second mother to them. If I'm being honest, some of them even said I was better."

There were a few coos from the mothers in the audience, then the buzzer went off.

"I bet we'll see you again soon Bera, let's announce the arrival of Hades Underwood!"

Hades got up sluggishly, making his way over to the chair. He was wearing a simple red and yellow suit, with his hair it it's usual slightly spiked format.

"Good evening Mrs. Flickerman," he told me in a kind tone.

"Good evening to you Hades," I told him. "All of us know that there was a large factory fire recently in 8, am I correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, did it affect you in any way?"

"Uh..." Hades paused. "Yes, both my parents died."

"Oh my gosh!" I cried. "I am so sorry!"

"It's alright," he responded, wearing a fake smile.

"I'm sorry again, let's move on," I told him quietly. "What do you like doing when you don't have to actually do anything?"

"Reading," he responded.

"Ah yes, reading," I let out a sigh. "What about volunteering? We're not used to volunteers from 8."

"Avenging my parents," he responded right before the buzzer buzzed.

"Have a nice evening Hades!" I exclaimed. "Anyways, let's welcome miss Sierra Moon from District 9!"

There was a slight cheer as the volunteer sat down. She was wearing a pretty green dress, and her dirty blond hair was curled.

"Good evening Sierra!" I exclaimed.

"Please, call me Si!" She responded with a laugh.

"Well then Si! Welcome to the Capitol, how has your visit been?" I asked.

"It's been splendid," she assured. "The Avoxes are nice, or I think since, ya know, they can't speak. Also, everyone has been congratulating me for volunteering!"

"Now, I see your last name is Moon," I acknowledged. "Are you related to Sarah Moon?"

"Actually, yes," Sierra replied. "That's why I volunteered, to avenge her!"

The buzzer went off, and we bid goodbye. "Let's see, please welcome Nite Minous from District 9!"

Nite walked to the seat, and I nearly gagged. No offense to his stylist, but what kind of person dresses a tribute is a gross old tux?

"Okay Nite, how are you doing?"

Silence.

"How did you feel at the Reaping?"

Silence.

"Free time?"

Silence.

"Ambition?"

I heaved a sigh of relief when he smiled.

"Well, I've always been destined to tame the mighty phoenix!" He responded. "It lives in District 10, in a place once known as Arizona! Legend has it if you go there, he'll give you a chance to tame him. And if you do, you'll always have a companion by your side and have a chance to explore the earth!"

"Alright Nite, that's nice in all-"

"Also, since it's covered in flames, he's a great guard and-"

"Nite? I think we have time for one more-"

"It's going to be worth it, tameing him. It'll take lots of hard work, but-" The buzzer went off.

"Alright. Let's introduce Emily Lynch from District 10!" I exclaimed happily.

Emily walked up, a bright green sleeveless dress reaching to her knees. She had a purple bow pulling her brown hair up into a ponytail, and she was even wearing a pair of fake glasses.

"Good evening Anastasia!" She greeted with a smile.

"Good evening to you too, Emily," I replied. "Let's start simple. At home, do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?"

"I used too," Emily admitted. "He was a jock named Martin. Students were already shipping us since we were both popular, so we decided to give it a shot. But, the week before the Reaping, I found out he was cheating on me."

"Oh, that's horrible," I sniffled. "Let's move on, yeah? We all saw you crying when you were Reaped. Poor thing, I remember thinking. How did you feel when you heard your name?"

"I felt depressed," she squeaked. "Knowing that...I may never see my family again..." She stopped, tears streaming down her face again.

Everyone knew what to do. A moment of silence. The buzzer went off, and I even hugged Emily before she left.

"Let's move on to Samson Asgolo from District 10!"

Samson walked down, wearing a completely brown suit. He sat down next to me, smiling.

"Good evening Miss Flickerman!"

"Good evening to you as well, Samson. Let's begin."

"Begin what?" Samson asked.

"Uh, the interview?" I responded, slightly annoyed.

"Oh! Okay," he answered. "T!"

The crowd laughed, and I smiled.

"Okay now, first question, how's your family?" I asked.

"My mom and dad are fine," he replied. "But my dog Snow is my best friend in the world!"

"Aww, I had a dog when I was your age," I told him. "Her name was Krystal."

"My dad also had a dog," Samson told me. "He's going to tell me about him when I come back!"

"You seem determined to win, eh?"

"Yup! Then again, who isn't?"

The buzzer went off, and we bid goodbye.

"We're almost done!" I exclaimed. "Please welcome to the stage Ambrosia McIntosh from District 11!"

There was a slight clapping from the audience as she walked up. She was wearing a long, light blue dress and thick makeup and heels. She sat down with a smile.

"Well, let's get right into it," Ambrosia suggested. *AUTHOR'S NOTE-I was feeling the same right about there*

"Alright then," I grinned. "Your 17, right? Usually kids like having boyfriends at that time. Do you?"

"I do," she began. "But I don't like it. It's basically an arranged marriage."

The crowd gasped. The Capitol highly disapproves of arranged marriages.

"We all feel so sorry for you," I sulked. "When you win, you'll have enough money to ditch him, am I right?"

A huge smile spread across her face.

"When I win?" She asked.

"Well, there's always someone out there rooting for you," I explained. The buzzer went off, and we bid goodbye, surprised that it went so fast.

"Let's now invite, Nathan Cottonmouth from District 11!"

Nathan walked up, dressed in a blood red tuxedo and sat down.

"Cottonmouth," I thought aloud. "Sounds familiar, eh?"

"It might," Nathan responded. "Since my father recently got promoted to Head Peacekeeper of the District."

"Oooh! Head Peacekeeper!" I cooed. "I bet your family is proud."

"Actually..." he began. "We're not. He is very strict. Being honest, my mom is actually filling out divorce papers as we speak."

"Oh! I feel horrible now," I admitted. "What about siblings?"

"I have a little sister," he told me. "Also saved her from whippings multiple times."

The buzzer went off, and Nathan walked back.

"Only two more tributes! *AUTHOR'S NOTE-Thank God *" I exclaimed. "Let's welcome Millie Oatbratton to the stage!"

Millie walked up, wearing a simple dull blue dress with her wispy white hair down. She sat across from me, and I smiled.

"Good Evening Millie," I began. "Let's start simple. How's your family?"

"I actually don't know where my mom is," she told me. "I live in the orphanage right now."

"Oh," I whispered. "What about friends?"

She shook her head.

"I don't have any."

"I'm so sorry for you Millie," I sighed.

"I was also surprised when I was Reaped," Millie admitted. "I didn't even sign up for tessare! I feel like Rusty."

"Oh yes, Rusty," I sighed.

The buzzer sounded, and we bid goodbye.

"Are we ready for our last tribute?" I asked. "Let's give a warm welcome to Miles Reed!"

Miles walked up, wearing a black button down shirt, gray pants, and black shoes.

"Good evening Miles," I began. "Let's begin. As I said earlier, bullying is a big problem in 1 and 12 right now. Did it affect you?"

"It did," he told me. "I had two big bullies, Carl and Athena. They actually pekted me with coal chucks one," he raised his hand to a scar on his cheek.

"Oh, poor thing," I cried. "Anyways, what about friends?"

"I have a friend named Calla," he started squirming. "And...I like Millie..."

All was silent. Now, district partners falling in love wasn't uncommon, but it usually wasn't 12. Usually from 1, 2, or 4 where they trained together. Before anyone could say anything else, the buzzer went off.

"And that concludes the interviews!" I exclaimed. "I'll see you guys tomorrow for the start of The 34th Hunger Games!"

If you couldn't tell, Interviews become boring faster than Reapings. Way faster. Anyways, was Hades lying about the reason he volunteered? How did Ambrosia and Nathan's families react to their interview? Also, how do you feel about Miles and Millie's relationship? I actually just realized as I was writing that sentence that both their names begin with M. Anyways, see you tomorrow!