Zetta Diamons Pov-
"Next, we have the pleasure of hearing from District 9's Harper Lamb!"
Harper strides onto the stage, wearing a golden skirt reminiscent of sparkling grain. With her chocolate-colored hair and dark eyes, there's no doubt that she's a beautiful girl.
"Caesar," she says, nodding in greeting. "This certainly is a comfortable chair." The audience laughs. "What do you say we call off the interviews to let me sit here all night?"
Caesar chuckles. "Brought your sense of humor, didn't you?"
"Yep. You want some?" Harper reaches into her ear as if about to pull something out.
"No, no, no!" Caesar urges, holding out his hands, "you keep it. You can use it better than me. I haven't got a funny bone in my body."
Harper frowns. "Who told you that? I think you're great."
"Thank you, Harper. Have you got family back in 9?" Caesar asks.
The girl nods in response. "Just my mother. My father passed away years ago."
A hum of sympathy rises from the audience.
"Never mind. Being sad about the past can't change it."
With that final quote, Harper's buzzer instructs her to make way for the next tribute.
"Please put your hands together for Luc Everett, also from District 9!"
Luc walks onto the stage, wearing the gold color of District 9 in his suit and bow tie.
"Luc! Please have a seat!"
The audience claps as they shake hands, and Luc sinks into the soft chair once the cheers die down.
"Caesar! What a surprise seeing you here," Luc chimes. I get the impression from his voice tone that he's more than a little confident.
"Tell me, Luc, what's your favorite part of the Capitol so far?"
"Probably the beds in the training center. They're so comfortable!" is the boy's response.
"I'll say." Caesar offers the boy a laugh. "Have you met any interesting tributes?"
Luc hums. "Quite a few, actually. I haven't made any allies, though."
"Aw, that's a shame. But there's nothing wrong with going solo. Nothing at all."
Luc nods.
Caesar asks his next question soon thereafter. "I think we're all more than a little curious about how you scored an 8! How did you do it?"
Luc lets out a short laugh. "I have my ways. Besides, I'd be cheating if I told you before the games began. I have more than a few tricks up my sleeves."
The buzzer sounds, and Luc leaves the stage.
"Next up is Mavvi Levist from District 10!"
Mavvi walks into the spotlight, wearing a ruffled cow-print skirt and cowgirl boots. She doesn't say a word as she sits down across from Caesar, glaring at the audience.
"What's your favorite part of home, Mavvi? The thing you miss most?"
The girl doesn't respond. She just stares at the audience, her eyes coldly boring over each person, a hate so strong inside of them.
Caesar laughs awkwardly. "I see you're not making this easy for me."
Mavvi refuses to acknowledge Caesar's existence. It's a relief to be free of her poisonous gaze when her buzzer sounds. Even so, there's something about her that I can't help but admire.
Luckily, Caesar is resilient; he isn't one to be any less cheerful after a minor setback.
"We have the privilege of hearing from Orford Shaw from District 10!"
The muscular boy lumbers onto the stage, and Caesar's five foot six looks like nothing compared to Orford's height.
"Orford! Who's your favorite Capitolite you've met so far?" Caesar asks.
The boy sits down. "Probably my stylist, Julia."
Caesar feigns a look of offense. "The correct answer was Caesar Flickerman, but I'll go with that answer as well."
A rumble of laughter runs through the audience.
"And who's your best friend back home in 10?"
"Buck."
"That's all we get? Tell us more about Buck."
Orford is clearly trying to suppress thoughts of home, but he reluctantly responds to Caesar's request. "I work with him in this butcher's shop down the street from where I live. You know how long the shifts are. A little camaraderie makes the day go faster."
"I understand," Caesar assures the boy, nodding. "But what I don't understand is how you earned that 7 in your private session. Can you let us in on your secret?"
The boy just laughs. "I could, but that'd spoil the fun. I want to leave all you people on the edge of your seats." Orford gestures toward the audience, casting an aura of mysteriousness.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say I'm excited to find out."
He leaves the stage, making room for the next tribute.
"Please welcome Adelia Faye, coming from District 11!" Caesar shouts.
Adelia starts into the spotlight. She wears a spring-green suit and a ruffled blue skirt, and she seems to sparkle as she sinks into the chair.
"Adelia…" Caesar contemplates. "I think I recognize that name from somewhere."
The girl laughs. "Yep. Adelaide from 5 and I have similar names."
"Have you talked to her yet?" Caesar asks.
Adelia nods. "She really is a great girl."
Of course, Caesar has his next question in reserve.
"Do you think you have an advantage or a disadvantage coming from District 11?"
Adelia contemplates for a long time before responding. "I'll say I have an advantage. Working in the fields and such has taught me a lot of what I need to know in the ways of combat. And District 11 has a lot of people. I know what kinds of people I can trust and which I can't."
"Wow!" Caesar remarks. "You're a clever girl!"
"Thanks," Adelia says. "Outwitting the other tributes on my way to victory isn't off the table. Don't count me out."
"Oh, you know I would never do that."
The girl's buzzer commands that she leave the spotlight.
"Next is the interview of Jaro Veldt, also from District 11!"
Jaro struts onto center stage. His sparkling silver suit is brought out by his tie, which looks to be made of a matte copper-like color of fabric. Applause rings as he shakes hands with Caesar before taking a seat.
"Jaro Veldt! Let's start off by addressing the elephant in the room. What brought you to volunteer at the reaping?"
I can instantly tell that Caesar has trespassed on personal territory. Jaro freezes, clutching the sides of the chair so hard that his knuckles turn white. When he releases, it's several seconds before the cloth of the chair rises to its original shape.
"Well, my family… you know, there've been hard times lately, and... my family…" I can't help but feel bad for the boy as he stumbles over his words, looking as though holding back tears.
"Deep breaths," Caesar instructs. "Don't get nervous. We're all just here to have a great time."
Jaro swallows hard. "My sister Cora's had this disease since she was born. Don't ask me how to pronounce it. I can't. But it's been getting bad lately, and her body's kind of getting tolerant to the medicine. The only way we can get her treatment is for me to win."
"And how do you feel being the only volunteer outside of the four career tributes?" Caesar continues.
"Great," he says in a tone that his most definitely not great. "It makes me one to remember."
It seems as though all of Jaro's stuttering has taken up most of the interview, because the three minutes is over in a flash.
"Please put your hands together for Remi Gardner from District 12!" Caesar sings.
The 12 girl struts into the spotlight. Her miner's outfit is dirty and torn, and she looks unhappy with a thin layer of coal dust caked across her face.
"My! Caesar remarks. "What a spectacular costume!"
Remi nods, looking strained. "I'd like for… all you fine people… to give a round of applause to… my stylist… for this… great… costume."
The audience breaks into applause.
"What's weighing you down, Remi? Anything I can help you with?"
"These pickaxes are just… so… heavy!" she responds.
"You can set them down if you like," Caesar offers.
"Thank you!"
She looks like a pile of rocks has been lifted off of her as she sets the heavy tools at the foot of her chairs, finally able to breathe freely.
"How's life back home in 12, Remi Gardner?" Caesar asks, his first real question of the interview.
"Just swell," she answers.
"Have you got family?"
She nods. "Mom and Dad. Four siblings: Willow, Cal, Nash, and Ali."
Laughs run through the audience, likely coming from Capitolites who grew up with many siblings who can relate.
"Are you willing to kill?" Caesar asks. The question is so sudden that it's almost comedic.
Remi nearly leaps out of her chair at first, but quickly composes herself. "I suppose. But only when it's absolutely necessary. I guess I'm not afraid to cut my way out of the crop when the time comes."
Remi's buzzer goes off: her signal to abandon the spotlight.
"Last but not least, Hopper Vigo of District 12!"
Hopper comes into the spotlight, flanked by two peacekeepers like wingmen. They stand on either side of his chair as he sits down, and I distinctly notice that the pockets of his suit are sewn shut.
"How are you doing today, Hopper?" Caesar asks, looking a little nervous.
"Great. How are you?"
"Good." Caesar appears relieved that the interview is going well so far.
"Hmmm…" Hopper contemplates. "Can't quite tell how that can be. That's a lie. I can. I suppose every day in your useless lives is great."
There are gasps from the audience, and shock runs through me at the sheer attitude of the boy.
"But I suppose I can't blame you, especially considering you admire that imbecile you call a president. You know he had this affair with…"
"That's enough, kiddo!" one of the peacekeepers shouts. "Get up!"
Hopper obediently gets to his feet and marches off of the stage, his interview less than halfway finished.
Caesar swallows hard and gets to his feet. "That's all for tonight, folks. Tune in at six o'clock tomorrow morning, when the eighty-third annual Hunger Games will commence. Have a great night, Panem!"
I turn to Sasha. "Did you like the interviews?"
Sasha grins. "Zetta, it was beautiful! Can they do it again?"
Thanks for reading all of the interview chapters, even though they may have grown a little repetitive near the tail-end. The sponsor system should be on my profile shortly, so check that out if you like. There are only three chapters left until the games start :D
Question 1: If you were a tribute, would you have allies or go solo in the games?
Question 2: After reading the sponsor system on my profile, which district's bread sounds the tastiest?