Phyllis Ranch's POV:
The sounds of trumpets announce Marcus onto the stage for the tributes final chance to show off to the Capitol. The Interviews are one of the biggest nights of the year so naturally Ellington invited me to his Interview party under the understanding I'd invite him and his latest fling to my Bloodbath viewing of course. It was a fair trade I supposed, we watched the interviews on his 150 inch screen then the bloodbath with my new 180 inch set. The interviews were always more of a party anyway, the bloodbath was serious business, fortunes could be made and lost on what happened in the first few minutes of the games. So it mattered if you couldn't see exactly what was happening.
It wasn't exactly Ellington's biggest party ever, so far only myself him, his new girlfriend and my close friend Ebbé had showed up. Afrika had said there would be one of her friends joining later but it was getting late so I didn't have my hopes up about that happening.
I usually find myself enjoying the first half on the interviews more than the second, once you hit District Six it usually just drags out till you reach the ones that just cry to go home. It's pathetic and sad. Like most kids in the capitol I'd plotted with my friends about how we'd win the games and crying in the interviews was not a good start.
First on the stage is Helios of District One, a red haired lad with muscles bulging out from his arms and a scowl on his face.
"I'm a victor clear and simple" he tells Marcus "I'll defend Cliona to the end of course she's family, but that doesn't mean I'm not determined to win this thing."
Cliona has a similar scowl but peppers her interview with a fair amount of crazy that make her interesting at least.
"When I'm done with little Miss District Four she'll have a broken neck to go with that arm of hers" she laughs in one of her more repeatable comments.
"I like her" Ellington's fling Afrika comments "she has a good level of crazy"
"I'm more a fan of the calm collected types" I reply "Like Amethyst"
"Yeah we all know what you think of her" Ebbé laughs walking over to us from the bar which was set up behind the couch, holding far too much booze for four people to drink "I seem to remember you drinking a few too many at that party we went to a few months back where she turned up." He chuckles as he passes us all a fresh almost overflowing glass.
"Hush you" I laugh "I thought we promised not to share our drunken stories"
Cassius Rhodes of Two steps onto the stage and Ebbé whistles "Now I wouldn't mind a piece of that" she sighs.
"Oh come on" says Ellington "he's like fifteen"
"Eighteen" Ebbé corrects, "He's just got a young face, all clean shaven."
He certainly was clean shaven and with a short military hair cut he certainly looked a capable type it was just a shame I couldn't remember a darn thing he said by the end of the interviews.
As Olivia steps onto the stage to applause from the audience the door to the apartment swings open and Nina Ricci stands in the doorway holding a disposable coffee cup and wearing a bright blue hat on her head.
"Nina" cries Afrika as she runs over to greet her, "You missed the first three interviews"
"Heard them in the cab darling" Nina swoons and I gulp down my drink. I'm not drunk enough to deal with that Ex-girlfriend just yet.
Olivia seems nice enough, a little cheeky but with a serious streak too. She reminds me of Amethyst a little and Marcus and she seem to get on well. Deciding I need a fresh drink as Mac takes the stage I stand up, typically the moment I do this Ebbé leaps over the back of the couch and grabs my seat sloshing most of his drink over the upholstery as he does so.
"Watch it Ebbé, that couch wasn't cheap" Ellington scolds
I wander over to the drinks cabinet as I half listen as Mac Dalton from three explains that it's really not that hard to get a high score and that he wasn't really trying. Most kids would try and make this sound like they were bragging but Mac just sounds confused.
I see Nina has also drifted over to the drinks cabinet and is pouring some whisky into a glass "Not your usual tipple" I say to avoid the inevitable awkward silence "You usually prefer something cheap and sweet"
"Well if Ellington's paying, I'll drink anything" she replies with a tone that reminds me she might not have as much spare cash as she did before she was fired so spectacularly. I fight the urge to laugh in her face.
"What's it like to watch Marcus do your old job anyway Nina?" I ask as I turn back towards the screen where a nervous District Three girl is muttering about her home or something.
"Awful" Nina snarls "How's your love life?"
"Shit" I reply giving her a raised eyebrow, stupid cow must know me and Sabina splitting up, due to Sab's slight fame and my family all the papers we all over it. The heir to the Ranch family fortune and the B list film star, who could resist a juicy breakup story like ours.
"How are Sab and her new guy anyway?" Nina asks
"Read a gossip column" I reply with a snarl, I had missed one and half interviews stood here with Nina.
I leave her alone and slide onto the couch next to Ellington, "What I miss?" I ask.
"Not much" he replies, "the girl from three was kinda dull"
"They usually are" Ebbé adds
The boy from Four; Halcyone comes onto the stage new with wild applause from the audience and a lone wolf whistle. He's chucking as he sits down;
"What a welcome" he says to Marcus "I think people like me"
"What's not to like" Marcus laughs, "You're an attractive young man"
"Oh your making me blush" he replies to laughter all around.
"I also heard you trained at District Four centre" Marcus adds and Halcyone nods
"Yeah since I was ten"
"Impressive" Marcus replied "Yet rumour also has it you weren't going to volunteer for the games had you not been reaped, and there's that low score of course." Marcus smirks, Ebbé and Afrika laugh but I notice Nina just pull a face.
"Unprofessional" she mutters under her breath.
Halcyone laughs nervously, "Well it's a scary prospect volunteering, you have to be one hundred percent sure."
"And you weren't"
"I was Seventy six, Seventy seven percent" he says with a smile "I just figured I still had a few goes at volunteering before I turned eighteen. But I'm here now so I'll make the best of it and go for the prize of course."
"Of course" Marcus adds "Well that's almost our time up Halcyone, anything else you'd like to add?"
"Yeah call me Cy" he replies with a glance into the camera and a bit of a wink "All my friends do"
"Cy Morris everyone" cries Marcus and there is another round of applause as Cy leaves the stage and his female counterpart Lysandra comes onto the stage.
"I wonder if she prefers Ly?" Ellington laughs "What's with peoples need to shorten their names nowadays. That young man's parents gave him a perfectly respectable name and he shortens it like some common outer Districter"
Lysandra comes onto the stage waving both her arms around in the direction of the audience and cameras. But by the time she reaches the interview chair seems to have let the nerves get to her a bit.
"I just hope they catch the person who blew up the presidents podium" she says "If it weren't for the amazing medical treatments you have here in the capitol my broken arm would have never repaired in time for the games and I'd have had no chance of winning."
"So you think you have a chance" Marcus asks
"Of course" she replies taken aback by the question "I'm well trained, have a good score and have a secure alliance around me"
"You ally Cliona doesn't think so" he says "she was threatening all sorts up here before"
"Yeah I heard her. She's all bark and no bite; if it comes down to it I can deal with her."
"Good to hear" Marcus says "I always like a bit of healthy rivalry before we go into the arena, don't you?" he adds addressing his question to the audience who reply with a clap and a cheer.
"You never get people shouting comments out do you?" Afrika says looking up towards Nina, "why is that"
"People are respectful obviously" Ellington says
"Nah" replies Nina "We make them sign contracts promising not to, among other things"
Lysandra is finishing up her interview now and waving to the crowd and I decide I can't be bothered to look at the tear streaked District Five boy walking onto the stage now so I take a quick bathroom break.
When I return and start to pour another drink Christine the girl from Five is on the stage and the rest of the party are staring at the screen intently. "What am I missing?" I ask as I stand behind the couch and watch.
"Poor thing keeps contradicting herself" Ebbé says "She can't even decide if she has a boyfriend or not"
"Strange" I reply as Christine waffles a vaguely about friend she can't quite remember anymore.
As she leaves the stage we all agree we seem to know nothing new about her.
"She's a bloodbath anyway" Ellington decides and I find myself agreeing, he had a nose for this kind of thing, was usually pretty good at picking out the winners too. Made most of his money on Nina Bell a few years back but we both got a bit of cash from Cane Wilkes victory in the quell.
"Whose your pick anyway Ellington?" I ask him as Axel from Six takes the stage.
"I'M DEAF" Axel shouts "AND THE LIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT I CAN'T READ YOUR LIPS, SO HERE'S MY LIFE STORY"
"I like this kid" Afrika says "He's deaf but I hear he has a strong alliance with the boy from Ten"
"Nah" says Ellington, "he's got no chance"
"Then who then?" Nina asks
"Wouldn't you all like to know" he smirks and I lean forward and punch him in the arm, he laughs, "I like the pair from Four this year, I have a feeling they'll do well, keeping an eye on what the boy from Eight does tonight too, might put some money there if I get the right vibe."
Axel shouts into a camera for a bit longer until Marcus has to physically shake his shoulder to get him to stop before pointing him away from the stage.
"Well that was memorable at least" Afrika laughs as a thin girl dances onto the stage.
Porscha Lance is a friendly girl, she laughs and flirts with Marcus and chats about her friends and her love of dance. I would almost call her beautiful but her stylist has put her in this puffy pink skirt and dress combo that shows off her little waist but looks hideous. She also seems really uncomfortable in it and keeps covering her waist with her arms.
"Do you think your love of dance will help in the arena?" Marcus asks
"Of course" Porscha tells him "I'm agile and fast, I have grace too."
"And you've got a good pair of legs on you" Marcus comments and Porscha blushes
"Oh I'm nothing special" she giggles "Just skinny like everyone else back home."
Nina breaths in deeply, "oo little minx" she says, "well that's what Marcus gets for mentioning her body. You never mention how thin a tribute looks, that's like rule Two after don't swear."
"I've heard swearing on the show before" Afrika says.
"From the tributes probably, never me" Nina says "As hosts we have to place ourselves above that kind of thing, for many District people the hosts and escorts are the only capitolites they'll ever come across. We have a reputation to keep up."
I personally think she's talking crap but Afrika nods along and as Nina keeps talking about our responsibly to the Districts or some tripe everyone but me misses the next interview.
Not that they really missed much, Lem just told us all about a girl he fancied back home and talked on about trees or something for a bit.
His District partner Amber isn't much more interesting, she seems to have far too many siblings and not much else in her life. As she leaves the stage Ellington leans round in front of Afrika and Nina to get a good view of the screen.
"Ugh" Afrika huffs "rude much. Can't you see were trying to talk here"
"Go to the other room then" he bites back "I want to watch this kid, I told you that earlier."
"Fine then" Afrika says forcing a sarcastic smile that doesn't suit her pretty face before she grabs Nina by the arm and the two of them disappear off to the bedroom. Noticing the empty space on the couch I walk round and join Ebbé and Ellington as we watch Cecil Maeve take the stage.
"So" Marcus says on the screen "Tell us something interesting about Cecil."
"Hmm well for starters Cecil is one of the many sock makers of District Eight; I could have even made your fabulous pink socks there Marcus"
"You could have, I get them from Eight of course"
"Doesn't everybody" Cecil says with a grin and the audience chuckle.
"What do you other than work then Cecil, any hobbies? Girlfriends? "
"No, I just keep myself chilled out you know, it's a hard job so I don't want to complicate my life with anything that's too much effort like hobbies or women."
"So you don't have a special someone, hard to believe a handsome lad like yourself"
"Handsome hardly" Cecil laughs "But nah nothing long term for Cecil, he's all about loving the women of Eight in quick bursts of passion."
"So what are you fighting for Cecil" Marcus asks "What makes you want to win the games?"
Cecil gulps and looks unsure for a moment before smiling to himself a little "Because the thought of having my last ever cigarette is too much to bear"
"You a smoker Cecil?" Marcus asks not sure if he should be judgemental or not.
"Oh religiously" Cecil replies "Got a bit of a habit going really, but there is a problem..." he pauses dramatically and Marcus leans in towards him.
"Go on..." he goads and Cecil also leans in.
"I'm running out" he says in an almost whisper as he reaches into his pocket pulling out a battered box, "I only have four left."
"Four could last you a while" Marcus says
"It's been a stressful few days" Cecil replies "What with the whole bomb thing and training and the knowledge that I'm going to have to fight for my life pretty soon"
"True true" Marcus nods
"So I guess what I'm asking is for people to sponsor me" Cecil adds "Not for food or water or anything, just one more box so I can make it through the games."
"What do you think guys, whose willing to sponsor this young lad some of his fine smoking sticks" The crowd cheers and Marcus thanks Cecil for his time as the boy leaves the stage with a smile and a wave.
Ellington sight to himself while Ebbé laughs and claps and I keep quiet unsure what to think of the lad.
"What do you think of him guys?" I ask as his District partner Lurex walks onto the stage "Is he worth our money?"
"All you'll be doing is buying the boy more death sticks" Ellington says "I guess he doesn't know that nobody smokes in the Capitol anymore, It looks like my contact was wrong about him having the potential to win it"
"Agreed, there are much more civilised ways to get the highs or lows you crave" I add
"It's quaint" Ebbé say "and it gives him something to fight for. I'm going to go for it."
"I'd say it's your choice" Ellington says "I wouldn't bet on him but he's a better choice than this one"
We turn to the screen where Lurex Lilita is shuffling nervously on her seat and saying how she really doesn't know if she's up to competing in the games.
Ellington laughs and jumps off the couch, "where did those women go?" He asks.
"You kicked them out" I say "You wanted to watch Cecil"
"Oh yes" he chuckles "I'll go fetch them back" he disappears off and Ebbé leans in towards me and whispers "I can't get a read on that Afrika, can you?"
I shake my head "She's one of Nina's oldest friends apparently but Nina never mentioned her when we were together."
"It's very strange" Ebbé says "That she never mentioned her, especially as they do seem so close"
"Maybe it's a more recent reconciliation" I say "I know plenty of my old friends are still around but haven't spoken to them in years. If we met up again we'd probably just carry on as if no time had passed. You need to turn off your work brain for once Ebbé and relax."
"You know I can't turn off" he replies "We're trained to be ever vigilant at the bureau"
"Ebbé you're a low level inspector not the bloody head of secret police, so shut up" I say turning back towards the screen, how come every time that bitch turns up the focus is on her.
"Where have they all gotten to now?" Ebbé asks
"Probably having a threesome" I reply "You want another drink?"
"Course" he passes me his glass and I head back around to the drinks cabinet as Ellington, Afrika and Nina return to the room.
"We missed much?" Nina ask
"Not really" Ebbé replies "Phyllis was just pouring another drink for us"
"I sure am" I reply, the night was beginning to drag a bit now and I kinda fancied heading home and watching the rest of the show in my bed but leaving an interview party no matter how lame it was becoming was simply not done.
"We should do shots" Afrika announces "Ellington do you have any Tequila"
"Of course" he replies as he pulls out a bottle wearing a large hat from the cupboard and a tray of shot glasses from beside it.
"That looks far too organised Ellington," Ebbé says "I'd say you were planning this all along"
"Well spotted Detective Ebbé" Ellington laughs "they sure trained you up well"
"You a cop Ebbé?" Nina asks looking a little unsettled, which was odd for the law abiding woman I knew, maybe this new unemployment was leading her to a life of crime.
"Not anymore really" he replies "I left the main force a while back to work as an inspector with special crimes"
"You get many of them in Panem?" Afrika laughs
"Oh you have no idea the stuff we deal with, but it's all very hush hush of course."
"Of course" Afrika smiles as she passed Ebbé a filled shot glass and then tries to pass one to Nina.
"Oh I don't think I should" Nina says
"Nope, not getting out of it" Ellington laughs as he passes me a glass and takes one himself.
"Just the one then" Nina sighs as she takes on from Afrika who picks up the final glass.
"One, Two, Three go" Afrika shouts and we all take a drink "blegh" she spits moments after doing so "That was a stupid idea"
I turn back to watch the interviews as the girl from District Nine talks excitedly about her little sister and describes some little games they used to play.
"We've missed the boy" I say "I was looking forward to hearing about Pleb"
"Wonderful name" Ellington laughs "Do you know the meaning?"Nobody answers so Ellington begins to explain the etymology of the name "stems from Plebeian you see. Means the common people from the Latin plebeius."
"Yawn" I interject "Skip to the point"
"His name literally means commoner in Latin; and in the old language of Insula the name Pleb was an actual insult until the revolution there. Isn't that hilarious?"
"If you say so" I reply as Auvita leaves the stage and a large muscular boy names Sussex enters it. The crowd seem to like him and I do too seems capable of winning this thing.
Afrika, Ellington and Nina take a second shot of Tequila and Nina looks over towards us.
"Ebbé are you working on the Tribute parade day explosion then?" Nina asks
Ebbé who looks a little worst for ware as he drinks the scotch Afrika had just topped up in his glass with laughs.
"Who isn't? Every uniformed person in the city is spending their days watching hour after hour of security footage, from your citizen part time cop to the high ups in the peacekeeper corps. I hear even the Head peacekeeper is spending his days watching the tapes."
"Sounds like the perfect timing for the terrorists to try again" Afrika laughs "With the police and peacekeepers so distracted and all"
"Don't even joke about it" Ebbé snaps back, "I can't handle this much overtime, some of my colleague keep threatening to quit but I know they won't."
"Why not?" I ask, I quit my old job when the threat of overtime had gotten too real, but then again I wasn't exactly working for the money or the love of the job.
"Because everyone wants to be the one to figure out who did it, it's insane we have sweepstakes betting on everything from the bombers gender to how long it will take for us to figure out a clear motive"
"Sounds intense, not a fan of targets or deadlines or any of that stuff" I reply as Sussex leaves the stage and Ethel Delian enters it.
"It can be a little intense of course, but the thrill of solving a case, oh you wouldn't understand"
"You still working at the Bank?" Nina asks, "I seem to remember you ranting about the need to meet your targets plenty of times."
"Quit" I reply "One of the only good things Seb did for me was teach me that wasting my time in that bank just to spite my dad was pointless. I work with him now setting up new business ventures, he's thinking of retiring soon so it'll all be mine"
"What's your surname again Phyllis?" Afrika asks which was the polite way people usually asked who my father was.
"Ranch" I reply and she nods knowingly "O I love eating at those restaurants, with that District Ten vibe, I was once in the one on the corner of Snow and Main street when Corona Royce walked in"
"Nice" Ebbé says "She is one good looking victor, did I ever tell you about the time I bumped into her in the Mall on Valentine's Day?"
As Ebbé tells the story I've heard a hundred times before to a new audience the girl from Ten leaves the stage after saying nothing of note and Miller Knight of Eleven steps up towards Marcus. I wish I could say he lit up the place like his predecessor Cane but there was nothing interesting there, Marcus acted impressed that the kid had survived a whole nest of Tracker Jackers but the thought of those things crept me out.
Miller leaves the stage and Graciela Bone steps up towards Marcus, behind me Afrika is shrieking "She did not say that Ebbé you lie".
"Tell me a little about yourself Graciela?" Marcus asks
"It's Grace" the girl replies "and well I'm not sure if I know that much really? I'm kinda just a normal kid for District Eleven, not got any parents living. At least I don't think I do."
"You don't think you do, surely you would know something like that?" Marcus chuckles and the audience join him, hearing the laughter Grace shuffles in her seat.
"It doesn't matter" she mutters
"Oh my dear but it really does" Marcus says goading her on "We all simply must know more about you now."
"Well my Mom died giving birth to me, it's not that rare I suppose and my brother and I lost our father a few years ago but recently I'm not so sure that the case. You see my friend likes to read, he's always picking up these old Captiol books from the library in the Justice Centre and he usually reads them while I and our other friend swim in the lake. The other week he started reading one out about this guys travels around Panem and when he reached District Eleven he met his woman and they urm.. Well they made a baby and well I think that baby is me."
"Who wrote the book Grace?" Marcus asks and I lean closer to the TV set to hear, behind me the other four have become deadly silent as they too have realised that what Grace might say next could change everything."
"Urm.. The book was written by Otho White" she announces and the crowd go insane as does Nina Ricci.
"Crap" She cries "Now that's a scoop, Fuck!"
Afrika starts to laugh hysterically "Oh Nina, your face" She screams
"What happened to keeping the swearing at a minimum" Ebbé laughs as on the screen Marcus seems completely lost for words.
"Urm so yeah" Grace finishes "Thanks for your time" she stands up and leaves the stage as Marcus and the audience struggle to know what to do or say next.
Velorum and Maddie of Twelve enter and leave the stage, giving their little interviews or in Velorum's case just sitting there silently. But nobody give a single shit, not when Otho White is sending his own daughter into the Arena. What a brilliant twist that turned out to be!
A/N: Oh wow that was an epic. There's too much in interviews to do in one chapter and I was just planning on writing a random gathering of people and having them ignore more interviews than they did and then Phyllis used to date Nina, Ebbe was an inspector working on the bombing case, Afrika just wanted to get drunk and Nina didn't really want to be there and suddenly I had a room of five people who I just couldn't stop writing about. Anyway, thanks to Zep for sending me random messages and keeping me on my feet with getting on with writing it.
Also not sure if I've done this before but here are the alliances:
Careers: Cassius (Leader), Cliona, Helios, Olivia, Cy and Lysandra.
Alliance 1: Pleb (Leader), Lem and Amber
Alliance 2: Ethel (Leader) Grace, Christine (Demi)
Alliance 3: Axel (Leader), Sussex and Velorum
Alliance 4: Mac and Hugh
Alliance 5: Cecil and Auvita
The rest are going it alone (For now at least).
