.

Instead of love, and trust, and laughter, what you get is happy-never-after.

Aspen Northwood, District Seven

Sweating, brushing my hands off in a panic on my silky evergreen gown, Tess welcomes me with open arms. I'm shaking so much, I can barely give her a nod.

"Welcome, Aspen," she says with a hardened tone. Her eyes are soft, gentle, docile, but her voice is sour, like she's just sucked a lemon dry.

"It's great to be here," I say, hearing my voice come out crystal clear.

"The Capitol is a spectacular place to be at times, isn't it?" Tess responds with a slight smirk. We sit down. "What have you liked most about being here, then?"

I smile, staring down at my fingernails, painted a glimmering silver color. "I definitely like being pampered," I reply shyly. "It's nice, the massaging bathtubs and the heated blankets and the windows that change your scenery with the press of a button."

Tess nods. "I do enjoy those luxuries myself. If you come back as victor, then, do you think you'll spend much of your winnings on truck like that?"

I hesitate, wondering humbly how to play this. "I think…" I say quietly, stalling for time. "I might splurge on just a couple things… like the scented water bombs, or the little fridge selection panel… but I'd like to spend most of my winnings on my district."

"Patriotic to District Seven, I like it!" Tess offers me a smile, this one seemingly genuine. "Anybody special that you're going to fight for?"

"My family and my girlfriend," I say, blushing under the heat. "Her name is Willow and she's amazing. You might have seen her at the Reaping."

"We did indeed," Tess says. "You were holding her hand, correct?"

"She was keeping me strong."

Brux Redragon, District Seven

In silence I watch as Aspen makes a fool of herself onstage, blushing and stammering out while trembling in the tiny green dress they've squeezed her into. If I didn't know better, I'd feel sympathetic for her.

No. I shake my head slightly, disciplining myself. I will not feel sorry for her. This is a one-man game, one that I'm in to win. For myself, for my cult, for my sisters and brothers. They're waiting for me. They need me.

Aspen walks offstage, knees knocking, and I stride onstage confidently. The slim khakis I'm in swish in sync with each other, and I shrug in the navy blue sweater.

The woman – Tess, is it? – shakes my hand with a plastic smile. "Such a pleasure to have you with us, Brux. You're certainly a wild one, huh?"

"I'd like to think so," I say lightly. "My eight wasn't in vain, was it?"

She looks slightly stricken at my retort, but masks it easily and invites me to have a seat. "It certainly was impressive."

"It was nothing." I shake her compliment off. "Merely a stepping stone for me. I have much greater things in mind, of course, like victory and making my family proud." I silently add in, and my cult.

"Ah, the usual reasons, hm?" she digs. I can see that she's been turned bitter, from being scorned and mocked and spat at by the previous tributes.

"Yes," I challenge her. "I'd only like to note that there are some people who I definitely won't be winning for."

"Care to name them?"

I hum lightly, resting my hands on my knees and glaring at her. "I'd like to, naturally, get that load off my back, but there's a higher price to pay for relief."

"And what's that?"

I don't reply to that, but the simple answer rings in my head, over and over and over again.

Cayley Torelli, District Eight

I bounce on the heels of my slim white slippers as Brux starts sliding offstage in his oversized shoes, a smirk lingering on his lips and a fierce look in his eyes. He pats me lightly on the shoulder, but I can feel his touch through the thin lace of my peach dress.

"Cayley Torelli, everybody!" Tess hollers, her voice sounding stern already.

I start sauntering onto the stage, hair flowing past my shoulders and my perfectly glossed lips quirking upwards. I feel sophisticated, clean, pristine. Nothing can go wrong as long as I'm confident, right?

"The first thing that I personally noticed about you were your eyes," Tess says as soon as I extend my hand for a handshake. She takes it after a lingering moment. "They're so dark, huh?"

I smile mysteriously. "I was born with them," I reply. "A Torelli family jewel. They're prized, to be honest."

"Gorgeous."

I'm quick to speak once there's a hint of silence. "I gotta admit, I'm rather excited for tomorrow. Not dying, obviously, but for the thrills of the arena and the experiences to come. I have confidence in myself and my abilities, that maybe I can win."

"What makes you so sure?"

She sounds unpleasant. "I'm smart," I say, "and I have decent common sense. I may not be able to keep my cool very often, but I have a strong sense of self."

"And you think that those traits will carry you to the finale?"

"Well, yes…" I fumble, crossing my ankles and fidgeting a little under the gleaming spotlights. "They're excellent qualities for a victor to have, don't you think?"

"They're alright," Tess says dismissively.

Just you wait, I think to myself, a familiar fire slowly simmering inside of me as I smile largely. Tomorrow you'll see what I'm really about. You'll be sorry you were so flippant to me. All of you.

Tethys Acosta, District Eight

Marching past Cayley as she files slowly offstage, I offer a dazzling beam to Tess, earning a scanty one in return. "It's an honor to finally meet you," I gush to the pale girl, hugging her with vigor. "The name is Tethys!"

"I knew that much," she counters, but unlike the past few interviews, she sounds curious and intrigued to meet me. "You're an interesting one, you know that?"

I chuckle, taking a seat and crossing my legs. "Why is that?"

"Well, you've gotten yourself a strong ally in Miss Shael Havern, you earned yourself a surprising six in training, you're a Capitol favorite from an outlier district, and yet you're only fourteen!" Tess smiles. "How'd that ever happen?"

"Luck?"

The crowd gives a loud, collective laugh at that. Feeling mildly excited, I offer a playful waggle of my eyebrows before turning back to Tess.

"Luck, indeed," Tess snickers. "Myriad amounts of luck, huh? How'd that happen?"

"Well, I can't say that I have a special lucky clover or rabbit's foot on me," I say in a mock-upset voice, "because I'm afraid I don't have a token, but maybe it's the old noggin that's been helping me."

"I'm sure," purrs Tess. "Any dark secrets hidden in that brain of yours, Tethys?"

I pause slightly – to build a case off of this or to simply brush it off, painting myself in a brighter light?

"Endless secrets," I whisper for effect. "Some so terrible, you'd shiver when I told you them."

As Tess offers the expected shocked expression, I sit back, and watch as I collect the entire region of Panem into the palm of my hand.

Maysa Barric, District Nine

Smoothing down the mint-green and khaki pantsuit they've put me in, I fiddle with the end of my side braid, which is ridiculously teased with hairspray so it's nearly solid right now.

I'd like not to admit it, but I'm a little stressed.

"Maysa Barric, everybody, the stone-cold tribute from District Nine!"

I pass Tethys on my way to the stage, a smile wavering on my lips. "Hello," I say lightly to Tess. Without an embrace or a handshake, we sit down. It's better that way.

"It's nice to have you here, Maysa," she greets me.

"Thanks," I reply, not giving her a compliment in return. Instead, I stare out blankly at the audience, my heart thumping erratically.

"What do you think will be the first thing that you do tomorrow when the buzzer ticks down?"

I shrug slightly. "Find my allies. Try not to be brutally murdered, you know?"

A small smile creeps onto her face. "I like your spunk. How was life back home with that attitude, then?"

I fiddle with a fold of my jacket. "I wasn't too appreciated," I bite back bitterly, "but you know, I got by. I wasn't always like this."

"What made you so sour, then?" Now Tess is quite interested. Her eyes are wide, beseeching.

"As much as I would like to spill my guts out in front of all of Panem, I'm afraid that the clock's ticking down as we speak." I smile grimly. "I'll just say this- when you lose something that's the only thing keeping you happy, well… let's just say that you're not so happy anymore."

Braxton Malory, District Nine

"Such a good time to have you here, Braxton, when you're young and in your prime!"

Tess has visibly cheered up since Maysa. It's a bit odd to see how quickly her attitude has brightened up.

But it won't stop me from putting on a fabulous show, anyways.

"It's fantastic to be here, in my prime, as you say." I cock my head, offer a wink. "So many nice people here. The ladies, especially."

Tess winks right back. "Any lady at home that's waiting for you, Braxton? Surely a dashing boy like you has got ten or twenty ladies just hanging on his arm."

My beam never wavering, I shake my head. "Nobody too important- while I'm still youthful and charming I'd like to spend time with my family and best friends, instead."

"Isn't that sweet," Tess marvels. "Now, a little birdie has told me that you have some close relations to the mayor, actually. Care to emphasize on that?"

"He's my grandfather," I say, shrugging sweetly. "It's never seemed like that, though… it's always just been him, old Gramps. And I love him to death."

"Aw, 'Old Gramps'," she echoes, swiveling to the crowd. "Who doesn't love a boy who can garner such love for his grandparent even in the toughest of times!"

"What do you mean?" My innocent, endearing façade is suddenly wavered. "The toughest of times? What is going on?"

Tess shakes her head slightly. "Loyalties to the Capitol have been severed," she speaks gravely. "Your grandfather, he's doing everything he can, but…" she catches herself almost immediately and chuckles light-heartedly, almost desperately. "But of course, it'll be hard to do that without his loyal grandson by his side, won't it be?"

And so I chortle with her, placing a winning grin on my mug and wiping away fake tears, but it doesn't shake the ominous feeling that has suddenly taken residence in my chest.

Shael Havern, District Ten

"What a lovely dress!"

I smile, inwardly gritting my teeth. I've heard this around twenty times now. It's just a stupid dress, brown and white fur with intricate patterns and fringes, ending somewhere around my ankles with a petite headdress to match. Nothing special, nothing to crow and gawk at. And shouldn't the tribute be put on the pedestal, not the attire?

But just as I'm about to speak my thank-you, Tess is prowling around me like a snake, slinking around its prey. "Matches your skin tone and eyes, to a T," she purrs, tracing her fingers on the sleeves.

"Thank you," I say quietly.

"Your stylist truly is a diva," she adds breathily. "Tani, is it?"

"Tani is my stylist, yes," I counter stiffly, arms locked at my sides. "S-She's quite good…"

Tess sits down rather reluctantly, eyes feasting on the native-like ensemble. "So, you're quite an attractive young woman, then. Any admirers at home?"

"No," I respond. "I'm single."

"And ready to mingle!" Tess sings out, startling me. "Got your eye on any man – or woman, we don't judge – in this batch of tributes, Shael?"

"Not especially," I say, uncomfortable and too uneasy to be snarky.

"You must have an ally, though, do you not?" Tess smiles wickedly. "Tethys, if I'm correct? Though he's a good three years younger than you."

"Four, actually," I correct her.

Tess sits back, eyebrows raised in expectation, and I find myself flaring up at her flippant, devilish nature.

"Nothing is happening between us," I say, my voice this close to trembling. But for now, it remains strong and clear. "We're friends… allies. But nothing else. Not everything has to be a love story. Not everything has to be a dramatic romance."

I stand up as the buzzer dismisses me. "Not everything has to be all picture-pretty…"

Cade Bennett, District Ten

"I'm Cade Bennett, District Ten, thirteen years old, and man, am I proud to represent my district!"

I announce myself, not waiting for Tess to welcome me once Shael leaves. "And this, Panem, is the lovely Tess Adrique, the newest interviewer ever to grace the Capitol's stage!"

Tess smiles lightly. "Stop it, you're making me blush," she says simply. She holds out her hand for a handshake. "Looking snazzy tonight, Cade."

I stare down at my shimmering grey and red tuxedo. "Thanks," I respond. "I think it's really shiny, ya know?"

"Very metallic, indeed." Tess sits down, and I follow suit. "Now, I'm not one to stall around. Let's jump right in. Tell me, what's going to be your strategy for the arena, Cade?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Braxton, Griff, and I already have a strategy planned out for the bloodbath, but I'm afraid I'll have to keep that under lock and key," I say playfully. "But you guys will be surprised, I know it. Everybody underestimates us littler kids. They don't know that we're as much threats as the older tributes."

"You three are going to surprise us, are you?" Tess says softly, sadly.

"Most definitely." I smile, my eyes falling on a camera. It reminds me that this is my portal to the outside world, to Winston and Ma and Pa and Carlie and Jasper, and even beautiful Magnolia, everybody back on the ranch. "Hey, do you mind if I give a little shoutout to my family back home?"

"Not at all." Tess gestures to the camera. "Shoot."

I prepare myself mentally before I speak. "I just want to say to everybody back home, you know who you are, that I'll try to win. For you guys. Because, even though I don't show it much… I love y'all."

Kiera Brennan, District Eleven

Fluttering my shimmering white dress and holding my breath as Tess gives me a hug, I take a seat.

"I'm wondering how to play you," Tess wonders aloud. "You're a wild one, that's for sure, demonstrated by that display at the Reaping. What was that jibber-jabber that you were yelling about, about the truth?"

"Um, that my visions came true." I blanche slightly. I should be used to being called out on my unnatural actions, but it hasn't settled in. Especially not here. "Rather, the spirits that foretold them, they were right."

"Spirits?" Tess shakes her head slightly, eyes focused completely on me. "What sort of spirits?"

"Ghosts and such, you know." I try to play it cool and focus on my nails, done up neatly with white polish that glimmers in the light. "I can, um, contact the dead."

Tess's face turns towards the audience. No doubt she's looking confused. "How can you contact them, exactly?"

"It's not really a process you can describe," I say. " First, you have to conduct all sorts of experiments with potions and the sort. Then comes the part that's hard to explain. You sort of settle yourself peacefully, into a state of dreaming, and thoughts – the spirits' thoughts – start trickling into your mind."

"How do you know they aren't your own?" Tess frowns.

"You just… know." I sigh. "I wish I could tell you all better, but for people who can't see, it's difficult. I-I'm sorry."

Even now, I muse silently. The spirits were right. All the nonbelievers in the crowd, they're gawping and they will go down…

But those who do believe, they will rise.

Cole Tenacity, District Eleven

"Welcome, welcome, Cole!" Tess nearly shouts, already flustered from Kiera's otherworldly interview. Her cheeks are bright red. "How are you doing tonight?!"

I smile lightly and nod. "Fine, yourself?"

Giggling a little and shoving my shoulder good-naturedly, she says, "I'm wonderful, Cole, but we're here to talk about you, naturally!"

"Talk away, then."

Tess takes a seat, and I follow suit. "You're tricky," she says. "You've given us almost nothing to talk about. You're quiet, stocky, unmentionable, and yet you got a decent score for an outlier tribute – especially District Eleven. Care to comment?"

I shrug.

"Nothing? At all?"

I shake my head.

Tess tucks a lock of hair behind her head and shrugs a little, as if to reassure herself. "Well, that's fine, not everybody's got a chatterbox attached to their throat," she mutters. "So, Cole, how have you been getting along with Kiera?"

"We're cool."

"Any juicy stories to tell us regarding you two? Maybe even your mentor, Hudson?"

"We eat dinner together nightly."

"Is that it?"

"Yes, Tess."

Tess flutters her eyelashes, somewhat exasperatedly, I can tell. "Let's talk about that training score, then, huh? You got a six, something that was touched by only a couple others. What did you do to achieve such a number, Cole?"

"I threw a spear a couple times. I lifted some weights. I was respectful."

"We do like a man with manners, don't we!" marvels Tess, her hand snaking its way up my arm.

"Okay," I say.

I can almost hear Tess's ego shattering into crystalline pieces.

Haven Faye, District Twelve

"The dude is blowing his interview," I murmur as I watch Cole nod for the umpteenth time. "He's not even handsome, so the strong, silent guy thing doesn't really work."

"You're one to talk," Kinton says playfully, and when I shoot him a look, he immediately whimpers out a sorry.

"I just wish she'd hurry up." I toss a lock of stringy blond hair over a shoulder. "My legs are freezing in this dress. And pink is not my color."

"Do you really think that yellow is mine?" Kinton gestures to the mustard-colored tuxedo he's clad in. "I hate this just as much as you, trust me!"

"Doubt it," I grumble as Tess Adrique, the pale lady with the freaky face, calls out my name.

I stride onstage, getting hit full blast by wave after wave of screaming Capitol support. Staggering to the chair to shake Tess's ice-cold hand, I offer up a skimpy smile.

"Haven Faye!" Tess screeches out. "What a pleasure to meet you!"

"Yeah, it's sugarplums and rainbows from this perspective, too," I call out, blindly clawing for a grip on my chair.

"How's the Capitol been treating you, Haven? It's certainly been interesting to watch your journey evolve since the Reaping!"

"Lots of food," I say loudly. "And Grey's had her quirks, too. Kinton's annoying, but he's my ally, so I guess we're all cool on that front, yeah."

Tess chuckles. "Ah, are you two like brother and sister?"

"You could say that, though I think it's more like dog and master."

The crowd roars in laughter and my smile becomes a bit more genuine. "Who would be the master, then?"

"I'd say that it balances out over time," I reply dryly, not wholely wanting to throw poor, vulnerable Kinton under the bus. I mean, he is my friend… in a way. "Though I'd say I'm more bossy and domineering. It's just how it goes."

I glance to the alcoves and see Kinton. His face, unrecognizable.

I think the expression on his face is neutrality, but it could also be a mask of pain.

Kinton Machek, District Twelve

"We've heard Haven's side of the spectrum, Kinton!" Tess grins brightly. "Dog and master, huh? What do you say your relationship is?"

"I think we're merely friends," I croak out, a bit put-off by her blindingly white teeth. "Friends and allies, of course. And district partners!"

"She seemed to think that the balance between you two was uneven. And with Kiera thrown in the mix, just for fun, your alliance truly is a toss-up!" Tess shakes her head. "What are your thoughts on it?"

"I love my alliance. I asked Haven to be allies, and together we asked Kiera. It all works out." I smile. "I think we're a good team, a great one, even."

"I'm sure that you all are, as well." Tess nods. "But more importantly, Kinton, do you think that you, yourself, are victor material?"

"I definitely hope so," I say. "I got a family back home that needs me, plus I kind of want to see my friends a lot more. I miss everybody back in Twelve, but then again, my hope is a little daunted since I am from Twelve."

"It's produced some great victors," Tess responds cautiously, aware that she's treading on flammable, rocky ground. "Haymitch Abernathy, Grey Ray…"

"She always snapped at us not to make fun of her name." I snicker, remembering when I first piped up, 'You're aware that your name rhymes, right?'.

"Ah, good times with the Dee-Twelve crew!" Tess nods. "But one last question, Kinton… do you honestly believe that you have what it takes? To kill other tributes to pay the price of going home?"

I sit stock-still for a moment, pondering. Do I? Do I have the guts to take others' lives in exchange for my own?

"You know," I say, mulling my words over and over again, "I'll have to get back to you on that one."

A/N: Homewrecker by Marina and the Diamonds.

And so ends interview time. Well, was it all you'd hoped and dreamed for?

GUYS THIS IS LEGITIMATELY THE LAST CONTRARY UPDATE THIS YEAR. ISN'T THAT INSANE? I MEAN YOU GUYS AREN'T GONNA GET ANOTHER ONE TILL NEXT YEAR.

Lawl the new year comes in like a week so not that long of a wait, oops ;o

But seriously, thanks to all you guys for sticking with this story for six long months. Next chapter is the chapter just before the bloodbath, so feel free to mull over da tributes and fangirl (fanboy) while you can !

And, as always, I'd be thrilled if you could drop me a review, just to let me know you're still there, even if it's not the questions ;) Every review counts, guys!

Happy New Year! :)

Question timeeee!

1. Thoughts on each POV?

2. Favorite and least favorite POV?

3. Favorite and least favorite tribute of this bunch?

4. General thoughts?

5. Chart?