-Part Five –Interviews -

The Tributes stood facing the screen; waiting for their scores.

Ludwig's picture appeared with the score. Six.

"That's it?" Ludwig asked, watching the screen. "It's understandable…I guess."

Gilbert's score appeared; 10.

"Yeah! Awesome score for awesome me."

Alfred's score was an eight.

"I deserve more than an eight…"

Denmark got a 10.

"Nice."

Antonio's picture flashed onto the screen with his score. Seven.

"Well I didn't do anything special so…well enough."

Arthur's score was an eight. He nodded.

Matthew's score was a nine.

"Well…that's good."

Francis's picture came with a score of three.

"Hmm…at least some of them appreciated it."

Yao got a score of eight.

"I think I deserve more, aru."

Kiku looked at his score. "Seven is a bit of a low score for how I performed…"

Ivan smiled as he saw his score. "I knew they would understand." His score was an eleven.

Lovino's score was a zero. "Of course."

Yao looked over at Lovino. "What did you do in there?"

"Nothing. Those bastards don't deserve anything."

"Don't you think you should try to get a good score?" Antonio asked.

"It doesn't really matter what score you get. Well, I don't care."

"Everybody, everybody!" Someone shouted to the crowd of excited people. Ludwig sat in the dark, waiting for the new announcer. He wasn't sure what their name was, though he was thinking it was Roderich.

"Welcome to the interviewing of the 55th Hunger Games tributes!" The person turned to Ludwig and the spotlights above him turned on. He flinched at the sudden bright light. "And this years host is, Roderich Edelstein!"

The host walked onto the stage, smiling and waving at the audience. He then walked over to the chair opposite Ludwig and sat down.

"Hello everyone! I'm going to get started with the first tribute, no need to waste time with introductions. Everyone already knows me." Roderich announced, smiling. Ludwig didn't see a microphone, yet the host sounded like he was using one. Ludwig began looking around nonchalantly for one.

Roderich turned to Ludwig and questioned, "So, Ludwig, you don't seem like the usual District 1 tribute. Why?"

Ludwig paused a moment before answering. "Well, if you mean I'm not one of the Careers, then that's because I've never cared for the Games."

"I also find it odd that no one volunteered to replace you. I've seen that happen every year. Do you know why this didn't happen?"

"Maybe it's because none of the Careers knew me."

"Anyway, how do you feel about your score? Coming from District One I think everyone was expecting more than a mere six."

"I didn't plan on getting a higher score. All I did was use a few knives."

"You didn't want a higher score? That's a first from District One." Roderich laughed and the crowd joined him. "Now," he began when the room quieted, "may I ask what your last name is? I'm sure everyone is wondering."

"I would prefer if my last name remained anonymous." Ludwig replied, watching the host carefully.

"Do you have a reason? I mean, it's not like anything bad would happen if you shared."

Ludwig shrugged. "No one in my District has ever known my last name. My family, but that's it."

"Interesting." The host smiled. "Now, how do you think you'll perform in the arena? Are you confident?"

"I believe I am a skilled fighter and will stand a good chance of…winning."

Gilbert heard his name announced and he ran onto the stage. "Welcome, Gilbert Beilschmidt!"

Gilbert waved to the audience and sat down. Roderich leaned forward to shake his hand. Gilbert grinned and gave him a high five.

Roderich smiled and leaned back in his chair. "So, Gilbert, I really liked your opening ceremony act. What was your reason behind it?"

"Well," Gilbert said and paused, thinking. "I wanted to show off my skills to the crowd. I need to make a lasting impression."

"I think you have, I won't doubt that. Now, do you consider yourself a 'career' tribute?"

Gilbert laughed. "Not exactly. I mean, I prefer to be alone…but I wouldn't mind working with other tributes."

"Working with other tributes would mean that eventually, to win, you would have to kill them." Roderich explained.

Gilbert nodded in response. "Yeah…I know."

"So, what do you think about that score you got? Ten is pretty impressive."

"I think it's an awesome score for awesome me."

Alfred gave Gilbert a low high five when he passed by him. "District Three's tribute, Alfred Jones!"

Alfred walked up to the stage, looking over the crowd of people watching him. Roderich greeting him and shook his hand. Alfred smiled and sat down.

"So, Alfred, you seemed pretty excited about the Games. Any reason?"

"I'm confident I'll win. And this could turn out awesome. Though if I die…that would be bad."

The host laughed. "Yes, that would be bad. What do you think of your score you got?"

"I think I should have gotten a better score." Alfred said and then turned to where the Gamemakers were sitting. "You couldn't have given me a better score?"

"Nope!" One of them shouted back and the crowd burst into laughter.

Roderich smiled and then asked, "Anyway, you do think you have a good chance in the arena, correct?"

"Of course. I think all of the tributes have a fair chance, really."

Denmark stood up from his seat when he heard the buzzer indicating that Alfred was done.

"Have fun." Alfred said to Denmark as he passed by. Denmark nodded and walked up to the stage.

"Welcome, District 4's Tribute, Nikolaj Oxenstierna!" Roderich announced, standing up to greet him.

"Yeah, hi." Denmark replied, shaking the host's hand.

"Nikolaj," Roderich began when he sat down. "you have an interesting nickname. Where did that come from?"

"You mean Denmark?"

"Yes, I've heard a few people call you that."

"Denmark is an old country, I doubt most of the audience knows what it is." Denmark looked at the crowd. "I was interested by it in school, so much that the word Denmark became asscociated with me. I like it though."

"Ah, well that's interesting. And just so you know, I do remember hearing about Denmark before." The host smiled and continued, "You also got a nice score. How did you achieve that?"

"Just some things I practiced in my district."

"I assume it has something to do with fishing?"

"Yeah. But the score I got was good enough. I don't see why it matters though."

Antonio walked onto the stage, ignoring the crowd of cheering people. "Welcome, Antonio Carriedo of District Five!" Roderich announced, shaking Antonio's hand.

"Hello!" Antonio replied, smiling.

The host sat down and began the interview. "Antonio, you don't seem bothered by the fact you're in the Hunger Games. Did you want to be here?"

Antonio paused for a moment before answering. "I wouldn't say I want to be here, but it will be an amazing experience. If I live through the arena that is."

"Are you worried about your chances of winning?"

"No. I believe I have a fair chance. I don't exactly want to kill anyone, but if it comes down to that I can."

"What about your score? Do you think anyone will be questioning your abilities?"

"I got a seven, which is what I was aiming for. I'm not looking to impress anyone."

"Well it looks like we have an interesting group of tributes this year."

Arthur sighed as he walked over to the stage. He wasn't enjoying any of this. "Welcome Arthur Kirkland!"

"Hello, hello. Nice to see you too, whatever." Arthur muttered as he was greeted by Roderich. The host laughed and sat down.

"So, Arthur, you don't seem too happy here. Are you worried about the games?"

"Why would I be worried? I just don't like being here. I don't care about what happens in the games." Arthur explained, lying slightly.

"Why don't you like it here? The Capitol is a great place!" The host laughed. "Well, maybe not to you."

"Of course I don't like it here. My district works for this place."

"Well, dislikes aside, what do you think about your score?"

Arthur sighed. "My score was nice, considering the lack of special skills in my presentation."

"What did you have to offer in there?"

"I'm not supposed to talk about this…but the act I did involved some swords."

"I understand you're supposed to keep quiet, I was just asking for a few details." Roderich glanced at Arthur warily. "Anyway, I realize that you volunteered to replace someone. It was your brother, correct?"

"Yes. It was my younger brother."

"Why did you volunteer?"

"Why do you think? He's only twelve, a bit young for murder."

Matthew heard his name called and he walked towards the stage, brushing past Arthur. "Welcome, Matthew Williams!" The host greeted, smiling and offering his hand. Matthe ignored him and sat down.

"Well, Matthew, you got an impressive score. What do you think about that?"

"I deserved it."

"And what did you do to deserve it? You seemed rather shy and…well not very threatening."

Matthew laughed. "I killed the dummy. The gamemakers seemed impressed." A few of gamemakers nodded in agreement.

"That's interesting. Sorry for calling you shy, that was just my first impression."

"Of course."

"Now, are you confident about winning?" Roderich inquired.

"Slightly. I've seen the tributes I'll be against." Matthew shrugged. "I'm not worried though."

"Why aren't you worried?"

"I think I have enough talent to win." Matthew paused, thinking 'If there is a winner.'

Francis walked up to the stage, not waiting for them to call his name. "Hello." He said to the host, smiling.
"Welcome, Francis Bonnefoy!" Roderich announced, smiling at the crowd and then turning to shake Francis's hand.

Francis sat down and waited for the interview.

"Francis, I'm a bit worried about your score. What happened?"

"I got a score of three for doing something different. More peaceful. I don't understand why everything here has to revolve around violence."

"It's nice you think that way. A different perspective is always nice. But what are you going to do in the games?"

Francis smiled. "Nothing."

Yao stood up when he heard his name called. He nodded when Francis passed by him. "Nice." Yao commented.

"I'm glad you liked it." Francis replied, winking.

Yao walked up to the stage and greeted the host. "Hello."

"Welcome, Wang Yao from District Nine!"

Roderich sat down and began the interview. "So, Wang.."

"Ah, please call me Yao." He interrupted him.

"Oh, okay. Anyway, how do you feel about your score? Did you want an eight?"

"I wasn't looking for an eight. Something better, of course. I guess my display wasn't good enough for the gamemakers…" Yao explained, looking towards where the gamemakers were.

"What did you do for the gamemakers?"

"Some combat, nothing involving weapons which is a good skill to have in the arena." Yao glanced over at the gamemakers again before turning back to Roderich.

"Well it sounds impressive. So, do you expect to do well in the games?"

"Yes. Some of the other tributes are talented, but I expect to do excellent.

"The next tribute is, Kiku Honda!"

Kiku stood up and walked up to the stage, looking away from the cheering crowd. "Welcome, Kiku Honda!" Roderich greeted him.

"Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you." Kiku replied and then sat down.

"So, Kiku, your score was seven. From the other scores today, it's a bit low."

"Yes. I was aiming for a higher score and I had a talented display. Somehow I failed to impress the gamemakers enough to get a higher score."

"I see…how do you expect to perform in the arena?"

"I believe I have enough skills to win, or come close to."

Ivan stood up and walked to the stage when his name was called. "Welcome, District 11's tribute Ivan Braginsky!"

Ivan bowed to the crowd, smiling. "Hello everyone."

Ivan and Roderich sat down to begin the interview. "Ivan, you received an impressive score. Eleven! What did you do to get that?"

"Oh, I did some basic knife throwing." Ivan glanced over at the gamemakers. "There was also a rather…tragic accident involving one of the gamemakers. Very unfortunate."

"Yes, it was a bad accident!" One of the gamemakers yelled out.

Ivan smiled.

"Well, with your score, how good do you think you will be in the arena?" Roderich asked.

"I think I will very good. I am quite good at fighting and such. Some of the other tributes may be a…problem but I'm sure I'll win."

Lovino stood up and walked onto the stage with a sigh. 'I'm last.'

"Welcome, Lovino Vargas!" Roderich shouted, smiling at Lovino.

"Hello, bastard." Lovino replied, sitting down.

"Well then…" The host muttered, taking a seat to begin the interview. "Lovino…you got one of the worst scores."

"And?"

"And…what happened? You got a zero."

"I did nothing."

Roderich paused. "Do you mean you literally did nothing in there?"

"What else would I be suggesting? I stood there and did nothing. The gamemakers gave me an expected score of zero."

"Why didn't you do anything? No talents?"

"I have talent, bastard. Don't say I don't." Lovino replied, glaring at Roderich.

"You must have a reason." Roderich continued.

"I didn't feel like 'performing' for the gamemakers. I'm not a dog."

"Surely you wanted a score, something to make you look good?"

"No score. I don't care. What's the point?"

"To show you have a chance of winning. You could get sponsors."

Lovino sighed. "And what if I don't want sponsors?"

"Do you realize.."

"Yes. I realize that I didn't do anything. I was the one who did it."

"The games are tomorrow. You have proved nothing to the citizens of the capitol. Do you think you'll get sponsors?"

"No."