Fire is catching
Chapter 9
Authors Note: I've got more than 3000 views which makes me just super happy :D
Okay, now it's time for the INTERVIEWS! Be prepared for tears, cheers & scandals! Enjoy 3
All the tributes line up backstage and wait for being called outside for their interviews.
Wendy, Levy, Lisanna and I wait together all very nervous but I also have some eye contact with Natsu.
He's wearing a black suit but that somehow doesn't look right on him. It's just way too formal for the lightheaded boy, or at least that's what I think. The stylists of district 12 aren't very good.
Then Mirajane is called outside and all the conversation stops, everybody looking at the screen.
Caesar Flickerman, having dark purple hair this year, welcomes the audience, Mirajane and the rest of Panem.
Then he and Mirajane sit down in two armchairs and start talking. I'm still not sure if Mirajane is putting on an act, but if she does, I'll have to admit that she's very good at it. She's so cute, beautiful, and adorable that I bet the sponsors will fight about who is allowed to send her parachutes.
Erza Scarlet plays the strong, tough girl that isn't afraid of anything, a very effective strategy, and even I believe her. She's trained, she's skilled, she's heartless. She has everything it takes to be a victor.
I'm really surprised by Juvia Lockser though. Her interview showed a totally different side of her and I don't know whether she's extremely stupid or extremely smart.
"So Juvia, you volunteered as a tribute right?" Caesar asks his constant showman smile frozen on his face.
Juvia sits up "Yes Juvia did"
"Is there any special reason you did something brave like that?"
"Indeed there is. Juvia only did this because she knew that Gray-sama would volunteer this year."
"And what does that have to do with you?" Caesar asks and I can imagine where this is going.
"Juvia had to volunteer so she could protect Gray-sama in the arena and help him become a victor"
"Gray become a victor? But that would mean that you would have to sacrifice yourself!" Caesar acts all shocked.
"Juvia knows this. But it's Gray-samas biggest dream to be a victor and as long he is happy Juvia is too. It doesn't matter to her. If she dies to protect Gray-sama Juvia is very happy and honored" the girl from 4 says blushing and I just stare at the screen.
What the heck is this?
Caesar takes Juvia's hand and looks at her.
"Juvia, this is so selfless, I've never seen something like this before, your story is so touching."
Then he and Juvia walk to the edge of the stage: "Ladies and Gentleman…, Juvia Lockser from district 4!" he shouts and stretches his and Juvias joined hands into the air.
Oh great, star-crossed, unreplied love, it will be raining sponsors for Juvia.
And Gray, being worth for Juvia to die, has now a big group of fans in the capitol. I mean he has to be awesome, if Juvia is willing to sacrifice herself for him right? Capitol citizen are so stupid.
Gray's interview goes really good for him, he's perfect at playing the cool boy and I bet he just melted away the hearts of thousands of capitol woman.
Man, this star-crossed lovers thing really works. Is the capitol really that naïve?
Although I'm not sure whether Juvia is serious about Gray (which would be kind of bad for her), it's pretty obvious that Gray just plays along.
It works though, I bet they just gained an awful lot of sponsors. Sure, I knew that the careers are violent and strong, but I didn't know that they were so good at presenting themselves and making them likeable.
Bad for me.
Wendy looks adorable in her cute outfit and she just uses her natural cuteness with Caesar being really nice with her as well, she did pretty good I guess.
After that her district partner Jet walks onto the stage followed by Sherry and Hibiki and soon it's my turn.
The tributes that were already interviewed stand with their teams and I see Angel, Miranda and Gerard talking with some capitol people.
Wendy gives me a quick comforting look as well as Lisanna who smiles at me but I still have the feeling that I'm about to sink into the ground. As clumsy as I am I'll probably fall down the stage or get caught up in my long dress, or, or… my breath is rapid and my heart is about to jump out of my chest- everything's spinning and I'm so terrified.
A tight grip on my shoulder brings me back to reality and I turn around facing the pink haired boy.
"Hey" Natsu grins "You don't have to be afraid, they'll love you"
I look up to him just as my name is called and I gather all my courage.
Right I'm going to do this thing.
I walk onto the stage. The bright lights, the people, the applause, the cheers, they all make me dizzy but I try to concentrate and put on the nicest smile I can think of.
I walk up to Caesar and we sit down into the armchairs. He asks me some questions and I answer them as honest as I can, trying to be natural and likeable.
"So Lucy, you seem really self-confident no matter what the situation is. What gives you the strength to be like that?"
Do I? Do I seem self-confident? If I do, that's really good. Oh right, that was I question, I should answer.
"Well Caesar, should I really tell you? It's something special you know, my own little secret"
I smile playing all shy. Then Caesar faces the crowd.
"Tell me people… should she tell us her secret?"
The audience cheers and screams "Yes!" "Tell us!" "We want to know!"
I giggle "Okay then, I'll say it, but only because it's you guys"
I look straight into the camera. Gosh, that's so fake, but it seems to work. I lean a little closer to Caesar and whisper in his hear, still loud enough for the audience to hear it.
"It are my keys, my stellar spirits. Whenever I grab my keys, I know that I'm not alone and that they're always there for me. They simply make me feel better"
Caesar laughs "Well maybe I should get some spirits then as well, I'm always so nervous before I get onto the stage. Aren't you afraid right now?"
"No, I don't have to be afraid you know. I'm just having a little chat with my capitol friends right? What's scary about that?" I smile at the crowd and then add "And I've got my keys with me, should I show you one?"
I slightly shudder as I notice how fake those words that come out of my mouth actually are. The capitol citizens my friends? It's more probably that President Snow volunteers as tribute than me being friends with the capitol. But I swallow down all the insults and words I want to say so desperately and smile instead. Just a few more minutes. You can do this.
The audience screams and whistles.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
I chuckle "No this one's harmless"
Then I get up and dramatically open Plues gate and she appears next to me and I hear "Aaaaaahhs" "Ooooooohs" and "How cute"s go through the crowd.
Then Plue walks to the edge of the stage, followed by Caesar and me and she starts to dance her little dance. Soon I join in and we both dance, and I spin around in my beautiful dress, and it all feels like a dream. Plue and I dancing on a stage, the cheering crowd, the bright lights, it all seems like a different world.
I can practically feel the enthusiasm of the capitol and as even Caesar starts dancing with Plue and me there's no holding back. Caesar swirls me around and my mind goes off, I only rely on my instinct.
My vision gets a little blurry. All I see are bright lights, clapping hands and flashes of purple hair. The applause of the audience and Plue's "Pun pun! Pun pun!" mix to form a wall of roaring noise. My feet move to a rhythm nobody's hearing. I'm only half aware of what I'm doing but I simply know what to do. Know how to move my body and clap my hands giggle and smile in order to please them. I take Caesar Flickerman's hands and drag him into a dance. That particular dance is really popular in the capitol and I only once saw it on TV but my feet seem to remember it. The showman joins in and spins me around. The crowd goes completely wild and as my time's finished almost the whole studio is dancing with Plue, Caesar and me. Plue and I bow and Caesar shouts: "One last round of applause for our lovely Lucy Heartfilia from district 8" The clapping and applause is deafening and as Plue and I walk of the stage I feel relieved. I did it. I gave my best and I think it actually worked out.
Backstage Miranda and Angel hug me and Gerard gives me an approving smile. "Honey you were wonderful, I couldn't have done it better"
"You and your spirit thingy just were so adorable and cute. And that dancing was just perfect." Miranda squeaks and soon they are both of to go on chatting with some sponsors.
I see how some of the other tributes including Erza give me reproachful, skeptical and angry looks, but that just makes me even prouder.
Then it's time for the last tribute to be interviewed. Somehow Natsu doesn't seem to be nervous at all, I've never actually seen him afraid. Oh just wait… the arena will easily wipe that nasty smile off his face…
I close my eyes and turn away, not that again. I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. I'm NOT crazy.
I shake myself and settle in front of the screen in order to watch Natsu's interview.
He walks onto the stage and soon sits down with Caesar, just like all of us did.
"So, Natsu, we were all very impressed by your parade performance and I think a whole nation is dying to know where you got these flames."
"Well, you know Caesar, I didn't get the flames anywhere from. They are a part of me. I can show you if you want to."
An impressed mumble goes through the audience.
"Well wouldn't that be a little dangerous?" Caesar asks skeptically.
But Natsu just smiles and sets his hand on fire so that a fire ball is surrounding his arm. The crowd is screaming, even in the capitol a first generation dragon slayer is something really rare. Especially one that uses fire dragon magic.
Natsu lets the flames disappear and sits back as if nothing happened. And after a while the capitol citizens calm down and the interview goes on.
"So tell us, what's the best thing in the capitol?"
Without even thinking he blurts out: "The food. Definitely the food. There is just so much of it, really! No matter how much I eat, there's just even more and more and more, so I always keep eating until I'm stuffed"
That makes the audience laugh, of course it seems funny for them but I understand the message behind that. The capitol always has enough food, even more than they can eat whereas the districts, especially 12, have to starve. What's so funny about that, huh?
"But Caesar, there is one thing I really, really hate" Natsu says and everybody seems to hold their breath.
"What is it?" the showman asks carefully.
"The train ride. I hated it so freaking much. You have to know that I'm motion sick. Every time I get on any kind of vehicle I immediately feel sick. I was lying on the floor the whole time, the train totally knocked me out, honestly. My mentor thought I was a jerk, lying there on the floor unable to move. It was torture"
That gave the audience the rest. Echoing laughter goes through the hall and Natsu is looking around as if he's not getting the joke.
I even catch myself smiling. Natsu knocked out by a train? The boy who seems to be so strong and fearless can't even take a train? That's just hilarious.
"I really don't know what's so funny about that, it's a real problem for me!" Natsu says looking angry but that serious facial expression melts away after some seconds turning into his characteristic grin.
After some other questions about district 12 Caesar asks: "So Natsu…, is there anyone special back home?" The showman leans forward, blinking to the camera knowingly.
Don't tell me Natsu's going to jump on that star-crossed lovers train as well! Oh no, I forgot, he gets motion sick so he probably won't.
After some moments of silence Natsu scratches his head and comes up with an answer: "Well there is actually somebody…"
"Really? Who is it? I bet a lot of female citizen are dying to find out all about it" He winks again.
So annoying.
"Well I have a blue cat at home which is called Happy. We are best friends and I really, really miss him"
I release a breath I didn't even know I was holding and realize in surprise that my hands are balled into fists. What's that about?
Caesar snorts with laughter "A cat? That's cute, but I was more thinking of a special girl, if you know what I mean"
Natsu looks a little lost and I chuckle silently "A girl? Naaaaaah, there's always been just Happy and me. That's all I need" He says and smiles at the crowd. I bet some capitol woman are fainting right now, that incredibly cute smile is definitely too much for them. Did I say cute? I didn't mean it. Can I take that back?
The boy from 12 clears his throat and announces "Although I recently met someone special…"
But before he can finish his sentence the buzzing signal goes off signalizing that Natsu's time is up. "Ladies and Gentleman Natsu Dragneel, the boy on fire!" A wave of applause rolls through the studio as Natsu walks of the stage and joins his team.
Author's Note: Someone special,huh? Who could that possibly be…? ;) Who wants to take a guess? Please tell me what you think about that chapter… 3
Gray: Right flame brain! Tell us who's your 'special someone'!
Natsu: Oh shut up already. You're the one pulling up the star-crossed lovers act! Besides it was on my script, I had to say it!
Author: Are you complaining about my choice of words?! In the contract we made it clearly said that I can make you say and do anything I want! *evil grin*
Natsu: Whose idea was it to take that stupid job again? We don't even get paid!
Erza: I like my role. It's fun to play the tough, brutal and heartless girl…
Gray: You don't even have to play it…
Erza: WHAT DID YOU SAY?!
Gray: N..n…nothing!
Author: Alright guys, stop hijacking my Authors Note and get back to work! We have to produce the next chapter! Chapter 10, take on-action!