Chapter 8: Chatting With Lindsey, Part 2
After a brief commercial break, the red button on the cameras turned back on with a ping, indicating that the show was once again live.
"Okay everyone, welcome back to this year's interview with the tributes," Lindsey announced, smiling as big as ever. "Continuing on, please welcome our District 7 female, Bettina Wilde!" The audience clapped as Bettina emerged onto the stage, dressed in a dark green blouse, a short brown skirt, and nude pumps, with her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She smiled and waved as she sat down next to the interview host.
"Why hello there, Bettina," Lindsey greeted, her cheesy smile slightly fazing the thirteen-year-old.
"Um…hi," Bettina replied, rather curtly. Lindsey didn't care, so she rolled with it.
"So Bettina," Lindsey began, clearing her throat and moving a strand of flyaway hair off her face. "You're going into the Hunger Games. Are you nervous?"
"Um…" Bettina began, twirling her ponytail with her finger. "A little…"
"Haha, I'm sure," Lindsey responded, with a toss of her own hair. "You'll be in a giant arena with twenty-three other people wanting your blood who will be fighting to the death on national television." The audience laughed, while Bettina only gulped. "No pressure though!"
"Um…right," Bettina mumbled, smiling weakly and laughing nervously. Lindsey cleared her throat as the audience's laughter subsided.
"Anyway," the interviewer continued. "What is your motivation you're using to win?"
"Living," Bettina answered bluntly, making the audience crack up again. Lindsey smiled, letting out a few giggles.
"Isn't she cute?" Lindsey asked the audience, getting minimal applause in return. Lindsey could sense oncoming boredom with this girl, but she continued to put her best foot forward to make this interview a good one. "What are you anticipating the most about the Games?" The studio was silent as the District 7 female paused to think, while Lindsey looked to her expectantly.
"Probably running into the other tributes," Bettina replied, scratching her head. "Who knows what will happen there if they run into me." No reaction from the audience. Lindsey bit her lip; she could see the bored expressions on the crowd's faces.
"And what exactly would you do if you ran into another tribute?" Lindsey questioned, cocking an curious eyebrow at Bettina.
"I would probably run," Bettina responded, eyes darting around anxiously. Lindsey cringed; there were clearly no fans of the District 7 girl in the audience. Luckily though, time ran out, and the buzzer buzzed. Bettina quickly stood up and walked off stage.
"That was Bettina Wilde from District 7, ladies and gentlemen," Lindsey said, watching Bettina walk backstage. "Now introducing our male from District 7, Jack Forrest!" Bettina was soon replaced by Jack, who was dressed in a green, long-sleeved blouse, tan slacks, and tan dress shoes. His bushy black hair was neatly gelled back into a fancily spiked hairdo. Still disappointed with Bettina's lackluster interview, the audience was mostly quiet when Jack arrived onstage. "Welcome, Jack." Jack greeted Lindsey with a smile and a nod. "So tell me, Jack, how did you feel about being reaped?" Jack was silent for a moment, save for a small "Um…", but he soon got his thoughts together.
"It was overwhelming," Jack answered, glancing over at one of the cameras. "My friends were shocked, my family was terrified, and I was feeling a mixture of both. Some of the kids that were standing near me had these pained looks on their faces, and it almost looked like they felt bad for me. It was sort of how I felt watching one of my classmates be reaped last year." Lindsey nodded as she pretended to ponder this thought.
"Well, if you win the Games, then I'm sure they'll only be happy for you," Lindsey said, to which Jack agreed. "Now, you got a nine in training. A very commendable score for a non-Career tribute, if I say so myself." Lindsey paused as the audience cheered, so much that her voice would have been drowned out. Once their applause died down, Lindsey continued, "So, how did you get such a high score? Tell us about your session with the Gamemakers." Jack hesitated, unsure of what to say, when Lindsey held up a manicured finger to her earpiece to listen. She remained in that position for almost a minute, before returning her attention to Jack and the crowd. "Oh, that's right. You guys aren't allowed to disclose details on what happened with the Gamemakers," she told the tribute. "Silly me! Moving on now. Anyway, what are you going to do to win?"
"Um…I guess just try to survive the living conditions and hope that the other tributes kill each other before they kill me," Jack answered with a small shrug.
"Well okay then!" Lindsey chimed, her smile growing as she held back a giggle. "What would winning mean to you?"
"Not dying!" Jack blurted out randomly. When he heard the audience laugh, he grinned and laughed with them. The audience had calmed down just in time for the buzzer to be heard. Lindsey thanked Jack and shook his hand, before he headed backstage.
"Alright, let's bring out our next tribute," Lindsey said, extending her arm to wave her next guest out. "From District 8, please welcome Ariani Woolf!" The crowd applauded as Ariani walked out, dressed in a short pink dress and tall heels, with a glittery gold embellishment on both the dress and heels. Her mousy brown hair was curled and styled into a side ponytail that rested on her right shoulder. "Ariani, hello! How are you, dear?"
"Good, thanks," Ariani replied shyly, turning to smile at the crowd. Lindsey nodded in approval as the audience cheered.
"That's good. Very good," Lindsey said, glancing from the crowd to Ariani. "Are you ready to enter the arena?"
"I guess I am, yes," Ariani answered, turning back to Lindsey.
"Also good. The readiness is all," Lindsey commented, pausing to adjust her blouse before continuing, "Do you think you can win the Games?"
"Maybe. I think it's possible," Ariani responded, slowly nodding. The audience erupted in cheers yet again.
"Great! You go, girl," Lindsey exclaimed, clapping alongside the crowd for a moment. "And why do you think you will be able to win?" Ariani only needed a moment to think, before she knew the answer.
"Nobody will even notice me, especially not once I escape the bloodbath," Ariani replied, sounding confident despite twiddling her thumbs awkwardly. "Nobody would even think to come look for me if they didn't find me. I'll be able to survive long enough until I'm ready to strike, then I'll be able to win." The volume of the cheering doubled, everyone's eardrums nearly shattered. The audience was so loud that nobody even heard the buzzer going off, and so it had to ring several times in order to be heard. The crowd continued their applause long enough until Ariani was offstage, before quieting down.
"Alright, next tribute!" Lindsey announced, excited about the wonderful interview she had just done. "Our District 8 male, Darien Shinoko!" The applause started up again as Darien walked out wearing a fancy blue suit with a ruffled white blouse. His hair was styled the way it usually was, fringed and half-spiked, and the scar on his left cheek was barely visible. Darien gave a small wave to the audience as he sat down next to Lindsey.
"Hello, Lindsey," Darien greeted curtly, leaning back in his seat and feeling the leather material between his fingers.
"Hello, hello!" Lindsey chimed, leaning over and shaking Darien's hand. "It's so nice to see you, Darien. I can tell that the audience is excited about you as well. How are you feeling right now?"
"I'm feeling alright, thanks," Darien replied nonchalantly. A few Capitol women could be heard swooning.
"Oh, good," Lindsey remarked, uncrossing one leg and crossing the other. "Are you feeling good about entering the Games?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah, I do," Darien answered with a smile. "A little." Light applause sounded from the audience.
"I would think so, what with your score of 10 in training," Lindsey stated, cueing more cheers. "That was incredible, Career or not. What was your reaction to seeing your score?" Darien chuckled and scratched his chin while thinking.
"I was honestly surprised," the District 8 male responded thoughtfully. "I thought I did a good job in training, but I didn't think that I was that good. I seriously couldn't believe it. But I was really happy about it."
"Awesome. Good for you, Darien," Lindsey said, giving him a thumbs-up. "I would certainly say that puts you at very good odds of winning the Games. What do you think? Will the odds be in your favor in the arena?"
"Yes they will," Darien replied, a glint of determination in his eyes. "I'm going to make them be in my favor, because I'm going to fight. I'm going to make it to the end and win." Rather than stopping, the cheering grew louder, and a few girls even whistled and shouted professions of love at Darien. "Sorry ladies, I have a girlfriend back home," Darien said to the women in the audience, who groaned and fell silent.
"Oh, you do?" Lindsey asked, gasping with intrigue. "Well why didn't you say so? Tell us about her!" Darien laughed, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.
"Her name is Roxanne," the tribute began, staring into a camera for a moment. "She's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. I love her, and I want to return home for her. She's my motivation to win." The audience made more noise, a mixture of hoots and hollers and a chorus of Awws filling the studio. That's when the buzzer rang.
"Well, time's up," Lindsey said to Darien. "Ladies and gentlemen, Darien Shinoko!" Even after Darien had left the stage, the audience continued their applause, while Lindsey introduced the next tribute. "From District 9, we have Lita Reed!" The District 9 girl sauntered onto the stage wearing a shimmering gold gown, with matching heels poking out from the bottom. Her eyes seemed brighter with the gold eyeliner, and her cheeks were tickled pink. Her hair was up in a bun, with two locks hanging at the sides of her heart-shaped face. "Lita! You look so beautiful!" Lindsey exclaimed, stopping Lita to look at her dress before allowing her to sit down.
"Thank you," Lita replied, beaming with pride. "Credit goes to my stylist, Lucia. She put this whole outfit together." Lindsey briefly scanned the crowd, before giving a thumbs-up to a fellow Capitol woman dressed in all pink.
"Good job, Lucia!" Lindsey called out, she and the audience applauding her. Lita couldn't help but laugh as Lucia blushed and waved Lindsey away. "She's one of my BFFs, you know," Lindsey said to Lita.
"Mine too," Lita responded, a few people in the crowd laughing.
"Okay, so Lita," Lindsey said, moving on. "You're entering the arena in less than 24 hours. How are you feeling?"
"Uh…okay, I guess," Lita answered, shrugging. "Could be better." The audience was soon quiet, but neither Lindsey nor Lita thought anything of it.
"Well okay. It's perfectly fine to be nervous," Lindsey said soothingly. "You're going to have a big day tomorrow." Lita's smile faltered. Yeah, I'm probably going to die, and the whole country is going to see it. "Anyway, what did you think of your training score?" Lita snapped out of her bitter thoughts, and she grinned again.
"I'm very happy with it," Lita replied proudly. "A nine is good. It even matches my district." A few people, Lindsey included, chuckled.
"Yes it does," Lindsey remarked, checking the time on the buzzer. They still had a minute and a half. "What motivation do you have to win?"
"My family," Lita answered, her smile dropping again. "They were worried sick when I was first chosen for the Games, and my mom said she didn't know what she'd do if I died. So I really need to win so I can go home to my family." The audience quickly applauded before becoming silent again.
"Well, I wish you and your family all the luck in the world," Lindsey said as the buzzer sounded. "Anyway, our time is up, but may the odds be ever in your favor." Lita muttered a "Thanks" and walked off, while the audience clapped. "Anyway, our other District 9 tribute," Lindsey continued. "Felix Rice!" The crowd was quiet as they saw the District 9 male enter the stage, wearing a yellow suit with big white buttons on the blouse, jacket, and shoes. His bald head looked like a cue ball as the lights shone down on it. Felix gave a small wave to the crowd, before sitting down and turning to face Lindsey.
"Hello there, Felix," Lindsey greeted. Felix gave a small nod in acknowledgment and waved to her. "How did you feel when you found out you'd be competing?"
"Um…not good," Felix answered, much to the dismay of Lindsey and the audience. "I was terrified. I still am. My mom was crying when she said goodbye to me. I don't know what she'd do if I didn't make it home."
"Well, here you are now!" Lindsey chimed cheerfully. "And you have just as much of a chance as anyone." Not really… Lindsey bit her lip to suppress a giggle at her own thought.
"Yes…here I am," Felix mumbled. "And we'll see."
"Now, let's talk about your training score," Lindsey continued, to which Felix cringed. "You don't have to give us specific details, but what happened? How did you manage to get such a low score?" Felix started to sweat as he scratched his head. He looked out to the crowd, who was staring at him with cold and unfeeling glares.
"Um…I have no idea," Felix admitted sheepishly. "I guess it was just a bad case of bad luck."
"A bad case of bad luck…" Lindsey repeated, before nodding. "I see. Do you still think you can win?"
"I'm not sure," Felix replied, still peeking at the audience out of the corner of his eye. "I want to win. I certainly hope I can win."
"Well, I certainly wish you the best of luck," Lindsey said, when the buzzer sounded. "Anyway, our time's up here. Ladies and gentlemen, Felix Rice of District 9!" The audience remained stony silent as Felix sped-walked off the stage in a flush of embarrassment. "Now, moving on to District 10. Introducing our female tribute, Aeris Hart!" Half the audience applauded as Aeris walked onstage, dressed in a black dress with pink ruffles grazing her knees. She stumbled a little in her pink heels, but she managed to make it to the chair without tripping over. She waved to Lindsey while checking to make sure her tightly curled blonde hair didn't fall out of place.
"Hi Lindsey," Aeris said, smiling with relief that her hair was okay.
"Hello, my dear," Lindsey replied, returning the grin. "You look adorable!"
"Thank you," Aeris said, her cheeks turning as pink as her shoes. The audience Awwed in response, charmed by the District 10 girl's cuteness.
"Now Aeris, the audience and I would like to get to know you better, so…" Lindsey started. "What would you say are three words that best describe you?"
"Well…" Aeris said, her voice as cute as her dress. "I would say that I'm compassionate, I'm caring, and um…well, everyone back home says I'm a sweetheart, so let's go with that." Another round of Awws from the audience, followed by some applause.
"Okay, very nice," Lindsey responded enthusiastically, happy to be interested in the tribute. "Can you tell us any interesting information about yourself?" Aeris paused to think, while a few people in the crowd shouted words of encouragement to her.
"Um…" Aeris began, still partly in thought. "I love chocolate. It's my favorite treat." A flurry of cheers and laughter could be heard from the audience. Lindsey put a hand to her heart and sighed.
"She's so cute!" she cried, with a few shouts of agreement in response. "Anyway, did you receive any advice from anyone about how to win the Games?" Aeris shook her head.
"Not…really," Aeris admitted. "Everyone just told me to please come home." More cheers and Awws. Aeris couldn't help but giggle.
"That's so sweet," Lindsey said, gingerly rubbing one of her eyes to stop a potential tear from falling. "We all know that everyone wants to win, but why would you like to be the victor of this year's Hunger Games?"
"Because I'll be alive," Aeris answered, still with pep in her voice. "And I'll get to go home to my family and friends." The audience cheered yet again, actually forcing Lindsey to pause until they lowered their voices.
"We're almost out of time, but is there anything else you want to say?" Lindsey asked Aeris.
"I love you District 10!" Aeris exclaimed before the buzzer went off. Aeris received one final round of applause as she thanked Lindsey before leaving the stage.
"Alright, let's keep things going with our next tribute," Lindsey announced, re-crossing her legs again. "Also from District 10, Murphy Stock!" The applause for Aeris slowly faded out as Murphy walked out wearing a white tuxedo with black buttons, cuffs, and shoes. Lindsey admired the boy's attire as he sat beside her.
"Why hello there, Murphy," Lindsey greeted. Murphy mumbled a "Hello", before Lindsey continued. "Tell us about your experience here at the Capitol."
"It's been great," Murphy said, receiving some cheers in return. "We live in these really nice apartments, I love the food…yeah, the experience was great."
"What would winning the Games mean the most to you?" Lindsey questioned, staring at the District 10 boy intently.
"Surviving. I want to make it out alive," Murphy replied, to which there were a few more cheers. "I want to keep on living back home in District 10."
"Do you have a strategy for winning the Games?" Lindsey asked, only for Murphy to shrug and shake his head. "How do you think you'll act in the arena?"
"I may run off and hide, but if I think I can fight, I will," Murphy responded. More applause. "If I see an opportunity, I'll take it."
"Doesn't sound too bad," Lindsey commented, chipper as ever. "Do you think you'll make any alliances with the other tributes?"
"I don't know what they're all thinking," Murphy answered, a bit blunt. "I'm definitely open to it, but I'll have to see. If not, then at least I have my district partner to count on." The audience broke into obligatory applause, accepting this answer.
"Fair enough," Lindsey stated, when the time on the buzzer ran out. "We're out of time, but best of luck to you in the Games, Murphy." Murphy thanked her and left the stage, receiving a moderate reaction from the crowd. "Next up, from District 11 we have Naoko Chan!" People clapped as Naoko emerged from the backstage area, well dressed in an orchard gown with matching heels. Her dark hair was done up in an elegant, half-up, half-down hairdo, with curls cascading down her back. Her eyes were lit up with purple eye shadow, and her eyelashes were high enough to touch her eyebrows. Naoko was slightly stiff as the dress hugged her waist, but she was still graceful in gliding across the stage before sitting in the chair opposite Lindsey.
"Omigod, I love your dress!" Lindsey exclaimed, reaching out to run her fingers across the silk fabric. "That color is so pretty!"
"Thank you," Naoko responded, a big grin crossing her face. "It's my favorite color."
"Really? Mine too!" Lindsey squealed, gesturing to her own outfit. "I wear it almost all the time!" A few faint chuckles emanated from the crowd as Lindsey paused to clear her throat, before continuing. "So Naoko, what has impressed you the most since you arrived at the Capitol?"
"Definitely the wardrobe here," Naoko answered, the crowd cheering in response. "Back in District 11, our clothes are very plain, simple, and tattered, but here everyone is wearing these lavish, fancy outfits. Some of them I've seen are pretty crazy with matching hair and accessories. So, the clothes here for sure." Lindsey nodded in agreement, before giggling upon realizing she was doing so.
"The wardrobe here amazes me too, so I'm with you on that one," Lindsey stated. "Was there anything about the Capitol that surprised you?"
"No, the Capitol looks the same as how I've seen it," Naoko replied. "High-tech, lots of tall buildings, wealthy people, and a classy environment." The District 11 female smiled as more people cheered.
"Tell me how you felt when you found out you'd be competing," Lindsey said, her perfectly tweezed eyebrows raised with intrigue.
"Well, I was very sad to leave my family, especially my mom," Naoko responded, her smile slightly faltering. "Things have been exciting here, but I do want to get back to District 11. I've been missing everyone back home already." Lindsey and Naoko could barely make out a few Awws from a small handful of Capitol women sitting in front row. Even Lindsey's bright grin was reduced to a half-smile.
"Well, I can tell you that I wish you all the best in that," Lindsey told the tribute girl, who nodded and muttered a quick "Thanks" as the buzzer went off. "Unfortunately our time is up, but thanks so much for being here, Naoko." The audience clapped and cheered as Naoko returned backstage. "Now, it's time to meet our District 11 male, so please welcome…Grant Fields!" The audience fell silent, some whispering among themselves as the District 11 male entered the stage, dressed in a yellow bedazzled polo and shimmering tan slacks, complete with yellow shoes and neatly slicked back hair.
"Oh my, look at you," Lindsey said, scrutinizing his outfit. Grant said nothing, so Lindsey proceeded with the interview. "So, how are you feeling about entering the arena?"
"Okay, I suppose," the tribute answered in a gruff voice. "It's not the greatest thing in the world, but I've gotten over the initial shock and worry." Some of the whispers in the crowd managed to reach Grant's ears, but he ignored them, staring at Lindsey with stony eyes.
"Okay then," Lindsey responded civilly, now well-adjusted to the dullness of some of the tributes. "Do you feel your life has changed since you were chosen for the Games?"
"Absolutely," Grant replied. "My life doesn't feel the same since reaping day. Of course, my life might be over soon, but-"
"Oh, don't say that," Lindsey cut him off. "You can't think like that. You have a chance to win, so you have to think positive." Grant refused to look at the audience, though he could still hear them whispering. Whispering about him.
"I suppose so…" Grant trailed, unfeeling.
"Anyway, do you have any plans for the Games?" Lindsey asked, now a tad more concerned than excited.
"Run, find food, find water, build a shelter…" Grant responded, tensing up with nerves. "Hopefully not die." A few people laughed, not that Grant cared. Lindsey forced herself to giggle.
"Yes, not dying is definitely a good thing when you're in the arena," Lindsey commented, moving a few locks of hair off her shoulder. "Anyway, here with the Hunger Games, we always say 'May the odds be ever in your favor'. Do you think the odds are in your favor?"
"Maybe, maybe not," the District 11 male answered coolly. "Only time will tell." By now the crowd was so quiet, anyone could hear a pin drop in the studio. They clearly did not like this tribute. There was an awkward silence onstage for a moment, before the buzzer finally rang.
"Grant Fields, ladies and gentlemen!" Lindsey announced, watching as Grant got up and left the stage. "Finally, we're on to District 12. Introducing Rosemary Wood!" Some people clapped as Rosemary emerged from the backstage area, decked out in a velvet red dress with glittery red pumps. Her brown hair was curled and weaved, falling down her back, while a shiny red headband rested on her head.
"Rosemary Wood…" Lindsey began, eyeing the District 12 girl up and down. "Aren't you the mayor's daughter?"
"Yes, that's me," Rosemary answered while sitting down. "My dad was hoping that I would be elected mayor of District 12 once he retired, so he wasn't too happy when those plans suddenly changed." Her dress was nearly the exact same shade as the chair, so she practically blended into her seat, leaving only her head and legs. Realizing this, Rosemary blushed and sat up sheepishly, thanking her stars that Lindsey didn't notice.
"Oh, I'll bet," Lindsey said, her eyes blinking to feign surprise. "My dad would surely feel the same way. He'd be ticked off!"
"That's exactly how my dad felt after the reaping," Rosemary commented with a chuckle. "I don't even want to know how he'd react if I didn't make it home."
"Completely understandable," Lindsey stated, both girls nodding. "So, I'm assuming that's your motivation you're using to win?"
"Yes. Absolutely," Rosemary answered, a hint of conviction in her otherwise sweet voice.
"Well, you received a good training score, so I'd say you're off to a good start," Lindsey said, quickly high-fiving Rosemary. "Were you expecting that?"
"Actually, no, I wasn't," Rosemary replied, another giggle escaping her lips. "I was happy with it though. Hopefully everyone back home was happy to see that."
"I'm sure they were," Lindsey assured the female tribute. "You're certainly a good candidate for sponsorship after that." A flurry of applause sounded from the audience, the first of their reactions since the interview began. They were quiet for the whole thing, but they seemed to be giving off a positive reaction to Rosemary, who only sat there and beamed with pride. "What would you say your odds are of winning the Games?"
"I would say that I have very good odds of winning," Rosemary answered, with more confidence in her voice. This made many people cheer even louder for her. Rosemary continued to soak up the applause, satisfied with how well the interview was going.
"That's the spirit, Rosemary!" Lindsey chimed energetically. "That's the way to think."
"You certainly are positive," Rosemary said with a playful smirk.
"Yes I am!" Lindsey replied, when time ran out on the buzzer. "Okay, we're out of time, but best of luck to you, Rosemary. Rosemary Wood, ladies and gentlemen!" Rosemary said "Thanks" and waved to the audience as she walked off the stage. "And now, our last tribute…Hamish Rembrandt!" Still excited about their interest in Rosemary, the crowd was still cheering when Hamish walked out, dressed in an all-black tuxedo, with sparkling black dust in his hair.
"Welcome, Hamish," Lindsey greeted, shaking the boy's hand once he sat down. "Glad to have you here."
"Well, it's nice to be here," Hamish responded, nodding in acknowledgement at the audience.
"Oh, that's good," Lindsey said, winking at Hamish. "So you like being here at the Capitol?"
"It was a little overwhelming at first, luckily Rosemary's been here with me," Hamish started. "But otherwise I do like being here. I've had a nice visit so far." The crowd was cheery as ever, as they continued to applaud the District 12 male.
"Glad to hear it," Lindsey said, giving Hamish a thumbs-up. "What's your strategy for winning the Games?"
"That's easy. Not having one!" Hamish answered proudly, with some people chuckling, Lindsey included. "No, really, I'm just going to survive off whatever I can find that doesn't kill me, and do my best to avoid the other tributes."
"Good plan, Hamish," Lindsey responded, while the crowd continued to cheer. "Do you think you're ready for the Games?"
"Yes I do," Hamish replied, nodding vigorously. Lindsey glanced over at the time on the buzzer, right when it ran out.
"Well, our time is up here, but we'll be seeing you in the arena, Hamish," Lindsey said, turning back and shaking the boy's hand one more time. "Best of luck to you." Hamish nodded and walked off the stage. "Well, that's it for interviews, everyone!" Lindsey announced to the crowd. "We've met all the tributes, and tomorrow the Games begin! We'll see you then, but for now, good night." The audience stood up in a standing ovation, cheering for Lindsey as she took a bow before walking offstage herself. The interview host smiled to herself. That certainly went well.