CHAPTER FIVE
IKE
Ike woke up with a slight feeling of dread. Tomorrow night, he knew, would be the televised interviews. He hated speaking in public—well, he disliked it at least, especially if it was going to be for the Capitol audience. But the whole day today would probably be devoted to readying for it.
He took a quick shower before going down to breakfast. Shinon informed him that he and Mia would each have four hours with Aimee for presentation and four with him for content. Mia would start with Aimee; Ike would start with Shinon.
After breakfast, he and Shinon went into the sitting room. His mentor directed him to the couch, and after a while of just staring and frowning, they started discussing what Ike's approach would be. They had a few problems almost straight off. Ike already disliked public speaking, and with Shinon playing the interviewer, he couldn't think clearly. Unwillingly, he got angry at himself. Why am I trying to please people I hate? By the end he was literally spitting out answers.
So Shinon tried other angles. More problems presented themselves. Ike couldn't lie very good. It was clear without even trying that he couldn't gush. He wasn't arrogant enough for cocky. He wasn't particularly witty, mysterious, or funny. He was undeniably handsome (though he did try to deny it) but he had no idea how to 'play' sexy, as Shinon put it, so that was out too. Ferocity just didn't work for him—apparently, he was too 'nice.' By the end of the session, Shinon was drinking and Ike felt like he was no one at all.
"I give up." Shinon finally said, his voice thick and slurred. "Just answer the questions and don't let Os—" He choked on the name for a moment, before continuing; "Don't let the audience... see how much you despise them."
Ike felt a bit sorry for Mia, who had to go in to Shinon right after him. Their mentor wouldn't be easy to deal with when he was drunk.
After that was four hours of presentation with Aimee, which, in Ike's opinion, were inherently worse. Most of it was spent her instructing him on sitting, posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and a dozen other things Ike could hardly remember. Smiling was the worse. Aimee made him say a hundred phrases starting with a smile, while smiling, or ending with a smile. Ike didn't mind smiling normally, but this was too much. By dinner, the muscles in his cheeks were twitching from overuse.
He had dinner alone in his room. He forced himself to eat a little, because he knew he would need it later in the arena, but he just didn't feel hungry.
Then Zelgius sneaked in again, just to talk. They spoke about the tribute scores mostly; neither of them could understand how they'd gotten such high scores. Ike found it easier to eat when Zelgius was with him.
The raven-haired boy left and Ike fell asleep. His dreams were filled with smiling Aimees and drunken Shinons. He didn't sleep well.
The next day belonged to Lyn. Ike's prep team worked on him till late afternoon, covering up his scars, making his skin slightly lighter and his hair more vibrant, stenciling very specific scars and scuffs and dirt patterns on his face and arms. The room walls were covered with old paintings and drawings of the Hero Ike and the prep team devoted their time to making him look like almost an exact replica of the ancient hero, his living clone, and then drawing his defining features back out again.
Then Lyn arrived with his outfit, and it took almost half an hour to put it all on just right. It was fairly similar to the outfit in the opening ceremonies, but this one was more blue and green-themed, and made of finer fabrics. Ike recognized it immediately; it was the more regal outfit the hero had worn when the legendary Queen Elincia had made him a noble.
When he looked in the mirror, Ike nearly started. The perfect touch up of the makeup, the fake scars, and the drawing out of his real ones and real features—combined with the outfit, which was a perfect replica of six-hundred First Age Crimean lord styles and almost identical to the pictures—had made him someone who was utterly recognizable, and completely unforgettable. Lyn had turned him into the Hero.
The prep team oohed and aahed as Ike couldn't help but stare at himself in surprise. "Perfect." Lyn breathed. Ike had to agree.
Lyn dismissed the team and had Ike move around a bit, making sure everything was flexible and looked the way it was supposed to. "All ready for the interview then?" she asked.
Ike saw by his expression that she'd been talking to Shinon. "Not really." he admitted. "No matter what we tried, I just couldn't be one of those people Shinon wants me to be."
Lyn paused. "Why don't you just be yourself?"
"Well that's no good. He said I was hostile and bitter."
"That's only around him." Lyn smiled faintly. "I don't think you are. The prep team adores you. You won over the Gamemakers. The Capitol citizens can't stop talking about you. You even became friends with Zelgius Kadohl, who is possibly the least friendly boy I've ever seen. Not on purpose," she quickly added when Ike started to protest. "But he hardly speaks to anyone unless he has to, certainly not to any of the other tributes. You must've noticed that."
Ike frowned slightly. "That's just because he's...bitter, about the treatment the Branded get by everyone else." he said defensively.
"There!" Lyn said with a small grin. "Who else would've known that but his one and only friend?"
"His sister..."
"Look, just try this." she said, slightly exasperated. "When you're asked a question, just look in the audience. I'll be there, and just pretend you're talking to me and answer as honestly as possible."
"Even if what I think is...?"
"Especially then. You'll try it?"
Ike nodded. It was a plan, at least.
The interviews would take place in the big stadium, where all the Games interviews were held. Too soon it was time to go. Mia looked striking in a beautiful sleeveless red-orange dress with blue fire designs stenciled on her fingernails and shoulders, hiding the old lash scars. Apparently the blue flames thing was still ongoing for her as well. Aimee thought Ike looked dashing and heroic, while Shinon was slightly dizzy and got Mia confused with Lyn. Probably still drunk, Ike thought bitterly.
After a brief wait, the twenty-four tributes finally got backstage. Ike looked at a TV screen and got his first glimpse at just how huge the crowd was, and his heart started pounding with nervous tension. Good Goddess, look at all those people...! I can't go up in front of all them...! He forced himself to remain calm and controlled on the outside, but his mind was reeling.
Oscar Osûka, the man who had hosted the interviews and been a commentator and announcer for the Games ever since 215 S.A(replacing the old announcer, who had retired), came up onto the stage. It was a little scary because Ike knew he was actually in his mid-thirties, but due to the surgery in the Capitol, used to make people appear younger and thinner, he looked exactly the same as he had ten years ago, when he'd first started. He was also different than his predecessor in that, like Lyn, he hadn't allowed any kind of self-altercations except for the mandatory age-adjustment. He didn't even wear glasses so he didn't have to squint, though Ike suspected that was more of a "trademark"-type thing. Ike actually liked him a bit, since he usually tried to help out the tributes during their interviews(another something he did better than his predecessor). Tributes seemed to find it easy to get comfortable around him, which was probably why he had the job. Oscar warmed up the audience a bit before beginning.
Each interview lasted only three minutes. Then a buzzer went off and the next tribute was up. Ike stood straight like Aimee had showed him and blankly watched the screen as the tributes left and the districts went by. Everyone seemed to have an angle. Skrimir Gaul from District 2 was a ruthless killing machine, while his female counterpart, Sakira Elle, was sexy and dangerous. Vika of 4 was sly and elusive, while Volug from District 6 was solitary and hostile, ignoring Oscar's attempts at banter and answering his questions with a "Yes" or "No". (For some reason, his outfit didn't include a shirt; perhaps that was one of the reasons why he was so hostile. Ike certainly would have been embarrassed if he were in the wolf's situation. He wondered vaguely if Volug was playing 'sexy'.)
Leanne was finally called. She was wearing a beautiful white gown that shimmered as she walked, and her skin was lightly dusted with some sort of powder that made it glitter like gold. A hush fell over the crowd at the sight of this beautiful and angelic young tribute. Oscar was very sweet with her, complimenting her seven in training, which really had been a record for District 7 apparently. He asked a few questions and mostly let her talk; she spoke so fast with her delicate accent that some of her answers were hard to catch, but to Ike at least she came across as slightly childish, innocent and charming. When Oscar asked her what her strategy in the arena would be, she replied "Well, probably running away really fast. Or flying away, whichever." There was a small laugh around the crowd, and she continued; "No, I think... I'm going to stay with my allies, help them, run when I need to, and hope for the best."
Ike felt his heart pang. Of course, all alliances were eventually broken. What could he really do to protect her, in the end?
More districts went by. 8, 9, 10.
Mia's name was called and she went up on stage. She was a bit overenthusiastic but was still very cheerful and easygoing. She was a bit sad, but it only showed when Oscar asked her about her family. Ike's mind sort of turned off at that point.
Then it was Ike's turn and he numbly went onstage, following Oscar's introduction. He shook Oscar's hand and the man had the good grace not to immediately wipe it off.
His head was pounding as they both sat down and he hardly heard Oscar's first question; "So, that entrance you made in the opening ceremonies," the man said confidentially. "That was really something."
Ike's mouth tasted like sawdust. He desperately searched the crowd for a moment, looking for Lyn. He finally found her next to Roy and Aimee in the District 11 team section; he vaguely registered that Shinon was absent, but he didn't think about that. Be honest, he remembered. "Um... I was mostly hoping I wouldn't burn to death."
Oscar laughed, and some of the crowd joined in. Ike, encouraged, continued; "I mean, sure they said it was safe, but Roy—Mia's stylist—came up with it, and he's a little too enthusiastic, if you know what I mean..."
A big laugh, then. A real one from the audience. Maybe Mia had mentioned Roy's enthusiasm as well.
"Other than that, well...what can I say? They did great. And Mia looked amazing, so I'll assume I looked pretty good too, though I'm sure she was much better."
Some of the audience laughed applauded, shouted to him encouragingly. One girl in the front even yelled "I love you, Ike!" He blinked in surprise; apparently his expression must've changed humorously because Oscar and several people in the crowd laughed again.
"I have one other question." Oscar said, his mood noticeably subdued. "We were all very moved, I think, when you volunteered for your friend's brother at the reaping. Can you tell us about that?"
No. Not all of you... "Well... it was... Edward's only twelve years old, you know." Ike said quietly. "He—Mia and him and their family are some of the only people I really trust. I've known them since my first reaping... and the thought of forcing Mia to fight against, even kill her own brother, or vice versa... I couldn't do that to them. And... and I suppose I owed Mia, too. Because she'd just volunteered for Mist. My sister."
You could hear a pin drop in the audience now. "And... what about her? Your sister?" Oscar asked. "Did she come to see you, after the reaping?"
"Yes." His voice was much more subdued now.
"What did she say to you?"
Ike took a deep breath. Focus. Focus on Lyn... on Zelgius... "She asked me to try my best to win."
The audience was frozen, hanging on his every word. "I promised her I would." Ike finally said, and he could've sworn his voice dropped an octave. "And I keep my promises."
"I'll bet you do." Oscar said.
The applause continued long after Ike had retreated backstage. He glanced over at Zelgius and caught a subtle smile.
Ike was slightly dazed and missed most of Kita's interview. She was wearing a beautiful black dress with no back(again), and her hair was parted around to the front and side so her Brand was shown when she turned. He noticed she'd gained a little weight, which was definitely a good thing. For the most part, he registered her as cautious, sad, and a little mysterious. He was coming back into focus just when Oscar asked her about the rumors of her ill health.
She hesitated, then nodded slightly.
"Oh, that's a shame." Oscar said, giving her a small pat on the shoulder. "Will it cause any problems for you in the Games?"
"No, it's... just a slight fever or something. I'll be well enough for the arena, so... don't count me out."
"I wouldn't in a million years." Oscar said encouragingly, standing up and taking her hand. "Kita Kadohl."
There was a generous round of applause as Kita retreated and Zelgius was called forward. He was also wearing a fairly old-style outfit, black and red. The teen sort of zoned out again as the interview began, but he registered a few things. The two of them got along fairly well, and though Zelgius seemed a little hesitant at first he warmed up to Oscar very quickly. Oscar seemed to genuinely like him as well. At one point, Oscar asked if he had a girlfriend back home.
Zelgius shook his head almost immediately.
"I don't believe it. Handsome man like you, there must be someone." Oscar persisted.
Zelgius flushed ever so slightly, then sighed. "To be honest...? There is this one I have a crush on, but... I don't think it would work out between us."
More sympathy. Ike was barely registering. "She has someone else?" Oscar asked delicately.
The raven-haired boy shrugged slightly. "To be honest, I don't know. I haven't ever asked. Or noticed anything, though I'm sure a lot of others feel the same as me."
"Well, here's what you do. You go out there, and you win this thing... and then, you go home, and ask her out then. Right?" Oscar suggested encouragingly.
"I don't think that would work." Zelgius replied quietly. "Winning... wouldn't help me much."
That caused a surprised murmur to run through the crowd. "Why ever not?" Oscar asked, mystified.
"Because they're a tribute." he said flatly, causing a stir in the audience. "They don't know a thing, and I don't believe I should tell them, either. It would hurt us both, I think, since... well... only one of us would be able to come out of the arena, you know."
The crowd sighed. Unrequited romantic drama was high on the list of favored Capitol entertainment. Ike vaguely wondered who Zelgius was talking about—and suddenly realized that he hadn't ever used a female pronoun himself...
"Well, that is a bad piece of luck." Oscar said, and there was a real edge of pain in his voice. The crowd was murmuring in agreement.
"Indeed." Zelgius agreed.
There were a few sympathetic cries from the audience. Zelgius paused briefly, then added "One other thing. This person is... a tribute I'm sure you know very well."
"Well... I wish you the best of luck, Zelgius Kadohl." Oscar said. "And I think I speak for all of us when I say that our hearts go with you."
The crowd's deafening roar followed Zelgius offstage. Ike looked at him curiously and Zelgius gave him a small, helpless shrug. Then the tributes filed back into the Training Center lobby and to the elevators.
To Ike's immediate relief, he actually found himself in an elevator with his 'pack'—Leanne, still beautiful and angelic; Kita, small and pretty; and Zelgius, tall, powerful, and yes, handsome, now that Ike thought about it. Whoever the girl was—or boy, if it was one—he or she would be lucky to have Zelgius by their side, if they could.
Leanne was talking about Zelgius' interview when Ike stepped in the elevator to join them. "And I really wonder why you never used a female pronoun," she was saying, "Everyone was talking about that, the only reason for it I can think of is that it's actually a boy, which would make you gay. I'm surprised I couldn't tell before that there was any question, I mean, I know another boy who's gay but he isn't much like you at all, he's much more girlish! You act more straight than gay, but you must be gay because of what you said, not using female pronouns, unless you were just trying to mess with everyone, which doesn't seem like you! Oh! Who is it you like, anyway? Ooh! Is it Volug? He's really cute, you know."
Zelgius was blushing slightly, but Kita kind of giggled and glanced out the doors. The wolf boy was near another elevator, and glanced at them curiously when Kita looked. "He is, isn't he? Very... handsome." she murmured, reaching over and hitting "7".
"Oh, wait! I know!" Leanne snapped her fingers as the doors slid shut. "It's Ike, isn't it?"
Both the boys sputtered and turned bright red. Kita laughed. "It is, isn't it?" Leanne persisted. "I mean, it isn't like Zelgy's talked to any other guys during training, and you two hang out so much together anyway! Come on! Is it Ike? Ooh! Ike! Do you like him too?"
"I-I'm not going to reply to that." Ike said with a nervous laugh. Zelgius looked too embarrassed to speak. Kita was just laughing.
Leanne pretended to pout. "You guys are no fun!" The elevator stopped at 7 and she stepped off. "I'll see you tomorrow!" She lightly danced down the hallway as Zelgius hit "11" and the doors shut.
"Uh..." Ike glanced at Zelgius curiously. "Is it, actually...?"
"No!" Zelgius said quickly. For a moment, Ike strangely felt a bit hurt—the way Zelgius had said it, it made it sound as if he thought the idea of anyone feeling that way for Ike incredulous. Then he clarified; "Don't ask me now. Please."
"But why?" Ike asked as the elevator came to a stop on 11. "Why say anything if you're just going to deny it the rest of the time?"
Zelgius gave him a light push out of the elevator, even as the one beside them came to a stop. "He asked, didn't he? Good luck tomorrow." Then he reached around and hit a button, and the doors slid shut just as the other elevator opened and the rest of the District 11 crew arrived.
After dinner, they watched the replay in the sitting room. Most of them, anyway; again, Shinon refused to watch, and stayed in the dining room. Aimee complained loudly again that he was abandoning his duties as a mentor by not even watching the interviews, but he wouldn't budge. Yet another one of his strange aspects, Ike thought.
During the interview replay, Ike found himself subconsciously studying the male tributes, wondering which one was Zelgius' secret crush, if it really was one of the boys, like Leanne thought. It was hard for him to guess, though. Based on appearances, he thought Kurth and Volug were the best looking, though Skrimir and the bird laguz boys weren't so bad either. Other than appearance, he couldn't think of why Zelgius would like one of those boys, since he certainly hadn't spoken to any of them. As for the girls, he had to say that he considered Leanne the most beautiful. No question about it; he considered her utterly breathtakingly beautiful, a thought that made him blush slightly(fortunately no one else was paying attention to him). Besides her, there was Sakira, Mia, the District 1 girl... He found his mind wandering to Leanne's guess back in the elevator—was it possible that he was the one Zelgius had spoken of? That seemed unrealistic. Of course it's not me. We're just... allies, is all. When it comes down to it, he will kill me, probably.
Actually... will he? Really? That prospect was so startling he nearly spoke aloud. He'd always assumed that eventually Zelgius would be his enemy, but...
"You were pretty good, Ike." Mia said quietly, bringing him out of his thoughts.
Ike looked at the screen, where he was just leaving the front and Kita coming center stage. "I have the feeling I got upstaged by District Twelve." he replied.
"Everyone loves a little romantic drama!" Aimee said, leaning in and watching the screen intently. "Even if it's possibly yaoi. Especially if it's yaoi!"
"I don't know about that," Lyn said hesitantly.
Roy elbowed her lightly. "Oh, come on! Even you can't deny that his interview was the most memorable!"
"Well, no—but not because of the, um, possible yaoi!"
"Yes it was!" Aimee insisted.
The three of them started arguing. Then Mia joined in. The only one still watching the screen when Zelgius' interview came on was Ike. He registered a bit more of it and concluded that the older boy had done much better than Ike himself... in fact, he almost considered himself a bit shallow, but Zelgius was far more memorable, much deadlier and deeper...
When the anthem finished and the screen went dark, a hush fell over the room(the argument having ended, in Aimee's favor). Tomorrow was the beginning of the Games, and this would be the last time they saw their mentor and escort. Neither of them would be going with Ike and Mia to the arena. They'd be at the Games Headquarters, signing up sponsors and working out strategies on how and when to deliver the gifts. Their final goodbyes would be said here.
Aimee actually cried slightly, wishing them both well. Thanked them for being the best tributes it had ever been her privilege to sponsor. Then—because it was Aimee and apparently she was required by law to say something awful—she added "I wouldn't be at all surprised if I finally get promoted to a decent district next year!"
Then she kissed them each on the cheek, lingered slightly over Ike, and hurried out. They went after her back into the dining room, where Shinon was waiting.
Shinon crossed his arms and stared them both down. "Any final advice?" Mia asked wearily.
"When the count ends, get the hell out of there." he replied flatly. "No matter how good you think you are, there's no way you can go up unarmed against fully Transformed laguz, and believe me that's the first thing they're going to do. Clear out, put as much distance as you can between yourselves and the others, and find a source of water. Got it?"
"And after that?" Mia persisted.
"Stay alive."
Mia left quietly, but Ike lingered for a minute. "What about my friends? You were the one who told me to find allies."
"In your case...?" Shinon hesitated for just a moment. "Get the heron girl out of the bloodbath. That boy can take care of his sister. Stay together, if you can."
"And... and as for later?"
"End it when you're down to the last seven or eight. Keep an eye out for the half-breeds."
Ike stiffened slightly. "They're called Branded."
Shinon just left without replying.
ZELGIUS
I realized then, as I said goodbye to Micaiah Deyan for what I was sure would be the last time, how much I cared about her. She'd become more than just a mentor for me over the past week; she'd become my friend, even during a time when I was trying my hardest not to make friends.
We shook hands and she wished me luck. Her final advice? "Wait for the last minute. When there's no one else left or there's no choice otherwise."
Sothe and Kita had left already. Micaiah's advice was for me and me alone, because it was her and her alone who knew my plan. The plan I made when I swore Sydelle I would protect Kita always, no matter what.
I wish I could tell Ike of my plan. Tell him what I'm going to do. But for the plan to succeed, he will have to die, too...
Damn! Why'd I have to go announce my feelings to the world? It'll only make it harder for me in the end... and yet, I have the feeling that my mentor's advice for the interview was sound, that now I've become more than just the Branded boy who volunteered to protect his sister. Now I'm the lovestruck boy from Twelve who is in love with one of his fellow tributes, but he can't ever tell because the pain would be just too great for us to have to kill each other... Tragic, unrequited love.
My true feelings are probably the greatest betting subject in the Capitol, now.
The roof is so quiet this time of night. Hours before dawn, when we'll be prepared for the Games. Longer hours before ten o'clock, when the Hunger Games really will begin.
Suddenly I hear the door open and I know who it is, without looking. "You couldn't sleep, either?" I ask.
Ike walks forward to join me by the railing. "I keep thinking about the Games," he admits. "I wonder what the arena will be this year. A desert? Swamp? Frigid wasteland?"
I haven't even thought about that. The state of the arena never had much importance for me. The tributes are what concern me more... "I wasn't even thinking of that," I say.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Well..." It seems awkward to say it, so I think of something else that's been bothering me—an easier subject to deal with than my heart. "I... I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?"
He shakes his head. "I wish I could think of a way to... to show the capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their Games," I explain. Which is ridiculous. Because I know that I am nothing but a pawn... my plan revolves around that...
"But we're not." Ike says quietly. "None of us are. That's how the Games work."
"I know," I say.
He pauses briefly. "But... I do understand, a bit. I mean... If I die, I want to still be me."
"Yes... but I just... can't afford to think like that." And it's true, more or less. I can't.
Neither of us say anything for a while. Just standing next to him makes my heart pound slightly faster, but that's probably because I'm embarrassed by what Leanne said earlier.
"Zelgius..." he begins.
Uh oh. Please don't go into that now, please don't...
"Do you have a district token yet?"
Oh. Wasn't expecting that. "No," I say before I can think. Though it is true.
Ike sighs slightly. "Me neither. Though maybe they'll count my headband as mine." He toys with one end absently. "They'll have to, I guess. Since it isn't uniform."
"I think they could consider that part of the outfit." I say, but on second thought I amend my statement; "Then again, they might say it could be used as an impromptu weapon. They may not allow it at all. You could probably strangle someone with it."
Ike grimaces. "Thank you for that pleasant image."
I have the feeling I've said something wrong again, so I don't say anything else for a while. Neither does he, for the longest time.
But finally, he takes my hand, pulls something out of his pocket, and presses it into my palm. "Would you take this?"
I look down. It's the little gold bird pin. The Yune. I look up at him. "Are you sure?"
"Like I said," he says, "My headband will probably be my district token. I want you to have this."
I close my hand over the pin. "...Thank you."
He smiles, and now I'm in danger of feeling too emotional again. What am I doing? Every second I spend with him will only make the pain worse later...
Author's Note:
Hello, all! Thought I'd throw in a note here... First off, how's the story? I'd like to apologize if any or all characters seem to be out of character... I did my best to make them in-character, but I probably goofed up some anyway. Sorry for that! Anyway, I hope this isn't following the book too closely...
Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated!
-DarkieDucessa