11- Interviews

Okay, Ix-nay on the Ercy-Jack Pay. Interviews!

Rapunzel POV

Coaching day. Aww. A day with Tooth and Stoic, just about the interviews. Oddly, besides turning against us, Jack continued to be trained with us. Why didn't he ask to be coached separately? Weird.

So, first the girls had etiquette with Tooth.

"Well girls, it's time for the interviews once again! And do you know what that means?"

"Yes," I muttered, in unison with Merida.

Undaunted, Tooth continued: "It's time for etiquette! Yay!" We just stared. "Rapunzel, you just need a reminder, but Merida. You need to be trained! So smile, always smile, and show off those beautiful white teeth…"

Thank God that's over. (I almost typed 'the gods' then I realized that wouldn't make sense in the story. I'm that much of a PJ fan!) so, for Stoic. He's deciding what angle we should go on.

"What are the boys doing?" I wondered.

"My son is doing intelligent. I thought he should do strong and, well, stoic, but he insisted. It's not like his Viking heritage to be intelligent…" he grumbled for a bit here. "And Jack is doing witty and rebellious. Reminds me of Jokul Frosti from Norse legend, he does."

"Why don't you want Hiccup to be intelligent? I think he's perfe- I mean, just fine that way." I blushed. I had been about to say 'perfect'! What is wrong with you, Rapunzel? Huuuuuhhh…

Stoic continued. "I wanted him to follow the way of the Viking. Ah well. We should focus on you two. So, Merida, you first. What was life like at home?"

"Why do ya want ta know? It's my home!"

Stoic nodded thoughtfully. I didn't know he could be thoughtful! "But please, we want to know about you. Sorry for sounding like that, I'm pretending I'm the Capitol interviewer."

"Fine. I live with a regular family, not too rich, not too poor. I have 3 wee brothers who aren't old enough for the reapin' yet. Mah Mum is beautiful and was always tellin' me Scottish legends. Mah Dad is the strongest man in town! He's always helpin' others aroun' the town out with heavy stuff. Ah'm the eldest child, an' ah'm not too bad either."

"Good. I think I know what angle you should go on. Fierce and tough. Slightly angry at the Capitol, maybe. But don't overplay it. That would get rough."

"Gotcha." Merida clipped.

"Now, Rapunzel, your turn. What is life like?"

"Well, we're good off, and I like donating food and water to those better off. And my parents are very kind!"

"Stop," Stoic held up a hand. "I know what we should do. Sweet and innocent for you. How does that sound?"

I'm about to reply, yes, that sounds great, when a scream comes from the etiquette room.

"OH MY GOSH! YOUR TEETH ARE SO WHITE! THEY SPARKLE LIKE FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW!" Tooth?

"Too'! 'Ease 'e 'our ha's ou' o' 'y 'outh!" Jack's voice came out also, sounding muffled.

"Oh, sorry… I really like teeth…" Tooth explained, embarrassed. "Heheh…"

"It's all right." Jack had a smile in his voice. I turned back to Merida and Stoic, only to find them stifling chuckles and smirks. I found myself doing the same thing because of their faces. It was hilarious!

After a second of just looking at each other, we all burst into laughter.

"Hey!" Tooth and Jack cried out in unison. That just made us laugh harder, and I heard us being joined by Hiccup's cute chuckles.

(Time Lapse)

Merida POV

It was the next night, and time for the interviews. But I was still confused by something last night. I had seen Jack sneak out of his room. He had looked pretty suspicious… but when I followed him, I lost him in a hallway. Odd.

But, back to interviews. It was Hiccup's turn. He, like Jack, was in a blazer that had an ever-shifting look to it, in all the different shades of red, yellow, orange, and everything in-between. Though I had to say, those weren't really his or Jack's best colors. Me and Rapunzel were in beautiful dresses in the same materials and colors as the boys', except with gemstones on the bottom. I had a distinct feeling that these were copying Cinna's design for Katniss Everdeen. I wonder if that means something… though Aster, or, Bunny, is a clothes genius.

So, the interviewer is a friend of Stoic's. His name is Gobber.

"So, Hiccup, what do you think of your chances in these Games? Are you confident, being the son of a champion, and being a champion yourself?"

"I don't know exactly, I can't see the future, but based on the scores we got, I think our team has a pretty good chance."

"I see! So, any pretty ladies that you're after back at home?"

"All I'll say is 'the best way to keep a secret, is to keep it to yourself'."

"Ooh! So there is one?"

"Yes, based on my choice of words, you can deduce that."

"What do you do or plan to do for a living?"

"Well, I'm looking for career options that have to do with animals or some way I can use the skills I got in the arena."

Then, a beep went off. Gobber heard it too. "Well, everybody, Hiccup Haddock!"

The crowd roared for him as he exited the stage. It was Jack's turn now.

As he sat down, he donned a cocky smirk that made me want to punch him.

Gobber began immediately. "So, you're Jackson Overland, correct?"

"Yeah, but I prefer Jack."

"So then, Jack, what is your opinion of the Capitol so far?"

"Let me just say, food that's all Capitols!"

The crowd laughed, including Gobber. "If you like the food so much, which is your favorite?"

"Hmm, that's a tough one. I like the potato-leek soup. It's just great."

"Yeah, I love that one too! Oh," Gobber's eyes grew interested, "what did you think of the opening ceremonies?"

I sensed a slight change in Jack's demeanor. He knew he was treading on thin ice. "The costumes were great, though I was paranoid that I would burn."

"And what do you think of your stylist?"

"Oh, Cottontail?" Jack scoffed. Apparently the whole crowd knew Bunny too, because they laughed. "He and I don't get along very well. He's bossy. I like to do my own thing."

"Aah, I see! Now, in the recaps, we all think that was your sister, is that right?"

Jack seemed sullen now. "Yeah. She was my sister. Emma."

"And how old was she?"

"12. I hadn't let her take any tesserae, but still she got pulled. I am really grateful to Merida for volunteering. I owe her a life debt. And I always repay my debts."

And on that ominous note, the bell rang.

Jack exited the stage, and everything was quiet, processing. Gobber snapped out o it first, and called, "Rapunzel Corona!"

"Here! She squeaked, then flushed in embarrassment and hopped onto the stage.

As she settled into the chair, Gobber asked, "So Rapunzel, boy that's a mouthful, what's life like at home?"

"Oh! You can call me Punzie, all my friends do," the audience all look amused and happy at the same time, "and it's great! My Dad is the mayor, and we spend a lot of time helping people and donating food and clothes. And, somehow, we got a pet mutation that was sick and wandered out of the woods. We cured it, and it stayed with us. He's a little lizard, and he can change colors! I named him Pascal. I miss him already."

Gobber looked slightly confused, but pressed on. "You are quite lovely, you know that? I bet the boys at home are all falling for you!"

Rapunzel giggled, then blushed. "Well, there is one, but I'm not sure if he likes me back. And no, I'm not going to say his name!" She squeaked.

"Aww, come on!"

"No!" She said, firm.

Gobber sighed. "Ahh, well. We'll just have to settle for not knowing, then."

She nodded, giggling once again as the bell went off. "Goodbye, everyone!" And then she pecked Gobber on the cheek. Hiccup scowled. Uh oh, does he like her?

Wait. Bigger problems. It's my turn to be interviewed.

"Everybody, welcome Merida DunBroch!" Gobber calls out. My palms are sweaty. Great. I wobble up the stairs. The crowd is silent in anticipation. What for? Me to make a fool of myself in front of them.

"So, Merida, what is your life like at home?"

Okay, me, what is life like at home? Pretend like the audience is full of people who haven't worked a single day of their life. Oh yeah, they haven't.

"Mah Dad is the strongest man in the village! He works in the mines in his free time, an' his full-time job is hauling. People are always comin' ta him to haul heavy things. I've helped him a couple o' times, so ah'm strong too." I crack my knuckles. "Mum works… with herbs." I was about to say 'selling stuff in the Hob', but I changed at the last second, since people do come to her with ailments if there are no other alternatives. "She can heal pretty well, bu' she mostly stays a' home. Bu' I jus' can't remember what she tries ta teach me. Ah don't wan' ta work as a healer anyway."

"I see! That sounds interesting! Now, you got a whopping 9 on your score! What happened?"

"If I were you, the message that 'tributes aren't allowed to tell' would have gotten through already."

"Oh! You seem pretty confident! Especially with being the only volunteer in your district."

"YOU THINK I WANT TO BE PREPARING TO KILL OTHER PEOPLE AND MAYBE GET KILLED MYSELF?!" Everyone is staring at me. I take a second to catch my breath and compose myself. "I only volunteered because, when I watched that girl, Emma, walk up, I thought, 'she's to young to die.' And she was so scared, and she had a family… and a big brother that loved her… I couldn't let her die all alone in the arena."

My eyes are closed, because I don't want to see Jack. My cheeks feel hot. What is wrong with me? I feel everyone's gazes. I pry open my eyes, and cast them around, like I'm not afraid of anything.

It's totally silent.

The buzzer rings.

I exit the stage.

We all leave.

I fall asleep.

That chapter was HARD. I kind of used it to get some backstory on Rapunzel and Merida. And, well, yeah. No Percy/Jack. Okay! :) see ya!