Seutonius Cathode POV
I held the list of Tributes in my hand and wondered which one I'd see again. Peppermint wasn't a big surprise, though Venus was the obvious Victor. We'd had a couple of surprising years lately. It got dull when Careers won four years in a row.
My job was a little more difficult this year, since the Tributes were voted for instead of Reaped. The Capitol wanted me to emphasize that and send a message, but I wasn't so sure. I do what I'm supposed to, but as long as I bring a good show, they don't watch me too closely. I turned to the crowd and began.
"Hello, Panem! Are you ready for our twenty-fifth batch of Tributes? Say hello to the first fighter in our first Quarter Quell, Ruby D'Arcy!"
Unsurprisingly, Ruby was wearing a pink dress and bold red lipstick. She looked like she wanted to rub it off.
"How do you feel about One's Tributes this year?" I asked her.
"Aurum's really nice," she said. "But I don't think I'm as strong as most Tributes from One."
"Nonsense, you could take me any day," I said. I flexed my arm at the crowd. "Right, folks?" Whatever she had going with Aurum, I hoped they made the most of it. They didn't have much time.
Aurum was wearing a bright gold suit covered with glitter. He swaggered onstage and sprawled himself loosely in the chair across from me.
"So Aurum, anyone special in your life? The people demand to know," I asked.
"I got a little gem," he said secretively. The audience oohed.
"I bet you're ready to get back to her," I said.
"Yeah, I'll be back within a week. Nothing to it," Aurum said. I could see his strategy. I had enough experience to know he was as scared as anyone else, but the sponsors would gobble his act up. I also knew who the gem was. I hoped that was just an act, but I knew it wasn't.
Eltara looked fiery as ever in a short orange dress. Somehow, I felt like her guest as soon as she sat down.
"Can you tell us a bit about why your District chose you?" I asked.
"Because I'll win," she said.
"I'm glad to hear that," I said. "Any hints on how you're going to do that?"
"I'm going to kill everyone else. Nothing personal, it's just the Games." For her, I knew it was. I hoped she didn't win, though I knew she very well might.
Nero made me hope Eltara would win.
"The people want a show. I'm going to show them what power looks like. I'm going to find everyone in the Arena and rip them apart," he said.
"Goodness, I'm glad I won't be there!" I said. I almost wished he'd never gotten Reaped and at least didn't have a chance to kill people, but with any luck he'd die in the Games and at least he'd be stopped.
Celeste's stylist was bucking for cuteness points. She was wearing an aqua blue dress with innocent black flats. To me, it only emphasized her fate.
"What do you plan to do when the gong rings?" I asked.
"Run," she said.
"Godspeed," I said softly.
Neither of the two from Three fit the District mold. Xzavier didn't seem interested in electronics either.
"I hear you're in with the Careers," I said.
"Yeah, you do what you have to," he said.
"Any hopes for the Arena?" I asked.
"I'm good with about anything except water. I can swim and all, but I prefer to run," he said. He'd go far. Whether he would win, I couldn't tell.
What happened next I wish I could forget. Mist was stuffed inside a deep red gown with a tall slit and a low neckline.
"Don't you look stunning?" I asked her. She looked at me without blinking and said nothing.
"Guess she's a little shy," I said to the crowd. "How do you like the Capitol so far?" Nothing.
Mist raised her arm and examined it. She brought it to her mouth, slowly sank her teeth into it, and licked up the oozing blood. I signaled the sound man to set off the timer and got her away from me. Good heavens… no one should have to face that. Or be that. She needed help.
Dath was a wonderful relief. He was artfully dressed in a white muscle shirt and blue pants that were both dabbed with paint so they looked like they were dripping down his body.
"Why are you going to win the Games?" I asked.
"I know how. I'm not here to kill, like some Careers. I'm here to win," he said. I somewhat hoped he did. I hoped he killed the weaker ones before Mist got to them. He'd do it well.
"Ladies and gents, Laeila Carter!" I announced. I noticed she looked a little down.
"Has someone been giving you trouble?" I asked her.
"It's this stupid outfit. Not everyone in Five is a scientist, you know. Someone has to clean the toilets," she said.
"I for one am very grateful for that someone," I said. "How do you plan to win the Games?"
"I have friends. They'll send me what I need," she said. I hoped they did.
I had some very big news for Erwin. It was a dirty trick from the Capitol, but I was just the messenger.
"You and your girlfriend were expecting before you left," I said to Erwin.
"Yeah. I hope she's not too stressed," he said. He looked positively incongruous in his manly military outfit.
"The Capitol has some very important news for you," I said. The crowd hushed and leaned in. "Since you arrived in the Capitol, Colette has given birth to three healthy children: two boys that take after their mother, and a little girl who looks just like you."
Erwin paled and put his hands over his mouth.
"She's okay?" he whispered.
"The birth was early, but she's stable," I said quickly as I handed him the photos. I wasn't supposed to dwell on that, but he deserved to know. I turned to the crowd.
"Furthermore, the Capitol is so taken with the little dears that if you should win the Games, we'd like to name them!" Erwin didn't even hear me. He was looking at the pictures through tears. I let him sit for the rest of his time. The only good thing about the Tributes being kids is that usually they don't leave behind children.
Nairobi kept one hand in her pocket and shifted on the chair.
"What brought you to the Games?" I asked.
"I set a factory on fire," she said. "It was an accident," she added.
"Well if you win, you'll have enough money to rebuild it," I said. She looked at the ground.
"Yeah, I guess so," she said. I could tell what that meant. I hoped she found peace.
Jonathan looked about ready to crawl into the floor. I smiled at him and started small.
"Tell us honestly. Is there anything you hope isn't in the Arena?" I asked.
"I'm allergic to bees, so I hope there aren't Tracker Jackers," he said.
"I don't think anyone likes them," I said. "What kind of Arena would be best for you?"
"I hope it has somewhere I can hide. Everyone seems to forget about me," he said.
"That's won the Games for a Tribute before," I said. I didn't think it would happen with him.
Dahlia's silver gown clashed with the silver necklace it was obviously supposed to highlight, but I could see the crowd adored it.
"You must have dozens of allies lined up," I said. "Any decisions?"
"The boy from Twelve seems right for me. He has what I need," she said.
"What's that?" I asked.
"He's obedient," she said. She didn't seem to have a care in the world. That girl must have had everything handed to her in life. It doesn't work that way in the Games.
I don't know why Dante's suit had pink highlights, or why jewels were stuck onto his collar, but it wasn't terrible. His slicked back hair was certainly trendy.
"I hear you're a man of many talents. Is that true?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, Sequoia says she's glad I wasn't in her Games. They'll be short, that's for sure."
Then why'd you get a Two? I thought. Dante was only good at one thing. You can't win the Hunger Games by bragging.
Taylor was wearing an exquisite green strapless dress with a tasteful spray of jewels on the collar.
"You look stunning," I said to her. She looked down shyly.
"Thanks. Baste let me help design it, since I'm from Eight," she said. I took her hand and kissed it.
"Such a lovely young lady. You'll have sponsors for miles," I said. Every girl should feel like a beautiful woman at least once. This was her last chance. At least I could give her that.
Did Torchy's stylist leave him to dress himself? He looked completely drab in a white shirt, a tie, and black pants.
"I hear you caught the eye of a very strong ally," I said.
"Yeah, me and Eltara are burning this place down," he said.
"You seem like you're going to enjoy the Games," I said.
"Where else do you get cheered on to pummel people?" he asked. Never had I heard so perfect a summation of the Games. He was the perfect player.
"Do you have anyone waiting for you back home?" I asked Farlon.
"My little brother, Levi. I have to take care of him," he said.
"That is important. What with your impressive training score, I can see why you don't seem too worried," I said.
"Even dead people can mope around. I'll live and stand on my own two feet," Farlon said. He just might see his brother again.
Emmalie sat stiff in her seat and scrunched her hands under her legs.
"How are you going to win the Games?" I asked her.
"I dunno. I'm a thief, not a murderer," she said. Then gasped and covered her mouth.
"In the Games, there's no shame in thievery," I said. "I hope you get back to Nine."
"I hope so too. I want to see my parents and Gwenith and Rice again," she said.
"Who's Rice? A boyfriend?" I teased.
"No, he's my kitty," she said. There you have it, folks. That's what we're sending to kill twenty-three other children.
I was not expecting Mouse to have a little headband with mouse ears on it. Someone's stylist was going for cute appeal.
"I hear you gave the Gamemakers quite a show in your session," I said.
"Yep. I'm going to give the rest of Panem an even better one," he said. I'd heard it a million times.
Harmony was blazing in a red dress with red and orange mascara. It seemed an odd choice for such as soft-spoken girl.
"Any hints on what to expect from you in the Games?" I asked.
"I'm not going to get into any fights. I'll just keep to myself," she said.
"Sounds like a good plan," I said. For as long as it worked, it was a good plan.
Azalea's green floral dress was a huge step up from her interview outfit. It still didn't fit her personality, but it was better.
"What do you have planned for the Games?" I asked.
"I don't know if I'll win, but I intend to give whoever messes with me something to remember me by," she said. It struck me as a realistic and somehow optimistic prediction.
Frankie made things difficult. He was just do unflappable.
"Do you have any special skills you're going to use in the Arena?" I asked.
"I'm pretty good with a bow and arrow," he said.
"With that and your size, you've got a good shot," I said.
"I guess. I don't really know what I'd do if I won," he said. He certainly wouldn't fit in here in the Capitol. At least I knew he wouldn't hurt anyone unnecessarily.
"I hear you're allied with Dahlia," I said to Ardun.
"She says she couldn't win without me," he said. Sure, kid, I thought. She'd never stab you in the back. I hope she did it quickly.
It was a testament to Mist that even Beth was better. Her elegant, flowing white gown hid a soul more like the red splashes on its hem. The blood red ruby earrings were especially appropriate.
"What's so funny?" I asked her when she started smiling.
"There's just so many people I get to kill," she said. That was it. I wasn't even going to try to make her look better. I'm no miracle worker. If the odds were in our favor, she and Mist would cross paths and try to evil each other to death.
EDIT: I overlooked that Erwin's token was supposed to be a green stone on a chain. Sorry about that.