Velvet Rines, 18
District 1 Citizen
Fiance of Regina Soto
Velvet sat down on his bed and leaned back. The interviews were starting in a few moments, and it would be the first time he'd seen her since the parade, and he longed to get a glimpse of his girlfriend. 'No,' he reminded himself with a grin. 'Fiancee'.
The screen flickered on, and Caesar welcomed everyone before calling Regina's name. Instead of a gown, Regina was wearing a short, tight leopard-print dress with no sleeves. It hugged her curves perfectly, and her black heels made her long legs look incredible. Her hair was in a bun and a golden tiara sparkled on her head. She blew a kiss to the crowd as she took a seat.
"Welcome Regina!" Caesar said. "Tell me, how did such a lovely young lady come to be a volunteer?"
"I know I may be younger than the other Careers, but District 1 cares about talent, not age. I was the best woman for the job, and so I was chosen!"
"I certainly can't wait to see how you perform," Caesar said. "And it's been a while since District 1 had a victor. Do you think you'll break the losing streak?"
"Oh, absolutely. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
"So Regina, is anyone special waiting for you at home?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, a bright smile on her face. "My fiance, Velvet." Regina held up her hand to show off the ring I bought her. "We got engaged right after the reaping. I can't wait to see him again."
"Congratulations!" Caesar gushed as the crowd cheered wildly. "Will we get the chance to meet him?"
"I certainly hope so!" Regina said. "He'd absolutely love it here."
A buzzer went off and Caesar turned to the audience.
"Well, it's time to say goodbye to Regina. Let's give her a round of applause!" At that, the crowd began to cheer wildly. Regina waved and blew kisses as she left the stage.
Next up was Helios, Regina's district partner. Velvet vaguely remembered him from classes when he was younger, but he started private training some point after a trainee died. The details were foggy.
Helios took the stage in a suit the color of early morning sunlight. Everything about him was ethereal and beautiful. A very different angle than Regina's. He sat down beside Caesar after a thorough handshake.
"Helios!" Caesar said excitedly. "Welcome! Tell me, how are you feeling about the Games?"
"I'm excited," Helios said, folding his hands and placing them on his lap. His voice was energized, but his body was stiff. "I have some incredible allies and I'm confident in my skills. I know we'll have a Career victor this year."
"But you don't think it'll be you?" Caesar asked.
"Oh, I'm sure it will be, but I don't want my allies to feel bad," Helios said with a strained laugh. The audience laughed as well.
"You scored a 9 in training," Caesar continued. "Regina and Blitz both received a 10. Are you happy with your score?"
"I am, in a way," Helios said. "I'm confident in my skills. They can't be defined by a number."
"Well, I am quite interested to see them in the arena," Caesar said. "Give it up for Helios Carnegie!"
The next tribute to come to the stage was Mozu Striker, the small girl from District 2. She looked pretty and dainty in a white dress patterned with small green leaves. Her dark hair was up in a braided bun and her makeup was just as soft as the rest of her look.
"Hello Caesar," she said, giving him a small smile before sitting down. "Thank you for having me."
"Thank you for being here!" he exclaimed. "Now, Mozu, tell us about home. Who are you hoping to come back to?"
"My friends," Mozu said. "And my trainer, Corrina."
"No family?" Caesar asked.
"Not anymore. I lost them when I was young." The audience sighed at that, and Mozu smiled sadly.
"It was hard, but I found a new family within the Academy. I'm proud to represent them."
"And I'm sure they're all very proud of you," Caesar said. The audience cheered loudly and Mozu smiled.
"What are some of the things you and your friends like to do?" Caesar asked.
"Well, my friend Nyx and I are both bookworms, so we love to discuss the books we've read. And Hayato has taught me a lot about magic charms and horoscopes."
"That sounds fascinating!" Caesar said. "I would love to hear more, but unfortunately, our time is up."
Mozu thanked Caesar and gave the crowd a wave before exiting the stage and making room for Blitz. The large boy was wearing a slate-gray suit with black accents, and combat boots instead of dress shoes. He looked powerful and business-like.
"Blitz!" Caesar said, shaking the taller boy's hand firmly. "Welcome! I must admit, I've been looking forward to your interview."
"Because of my brothers?" Blitz asked, his tone somewhat curt.
"Precisely," Caesar said. "How has it been, discovering you have brothers?"
"It was unexpected," Blitz said. "But I won't let it stop me from achieving victory."
"I'm sure it won't. Have you spoken to them at all?" he asked.
"No," Blitz said. "I am focused on the Games." Caesar nodded.
His interview continued in the same way; with Caesar probing and Blitz answering his questions in a simple, monotone way. When his buzzer rang, the audience applauded, but it was clear District 1 made more of an impression on them.
Amelia Rose, 20
District 3 Citizen
Sister of Lana Rose
Amelia sat on Evelyn's sofa with her knees curled up to her chest. Evelyn sat beside her, tears in her eyes. Lana was up next, and she was hoping she would do well, despite her shyness. She would need sponsors in the arena, and even though her score was incredible, it might not be enough.
"Now, let's welcome Lana Rose!" Caesar said. Evelyn gasped a little as Lana came onstage. She was wearing a golden crown with stars, a knee-length red dress with white lace hemming, and a short-sleeved coat with puffy sleeves and white-to-pink ombre. Her makeup was pink, her heels were red, and a golden choker was around her throat. A golden heart necklace decorated her chest.
Lana gave Caesar a quick hug as the audience cheered. Then she sat down, smoothing out her skirt.
"What a beautiful outfit Lana," Caesar gushed. Lana smiled shyly.
"Thank you."
"And a training score of 7! Talk about impressive."
"Thanks," Lana said again. "I worked hard, and I'm glad the Gamemakers saw that."
"So, how is the Capitol compared to District 3?" Caesar asked.
"Everyone is much nicer here," Lana admitted. "At home, people could be quite mean, especially my aunt."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Caesar said. "But I'm glad your experiences here have been positive. Let's give her another nice moment folks!"
The audience erupted in cheers and Lana smiled shyly.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm excited to come back. If I win."
"Well, we'll be happy to have you if you do," Caesar said. "Give it up for Lana Rose!" The crowd clapped again and Lana gave a little curtsy as she left the stage.
Wyler was up next, and he came onstage in a dark red suit with a black shirt and tie. He accepted Caesar's hearty handshake before sitting down.
"Wyler, welcome! We're so happy to have you."
"Thank you," Wyler said. "I'm grateful for the faith you all have shown in me."
"Well of course! With a score of 8, how could we not? Care to tell us what you showed the Gamemakers?"
"I'm afraid I'm not allowed to," Wyler said. "But I'm sure the suspense will be… electrifying."
The audience went wild at that, even going as far as to call out guesses. Once they settled down, Caesar continued.
"By now, we've all heard that you are here with your brothers. How is your relationship with them?"
"There isn't one," Wyler said. "We are only family by blood. My family is back home, and my aim is to get back to them."
"Tell me about them then," Caesar prompted.
"I have two younger sisters," Wyler said. "My father is a scientist and my mother is a business owner. They raised us all to be hard workers, and I plan to put that work ethic to use in the arena."
He left the stage to a decent amount of applause. District 3 seemed to be strong this year, and she knew it would excite a lot of our citizens. But Amelia didn't have the heart to want Wyler to succeed too. If Lana died, all was lost.
Adelind was next, wearing a sleek sage green dress that went to their knees. They greeted Caesar with a nod and sat down across from him.
"So Adelind," Caesar said. "You were reaped. Are you still in a typical District 4 alliance?"
"I am," they said. "Interestingly enough, I intended to volunteer. The statistics of me being chosen were quite low, so it was odd I ended up being reaped."
"Well, you know what they say," Caesar said. "All's well that ends well. You still ended up here."
"Yes," she said, trying for a smile that was more of a grimace.
Most of Adelind's answers were fairly short and clipped, but when she talked about District 4 a new side of her appeared. She talked about her family, but also the lack of opportunities for the academically inclined.
"If I'd been born in 3, I'd be normal," she joked.
Then it was Sam's turn. Apparently his stylist decided to dress him like a bear, because he was wearing a huge fur coat and fake ears.
"I just want to show people that being themselves isn't a bad thing," he said when asked about his outfit. "I'm a bear, and that's pretty cool."
"How did you become a bear?" Caesar asked,
"Well, I learned about them when I was little, and I felt a connection right from the beginning. Bears are such amazing animals. They're large, but also really fast. Their jaws could crush a bowling ball. And they're smart. Why wouldn't I want to be one?" Then he continued to share information and talk about his fursuits until the buzzer rang.
Fritz from District 5 was next, looking amazing in a white slip dress with golden ballet slippers and a golden belt. She was carrying an old harmonica.
"Hi Caesar!" she said cheerfully when she reached the center of the stage."
"Hello Fritz," he said. "I see you brought a harmonica."
"Yes! I'm a musician," she said. "I love the guitar too, but I'm the best with a harmonica. May I play you all a song?"
"What do you think, everyone?" Caesar asked the audience. "Want to hear a song?" They roared with cheers, so Caesar gestured for Fritz to begin. She raised the harmonica to her lips and began to play the national anthem. Afterwards, she played a song that Amelia didn't recognize, but that was quite lovely.
When she was done, the crowd erupted in cheers. Fritz took a little bow, laughing. When she sat back down, Caesar put a hand on hers.
"Fritz, that was incredible! Where did you learn to play like that?"
"Oh, it took a lot of practice," she said. "But it was all worth it. And now I teach other people to play music too! I have about fifty members in my music club."
"Wow!" Caesar exclaimed. "That sounds like a lot of work too."
"Oh, it is, but I love it. I hope to make every single one of them proud." She turned to the camera.
"Music Gang! I love you all!" The crowd cheered wildly as she left the stage.
Dieter, the little boy from District 5 was next, and he took the stage looking absolutely terrified. His hands shook, and as he fisted his midnight-blue dress shirt, he untucked it. In a panic, he began to retuck it too forcefully, causing a button to pop loose. For a moment, he just stood there, staring out at the crowd. Then Caesar put a hand on the boy's shoulder and guided him to his chair.
"Don't worry about the shirt," Caesar said kindly. "We have plenty. Now, tell me, do you have a plan for the Games?" Dieter nodded, but his breathing was beginning to come faster and faster, and he struggled to speak.
"Poor kid," Evelyn murmured.
"Do you have allies?" Caesar asked gently, trying to simplify the question. Dieter nodded again.
"Fritz," he croaked out.
"That's good," Caesar said. "She's nice, isn't she?" Dieter nodded again. From there, Caesar continued the interview with simple 'yes' or 'no' questions until the buzzer rang. Poor Dieter practically ran from the stage. Amelia was sure the only applause he got was out of pity.
Anne Porter, 18
District 6 Citizen
Sister of Ellie Porter
Anne sat curled up in an armchair, biting her lower lip as Ellie took the stage. Vicky was curled up on the couch between their parents; both she and their mom had tears in her eyes.
"Ellie looks lovely," Dad said, trying to pick out a positive. Mom nodded. And it was true. Ellie did look nice, in a soft, buttery yellow dress and silver heels. Her braids were tied up, showing off a pretty silver heart necklace. There was a silver bracelet on her wrist with words Anne couldn't quite make out.
"Hello Ellie," Caesar said, giving her a warm smile. Ellie waved to the audience before sitting down.
"Hi Caesar," she said.
"Ellie, you were a volunteer," he said.
"Yes," Ellie said, smiling sadly. "I volunteered for my older sister Annie."
"That was very brave," Caesar said. "Why did you do it?"
"Annie is pregnant. She's working so hard to be a good mom, and if she came here, she'd be forced to terminate her pregnancy. I couldn't let that happen."
Tears filled Anne's eyes as Ellie talked about her. She didn't realize how strongly she felt. All she wanted was to give her sister a hug.
"Well, I'm sure your sister is grateful," Caesar said gently. "And I'm sure she's proud of the 6 you got in training!"
"I hope so," Ellie said shyly. "My family can be… hard to please."
As soon as she said it, she gasped, putting a hand over her mouth.
"Sorry! I didn't mean that. I mean, I did. But I love them. I-"
"It's alright," Caesar interrupted. "I'll let you in on a little secret. When I got this job, my mother asked me why I wasn't a Gamemaker."
The audience laughed and Ellie giggled a little, though she still looked concerned. Mom and Dad were sitting stiffly, not looking at either her or Vicky. Anne swallowed hard. They were definitely upset.
Before Anne could work up the courage to say something to them, Josko's interview began. He looked handsome in a dark teal suit that brought out his eyes. He shook Caesar's hand and took a seat.
"Welcome Josko!" Caesar said cheerfully. "We just had your district partner Ellie up here. Have you two been getting along?"
"Oh, definitely," Josko said with a grin. "We're allies, actually."
"Oh, lovely!" Caesar said. "Is it nice to have a piece of home with you?"
"It is," Josko said. "Though Ellie is not necessarily a piece of something." He laughed lightly at that, and the audience did too. "But I do miss my dad and my friends, and Ellie reminds me of them. So I am enjoying being her ally, for many reasons." At that, the camera zoomed in on Ellie, who was smiling with flushed cheeks. She gave a wave when she realized she was being highlighted. Josko waved back.
"You said you missed home," Caesar continued. "What was life like back in 6?"
"It was nice," Josko said. "I lost my mom in an accident when I was twelve, but it brought my dad and I closer together."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Caesar said.
"Thank you," Josko replied.
"Well, I wish we could chat more, but our time is up," Caesar announced. He shook Josko's hand as the boy left the stage. Anne's mom slumped back on the sofa.
"Have we failed our kids?" she asked aloud. And Anne burst into tears.
Joseph "Joey" Reilly, 33
District 8 Citizen
Uncle of Colette Reilly
Columbine had been crying for the majority of the past five days, and there was almost nothing that would comfort her. She'd refused to join them for the interviews, and was instead upstairs looking at baby photos of Colette.
"What do we do?" Joey asked his brother as Joss came down the stairs from checking on his wife.
"I don't know," the older man admitted. He looked thoroughly defeated and it made Joey's heart ache. He missed his niece so much it hurt, and he still couldn't begin to imagine the pain of losing a child.
The commercial break ended, and Caesar introduced Lavinia. The short girl was dressed in a brown suit, vest and all, and had a frown on her face. She sat down across from Caesar and glared out at the audience.
"Hello Lavinia," Caesar said. "Welcome."
"Call me Danse," she said firmly. Caesar nodded.
"Danse, how have you been enjoying the Capitol so far?"
"It's too urban," she said flatly. "I miss the forest."
"That's understandable," Caesar replied. "Is there anything you do like?"
Danse was quiet for a moment.
"I like the colors," she said finally, her voice soft. "I know my friends Heidi and Dahlia would love it here."
"Well, hopefully they can see it someday," Caesar said. But Danse shook her head.
"I don't want that. If they come here, it means they're going into the Hunger Games. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone."
At that, the crowd fell silent. Even Caesar looked uncomfortable. Beside him, Basil nodded solemnly.
"Brave kid," Joey's other brother commented. Joss nodded.
Despite the awkwardness, Danse didn't look uncomfortable. In fact, she looked rather smug.
"So, how did you meet your friends?" Caesar finally asked, trying to recover the interview.
"We were introduced by a mutual friend," Danse said coolly. "And now we work together."
Danse's buzzer rang and she left the stage without acknowledging Caesar. He stood awkwardly with his hand extended, but covered it up by clasping them together and turning to the audience.
"Well, isn't she a firecracker? Now, let's welcome Marcus Taylor!"
The huge tattooed man walked confidently onto the stage, flexing his muscles. He was wearing a solid black suit, which made him look even more menacing. Joey swallowed hard, pushing away the images of Marcus sinking his ax into Colette's forehead.
"Welcome Marcus!" Caesar exclaimed. Marcus nodded in greeting.
"We've been hearing rumors that you spent some time in prison. Is this true?"
"Yes," Marcus said proudly. "I killed over a dozen people before I was arrested and imprisoned."
"Oh!" Caesar squeaked, looking nervous. "You must be excited for the Games then."
"Very," Marcus said with a smirk. Caesar gulped.
The rest of Marcus's interview went relatively the same. He made dangerous remarks and Caesar fought to maintain his composure. Everyone was grateful when his buzzer rang. And then it was Colette's turn.
She took the stage in a pale purple dress with puffy sleeves that shimmered as she moved. A crown of silver butterflies was nestled in her blonde hair and she was smiling brightly.
"Hi Caesar!" she said before the man could greet her. "It's so nice to meet you!"
"The pleasure is all mine," Caesar said with a grin. "Please, have a seat." She did as he continued talking.
"So, are you feeling prepared for the Games?" Caesar asked.
"I am," Colette said confidently. Joey frowned as the audience murmured. "I know what to expect, and I'm ready to face the challenges."
"Oh? What are you expecting?" Caesar asked.
"Well, I know there will be outdoor living," Colette said. "And weapons. I've practiced with both. And I have an awesome ally. Together, we can do anything."
"That's wonderful," Caesar said. "Who is your ally?"
"Gaia, from District 9," Colette said, and Joey sighed in relief. From what he'd gathered from the other Capitol reports, Gaia was a nice girl who performed at birthday parties. She would be a great ally for Colette.
"Tell me, what is life like back in District 8?" Caesar asked.
"Oh, it's absolutely lovely," Colette said. "I live with my parents and my uncles. Uncle Joey is my favorite. We have tea parties together and he's really funny." Tears burned in his eyes as Joey watched the rest of her interview. How could someone so innocent and good be subjected to something so cruel? It wasn't fair! When Colette's buzzer rang he heard Joss begin to sob. Taking his brother's hand, he turned to watch Theo take the stage.
The boy from 8 was wearing quite an interesting outfit. His suit was made of black leather and the shoulders had spikes. His hair was spiked up too, and black makeup lined his eyes. But he had a warm smile on his face as he sat down with Caesar.
"Theo!" Caesar gasped. "What an outfit!"
"All the credit goes to my stylist," Theo said with a laugh. "I have no personal fashion sense."
"Yes, Hathor is incredibly talented," Caesar agreed. "Besides the clothing, what have you enjoyed about the Capitol?"
"The history," Theo said after thinking about it for a moment. "I'm a bit of a nerd, so the rich culture and history here has been fascinating for me."
"Ah, a man of taste," Caesar commented. Theo laughed warmly, along with the audience.
"What does "being a bit of a nerd" mean?" Caesar asked. "I'd assume you're a good student."
"Yeah," Theo said. "I hate to brag, but I do well in school. I'm captain of the soccer team and the debate club, and I'm class president."
The crowd oohed and Theo smiled.
"I like to work hard," he said. "And I think I have what it takes to do well in the Games." And judging by the cheers, the crowd agreed with him. Theo left the stage to thunderous applause.
Gaia was next to come up, dressed in a fluffy pink dress with big white polka dots. She was grinning, and greeted Caesar with a hug. Once they sat down, Caesar began to speak.
"So Gaia, I heard that you're a birthday party entertainer!"
"I am!" Gaia said happily. "Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a smile light up someone's face, so it really is my dream job. Plus, I get lots of cake."
The audience laughed at that, along with Gaia and Caesar.
"Do you work alone?" Caesar asked.
"No, I work with my aunt," Gaia said. "She owns the party business. I also work with my best friend Nefeli. She does costumes and makeup. As much as I love Draco, Nefeli will always be my stylist."
Everyone awwed at that, and Gaia's smile dropped a bit.
"I miss them a lot," she admitted. "And I won't stop fighting to get back to them."
"You have an ally in Colette," Caesar said. "What do you like about her?"
"She's determined," Gaia said. "And she's really positive and bright. She's the kind of person who puts a smile on your face no matter what."
Alrik, the large boy from 9, was next. He took the stage nervously, dressed in all black. He was wearing tight black pants, tall black boots, and a velvet jacket with coattails and silver buttons. His lapel was low, revealing a silver vial on a chain, and his hair was dyed white. Black makeup lined his eyes.
He greeted Caesar with a nod.
"Tonight, I have a poem to recite," he announced. He cleared his throat.
Nun liebe Kinder gebt fein Acht
ich bin die Stimme aus dem Kissen
ich hab euch etwas mitgebracht
ein heller Schein am Firmament
Mein Herz Brennt
"That was beautiful," Caesar said when Alrik finished. "What does it mean?"
"That will be for you to decipher," Alrik said firmly. "But I will say it is in German, a language that is mostly lost to the nation of Panem. I was taught this language by my father before he… passed."
"It is a lovely language," Caesar said. "And I admire your creativity."
"Thank you," Alrik said.
"And an 8 in training? You scored the highest, along with Marcus and Wyler. What are your thoughts on their scores?"
"Marcus speaks for himself," Alrik said. "And I will have to watch out for Wyler. He is clearly quite capable."
"And so are you," Caesar said as Alrik's buzzer rang. "Give it up for Alrik Garrison!"
Karya Blake, 20
District 11 Citizen
Sister of Fallon Blake
The Capitol must have wanted Karya's family to suffer. Just when she thought she'd accepted something or learned to live with it, another blow would strike them. First, it was losing Foster. Then it was their treatment by the people of the district, enforced by the Peacekeepers. And now Fallon was going to die.
There was no way the Capitol would let her win; their entire family knew that. While their dad doubted the reapings were rigged, the Blake family was well-known. A rebel's sister couldn't be allowed victory, even if the rebel had been taken care of.
Karya sat cross-legged on the couch with the twins on either side of her. Their sofa was old and lumpy, and the only piece of living room furniture they had, besides the television, so their parents were on the floor. The couch would fold out into a bed; that was where Fallon and Karya slept. Now it was where Karya slept.
The girl from 10 was up next, looking like some sort of flower fairy as she walked onto the stage. Her slip dress was the color of roses, and a crown of roses and branches sat atop her head. She sat beside Caesar with a small nod to the audience.
"Welcome Thalia," Caesar said. "You got a score of 5. What was your favorite part of training?"
"I enjoyed honing my skills, and meeting my fellow tributes," she said, her voice barely audible.
"Do you have any allies?" Caesar questioned. "Who?" he asked when Thalia nodded.
"Fritz, Dieter, Theo, and Fallon."
Fallon had allies? It was a bit of a surprise to Karya. She never pegged her little sister as the type to ally. She hoped it didn't bring any misfortune to their alliance.
"Quite a large group," Caesar noted. Thalia nodded again.
"Yes, but we work well together. That's what matters."
"Indeed," Caesar agreed. Then Thalia's buzzer rang. "Folks, let's give it up for Thalia Caerwyn!"
The crowd cheered, and continued cheering as Ray from District 10 came onstage. He was wearing a tan suit with a blue shirt that brought out his eyes, and he was smirking. His walk was full of confidence.
"Hello Caesar," he said, giving the man's hand a firm shake.
"Hello Ray," Caesar said. "It looks like you're feeling ready!"
"I am," Ray said. "My father taught me to always be confident."
"Is he waiting for you back at home?" Caesar asked.
"Yes, he and my mother," Ray said.
"Any siblings?"
"Yes, but we don't talk to my brother anymore. Let's just say he's not a good person."
"How unfortunate," Caesar said. Ray nodded solemnly.
"It's important to surround yourself with people who lift you up, not bring you down," Ray said as the audience cheered. Karya frowned. Everything about Ray felt fake and sleazy.
"Is there anyone you're looking forward to encountering in the arena?" Caesar asked. Ray's smirk broadened.
"Thalia," he said. "She's ruining my family business and I plan to get her back." The crowd gasped, but before Caesar could ask more, Ray's buzzer went off.
"I don't like him," her mother said.
Karya was about to agree, but the thoughts of Ray were pushed from her mind as Fallon walked onstage. She looked beautiful, in a sleeveless sunset-orange dress and golden jewelry. Her hair was up in a braid that wrapped around her head like a crown.
"Fallon!" Caesar cried. "You look beautiful!"
"Thanks," Fallon said.
"So, Thalia told us you are allied with her, along with a few other tributes."
"I am," she said flatly.
"Do you work well together?"
"I think so," Fallon said. "We aren't in the arena yet, so I don't know for sure."
"That's fair," Caesar agreed. "Are you close with any alliance member in particular?"
"No."
"Oh," Caesar trailed off.
"Come on Fallon," Karya whispered under her breath.
Almost as if she'd heard her, Fallon looked up at Caesar and continued.
"I guess I'd say Thalia. They're all nice, but Thalia is quieter, like me."
"Well, I wish all of you the best of luck in the arena," Caesar said. Fallon nodded.
"Thank you."
Karya sighed. There wasn't much applause, but Fallon hadn't refused to speak or outright insulted anyone, so she considered her sister's interview a success. And now it was Noah's turn. The kid was a Peacekeeper protege and everyone in 11 hated him even more than they hated the Blake family.
He was wearing a sage green suit with a silvery vest and tie, and had an aura of class about him. Odd, for a child murderer. He shook Caesar's hand politely and sat down, folding his hands in his lap.
"Hello Noah," Caesar said. "Congratulations on your score. Are you happy with it?"
"I was hoping for a 10," Noah said. "After all, I'm extremely skilled with knives and have even carried out a few Capitol-mandated executions."
"You have?" Caesar asked in surprise.
"Yes. I'm the son of a Peacekeeper, you see. I assist my father and the other Peacekeepers in a lot of their work. If I wasn't going to be a victor, I would've been a Peacekeeper."
"You sound like you'll be a fierce competitor," Caesar said. Noah smirked. "Do you have any allies?"
"Yes. I'm allied with the Careers. They needed a ranged fighter like me."
"Well, I'm sure you'll be a valuable asset. Give it up for Noah Brimms!"
Saoirse, the redhead from 12, was next. She was wearing a pale blue dress with puffy sleeves that fell just past her knees, a lacy white choker, and white satin shoes. Her hair was up in a bun.
She shook Caesar's hand stiffly and sat down with her hands in her lap.
"Hello Saoirse," Caesar said. "You're from District 12, which is a far cry from here. What's your favorite thing about the Capitol?"
"There are a lot of things," Saoirse said. "I love the food, and I like the people; or at least the people I've met."
"Hopefully I'm included on that list," Caesar said with a laugh. Saoirse smiled.
"Yes," she said, trying for a smile.
Their interview continued on much the same way, with Saoirse answering questions as prompted but never taking the initiative to speak. She looked relieved when the buzzer rang and she got to leave the stage.
"And finally, Yale Morley!" Caesar cried. The frail boy came onstage in an all-black suit, complete with a mask and gloves.
"I'm not contagious anymore," he told Caesar, who looked wary. "We're just being cautious. And I think I look pretty cool!"
Caesar laughed a little.
"You do indeed," he said, gesturing for Yale to sit, which he did.
"So, Yale, at the reaping you asked to be called by a different name. Why is that?"
"The name I was reaped under doesn't represent who I am. I was not with my family by choice, but rather by force, and I do not wish to be associated with them by any means. So I chose the name Yale Morley for myself."
"You say you don't want to be associated with your family in 12. Do you want to be associated with Blitz and Wyler instead?"
"If they're willing, yes," Yale said. "I've never had a family who cared about me before. If they were to care for me, I would die complete." He turned to the audience.
"Please, I ask that you sponsor and support my brothers. Both of them deserve victory."
As Yale's buzzer went off, there was silence. And then one person began to clap. And then another. And another. And soon, the entire crowd was cheering for him. Despite the situation, it brought a smile to Karya's face. It was nice to see there was some goodness left in the world.
Hey everyone! Wow, this chapter is long. And repetitive. I'm sorry if it's tedious to read; it was certainly tedious to write! But it was an important chapter, and I'm glad to be done with it. And now we're only one chapter away from the bloodbath! The next chapter will feature Sam and Marcus, who haven't had a POV yet. And then, it'll be THE chapter. I'm so excited!
Questions:
1) Whose interview outfit did you like the best?
2) Which family/friend POV was your favorite? Why?
3) Which alliance would you join, if any?
Current Alliances
Careers:
- Regina
- Helios
- Mozu
- Blitz
- Adelind
- Sam
- Noah
Girl Power! (and Dieter and Theo):
- Adelind
- Fritz
- Dieter
- Theo
- Thalia
- Fallon
District 6:
- Ellie
- Josko
Happy Gals:
- Colette
- Gaia
Loners:
- Lana
- Wyler
- Danse
- Marcus
- Alrik
- Ray
- Saoirse
- Yale
Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!
- Fiona