Jesus Christ I didn't upload for almost a month. Writer's block and my laptop not letting me type for a week is just great :) Hope you enjoy the update though!
Hunger Games publicity host - Thaddeus Flickerman
Look sharp. Entertain. Laugh. Drive the conversation. Don't drink, don't drink, don't drink...
I had never wanted to do this. Be the host. That's why, when my father, the previous host, got sick during the 20th Hunger Games, I hooked up with the Victor, the girl from District 4, so I could get a son, who would take over from me as soon as he was eighteen. I refused to see this job until my death like my father did.
And my father's death... since he'd died six months ago, all I could do was drink myself into oblivion. My four-year-old son, Jubilee, and his mother both hated me, I knew that. I'd ignored them both ever since my father died.
Marina, Jubilee's mother, only stayed with me because she got a free place to stay within the riches of the Capitol, and we both knew that Jubilee was tied to becoming the host. He was obliged to when I died, but if he wanted to, he could take over from the 39th Hunger Games onwards, when he'd be old enough to do it, and then I could finally relax.
But for now, I was about to endure my first Hunger Games as the host. I'd refused to show my face on screen for the score reveals, instead just having the names and numbers popping up on the screen.
I'd promised Marina that I wouldn't drink at all during this Hunger Games season, but I had gotten high just the day before the interviews. To be fair, the boy from District 8 had given me morphine, in exchange for talking him up in the interviews.
"Thad. Thaddeus, it's time for you to start getting ready for the interviews."
"I don't want to," I said, leaning back in my bed as Marina gripped onto my shoulders.
"Well you don't have a choice," she said firmly.
"I have the right to have a choice," I grumbled.
"So did I," she said sharply. "But did I ever get that? Do you think, if I'd just grumbled and complained a little like you are now, I would be here right now?"
"What, living the rich life of your dreams?" I scoffed.
"Thaddeus!" she snapped. "You know what I mean!"
"Whatever," I said, slowly getting up out of my bed and making my way to a seat so some stylists could begin doing up my hair and putting a bunch of crap on my face to make me look presentable to the television and audience.
*line break*
It took them ages to get me fully ready, and by the time I actually was ready it was practically time for me to go onto the stage. They rushed me to the training centre and I began going over my script in my head as I walked onto the stage, which was in full darkness. I sat down on the spinning interviewer seat, facing my back to the audience.
I took a deep breath as the lights came up onto the stage, then put on my biggest, most realistic smile as the seat spun around so I could face the cameras and the cheering audience.
"Welcome, citizens of Panem, to the interviews for the 25th annual Hunger Games! Which also happens to be our very first Quarter Quell!" I said. God, I was so fake. "As you are all aware, the twist to the Quarter Quell was that all tributes were voted in by their own districts to come into the Games. They have recently all completed their training sessions and received their training scores, so hopefully, a lot of you have already started to think about who you want to bet on and sponsor. These interviews will help confirm your betting and sponsorships. First up, from District One, we have Phoenix Valentine!"
I looked down at my wrist as the audience cheered for Phoenix, where I'd written a few basic notes on all the tributes. Phoenix Valentine...
She was dressed like a magician. She was wearing a dark velvet cape, which was hooked onto a crimson-coloured doublet, matched by a stark white dress shirt and pale gloves.
"Phoenix!" I say, beaming, gesturing for her to sit in the seat across from me. "It's lovely to have you here. So... you received an impressive score of nine for your training? Have you participated in the Career training in your district?"
"Yes, I've been part of the Academy for a while now," said Phoenix, a large smile on her face.
"Would you say you're fairly prepared for the Hunger Games, then?" I asked her.
"Yes, I would say I'm quite prepared," she said, looking directly at the cameras and smiling with all her perfect teeth showing. She had a trained smile, just like I did. Which told me she'd been on a stage before.
"So, do you enjoy performing back at home, when you're not training?" I asked her. Her expression faltered for not even a second before she was smiling that performer's smile at me once again.
"Yes, I performed on occasion," she said. "But... on a different note, I must say... one of my allies... Mark? He's an absolute, complete, utter, dickhead. And I do not want to be his ally any longer."
I paused for a second. How was I supposed to respond to that? That hadn't been part of my training. But before I got a chance to respond, a tribute with a bright purple mohawk was walking onto the stage, and I felt myself panic for a second. As far as I knew, tributes weren't allowed on the stage if it wasn't their interview.
"You stupid bitch," the purple-haired tribute muttered, throwing a punch straight at Phoenix, hitting her jaw hard. My eyes widened in alarm. Surely this sort of behaviour wasn't allowed.
Phoenix looked directly up at the purpled-haired tribute, fury flooding her eyes. I could already see a bruise forming on her jawline. The audience was all gasping, and then Phoenix stood up abruptly, clutching onto her face.
"Sponsor me," she muttered to the audience, before storming off the stage.
What was I supposed to do now?
I decided the safest option was to just continue with the interviews. I looked at the notes on my wrist subtly and said, "Next interview is Mark Simeon!"
The purple-haired tribute grinned and then sat down across from me. Great, so he was Mark Simeon. One thing I did remember from my training was that the audience loved drama, and Mark sure had stirred up some drama.
"Well, it's nice to officially meet you, Mark," I said. "I see you've already made... quite the entrance. Do you care to speak on that?"
"Phoenix is a bitch, has been ever since I met her on the train. She deserved that," he said, aggressive undertones in his voice.
"Alright... well, what about your other allies? Are you part of the Career's alliance?" I asked.
"Of course I am, I'm the leader," said Mark.
"Right... I see you got an Eight as your training score? While the other Careers all got... Nines?" I said. Stir up more drama, I supposed I was supposed to do.
Mark's expression became very cold very quickly, even colder than it already was.
"Those scores are just numbers. They are irrelevant. Similar to what you'd say if someone made a comment about your number on the scale."
Entertain. Laugh. Drive the conversation
"Right, that's a good one Mark," I chuckled. "Would you say that you're prepared for these games?"
Don't drink, don't drink, don't drink...
"Oh, of course," Mark scoffed. "Being the best and the leader of the Careers, of course, I have big plans for my allies and me to get to the end, and for myself to win. I'm very prepared."
"Would you care to share these plans with the crowd?" I asked.
"Why would I say my plan aloud, all the other tributes can see this," he snapped at me.
"Well, aren't you cheerful?" I muttered. "Any final words Mark, or we might move on."
"I don't know, you're the bloody host," he snapped.
"Alright, then, we might move on," I said. "It was very nice speaking with you Mark."
It was not nice at all, I wanted him off the stage as soon as possible.
"Next up, from District 2, is... Dania Khatib," I said, grinning out to the audience.
A girl came onto the stage, a smile on her face. She was wearing a bandage dress in a large houndstooth print with a dark purple velvet blazer and dark purple suede ankle strap platform pump high heels. Her dark curly hair was done up at the top of her head, and she had a large grin on her face.
"Good evening, Dania!" I said, standing up to shake her hand before we both sat down in our seats. "So, a nine for your training score! Quite impressive, I must say!"
Dania pursed her lips. "Yes... well, my strategy during the private session was really incredible."
"That's fantastic, Dania, I'm sure everyone here is rooting for you, a strong, female, Career," I said.
"The leader of the Careers alliance this year," said Dania, grinning.
"Oh? Was it not Mark?"
Dania scoffed. "He may think he's the leader, but everyone else in that alliance knows the truth. I am stronger, less randomly aggressive, and got a better score than him."
"Yes, well, that is true," I said. "Do you believe you could win this thing?"
"Think?" Dania repeated. "I know I will win this thing. I'm better than everyone else here, easily. I should have gotten a twelve, but the game makers were too overwhelmed by my talent that they lowered my score to a nine."
"Is that right?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "Well, is there anything you'd like to say to potential sponsors?"
"Yes, there's no point in you wasting your money on stupid tributes who have zero chance of winning," she said, looking out at the audience, smiling still. "Invest in sponsoring someone like me, the leader of the most powerful alliance in the games."
"OK, well, you heard the girl! Get your wallets out! Or maybe not just yet... we still have 21 more tributes to talk with! Thank you so much for your time, Dania, but it is time that we move on Quintus Grimm!"
Dania nodded, shook my hand again and then walked off the stage, waving at the audience.
The next tribute came on the stage then, Quintus Grimm, the boy from Two. He was tall, broad, and muscular, with pale skin, dark hair, and a stoic expression, wearing a solid black suit and combat boots. He looked strong and was a Career. If he could get a good sponsorship I had faith in the guy.
"Quintus!" I beamed, shaking his hand. "How are you going?"
He was clenching his fists as he responded to me. "Good."
"Great! So, you received a Nine also as your training score, very impressive, do you think you have the potential to win the Hunger Games?" I asked.
"Yes," was his only response.
Just drive the conversation, I thought to myself, making that trained smile wider.
"Well, you must have heard the debate earlier about the leader of the Careers alliance, do you think you're the leader too?" I asked.
"No."
"Who do you reckon should be your leader, then?"
"Dania."
"Oh, well, the plot thickens! Taking sides, I see?" I grinned. "Ladies and gentlemen, are the Careers already divided!? Are they going to fall apart!? Better tune in tomorrow when the games begin!" I cried out to the audience, as they all cheered back.
"What's your opinion on this drama going on Quintus?" I asked, and he shrugged. "OK, well, are you intent on getting involved?" He shook his head. "Right, well... you got anything else to say, Quintus?" He shook his head again. What was wrong with him? "Well... we might move on to the next tribute then! Thia Vernata!"
I shook Quintus's hand again and he left, just as the girl from District Three walked on. She was wearing a tight, slip black dress that showed off her slim figure, and she looked at least a bit more talkative than the last one since she at least gave a smile to the audience.
"Good evening Thia," I said, shaking her hand. "So tell me, how are you feeling about the games tomorrow?"
"Confident, I know I can win," Thia said. "But, I must tell you, for your sake... you have something in your teeth."
I felt my cheeks heat. That was embarrassing. I'd been on this stage, with a camera in my face, and had something in my teeth. And now a tribute was pointing it out. A soon-to-be-dead, poor, teenager.
Entertain the audience.
"Well, you better help me get it out then, right, Thia?" I said. "I can't see it."
"Oh... don't you have a mirror?" Thia asked me, and I shook my head.
Then, before I could even think, a camera was shoved into my face and I could see myself on the little screen. That was being televised live. Just entertain the bloody audience. This is your job for god's sake.
I smiled with my teeth so I, and all of Panem, could see my teeth up close. At least they'd been professionally whitened for this job. And there was nothing in my teeth.
"What's in my teeth?" I asked, chuckling.
"A green thing, right on your front tooth," said Thia. I looked again, there was nothing there. "Maybe you're not looking hard enough."
The little shit was trying to gaslight me. But one thing I had learnt from my father was to just act stupid, and give them something to laugh at. So I continued to look stupidly into the camera, trying to find something in my teeth.
"Hm, I don't think I can see anything," I said, and when I turned around she was sitting there grinning.
"Well, is my time up then?" she asked, and I looked at my watch.
"Yes, unfortunately, it is," I said.
"Well, I think everyone should sponsor me because perhaps I could do something like that in the arena," she said, before walking off the stage. I looked over at the other tributes, shocked that she'd say that in front of them.
"Well... next up we have Jonas Unix," I said, and the next tribute walked onto the stage, a tall boy wearing a grey tuxedo and tie. He sat down and I shook his hand. "So, Jonas, you received... the lowest score of all the tributes. A one? Would you care to elaborate on that one?"
"Well, now all the other tributes look very talented compared to me, don't they?" he said.
"Yes, they sure do, but why? Do you want sponsors?" I asked.
"Well, I think it would be beneficial for the sponsors to vote for other tributes, I want someone great to win these games," he said.
"Oh, well that's quite a different perspective, isn't it?" I said, and he nodded. "Well, do you have anything to say?"
"No," he said. "I just want you to all look at these tributes. I want you to think about who deserves the win the most. Thank you."
He walked off the stage, and I had to control my facial expressions so I didn't look too shocked. What was up with these tributes?