Astro Flickerman, 29
Master Of Ceremonies
After the success of District 5's interviews, I don't know what could possibly overshadow them. Both Alberta and Namid got insane standing ovations, and some of the audience even began cheering up.
I smooth back my pink hair, and announce the next tribute. Regina Peil from District 6 walks out, wearing a long rainbow gown, and purple tiara over her blonde hair. However, her expression does not match her outfit at all, her face in a scowl.
"So Regina, you seem like a feisty little princess today." I chuckle.
"I'm not your princess." Regina snaps. "This outfit pisses me off, this place pisses me off, everyone here pisses me off!"
The audience gasps at Regina's sudden outburst, and I reach over to give her a comforting pat on the shoulder, and she smacks my hand away. How rude!
"Okay miss, why are you mad then?"
Regina grins widely. "Oh! Of course I'm mad! My parents told me I would finally get my pilot's license, but I ended up getting sent here instead, and now it's very likely I'm gonna die!"
"Regina, calm down. You received an amazing score of 7, I have faith in you still!"
The girl rolls her eyes. "I'm done talking." And she storms off backstage.
"Well okay then!" I straighten my bow tie in embarrassment. "Looks like our interview with Regina Peil ended a bit abruptly, so let's welcome our next tribute, Thomas Gage to the stage!"
After Thomas, Lily Tang from District 7 walks out. She looks absolutely gorgeous in her dark teal gown, and her dark, smoky makeup contrasts extremely from her bright pink her. She waves to the audience like a natural, and knowing she has many fans out there, I'm not very surprised.
"Hello there Astro! It's wonderful to see you finally." The girl walks over and shakes my hand professionally.
"Of course love, feel free to take a seat!"
Lily sits down, and crosses her legs. For an outlier tribute, she displays a lot of poise and manners, likely due to her influence of Capitol culture in her life.
"I bet you are really enjoying your time here in the Capitol, right Lily?"
"Oh, of course Astro! This place really does feel like my home away from home, and I've been treated with so much comfort and generosity in my time here. The fashion here is to die for, and my stylist Giveon Saunders is so talented, somebody give this man a raise!"
The camera zooms in on Lily's stylist, who sits in the front row and bows slightly. It's rare for a tribute to thank their prep team in such a public manner, but the crowd is loving Lily's gratitude.
"Is there anything you would like to say to anyone?"
"May, my girlfriend. I love you my dear, and trust, I will be seeing you again very soon. Tell the girls I miss them too, and make sure to keep my designs safe! And mother, you are the most beautiful, most amazing woman I know. Don't let anything stop you. I also would like to thank my escort, my mentor, and my whole prep team for supporting me on this journey. I want you to remember me when I'm in the arena!"
The crowd cheers, and Lily stands up and takes my hand, raising her fist in the air. She screans iconic.
After the boy from 7's interview, the girl from 8 walks out, Tay Fuller. She wears a puffy, off-the-shoulder, blue-grey dress that matches the color of her eyes, and her dark curls are pulled back with a pink veil. She holds a bouquet of flowers in her hand, I thought this was an interview, not a wedding!
"Hello Tay, it's wonderful to meet you!"
"Hello." The girl smirks slightly.
"So, from your notes we hear that you are a very busy girl back in District 8! Do you mind telling us what exactly you do for a living?"
"I'm good. If you want to you can tell them yourselves."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, dear." I say. "We are not allowed to disclose confidential information unless the tribute in question decides to disclose it themselves."
Tay nods. I expected more from the interview, coming from such a beautiful and bright-faced girl, but she mostly stayed elusive and hard-to-get.
The young boy, Robbie walks out next. He's wearing a bright orange suit, and smiles slightly, before he waves to the audience. He is visibly sweating however.
"Robbie! You seem very nervous, is everything alright?"
The boy chuckles. "No, I thought they were taking me to dinner, then all of a sudden I'm on a stage in front of an audience of thousands of people."
The audience laughs at his unfunny joke, even I try my best to fake it.
"You are hilarious, Robbie! Have you thought about being a comedian?"
The boy's face lights up into a smile at my suggestion.
"Well now that you put it that way, I guess that's an option!"
But then his smile turns upside down.
"Oh. But I don't think that will ever happen. I forgot that I'm probably going to be dead tomorrow."
The crowd collectively makes sad sighs at the boy's remark.
"Oh, don't you worry kiddo! I have faith in you, and maybe one day I'll even invite you on my talk show for a bit of stand-up!"
Robbie smiles again, but we both know that's never gonna happen. Good for me, considering I never even bring comedians on my show in the first place.
Mazie walks out next, wearing a long golden gown with wheat patterns embroidered on it, as well as a crown made of wheat, threaded over her beautiful red hair.
"So, do you have any plans for once you enter the arena, Mazie?"
Mazie's stark expression turns into a smile. "Yes. In fact there's a couple people I plan to take out."
Her interview is what I expected. Stoic, and a bit sarcastic, Mazie is definitely a tougher girl than most we have seen from District 9.
Barbara from District 10 is wearing an earthy green dress with a golden hairpiece and belt. She seems humble and kind, and spends her interview talking about her experience here in the Capitol.
"The food here is amazing! There's so many options, and I don't have to eat cheese all the time if I don't want to."
"Cheese? Do you have a dislike for cheese?" I ask.
Barbara chuckles. "My family owns a cheese company. Her gaze adverts mine and she instantly changes the subject.
Barbara's district partner Aaron, is wearing a golden version of the same matador outfit he wore during the tribute parade. It's a nice outfit, but not very original. His hair is slicked back, and he has a cheerful look on his face.
"What exactly is a matador, Aaron?" I ask.
"A matador is a term for "bullfighter", which I am. I travel around District 10 and fight in arenas against bulls. This is my first time fighting in an arena against humans." The audience laughs, though Aaron isn't smiling.
"I see. Now Aaron, what are you most proud of?"
"I'm proud of my family." His expression is stern and stiff, as if he is trying hard not to cry then and there. My little siblings, and more importantly, my late father. He taught me everything, and in this moment now I am very grateful for him.
The audience sighs sadly, and Aaron walks off the stage, not looking back, ending his interview.
Asa Gagneux-Boerio from District 11 walks out, wearing a silky sheer red gown that compliments her golden makeup really well. She is poised and graceful, but something in her appearance shows her to be calculated and deadly.
"Asa! I've heard from a source that your life back in District 11 is very interesting. How so?"
"Yes, very interesting indeed. My family is the mafia. We are loyal to the Capitol and kill those who disobey the law."
"So, a sort of vigilante group?"
"I wouldn't say that. I've been forced to do a lot of horrible stuff throughout the years. Stuff so horrible that the hunger games is a better option for me."
"Wow, well it was really brave of you to volunteer." I say.
"Well, I had no choice."
Namid Ortiz, 18
District 5 Male
After a long night of being interviewed, and then watching the other tributes get interviewed, me and Alberta finally arrive back to the District 5 quarters after getting our outfits and makeup off.
Alberta sits down on the couch, and motions for me to sit down next to her.
"I'm very proud of us both." She says. "I believe we have many sponsors waiting for us."
I smile. "Glad to hear you being optimistic."
"I'm always optimistic!" Alberta exclaims.
"You weren't so optimistic at the tribute parade." I say, remembering Alberta's meltdown with the dress.
She just chuckles.
"No, but I agree with you Alberta, I think we did well."
"Good, Namid. It's time to talk business now."
"What kind of business?" I ask.
"Well I'm gonna set it straight. I talked to Fonio and Asa, and they're willing to kill as many members of Mazie's alliance as they can tomorrow. Lily's off the hook for now, she doesn't have what it takes to kill. Not yet."
"Wow, so you're already planning on who to kill, that's pretty dark, Alberta." I say in a serious voice, though Alberta takes it as sarcasm and laughs.
"They want to kill us too. We need supplies, and we can't avoid them."
I nod my head. What Alberta is saying is true. Mazie has it out for us, and tomorrow is gonna be tough. At least we have a solid team to help each other.
I yawn. "Well, I'm going to bed, we obviously have a big day tomorrow and-"
Alberta suddenly puts her hand on my thigh, and leans in close to me.
"Hey, you looked good today. Has anybody told you how handsome you are, Namid?"
I raise my eyebrows, shocked at what Alberta just said and unable to say anything. I remove her hand from my thigh and get up from the couch fast.
"Uh, thank you Alberta. Good night."
She just grins at me.
"Good night Namid. See you tomorrow."
I'm so sorry, I know I said I would update soon after my last update and now it's been over a month! I've been extremely busy and even though I had most of the chapter written I just couldn't get myself to finish it until now. This story is really important to me and I really hope I can finish it. Please leave a review if you can and I am so thankful for everyone who is still reading, and we are almost in the arena! The next chapter will be the countdown, and soon after that it's time for the bloodbath! So excited!
Questions:
1) Out of this batch, which interview was your favorite?
2) Out of all of the interview outfits, which one was your favorite?
3) Do you think Alberta is actually developing feelings for Namid or is she just using him?
4) Is Alberta and Namid's plan to try to take out Mazie's alliance during the bloodbath a good idea?
-xo, cassy