Forum Thread

"You have kids right now don't you? Las we were told about you Pearl was expecting." The crowd below seemed eger to know a bit more on Julian's family.

---

Tempest gives Adelaide a tight smile. She enjoys her praise, but she doesn't feel like she deserves it. She walks over to Gateguard with Adelaide behind her. "I'm so sorry" she tells the both. "I may have put a huge target on our backs... But I couldn't help it. I really wanted to piss them off and turn into the one thing that they despite" she sighs. "Although I won't apologize for how I feel. It's nice to finally have a small victory over the capitol" she admits.

Harlow glances over at Leaf. "You nervous?" She asks Leaf, she just noticed that Leaf was looking around a lot.

His blood ran cold, realizing that he couldn't escape this. "You have quite sharp ears, sir." He ground out in a conversational tone. "Yes, it's true. My family has grown quite a lot since you've last seen me. Honestly, I think this is one of the reasons why I feel like I'm going to win. Nothing is as challenging as trying to calm down three wailing children at 2 am. For those of you who have children of your own, I'm sure you understand. They're the apples of my eyes and I'm very proud of my wife for blessing me with them." He finished, giving the audience a closed eyed smile to hide the fury brewing in those blue eyes. He was angry, very angry that the capital thought it would be funny to pry into his private life.

Smiling, Gateguard shook his head. "I don't mind, you did wonderful out there." He said earnestly. "You stayed true to yourself and honestly, I applaud you for standing up to the capital."

---

Rose's finger itch to begin. She waits, patiently for her turn, when she would do it, make everyone angry at her show she truly was a force in these games. She stops at the last one. "I am a destructive force." she murmurs quietly. "And the games will be ended, if its the last thing I do." she decides.

---

Leaf nodded. "Even after the first time I still suck at talking about myself." Another thought came to her from teh way her eyes widened. "What if he asks about the pregnancy? I dont think *nono word that I'm not gonna say incase I get banned for it* is very popular topic when going about if the father's in the picture. What would I even say? 'No because he *same word above*ed me.' But I dont want them to think that I love hte guy either, I couldnt' in a million years after he tramatised me!" Leaf's voice started squeaking again the way it did when Leaf got flustered and while cute the topic wasn't so cute.

The crowd from below started asking millions of questions at a time but the buzzer cut them off. "I'm afraid we're out of time Julian, and belive me when I say our hearts go out to your family." Cesar stated sympathticly. Julian then walked off stage as the other girl from District Five walked onto stage in a very revealing dress, yet she was all smiles.

Rita flinched, she was next.

---

Echo was lounging around, watching the other tributes answer. Thos whole interview thing had always bored him out as a kid, but he supposed he had to actually pretend to care now. Talking and winning people over was never really his strong suit though...

Amari nervously shifted in her seat, her hands curled on top of her knees. She couldn't help but worry about what would await her in the arena, how was she supposed to answer any questions while being afraid?

---

Before he walked off, Julian paused before blowing a shaky kiss towards the cameras. Although the crowed swooned, Julian only had five people in mind as he walked off. Finally backstage, Julian brushed past all the other tributes to the very back before angrily punching the wall. "God. Damn. It " he growled, punctuating each word with another punch. Holding his wrist, he glared angrily at the ground blinking back tears. "Keep my family out of this." He whispered, turning his back to everyone

---

Chakti was quiet for the most part, his mind on Emmie, and protecting her. Suddenly, his mind went to Cesar's name. He thought about the first thing he would ask the host: 'Can I call you Julius?' He snorted, out of the blue, then sat back up, covering his mouth and nose with his hands. A somewhat difficult task in his current tight outfit.

Tempest grins. "Thank you.. both of you. I really appreciate it" she glances behind her for a moment so she can listen to the interview. She can't help but feel bad for Julian. It was sickening to see the capitol do this. She doesn't say anything about it though. Her and Julian weren't close, she doubt that her concern would mean anything to him. She turns back to Gateguard and Adelaide. "You two are going to do great. I can't wait for your interviews"

Harlow grabs Leaf by the shoulders, her eyes firm. "Don't think about that" she tells Leaf. "You don't need to answer any uncomfortable questions. If you feel like you need to, lie" she glances at Ceaser and then the crowd. "If you need it.. I'll stand out there by you. I know it's against the rules.. but I'll be d*mned if I leave you out there to deal with those questions by yourself"

"Mine's going to be absolutely splendid. Sarcasm." Adelaide remarked sarcastically, "And yeah, the Capitol can get in line." She put a taloned hand on Tempest's shoulder, "I'm not a very sentimental person, but just know, my family has a vicious streak of putting family first, or suffering for it. Whatever you suffer, we suffer together." She hummed quietly, "What if we were actually all interviewed together."

The buzzer went off then it was Rita's turn. "From district 5. District 5 you know her, as the Girl of Sparks!" Rita could hear cheering and clapping coming directly from the audience below the stage, her heart pounds in her ears as she waited to be called. She almost looked like she was going to faint from fear. "When we know her as the lovely Rita Stoneheart!"

Rita forced her quaking knees to walk out in the yellow dress that Cardigan had made. Light glinted off the dress and the lightning bolts as Rita made her way out. She glanced out and saw her stylist nod at her, Rita gave a little spin. Sparks lept off the dress and seemed to dissapear from the air. The crowd screamed in delight.

Ceasar's reaction was instantainious. "Oh! Do that again!" With a small sheepish smiled Rita stopped in her tracks and started twirling again, sparks lept off again. They looked so real. "It's like a firework in my face!"

---

Coughing with a bright red face at the mention of his interview, Gateguard could only nod. He was hoping that he wouldn't flub up, any wrong moves could pretty much spell the end of his little charade. "Well, you guys were lucky, you got to go near the begining. I'm stuck with the nerves until the end." He tried laughing his jitters off

---

Rose weighed her options. "I have no allies." she notes. "No team. No partner." she repeats. She thinks about this. "So I'm pretty much dead." she amends with a laugh. "Besides, no one would WANT to team up with me." she says with a smirk.

---

Nova leaned up against the wall watching Gateguard with a hard to read expression. "Actually, I think I hold that title for waiting." She purred in amusment.

"Wow, just...wow." Caesar says with a huge grin on his face. He then turns to the audience and asks: "What do you think? Is she certainly the "Girl of Sparks" from District 5 or what?"

From below, the audience cheers in agreement, and who could deny? When they sit down in the chairs, Caesar truns to the twelve year-old and asks, "So Rita, we noticed that at the Reaping that your sister...what was her name?"

Rita can barely make her voice work because of this question. As she thinks is, 'Oh no, I can't possibly talk about it live...' But somehow responds with, "Fiona. Her name's Fiona."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl for her age. Anyway, we couldn't help but noticing how much she didn't want you to leave when she grabbed your leg. Her voice spoke volumes for someone her age. Then we heard you tell her to get off and go back to your family...how did you feel?"

Rita didn't speak, all words...gone. Her gray eyes glance down for a moment as the memory rushes back to her. "I, I was devastated. I didn't want to leave Fiona alone. I didn't want to leave District 5, my family, my friends..."

"I can't blame you." Caesar Flickman says in sympathy. "Nobody wants to leave their close ones behind. Did she say goodbye to you?"

"Yes, so did the rest of my family and my friends."

"Is there anything that you want to tell them?"

Rita looked up at the screen, she wanted everyone back home know that what was about to said has no lies. Rita mean every single word she's about to say.

"I want to let my family know that I will do everything I can to come home; I love them dearly, and I will fight until my last breath. Fiona, Don't let any one tell make fun of you for anything okay? You're special and I love you very much. Keep me in mind no matter what happens. If I don’t come back alive, don’t let my death be a burden on your heart.

Duncan and Klaus, watch out for your sister okay? Don’t let anyone hurt her and don’t cause mom and dad any trouble. I want you three to watch out for each other should I not survive the Games. Lizz, Ann, Matt, take care of my family. Take care of them as if they were a part of your family. I won’t give up. I promise. If I don’t live…keep me close in your hearts. Do this for me, okay? Promise me that you'll all stay strong for me. Stay strong for me.”

Everyone below's crying, it's touching. So, why wouldn't one cry? The Capital seems to suck this kind of stuff anyway, right? Caesar has to pause to dab his eyes with handkerchief because Rita's last words were so touching. "Rita," He says finally, "You really do care for them don't you?"

"Yes." Rita says still looking at the camera. "I do."

The buzzer sounds ending the interview. "Well, I believe that was the buzzer." Caesar tells her, and they both rise. "Ladies and gentlemen! Rita Stoneheart, the Girl of Sparks!" Rita walked off stage and passed by Kayda.

---

Emmie is tense. She looks like she could spring up and moment and leap into battle. She takes a few deep breaths, thanking the lord she one of the last few to be interviewed.

---

"Yes, District 13 huh? Last in line, but they do say save the best for last." Gateguard replied smoothly, buttoning his shirt up. He knew of Nova, one of the people who had freed his brother from the arena last year. He supposed he owed a bit of a debt towards the other, so he'd treat her with respect at least. She deserved that much.

---

Nova chuckled a bit. "Touché."

Rita sat in a corner, pretty close to Julian but not quite. She pulled her kness up to her chest blinking quickly to keep the tears back, her heart ached and more then anything right now she wanted her family. She didn't want to die, not out there where everyone cheers on your murderer. Muder! Rita bit her lip, she was glad she didn't say that out loud.

---

Kayda grabs Rita's forearm. "Quite the sob story huh?" She asks. "How touching... How nice of you to reveal your deepest wounds to me. I am going to love playing with you out in the arena!" She releases Rita and then wipes her hand on her dress with a disgusted look. She wipes off this look as she walks on stage. Her glowing cape flowing behind her as she walks.

(Kayda you savage-)

Rita glared at her as best as she could while keeping back the tears. Scarlet knelt down and hugged Rita from behind the neck trying to console her. Scarlet could understand Rita's worst fears, being the eldest of five siblings and a second mother.

---

Watching Kayda go, Julian sighed and ran a thumb over his locket. "For what it's worth, I think you're strong because you care." He offered, lifting his head to look at Rita. "The strength you had up there is something to be admired."

---