97th Tribute Interviews

Name: Junie St. James
District: Seven
Age: Twelve 


Junie doesn't bother arguing about whether she will go on stage. She has learned that she will lose, and she is getting tired of losing.

I must say, your District made quite the splash
at the Tribute Parade. Tell us what you were feeling
up there! Confident, nervous, excited?

"I never saw so many people. My mentor, 
he said to pretend they were just ants.
Or - well, he said pretend they were wearing their underwear! 
But I preferred the ants. That made it better."

How confident do you feel about the games
now that you've seen your Training Score?

Junie blinks. She shrugs.
"I don't think it changes anything."

What about the other tributes?
Intimidating? Interesting? Irritating?

Junie bites her lip.
"I'm not very good at making friends
I always seem to make mistakes. It's okay.
I don't really mind.
The other tributes have been nice to me.
Sometimes they sneak me extra bread rolls."
Her eyes flash. There is a tiny smile, if you are watching very closely.

What has impressed you most about the
Capitol since you've been here?

At this, Junie thinks hard. Her forehead creases with concentration.
"Father says, if I'm not going to say anything nice,
then I'm not to say anything at all!"

Tell us what a typical day in your shoes
is like back home. Do you work?
Do you have any hobbies or secret talents?

"Usually I run away from Pa, who tries
to make me go to school. I hate school. It makes
my brain hurt, and I'm always getting in trouble."

Junie pauses, considering.

"I like to play in the woods, instead."

What about romance?
Cute as you are, I bet there is someone back home waiting, right?

At this, Junie laughs.
She throws her little head back, unexpectedly.

"I'm twelve!"

And your family.
Sensitive subject, I'm sure, but... could you tell us about them?

The laughing stops, abruptly. She shakes her head.
"I- I don't want to tell you about them."
Her face is grave. She crosses her arms across her chest.
The delicate balance has been broken.

I want to know:
What is it that you'll be fighting for in that arena?
What is it you want to get back home to?

Junie looks at Caesar now with betrayal in her eyes.
She scowls at him.
"That's not fair," she declares.
"You're being mean!"

I'm afraid we're almost out of time.
Parting words to the crowd? The tributes?
Your friends and family back home?

Junie looks furiously angry,
tearful, volatile.

 She shakes her head.

Name: Duchess Duchannes
District: 10
Age: 16

— — — — — —

"I must say, your District made quite the splash at the Tribute Parade. Tell us what you were feeling up there! Confident, nervous, excited?"

"Honestly, I was feelin' cold! I was just fine until they lined us up for the procession. But Honey, when them chariots started to move and I felt that infamous Capitol wind chill? Oh, I was downright shiverin!"

"How confident do you feel about the games now that you've seen your Training Score?"

"Well, I'd like to first say that I am just about as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! Make no mistake about that! But, to tell you the truth, I don't really think too much into the scores. The Gamemakers showed a lot of grace for me, I'll say that much."

"What about the other tributes? Intimidating? Interesting? Irritating?"

"I suppose it depends on which one you're talking about. Some of them are intimidating for sure, but a lot of them just seem... normal. You know, they kind of just remind me of folks back home to tell you the truth. I don't think I've met any I didn't like, though."

"What has impressed you most about the Capitol since you've been here?"

"Y'all are living in the future compared to where I'm from! 'Motion Sensor Faucet.' Ain't that just the most precious thing you ever heard? It scared the life out of me the first two nights I was here, though! I thought the place was haunted!"

"Tell us what a typical day in your shoes is like back home. Do you work? Do you have any hobbies or secret talents?"

"My life back in District Ten is an All-Panem dream, really. My Momma raised me right, so I devote most of my time to different Community Outreach programs! Fundraisers, Benefits, Beach Clean-Ups, as well as a two-year position on my school's cheer squad. And in my free time, I'm a highly involved member of District Ten's pageant circuit."

"What about romance? Cute as you are, I bet there is someone back home waiting, right?"

"Well, Caesar! Don't you know it's bad manners to kiss and tell?"

"And your family. Sensitive subject, I'm sure, but... could you tell us about them?"

"Sensitive? Not at all! I was raised as an only child until two years ago, when I was fourteen. Now, I have a little sister who is just about the cutest little thing you could ever lay eyes on! My Dad travels a lot for work, but he makes sure to call when he's gone and he always brings Mom and I back things he thinks we'll like from wherever he's travelling to. And then there's my Momma, who is also my best friend, really. She taught me everything I know!"

"I want to know: What is it that you'll be fighting for in that arena? What is it you want to get back home to?"

"To tell you the truth: all of it. There ain't a single thing about my life that I wouldn't want to get back to, Caesar. I have a lot of spinning plates, but that's the way I like it."

"I'm afraid we're almost out of time. Parting words to the crowd? The tributes? Your friends and family back home?"

"Firstly, to my fellow competitors: I wish us all a fun and fair Games. To the distinguished panel of Gamemakers, to my friends and family, and to the folks watchin' from home: My name is Duchess Duchannes and I wanna be your 97th Hunger Games Victor! Thank you all!"

Name: jj jenkins
District: 7
Age: seventeen

I must say, your District made quite the splash at the Tribute Parade. Tell us what you were feeling up there! Confident, nervous, excited?

Um, a little nervous! But it felt good to have Junie there. Especially in our matching outfits, those wings were.. um, a little heavy... heh, um - but we made it through okay!

How confident do you feel about the games now that you've seen your Training Score?

I'm, um, I'm feeling okay! Um, middle of the pack - it um, it makes sense for me!

What about the other tributes? Intimidating? Interesting? Irritating?

Um, they're all really nice! And, um, it's nice to meet people from other Districts!

What has impressed you most about the Capitol since you've been here?

Oh, um, the food! Um, everything - haha! But the food, um, it's really good!

Tell us what a typical day in your shoes is like back home. Do you work? Do you have any hobbies or secret talents?

Um, well, I go to school! And then I- um, well, I work in my dad's shop. We um, we sell food! Like, um, takeaways? Do you guys have those here? Like, um, we'll make pre-made food in the cabinet that people can buy upfront, or they can order and, um we make it on site. And then they can take it away! Sometimes I do um, deliveries - if people don't live too far away!

What about romance? Cute as you are, I bet there is someone back home waiting, right?

Oh, no! No no, haha.

And your family. Sensitive subject, I'm sure, but... could you tell us about them?

Yeah! Um, so my Mom's a teacher! She's great. Um... she also bakes! So her food goes in my Dad's shop. Oh! It's named after me, haha - JJ's! Or maybe I'm named after the shop. Haha! And my Dad cooks, um, he taught me too! He's awesome.

I want to know: What is it that you'll be fighting for in that arena? What is it you want to get back home to?

Just um... you know... my life?

I'm afraid we're almost out of time. Parting words to the crowd? The tributes? Your friends and family back home?

Hi Mom and Dad, um... please visit JJ's Takeout if you're in Seven. Okay bye!!!