Tribute Interviews

Exhaustion and fear were all Soren Ryder felt since his name was called on the fateful reaping day. Well, those and homesickness. When he wasn't thinking about how he could possibly get lucky and come home, he was thinking about Sammie or his family. And he would think a lot. Ever since he arrived in the Capitol though, sleep evaded him. It was almost like the Games had already begun, sleep being one of the other tributes, afraid to accompany Soren. With nothing else to do, Soren would get bored, which meant more thinking of course. More thinking about how his life kind of went to hell.

The Games were never friendly. He had heard many promises of safety from many different people while in the dining hall. It seemed like everybody was friendly with each other too. The people were all great people. Soren could barely find an enemy in the group of twenty-three other people. However, this was before things became truly real. Once everybody finds themselves standing on their plates, friendliness will go away faster than their sanity. And in an arena where everybody is out to kill you, sanity goes pretty damn fast. Deep down inside though, Soren wished that somehow, someway, there could be a bit of reality left in everybody's minds. He hoped that maybe if they stopped and thought it out together they could find a way out of their death place.

But that was wishful thinking and he knew that. He would have to kill people he would normally be friends with just to stay alive. And those that he couldn't kill would have to be killed by somebody else. Quickly too so that their deaths wouldn't tear the boy apart. It was only a few days ago when he met the other tributes and already he was opening up to a handful. Dangerous at the very least but Soren didn't care. Maybe making people feel as if they were safe would work out as a good strategy, even if it wasn't the type of strategy Soren would think of. Hopefully the interviews would root out the lies too.

As Soren pushed himself out of bed, he remembered that the interviews were that day. Him, Heron, Aranica and Arbor had been discussing what they could do to impress people in their special moment. Soren really had nothing. The only thing that still kept him alive was Sammie and the small chance that he could see her again. He didn't even get to say a goodbye. So that's what he would play with. He had already set it in his brain to play the love card. And maybe, just maybe, that would be good enough to get a few sponsors. Just enough so he could feel a little safer. Just enough so he could have something.

He had to spend a lot of time with his stylists too. Falloway was his stylist and only his. He was new this year and he actually wasn't too bad. He seemed to be conscious of what Soren wanted and what he didn't want. "So, any ideas on what you want?" Falloway had asked the day before. "I don't know, you tell me." And they had spent the rest of their time going through the various things that could be done. In the end there was a choice between a simple suit that seemed to be made from coal itself and a bright white one that reflected all the lights around him. "You know, light associates with fire and stuff." Soren had smiled and shook his head. "I think the dark one makes more sense and won't blind everybody around me." Falloway had laughed and gently tossed the light one onto a small coffee table that had been placed in the room. "The dark one it is."

Now, sitting on the bench seat, dressed in his coal suit, Soren felt worried. His angle would be seen as a weakness by most. Everybody seemed to stick with the humble angle or the confident one. That boy from two is cocky. Phoenix just fell. Dammit, what am I going to do. His constant thoughts were distracting through most of the interviews until he heard her name being called. "Heron Kimberling from District 12." His eyes followed the girl as she sat down. Her outfit was...different to say the least. And her interview was similar to how he thought it would be. He had seen her practicing with Aranica and Arbor. And suddenly is name his called, his world going slower, his walk heavier, his movements more rigid.

Until he sat down and got comfortable. "Soren Ryder. It's nice to finally meet you." Soren smiled, somehow feeling that Caesar actually meant it, even though he probably had to say that to many tributes in the past years. "It's very nice to meet you to. May I ask you a question Caesar? All my friends from District 12 are a little confused about something." Soren laughed a bit, looking at the camera with a smile. Maybe being as charming as I can be? Although, I don't think being as charming as a dead fish is very good. "Well, this is an interview about you. And I do feel a little scared now." There's a bit of laughter from the crowd. "Can I touch your face? Make sure it's real and stuff. You still look like you're 20." Big laugh on that one. The response makes Soren smile bigger. Caesar begins shaking his head, a smile on his face too. "Well, could you not take my word on it." More laughter. Soren shakes his head, a chuckle coming from him too. Still, despite Caesar's denial, he moves his finger forward, pressing the left side of his face in. "Definately real."

When the laughter stopped, Caesar put on a serious face, notifying Soren that he should too. "So, did your training score change your opinion or your level of confidence at all. I mean, a six is pretty good." Soren nodded. It is alright, I guess. "Skill can't really be represented by a number. I mean, the 54th were won by Arbor. He had a three. Aranica had a 7. Topaz had a 9. The most recent victors have varying numbers. It means nothing. Am I more confident because I was given a random number for what I showed in a room? No. I still have to go in there and fight and with death threatening me, I'm sure my six would represent nothing other than how I presented my skills while not under pressure. Sorry for my little speech though." He smiled, leaning back in his chair a bit.

"Makes sense. How do you feel about that? Aranica and Arbor were both from District 12, and quite recent. Feel any target on your back because of that?" Thanks Caesar. Pointing it out to those who didn't notice? "Quite possibly. But really, I'm not Aranica or Arbor. Each person in District 12 is different. Topaz just won last year and now we have York and Anastasia. They seem pretty different. Just because there have been future victors in a specific District, that doesn't mean everybody from that District will be as successful. So, I don't see why people would have to target me right away. Another speech? Just great. Now I'll be seen as the one who can use words well. The crowd is watching intently as Caesar nods in agreement.

"It seems like you have a lot of great opinions. Well, hey? What's your opinion on the Capitol so far?" Soren smiled, even though he wished to shake his head. Can I give a bad one? "It's a step up. I'm used to living in coal, essentially. Have you ever woken up to find yourself sneezing because of all the coal dust around you? It's pretty damn annoying. I have to say that it is really nice here. And the people seem to care enough. Care that I'll die soon at least.

"So, you seem to be a friendly guy. Any lucky person at home? That's when the expression of happiness on Soren's face disappeared. "Yes. There is." His eyes flicked over to meet with Caesar's. Please don't push deeper. "Well, tell us more. We're eager to know." Thanks a lot. "Her name is Samantha Park. We...we are...married. And we...had a child. Evangelic." There's silence across the crowd now. Confusion is in the mind of others. But the solemness in Soren's voice could be heard by anybody. "She...died. Somebody killed her. Evangelic. And now Sammie is at home. And she'll lose me now too." He says quietly, his eyes meeting with Caesar's.

"I'm sorry to hear that Soren. It sounds like you cared a lot for her. And that's a beautiful name." "Named after our friend. She was a tribute a while ago. She made it to the finals. Died." He cleared his throat, straightening up in his chair. Now they could see he had two sides to him. Maybe that would work to his advantage. "There seems to be a lot of death. Maybe you might end that streak. I'm sure you miss her a lot. And I'm sure you have what it takes to see her again. Do you have any family?" Is that actually remorse in his eyes? He acts like he cares about every tribute but it seems to always be fake. But is it?

"A brother and a sister. And my parents. They'll miss me. But they will also be able to move on. They are strong enough." There was a small hint of doubt in Soren's voice as he spoke those words. His family would break apart like a bit of rock being crushed by a pick. "They do sound strong. As do you? Are you feeling like you'll miss anything else, other than your lovely family and wife?" Taking a minute to think about it, Soren did know something. Something that normally wouldn't be noticed by most. "I will Caesar. Living in a place that is practically layered with soot is pretty bad. There isn't anything that is really good about it. Except for when the rain comes and washes it all away. The light that soon appears always shines in a weird way, making everything look more colorful. And there's a specific spot that I like to go to. It's where I first got back in touch with Sammie. It has an amazing view that just benefits with the color splash. That and the freedom."

The smiles that can be seen around the crowd help Soren smile too. Just picture it would be enough to put you in a good mood, no matter how cold you are. "I'm sure they will miss you too. Now, we appear to be almost out of time. Is there anything else you wish to say to anybody before we close?" Soren had already planned something. Even before Caesar asked. It seemed like his angle had changed completely, his new goal was trying to be charming and friendly. And a leader. "Tributes. Don't get cocky just because you are from a certain District or because you are a bit taller than others. I mean, a blind man from twelve, a innocent looking girl from twelve and another innocent one from one. Nothing stands out about them except for their will to live. The will that all of us have. And Sammie. I love you more than anything, and I always will. And thank you Caesar. You have been great. And your face is real." Another chuckle from most of the crowd. "Thanks Soren. It has been a pleasure as well. And your face seems real too."

And even though he had completely gotten rid of his original plans, he felt proud. He had said the words he wanted to say. And that's all Soren could ask for. For people to remember the boy from District Twelve.