Universal POV
"Welcome to the interviews for the Ultimate Games, Panem!" Jakub Jollyman screeched loudly. The audience roared, clapping loudly.
"For these interviews, we will be interviewing 6 tributes at a time, with 2 from each minigame. Our first set of tributes are about to board the stage. Please welcome Aria Reed, Honour Gilligan, Xenia Hale, Alejandro Hale, Valentina Curtis and Beth Gibson!"
The crowd roared as the six tributes walked onstage, in the same order in which they were called up. They sat down in their seats, and the interview began.
"So Aria," Jakub said, adjusting in his seat, "You had quite a scare at the end of your games."
"Yea, yea I did," Aria admitted, "Guess Fern just snapped."
"And how are you?" Jakub asked. Aria shrugged.
"Well, the scars are still there, but the danger is gone and the wounds have closed. They used crazy technology to fix it all up."
"Well, hope you're okay." Jakub said. He then turned to Honour.
"So Honour, how has life after the games been treating you?"
"Great, actually!" Honour said, "I've been training loads all year. My family is really proud of me, too."
"That's nice to hear!" Jakub smiled. Then, he turned to Xenia and Alejandro, addressing them as a pair.
"So you two... you have created quite a stir in the Capitol?"
"Have we?" Xenia laughed charmingly. Jakub nodded.
"Many people are barracking for you to win. You guys have lots of supporters."
Alejandro shrugged, "Well, that's what we like to hear!"
"What will you two do, if you are the last ones left? Just the two of you?"
"Then we'll fight to the death," Xenia said casually, "We both know this."
"Oh," Jakub seemed surprised at the bluntness of the answer, "Really? Neither of you will sacrifice yourself for the other?"
"No." Alejandro replied strongly.
"Oh," Jakub replied plainly, "Well, Valentina, I have a question to you from a Capitol citizen."
"Go ahead," Valentina smiled.
"What are these games to you?"
"Just that," Valentina said, "Games. Yeah, I have to kill, but it's all just a game. If I win, I go home. And I want to go home."
Xenia and Aria both frowned at Valentina's answer. Clearly, they had different view.
"Interesting view," Jakub said, "So will you 'career' like tributes be teaming up in the arena?"
"Yes," Xenia said, "Aria, Honour, Alejandro, Valentina and I will be an alliance in the arena."
"Ooh," Jakub said, "Interesting!"
"Interesting indeed," Xenia replied smoothly.
"Now, Beth, how are you?" Jakub turned to the small girl, raising his eyebrows as she stared at a speck on the ground.
"I'm Beth," she answered in monotone. Aria snickered. Xenia made a move to make a snarky comment, but Alejandro quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
"No, Beth-"
"Stop it." She snapped.
"Beth-"
"No."
"Well then," Jakub said awkwardly, turning away from the girl, "Fine then, I guess I'll just interview you careers."
"We don't have a problem with that," Honour smiled.
"So, this is to all of you," Jakub began, "What do you guys think about your public image to Panem?"
"That depends on what part of Panem," Valentina said smoothly.
"Yeah, I mean, we're loved in the Capitol," Xenia laughed. The audience cheered, and her grin broadened, "But in the districts, we're probably quite, erm-"
"Hated," Aria finished the sentence for Xenia, "I know for a fact that District 2 currently hates my guts, cause I personally killed half their tributes."
"Shane, Eve and Piper?"
"Yea," Aria shrugged, "District 2 is very prideful."
"I know we're liked in the career districts," Alejandro said, pointing a thumb to Xenia, "But 5, 6 and 7 aren't too keen on us. Our own district isn't very fond of us either, to be perfectly honest. We don't really mind, though."
"Isn't that saddening to you? Being hated by people in the districts?"
"Nah," Honour shrugged, "I couldn't care less what they think."
"The reason why we're hated is because we kill without hesitation, which is a little idiotic considering that's the name of the game," Valentina piped up, "If we only killed tributes that were really disliked and considered evil, everyone would love us and say that we are doing Panem a favour. But since we kill tributes who most would call 'innocent', it makes us seem very monstrous."
"That's why all the favourites in the districts are the tributes who haven't killed, or have a strong sense of moral," Xenia said, "Who you kill defines you in these games."
"Very true, Xenia," Jakub said, "Now, we have another question here. What's your opinion on torturing your victims in the games?"
"Honestly, I don't see the point in torturing tributes," Valentina said, "And please don't say 'victims'. It sounds very serial-killery."
"Oh?" Jakub asked, a frown on his face, "Why don't you see the point in torture?"
"Because it gets you nowhere," Valentina said, "It just drags out the death for the poor sap on the business end of the blade. If you want to kill them, kill them quickly. There's absolutely no need to draw it out."
"I agree, to an extent," Alejandro piped up, "If you simply want to kill a person, you should try and end it quickly. But then again, the Capitol wants a good show. And sometimes, we have to give them one."
"We're here to win, not to make a spectacle," Valentina said sharply. "I don't particularly want to kill these people, but it's the Hunger Games and we have to. So, I do. It's a competition."
"That's what this is to you?" Aria snorted, "A competition? The whole point of these games is to bring pride to your districts, to put on a show for the Capitol."
"No, it's to put the districts in line, but who am I to question you?" Valentina retorted breezily. A scowl formed on Aria's face, but she said no more.
"I don't normally torture tributes, I mostly just get the kill over with, but I don't see a problem with it," Xenia said, "I mean, the Hunger Games are about entertainment, essentially. And if there's no entertainment, the Capitol will toss in a fucking tsunami or something, which will just make it more difficult for me. So every now and again, I'll torture a tribute to entertain the Capitol. Also, it's quite fun," Xenia laughed as she said her last sentence and the audience cheered wildly. Valentina sat back in her chair and rolled her eyes.
"I'm surrounded by idiots," Valentina growled under her breath; however no one on stage heard her.
"I'm kind of in-between on torture," Honour said, "I mean, normally I don't see the point and I just kill quickly, but sometimes there's a certain son of a bitch that you just have to torture to death. It's also probably just the amount of hatred I have instilled in other tributes, where I want to make their death as painful as possible. It depends on the tribute."
"Interesting answers there," Jakub commented, "Quite varied. Now, I have one, final question for you all."
The five careers nodded, whilst Beth continued to sit alone, pawing at an imaginary fly near her ear.
"Who will be leading the group, in the arena?"
"Me," all five replied simultaneously. Silence descended upon the group for a few moments.
"So..." Jakub said, "All of you will be leading?"
"No," Aria snapped, "We haven't figured it out yet."
"We all think we should lead," Valentina explained rather emotionlessly, "Personally, I think it should be me since I'm not clouded by emotion, and most of my sanity is actually intact," As Valentina said the last part of her sentence she glanced over at Aria, as if to challenge her. Aria moved to make a smart-ass comment, but the buzzer rang before she could.
"Well there you have it, Panem!" Jakub cried, "Our first batch of tributes! Next up will be Interview 2. Don't go anywhere, Panem!"
~~~
If you haven't yet, please go back and vote for which tributes you wish to be resurrected, thanks!