24 Years, 24 Tributes

Chapter 22

If you sent it a story, I'm still going to write it. I put this chapter first in case someone else sends in a story late. I went with Seutonius' POV because I was bored of the 1-12 Tribute thing. In case you're wondering, Seutonius is a lot like Mr. Rogers. He's no rebel, but all those kids have worn him down. He and Cornflower got on just fine. He likes to help the kids feel safe.

Seutonius Cathode POV

Another year, another 24 kids. I'd been here since the start, and you could just never tell. Some years it made sense, like when Crag took the win. Others took you by surprise, like little Soleil. I thought I wouldn't see her live past the Bloodbath. As ghoulish as the subject was, I really did like talking to the kids and helping them put their best foot forward. The lights came on, and I turned toward the audience.

"Good morning, Panem! Get ready for our stars today, the Tributes of the Twenty-Fourth Hunger Games!" I announced. "Up first, from lovely District One, please welcome Valencia Widad!"

A shapely miss came onstage in a long green dress with a heart-shaped cutout on the neckline. She settled herself into the chair opposite me and I began.

"Miss Valencia. How do you plan to win the Hunger Games?" I asked.

"Oh, I know I'll have plenty of allies. It'd be a shame to leave a lady like me all to herself," she said. We continued until our time was up and she sashayed offstage. I'd seen girls (and a few boys) like her every year. They never won. It seems beauty only goes so far.

Royal seemed like a nice boy as far as Careers go. He told me how the Games were survival of the fittest and he was going to be the fittest. There was a good chance he was right, too. I could tell he was strong, and he was ready to do what he needed. A lot of Tributes weren't.

The girl from Two, Venus, was much prettier than Valencia in my opinion, even if she looked ready to snap me in half. Her teal dress and gold heels made her look much classier than her predecessor, and she spoke quietly and clearly.

"Do you think you can win the Hunger Games?" I asked her.

"I know I can," she said. I didn't doubt her.

The next boy was the worst stereotype of a Career. He was brash, confident, cocky, and much less intelligent than he thought. He'd make it farther than he deserved, but he'd never win. My money was on Venus killing him.

I always enjoyed talking to the Tributes from Three. They were usually polite, spacey, and innocently brilliant. Spencer was far more streetwise than I expected.

"Do you have anyone waiting for you back home?" I asked him.

"No," he said.

"Oh, dear. I can tell you're going to fight anyway," I said. Times like these made me hate my job.

"I don't have much training or strength, but I'll give them a fight," Spencer said. He might just do it, too. He's got a chance.

Hailey was something else. She was a wild card.

"What do you like to do back home?" I asked her.

"I like to read fairy tales. I pretend a lot. Now I'm pretending I'm Theseus, since he was a Tribute just like me," she said.

"What about me?" I asked, curious to see what she'd say.

"You talk a lot, so you're like an oracle," she said.

"At least I'm not a harpy!" I said to the audience. They laughed uproariously. The audience loved her pink dress and black tights almost as much as they loved her. That girl wasn't going to want for anything in the Arena.

As far as Careers go, Dane wasn't so bad. He seemed nervous about the whole thing, and he talked more about his time in the Capitol than his strategy. He wore a simple blue and black tuxedo and looked far less ridiculous than many Tributes I'd seen.

"A handsome fellow like you must have someone back home, right?" I asked him.

"No, not really," he said. He blushed and looked away.

"Folks, I don't believe that for one minute," I said to the audience. I smiled after Dane as he left. The odds were slim, but I was pulling for him.

The girl from Four wasn't a Career this time. It happened now and then. She was fiddling with something in her pocket.

"Is that your token there?" I asked her.

"Yeah," she said shyly.

"Let us have a look," I asked. She held out a little wooden otter.

"Why'd you pick that?" I asked.

"I really like animals. I have an otter back home named Ollie. I want to win so I can see him again. He doesn't like it when my dad feeds him. He doesn't do it right," she said.

I knew she didn't have a chance, but if I was allowed, I'd sponsor her all the otters I could afford. A girl like that should die happy.

I always hated interviewing siblings. Daniel and Sarla sat together on a couch in a white tuxedo and a white sundress. We thought the viewers would like to see them together.

"I suppose you two intend to be allies?" I asked Daniel.

"All the way. That's what sisters are for," he said. Sarla held his hand.

"I wish you both the very best," I said. I knew they'd haunt me a long time. One of them was going to die, probably both of them. For both their sakes I hoped Daniel went first.

"What's your strategy for the Games?" I asked Harvey.

"I can't give away specifics, of course, but I intend to outthink my opponents," he said. I hoped he could.

Astra could barely walk in her ruffled purple dress and heels. She patted her hair like she wasn't used to it being flat.

"You look wonderful," I said.

"Thanks, but I'm ready to go home and get all this off," she said.

"That's the attitude. Best of luck," I said. She wasn't getting home.

"Only thirteen years old. Are you worried about that?" I asked Timber.

"I'll be fourteen the day the Games start," he said. "So I'll be fine." The audience laughed.

"Happy early birthday! I hope something good comes of it," I said.

I watched him go with a heavy heart. Thirteen years old. He didn't deserve this.

Ever broke the outfit mold with a white blouse and pale jeans. Her hair was twisted up in an oddly intricate bun for such casual attire.

"Here's the girl who got a 10. Care to tell us about that?" I asked.

"I was a little surprised too. I guess I'm better than I thought," she said.

"You're probably better than your opponents think, too," I said. "There's an advantage."

I didn't have to worry about her. That girl could take care of herself.

"How are you going to win?" I asked Alayza.

"I'm not sure yet, but I'll think of something," she said. She lounged casually on the chair.

"You seem confident," I observed.

"Yeah, I got this," she said. I knew she didn't.

Caldwell made things difficult. He answered everything with one or two words and looked everywhere but at me. I was reminded of the year that girl from 7 was Reaped from the sanitarium. She couldn't even talk, and she never left me. Caldwell had a chance, but I wasn't holding my breath.

Heidi's cinched green dress made her look like the rolling fields of her home. She was as comely as her attire, and I wished that meant more in the Games.

I was missing Heidi three minutes into my next interview. The only good thing about Miller was that I wouldn't have to miss him. How was that boy not dead yet?

I bet Bree and Hailey got along just fine. With her gold dress and heels, Bree looked like Midas' princess.

"I bet you have all sorts of hidden tricks for the Games," I said.

"I can steal stuff. Well, not very well. Sometimes I get caught," she said.

"Not that I would know anything about stealing, but if you steal stuff nobody wants anyway, you might have better luck," I said. I hoped she did.

I didn't know what it was about me, but Jean sure seemed to dislike me. He glared at me like he was daring me to say something.

"How do you like the Capitol?" I began.

"I shouldn't say. There are women present," he said.

At that point I was trying to keep him from getting his family killed, so I stuck to simple questions about his outfit and such. I breathed easier when he left, even though I knew he was right. He was the only one who knew what was really happening, and it chilled me.

Peppermint and Apollo also opted to appear together. They constantly wrestled on the couch and jostled each other. Between spats, Peppermint assured me she had things covered, and Apollo agreed with her. They certainly looked better than they had in the Parade. Peppermint had a gorgeous green gown with spirals of gold glitter, and her hair was tousled in a half-updo. Maybe she had something to do with that terrified stylist I saw scuttling the halls. Apollo's matching black suit and green tie might similarly be explained by the stylist I saw rubbing a bruised jaw. If they treated their opponents like they did their stylists, those two had a chance.

Aspen's outfit tied in with his parade outfit, but it was more subdued. A black jacket with red lining went with black pants and black low heels. I could tell polka dot would be more appropriate. I didn't need to fake laughs with that boy. I could hardly keep up my interview. Panem would be a duller place if he didn't come back.

The last tribute of all was Valerie. She wore a simple maroon dress, and she matched it. She told me how she and Aspen were allies and she could patch him up if he messed up. She also said she watched me whenever she had a chance because I had all the best gossip. It's always nice to meet a fan. I didn't think I'd meet her again.