Through A Mentor's View

Chapter 7 - Interviews

The Hunger Games: A Night of Interviews was broadcast throughout Panem. A huge screen was placed in the back, showing the (remaining) tributes' names and the amount of bets and sponsors they had. Livia knew Facet needed them. She'd told him at their first meeting and she stayed true to her words: his skills would be no use if he was close to starvation. Due to the events of the previous days, not all tributes and their mentors were present. 

Velvereen, Sabyn, Ginnee, Otto, Sheaf and Panlo all were dead and in the cases of Sheaf and Panlo, the mentors were dead too. Palmyra and Florus fortunately seemed lively and fine but they stayed in the background, never being too much in need for the spotlight. As for the Ring twins, despite Diana had been allowed home she wasn't in the state yet of being able to attend the interviews. Not that she had to, with her tribute being dead she couldn't win anymore and therefore wasn't needed. 

Of the mentor-tribute pairs who were able of participating, only a few actually showed up. Facet and Livia, Io and her science-mad tribute, and both from 4. Festus, Persephone and their tributes sat together like a family almost, making Livia recall Arachne's words about how devasted they'd be when their tributes won't make it.

Treech and Vipsania were there too, smiling at each other too warmly. Treech brushed a strand of Vipsania's hair behind her ear and she giggled like a loved-up school girl; that's what she was but this love wasn't destined to have a future.

Tiny Bobbin from 8 and his mentor were there too. Snooty Juno Phibbs. Tanner from 10 showed up, unlike his district partner Brandy that apparently had zero interest, much to the delight of Arachne. And obviously Coriolanus and his songbird were there too, stealing everyone's spotlight.

The only good thing coming from these interviews was the fact Livia saw how most of her classmates were truly fine or on the mend. She herself was glad her arm didn't need to be in a sling anymore although it still ached. Everything ached - her head, her arm, her knee and most of all her soul. And seeing how Lucy Gray had sponsors even before the interviews, unlike many other tributes, nearly made her jump from her seat. "Facet I want you to forget what I've told you about not giving away too much. You need people's attention and you need sponsors. Tell them about your skills. Those people should know what kind of person they're gonna face." she demanded.

Facet looked almost hurt at her words but before he could reply, they were called to the stage. With her head held high Livia walked next to Facet, daring a look to the audience. Rounds of applause. Of course - District 1, the boy, a ticket for the win. Perfect for the heiress to the Capitol's largest bank. That's all people ever saw in Livia, the same way all people could ever see in Facet was him being the 'District 1 boy'.

"Up first we have Facet from District 1 and his mentor Livia Cardew!"

Applause and cheers from her classmates. Festus even whistled. If there was anything to give her classmates credit for, then it was their support. Even if some of them just pretended to care. Facet pulled the chair back for Livia and then sat down himself, nodding at Lucky. He was going for the distanced role; getting sympathy on his side, presenting a strong character but not making himself vulnerable. 

Facet followed Livia's advice. If he did it because of trusting her or because she told him to do so - she didn't get to ask. But he did well. Speaking about how he's known as the best knife thrower at his school, saying how he could hit his target from metres away. Precisely. He told Lucky about all the different ways to throw the knife, depending on what he wanted to hit - and that was when Livia tried to not listen too much. The thought that his boy next to her possibly had to kill someone in the upcoming days made her feel awful. She felt pity for him, so much pity.

The thing that stuck with her the most was something else though. As Lucky asked Facet if there was anything else he wanted to say, he smirked, "Anything can become a weapon if you know how to use it wisely."