The 50th Hunger Games, Second Quarter Quell

Chapter Seven

Haymitch got up early in the morning. His nightmare had been about the other tributes and them killing him, something which would become a reality very soon.

To shake off the dream, he had a shower and then dressed in the clothes laid out for him, a burgundy tunic, leather shoes and black trousers. He brushed his hair then went for breakfast.

The other tributes were already at the table, with Crocas and Claudia. Haymitch sat down and an Avox serves him with a bowl of chilled fruit salad and a glass of what looks like orange juice, a luxury Haymitch got every Christmas. The other tributes were also dressed in burgundy tunics and black trousers. Maysilee had her brown hair up in a ponytail.

"Remember what I said. You need to hide your talents. If you are really strong, hide that. If you are a dab hand at making snares, hide it until later." Crocas told them all. Haymitch ate a few pieces of fruit but could barely gain an appetite. He gave up after a while.

"I have decided to pair you up to mentor you. Clay and Poppy will be mentored together which leaves Haymitch and Maysilee to be mentored together. Does that work for everyone?" Crocas asked, looking around the table. Haymitch nodded, he liked Maysilee and didn't mind working with her. Haymitch was confused as to why the boys were not being mentored together however he didn't mind. Truthfully he liked Maysilee and was scared of Clay. Clay was taller, stronger and seemed angrier. There was no doubt Clay would succeed in a fight with Haymitch.

"Well if that's all fine, I will be providing you with mentoring advice. Meanwhile, Claudia is going to prepare you for your interview. This occurs a day after your last day of training. Therefore, you'll need to be prepared."

After breakfast, Crocas took Clay and Poppy to be mentored. They had an hour and a half before being needed down for training. Crocas took Clay and Poppy to a private room off the dining room. Claudia staying in the dining room with Haymitch and Maysilee. The Avoxes cleaned the table and Claudia got provided with coffee.

"Okay. So your interview is televised and everyone in the Capitol will be watching. A lot of people will be in the audience and everyone in the districts will see it too. To get sponsors, you need to grab their attention. Be witty, be confident, be sassy, be sexy, be a romantic. Be different."

"What would you suggest?" Maysilee asked.

"For you Maysilee, I would say be yourself. You seem very confident, you seem sassy. So stay that person. All the girls will want to be your friend and all the boys will want to be your lover. You act confident and sponsors will love that you just don't care."

"What about me?" Haymitch asked.

"Haymitch, I cannot understand you. You seem quiet and curious. I think you could play on that or try something else. If you play on quiet and curious, you'll intrigue sponsors."

"What about the something else?" Haymitch asked. He felt being himself wouldn't be enough for sponsoring him.

"You could try to be a romantic or witty. Be sarcastic."

"I don't really want to be romantic and I'm not very witty." Haymitch fidgeted with the tips of his fingers.

"Then just be yourself. I honestly believe I can appeal to sponsors by you being yourself."

"Can I ask a question?" Maysilee asked Claudia.

"Of course?"

"What about Poppy and Clay? What would their angles be?"

"Poppy is one of the younger ones in the groups of tributes. I would say Poppy would need to look sweet and innocent. Clay... He needs to be less angry. Capitol citizens will not like angriness and will not support it either." Claudia changed the subject after that, talking about how they should position themselves in front of the cameras, how they should act. After an hour and a bit, they finished mentoring and all four tributes had to go down the crystal lift with Crocas. The training area was downstairs and below ground level. It was set out as a massive gymnasium with all sorts of workshops, weapon areas and more. Crocas hissed good luck to them all and left them to it.