Reina watched as the colorful fish barreled into one another in the glass tank, stained a pretty teal shade that one could not find in the districts. They reminded her of the prismlike buildings that glowed as the train to the Capitol had streaked by- a world she could not reach, much less hold in her outstretched paw. A shark approached a lionfish in a dance. It swam around thrice, letting its tail flick through the water powerfully. The lionfish flourished its spine protectively. How beautiful. As if technicolor rain scattered amidst the dark of the fishtank, the creature was snapped up almost immediately. It was ironic. The fish was put out to perform, only to be eaten by that of whom was in power. Reina held back a wince. She was the lionfish. All the tributes were. They may have been in the ocean, but the fishercats had captured them and put them in a cage, and now they were being devoured for the world to see. Truly, how ironic. She was snapped out of her reverie by a voice. Her eyes wandered, almost dazed, to the cat facing her. Ambrose Lux. Their eyes and grinning smile seemed to bore into her face. "Welcome, Runa of District 11." "It's Reina, and I'm actually from District 7," Reina corrected. "But you can also call me Rune- or Runa, if you prefer it. I like it. It captures the spirit of the Capitol." Reina wore her charming smile, the same one that she had donned on the day of the parade and the gamemakers' challenge. Lying through her teeth about her views on the Capitol... it was a test of dignity. Death through dignity or survival through humiliation. The decision was over something as simple as her name. Reina chose survival this time. "Greetings, yourself, Ambrose Lux," she continued, refusing to look anywhere but at the spot between the audience and the interviewer's eyes. Reina tilted her head to catch the light in her own eyes, giving her a confident stage sparkle. "I used to watch your shows when I was little, even though I had limited access to such.. It's an honor to meet you here in person." "Yes, yes, Reinard," the old cat flipped his hair absentmindedly. Reina withheld a wince at the disrespect. "It's Rei-" "Alright, Reinold," Ambrose began with their first question. "Tell me about... mm.. hrm.. district 8." Reina's thoughts raced. Was this a test? To measure her strength of will and conformity? Was all this disrespect a ploy to have her spirits sink far lower, when she was already treated as a pawn in the Capitol's game? "I'm from District 7," she smiled, though her gaze was dark. "The lumber district. Last year's victor was from here, too, and well- we are certainly proud of it. The land is fertile and full of trees, as always." "I live with my little brother, who is quite sick." Reina shifted her gaze, trying to gain sympathy. Then, her eyes turned back steadily towards the audience in a valiant effort. "He's my only family, my everything. I don't know how he will fare alone. So I will do everything in my power to win." "So if you die, you have no one," mused Ambrose carelessly. Reina swallowed. Xe was right. The muscular she-cat rushed to defend herself. "No, there are- I mean, other cats- who would care if I were gone." Steadying herself, she winked somewhere into the audience. "Like my little shrimp, who is watching me right now. It really /is/ a shame that inevitably we'll never see each other again." She did not elaborate who her "little shrimp" was, nor that faer was in the games with her. Eloquence was probably somewhere in the crowd, watching- or perhaps she was preparing for her own interview. Either way, the thought of Reina's love was enough to bestow her with a temporary confidence. The lights flickered. A second lionfish brushed across the glass, avoiding capture by a second. The shark only watched. Then it snapped once more, and the lionfish was gone. "A secret lover, perhaps? Ah.. how adorable young love is. I am sure we will find out who this District 5 cat is.. whether you return or not." "District 7," Reina corrected for the third time. "My little shrimp... Our love was doomed from the start. I will be the one to return, yet..." she trailed off. "Well, you'll certainly find out more in the arena. So sponsor me, Reina from District 7, if you wish for me to live to tell the tale." The rest of the interview went by in a blur. The whole time, Reina's eyes were trained on the third lionfish, twitching idly in its tank. She watched as it evaded capture. Once, and twice, and again. She blinked slowly, the smile still steady on her face as she answered with ease. "Oh, deary.. it seems our time is up," Ambrose murmured, checking his watch. "May the odds ever be in your favor, Ruka." "Reina," she corrected for the final time as she bowed, quietly defiant. Death through dignity. "It was truly a pleasure to meet you. Remember my name." Only as she rose did the lionfish succumb to the shark's awaiting jaws, taken away by death's greedy grip.
