Bluebell's Interview

Instructions

Bluebell's Interview (wow no procrastination moment? :o) --- Bluebell took a deep breath in. "Introducing our next tribute, Bluebell Summer-Sage from District 12!" she heard Sundew exclaim. She put on her 'wow, this is amazing' smile and calmly walked onstage, acutely aware of every paw she placed down. /Good thing I'm good at playing pretend/ she thought. "Bluebell," Sundew said welcomingly. "Tell us about yourself, how you grew up." That's when she noticed. All over the room. Plants, but not anything like how they should be. They were too... alive. They had eyes. They moved. /More of the Capitol's horrible mutts.../ she thought in disgust, remembering her encounter with the bug mutts in her gamemaker session. They looked far worse than they did on screen. She made sure to act like she wasn't wary, like it was perfectly fine to have plants with eyes surrounding her, but she knew that, if they were anything like other mutts, they could be very deadly. She sat herself down and focused on the question. "Well, Sundew," she began, still smiling. "I have a weird family. After her first husband died, my mother married my father. I have a step sister, but I don't see her much. I must have other family from my father's side somewhere out there, but I don't know them." She took the chance to glance around. The President's conservatory was nothing short of lavish. The polished glass walls seemed invisible, and the soft sunlight lit up the room. "Oh, why is it that you don't see your sister or your father's side?" Sundew asked. "Hm, I'm not too sure. I think they're all just... busy. Or..." she paused. "Maybe they're all just dead." She dropped her smile, but didn't show sadness. Her heart ached for her sister, who had mysteriously disappeared, but she had no feelings whatsoever for her father's family. Sundew seemed slightly surprised by the turn of events, but she pulled her face back into her calm expression and said, "oh, I offer my sincerest condolences to you, Bluebell." She felt something brush her arm. She tried not to tense up, but failed. She looked to see what it was, and only just stopped short of screaming when she saw, alarmingly close to her, was a venus flytrap mutt. She noted its large jaws and teeth-like thorns. A bite from it could be bad. "Oh, hello," she said to it, keeping her voice steady. "Sorry, I didn't see you there!" From the corner of her eye, she could see Sundew smile. Menacingly? Or in humour? "That's Stuart," they said. "I know. I saw you on television," she said to Stuart. "You and your friends are my audience, aren't you?" She looked around and saw more plants. Were they closer than before? Had she said something they didn't like? "Anyway, let's continue the interview," Sundew said. "Time's ticking!" Bluebell didn't want to turn her head away from the mutts. Would they leap and attack her? Still, she met Sundew's eyes again and smiled. /Hm, unnatural eye colours/ she thought, trying to take her mind off the disturbing mutts. "I saw your parade, Bluebell," they said. "All those nice glowing lights really cut through the fog. What did you think of the experience?" "Oh, that was nothing really," Bluebell began. Her heart froze. Was Stuart pressing closer to her? "I really have to thank my stylist and team, they really pulled it off!" Was her voice rising higher in pitch? /Please don't sweat/ she willed herself. "Leave it to them to put on such a display. I absolutely loved every second of it!" Good. She had made the right answer. Stuart moved away. "Good to hear!" Sundew said. "We have a little bit of time left. Please let us talk about that wonderful dress of yours!" With everything that had been going on, Bluebell had hardly paid any attention to her dress. She looked down at it, and silently agreed that it was truly wonderful. "I once again have to thank my stylist completely for this dress. She stood up, noticing its features. Guilt crept into her for not paying more attention to it earlier. "The white colour, edged with blue, matches my fur completely. Oh, and see," she pointed to the bottom edge of the dress. "They've sewn on bluebells." She smiled. "Mm-hm, and I must say, I love the fire pattern going on at the trim as well, just behind the bluebells," Sundew pointed out. "Oh yes, fire, representing District 12." Stuart creeped closer. "An absolutely wonderful and creative idea from my stylist!" she quickly added. Sundew smiled. "I agree." There was a pause. "Guess there's still time left," Sundew said. "Which is great! I can sneak in this last question." Bluebell waited for them to continue, watching as Sundew glanced at a card. "How will you win?" Her heart gave a jolt. She wasn't ready to answer this question, but she kept her face stern, painting a smirk on it. /Think... think.../ she willed herself. "The way all victors do," she said. "By killing." (+)