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The crowning ceremony for one Caro Lichfield, District 12, gets a particularly lovely turnout. The Capitol crowds like her very much, obviously - but they like Victors, in general, the bloodier the better. Everyone's very excited about the surprise win from perhaps the most underdog of underdog districts, and in what a spectacular fashion it was. The Flower of District 12 had given them quite a wonderfully bloody show, hadn't she? The drama. The betrayal. The violence. But, on with the show!

Caesar greets the audience with his usual panache before begining the introductions for the Victor's prep team. Weyoun Trinket is first, smiling, wavin and beaming brightly at the audience. Garak and Portia follow to loud applause, of course, they had done such a good job. Walter is the last and he barely gets out on stage before he stumbles, nearly falling before catching himself at what might be literally the last possible second. He pauses his movement towards his spot to look vaguely relieved, then grin and give a very clear no I'm ok, I'm ok thumbs up. The crowd roars in laughter then claps and stomps for about five minutes straight. To his credit, he manages to not look all that shocked on camera.

Once the crowd quiets down, Caro is lifted up to the stage from below it to much fanfare. She looks lovely, no trace of the violence and horror of her Games to speak of, and her dress is something that her stylist will get yet more acclaim. She finds her seat - the wonderfully ornate throne everyone has seen every year - and settles in while Caesar cues the recap. The lights dim, and the highlight reel begins. They cut those long 7 days into only the 'best' - and only what fits their particular storyline, that of a very cunning girl. The death of Ceebee and Cypress is included and accompanied by a very sad song, a leitmotif that plays again both in Zopf's eventual demise and then in Caro's eventual triumph.

The lights brighten again, and the anthem repeats as President Snow himself takes the stage. A small girl accompanies him with a crown held delicately on a very ornate pillow. He places it on Caro's head to thundering applause. Much waving and smiling follows, until Caesar finally reminds the audience to tune in for the Victory interview! And then the show ends.

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After the ordeal that was the crowning and highlight reel, Caro is now waiting backstage before her post-Games interview. She's a little nervous, but she's done a Flickerman interview before. And at least for the moment, she's a lot safer than she was for that one.

She has one last moment to fuss with her dress-- it's generally longer than the last one, but the shortest points are still rather short-- before Flickerman's calling her up onstage.

Here goes nothing.

Flickerman is his normal cheerful, grinning self, leading Caro to her seat before he takes his. It's a well-decarated but near empty room, no live audience this time. Just the two of them and a camera crew.

The cameras aren't rolling when he leads her to her chair and settles down in his. They've got a moment, at least.

"Congratulations, Caro!" He says with real sincerity. He's actually genuinely quite glad for her. He's happy for all Victors, regardless, but given the odds that had been stacked against her how could he not be? "How are you faring?"

"Thank you!" She fusses with the damn dress a little. "I'm... fine, really. Still not used to Capitol fashion, I'm afraid." She smiles and rolls her eyes a little while she can get away with it.

And she really is fine so far. There's no telling what it'll be like once she goes home, but that's a problem for another time. Right now she's got an interview to do.

Q is lounging around in a vacant seat in the audience, drink in hand. He perks up a little when the star of the hour makes her way onstage. He was prepared to go back to lounging insolently when Lichfield makes that offhand comment about Capitol fashion, and well... Q can't help himself.

"As long as you promise not to sniff him," he drawls loudly from the front row.

Caro chokes on her laughter. Was that the announcer, Q? Oh god, it was.

"I really hadn't planned on it!" she replies, before turning a really over the top thoughtful look at Flickerman. "I hope that's okay," she adds in her most uncertain voice, frowning slightly. She's not quite batting her eyelashes, but close.

Then she rolls her eyes and catches Q mock saluting her with his drink. She folds her hands and looks the very picture of innocence.

Caesar reaches over and pats her on the hand a little. And then Q interjects and Caro does her thing, and Caesar finds himself sighing very quietly and rolling his eyes a little.

"Yes, that is more than alright. It was a little... awkward." It was mortifying but he's not going to say that. Q gives him enough trouble for it as is.

He'd tell her to relax and not worry, but there's no need to. While he's quite sure she's hardly relaxed, she does seem to know to put on a good face for this already. He's sure she'll be fine. A second later, and a backwards countdown marks the beginning of filming.

Caesar's grin is on and bright when the cameras finally roll. "Welcome back, Caro! You look lovely." He beams. "It seems like only yesterday we first met you, and so much has happened in such a short time! Where do I even begin?"

He tilts his head, expression shifting towards the rather serious, his tone following along. "I'm sure all our viewers were very shocked at your injuries - I know I was! I'm sure that must have been horrible, such a grisly wound so far in. How did you feel when you realized your mentor had found help for you? What did you think when you first saw that parachute?"

Edited 2013-07-21 10:27 (UTC)

Injuries and parachutes! We're off to a much better start this time, thank you Flickerman. She'd smiled for the intro, of course, but turns a little thoughtful at the questions.

"I'd say it wasn't as bad as it looked, but I'd be lying," she says, smiling a little. "Although I think my jaw was worse than the cut, in some ways. Moving it at all was awful, so any time I had to open my mouth..." She actually pauses to press her fingers against her jaw briefly. It's healed perfectly, but the memory of the pain is still there.

"Well, I couldn't quite believe it!" Caro says of the parachute. "And then I opened it and I really couldn't believe it!"

Flickerman winces a little in sympathy. "And that is saying something." But the mood turns a little brighter with the rest of her answer. "Oh, I can only imagine!"

There's a brief pause while the screen actually replays a brief clip of those very events, because why not. It's rather nice aside from the horrible facial wounds - you can't fake that kind of reaction, after all. And it reminds him of something. "I'm very curious about what the note included said, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. It was very touching how you kept it with you."

"Oh really?" she asks, laughing a little. What's with this note anyway? "It said 'stay alive.' I really just put it in my pocket so it wasn't left out for someone to find. I tried not to leave any signs that were traceable to me specifically, and it was signed, so..." Caro trails off and shrugs slightly.

Aw hell, that's not a good enough answer, is it? "And well, I guess it was nice to get a friendly message, you know?"

"Oh, I see." But Flickerman's smile is a slightly knowing one even if he's not entirely sure what he's being all knowing about. Still, the bit with the note was actually rather charming.

And he uses her last comment to segue into his next set of questions. "Speaking of friendly - your District partner, Zopf. Given the way he spoke when I talked to him it seems things were... very different than what we'd been lead to believe. I don't think anyone saw that end coming, not even him. Would you care to talk about that a bit?"

Caro doesn't know what to make of that smirk, but thankfully Flickerman doesn't linger. She tries not to smile too evilly when he brings up Zopf.

"Well, I guess he neglected to mention that he never even spoke to me until the train ride here. He used to hang around where he thought I couldn't see, just kind of watching." She pauses, choosing her words carefully. She and Wa--Sullivan discussed this. "And well, growing up I had some trouble with... well, with bullies I guess. And I mean, I wouldn't expect someone to jump in and help, but he never even asked if I was okay! And then he just kind of dumped that on me in the interviews." She gives Flickerman a largely un-faked wide eyed look. "I can't imagine anybody taking that well, really."

That may have been more rant than she should have let out, but damn does she hate Zopf. Well, did. He's dead now. At least she managed not to let on that the list of people in her home district that she doesn't loathe is... up to one, now. Well okay, some of the folks in the Hob aren't too bad.

Flickerman, however, thinks that was wonderful. He's sure it's not the whole truth but it's close enough, and he can practically hear the scandalized gasps. "Oh, my. I'm very sorry to hear all that. I bet those bullies will think twice before bothering you again, though. And my those are some very black marks against that young man's character."

He shakes his head a little before continuing, choosing something lighter before his inevitable switch to something... less pleasant. "Since we're on the subject, is there anyone back home you are interested in?"

It's always nice to hear someone else being appalled by bullshit she's had to deal with. But then... really? Ugh.

"Oh no," she says, managing to laugh a little again. "Nobody back home, sorry folks." She turns a smile at the camera briefly.

And that's even one hundred percent true. There's nobody back home that she's interested in. And that's all she'll even think about that right now.

Caesar laughs a little also and nods. "Oh, you have plenty of time for that, and I'm sure plenty of people will notice you now."

He'll just segue into something else again. "Your friends back home seemed... very private people. Though," He adds, before continuing on into something he knows she will dislike even before he says it. "You did seem to make a few more out here during training. The little boy from 7, Cypress, seemed very fond of you - and I daresay there wasn't a dry eye during your goodbyes. How well did you know each other?"

Caro just smiles and shrugs a little at that. She can't imagine anyone from 12 giving her the time of day ever, Victor or not, but nobody needs to hear that.

She manages not to react to that first bit. Private? More like nonexistent. And then, ohhhh of course he's asking about them. "I, um, I got to know him and Willow, and Ceebee and Servo during training, yeah. We ended up at some of the same training stations together, and none of us were really people anyone else wanted to talk to, so..." Caro looks down briefly.

"I don't know how well we really got to know each other, but all four of them were really sweet." Finding any of them in the Arena was the one thing she'd really dreaded, and well... Damn you, Zopf. She hadn't actually meant to kill him as quickly as she had.

Oh god, Caesar can already imagine the awwww's that will inspire. Goodness. He looks properly sympathetic - he is, truthfully, but he's so very many children like that. It's the business of the Games to deal in tragedy. "I'm sure their families are all very proud of them."

"And what Cypress said to you actually brings me to my next question." He has to lean in a bit for this one. "When did you know you were going to win?"

Proud? Pfft, yeah maybe. In all honesty, if she could give the all the extra food that will be given to 12 on Parcel Days to 3 and 7, she would. That might actually be something vaguely useful. Pride doesn't feed anybody or make anyone feel better.

This question, though. She leans in a little, too. "When did I..." She looks intently at Flickerman and glances at the camera. "I think it must have been sitting in the Justice Building waiting to get on the train." And Caro gives Flickerman and the people watching a little taste of her scary smile, though she keeps it mostly restrained.

That's probably not what you were expecting, Flickerman. But it's absolutely true.

Caesat only raises his eyebrows at that smile of hers. "That is very impressive, Caro."

And he's not even faking that. To be so assured of yourself in winning the Games, and to be right about it, well. That is something. "As was your strategy. I must say you played the others masterfully."

Of course, there's always more to add.

"And you had quite the team to aid you! I know this was the first years for both your stylist and your escort, and it has been a long time since I have seen Mr. Sullivan in the spotlight. Such a pity, too, what a charming man. The crowd did seem to love his appearance at your crowning." Of course charming really isn't the word most would use, but it is both polite and relatively appropriate at the moment. The man could at least poke fun at his missteps, at least. "What was your first impression of them all, when you first met? After your Reaping and your realization you'd win."

And just like that, Caro's smiling her very sweet Flower of District 12 smile again. Just for a moment, for effect.

"Oh, the team was amazing!" Caro chirps. "Oh wow, first impressions... it feels like such a long time ago!" She makes a show of thinking it over. "Well, to be honest I kind of forgot it was Mister Weyoun and Mister Garak's first year! They all work so well together, you'd think they'd known each other for years!" Which is... surprisingly true, actually. And also didn't really answer the question, but too bad. And there is no way you could get her to comment on "charming."

"Indeed." Caesar brightly agrees. "They did a splendid job this year."

He doesn't buy that answer for a second but he grins like he does, because it's the one he expected. "And next year you get to join them as a mentor. After your Victory Tour, of course."

"Oh wow, I guess I do!" The surprise in Caro's voice is genuine. "I haven't really had time to think about anything after the Games yet, you know? It's just been about getting through them." She's really not sure how she feels about mentoring, but she has plenty of time to work that out later.

"Of course, of course. The Games always are a more immediate matter than planning out what you'd do after winning." Caesar sounds so very understanding of her plight. "Besides, you have a good year and victory celebrations in all the Districts to look forward to yet before your time as a mentor approaches. Plenty of time to think about it."

He smiles again. "Perhaps next year you'll see the crowning from the prep team's part of the stage!" There's a pause there as he gets a notification. "Ah, it seems our time tonight has come to an end. It was wonderful as always to see you, Caro, and once again, congratulations on your win."

Once the cameras are off, Caro lets out a rather heartfelt sigh and stretches a little. Over in the front row, Q yawns obnoxiously. Caro snorts.

"Hey, I would have talked about my very exciting rock collection, if only I had been asked." She tries to look innocent again, but between claiming to have a rock collection and the face Q makes at that, she just cracks up laughing after about two seconds.

She looks around for her team, who should be waiting just offstage.

As soon as the cameras are definitely off, Walter just ambles out of the shadows backstage and out onstage with the hands in the pockets of his pants. He's shaking his head at Caro as he approaches "Don't encourage him, sweetheart. He's bad enough as is." Of course, he's talking about the other host chilling out in the empty seats. He gives the place a good look over, albeit a brief one. "Been a while. Looks about the same."

"The viewers like consistency," Caesar replies once he's done looking long suffering about Q.

"That explains why you haven't aged since I saw you last." Walter actually squints at him. "Capitol viewers and their need for consistency, eh?"

Caesar just sighs again. "Mr. Sullivan, could you not."

"I'm charming, though." Walter manages to say completely blank-faced. After a moment of staring down Flickerman, he cracks a very wolfish grin. "Regretting that comment already?"

Edited 2013-07-21 14:07 (UTC)

Wal--Sullivan, if your goal was to get her to stop laughing, you have failed miserably. Caro is actually giggling right now, between the banter and the... well, the banter. Not the other thing. Ahem.

Q just rolls his eyes at all of it, and loudly proclaims "I think I need another drink if we're going to have Amateur Hour before the Victory Banquet."

"Mother of god, if I'm driving you to drink... with all the shitty guests you sit through," Walter laughs and shakes his head at Q. "You due in for a replacement liver yet? Or are you just doing this shit to make payments on your last one?"

Alright they are on a schedule but he's going to let himself have a moment of fun, here. Why not.

Edited 2013-07-21 14:28 (UTC)

Caro's just giving Walter a sidelong glance when Q pipes up.

"At least they haven't had to give me a bulk discount yet. Try not to concuss anything tonight, huh?" And with a wink and a last fake toast in Caro and Sullivan's direction, Q is up and sweeping out of the room.

Caro turns to look up at Sullivan. "And here I thought you were about to tell me to hurry up."

Walter snorts at Q's departure, followed shortly by Caesar's - the latter looks entirely done with the whole lot of them, now. "I got a little sidetracked."

That's an understatement, actually. He might have even exchanged verbal barbs with Q longer had he been given the opportunity. "Alright, let's get the fuck outta here and go see about this goddamn party thing we gotta attend."

Despite the copious amounts of booze likely to be available he really, really does not like parties.

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