yourhosts: (Default)
[personal profile] yourhosts
It's finally the night the Capitol has been waiting for - the night of the Tribute interviews! The Tributes' last time to charm, dazzle, or intimidate their adoring public, and your dedicated host, Caesar Flickerman is here to play ringmaster for these glamorous proceedings.

He carefully directs the brief conversations in hopes of making each Tribute shine in his or her own way or, failing that, at least give them something memorable. It is not always as easy as it looks.

The pair from 1 are about as good as it gets for that district, as carefully groomed and prepped as they are, and the crowd does seem to love Chintz in particular. District 2 has provided an especially gruffly murderous pair that Caesar tries to emphasis the... combat capabilities of, not that it takes much effort.

District 3's duo of Ceebee and Servo are timid but darling, and though it takes a considerable amount of skill on Caesar's part to get them to talk much they get a good amount of awws from the crowd. They're immediately eclipsed by the careers from 4 and soon forgotten by the fickle crowd. The duos from 5 and 6 are unremarkable but Caesar does what he can regardless.

Cypress and Willow from 7 are especially memorable if only because of how eager they are to talk to him. They're both quite charming, Cypress especially, and somewhat alarmingly small and frail-looking in ways Flickerman knows will not bode well. But he's been surprised before.

8, 9, 10, 11 all pass by with the same amount of fanfare and effort, regardless of how much of an impact those interviews really had.

And now he comes to the final district, one he's prepared to put forth just as much effort for even if his expectations are rather hilariously low.

"From District 12!" He cheerfully announces into his mic to the waiting crowd. "You know her as the Flower of District 12, but we know her as the lovely Caro Lichfield!"

Cue lights and applause.

Date: 2013-07-01 10:22 am (UTC)
caroflower: (flower of district 12)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Whew, okay. Deep breath, move feet. Caro carefully climbs the steps up onto the stage and takes Flickerman's outstretched hand. She turns and smiles at the crowd almost perfectly in sync with him (not intentional on her part, but good). They're even louder than she expected in person. Don't focus on them, focus on Flickerman. Guiding ill prepared Tributes through interviews is his forte, and Caro isn't exactly ill prepared. It'll be fine.

She settles delicately into the chair, crossing one leg over the other and smoothing her skirt. She may still enact violence on Garak for this later.

Date: 2013-07-02 06:23 am (UTC)
caroflower: (smile)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
No, not really. But she knew he was going to ask. Caro smiles at Flickerman and folds her hands in her lap.

"Well Mister Flickerman, mostly it was an impulse. I-I guess it just seemed to me that we weren't in the Arena yet, and," she pauses to smile out at the audience, like she's a little embarrassed. "I just thought, at least for that moment, we could stand together, you know?" She shrugs a little.

Date: 2013-07-02 06:58 am (UTC)
caroflower: (smile)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Flickerman you little shit. This question, after the answer she just gave? Really now.

"Oh, I really have no idea why my parents picked that name." Caro is trying very, very hard not to squint at Flickerman. It's a close call. She smooths an imaginary wrinkle out of her skirt. "I think today and the Reaping are the only times I've actually heard my full name in years." She blinks and smiles again, but it's probably a little strained.

Please ask something not hazardous to her health next.

Date: 2013-07-02 08:09 am (UTC)
caroflower: (smile)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
She smiles widely right back. Caro sparkles pretty well too when she puts her mind to it. You can bet she is right now.

Good, this is safe. "It is! They're actually about the same color as my dress." She briefly fusses with one of the pleats, and smiles like she's been caught. "Um, I think so," she adds, nodding.

Date: 2013-07-02 08:58 am (UTC)
caroflower: (flower of district 12)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro lets her smile fade a little at that. "Well, I guess there's no way to know ahead of time," she looks down at her hands for a moment, "but I'm going to try my best." She smiles a little, like she's trying to cheer herself up.

It's the most honest thing she's said this whole interview. Just you wait, all of you. You're in for a surprise tomorrow.

Date: 2013-07-02 09:28 am (UTC)
caroflower: (flower of district 12)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro is more than happy to go along with this. She smiles at Flickerman and then turns her very best smile (which is pretty damn good) out on the crowd before carefully making her way offstage.

Whew, that's over with. She nods at Zopf as she passes him on her way to properly backstage. Hopefully some portion of the team will be around. Caro wants to talk about how that went out there.

[UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:11 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
Maybe it's a little odd that it's Walter who finds Caro first as she exits the stage, probably about as odd as how generally sober and relatively put together (for him) he is. It doesn't seem to phase him much. It probably should, given the way everyone reacts to how he interacts with Caro. It's actually getting kind of annoying. Not as annoying as Zopf's everything is but still.

For now, though, he's actually managing to be a relatively responsible mentor. "I think you managed to salvage that one, sweetheart." He's only partially sarcastic with that one. "Nice dress."

He's going to regret saying that.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:15 am (UTC)
caroflower: (ruffled)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Oh good, there's Walter. Sullivan. There's Sullivan. She'd roll her eyes at the dress comment, but she's too concerned about the damn interview.

"Did I really? That was a pretty disastrous opening."

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:26 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
"You did." Walter, at least, would not lie to her on this - or anything, really. If she'd done a shit job out there he would have just told her so. "I've seen worse. Speaking of which..."

He can hear the beginnings of Zopf's interview starting. This should be entertaining and probably incredibly painful also.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:30 am (UTC)
caroflower: (heh)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro nods. If she'd fucked it up, he'd have something to say about it. "Good."

She looks back the way she came, towards the stage. "Oh lord. I almost want to find one of the monitors and watch the train wreck."

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:33 am (UTC)
weyountrinket: (Default)
From: [personal profile] weyountrinket
It's a happy coincidence that finding a monitor has been precisely what Weyoun vanished to do. Now he's swanning back over to Walter (and now, Caro) looking rather pleased with himself at his timing.

"Right this way. I don't believe we've missed more than the introduction." And he swans right back out to the monitors, in a decently private nook away from the other teams.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:40 am (UTC)
caroflower: (heh)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
"Well, that's good timing," Caro says as she follows Weyoun. Ooh, and he found a more or less private spot, too.

She reaches the monitor in time to see Zopf leaning in to sniff Flickerman? What in the world?

"Okay what the hell."

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:43 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (aroo)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
Walter tags behind but does manage to see Zopf leaning in and... sniffing Caesar Flickerman? Is he drunk? Is the kid drunk? He's pretty sure that breadboy's never so much touched alcohol in his life so there's really no excuse for that, least not by most standards.

"Did he just--?" He furrows his brow and casts a confused glance to Weyoun, looking for some sort of... confirmation that just happened. "He sniffed him."

Goddamnit, Cupcake, what the fuck are you doing.
Edited Date: 2013-07-02 10:46 am (UTC)

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:46 am (UTC)
weyountrinket: (i am really rather upset)
From: [personal profile] weyountrinket
Weyoun's already there, of course. Already there and already staring at the screen in mute horror as Zopf leans in and sniffs at Caesar Flickerman then invites Flickerman to do the same to him.

He doesn't acknowledge either Caro or Walter until they speak, and even then it's with a quick glance and an expression that clearly reads Dear god I don't even know.

He adjusts his glasses and sighs in the most weary, long-suffering way. "Yes, he did."

Oh god they haven't even gotten to the questions yet. Kill him now, please.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 10:49 am (UTC)
caroflower: (ruffled)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro's mouth hangs open in complete bafflement for a moment. And then she's burying her head in her hands and laughing. Because why the fuck would you sniff Caesar Flickerman in front of all of Panem?

"Well at least I didn't do that," she chokes out.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 11:05 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (is that jam on my neck)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
"Thank god for small blessings." Walter coughs and wishes he'd brought a drink with him. Hell, Weyoun looks like he could use one, too.

The conversation turns towards Zopf's luck with girls and one in particular he apparently has liked 'forever'. Walter takes up quietly, impatiently pacing as he waits for the interview to be over. He's still paying attention - very close attention - but it's just inane chatter and not really of any great importance to anyone or anything.

And then Zopf drops a bomb on them.

Well, she came here with me.

It's Caro. Walter knew it, but... Goddamnit, Zopf.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 11:18 am (UTC)
caroflower: (ruffled)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro stops laughing as the topic turns towards girls. She looks back up at the screen suspiciously. Zopf you little shitstain don't you dare.

And now he's going on about having apparently been "in love" for years and Caro can barely hear him at this point over the blood roaring in her ears. She's gone very still, hands clenched at her sides. And then-

AND THEN he has the nerve to actually tell the entire goddamn country he's talking about her and

"YOU-" She can't even form words right now, she just... shrieks. She's reaching out like she's going to reach through the monitor and strangle him. With his intestines.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 11:28 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
Walter had moved forward a bit to squint at the screen in exasperation. It puts him much closer to Caro than he had been a moment previously, which is rather fortunate given how she goes from 0 to completely losing her shit in approximately half a second.

While Weyoun is dumbstruck by the suddenness of it, Sullivan's already moving to try and get her into some semblance of... if not calm, then under control. It's easy enough to step behind her and wrap an arm around her to secure hers so she stops whatever the fuck it is she's trying to do. The screaming is harder to deal with and he's really not sure how well she'll take suddenly being held pretty firmly by him, but... she'll deal with it somehow.

"Sweetheart. Caro. Caro." He can't really do a comforting voice but he repeats her name in the best one he can manage. "You can kill him later."

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 11:45 am (UTC)
caroflower: (ruffled)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro snarls and fights against the restraining arm without any recognition of who it is or really what she's doing. She's finally jerked out of her blind rage back into reality by Sullivan's words.

Yes. Yes she certainly can. In less than a day.

There is a visible progression as she gets her anger under control enough to actually be coherent again. She evens out her breathing-- when had she even started panting good lord-- and releases her deathgrip on Sullivan's arm. She flexes her hands and... oh dear, is that blood under her nails?

"I think you can let go now," she finally huffs. She doesn't dare look over at Weyoun right now.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 09:52 pm (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (well that was a thing that happened)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
Sullivan's as entirely unphased by all the scratches as he was by her anger explosion. He simply patiently waits while she pulls herself back together. When she tells him to, he releases her and takes a step back. It's only then that he bothers surveying the damage done. It's nothing terrible but his dress shirt got a little bloody along the way. "That was a new shirt."

The scratches get something resembling an approving chuckle. "Not bad, sweetheart, not bad at all. You'll want to go for the eyes though."

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-02 11:31 pm (UTC)
caroflower: (ruffled)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro turns to see just how much damage she did to Sullivan. Oops. She actually feels a little bad about that.

"Uh, sorry about that," she says awkwardly. She looks down at her hands. She's not bothered that there's blood, but she is bothered by whose it is. Way to shred one of the only likable people you've ever met, Caro. Sheesh.

She blinks. "I think I broke a nail."

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-03 12:33 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
"Eh." Walter waves off her apology. He doesn't give enough of a fuck for an apology to even be necessary. "Don't worry about it."

The nail comment gets a snort in response. Just... really?

"Think you can keep your shit together and play nice when he gets back here?" He looks Very Concerned indeed. She can't attack Zopf out here and besides Walter's already figuring out ways to spin this in her favor. By the time Zopf rejoins them, he'll have a plan. "If not I'm gonna have to work to get you out of here without any run ins."

And by runins he means maulings.
Edited Date: 2013-07-03 12:34 am (UTC)

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-03 12:58 am (UTC)
caroflower: (district 12)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
She rolls her eyes at the snort. No, not really. She said it because it was ridiculous.

Caro has to honestly think about it for a moment. "Yeah. It's just until tomorrow." And then her brain finally catches back up with her. Waaaaaait a minute. "Oh hell, I shouldn't even be mad, should I? I think he just passive aggressively did me a favor."

Goddamn Zopf.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-03 03:31 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (is that jam on my neck)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
Walter nods as she catches on, lips pressed thin. Star-crossed lovers really isn't an angle he'd been pulling for but since Zopf already got that ball rolling all he can do is adapt his game plan. "Unfortunately it's not gonna work out all that well for him."

It's one of those... moments where he says a little but means to say a lot. Get what use out of him you can. Do what you have to do; he's a resource and when you're done, you know what'll happen. But it's lucky he doesn't say these things (even if he manages to get quite a lot across from facial expression alone) because a second later who comes wandering in but Zopf.

Of course the first thing he mentions is all the scratches on Walter. The poor boy looks confused if not actually concerned. "What happened?"

"Catfight with Weyoun." Walter answers dismissively.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-03 03:40 am (UTC)
caroflower: (how aggravating)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
Caro nods at Sullivan, thoughtful. She'll have to rearrange her plans, too, because honestly? Zopf was going to be one of the first she went after, just because she hates him. But now... now she'll have to play along for a while. See what it gets her from the sponsors. She can always just make Zopf pay for it later. She smiles, and it's not one of her nice camera-friendly smiles.

But then Zopf comes tromping up, and the smile vanishes instantly. He's asking what happened to Wal-- Sullivan like he gives a damn, which annoys her all over again. It's not for much longer Caro, you can do this. She crosses her arms loosely, her hands folded around her elbows such that the blood under her nails isn't visible. She'd worry she'd been too slow, but this is Zopf. Slugs are quicker on the uptake.

She pins Zopf with a look that is really barely contained loathing, but might pass for just intense. If you're as dumb as Zopf is. She doesn't quite trust herself to talk right now.
Edited Date: 2013-07-03 03:40 am (UTC)

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-03 03:49 am (UTC)
weyountrinket: (Default)
From: [personal profile] weyountrinket
Weyoun politely clears his throat and hopefully redirects Zopf's attention from the very.... well, furious isn't a good enough word for Caro right now but it'll do.

"That interview was--" He pauses for a moment while he actually struggles for the words. He even looks to Walter, who just shrugs at him in return. "It was something."

It says a lot about Weyoun that he manages to make that sound like some kind of praise.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-03 03:58 am (UTC)
caroflower: (district 12)
From: [personal profile] caroflower
When Zopf turns to look at Weyoun, Caro takes a moment to finish composing herself. Deep breath in through the nose. Brief glance heavenwards as she holds her breath. Okay, now breathe out and relax your face. Good. Now she looks less like an ax murderer caught in the act. Okay.

"Yeah," she says quietly, letting her shoulders slump a little bit. She tilts her head forward and lets her hair fall in her face. This might not be the best acting she's ever done, but she's playing to an unsubtle audience.

Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]

Date: 2013-07-03 04:01 am (UTC)
illdrinktothat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] illdrinktothat
Walter doesn't even bother attempting too look anything but aggravated. But this is Walter Sullivan, after all; his default state is drunk and irritable. And he's going without the former so he's epsecialy the latter lately.

"Let's get the fuck out of here already," He grumbles and shoos the Tributes away from the monitor. They only have one night left and you know, they might actually want to eat some dinner soonish.

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