[VIDEO FEED]
Jul. 1st, 2013 01:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yourhostsIt'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.
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.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-01 10:22 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-01 10:48 am (UTC)"I have to say that was quite an entrance you made in the Tribute parade. The handholding," He pauses dramatically to incline his head and place a hand on his chest. "A truly heartwarming moment. Isn't that right?"
He grins and gestures to the crowd who very loudly and clearly agree with him before turning his attention back to his interview. "Would you like to tell me about that?"
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 06:23 am (UTC)"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.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 06:44 am (UTC)"I know one subject of discussion has been your name. Caroline. Very pretty, very quaint. Very interesting." He's the very picture of friendly casual conversation. "Is it a family name?"
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 06:58 am (UTC)"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.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 07:31 am (UTC)"Caro is a kind of flower, isn't it?" He sounds quite honest in his curiosity, as if this wasn't one of a million things he was briefed about earlier. "Is that where your moniker originates? The flower of District 12?"
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 08:09 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 08:49 am (UTC)"I'm curious and you'll have to forgive me for asking," He starts, smile taking a turn for the slightly apologetic. "After all this whirlwind training and preparation you've had, how do you think you'll fare in the Arena?"
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 08:58 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 09:16 am (UTC)"Ladies and gentlemen, Caro Lichfield!" From there it's an easy thing to get back on his feet and guide her to hers. Provided she go along with him (and he has no indication she will not) the interview ends with them raising their arms and Caesar beaming at the audience. The crowd eats it up. "The Flower of District 12!"
Then it's just getting her off the stage while he prepares for the last interview of the night.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-02 09:28 am (UTC)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)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)"Did I really? That was a pretty disastrous opening."
Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]
Date: 2013-07-02 10:26 am (UTC)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)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)"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)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)"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.
Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]
Date: 2013-07-02 10:46 am (UTC)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)"Well at least I didn't do that," she chokes out.
Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]
Date: 2013-07-02 11:05 am (UTC)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)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)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)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)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)"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)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.
Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]
Date: 2013-07-03 12:58 am (UTC)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)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)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.
Re: [UNRECORDED: backstage]
Date: 2013-07-03 03:49 am (UTC)"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)"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)"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.