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milk-is-stable · 20 days ago

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The Shoot From the Hip Hunger Games: Final Eight Tribute Family Interviews

Masterpost (<-START HERE! the posts are best read in order)

The television glows to life and the Capitol TV theme music blares loudly from the speakers. Andre Beetroot runs out onto the stage, his jacket glittering under the stage lights, and the live studio audience bursts into applause.

"HEY HEY HEEEEEYYYYYY!" he cries, waving to the crowd. "I am Andre Beetroot and YOU are watching Capitol TV! Welcome to the show that you've all been waiting for, it is time to speak with the families of the final eight tributes still competing in the arena. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the remaining contestants and place your final bets and sponsorship bids, so pay close attention folks!"

Andre takes a seat in a large plush chair center stage and holds out a hand, gesturing to the empty chairs beside him.

"Starting us off tonight, we have a REAL TREAT for you folks. Making her first televised appearance in over ten years and here with us today to discuss Alexa from District 1, please welcome the one, the only, the magnificent Madame Petrova Romanoff!"

A tall, slender woman with silver-streaked blonde hair tied up in an elegant bun comes into view onstage. Despite her age, her movements are deliberate and graceful as she makes her way across the stage to her chair, and Andre Beetroot takes her hand and plants a kiss on the knuckles as she takes her seat.

"Welcome, Madame Romanoff, welcome! It is such a treat to have you here with us today. I must admit, when I saw you on the call sheet I was surprised; I did not know the most famous ballet star of the last century had a child!"

"Ah, no Mr. Beetroot, you are mistaken. Alexa is not my daughter."

"It says here that you're the only one who answered the interview request...what exactly is your relationship to our young tribute?"

"She was one of my students," Madame Romanoff explains, and Andre Beetroot leans forward.

"Ah, it is well known among those who follow the ballet world that you do not take many students. Young Alexa must be something very special indeed to have caught the attention of the great Petrova Romanoff! Please, tell us about her."

"Da, it is true, I do not take many students. I wish to commit myself fully to training only the best." Madame Romanoff looks out over the crowd as she speaks, her eyes distant. "And Alexa very well could have been. I believed her capable of reaching prima ballerina status before the age of twenty."

"Do you think this is still achievable for her, should she win the games?"

"That depends..." Madame Romanoff says. "If she continued to train with me, then perhaps. But even if she wins these games, I do not think she will return to my school. She is a girl of great spirit, and dislikes it when other people attempt to use her for their own purposes. She made it very clear when she left that she was going to forge her own way forward. Still...I think she has much potential. It would be a tragic waste to lose such a bright light from this world so early."

"Thank you so much Madame Romanoff, that's all the time we have for now, but folks! Give her a massive round of applause, and don't forget to sponsor Miss Alexa if you wish to see what her future holds!"

Madame Romanoff rises from her chair and nods to the audience before gliding away offstage.

"Now folks, we have another wonderful guest here with us tonight, everyone put your hands together for the District 3 football sensation and father of two of the tributes from this year's games, Alan Beckham and his wife Martha!"

The couple walks out on stage, Alan waving at the crowd with a smile. Andre Beetroot shakes both their hands and they take their seats.

"First off, let me say my condolences for the loss of your younger boy Janae," Andre Beetroot says. "Such a tragedy to have two children be reaped at once. Please though, tell us about Johnny."

"He's a sweet boy," Martha says, sitting up straight and folding her hands in her lap. "He and his brother were very close, and I can't..." she looks up, taking a deep breath through her nose. "I can't imagine what he's feeling right now, in that arena."

"He's a sensitive soul," Alan adds. "Overly so at times. If I'm honest, I'm surprised that he has lasted this long in the arena; Janae was always the mature one."

"He's an odd child, but that doesn't make him a failure or a disappointment," Martha says sharply, and Alan raises an eyebrow.

"Despite what some people have said in the past?" he asks, and she glares at him.

"Oh ho ho! I'm sensing some family drama here!" Andre Beetroot says, rubbing his hands together. "But alas, our time is very short. Mr. and Mrs. Beckham, please tell us: what would having a Hunger Games victor in the family mean to you?"

"We don't need a victor," Martha says sharply. "This family's been too obsessed with winning, if you ask me. What we need is for our boy to come home to us. I...haven't been the best mother, at times, and I'd give anything for the chance to tell him that I'm sorry."

"Wonderful, wonderful! Folks, if you want to give this mother a chance at reconciliation with her child, you know what to do!" Andre Beetroot cries as Alan and Martha get to their feet, still glaring at each other as they exit. "Now, our next tribute is Julian Bowman from District 4, and here to talk to us today is his mother Mary Louise and his father Harold! Give them a warm welcome, folks!"

The pair walk out onto the stage holding hands, and it becomes clear after a moment that this is not merely affection: Mary Louise is leading Harold as they walk.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bowman, welcome," says Andre Beetroot as he shakes their hands and they sit. "Your boy Julian has been involved in a series of alliances with several of the other tributes. Has he always made friends easily?"

"Aye, yes, he's a very friendly boy, and very trusting," Mary Louise says. "That used to worry me so much you know, and it has gotten him into some trouble in the past, but it can be a real strength of his as well."

"Where is Julian?" Harold asks abruptly, and Mary Louise lays a hand on his arm. "He's fighting in the Hunger Games dear, remember? We're here to tell people about him so he can get sponsors."

"Mrs. Bowman, is your husband well?" asks Andre Beetroot, and she purses her lips.

"He's been struggling ever since he had a stroke early this year," she says. "He has his good days and his bad days, and this is one of the poorer ones, that's all."

"Now, back to Julian. What are some advantages he may have that could help him in the arena?"

"Well, it should come as no surprise that he's a wonderful swimmer," Mary Louise says. "And as I said, his kind and trusting nature can be a strength of his as well. Just look at how showing kindness to that boy from District 12 saved him today. After everything we've been through as a family...I'm just so proud of how much he's grown. And he deserves the chance to grow even more."

"When is Julian coming home?" Harold asks suddenly, and Mary Louise takes his hand and gives it a squeeze.

"Hopefully soon, darling, hopefully very soon."

"And maybe if you out there watching give him a hand, then he will!" Andre Beetroot says, winking to the camera as Mary Louise and Harold get to their feet. "Now everyone, please give a big round of applause for the parents of our tribute from District 6, Anthony and Jennifer Murdoch!"

Anthony walks out onstage, then he turns back and holds out a hand to his wife. Meekly, she follows him onto the stage and takes his hand.

"Now, your Benjamin is currently allied with two of the tributes we've already spoken about this evening," Andre Beetroot says as they sit down. "Tell us, does that surprise you?"

"Oh no, not at all," Anthony says. "He's a very sociable lad."

"We took in several orphaned children after a train accident about a year ago," Jennifer adds. "And he always got along well with all of them. He and Clarissa were particularly close, though. Anthony and I are still grieving for her, if we're honest."

"Oh, so sorry to hear that!" Andre Beetroot exclaims. "That song of hers that Benjamin sang was certainly lovely. Now, what would you say is your boy’s greatest asset?"

"Before the games began, I would have said his curiosity or his kindness," says Anthony. "He's always been eager to learn about the world, and to help others. And he was quite good in school as well, he has hopes of designing new, more efficient motor cars and safer trains. In the arena though..."

He trails off, and Jennifer takes over.

"He's a strong boy. Like a lot of others his age in our District, he's worked as a coal shoveler for the railway for many years. And don't let his sweet demeanor fool you: he's seen his share of danger in his life, and he's managed to overcome it despite the odds."

"He's very brave," Anthony agrees. "He perseveres, even in the face of hardship."

"Fabulous! Folks, if you want to benefit from the bright, bold mind of a future engineer, then consider sponsoring Benjamin in the games," Andre Beetroot says, leading the audience in applause as Anthony and Jennifer get to their feet. "Now, next up to talk about Michael from District 7, please give a warm welcome to his parents Brandon and Carol Wilkinson!"

The couple arrive onstage arm in arm, and each shake Andre Beetroot's hand firmly before sitting down.

"So Brandon, young Michael told quite the harrowing story yesterday about the two of you surviving the viral outbreak in District 7! Care to expand on that at all?"

"Well...there's not much more to discuss, if I'm honest," Brandon says, clearing his throat. "It was a very harrowing few months. I lost my sister to that outbreak, as well as many of our friends...it's not a time I like dwelling on these days."

"One good thing did manage to come out of it, though," Carol pipes up. "We were separated before the outbreak, but afterwards we both realized that it was important to hold onto one another and work through our differences. Seeing the two of you come back out of those woods alive was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

"I have to imagine it was quite the blow then, to have to send your son off to the Hunger Games!" Andre Beetroot exclaims. "After you'd finally gotten your family back, it once again is threatening to break!"

"Maybe so, but I have to believe that Michael has what it takes to make it all the way to the end," Carol says. “It’s why I took up a collection back home to pay to send a sponsor gift to him…a photo of the three of us together, taken not long after we reunited."

"He's adjusted remarkably since the incident, so you wouldn't know it just from talking to him, but the things we had to do to stay alive..." Brandon trails off, and Carol takes his hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. "He's not a violent boy by nature, but this is not the first time he's had to fight for his life. I believe he'll do whatever is necessary to win."

"And what would that victory mean for you as a family?" asks Andre Beetroot.

"District 7 is still in desperate need of rebuilding," Carol says. "And Michael has a very good head for planning and building...just like his father," she adds, shooting Brandon a smile.

"The money would help us rebuild," Brandon agrees. "But the prize for winning is secondary. We just want our son back with us...we just want to be a family again."

"Truly heartwarming!" Andre Beetroot says, placing his hand on his chest. "Folks, you know what you have to do to make this family reunion happen! That's all the time we have for this interview, please welcome now from District 9 Inga's father Otto!"

Brandon and Carol exit, still arm in arm, and Otto enters to take their place.

"Now Otto, this is the second solo interview I'm doing tonight. Is there no one else besides you in your daughter's life?"

"Her grandmama helped me to raise her," Otto explains, "but she is too frail to come and interview in person. And her other closest friend...well, it was that little boy who burned. Hugh."

"I see, I see!" exclaims Andre Beetroot. "Now, I think we all want to know: where does your daughter get her fierce determination from? She's been quite impressive in the arena so far!"

"Well, I had hope that she would do well," Otto says. "She's always been very independent...she's also an adept woodsman, and a tremendous help at our family flower and herb shop. I did not fear that she would be claimed by the elements. However, I did worry how she would fare with the other aspects of the games. I see now though that I needn't have fretted so; she is a strong willed girl, and very tough, just like her grandmama."

"She certainly is! I'd hate to be on the receiving end of one of those kicks of hers," Andre Beetroot says with a chuckle. "Now tell me. What would it mean to the three of you as a family if Inga were to win this thing?"

"Ah, Inga and I have always shared a dream," Otto says, his expression wistful. "We wanted to expand our shop and its clientele, maybe even as far as the Capitol. I used to believe that it was my responsibility alone to make this happen, but Inga always wanted to play a bigger role, and I see now that I should have let her. If she is able to win this and come home to me, I will spend the rest of my days making it up to her, and we'll have the best flower shop in the entire nation!"

"Fantastic!" Andre Beetroot cries. "Imagine, buying an arrangement from one of the Victors of the games! If you'd like to make that a reality, then please sponsor Inga today! Thank you, Otto!"

Otto nods, and waves to the crowd as he gets to his feet and leaves the stage.

"And now everybody, the reason we have THREE chairs set up across from me today, please welcome from District 10, Peter Steven's family!"

Andre Beetroot leads the crowd in applause as two men, one brunette and one bald, and a blonde woman walk onto the stage together. The woman takes a seat in the middle of the other two, then reaches out and takes the brunette man's hand.

"Now, let me see if I can get you all straight," Andre Beetroot says. "Peter Steven is the tribute we're here to discuss. And you are his mother, Jemima Steven, correct?"

"Jemima Jeffrey now, actually" Jemima says. "And yes, I'm Peter's mother."

"Now, we have a Jim Steven here with us," says Andre Beetroot, and the bald man raises a hand.

"Yes, that's me."

"So you're Peter's father then?"

"Actually, I'm his father," says the other man. "David Jeffrey."

"We asked Peter if he wanted to change his last name, after we told him the news," Jemima said. "But he said that he'd rather not get even more confused about it, so he kept Jim's last name."

"But Jim is not his father?"

"Not in a biological sense, no," David says. "But he raised him for the first eight years of his life, and we all decided that it was best that he remain a part of Peter's life."

"Look, the three of us?" Jim says, gesturing between them. "We have our differences. But the one thing we all agree on is that we love Peter very much, and we always try to put him first."

"Wonderful, wonderful, you love to see it!" says Andre Beetroot with a clap of his hands. "Tell me about Peter, then."

"Oh, he's a wonderful boy," Jemima says. "I couldn't be more proud of him."

"Yes, and he's got a heart big enough to fit the whole world inside it," Jim adds, and David nods in agreement as Jemima continues on.

"He loves to play out in the garden, explore the outdoors, go with his father on the morning milk-runs..." she trails off, and puts a hand over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

"It's alright love, it's alright," David murmurs, rubbing her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she says, sucking in a breath and shaking herself. "It's just...I don't know what I'd do without him, I honestly don't."

"Aye, but he's a strong lad," David says. "And resilient as hell, too, you saw him in there today. He's got what it takes to win this thing, I know it."

"Well, I think I speak for the whole audience when I say I hope that you're right! And folks who want to make sure that's the case, remember! Sponsorship gifts help YOUR favorite tribute make it to the end. Give it up for the family members of Peter Steven!"

The three get to their feet, David still holding Jemima's hand as they exit.

"Finally folks, it is time for our final interview of the evening, so PLEASE put your hands together and give a warm welcome to Cliff Davidson, the father of Chip from District 12!"

A tall, lanky man walks out onstage and gives Andre Beetroot a nod before sitting down.

"So Cliff, tell us. Chip mentioned that he takes after his mother at times, but she's not with us here tonight?"

"No, no," Cliff says, shaking his head. "His mother passed about a year ago."

"Oh, so sorry to hear that! And Chip is your only child?"

"Yes, that's right. He's all I have left of her now...we've done a lot of healing together over the last several months, but the grief still feels quite fresh some days."

"I'm sure it's harrowing, having lost your wife and now seeing your son in constant danger every day."

"It is, it is," says Cliff, clasping his hands tightly in his lap. "Chip takes after the both of us in different ways, but when he's in the arena I see so much of my wife in him. He has her fearlessness, her intelligence..." he trails off, and shakes his head. "I just hope he holds onto who he is. My wife lost herself in her final days, and I regret every day that I wasn't able to help her more. I want more than anything for my son to come back to me, but I also fear for what winning the games would do to him. How do you as a parent reconcile the fact that your child is alive because twenty-three others are dead? How does a CHILD live with that fact?"

"Alright, WELL, that's all the time we have for today!" Andre Beetroot says quickly, flashing a bright smile to the crowd. "Everyone give it up for Cliff, and remember to sponsor Chip in the arena if you're so inclined!"

Cliff frowns slightly, but he gets to his feet, raises a hand to the crowd, and heads offstage.

"And THERE you have it Ladies and Gentlemen and ALL other configurations of being, I hope you had a FANTASTIC time getting to know our final eight tributes and their families a bit better! A sponsorship can mean the difference between life and death in the arena, so please, don't hold back! And don't forget to tune in tomorrow to our broadcast LIVE from the arena so you don't miss a SECOND of the action! My name has been Andre Beetroot, and on behalf of Capitol TV, Goodnight Everybodyyy!"

This broadcast will now break for commercial. Please tune in again soon to see what else will become of our tributes during the games!

— — —

Not really any meta today, so instead I leave you with a poll:

#sfth hunger games #shoot from the hip #sfth fanfiction #sfthposting #sfth #sfth alexa #sfth johnny #sfth julian #sfth benjamin #sfth michael #sfth inga #peter steven #sfth peter #andre beetroot #my writing

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