#( interview. caesar flickerman )

[calofhearting]

Cali: [Caesar, pre-04] I spoke to Cato at my afterparty last year. My god, he was always a delight! He spoke of you, you know? Only good things, of course. Something tells me he would have bragged about being in The Capitol to you. Would I be wrong? Well, look at how the tables have turned! [Laughs] Will you indulge by telling us about a memory you have with him? So many of us were moved by his valiant effort in the arena last Hunger Games. I'm sure a lot of the audience feels as though he's their brother as well. Don't we? [Audience cheers]

Calista never knew what to say when someone in the Capitol said things like that about her brother. Cato had been so important to her and to her family, but for people in the Capitol to feel like he was their brother? It felt disrespectful, somehow, even though she knew that that wasn't their intention. She thought that they were trying to be kind. But just talking to Cato for a few minutes when he was a tribute...that wasn't any way to actually know him, or to know what he was like. Cato wasn't the person that he had appeared to be in the Games. Or more specifically that wasn't all of who he was. There had been many sides to him, and the Capitol didn't know that.

"Oh, he definitely would have," she agreed with a small laugh. "I know that he was so honored to get to come to the Capitol as a tribute last year."

There were so many memories with her brother that she could talk about, but most of them were private and she wasn't willing to share with Caesar and the rest of the world. She was sure that they wanted to hear about her family's last night with Cato before he volunteered. Calista supposed that that made it easier for them. They had known that he was going to volunteer and they had been as prepared for it as they could. What did it feel like when your name was pulled from the Reaping Bowl and you hadn't trained for years? What was it like in the other Districts when you didn't have the confidence going into the Reaping Day that even if you were chosen someone else would more than likely step up to volunteer?

Unless the chosen volunteer didn't like you, that is. Calista had heard of that happening before.

"There are so many memories I could choose from," Calista mused with a smile. "The first one that comes to mind is when we were ten and it was a Reaping Day. It was a day off for my father and my mother was excited for the dinner that we were hosting later that night. She had made a cake, and Cato and I snuck a piece of it that morning," she laughed. "Our mom was so mad at us, I don't think I've ever seen her so mad. The mayor was coming for dinner, so there was a lot going on, you know? But we didn't know any better. Or...we did, but Cato really wanted that piece of cake and I was just along for the ride," a sad smile formed on her lips. "He had been the best brother, I was so lucky to have the time with him that I had."

[calofhearting]

Cali: [Caesar] What went through your mind when you became a Lottery Recipient this Quell, my dear?

Calista knew better than to be completely honest. When she had been told that she was a Lottery Recipient, she hadn't wanted to go. It had all felt too soon after losing Cato to go to the Capitol, but Calista had known that she couldn't say no. Her parents would never allow her to turn down the Capitol. And she knew that her parents were in no position to go either. Her mother barely functioned since losing Cato and her father...she wasn't sure that he could handle it either.

So it had been best that she went.

"Oh, I was so excited!" Calista lied, smiling at Caesar. "I had always dreamed of getting to go to the Capitol, you know? It was such an honor for my family that I was a Lottery Recipient. Especially this year. It was so special that I got to come to the Capitol. And during a Quarter Quell too! I felt like it was such an honor that didn't go to just anybody. I'm very happy that I got to be here to witness history."

[calofhearting]

Cali: [Caesar] Did the amount of rebels from District Two surprise you, my dear?

"It did," Calista replied without needing to take a moment to think. It had been shocking when she realized how many people and victors from Two were apparently rebels. When she read the names of the rebels it had felt like her world had shifted a little. Some names had been less surprising than others, but Calista felt like so much of what she knew was a lie.

"I never imagined a rebellion to begin with, but to see so many victors are apparently rebels? That was shocking to me, Caesar. And so upsetting. It feels like a betrayal to our District and more importantly to my brother, you know? Cato dreamed of becoming a victor and to find out so many are apparently rebels...it doesn't make any sense."

Especially Brutus. Brutus, who Cato had practically worshiped and spent so much time training with. Brutus, who had finally convinced her father to let her stop training because he didn't want to waste any more time on her. It made no sense! Calista would never understand it.

[calofhearting]

[Caesar] You look marvelous tonight! You look so much like Cato, it's crazy to me. You know what else is? The fact that the siblings of him and Clove Kentwell are on difference sides of the war. I know Cato and Clove would have stood beside you in this. They were so loyal to our nation, weren't they? Especially your brother. Oh he would have made a fabulous victor, my dear.

When Calista had been invited to Caesar's show, she had been nervous. The stakes were higher in this new world, and she was terrified of saying the wrong thing and ending up dead on a stage. But was she important enough for her execution to be broadcasted? Would she just...disappear, and her parents would have to wonder what happened to her for the rest of their lives? Or would they be relieved to get rid of her?

That thought made her stomach drop.

Calista didn't have a lot of time to focus on her thoughts, though, because Caesar's people were already ushering her onto the stage, even as her mind raced and her heart pounded in her chest. She reminded herself to smile at the last moment.

"It's so nice to see you again, Caesar! Thank you. It's all thanks to Domi, she's the most incredible designer, don't you think? I feel so lucky to be dressed by her. It makes me feel close to Cato, you know? Her outfits were some of the last that he wore...I don't know, it's probably silly, but it's just nice. It helps that Domi's been so amazing to me since I've met her."

She had known that there was a chance that Cadence and Clove would come up tonight, but she had naively hoped that she could get away without having to say anything about them tonight. But of course, things didn't work that way.

"I never would have expected that of Cadence. It was such a shock to me, truly. It's such a shame, isn't it? The way she fooled everyone, even us in Two," Calista said, her eyes wide. It felt wrong, to say those things, but what choice did she have? "Clove would have been so upset to learn what's happened, I think. And Cato...he would be devastated. He loved Panem so much, and it would kill him to see the state of things." She paused. "Is it wrong to say that a part of me..." she hesitated. "A part of me is glad that he doesn't have to see his beloved country like this? It gives me a little bit of peace. But I know if he were here he would be standing beside me firmly on the side of what's right."

Tears burned in her eyes. "My brother would have been the best victor. It was such a devastating loss...not just for me and my family, but for all of Panem."

[ceceliaknowsbest]

[Caesar] Enough about your fallen tributes though. I’m sure you’ve had enough of that! But if you can humor me this, what should we expect on the upcoming season of Waking Up with the Whitvales? We can’t get enough! [Audience cheers]

It always disturbed her, the way that the Capitol could move on from death and violence as if nothing had happened. Benjamin's death was going to be featured in her nightmares over the next year. The particularly gruesome ones always stuck with her. But the Capitol was desensitized from the violence and the death. They were just tributes to them. But to Cecelia they were people. She had spent time with her tributes trying to give them the best damned chance at surviving the Arena. And she was going to spend the next year remembering them, trying to help their families through their grief, and trying to pick up her own pieces. She wasn't tired of speaking of her tributes. They had been people and they deserved to be remembered. It had been five minutes and the Capitol already forgot.

"Oh, that makes me so happy! I always love hearing about how much people enjoy our show. I love sharing my family with all of you," she smiedl She didn't. "We're still in the early stages of talking about the new season, they're not going to come out until the fall, but I think that you are all going to be very happy with what you see. I can't give away too much, Caesar, I hope you understand. My producers would be so upset with me if I spoiled all the surprises! But let's just say that an old face may show back up this year. But that's all I can say. You'll have to tune in when it airs."

[ceceliaknowsbest]

[Caesar] Welcome back to the show, my dear. Last time you were here, we got a pregnancy announcement. Any news? [Winks] I'm just kidding of course. I'm so sorry to see you've lost both tributes so soon into the games. How are you fairing, my sweet Cecelia?

Cecelia hated him. Oh, she hated Caesar with his incredibly personal questions. But it was a reminder that her body wasn't her own, her children weren't her own, and her life wasn't her own. It made her sick, the way that the Capitol loved to speculate if she was pregnant again, or if she and Sterling were having marital issues. They loved to hear about the intimiate details of her life, but if they truly knew just how boring she was, they would turn their backs on them and that scared her. Snow allowed them to be because they were loved by the people of the Capitol. But what if that changed? What would he do? The thought terrified her.

But Cecelia smiled. "What do you think, Caesar, do I look like I'm pregnant?" She asked, putting a hand on her hip. The man stumbled through his words to assure her that she didn't look pregnant, much to the amusement of the crowd. It was the little things that made it worth it, like making Caesar uncomfortable. "I'm kidding, you know that you will be the first to know if we have news."

"Thank you, Caesar. I'm so heartbroken to lose my tributes. It's always so hard to say goodbye to them, but I promise I will be okay. It's the nature of the Games and there's always next year. I am going to spend some time with my kids and my husband. They always make it better and I'm looking forward to getting to show off my favorite places in the Capitol now that my older two are getting older."

[dellcartwrights]

[Caesar] We know what your relationship with Peeta Mellark is like. We love two best friends! [Audience cheers] But tell us, what was your first impression of Katniss Everdeen?

"I'm so glad you do because I also love Peeta being my best friend," she laughed. Delly could talk Peeta up for hours if she had to, could tell a million different stories about him from their friendship over the years. But Katniss was a different story. She felt nervous about saying the wrong thing about Katniss, or about letting on that Katniss and Peeta weren't the pair of lovers that the Capitol believed them to be. Her mind always went to that rose she had received months ago from President Snow and learning the truth of what was happening. Delly wasn't going to be the one to get them in trouble. She never would be able to forgive herself.

But Delly smiled. "My first impression of Katniss? That she's strong. We went to school together so I've known Katniss for forever. We weren't really friends back then but I always admired her. But I didn't know her. That was just how things were back then, you know? Peeta and I had our friend group and Katniss had hers and it just was. But I always thought that she was great. I always admired her strength. And that hasn't changed. Katniss is one of the strongest people that I know."

[dellcartwrights]

[Caesar] It's my understanding you're a Lottery Recipient. Have you had the chance to do anything exciting since visiting the city? Hopefully the people from The Capitol aren't hounding you too much. [Chuckles]

"I am!" She nodded enthusiastically. "It's been so fun getting to be here for the Quarter Quell." Had she done anything exciting? Her mind immediately went to Gale, and all of their time together, watching the Games. To someone in the Capitol, it probably sounded boring, staying in her hotel room or in his just watching the Games, but Delly thought that it was exciting. She never would have thought that she would have been hanging out with Gale Hawthorne or that she could say that they were friends. She never would have thought that when they first interacted at Caesar's party.

She thought of the first day of the Game when she and Gale had gone out to eat and the almost fight. She wasn't about to out Gale for that, they had been lucky to get away and not arrested or something. "Oh, the people have been great. They're so nice, but they haven't bothered me too much! But yeah, I have done some exciting things. It's just exciting to be here at all, Caesar. I never would have imagined that I would get to come here fot a Quell! So I know it probably sounds dumb, but every moment has been exciting for me." Caesar didn't get to know about her budding friendship with Gale. That was just for herself and she wasn't going to share that on tv.