*disable_reuse There are a lot of people eager to ask you questions but you figure that you could answer as many as you wanted. You are the star of the interview after all. Plus, it's not like you have to be absolutely truthful while answering… Kenz presses a button on her phone while the other reporters and writers prepare to record the interview in whatever way they wanted. Finally, they begin to ask or shout questions at you. *label papq *choice #"Is there anybody that you hope is rooting for you in the Games?" "Surely, there's somebody, right?" The person continues. They hold a camera in one hand, but unlike the rest of the people in the crowd, it seems that they really just want to get to know you. *fake_choice *selectable_if (family = "parents") #"Maybe my parents." *set fame %+1 The person nods and snaps a quick photo of you. "Good luck, $!{player_first_name}," they say. *page_break *goto papq *selectable_if (family = "siblings") #"Hopefully my siblings." *set fame %+1 The person nods and snaps a quick photo of you. "Good luck, $!{player_first_name}," they say. *page_break *goto papq #"I've got a few friends back home. It would be nice if they watch me compete." *set fame %+1 The person nods and snaps a quick photo of you. "Good luck, $!{player_first_name}," they say. *page_break *goto papq #"My roommate, definitely." *set fame %+1 *set roommate %+3 The person nods and snaps a quick photo of you as your roommate smiles sheepishly. "Well, obviously I'm rooting for you, Roomie. That's a given," $!{roommate_name} chuckles and throws an arm around your shoulder. The person smiles before wishing you good luck in the competition and stepping back so somebody else could ask you a question. *page_break *goto papq #"No, not really. Maybe as the Games go along, but as for right now, I'm good by myself." *set fame %+1 The person nods and snaps a quick photo of you. "Good luck, $!{player_first_name}," they say. *page_break *goto papq #"Please, all I need is myself." *set fame %+1 *set bold %+3 The person's eyes widen a bit before they nod. After snapping a quick photo of you, they wish you good luck in the competition before stepping back to allow somebody else to ask a question if they wanted to. *page_break *goto papq #"Do you really think you can win this competition?" The question comes from a woman in a bright red outfit. The lanyard around her neck reads, 'Juliette Farbrow, ONN'. "Do you really think you can win this competition, $!{player_first_name}?" Juliette asks. "Sure, you're favored to win now, but can you keep that momentum going throughout the Games?" *fake_choice #"Who said anything about winning? Maybe I'm just in it for the free stuff," I joke. *set sarcastic +1 Juliette chuckles and takes down your words. "I see we have a comedian," she murmurs, glancing up at you once she's done. "Thanks for answering. Hope to see more of you." *page_break *goto papq #"Oh, I'll be winning. I don't know all of the competition, but I know that I don't need to be worried about them," I reply with a sniff. *set bold %+3 Juliette smirks while a few other reporters laugh. "I like ${player_him_her_them}," you hear somebody say. *page_break *goto papq #"Sure, I can. People have no reason to dislike me." *set charming +1 "Hm, everybody always says that…" You wait for Juliette to finish her thought, but once she puts away her notepad, you realize she's done speaking. *page_break *goto papq #"I probably can," I say with a shrug of my shoulders. *set aloof +1 Juliette nods. "We'll all be watching," she says. "Thanks for answering." *page_break *goto papq #"I...I don't know," I admit. "But I'll try." *set shy +1 "Oh, you'll be fine, $!{player_first_name}!" Kenz exclaims with a smile. Most of the crowd agrees with her, but Juliette just continues to silently write down on her notepad. You wonder just what kind of story she plans on writing about you. *page_break *goto papq #"I guess we'll see, won't we, Juliette?" *set snarky %+3 Juliette looks at you with her eyes slightly narrowed. "Hm, that we will, $!{player_first_name}," she replies, writing down a few more words before she puts away her notebook. "That we will." *page_break *goto papq #"What sets you apart from other contestants?" Reggie asks that one. It's pretty impressive how he holds on to his video camera with one hand and has a microphone nearly shoved in your face with his other hand. The camera easily looks 40 pounds or something, but he holds it like it's nothing. "What sets me apart from other contestants is…" *fake_choice #"...my popularity. I'm pretty well known back home and hopefully that translates well here." *set fame %+5 #"...my reputation. I'm squeaky clean, all things considered." *set reputation %+5 *set cunning %-5 #"...my manners. If you need to know when to stand around royalty or what spoon to use, I'm your ${player_man_woman_person}." *set polished %+5 #"...my attitude. I tend to be a super positive person, so that will help me when times get tough." *set morale %+5 #"...my charm. Seriously, I can get the meanest of people smiling and laughing with me, even if they hate my guts." *set charming %+5 #"...my physical strength. Running, lifting, basically anything active is my thing." *set brawn %+5 #"...my smarts. I'm basically the person you want to have at all your trivia nights." *set smarts %+5 #"...my street smarts. Though I tend to follow the rules most of the time, if I ever need to bend them...well...let's just say I can get away with it." *set cunning %+5 Reggie nods and lowers the microphone. "Thanks, $!{player_first_name}!" *page_break *goto papq #"Have you met any other contestants yet? If so, what did you think about them?" That question comes from Kenz, who stares at you intently. Your thoughts flashback to Bex, the mysterious person you bumped into in the hotel. That's the only person for sure you know you've met. Until you get a look at the list or the competition starts, you're pretty much in the dark about your competition. Eventually, you answer… *fake_choice #"Yes, I have. Didn't catch their name but they seem nice." *set bex %+2 "Ah, yes. That was probably Bex from Reign," Reggie hums beside Kenz. "Rumor has it, they were the most compatible until you showed up. Funny, huh?" Your eyes widen at that. Funny, indeed. *page_break *goto papq #"Yes. They were alright." Kenz seems to be waiting for you to elaborate on who exactly you met, but when you don't do so, she sighs. "Fine. Thanks for answering, $!{player_first_name}." *page_break *goto papq #"No, not yet." [Lie.] *set cunning %+2 *if (cunning >= 55) Kenz pouts a bit, but nods at your answer. "I see. Hopefully, you'll meet somebody soon," she says. Reggie nods beside her. "Same here. There's so much star power here, it's insane! For instance, the $!{royal_title}'s-" "Yeah, yeah. Wait your turn, buddy," Kenz says with a roll of her eyes. *page_break *goto papq *if (cunning < 55) Kenz narrows her eyes, looking deep into your own as she decides whether or not you're lying. You bite down on your lip and are about to change your answer, when she relents. "Hmm, I don't think you're telling the truth, but you'll meet everybody soon enough. I was just curious." *page_break *goto papq #I'm done answering questions from the media. "Hey, I have to get going, but I hope I answered everything for you guys," you say with a slight smile. "We totally understand, $!{player_first_name}. Thanks for answering our questions. I'm sure I can speak for everybody by saying you were probably one of the easiest people to interview in a while," Kenz says. Reggie and others in the group nod at her sentiment. "Don't think this is the last you'll see of us, though. We're always watching. Want the public to like you? Make sure you're liked by us, or at least respected," Juliette warns before she turns around to leave. Members of other media outlets follow suit, but not before telling the two of you goodbye. Once most of the crowd is gone, $!{roommate_name} turns to you with a cheeky grin. "Wow, don't forget me when you're famous, $!{player_first_name}," ${roommate_he_she} teases as you two make your way back towards the hotel. *page_break *goto_scene chp2_thecity