------------------- Ellis, District 12 || Interviews ------------------ [ It might be helpful to read this first to understand the lore and characters: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/948597047/ ] Shadows flicker across the water. It's interesting how the light bends around the lithe forms of fish- sharks- whatever is in there. If anything at all, assuming it's not a Capitol illusion. Everything looks strange in the dull blue light; at least, Ellis's ensemble does. Blue and orange are contrasting colors, and the lighting actually compliments their fur. As for the coal-black shiny material traced with vein-like lines that shift from gold to teal to orange- it could be worse, they suppose. But none of that matters; the carefully etched makeup, the shadows and highlights drawn on their face, the way the lines pulse to glow and fade in time with Ellis's heart- it's all superficial. Pretty tricks by pretty Capitol cats, with no true purpose of function. The real trick is untouched by the Capitol, and lies in Ellis's paws. "Ellis Ellery, District 12," someone calls. Ellis stands up, heart fluttering with trepidation, the stupid glowing veins of their costume speeding up to match. They take a deep breath, paws trembling as they clutch tightly around the little metal contraction in their paws. Weeks, no, months of work, accumulated to this moment. A shadow from above seems to follow them as they walk towards the door. Time to show the world... no, not the world. There was really only one cat they cared about. _____________________________________________ The little orange cat- Ellis- walks below her. She follows overhead, an invisible source of the shadow cast over their face. Do they realize what a big moment this is? How crucial it is to win support? She knows what they plan, what the little device is supposed to do; and though she supports the intention and the impact it will have on one certain cat, she worries for Ellis's chances in the arena, especially if they remain unsponsored. Darksilver is fully aware of the dark presence beside her, still evading her view. It's been a- week? weeks? so long- and she still hasn't been granted a view. The two of them float almost peacefully in the water, no longer needing to breathe. That was stolen from Darksilver- from this same spirit- three years ago, shortly after this moment of the interviews. What is the other's story? She thinks she'll never know. "They won't survive this." It's the first time the other cat has spoken. "They will." She's more confident than she feels. "I'll make sure of it. I'll save them from your curse." A pause. Then: "It was never meant for them." "Well, you should have thought of the consequences before you targeted my sister," she hisses softly. Silence. The other is gone, but not really. Only for a brief moment. Darksilver sighs, returning her attention to Ellis, her own little spirit flickering in trepidation of what's to come. _____________________________________________ "Ellis Ellery," the interviewer greets warmly. "Nice to see you. Now, Ellery, that's a familiar name- is there any connection, to..." Ellis smiles brightly, tucking their invention gently under their paws as they sit. The glowing veins criscrossing their costume illuminate their body if ever-shifting patterns of lighting. "Yes. If you're referring to my father, Josiah Ellery, then yes. I'm sure you've heard quite about him seeing as his inventions are so vital; perhaps you've even used a few co-invented by myself." "If I'm not mistaken, you are from- District 12?" The interviewer made a show of checking papers. "Did someone give me the wrong set list?!" Ellis let out a laugh. "I was born to District 3, but shipped to District 12 for, reasons." Smiling Ellis turned to stare straight into the camera. "Hey, Swiftie. On my shelf, second from the right, a little metal clunky cylinder with a glass over the top. I finished the other half, finally." The interviewer looked from the camera to Ellis in confusion. "What-?" "All in fair time," Ellis replied, turning back with a good-mannered grin. "I believe you had another question?" "Right, uh," the interviewer quickly scanned the pages. "Right! How do you feel about your chances in the arena?" "Quite well," Ellis said to the audience. "I've been speculating, as much as you probably- or more so, since my life depends on it after all- and I'm inclined to think of cold climates. And I have got this lovely fur coat, so I think that gives me an advantage. Although I do work best when my digits are warm enough to move, so a striker and flint rock would be much appreciated." The interviewer nodded. "Wonderful. Now, for the final question of the evening. We all noticed how you volunteered for that lovely lady at the Reaping- can you explain who that was?" ~~~~~~~~~{continued in Notes and Credits}~~~~~~~~~
Songs (will play a random one every time): --> "Sinking" [Default] --> "Sharks" by Imagine Dragons --> "Die for You" by the Weeknd Art and writing by me (@windrider_PI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{continued}~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ellis's friendly grin fell flat just as the thin light pulsed and darkened to a deep blue, then a dull amber. "Quicksilver," they said, their voice taking on an entirely new tone. "My lover. Did you know- Capitol, districts, do you remember- three years ago. The ninth annual Hunger Games. There was a tribute here- tall, lanky, silver and ebony tabby- with an unusual earring." A paw reached up to brush the silver and ebony-bangled metal dangling from Ellis's own dear. "Not quite my aesthetic, but /her sister/ insisted I take it. In the memory of the one who came before me. Her name was Darksilver. Her name was Darksilver, and they were going to take her sister too." The interviewer frowned, trying to hide discomfort. "Well, thank you for sharing, Ellis, but I'm afraid that's all the time we-" "Swiftie," Ellis looked back at the camera. "Swiftie, do you have it? Good. Here's a little message just for you. Hold it right up to the camera, and-" Ellis quickly lifted their own invention, a roughly cylindrical jumble of brass metal parts nearly the length of their forearm. The lighting made it appear garish, alien. The interviewer jumped a little, startled by the item's appearance, and started to cry out. Ellis didn't wait. With the click of a button, a rainbow of light charged down the barrel, hitting the glass and refracting. The cat manning the camera flinched away, momentarily blinded by the intensity. On the monitor above, the blurry image of a heart projected. Ellis grinned helplessly, blinking tears, hoping it was working, working. "See you soon, my love," they murmured just loud enough to be heard. "Nothing will stop me from getting back to you." Then Ellis was being pulled away. They clicked off the device, holding it tightly as they were escorted past the interviewer frantically saying "Wow, what a fun show of affection, thank you Ellis, and may the odds be ever in your favor. Let's hear it for Ellis Ellery, the- wondercat inventor- of District 12." Ellis barely glanced at the audience, not caring if they cheered or booed on their way out. /Quicksilver, Quicksilver, Quicksilver,/ their mind whispered, over and over again, long past Ellis had returned to sitting quietly backstage, long after they returned to their room, well past the time they finally fell asleep. _____________________________________________ Quicksilver crouched anxiously in front of her beat up television. She was glad she had chosen to stay at home rather than go to the better resolution but crowded square; if she hadn't been home, she never would have found the device in time. At first she wasn't convinced- a fuzzy heart, lovely sure, but everyone could see that, honestly not Ellis's best work- but then she quizzically brought the cylinder up to her eye, and gasped. She tried to stay as still as she could, soaking up every word into her soul. And it was so, incredibly, truly /Ellis/ to go through all this, just to get one final private message to her, untouched by the Capitol's greedy eyes. For inside the heart, there were words. In her head, she could hear them read in Ellis's beautiful deep voice. "Dear love, don't mourn or guilt. My heart is full. Your gift keeps me strong. Give invntns to my dad. Frevr yours," When Quicksilver pulled away, there were tears in her eyes. Maybe it worked both ways; how could she know? She dove for a pencil and paper and rapidly began scratching out a note. They needed to know, and this could be her only chance- /I'm pre\ Was as far as she got before Ellis was being pulled off, and their message was gone. Now there was no way of knowing. They would never know. The invention slipped from her paws to the floor as Quicksilver broke down in tears, mourning what would never be without them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spoiler alert: Quicksilver's message wouldn't have gone through anyway, even assuming she figured out how to put it in the machine. Sadly transmissions don't work like that. I guess she'll just have to keep her secret all to herself- I originally intended for one of the questions to be Ellis explaining their parade costume, but I didn't get a chance to include that with the direction this took. Sorry folks :/ Worry not, you'll be seeing more of ghostsilver and her mysterious 'friend' soon :D
