“And now on to our first single tribute, your chosen Villain: Valkyrie Maddox!” Dora Tale’s voice was sugar-sweet and near ultrasonic in pitch. Valkyrie had already grown tired of listening to it babble across the couple interviews. She’d paid little attention to the interviews so far, picking up titbits every now and then, but mostly trying to imagine herself anywhere else- preferably drunk.
As the music started, she took a second to consider what would happen if she just didn’t go, but she didn’t particularly feel like being dragged on stage. The interview would be bad enough already, no need to make it worse when there was no way she was getting out of it. She walked on calmly and neutrally, not quick, not eager, not slow or reluctant. She sat in the chair opposite, looking out over the audience but not bothering to offer them a smile or a wave. She turned to Tale, eyebrow raised expectantly.
“A pleasure to meet you Valkyrie, or should I say V?” she smiled familiarly, clearly expecting V’s attitude, “We’ve been watching you and my goodness have you really made quite the stir in your time here at the Capitol.”
Valkyrie looked at her expectant face, uncomfortable being so openly reduced to nothing more than entertainment for the masses, “Yes,” she answered plainly, “I prefer to be called V.”
The laugh Dora let out in response was unnerving- tinkling and bright but utterly hollow, “Just as taciturn in person I see! Don’t worry dear, I know you’re just meeting all of us, but we’ve been watching you for so long now we might as well be family!”
“I don’t have any family,” Valkyrie shrugged, “So I don’t know that that helps me so much.”
Dora and the audience let out a sad ‘aww’ and Valkyrie squirmed slightly, “Is that, perhaps,” Dora began, “Why you’ve been so distant from the rest of the tributes? I’m sure it’s a big shift to go from no one at all in the world to such a big new family!”
Valkyrie frowned at her, “The other tributes aren’t my family. The only thing they have in common with my family is that they will also be killed by the Capitol. Besides, this is the most social I’ve been in years. I understand that I appear distant to others, but by my standards I might as well be a social butterfly.”
Dora’s face twitched slightly at the mention of the Capitol, but brightened exaggeratedly at the latter statement, “I understand, V,” she turned to the audience, “We all know how difficult it can be for the socially… challenged to meet new people, and if that’s the case then we’re no doubt all very impressed by what you have achieved here.”
Valkyrie raised her brow, “Well you can’t be that impressed, you voted for me to be the Villain,” she pointed out.
Again, false laughter fell from Dora’s mouth, though more aggressive this time, “Oh Valkyrie! Sorry, V- that just means that we love to hate you my dear. The love is still there, don’t you worry!” she reached out as if to bop Valkyrie’s nose, but met only air and she flinched back, hard, “Who would have thought the mighty Valkyrie so skittish ladies and gentlemen!” she laughed to the audience.
Dora looked over at Valkyrie expectantly, but she genuinely had nothing to say in response to what had just happened.
“One can’t help but wonder,” Dora began, her voice taking on a sly edge, “If it was this kind of squirrely resistance to basic human contact that drove the wedge between you and district five’s Aphrodite?”
Valkyrie stiffened slightly and watched Dora’s eyes narrow in on the movement, straightening before answering, “I suspect that wasn’t it, though I could be wrong.”
Dora leaned further forward in her chair, closing about half of the distance Valkyrie had created, “Well what can you tell us about the ill-fated relationship of Aphrodite and Valkyrie? I’m sure everyone would love to know- you seemed so sweetly in love that night in the bathroom.”
Valkyrie’s face darkened, “Relationship is a strong word. I would say we never got to that stage. We were intrigued by each other, but it never would have worked. And it didn’t.”
“Well we all saw that!” Dora laughed lightly, “Honestly when she threatened to kill you I could have been knocked over by a stiff breeze I was so shocked! We all expected it from you, of course, what with the whole-“ she vaguely waved her hand at V, “But from Aphrodite! It was truly shocking, especially after the dance, and the way she pulled you in as if she was going to kiss you, and then bam! Death threat and she left. And honestly, my dear, we’ve been watching and you really haven’t been the same since. The alcohol? Oh, it was just tragic to watch wasn’t it folks?” she turned to the audience for a brief reaction before continuing eagerly, “You know there were still a few people holding out for you and Aphrodite to patch things up but I guess now that boat has well and truly sailed for you, hasn’t it?”
Valkyrie was overwhelmed and uncomfortable, and feeling very caged in, “Yes, I’m sure that was a very difficult time for all the viewers at home,” she heard the sarcasm leak into her voice as it turned colder.
“Oh,” Dora’s face twisted into a caricature of remorse, “Please don’t think me insensitive, darling, I’m just explaining to you that you have support, right folks? I know!” she gasped, “Let’s have a little bit of audience participation!” Valkyrie went still, “Since we haven’t been able to vote on titles since the big breakup, let’s hold a quick vote now! What do we think?”
The crowd shouted out their approval as Valkyrie shrunk back into her chair slightly.
“Those who think Aphrodite is the victim, give me a cheer in 3.. 2.. 1!” Valkyrie felt herself try to drift away from her body- if any time was the time to perfect astral projection, it was now, “Very good Team Aphrodite, and now for Team Valkyrie, 3… 2… 1!”
Both sides received cheers, though she was too busy trying to mentally escape the situation to truly judge the difference between the groups.
“You see Valkyrie,” she smiled, “Sorry, V, you do have supporters despite your cold, harsh exterior. Why I’m sure there are even some people who still want you to win!” she paused slightly, though there was no response from the audience, “I mean they may not be here tonight, but I’m sure there are people at home who are supporting you, my dear.”
“Thank you,” Valkyrie ground out.
Dora continued unphased, “Though I’m sure they’re all wondering why you’re coming to us all alone today! After all, the people have been pushing for you to partner with your district mate, Lanthan since day one!” when she received nothing more than a nod of acknowledgement she prodded a little harder, “So why don’t you tell us what happened? Why aren’t we talking to you and the dreamy, dangerous Lanthan Shale?”
Valkyrie stiffened, and when she spoke her voice was cold, “Lanthan Shale is a psychopath and a creep.”
Dora gasped dramatically, “Oh, do go on!” and when it appeared that Valkyrie did not intend to go on she followed up with, “Please Valkyrie, I insist.”
“Well,” she answered, “He’s always been weirdly obsessed with me and I think he gets off to the idea of me killing somebody. Well I know he does- he’s told me.”
“… Oh,” Dora’s mouth hung open for a second before her grin turned devious, “So you’ve been the object of his affections for some time, it sounds like. Did anything ever… happen?”
Valkyrie reared back incredulously, “Did you not hear the part where he gets off to murder? Of course nothing ever happened between us.”
“Then what was that kiss back at the start?” Dora smirked.
“A mistake,” Valkyrie answered.
“A villain and a tease,” Dora arched her brow, “Oh how you do make it so easy to hate you Valkyrie. And on that note, we went back to your district to find out about the Valkyrie Maddox before the games.”
Valkyrie frowned, “Who did you ask?”
“Just some friends,” Dora waved off, about to continue when Valkyrie interrupted.
“That’s funny,” Valkyrie raised a brow, “I didn’t know the dead could talk.”
Dora continued as if she hadn’t spoken, turning to the audience, “We asked around the district, and whilst many knew of the young Maddox scion, not many seemed to like her. Valkyrie,” she turned back, “Why is it that you are so disliked amongst the members of your district?”
Valkyrie shrugged, “My family betrayed the Capitol. I grew up in a house of care. I made friends with a no name. District two doesn’t smile kindly on people like me.”
“And yet you still became a Career,” Dora pointed out.
Valkyrie shrugged once more, “I had no intention of entering the games. I have no intention of winning the games. My life was really a waste of time, I suppose. I should have died with my parents that day.”
“And that is all we have time for folks,” Dora gushed with a big smile, “Ladies and gentleman, Valkyrie Maddox of District Two!”
As soon as she was allowed to leave she stood up and left, not saying goodbye, not waving, not smiling, just determined to get the fuck off that stage.
