Muse's Final Interview
Backstage, Muse holds her token, a celestial golden detective badge, between her thumb and forefinger. Her eyes glazed over, Muse stares off into the distance. A hand shoves a mug of tea into her face. Looking up, Muse sees Midnight trying to muster up a smile while offering her a warm beverage. Grateful, Muse reaches for it, the warmth of the liquid spreading to her fingertips. Sipping it, Muse smiles, realizing that Midnight has added his own special touch of moonshine. Shooting a smile of gratitude in his direction, Muse, with shaky fingers, places the mug on a nearby table. Moments later, Tesla pops out of her dressing room, whistling a six note tune and playing the music to it on her violin. Tesla is ecstatic to be dressed in a pair of violin high heels by her stylist, made clear to Midnight and Muse by the jubilant music she is playing. Midnight motions to Muse, telling her that it is time to get up. Obliging, Muse rises from her sedentary position, smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress.
Muse has been dressed in a laser-cut, patent-leather dress that falls a few inches above her knees. A neck piece sprouts from the middle of the bodice, wrapping around her collarbone. Lined in rose-gold thread, a celestial hue emanates from the intriguing dress, which matches the color of the golden iris of her reconstructed eye, after having the original one be gouged out by Kindle. On Muse’s feet are high heels that are anything but easy to walk in. Also made of patent leather, but lined in a silvery-colored thread, they are quite similar to her dress. Very fitting to the form of her feet, Muse is eager to get out of them, but knows that it will have to wait until her final interview concludes. Her luscious blonde locks cascade in gentle waves down her back. Wearing minimal makeup for the most part, the winged eyeliner framing her eyes is meant to symbolize how she is finally free from the games.
The three District Six victors make their way to the wings of the stage. Midnight clasps Muse’s shoulder while Tesla makes sure to play an upbeat tune. As the ever so familiar stage music begins to play, and Kardos and Kastos begin to toy with the audience, Muse knows that it’s now or never. Taking a deep breath, Muse prepares to make her entrance, but finds that Midnight has grabbed hold of her arm. Spinning around, Muse sees that Midnight is holding the detective badge that she must have left behind. He pins it to her dress and spins her around, sending her off into the limelight just as Tesla whispers, “Good luck Muse.” A smile manages to creep onto Muse’s lips as the audience cheers for Panem’s newest victor. Silver and gold roses are tossed onto the stage, of which Muse snatches up one of each, intertwining their steams, and placing the floral hair piece behind her ear.
The tension between Muse Ciphera and Kardos and Kastos is quite apparent. Kardos had very much wanted to spend some time with Kindle if he had won, while Kastos’ boyfriend was his mentor. Naturally, Head Gamemaker Matt had instructed the two most popular twins of Panem to be civil with Muse. Kastos had promised Matt that he would try to make her feel welcome, while Kardos had said nothing.
“Well Muse, that dress of yours surely does do you justice!” Kastos shouts, eliciting a few laughs from the crowd.
“Why thank you, Kastos. You, along with your brother, look quite dapper yourselves,” she responds, carefully choosing her words. As Kardos stares with cold, empty eyes at Muse, it’s clear that he’ll be doing none of the talking tonight.
Asking the first of questions, Kastos says, “Now Muse, before we begin, tell us: how on earth did you manage to not betray the virtue that you hold dearest your heart?”
“Well, you see, I believe that maintaining justice is the most important thing. When reaped, I first wondered how I would be able to stick to it and still come out on top. Soon, I came to realize that being a member of the games would prove to be yet another opportunity to eliminate those who kill out of bloodlust or those who kill to get ahead. I managed to persevere, and in the end, that very perseverance led me to victory,” Muse details.
Kardos rolls his eyes and decides that he does in fact have something to say to Muse. “But. You. Killed. Too.” he growls.
Expecting this comment, Muse immediately fires back, saying, “See, there’s a difference between when I killed and when others killed. I killed only those who had either attacked me or had killed others.” Kardos huffs, causing his brother to sharply elbow him in the gut.
The rapid fire of questions from Kastos remind Muse of interrogations back in District Six. She is asked about her training score of ten, and explains to Panem how she got it, leaving but a few things for people to wonder about her session. Muse talks about how she felt at the bloodbath, and how she felt when she first entered the arena. He inquires about her choice of weapon, and she talks about why she chose a mace in the first place, later talking about how she survived with a concussion. The audience coos at her heartwarming story about the darts sent to her by Tesla. After answering one last question about how she used the force field to her advantage in the final battle, a rerun of the games, obviously focused on Muse’s endeavors, is played.
The new victor of District Six watches with her one gold and one silver eye. Her analytical nature takes over, and she finds herself thinking yet again about every move she made in the arena. With a shudder, Muse transports herself back to reality, finding herself seeing her sword ricochet off of the force field and into Kindle’s chest. Kardos is just about fuming as the interview finally ends. Biting her lip, Muse returns backstage, where she is embraced by Midnight and Tesla in a bear hug. All three return to their humble home of District Six, leaving the luxuries of the Capitol in their wake.