Just for Tonight

52.

"Helsinki News, good evening. Tonight's program has been slightly modified. We have the great honor of welcoming Mr. Ville Valo to promote his album Neon Noir. Good evening, Mr. Valo, and welcome."

The journalist, beaming, turned to Ville. The camera showed a wider angle of the news studio. Ville was alone with the reporter, looking calm and smiling, gorgeous as usual.

"Good evening and thank you for receiving me." His deep, recognizable voice echoed through the studio.

"Could you tell us a little more about this latest album, which is, if I'm not mistaken, the first of your solo career".

"Neon Noir is an album dear to my heart. I wrote most of it during that particular period of confinement, and it helped me keep my head above water. The news from around the world was pretty scary, and I had this need to get back to the basics of my own questioning of life: the feelings, the deep emotions that drive us all."

"Apparently, the early stages of the tour were complicated, as were articles about the songs. Could you explain why?"

Ville smiled slightly, then looked directly at the camera.

"After a career spanning more than twenty-five years, you get jealousy, I suppose. My songs have been widely criticized, I've been criticized for doing something ... that's me. I'm not going to suddenly change my way of being or thinking, because I'm starting a solo career. I'm certainly not going to devolve into commercial pop and electro. The questioning of love and human relationships is a theme I'll continue to explore, probably right to the end. When the tour started, there were some communication problems between my press office - which did a magnificent job - and the media. Once again, in such a long career, you don't just make friends...."

"I've also read that you're on bad terms with the former members of HIM. Do you think they'll listen to your album or come to your concerts?"

Ville's smile widened again.

"Why don't you ask them directly?".

Burton, Gas, Linde and Migé entered the studio and took their places around Ville, under the stunned gaze of the journalist.

"Oh .... Here I am welcoming HIM to this news....". She picked herself up. "Are we to understand that you've kept in touch all these years?"

Migé, who was most used to interviews after Ville, spoke up.

"Above all, we're a family. We support each other, we see each other regularly. There are bonds that can't be broken."

"We've had our fights, but on the scale of a human life, on the scale of what we've been through together over all these years, it's really not important," Gas added.

He and Ville looked at each other, smiling.

"So, the five of you are still seeing each other", the journalist asked again.

"All six of us, yes", Ville corrected.

"All six?", the journalist exclaimed.

"As Migé so aptly put it, there are bonds that nothing and no one can destroy", Ville added, staring into the camera again.

"Who on earth are you talking about?" the journalist asked, a little confused.

"The sixth member of HIM," Linde clarified.

"Chloe," Burton smiled, "The person holding us all together."

"Your ex-girlfriend?". The reporter seemed increasingly confused.

"She'll be able to answer your questions," Ville said with a wink.

Chloe entered the studio and took a seat next to Ville, Migé shifted to the left.

"Good evening, Chloe, and welcome ....," the journalist began.

"Good evening, Maria," Chloe greeted her. "I understand that your position is uncomfortable, with surprise guests, but it was necessary to keep quiet about our presence."

"Oh well ...", Maria tried to say.

Chloe looked at the camera.

"Since the release of Neon Noir, Ville has been the victim of a veritable boycott concerning his solo album. The media haven't had access to his album or information about the tour. I worked with the Heartagram press office and the fan communities to get the right information out. Since then, thankfully, the tour has been a success. As for the attacks on the songs themselves, I think Ville has responded perfectly."

"Other information concerns you directly though, Chloe," the journalist reminded.

Ville placed her hand on Chloe's.

"When a singer, or someone a little famous, falls in love ... again, it elicits comments, benevolent or otherwise. Yes, we were apart for a few years. But I never forgot her, she always had that special place in my heart. And it was the same for her. Now, we are more united and stronger than ever".

Chloe looked into his eyes. He smiled tenderly at her.

"Chloe, I understand you used to be a journalist too. According to some articles, you're a waitress now...", Maria said as she tried to get back to the interview.

"Well... When I came back to Helsinki, I of course tried to apply for a job in the media again... I even applied here. Maybe you could make sure my application was received?", Chloe replied with a half-smile.

"It only remains for me to wish you all, all six of you, a long and bright future," Maria concluded, somewhat relieved that the interview was coming to its end.

All six exclaimed together: "long live music!".

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Hello, dear reader!
Ville has always had a very elegant way of responding to journalists. Interviews, journalism ... all this has been the starting point since the first chapter, and I needed to get back to it a bit... to the essence of this story.
I hope you enjoyed this part!