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Description
The Male Tribute from District 7 had already passed... as the time passed, Penelope could feel how her hands began to sweat, how her breathing became more shallow; she could even notice her own chest moving to her heartbeat's rhythm at the moment she looked down. She couldn't deny it; she was nervous. The sadistic glee, followed by the extreme disgust, from the Gamemakers Assessment had passed, and it gave way to another round of nervousness; Now, she had to fare well, not only in front of a dozen people, but thousands of them. Her words and her face would be heard and seen all over Pokégea. She could't afford to mess up, but what could be her approach? Menacing, seductive, serious...? No. They were too unbelievable for her. She decided her best shot would be trying to be herself. Cute and flirty was definitely her thing.

Aiden was spinning on his chair, laughing as the transition music played in the background. He looked amazing as always, if not with the Capitol's characteristic artificiality, that unnatural, unnerving charm that he had used to captivate his public for years. And then, the music stopped and his voice rang, clear and cheerful, throughout the studio.

"Now to meet our Ice Queen from the mining district in Pandemoria, Penelope!"

"The wha...?" She gasped as the music started to play, completely surprised at the nickname that had been giving to her. she remembered nothing of such nickname, though she had a vague idea of where it came from. Perhaps that was the reason her stylist had opted for that style. She quickly wiped her hands and walked to the stage, holding delicately the hem of her dress. She was wearing a rather innocent, ice-blue tulle ensemble, with a puffy skirt and no sleeves. there was a huge black feather on her head and she wore adorable little black pumps; the big black bow at the back finished the look. It was completely different from the menacing look from the Tribute Parade, and she rather liked it. It felt more like herself. Aiden waited patiently for her to reach the center of the stage and held out her hand delicately, with what Penelope felt like a reassuring squeeze. She squeezed his hand gently as a form of greeting and took her seat gracefully, her fluffy dress covering her thighs in a way that, hopefully for her stylist, would look excruciatingly sweet to any potential sponsor.

"Now, living in the farthest district up north within the country of Pandrmoria must be quite cold..." Aiden began. "Tell us a little of your home life, Penelope." He leaned forward confidently with a smile, showing that seemingly genuine interest that he liked to show to anyone and everyone. What could she say, though? That they lived close to misery, that they barely had anything to eat, that wood was often too damp to make a fire, or that a fine layer of coal dust always fell on the town, specially on those places close to the mines? Of course not; the Capitol was not interested in its districts' sufferings; she, instead, would have to talk about her somewhat tranquil home life. Omitting some details, of course.

"Well..." she started. "It IS very cold... even in summer you need to cover up... so it is a little hard," she continued, faking a smile. "There's not much to home, really. Papa works and Mama takes care of home. Sometimes, I help her with the wood and stuff." This was her chance to pull a cute stunt, right? If she could at least get a soft awwwww form her public, she could have them in her hands. She raised her right arm , her fist clenched, and squeezed her biceps with her left hand with a charming smile on her face. "Don't you think it shows?"

Aiden followed the game, faking astonishment, and gasped in admiration, which in turn got a favorable reaction from the crowd. "That's quite the little biceps you've got there..." he said, then turned to the crowd. "So it seems the Ice Queen is a bit of a tomboy!" The crowd laughed as he felt her arm with a comical impressed expression on his face. Penelope grinned. Maybe she was finally getting the hearts of her audience, and that encouraged her to continue the act. She managed to laugh at Aiden's antics.

"That tickles!" She said, as Aiden laughed along with her. After some moments of laughter, Aiden finally let go, and carried on with the interview.

"Ok now, time to get down to business... Tell us about your home life. What was it like?" He leaned in, and Penelope stared for a second in confusion, until she understood. He wanted a serious answer. Something that would actually touch the Capitol's otherwise frivolous psyche. They might not care about her destiny but at least they could pretend they did, just enough to give some of what they had to save her life. Either that or help her give a good show.

"You insist a lot." She replied with a soft smile. "Do you really wanna know? W-well..." she paused for a bit. "Well, I actually have a few friends back home.... there is specially one... Her name is Garnet. She has been my friend my whole life." She clenched her fists, hidden in the huge tulle skirt. No one would notice. "This is the first time we're separated, so it's a little weird, to be honest. I'm not used to it."

"Tell us about this Garnet? What is this person like?" The man smiled kindly, encouraging her to open her heart a little more. Garnet... what could she say about Garnet? Could she say that she had been willing to fuse, to become a Gijinka with Penelope, just to help her spare her life? Could she really tell all those people that she had refused to get even just that little advantage, in order for her partner to carry on, to continue with her life, maybe even to evolve, get a family, be happy? could she tell them that she had given up on her best friend, to carry out her destiny with dignity, without dragging anyone else with her? They had no right to know. But still, she knew she needed to touch them, somehow.

"She's not really a person, see..." Penelope started. "She's my Partner... a Buneary." She unconsciously let go a sweet smile. "She's so small and sweet and when you cuddle her in your arms, she looks really cute! Sometimes she scolds me, but she's my best friend, and if there is someone I want to go back for, it is her. I won't give up easily." Penelope could feel something hard in her throat and swallowed to ease her discomfort. For Garnet, no one would see her cry, ever again.

"I'm sure you won't give up... and I'm sure that Buneary would love for you to come home to her..." Aiden consoled Penelope. "Do you have a strategy for the arena already planned out? Could you give us a little bit of insight? Not too much as we don't want to spoil the Games for everyone..." he reassured, "but how are you going to compete with the ones to beat this year in the Fishing District"?

The Careers, of course. since the beginning, they have proved their worth, their abilities; she needed to live (and die) up to everyone's standards, which were really high this year. She already knew what she would do. Her Training had helped her see which were her strengths; which, for someone so small and so fragile, weren't really that bad. "Let's say I have a really good eye for things", Penelope answered, and she straightened her back unconsciously, a dignified aura surrounding her. "Ever heard of Pokémon resembling their partners and vice versa? Well, my eyesight, like my partner's, is unmatchable. People can't see me if I see them first." She winked playfully. "I won't be taken down easily."

"Those are brave words," Aiden said, winking back at her. The interview was coming to an end, and he needed to wrap it up nicely. "Well, is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Perhaps to those future sponsors of yours?" He nodded, encouraging her to say a little bit more.

Penelope, in turn, briefly meditated her answer. "There is not much else I could say, except that there's much more to me than what you can see. If the public gives me a chance to prove my worth, I will not disappoint them." She was well aware of the crowd's definition of worth, but she knew for sure she was refusing to give up without a fight. She was swift and clever. She'd find a way. An instant later, a loud sound marked the end of the interview.

"Indeed", said Aiden with a smile, and turned to the cameras. "Please give a round of applause to Penelope!" He stood up, clapping algon with the crowd, who cheered and shouted. At last, it was over. She stood up and made a small curtsy before walking away from the stage as the music began to play in the background. After her, only Shayne was left, and after this... After this it was the Games. With those three minutes, she had reached the final gate. No more glamour and no more luxury. That might as well be the last night of her life.

*****

This was Penny's Tribute Interview. I apologize for the slight delay... I needed to finish up some important stuff, but at is , at last, ready.

The beautiful frame belongs to ~sannys-stocks
The weird thing within is just Caesar Flickerman's studio background from the Hunger Games Adventures Facebook Game because I'm cheap like that.
Penny, art:
: Aiden:
Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins; Pokémon: Nintendo.

Description
The Male Tribute from District 7 had already passed... as the time passed, Penelope could feel how her hands began to sweat, how her breathing became more shallow; she could even notice her own chest moving to her heartbeat's rhythm at the moment she looked down. She couldn't deny it; she was nervous. The sadistic glee, followed by the extreme disgust, from the Gamemakers Assessment had passed, and it gave way to another round of nervousness; Now, she had to fare well, not only in front of a dozen people, but thousands of them. Her words and her face would be heard and seen all over Pokégea. She could't afford to mess up, but what could be her approach? Menacing, seductive, serious...? No. They were too unbelievable for her. She decided her best shot would be trying to be herself. Cute and flirty was definitely her thing.

Aiden was spinning on his chair, laughing as the transition music played in the background. He looked amazing as always, if not with the Capitol's characteristic artificiality, that unnatural, unnerving charm that he had used to captivate his public for years. And then, the music stopped and his voice rang, clear and cheerful, throughout the studio.

"Now to meet our Ice Queen from the mining district in Pandemoria, Penelope!"

"The wha...?" She gasped as the music started to play, completely surprised at the nickname that had been giving to her. she remembered nothing of such nickname, though she had a vague idea of where it came from. Perhaps that was the reason her stylist had opted for that style. She quickly wiped her hands and walked to the stage, holding delicately the hem of her dress. She was wearing a rather innocent, ice-blue tulle ensemble, with a puffy skirt and no sleeves. there was a huge black feather on her head and she wore adorable little black pumps; the big black bow at the back finished the look. It was completely different from the menacing look from the Tribute Parade, and she rather liked it. It felt more like herself. Aiden waited patiently for her to reach the center of the stage and held out her hand delicately, with what Penelope felt like a reassuring squeeze. She squeezed his hand gently as a form of greeting and took her seat gracefully, her fluffy dress covering her thighs in a way that, hopefully for her stylist, would look excruciatingly sweet to any potential sponsor.

"Now, living in the farthest district up north within the country of Pandrmoria must be quite cold..." Aiden began. "Tell us a little of your home life, Penelope." He leaned forward confidently with a smile, showing that seemingly genuine interest that he liked to show to anyone and everyone. What could she say, though? That they lived close to misery, that they barely had anything to eat, that wood was often too damp to make a fire, or that a fine layer of coal dust always fell on the town, specially on those places close to the mines? Of course not; the Capitol was not interested in its districts' sufferings; she, instead, would have to talk about her somewhat tranquil home life. Omitting some details, of course.

"Well..." she started. "It IS very cold... even in summer you need to cover up... so it is a little hard," she continued, faking a smile. "There's not much to home, really. Papa works and Mama takes care of home. Sometimes, I help her with the wood and stuff." This was her chance to pull a cute stunt, right? If she could at least get a soft awwwww form her public, she could have them in her hands. She raised her right arm , her fist clenched, and squeezed her biceps with her left hand with a charming smile on her face. "Don't you think it shows?"

Aiden followed the game, faking astonishment, and gasped in admiration, which in turn got a favorable reaction from the crowd. "That's quite the little biceps you've got there..." he said, then turned to the crowd. "So it seems the Ice Queen is a bit of a tomboy!" The crowd laughed as he felt her arm with a comical impressed expression on his face. Penelope grinned. Maybe she was finally getting the hearts of her audience, and that encouraged her to continue the act. She managed to laugh at Aiden's antics.

"That tickles!" She said, as Aiden laughed along with her. After some moments of laughter, Aiden finally let go, and carried on with the interview.

"Ok now, time to get down to business... Tell us about your home life. What was it like?" He leaned in, and Penelope stared for a second in confusion, until she understood. He wanted a serious answer. Something that would actually touch the Capitol's otherwise frivolous psyche. They might not care about her destiny but at least they could pretend they did, just enough to give some of what they had to save her life. Either that or help her give a good show.

"You insist a lot." She replied with a soft smile. "Do you really wanna know? W-well..." she paused for a bit. "Well, I actually have a few friends back home.... there is specially one... Her name is Garnet. She has been my friend my whole life." She clenched her fists, hidden in the huge tulle skirt. No one would notice. "This is the first time we're separated, so it's a little weird, to be honest. I'm not used to it."

"Tell us about this Garnet? What is this person like?" The man smiled kindly, encouraging her to open her heart a little more. Garnet... what could she say about Garnet? Could she say that she had been willing to fuse, to become a Gijinka with Penelope, just to help her spare her life? Could she really tell all those people that she had refused to get even just that little advantage, in order for her partner to carry on, to continue with her life, maybe even to evolve, get a family, be happy? could she tell them that she had given up on her best friend, to carry out her destiny with dignity, without dragging anyone else with her? They had no right to know. But still, she knew she needed to touch them, somehow.

"She's not really a person, see..." Penelope started. "She's my Partner... a Buneary." She unconsciously let go a sweet smile. "She's so small and sweet and when you cuddle her in your arms, she looks really cute! Sometimes she scolds me, but she's my best friend, and if there is someone I want to go back for, it is her. I won't give up easily." Penelope could feel something hard in her throat and swallowed to ease her discomfort. For Garnet, no one would see her cry, ever again.

"I'm sure you won't give up... and I'm sure that Buneary would love for you to come home to her..." Aiden consoled Penelope. "Do you have a strategy for the arena already planned out? Could you give us a little bit of insight? Not too much as we don't want to spoil the Games for everyone..." he reassured, "but how are you going to compete with the ones to beat this year in the Fishing District"?

The Careers, of course. since the beginning, they have proved their worth, their abilities; she needed to live (and die) up to everyone's standards, which were really high this year. She already knew what she would do. Her Training had helped her see which were her strengths; which, for someone so small and so fragile, weren't really that bad. "Let's say I have a really good eye for things", Penelope answered, and she straightened her back unconsciously, a dignified aura surrounding her. "Ever heard of Pokémon resembling their partners and vice versa? Well, my eyesight, like my partner's, is unmatchable. People can't see me if I see them first." She winked playfully. "I won't be taken down easily."

"Those are brave words," Aiden said, winking back at her. The interview was coming to an end, and he needed to wrap it up nicely. "Well, is there anything else you'd like to tell us? Perhaps to those future sponsors of yours?" He nodded, encouraging her to say a little bit more.

Penelope, in turn, briefly meditated her answer. "There is not much else I could say, except that there's much more to me than what you can see. If the public gives me a chance to prove my worth, I will not disappoint them." She was well aware of the crowd's definition of worth, but she knew for sure she was refusing to give up without a fight. She was swift and clever. She'd find a way. An instant later, a loud sound marked the end of the interview.

"Indeed", said Aiden with a smile, and turned to the cameras. "Please give a round of applause to Penelope!" He stood up, clapping algon with the crowd, who cheered and shouted. At last, it was over. She stood up and made a small curtsy before walking away from the stage as the music began to play in the background. After her, only Shayne was left, and after this... After this it was the Games. With those three minutes, she had reached the final gate. No more glamour and no more luxury. That might as well be the last night of her life.

*****

This was Penny's Tribute Interview. I apologize for the slight delay... I needed to finish up some important stuff, but at is , at last, ready.

The beautiful frame belongs to ~sannys-stocks
The weird thing within is just Caesar Flickerman's studio background from the Hunger Games Adventures Facebook Game because I'm cheap like that.
Penny, art:
: Aiden:
Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins; Pokémon: Nintendo.