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Where BARNABY FINCH learned how to ingratiate himself with the public, Rocket taught Katherine to do the opposite. To be a shadow, to move without being seen, to speak without being heard. She was a puppeteer through and through, and the people of Hoenn were cursed to remain her marionettes. Little dolls and toys for her to play with.
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And she was damn good at it. Today was no exception.
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Under the League's ever-radiant light, she blossomed into an actress and finally accepted that she, too, was a puppet worth directing.
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Time for the show.
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The smile that paints her expression when she steps forth, on cue, is easily faked. Manufactured. So heavily practised that she barely notices its rise.
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She shakes Barnanby's hand with the smile persisting, the twinkle of stardom glimmering in her scarlet stare when she finally graces the camera with a proper shot - and then she claims her seat. Her throne.
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"Thank you for having me," she softly responds, easily slipping into the smooth rhythm of exchanging pleasantries, "I'm such a big fan of your show—it's shocking it took so long for this to happen!"

[attr="class","bottom"]BARNABY FINCH [break]

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The practised, half-rehearsed chuckle that escapes her when Barnaby turns to his audience, and winks makes her want to hurl. The smile she forces upon her lips afterwards feels rigid on her face but is otherwise perfectly presentable. Classy and yet still approachable. This was one of the rare times where she actually bothered to get some media training done before an interview. For better and for worse, it will likely be her most memorable interview for the foreseeable future. At least until she decides to run for commissioner.
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"Mm..."
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Her humming implies that she needed to think and search for an answer, as though she hadn't been asked this before, "I think I've always known that I wanted to help our region. I didn't know how at first, but battling always came naturally to me," how humble and very down-to-earth. If only she was telling the truth. "I was inspired by people like kyle lopez, ALEXANDER STONE and the late Bailey Cooper. They all risked their lives for our region, and I realized that if I wanted to protect our home, I'd have to do the same."
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Her smile softens and eases as though having shared too much and too quickly.
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"I knew I was doing the right thing when the three-day war happened. I think I sort of accepted I wouldn't be able to do anything else after that," it's heavy. She's pulling no punches, starting with what many described as the worst thing in recent history to strike their region.

[attr="class","bottom"]BARNABY FINCH [break]

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Katherine leans back, the epitome of poise and grace. Her lips curl into a small, gracious smile as she regards Barnaby through half-lidded eyes. Her words are carefully chosen, each dripping with a sense of self-righteousness. She knows what Barnaby wants - sympathy, validation, perhaps even a touch of heroism. And she is more than happy to provide.
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Her lips fall flat when the host voices his question, a reminder of an event that many in their region are still haunted by. "Ah, I'm not sure where to begin... It's... It's one of those things you can't prepare for. Aliens, Ultra Beasts, the poisoned wild Pokemon— it felt like no matter what we did, there was already another issue to handle."
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She pauses, allowing the weight of her words to sink in. The crowd remains silent, hanging on to her every word. They remember these horrors just as well as she does.
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"I think it was the worst thing I've endured. It was undoubtedly the closest I've come to dying-- but I can't help but think of the valiant people who made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our beloved region. They have always been the real heroes." Katherine pauses again, her gaze sweeping across the audience. She could see tears in some of their eyes; validating that she had them in the palm of her hand.
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"What I'm trying to say is... I was scared. We all were. I think a lot of people are still afraid, but I hope to change that."
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How?
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She keeps the audience on the edge of their seats by withholding that information. She is patient. Barnaby will get to it. After all, he must be equally as curious.

[attr="class","bottom"]BARNABY FINCH [break]

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Katherine glances around the crowded room, soaking in the gazes of the people she claims to protect. The room is filled with potential voters, and she knows to succeed, she must convince them that she is the only one capable of bringing the change they so desperately need. It went well beyond just this studio, too.
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She had to convince every person who was watching this interview from the comfort of their living room couch that she was their only choice.
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"Change starts from the top, and I want to be at its forefront. So, I implore you and the people of our region to join me in this fight for change. Tonight I am announcing my candidacy for councilwoman," there is a much deserved, well-needed pause then. Her words linger in the air, echoing in people's minds whilst they process.
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After all, it's not every day that one of Hoenn's elite four announces such a radical transition of roles.
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"I may be new to politics, but I am not new to helping those in need. I have dedicated my life to serving the people, and I will continue to do so as your councilwoman. Together, we can bring the change that this region needs, and I believe—no, I know I am the person most suitable to lead this charge."
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Katherine's eyes sparkle with malice before her smile widens ever so slightly, confident that she had delivered her message with just the right amount of charm and authority. Now, all she had to do was sit back and watch as the people of the region flocked to her banner. She could stop here - now - and all would be well. The role was hers in all but name already.
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But she wouldn't. There was still more.

[attr="class","bottom"]BARNABY FINCH [break]

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The room pulsates with a symphony of applause, a chorus of admiration for the woman who has skillfully woven her web of deceit, presenting herself as a saviour, a champion of justice, and a force to be reckoned with. The camera captures her essence, freezing a moment in time where power and charisma converge. "Ah, yes, the celebration can wait," she purrs, her voice dripping with faux humility. "There is another matter I'd like to address if you would indulge me."
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"For the past year, Team Rocket has been trying to extort me. It didn't start this way—they first tried to send their agents to assassinate me, but since they failed... They resorted to blackmail." Katherine confesses, her voice a delicate balance of vulnerability and resolve. She reaches up to delicately touch her neck with a perfectly manicured hand, tracing an invisible scar, her actions a masterclass in the art of manipulation.
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"I refused to succumb to their demands then, and I refuse to do so now. Team Rocket believes I would rather lie to you, the people I've sworn to protect—but they are wrong. They have always been wrong about the people of this region." A hush falls over the studio as anticipation hangs in the air like a heavy fog. Katherine leans forward, her scarlet eyes already glassy, glistening with the smallest of crocodile tears.
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"Several years ago, when I was much younger—I fell prey to their propaganda and empty promises. I briefly serviced their organization as an operative," there. The Malevolent confessed.
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It's out. But it remains her story to tell; she leaves no room for Barnaby to interrupt her.
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"... I'm ashamed of what I've done, But I stand before you today, transformed by the fires of redemption. My past actions have shaped me into the woman I am—a woman determined to right the wrongs of her past." Katherine is not just a wolf in sheep's clothing; she's a goddess wearing a human mask.
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"I have worked tirelessly under the watchful eye of FERNANDO SILPH, proving my unwavering commitment to our region," she asserts, her voice carrying the conviction of a zealot. "I make no empty promises, no false claims. I vow to continue serving Hoenn, no matter the cost."
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Katherine's words hang in the air, like a silent challenge to anyone who dares doubt her sincerity. She revels in her own audacity, the nerve to deceive, to manipulate, and to rise to power through the guise of selflessness.
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Barnaby, like so many others, underestimated her true nature. The Malevolent was not a mere prop, a pawn to be used and discarded. The stage is set for her, and she dances upon it with grace and malevolence, a virtuoso of deceit and ambition.
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Barnaby would do well remembering her true nature, should she ever grace his studio with her presence again.

[attr="class","bottom"]BARNABY FINCH [break]