FourtyTwo
LadyAmber
GubGar
Ersa93
Carlyle
MrSkimobile
udonoodles
Noctis
DamyclesDELTΔ HYPER
Interview; Continued
"How has pre-season been treating you? And what did you get up to over the off-season? You have many talents, so I am sure you kept busy?" Aurora asked.
It was an easy question. Pure softball, fluff piece level. Despite that, for just a moment, the facade took a minute dent. For a moment, the glamorous Korean pilot looked bemused and took on the briefest hint of a frown. With the power of pause and zoom and camera swivel, anyone could hyperfocus and obsess over such an expression. It was unlikely the average person would even notice, or think much of it. Hyeon-Ae exhaled slowly, and with her breath came a renewed, warm and charming smile. She masked her expression further as she raised her hand in front of her mouth to chuckle. “Well, Aurora, that is such a deep question. First and foremost, as most know, being a pilot is very demanding on the body. I must do much fitness, even when I am not racing. I visit a fitness retreat during the off-season to make sure my body stays fit and ready for the tracks.”
Hyeon-Ae lifted a leg to rest it on the other. “But it is true I like to keep busy. My most recent hobby has been neo-retro sculpting. There is much inspiration in the antique arts of the late 1900´s. But perhaps I did not have as much free time as I hoped,” she remarked with a soft laugh, leaning over as if to touch Aurora´s arm or leg - though stopping halfway, the gesture was enough to get the point across. “Between practicing, fitness, and helping my uncle as a consultant on Ji Motors, there has not been much time for free time. When I do have some, I like to visit more rural areas of my homeland. Recently, I actually visited Sanghyok, where they are building a new waterway….”
Hyeon-Ae talked on, explaining with passionate detail how a new waterway would improve the lives of hundreds of thousands. She must really be interested in Korean infrastructure development.
Zygonite: dam didu see cassie and hyeonae posing
Exxalibur: Hyeon-Ae my queen, I will propose to you at the next meetup
MrCultivator7: [Message removed by content filters.]
Zygonite: i herd if u buy the premium vip u get to meet 1 of htem solo
MrCultivator7: [Message removed by content filters.]
Exxalibur: @Zygonite; It's a photo op, I bought it
WyteNyte: I prefer Kim Sanyung from last season.
Exxalibur: [Message removed by content filters.]
MrCultivator7: [Message removed by content filters.]
Zygonite: @WyteNyte; gtfo
Saturday March 4th, 2094
Auckland, New Zealand
2030 NZST
Pre-Race Party
Hyeon-Ae was dressed to kill; wearing a smooth-looking designer fit that combined the most tantalizing parts of Zygon´s uniform design with that of modern fashion. She looked like a moviestar dressed like a pilot as much as she did a real AGR pilot. That was relatively fitting in this case, as the Zygon Fan Zone was littered with small-name celebrities, trust fund children, and fans who spent their savings on the experience of a lifetime. She was taking pictures alongside Cassie, and had helped the suits badger her into the same form-fitting outfit so that the two of them matched. Neves hadn't been too happy, but fortunately the soulless bean counters from the office took any flak, and Hyeon-Ae had gotten to act like a sweet savior by pointing out how good they look together. She smiled and beamed for cameras together with Cassie for what felt like far too long, exchanging platitudes with her between shaking hands with fans or answering an errant question.
Soon it was time to separate; Sanbeng, her on-again-off-again aide, snuck up beside her and spirited her away from Cassie. She didn't particularly dislike him, just his status as a spy for her uncle. Not two seconds later, he was whispering in her ear. “Your uncle is outside. He is asking to see you.” Hyeon-Ae made a show of stepping away from him, greeting a fan with a warm smile and a shake of hands and bow of her head. She positioned herself for several selfies with this ecstatic fan, to make it hard for Sanbeng to engage again. When Hyeon-Ae moved to greet the next person stood in a line hoping to talk to her, Sanbeng swept in again. “I think it's urgent.”
Hyeon-Ae turned to glance at the portly aide, looking out of place among racing fans, Zygon personnel, and reporters. “What could be more urgent than meeting with my supporters?” She asked with a glibness hiding behind her elegant facade, then turned back to chat politely with two crew members answering fan questions. She shouldn't have asked. Sanbeng surreptitiously returned and flashed his phone at her, a message from her uncle on the screen.
´Park Ha-Soon broke nda´
Hyeon-Ae´s implacable smile faltered briefly, and she turned to the paused conversationalists. With a hurried renewal of her smile, she spoke with feigned humility. “Please excuse me. It was nice to meet you.” was all she mustered before turning away from the conversation, and following Sanbeng out of the Fan Zone - and out to the parking lot, where she disappeared into a large black car for nearly an hour.
When she returned, she made a beeline back to the Zygon Fan Zone, shaking hands and mingling and posing for pictures like she never left. But she did look a little less convincing when she smiled.
Sunday March 5th, 2094
Auckland, New Zealand
Race Day
1300 NZST
Grid Photo
Hyeon-Ae stood stoic and aloof as others bickered and chatted. She had no intention of getting dragged into the muck with moralist thugs like Astrid, or more typical egos like Henry. And given the stance Cassie had started loudly espousing, it'd be too easy to get on her bad side right now. She'd play nice until Cassie dug herself a hole. And given how she acted here, it was only a matter of time.
No, Hyeon-Ae found herself looking at the opposition in silence instead, measuring them in her own way. Looking for weakness. Everyone had one. Some more obviously than others. Some… She glowered at Amy from across the field, but moved on to the chuds from Valkyrie before she got caught staring. The real opposition here were the quietly confident ones. People with no skill make the most noise, in her own experience.
When she finally - accidentally - locked eyes with one of the others, she merely bowed her head politely. No reason to do anything else, or give them any ammunition. Her performance would speak for itself.
