Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday Afternoon

[lockestheway]

The Portalocity terminal at Wonderboom Airport was a pretty fancy affair - in fact, it might have been the nicest Peter had ever arrived at. That was on purpose, of course. There would be press waiting outside, and he had to make a particular impression

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[whenshewasnice]

Natalie was personally hoping for just a decent one. She'd managed to vanquish her raincloud over the course of yesterday evening, and her eyes weren't red or puffy or anything. Everything from her hair down to her heels was pretty immaculate.

As far as anyone but her could tell, she most certainly had not had a really terrible day yesterday. Maybe ever, with the way she was walking with her back straight and her head held high.

She was really good at pretending when she decided to focus on something. "Bonjour," she said, as she'd made her way over from her own terminal. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting."

[lockestheway]

"Only for a minute or two," Peter said jovially, tapping his watch. "But I'll forgive you just this once."

He slid his aviators down onto his nose. They made him look a little like a douchebag.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie gave him a critical look.

"Those make you look a bit douchey."

[lockestheway]

Peter rolled his eyes, a feat which was sadly blocked from the view of anyone else in the room by the sunglasses. "They're classics."

[whenshewasnice]

"So you look mildly douchey in a classic way," Natalie retorted. "Close enough."

[lockestheway]

"Anyone else have anything to say about how I'm dressed?" Peter asked dryly.

It remained silent. (Of course it did. Natalie was the only one Peter paid to have an opinion, and he usually chose to ignore it anyway.)

[whenshewasnice]

"Everyone else is too concerned about losing their employment to judge your accesories," Natalie noted just a dryly. "It doesn't matter, keep your glasses."

[lockestheway]

"Yes, mom," Peter drawled. He gave Natalie a critical once-over. "Ready to get face to face with the press?"

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie smiled at him. In that polite, mild, politician-y way that didn't reach her eyes because it didn't necessarily need to.

"Of course."

Because it was slipping into a role, and she really craved that right now.

[lockestheway]

Ah, professional face. Peter had little time or inclination to figure out what was going on underneath it, but he was pleased to see she had one.

"All right," he said, turning towards the door. "Time for the paparazzi."

One of the bodyguards opened the door for him, and the flashes began almost immediately as he walked outside.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie had a professional body right now, with the way she was carrying herself. There were a lot of things that were out of her control, currently, but that wasn't one of them.

She gave Peter a few steps before she followed him outside.

[lockestheway]

Peter had his PR smile firmly planted on his body as he walked past the press quickly enough that nobody could snag him, but not so quickly that they couldn't get a good picture of his face.

There weren't as many as he'd hoped for, but he wasn't about to let that get to him.

At the end of the path there was a car. It opened, revealing a smartly dressed, dark-skinned man and his bodyguards.

Peter met him halfway and shook his hand. "Thank you for meeting me, mister President."

He knew his role and he played it to the letter.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie noted the number of members of the press as well. Could've used a few more, sure, but what was done in front of the ones who were here was much more important in the grand scheme of things.

She took note of the president's bodyguards too, with a brief look, because that was just her way. She liked knowing what everyone around looked like. Not just the people everyone else's attention was on.

Although of course she shifted her attention to the president himself once she was at Peter's elbow.

[lockestheway]

"I had to meet Locke for myself," the president said, dropping Peter's hand. "Let's see if you'll match your reputation."

Then he turned back around, motioning for Peter's entourage to follow him.

Peter gave him a nod and followed, making a tiny (and slightly embarrasing) skip of his feet so he'd be walking side by side, rather than behind, the man.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie suppressed an amused look at that. Professional face on and all that, and besides, all her private feelings were pretty mild at the moment on account of some heavy-duty repressing.

She walked along after them, with the rest of Peter's crew.

[lockestheway]

Laugh all you want, but as far as Peter was concerned, it was the difference between being photographed as a toadying lapdog and a statesman.

He got into the limousine after the president, motioning for Natalie and one of his bodyguards to follow.