the world is yours (if you can live it)

[megosalksandros]

Setting up to do the panel via satellite is something Alexander is used to; he tolerates being fussed over (minimally, anyway) by the tiny crew - a camera operator and a crew member he recognizes from somewhere on the Gaza strip.

Comments

[somatophylax]

Henry finds all of this - as relatively small scale as it is - fascinating and slightly funny. There's such a production behind all this news manufacturing. He's never really interacted with the media before, or known anyone who gets called to talk on CNN, for God's sake. He tries to look like he belongs while he blends into the background, and he thinks it works.

And he's impressed, if not surprised, by how well Alex works the brief time he has to say something that means anything. That and his carefully managed arrogance- though technically, he thinks, it's not arrogance if it's deserved.

He'll wait by the wall until Alex either comes to him or indicates he wants him there, reviewing more of the endless stream of paper and ink that piles up around projects like these.

[megosalksandros]

Alexander has the unique perspective of understanding both the value of people liking you and the way media can brainwash viewers - he chooses not to engage in dealings with the media professionally, but he manipulates it with ease when does participate.

He bids goodbye to the camera crew, who are apparently going to stick around until they figure out from their superior's which one of them is going to stay to be bounced around by Mina and pick what to photograph - and joins Henry, small smile on his face.

Very seriously, he asks: "Did my hair look okay?"

[somatophylax]

"Do you want the truth or do you want me to make you feel good about yourself?" That's the only response that question deserves, Alex. Henry smiles slightly, looking up from his papers with raised eyebrows. "I think you were a little hard on the other panelists."

[megosalksandros]

He laughs quietly, shaking his head. "Mm. They didn't ask me on to play softball." Joe wanders by to exchange more notes with him, and offer him a glass of water, which he accepts.

Alexander takes a sip and meets Henry's eyes, legitimately serious this time. "We're really going to have to keep an eye out, now, the cartel is very observant about these things, and I'm betting people will recognize me, now." Despite the seriousness, he doesn't sound concerned for himself. "I don't want it to end up hindering the project."