Scene 22 - November 14th

Interior Television Studio, Early Evening

Quinn Kaufman

Exactly one month after I first found my mother’s invention. One month after I was granted superpowers. Just 30 days after meeting my first superhero and supervillain in one night. Less than four weeks after visiting the private areas of the MLED’s compound and meeting a whole host of other heroes, including my new best friend, Holly. Four weeks since meeting a cold-blooded killer. Less than three weeks since meeting that same killer again with no costumes between us, and learning that my mother had lived far longer than I had ever expected - and that she was still gone forever. Just two weeks since I had committed to becoming a Journeyman - two weeks since...

“Mx. Kaufman,” someone said, drawing my attention back into the present, and I glanced up to see Lucas Apollon sitting next to me. “How are you feeling?”

“...nervous, I guess?” I confessed. “I’ve never been on TV before. I’ve never had this much attention on me before.” I glowered at him. “You said that it was Inspiring heroes who had to go on talk shows, not Approachable.”

“In general, yes,” he agreed. “But the options for announcing a new hero are either an appearance on a talk show or a press conference in which you would be expected to give a speech. Believe it or not, this is the better of the two options for you.”

I shuddered at the thought of having give a speech. “Fine. I guess you’re right.”

“I usually am about these things.” He said with a cheerful smile. “You read the briefing packet, right?”

I wiggled my hand in a sort-of motion. “It was a few days ago as a break from schoolwork, so it’s a little fuzzy.” School was ramping up in intensity as my finals for the semester began to approach, and between that, the new classes and events I was now part of as a Journeyman, and everything surrounding my father’s death, I had almost no free time. It was, I thought, for the best - the less time I had to think about... things... the better. It did, however, mean that things blurred together.

“I can give you a quick refresher,” Apollon promised me, and I focused on him as best as I could while he did just that:

Do speak clearly and concisely - don’t take too long to answer a question.

Do stay focused on topics selected by the show - don’t go on tangents.

Do display your personality - don’t overshadow the other guests.

Do...

“Thank you,” I told him as he wrapped up his summary a few minutes later. “But...” I swallowed, my throat dry, “do you have any advice to deal with stage fright?”

“Of course,” he said kindly.