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She had to fight back a grin as she stood at his back, pushing him forward. “You’ve got this. We practiced.”
“It’s not the same thing!”
“Well, yeah. For one thing, you can’t interrupt the host to give him a kiss every time you mess up thinking that will distract him."
Her admonishment was flat, since it wasn’t like she had pushed him away any time he tried. But the fact remained that it was too late to get away. And maybe this wasn’t stepping off the side of a building, trusting that your fall would be controlled and safe, but it was still something scary and new for him, and the fear was understandable.
Rane was going to do an interview.
It was a casual thing. Late night TV host style – though this was more of a streaming situation that could be replayed anytime. The show was a popular one, and the host was notorious for having fun, silly interviews instead of anything hard hitting or serious. In other words, it was completely foolish journalism.
But it was also the first time Rane el Elffa was going to be doing something like this.
Elffa didn’t like putting him on camera in an uncontrolled capacity. His being dragged, drunk or drugged, in front of cameras wasn’t the same thing. For an official interview, there was structure, there was intention, there was likely a script. For something like this, where nothing was scripted and he wasn’t going through the motions, there was a greater than good chance that Rane’s personality would show through.
Which meant there was a chance people would like him.
Which meant there was a chance people would empathize with him.
Elffa couldn’t have that. So, Rane had never given interviews like this. Any that he was forced to give due to charity functions and the like were all scripted and pre-prepared with no chance for anyone to ask questions.
But Sandy had reached out to this show in particular and offered him an interview if he could do it the same day. She needed it to be done fast. If Elffa found out, she could refuse to let it happen and, as Rane’s guardian, her refusal was as absolute as a mother forbidding the media from recording or presenting her toddler on Earth.
But if she didn’t know about it in time to stop it, there was nothing to be done.
That was Drevor’s advice. He couldn’t set up the interview or Elffa would know he wasn’t on her side, but what he could do was privately alert the host about the legitimacy and urgency of the request he would soon be getting and letting Sandy handle it from there.
However, since it was such short notice, Rane had barely any time to prepare. While he was used to being on stage – both in the stadium and reading his pre-prepared speeches – he had never just winged it before. And that was what was unnerving him.
“You’ll be fine,” Sandy promised, kissing the back of his shoulder as the stage manager gestured for him to come forward. “Just remember everything I’ve said. Humble, but not ashamed. Factual, but not confident. Guardianships aren’t shameful no matter what anyone says, so act like it.”
“Right,” he murmured.
He turned back, swept her up in his arms, and kissed her. So suddenly, she didn’t have a chance to do more than be surprised before he put her back down. He was grinning.
“For luck,” he said before turning and walking off.
Sandy put a hand to her lips, heart racing. It was hardly their first kiss, so how was it that it still felt so new and exciting?
“I think I’m going to lose my breakfast,” Drevor grumbled from her side.
She turned to him, chuckling. “You’re such an anti-romantic.”
“Never really seen the point,” he muttered. “It turns males into fools. I’d rather stick by my work.”
“Whatever makes you happy. Thanks again for this.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he muttered looking at his tablet. “Elffa’s read the message that you got him to do this, but she hasn’t replied yet.”
“And that’s bad?”
“She never lets someone else end a conversation, even through messages. I’m concerned that this will only escalate her behavior.”
“Good.” Sandy smiled as she folded her hands behind her back, watching with a proud smile as Rane spoke with the show host. He looked uneasy, but he was getting more relaxed as the other male joked and brought him out of his shell.
She was sure he’d be surprised to hear it, but Sandy rather thought Rane was as much of a recluse as she was. It might not be immediately apparent since so much of his life was on camera, but he didn’t choose any of that. He certainly didn’t want it – at least, outside of trikball. She was an introvert that had been indulged; he was an introvert that had been raised in an extroverted environment. It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable being in front of so many, he just learned to tolerate it because he had no other option.
“You want her to escalate her behavior?” Drevor asked, confused, drawing her back to the conversation at hand.
