[ Hi ya'll. This is a non-traditional thread that Mikhail's player and I have cooked up but don't let that steer you folks away from participating. This is broadcast on live TV, and we'd be tickled to see how the viewers are enjoying the program. Stay tuned for the point in the thread where the host will be taking calls from the folks at home. ]
Only the highest ranking staff of the Louisiana chapter of Citizens Against the Supernatural were allowed anywhere near conference room one-oh-one of the state headquarters tonight. The overeager Johnny MacArthur and all the other interns and entry level staff had been sent home for a half-holiday as soon as the camera crew had arrived to set up. For those that remained, the headquarters had a feel to it that was anything but a holiday spirit. Even Casey Mae was on her tip-top best behavior, as she'd already been told by Cooper twice earlier in the week that how this public appearance went was directly related to whether or not she would still have a job come Monday.
As for Cooper himself, he'd been preparing for this public appearance ever since he'd gotten the call from Anderson Cooper's people just two weeks after the disappearance of Georgia Grace's momma, when his promotion to Executive Director had first been announced. While the television host boasted a reputation for being a straight down the center, non-partisan journalist, if you asked Cooper the man had a little lean in his left stride that was a bit too pronounced for the lawyer's tastes. But the host of 360° could be sporting a goiter in the shape of democratic donkey for all C.A. Pickett the Fourth cared if it meant a chance to cry the message of Citizens Against the Supernatural to the entire country. Opportunity had knocked, so Cooper said carpe diem, show me the make-up chair and let's get this show on the road. If there was one gift God gave him it was that he could talk at, to and with the best of them.
Did he consider Mikhail Alexander one of the best of them? Well first off, that depended on your definition of 'them'. Truth be told, Cooper was just a bushel and a peck's bit disappointed that the fine folk of 360° couldn't find him a born and bred American supernatural to debate. While he didn't agree with the agenda of the supernaturals or their sympathizers one bit, as a proud American son he did believe that those poor unfortunates did have the right to be represented by one of their fellow citizens, and such would be likely brought up by him during their civilized conversation. Besides that, he'd been watching the moves that diplomat made for years on end, because the foreigner was one of the loudest and proudest of those shifter things, and that bore careful scrutiny by an organization like Cooper's.
To keep himself looking personable during the talk, C.A. chose to sit in a simple straight-backed wooden chair which was set in front of the American flag. His suit was a shade of blue that made his eyes look kind, his shirt white as snow, his tie as red as the blood spilled during the Civil War, and he'd trimmed his beard and mustache to be sure they framed his all-American smile just right. He had notes on a legal pad that were in arm's reach, but he wouldn't need them. Never touched a single piece of paper anytime when he was on camera or speaking in public, because he wanted whomever watched him speak to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that every word that came from him mouth was a fact uttered extemporaneously.
"Two minutes to air, Mr. Pickett," the camera man told him as he took his post, nodding as the representative from the studio was yakking details at him through the headset.
Cooper nodded too, flashing a grand ole smile. "Then I reckon it's time to put my ear piece in."
The small devise was slipped snuggly in place, and sure enough there buzzing in his ear was none other than Anderson Cooper, giving his audience a backdrop of the conversation that was about to transpire. "…and from the special interest group Citizens Against the Supernatural, we have visiting us tonight via satellite the newly appointed Executive Director of the Louisiana Chapter, Cooper Alan Pickett the Fourth. Hope we've caught you at a good time, Mr. Pickett."
"Couldn't be a better time, Anderson, and I'd like to invite you to call me Cooper and thank you so very kindly for invitin' me to have a nice chat with ya'll. This is a very exciting night for both me and CAS." Because if all went well, he'd have a truckload or two more Americans seeing his point of view. And if all went really well, something just might come out of this that would lead the way to finding out what happened to Georgia Grace's dear sweet momma. Bless Marie Michelle's noble heart and spirit.
Mikhail was in his office. The camera crew readying for his session with Anderson cooper, it wouldnt have been his first one with the man. Mikhail had long been proponant for equal rights for supernatural's, more specifically. the shifter community. Both here in America and throughout europe. how would it be the first time they'd decided to put makeup on him. something he thought ht was taking with quiet dignity.
There was not much to be learned of the young Cooper Alan Pickett IV. he was new in his position, and prior to that was a lawyer with a clean record. and an out spoken dislike for his kind. The boy did seem well spoken though, perhaps this would be an adult conversation. he did not have high hopes though. Mikhail had been on the recieving of several live talking to's in the past.
"Two minutes. Mr. Alexander." The small voice told him. The Leopard heard the lead in that spoke of his counter part. and leaned forward in his seat, putting on his politicians smile, waiting for the light on the camera. to turn red while the played his own lead in.
"...Also joining us, Mikhail Alexander, A friend to the show, and an outspoken member of the supernatural community. Mr Alexander, last time we spoke to you you had just successfully created the lobby to legalize Lycanthropy in the United Kingdom. What brings you to America?"
"A Calling Anderson. America has one of the largest populations os supernatural beings, and while the laws protect them on paper. There are still a great number of attacks on their homes and places that shelter them... Zoanthropes. is the term I prefer as lycanthropy specifically speaks as to werewolves. There are many more then simply wolves that seek equality..."
-- Edited by MIKHAIL on Sunday 31st of July 2011 10:46:19 PM
Artemus just...stares, as he watches Mikhail come on the screen. Wasn't often he turned on Anderson Cooper, but seems this was a good reason. Tongue idly clicks against the roof of his mouth before picking up Kota's cell and dialing Jess' number. "Hey, May Queen. I think you should turn on Anderson Cooper. Your co-captain is playing politician."
Listening to the show he just cracked a smile at Mikhail. "Finally! Someone else that uses the correct terminology..though I prefer therianthrope...."
Sure, nothing fancy was on television. He had just arrived home in his car and parked it in the garage. A minute later in the afternoon he was carrying a plastic cup of chocolate mocha he purchased at a gas station on his ride around town. His couch beckoned him, he sat, and he wore his plain clothes than looking professional when speaking to a clientelle or two. He'll be returning to work in a matter of days. Remote was grabbed in his free hand, turned it on to notice someone familiar. Lips parted in a bit of surprise.
What the hell was Mikhail doing on TV! He seen a man he hasn't met in his life, almost spilling some of the hot liquid from his mouth when he pictured his old pal and one he knew from spending some time with him over the years he's been staying in New Orleans. "Mi..mi..Mikhail? I did not realize you was known for standing out to viewers."He's going to have to talk to that man very soon. Owen hasn't seen him since leaving his house awhile back when he came to visit him there for the first time. This show should be rather interesting.
"And Mr. Pickett - " "Cooper, please," C.A. reminded the host with a smile. "Cooper, Citizens Against the Supernatural is a human organized special interest group that's been around for over twenty-five years - " "Twenty-eight years this past Independence Day, that's right," Cooper interjected with a nod, keeping that kindly smile. "Twenty-eight years of advocating a mission that's generated a lot of strong responses from the public on both sides. Could you, for the viewers, give an overview of this mission from your organization's point of view?"
"I'd surely be glad to, Anderson." Cooper settled back into his chair, a sign that he was about to get settled into talking. Each word from the proud southern son came out as smooth as butter and as polished as grandma's silver. "While Citizens Against the Supernatural has grown, and its preferred modalities of getting our voice heard have evolved over the years since the founding of the very first chapter in Montgomery, the message has remained the same. What we're going to keep putting out there to ourselves, to our families, to our neighbors, and to the nation is this: the laws of this fine country, and the principles which created and shaped those laws, were created by simple, honorable regular ole men in order to govern, protect and serve those regular ole men and women. For humans, by humans, and I think that's a point that Mr. Alexander needs to understand before he takes this country on as a calling."
Cooper held his hand up, his way of saying that his point wasn't quite done. "Because at the heart of any democracy is a governance that serves the best interests of its people not as determined by the totality of its people, but rather what the majority of said people feel is right and just for the present and future of the nation. So no disrespect to Mr. Alexander and the folk he represents, but the majority of the population is good ole fashioned human, and among the humans - such as the ones in my organization - there is a quickly growing belief here in America that the age old party divides of Democrat and Republican, or liberal and conservative, are as obsolete as the Model T. There is a growing belief, in fact, that at the very least what we should be seeing on Capitol Hill is a party divide of humans and supernaturals, for these are the two real factions that are currently duking it out when it comes to what is right and what is wrong for the prosperity and survival of the United States of America."
Here Cooper held his hands out, as if he was showing those two sides on the palms of each hand. "Now how do I feel about there being a large representation of supernaturals on Capitol Hill?" A shrug, as he dropped his hands. "I'll be honest with ya'll, I don't know. Because any way you slice the cheese, Anderson, while both humans and supernaturals might be living on this soil side by side and day by day, we largely do not have the same needs, do not share the same interests, and quite frankly we differ when it comes to moral conduct as well! So I think what we can all agree on is that the divide between these two factions, between the humans and the supernaturals, is far far greater in scope than the piddly squabbles we currently see among Democrats and Republicans in committee. So why are we lettin' these ineffective squabbles go on when there are far bigger fish to fry, that's really the essence of what Citizens Against the Supernatural is asking. Because we as a nation have to explore the possibility that even changing the make-up of our bi-partisan system may not be enough, not without making major amendments to our most sacred governing documents that account and hold accountable a population that our founding fathers did not - because they could not - account for."
Cooper Alan Picket IV was a lawyer. One damn experienced at showing off his gift of gab. He could've continued talking straight on until Christmas, but he'd keep it there for now, so he could see what the shifter had to say for himself that Cooper could use to make his latter points.
After all, this was just the beginning. No need to jump the gun when it ain't even drawn yet.
(The Mods prefered vernacular is LYCANTHROPE otherwise we wouldn't use that term on the sites, character information etc. In this game that is the preferred terminology applying to all shifters. Just a note before the games common usage terms are changed right out from under us, which will only confuse players and members who have been following ours for some time now.)
[ Mikhail specifically said 'a term I prefer,' isn't that his character's personal prerogative? Wasn't like he said it was the official term for everybody...in fact the NPCed national news anchor used your official termanology so I don't think anything got changed right out from under you at all. Could have asked him to edit to clarify this difference. That's just my .02 cents on it. ]
[The word lycanthropy is sometimes used generically for any transformation of a human into animal form, though the precise term for that is technically "therianthropy". Sometimes, "zoanthropy" is used instead of "therianthropy"[2]
^ Guiley, R.E. (2005). The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves & Other Monsters. New York: Facts on File. p. 192. ISBN 0-8160-4685-9
Really is a matter of personal preferrence guys. The Mods like the generalized term, its what they want seen. Sort of end of discussion there. ]
-- Edited by ARTEMUS KURGEN on Thursday 4th of August 2011 12:34:01 PM
