Monday Morning Interview

"Is this really, necessary?"

(("Price of fame, Boss."))

"Price of fame, Boss," said Callie as she adjusted his tie. "They just want a quick follow-up interview. You drew this attention yesterday with your little stunt. If you keep controlling the narrative in a positive manner then great. If you don't you give them the option to say and spin it whatever they want. Hold still." She indicated Cover-Girl and Courtney picked up the make-up and he made a face.

"Not too much," he said. "It just feels redundant after last week's press conference and interview."

She smiled. "That's politics." Courtney started applying the make-up lightly to make sure he didn't look funny on camera.

"But I'm not political!" Walt protested quietly. "If anything I'm the opposite!"

"Being apolitical is a political statement," she told him.

(("Ms Briggs is quite correct, Boss. Stop whining about it and take your lumps. Besides she's the same April O'Neil as last time so it's likely to go well as long as you don't go berzerk on camera. Be calm, witty and charming as usual and you'll be fine. However this interview is less about 3S and more about you personally."))

Walt sighed and Callie chuckled. "You have a knack for these things even though you clearly hate it. It's actually a little charming and genuine. Maybe you should run for public office!"

"No," he said.

"I don't know," she said. "Mayor Stark, sounds good."

"Governor or Senator Stark, sounds better," Courtney said with a grin.

"You can really make a splash and throw your hat in the ring for the Terra party," said April. "What a scoop, that'd be! Presidential candidate Stark!"

"Oh, hell no!" Walt stated. "Firing squad first!"

(("Dictator for Life Stark or nothing. Say the word and the night of long knives will begin, Boss."))

The ladies laugh as Walt says, "That would finally make me give up on Prime! I'd leave and never come back... hmm... that has possibilities, actually... dictator for life in absentia? I could just let you all run everything while I farm algae on some backwater planet..."

(("Don't you remember how just being a "simple moisture farmer on a desert world" worked out for you, Walter? Or the time you tried just being a rancher in a wild west setting? Or the time you tried to be a simple blacksmith, or an ordinary hunter or-"))

"Yes, yes," he said testily. "I get it, Friday. My vacation plans almost never work out." He sighed. "Dig one tiny, little hole and change a desert world into water world changing the fate of that world AND the universe. Move some rocks and find the lost sword of legend. Build a shack in the middle of nowhere and the next morning someone is banging on the door looking for the "chosen one", or the "kings double" or I look "just like" the man on the wanted poster or the man who shot so and so's, uncles, cousin three times removed in the knee... rotten luck! Isn't there a world out there somewhere that's nice and boring and nothing ever happens?"

The ladies all look at each other. "But that'd be boring... so probably not."

(("And with the way your luck works if it did exist you moving there would likely change it, so not for you there isn't."))

"Gee... thanks," he said.

"What if... you let the girls pick your vacation for you?" Courtney suggested.

Walt blinked. "I hadn't thought of that... do you think something like that would work?" Walt thought about that. "Maybe... if I let Penny pick it... it'd be some cute little happy place full of smiles with no big worries..." he looked at Courtney. "It's worth a try! Thank you!"

She grinned. "No problem, Walt! Alright, don't touch your face. I got to get back to the training grounds! Knock 'em, dead!"

"Alright," said April checking with her camera. "We're ready when you are, Mr Stark! And this isn't a completely "live" interview so if you need a break. Just give the signal." She smiled at him. "You sure you're okay?"

Walt smiled and tried to laugh. "Actually I hate this kind of thing. But it's far from my first, so let's do it!"

April laughed. "You always seem so relaxed when you're on camera I forget you genuinely dislike this sort of thing."

Walt chuckled. "You started didn't you?"

She shakes her head. "Not yet. Your AI won't let my camera record until you say-"

Walt said, "Do it."

"Hello. I'm April O'Neil from Channel 6 News coming to you with another interview with today's special guest! You may know him from last week's interview as the president and CEO of Stark Strategic Solutions, the Head of Stark Industries among others, the founder of the Protected Parks Program and well known philanthropist and veteran, Walter Stark. Thank you for joining us today, Mr Stark."

Walt smiled, "Thank you, Ms O'Neil. But please, just call me Walt."

April smiled, "Alright then just call me April, Walt."

Walt winked. "Can do, April-Walt!"

April laughed and grinned. It's too bad he hates this stuff because he's a natural. "Good one, Walt! Just call me April."

He nodded. "You got it, April."

"Today, we're going to skip all of the things we already know to ask you questions that we don't know the answers to." She said. "For instance, despite the fact you and your companies employ a large number of character assets, until recently you didn't personally own any of your own?"

Walt nodded. "With the exception of my personal AI and some robots and droids, which some don't recognize as "characters", that is completely correct, April. I am a new personal character owner."

April smiled. "Tell us about that."

Walt shrugged. "Late bloomer." She laughed and he smiled "All joking aside. I didn't see the need. I'm a widower and had been alone for a longtime. I was comfortable in my solitude and routine."

She nodded. "And how long was that exactly?"

Walt looked at her and sighed. "Too long, apparently. Let's just say many years."

She smiled. Topic skillfully evaded. "So a very, longtime. What changed?"

Walt smiled and it looked really good this time. "I met someone, a character, and she changed my life."

She had Penny's picture come up on the screen giving her usual "Salutations!" Before freezing on her face. "A Penny Polendina?"

Walt shook his head. "No. My Penny Polendina."

April nodded and smiled. "You say "yours" not just as her owner but as if she's unique. Can you explain?"

Walt smiled. "Certainly. As a former RealDreams employee and someone who has spent years working with many characters I can tell you that every character is unique, just like any other person."

April nodded. "How specifically? Could you elaborate for viewers who might not be as experienced with multitudes of characters?"

Walt chuckled. "It's not something that is talked about much but certainly. Do you mind if we use yourself as an example April?"

She chuckled. "Oh, dear! Now my secrets are going to be revealed!" She winks at the camera and they laugh. "Alright, Walt. It is flattering but don't reveal all my secrets, ok?"

He held his hand up. "Sorry folks! You heard the lady." They both chuckle. "You're from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Depending on which Comic, Movie or Television series you're from you'll be different from those other April's. Everyone knows that. However if I had two of you that were taken from the exact same series at the exact same time, you'd still be just a little different. For instance, tell me something personal about yourself April." He holds his hand up. "But NOT that personal. Something nobody knows and very specific. Like... what's your perfect ice cream sundae?"

She stopped and thought about it. "Strawberry and cherry ice-cream with whipped cream and sprinkles. No sauce."

Walt grinned. "Good! Very specific. And not something that comes up in our stories from your world. We can work with that. Let's say I have three of you from the same series and time. And you gave that exact answer. There are good odds that the others would give different answers. One might not like Strawberry ice-cream or cherry ice-cream, another might not like either. Another might not like whip cream, while another might but didn't like sprinkles. Now lets get two more and say they prefer sauce but one might like butterscotch while the other prefers fudge. And two more April's might be completely different. One might prefer a classic Banana split while the next prefers frozen yogurt over ice-cream. Yet another April might actually be a diabetic or lactose intolerant and doesn't really want ice-cream."

April smiles. "I see what you're saying. Minor differences. I'm a cream and two sugars in my coffee girl but another might like one or three or no sugar or black?"

Walt nods. "That's exactly correct. In all the fictional world's RealDreams has procured them from each instance from that specific time they will share the same looks, genetic structure, blood type, general measurements, hair and eye color and life experiences. You'll share the same likes and dislikes and preferences that are canonical to your specific series. But the minor unrecorded differences will be there making each of you unique. The less we know about a canonical character, the greater the differences can become. Say a characters favorite color is established as green. But is it spring, forest, grass, moss, olive, Emerald, Kelly or some other shade of green entirely? They're the same character but with differences. And characters who've been brought here and had different experiences will grow and change differently as well depending on those differences in experience. For instance you mainly do reporting and interviews, correct? And are you treated well and happy with your work?"

April laughed. "I do and I am. I hope you're not trying to get me into trouble, Walt?"

Walt chuckled. "Not at all, April! But let's say you were only allowed to do the weather? Or sports? Let's say another April is bothered by a bad work relationship or the opposite has a extraordinary work relationship! Given time they grow differently from each other depending upon those experiences just like any person does."

April nods. "I understand now. So when you say "your" Penny, you mean the things that make her an individual from another "Penny"?"

Walt smiles and nods. "That's correct, April. It's those minor differences which set her apart and how she grows as a person with her different experiences."

April nods. "Getting back on topic. You say you met her and she changed your life."

Walt smiles and says, "I didn't quite realize it at the time but I was falling in love and amazingly she felt the same way."

"Aww... that's so sweet!" She said. "I'm happy for the both of you!"

Walt blushed. "Thank you, April. We're both very happy."

April grins. "And you say she changed your life?"

Walt nods. "She did. She surprised me but she wanted even more characters, her friends, because she wanted us to help them. We've become a happy little family. It's something my wife and I never were able to have. A home isn't much of a home without family there to come back to." He chuckled. "It used to be a quiet, empty house but not anymore! Things are lively now. There's laughter and friendships and all sorts of things going on all the time."

April laughed. "It sounds delightful! And owning characters made you this happy?"

Walt shakes his head. "No. Bringing them into my life, accepting them and having them accept me. Making us a family. Forging those bonds together. That's what made me happy. Owning them is just how that started."

April nodded. "And they all accepted that?"

Walt laughed. "Oh, god no! Some where very understably stubborn and skeptical of it! But out of the original batch of ladies Penny had me add they all came around in time. We're all good friends and family now. It took time and patience and understanding." He raised an eyebrow at April warning her. He could tell where she was leading the questions.

April smiled and nodded. She knew when to back off. Especially with this man who could possibly make or break her career! Get the story and more interviews later! These folks could be a golden ticket! "And I understand that you have one of them here with us this morning?"

Walt nodded. "When she heard about today's interview she wanted to come say hello. She's a very good friend! I'm very lucky to have her in my life!"

"Awww, she sounds wonderful!" April said. "Let's get her out here!"

Walt turned and rose to fetch another chair from just off camera and placed on the "X" they'd marked. He took her nervous hand and hugged her, even kissed her cheek and Blake calmed down as he whispered. "Thank you, Blake!"

"You're welcome, Walt!"

He showed her to his seat and sat in the new chair.

"Hello, April. I'm Blake," she shook her hand trying to keep the informal atmosphere going.

April shook her hand. "It's lovely to meet you, Blake. I understand you are skipping out on class or training to join this interview specifically."

Blake blushed but laughed. "It's not like that. Walt has been very kind and given us many ways and opportunities to learn and better ourselves. I do well in my studies and I wanted to be here."

Walt patted her hand. "She's being modest. She's a very good and diligent student!"

Blake blushed but smiled happily. "Walt, please don't embarrass me?"

April giggled and Walt nodded. "I'm sorry, Blake. That was far from my intent."

Blake smiled and took his hand. "I know."

April smiled. "Sounds like you came here with something you wanted to say, Blake."

Blake swallowed but squeezed Walts hand and when he squeezed back she nodded. "I did. I asked to come here and I do have something to say."

April grinned. Could this possibly be more gold? "By all means, Blake."

Blake nodded and looked at Walt. He wasn't sure what she wanted to say when she'd approached him this morning but he smiled at her and supported her.

"When Walt first took us in, took ownership of us, I didn't trust him. Worse I didn't want to trust him." She looked down. "I was terrible. I was rude. Insulting. Sometimes I s-said things that were very mean and spiteful trying to hurt him."

Walt is surprised. "Hey, now... you weren't that bad-"

Blake shakes her head. "No, Walt. I was. I didn't want to accept this life and I held off and rejected your continued offers of friendship. In my world human and Faunus relations aren't the best. Discrimination and prejudice. I'd always fought for faunus rights. First with protest like my parents had done, then layer with actions I regretted. Especially when I made friends with someone who was connected through family to those oppressors."

She looked up at the camera now. "I know now that this man has always been a friend to me. Never hurt me. Accepted and nurtured me and helps me to continue to become a better person. I know that not every me, not every character, is that fortunate."

She looked at Walt. "But I am. So are my friends and family. So are everyone I've met at 3S. We're all incredibly fortunate!" Walt blushes. "He's a good man and a good owner and even better friend."

She turned back to the camera. "To the freedom and Liberation groups. When you disparage and criticize Walt and people like him you do everyone a great disservice! If you must fight for your cause, I ask you to please be considerate and do it in a way that doesn't attack the happiness that others have found. Thank you!"

Walt is surprised he didn't expect that! Callie is overjoyed. Such great PR! April is ecstatic! She can see the headlines now! "Freedom fighter from another world tells reactionaries to grow up!" Tells world "I have found happiness being owned!" "My owner is my friend!"

Blake hugged Walter. "Thank you for being my friend, Walt. Thank you so much!"

He hugged her back. "Always, Blake. Always."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress and Serana

Will Return In

Monday

Coming Soon]