RP: We close our eyes and hide -- a nation cries Date: Thursday, August 26 Characters: Aleksei and Samuel Location:The Guardian, main offices Warnings: Probably none Public/Private: Private Summary: Aleksei meets up with Sam when he hands in his article for the weekend paper. Status: Incomplete
The Guardian held its offices in a renovated, single-story warehouse, which normally implied a gloomy grey holding cell, but this building faced the river, soaking in sunlight and the view with its marble plinths anachronistically set upon old, Victorian architecture. Aleksei could see rows of cubicles for the editors extending up to the printing machines, which were already being primed to print the morning issue tomorrow.
"It'll be fine," Aleksei reassured the editor sitting behind a desk. He'd handed his article in this morning, but they'd called him back to raise a few choice issues. Of course there were issues, and of course he pushed the limits of what the press thought possible to publish. He may be a firebrand, but he was also a serious writer. There'd be no point in putting his pen to paper if it resulted only in more meaningless, over-repeated tripe. At some point, it wasn't even a matter of being a rebel, it was only pure professionalism. "It's a balanced article, and I'm an honest columnist. I'm only painting perspectives on the effect of late Mr. Wiser's passing--there's nothing even remotely brazen in it."
Aleksei sighed and rubbed his temple in show of a headache. "Of course, sir; thank you, I'm glad we've decided it doesn't demand rewriting. Yes, I could see how that last paragraph could be rather bleak." He frowned, sounding wounded now when he next spoke. "I wouldn't call it yellow press, sir; that is rather harsh. How about we just remove the word 'catastrophic' from the second sentence there? Excellent. Good day to you as well, sir."
With that settled, Aleksei turned in leave, or perhaps to get a cup of tea first. The tea always distracted him when he passed it, even if he'd normally be more attracted to the coffee brew beside it. He'd grown up on coffee, rich and dark espresso, but no one brewed as good a cup of tea as the Englishmen.