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Alex lives for the present (pastperfection) wrote in neeps,
@ 2018-03-02 20:12:00

Entry tags:

! ic/ooc, # montrose, ada olivier, alasdair maddock, alex winters, dani miracle, elektra yaxley, jason king, kenna mcleod, lennox campbell, mg mcgonagall, michael corner, roger davies

IC/OOC - Who's Ready to Meet Montrose's New PR Guy?

internalmemo Montrose Magpies Team PR Office
2 March 2000 TO: Montrose Staff and Players FROM: Montrose Magpies Team Office SUBJECT: Getting to Know You!
Hello, Magpies! No doubt, you have seen a new face around the offices, so I thought I'd send out a memo to briefly introduce myself. My name is Alex Winters, and I'll be taking over the Public Relations position from Aureliana effective immediately. She's agreed to stay on for a brief time as we transition her work to me, and I'm very excited to get started here! I'm sure all of you have appreciated the hard work she put in during the interim. A little about me: I was born in Scotland, but moved to America when I was really little, and grew up in Seattle, WA. I went to Ilvermorny- Go, Horned Serpents!- and then interned for a marketing firm in Manhattan before being hired on full time. This was my primary background- international corporate accounts- for nearly ten years, when I felt it was time for a change. But I'm not here to bore you with the details! I'd really like to get to know everyone here, but I know that everyone is busy with three upcoming matches this month, so I'm asking if you could please find the time to either schedule a time or just stop by my office for a brief 5-10 minute chat so I can get to know the team a little better. If you find you don't have time, or small talk just really isn't your thing, I've attached a brief form that includes some talking points you can also use if you wish. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you, and can't wait to see the Unbeatable Magpies in action again!

MADE BY TESSISAMESS···································

(Please feel free to use this post as an IC/OOC, or we can treat it like a journal if your staff member/team player prefers the written medium.)

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Re: Lennox

colludium
2018-03-03 06:14 pm UTC (link)

...the man seemed cheerful. Lennox was never quite sure how to take new people at the best of times, but when they were also cheerful? It definitely took him a while to adjust. And trust, truth be told.

Cautiously lowering himself into a seat opposite Alex's desk, he blinked warily and accepted the offer of tea. He spoke little else. Alex was definitely going to have to lead this one.

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Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-03 06:39 pm UTC (link)

Alex makes a few motions with his wand, and soon enough a teacup comes to rest in front of the silent Seeker along with a small serving tray with milk and sugar cubes. "If I'm given to understand correctly, you're not a huge fan of the press, right?" He spreads his hands out in a placating gesture. "I'd like to let you know that I don't really see any reason to have you put yourself out there any more than you feel comfortable. I'm just here to facilitate your dialog with the public, in whatever form you choose to make it."

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Re: Lennox

colludium
2018-03-03 06:45 pm UTC (link)

Lennox paused, having just added a drop of milk to the tea. He could feel himself freezing a little, not really wanting to open up to the stranger in front of him, but feeling the sense of dread he had when he knew it was something he couldn't avoid. "Less that, more..." he paused. He wasn't sure how to phrase the violently anxious feelings he got when he had to put himself out there. "reserved. Attention, tight crowds..." he waved it off, inwardly feeling his stomach tighten. He could imagine the sigh of his therapist from here, seeing how his sentences got shorter and shorter instead of communicating. It would have been so much easier if these meetings weren't all one on one, but here they were.

At the last part of the comment, he raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. "Dialogue?" he asked, wondering what on earth he meant by that. He hoped it wasn't too literal.

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Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-03 08:24 pm UTC (link)

Some of what he'd been trained to do over the years was to listen to the things that hadn't been said. The words social anxiety came to Alex's mind, and he felt he had a much clearer picture of the Seeker. He scribbled a note- no press- and then smiled at Lennox. "This would be your public persona, the face you wear after games and between matches. Some people choose to slip into a role, to disassociate themselves when out in public."

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	Re: Lennox colludium 2018-03-03 08:31 pm UTC (link)
	If Lennox had been able to read Alex's mind, he wouldn't have stopped himself from laughing. Social Anxiety was certainly one way of expressing what his deal was. As it was, he simply blinked owlishly, the tea halfway to his lips. "Er..." he began uselessly, not entirely sure he had one at all. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Lennox pastperfection 2018-03-04 01:01 am UTC (link)
	Alex recognized that look, and could sympathize to some degree. "You don't have to answer now, of course, just give it some thought. You can get back to me in whatever medium you feel most comfortable with." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Lennox colludium 2018-03-04 05:49 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm not sure I have one," he blurted, setting the tea back down undrunk. "Like I said, I avoid stuff." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-04 06:03 pm UTC (link)

"It's understandable, believe it or not," Alex said after a moment of consideration. "I've had plenty of clients in the past who would prefer not to step a toe out in public if they can help it. I suppose the rather unfortunate truth of your situation is that you don't necessarily have that luxury, given the very public nature of your chosen profession. You absolutely do not have to make any statements to the press or engage in interviews, if that's the route you choose to take. I'll definitely go to bat for you- to use an American baseball saying- with Merc and Shona if I have to, if you want me to. I don't mind being your intermediary in the slightest."

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	Re: Lennox colludium 2018-03-04 06:07 pm UTC (link)
	Lennox took a much longer pause this time, taking an actual sip of tea to buy him some time. How could he put this so delicately? "There are matters that they're both aware of that mean they don't try and put me in front of much," he began, his voice very quiet. "Florrie, too." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-04 07:39 pm UTC (link)

Alex nodded and offered the reticent Seeker a tiny smile of commiseration. "I suppose that's one less thing I'll have to take into consideration, then. It's great that everyone seems to be on board." He paused here, briefly, and then forged ahead. "I'm not asking you to divulge any details unless you want to, but there any topics about your life that you like to be specifically avoided if at all possible? And it's okay to say 'all of it' too. I'll make every effort to keep the vultures of the press off of you whenever I can."

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	Re: Lennox colludium 2018-03-04 07:50 pm UTC (link)
	Lennox felt his face twist into a grimace and attempted to hide it behind the teacup before continuing. "I'm seeing a therapist, which they know about," he said shortly, sipping a little further. "And I'm seeing someone who... well, she's not a player or involved with a team, so she's not used to the attention." He flushed a little around the neck. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-05 12:52 am UTC (link)

"For your social anxiety?" Alex frowned at himself and held up his hand, forestalling Lennox's answer, if any. "I'm sorry, that was a deeply personal question, and I shouldn't have asked it. As to your... someone-" better to use the Seeker's word here-"unless you both decide to date and live as recluses while you're together, there's a better than good chance that your relationship will come to light sooner rather than later. I can do one of two things: we can issue our own statement to the social section of the press in an attempt to control the narrative, or we can wait and see what- if anything- comes out and try to mitigate it from there. Again, the ball's in your court here, and we play this how you want."

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Re: Lennox

colludium
2018-03-05 07:33 pm UTC (link)

"Anxiety disorder, actually," Lennox replied shortly, feeling a little prickled. Social anxiety just didn't seem to completely express the severity of the issue, at least to him. "Comes with the territory of having a father killed in an accident due to overcrowding, a twin in Azkaban and having to sneak your mother out of the country for her own safety." He stopped, taking a long pause and a deep breath, his eyes closed. His chest rose and fell slowly as he tried to get a grip on himself, setting down the tea and pinching the bridge of his nose. The last thing he needed was to piss off the PR bloke so soon. After several seconds counting his own breaths, he spoke, eyes still closed. "Well, now you know why I try and avoid press stuff... most of it's public record, but people pry. Angus has his own shit, I have mine."

"As for press statements, absolutely not," he emphasised, slowly opening his eyes. "Not unless absolutely necessary. She's press, though, you should probably be aware," he sighed, beginning to rub his temple.

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Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-05 10:11 pm UTC (link)

Some of Lennox's diatribe was the entirely his fault, so Alex bore the brunt of it with calm acceptance. It wasn't the first time he'd pushed, however gently, and had it blow up in his face. This was mild by comparison. He took in the Seeker's varied expressions without judgment or opinion, not even bothering with his notebook anymore. This wasn't news to him, no more so had Lex's own history, but there was always something to be said for the experience, the individual's truth.

"Looks like we'll just have to cross that bridge if we ever come to it," he said quietly when it was obvious that Lennox was done. "That she's in the press already may work in your favor, since she'd know the ins and outs anyway." Alex offered the other wizard a rueful smile. "As for the rest, well, I'll do my damnedest to keep that under wraps as well, or at least help you control the narrative."

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Re: Lennox

colludium
2018-03-06 08:14 pm UTC (link)

"As far as I'm concerned, as little narrative as feasibly possible," Lennox replied. "The family's been through enough over the years without being splashed over gossip pages to boot. Quidditch stuff isn't so bad, depending on who's on the other side of things. Doing stuff along with Angus makes it easier." He shrugged. It was obvious that working with his more outgoing twin would help matters along. "Just be aware that Seeker Weekly probably represents a conflict of interest.

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	Re: Lennox pastperfection 2018-03-07 03:47 am UTC (link)
	"I'll definitely do everything in my power to make that possible, and mitigate anything I can't." Alex's brow rose before he could stop it. The inference was clear enough, but he knew he would be more comfortable if he could actually cement the information. "Your press someone works for Seeker Weekly?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Lennox colludium 2018-03-07 09:51 pm UTC (link)
	Lennox blinked. He wasn't sure if the query was due to disbelief or a lack of understanding. "Yes. Match reporting, mostly. Why?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-08 03:21 pm UTC (link)

"Well," Alex started slowly, "and bear in mind that this is my own take on it, it seems like your concern is less for your conflict of interest than it is her potential one. Maybe this is the wrong read on the situation, but as I see it, if the worry is that her job may be in jeopardy because of your involvement, as long as her reporting remains fair and unbiased then Seeker Weekly would have no reasonable grounds to dismiss her, unless there's something barring it specifically in her employment agreement. I mean, if I was her, I would just be upfront with my boss, so it doesn't come up as a surprise later."

He chuckled and shook his head, and then shrugged. "But I could completely off base. Who knows. Obviously you two are going to do whatever makes you the most comfortable. I'll just roll with anything that comes up."

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Re: Lennox

colludium
2018-03-08 06:43 pm UTC (link)

It would hardly be surprising that a famed Seeker was prone to talking with his hands, and as Lennox replied, he dismissively swatted the air, looking more casual than he had since first entering the room. It was almost as if his relationship was a calming influence.

"Chuck's fine there, her boss knows," he replied. "It isn't common knowledge in the office, just as it isn't here. Didn't seem right to go shouting about it yet," he added, finally picking up the tea and taking a proper sip as it cooled. "The only one likely to spill is Angus, and he knows the family will murder him if he does, so we're safe there."

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Re: Lennox

pastperfection
2018-03-10 02:42 pm UTC (link)

The name Lennox dropped gave Alex pause, and he remembered seeing and speaking with an unexpectedly familiar face at the Montrose game. He looked at the Seeker, startled. "Chuck? Charlotte Brand?"

He chuckled, couldn't help it really. "And the world gets even smaller. I know Chuck from New York, actually. We ran into each other at events over the years. She's really great." He was trying and failing to picture the two of them together, but that wasn't really his business. He smiled at Lennox again. "Mazel tov!"

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Re: Lennox

colludium
2018-03-10 06:18 pm UTC (link)

Lennox blinked, confused from start to finish at the equally confused (and then congratulatory) tone taken by the wizard who sat before him. "...yessss?" he began, although Alex did eventually get to the point. He shuffled a little in his chair, knowing full well that as a Quidditch pro nearly a decade older than his girlfriend was - not to mention that she was distinctly more model-pretty than he was and infinitely more foreign - there would likely be a lot of talk when things DID go public. Maybe in comparison with Montrose's very own seeker coach.

"Well, I suppose congratulations from the PR bloke are a fair place to start," he replied, recognising the Hebrew phrase from somewhere and filing it away for later.

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	Re: Lennox pastperfection 2018-03-11 12:20 am UTC (link)
	Smiling at Lennox again, Alex jotted down a couple of idle notes, completely unrelated, just some ideas. "Well, like I said at the beginning, you'll let me know if I can do anything for you, right? I don't want to keep you from practice. It'll be fun to see you on the pitch from this side of things." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Lennox colludium 2018-03-11 08:42 pm UTC (link)
	Lennox tilted his head, undeniably curious as to what Alex was writing down. He always was - this was why he was so worrisome in interviews. "Oh, right, OK," he said, taking this as his cue to leave, standing up awkwardly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Lennox pastperfection 2018-03-12 02:34 am UTC (link)
	Alex stood as well and offered his hand again. "It was a pleasure to get to sit down and talk to you, Lennox. Feel free to swing by my office at any time." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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