The Way I Am

[Marcus DuBois]

Alexandrova Vladislavovna - Leonid Bykov

Office of the Consul on Public Engagement, Propaganda, and Interdominance Relations

Office of the Consulate on Communications

Alex sat back, her green eyes quietly studying Marcus as he and Leonid spoke. The boy had done well for himself. Then again, she would never have brought him to Leonid and Nik's attention if she had thought otherwise.

At the time, it had been her hope he would join her Consulate of Propaganda. While his thesis on Edge verses Center Nations was not exactly revolutionary, his ability to explain it was very impressive. As was his seeing the big picture, people as masses that could generally be expected to react in predictable ways. Which was only a single step removed from causing people to react in those desired ways. He would have done well there. She was always on the lookout for visionaries as opposed to flunkies and plodders.

And if he was perhaps charming and effortless....well, all the better. She and Leonid had been together for decades, ever since they went to school together in Bologna with Nik, Raved, and Valentin. All five of them inseperable. It was true, she had harbored secret feelings for Nik. It had been the five of them, but in many ways, only she truly understood Nik. Only she saw the burden he bore and never shared. So yes, she had had feelings, long ago- feelings he only once reciprocated one night when the drinks had flowed and and he had kissed her. But school girl crushes were always messy and short lived. Their friendship and trust went far deeper.

So it had been Leonid she had partnered with, eventually heading two Consulates that were mirrors- the one private, the other public. Together, they had helped shape public perception both in the ASU and later the CCD. Alex's work had dropped more than a handful of nations into Nik's pocket. Why destabilize a nation militarily when you could win over the minds and hearts of their people. At long last, seeds sown in the US were finally coming to fruition and she had no doubt it too would crack. It was their work.

She and Leonid were mature adults who worked long hours. The jobs were their lives. Both of them had tools at their disposal. Tools far beyond simple intelligence and organization. Leonid's boyish playfulness and wit had broken more than one reporter or editor's will and resolve, had shaped more than a few opinion pieces or sudden reversals of stances in public forums. It masked a dangerous mind.

She did not begrudge her partner his dalliances, anymore than he begrudged her hers. Silk covered steel, she was. Soft and beguiling, manipulating and clouding the minds of men and women fairly easily, only for them to discover too late her claws sunk deep, her poison pumping into them.

Marcus would have been hers. And might still be. Still. It made her smile. It would be amusing to have another Consul on her string.

As if they sensed her presence and thoughts, both sets of eyes turned to her. Leonid smiled in a friendly way though she knew his tone betrayed an annoyance. "She's daydreaming of us Marcus," he said, dryly.

Marcus' blush was hard to see against the darkness of his skin....if it was there at all. She had been watching him for a while, now, both as Sigma and now as a Consul himself. His dalliances with Elouera Galloway, Leonid's youth advisor of the Religious office. His time at the ball with that young mousey doctor. Others.

She suspected some of his reactions were feigned. If so, they were good. One day, in a decade maybe, he might have risen enough to be part of Nik's inner sphere. If he could be trusted. All outward appearances said yes. But there was something...off.

She smirked, favoring Leonid with a nod. "And why shouldn't I? I don't see much for me to do here." A slight provocation that Marcus bit at too easily.

In an overly solicituous manner, he interjected, "No, Alexandrova. I need the help of both Consulates for this. The communications and propaganda wing. You were at Patheos! A riot broke out and was only barely contained. The tension between channelers and other gifted people and the rest is growing. And factions are adding to it. We need to release some of that pressure. And the fact is, I don't know how to do it. At least....". He spread his hands helplessly.

He was right, of course. It was hard for normal people to see such extraordinary abilities and not feel scared. She had never feared Nik- but only because she knew him from the beginning. And he was only one man. But it was easy enough to imagine if thirty Niks suddenly showed up at school all those years ago.

She nodded, an idea occurring- though perhaps her predatory side played a role too. "Leonid, I wonder how well Elouera is doing in the DV project. From the latest reports, we have media scripts and projects in development that will last the next few years at least." Her eye flicked to Marcus' innocently. "Perhaps she might be temporarily recalled from DV so as start working on youth religious perspectives regarding Marcus' point. They are the first and best entry vector."

A slight glint in his eye made her smile on the inside. Oh yes. It was something, then. The boy got around. Perhaps she should tell Leonid to give him a warning about visibility.

They continued to talk and plan in the center conference room, surrounded by glass walls. Much of his Consulate's administrative offices could be seen from here, when the glass was not opaque as it was now.

By the end, she was standing, the glass shimmering back to transluscent, people milling about, casually glancing at the three Consuls who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

It was not without its theatrics.

As they ended their greetings, Alex happened to look over at the receptionist desk where a sultry beauty stood, perhaps looking a bit impatient. Suddenly looking at them.

Marcus looked up and saw her, his face lighting up. Alex couldn't help the slight smile that formed as her eyebrow raised. The boy loved dangerous games it seemed. And prey. He was an ambituous one, that was for sure. And definitely not out of her sights. Not now.

"Leonid, come, please. Let us visit Dr. Korban while we are here." She nodded at Marcus. "You've done well here, Marcus. Keep it up." And then they headed off in another direction.