Emblems are Epic


    Superheroes and supervillains share one very important trait. They’re all, almost universally, drama queens. If you look at any photo, even if they aren’t aware it is happening, you’ll find them posing as if it’s a natural state. Solaris, the first so-called super human photographed publicly in the United States managed to not only lift an aircraft carrier, but did it with proper posture!”


    That is why we teach this course. At some point in your career, you are going to interact with the cape set, fortunately the hero side. They need our expertise less to make themselves look good, and more to make sure they get paid for it, occasionally.”


    Professor Sylvia Lang, Marketing 203-Supers in the Media.


    “Good lord, what are you wearing.” Granny Ruan said, arching an eyebrow as she took in Solaris. The woman somehow looked almost childlike in an oversized and violently pink “I Heart New York” t-shirt that screamed Made in China.


    “My clothing to the brunt of some villains’ misbehavior.” She explained her stiff posture as clearly a sign of embarrassment as a blush would have been. “Do we have anything else going today?”


    Mrs. Ruan considered the snickering Penny and Nahoa, shook her head, and said “If memory serves, we have the gentleman from EpicEmblem public relations coming out to meet with you.”


    “This means we need to know what is in the media already. I bet he will." Penny said.


    Mrs. Ruan unmuted the TV, a news reporter recounting the events in the Diamond District.


    Solaris nodded. “Ah, I forgot, I hope he fits well with our team. I know you went through quite a few agencies picking him out.” She said to Penny, as she headed up the stairs.


    "Yeah, first step was figuring out who did what." She admitted as the blonde disappeared going to change.


    “You bought her a tourist shirt? Did you even try to find her size.” The elder woman said softly


    “Avoided it outright.” Nahoa admitted sheepishly.


    “It’s good to see you aren’t perfect. You better have gotten pictures because she will never wear that willingly again.” Mrs. Ruan chuckled softly.


    Solaris came back down, wearing a better fitting blouse a minute lated. “We still need to find a cook, hopefully soon.”


    Penny nodded. "I have a few ideas for a cook and other staff. Granny already found a service for weekly housekeepers. I assuming you don''t mind people who aren''t technically experienced, though they''d qualify educationally. People getting started in their careers."


    “I don’t care about a degree, they are not that important, I care if they can cook! You saw what happened when I tried to make stew.”


    "When did you try to make stew?" Marcus asked.


    "You thought she was dying something." Granny said dryly.


    "Oh."


    “I thought stew would be safe! It’s stuff that is boiled. I know how to boil things.”


    “I have banned her from all but the microwave.” The grandmother commented. “I have also ordered Factor meals like that nice YouTube man suggested. The one who does the history food.” She paused. "I also threw the pot in the bay, to destroy the evidence."


    “Rub it in.” Solaris grumbled. “So, who do you know?”


    "As far as cooks, no one specifically, but I do know of a pool of applicants that you''re uniquely equipped to work with." Penny said, fidgeting.


    “Oh?” Solaris asked, curious. “I’m fine with someone that isn’t fussy.”


    "Well. Fussy isn''t the issue." Penny sighed. "Did you, in your time, know any younger kids who expressed abilities? And wasn''t really in control of them?"


    There were the kamikaze girls, but diabetes isn’t really a superpower. Oh Hummingbird, Breakneck’s little sister, she was 14 when she expressed. We''re talking about speedsters, so sometimes she talked extremely fast and zipped about when emotional. Is that what you mean?"


    "Imagine that, with someone who fires energy out of their eyes when they get excited, or who was young enough they didn''t realize their illusion powers had anything to do with them and just accepted it as the area around them became pretty existential in a hurry. There are academies, and in more extreme cases medical facilities, for the very young or people who have issues early on controlling their powers.”


    “I could see the value in that, in some cases.”


    “I''m thinking graduates who may not have found other options yet. The academies help them get through high school and into college or trade schools, and provides housing while they try to get on their feet, but it can be tricky sometimes for them to integrate after being in such a contained environment, especially if they still actively express unconsciously on some level."


    “I certainly don’t mind helping somebody get a start. It can be hard even as an adult, getting used to powers. For a child it’s got to be miles worse. And they might have potential hirelings for other things, such as the gardening position.” Solaris tilted her head thoughtfully.


    "I''m sure someone interested in gardening would be somewhere, and there''s a lot of great culinary tech academies around. Hopefully we''ll find someone to interview. We might need to fly them out from whatever place they are at, though."


    The Alexa screen chimed, and Thud appeared on it. "Boss, there is a man from EpicEmblem here, and he says he has an appointment. I know you were expecting someone."


    “Yes, let him on up, thank you Nahoa. Well, the media person is here. Let’s meet him in the living room.


    Granny Ruan left them to get the door, leading a tall, slim man with skin the color of aged walnut and a sense of stability to match. His dancing eyes were an attention-grabbing caramel color, and a suit a color bordering on bronze hugged an athletic frame. His gaze took in the entire room in a moment, and his smile was just the right tone of happy to meet, and professionally detached.


    "Good evening, Lady Summers, and friends. I''m Zakai Hardy, but I beg you to call me Zakai." He said in a smooth baritone as he set his briefcase on the table and offered his hand.


    A pleasure to meet you Zakai. Please, call me Elizabeth or Solaris, both are like a common name to me.” She took his hand and shook it.


    "Most heroes in the business who are public, get like that." He chuckled, settling in a seat. "Now, your assistant, good to see you again Lieutenant, if for the first time in person, told me you need a publicist and PR specialist. I''m curious about a few things but thought you might want to ask me some questions first. After all, you''re trusting me to make you look good."


    Solaris nodded smiling as Granny served tea to everyone “I’ve always had a press agent arraigning my appearances and charity work. I am already talking to the Yankees about a baseball event, and they are wanting to tour my collection. Do you have experience with that kind of events?”


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Specifically with MLB or another professional sports team? No, but other major events involving heavy media presence and lots of money, yes. A couple of charity auctions, of a smaller scale from top to bottom and assisted on several major concert series."


    “That is good, if things go to plan it will be a nation-wide event. I am still learning my way around modern media, it’s absolutely terrifying how quickly something becomes news. There seems to be no time to explain or prepare, everything just happens. I am doing my best not to make mistakes but I know it’s only a matter of time.”


    “From what I’ve seen, you have enough of the basic skills to avoid the messes some create.”


    “I do try.”


    He chuckled. "Let me tell you who and what I am, then. “I was in the Air Force, Security Force, for two years I’d likely have stayed SF, but someone in a Toyota Hylux decided to blow up the gate to the base I was at in Afghanistan and bought me an early trip home and a purple heart. It also means I’m never pitching for the majors after the surgeries. After that I did some schooling and moved into being an Air force Public Relations Officer for eight years, and about four years ago I retired and joined my current agency EpicEmblem. My specialty being Crisis Communications and reputation management."


    “A fellow soldier, I can respect that. Solaris said with a chuckle, And I have a bit of history with the Air Force. I assume they figured I''d click well with you, due to that shared background. They are probably right." she liked his straightforward way of speech. “Now what is crisis communication? And what are your thoughts on what we need to do with my current presence.”


    "I suspect you know how to avoid most catastrophes, but supers tend towards being involved in crises, and I''m one of the lead agents for the super clients, though I also handle some entertainment and influencer personalities too. Zakai sipped his tea “From what I''m hearing, your big concerns are reputation management, everyone worries about that, and event management. That, and publicist work along with media relations, the drudgery of talking to the media companies before reporters show up and interviews happen."


    "I''m personally planning to recruit a junior to be your personal social media maven. They''ll be young, right out of school, and in need of experience but they''ll know their stuff. I won''t allow anything else. That requires a special set of skills all its own."


    I know my previous agent, Wendy, had several little minions of her own, but it sounds like you’re speaking of something a bit different, something more than an assistant to do your drudge work.”


    "I have an agent who works more or less as my partner, she''ll know what I know and be available if I''m not, but not collaborating with you directly as much. We have a team of writers, social media specialists, and other technical people we can call upon as well as a team of junior agents and interns that answer to us directly and specifically. If, for example, one of these young men turns out to be a super and get into the biz with you, I''d assign one of my juniors to them. No offense boys, but the Major here takes precedence. I only ever made captain, so I feel your pain as her junior."


    "And yes, there is an assumption that I will work with your staff as a team, especially since the rumor mill has it, you''re stealing code name "Dreadful" from UNLOC and the Coasties."


    Solaris smiled like a cat that got the cream “Yes, I am. Penny has been a wonderful companion, and the extra hands I’ve needed to get settled. So, I will primarily be working with you, and if you are busy your partner. How many accounts are you managing right now?


    "Between myself and my partner we have seven, counting you eight, accounts currently, and teams usually max at ten. Two have NDAs so I can''t tell you about them, except that they aren''t very busy accounts. Three are internet influencers, two other supers, and you’ve met Luna Fuega who is only a little time consuming. The other is not someone you know about yet called Victor Dred, younger hero, trying to be a bit edgy. He doesn''t have the look of a true edgelord so he''ll either calm into a dark avenger type, get arrested, or get out in a few years. He''s my biggest time demand currently."


    Solaris nodded. “I met Luna last week. Lovely girl. I’ll admit I’m likely to take a bit more time, I like to keep busy, whether that is business charity, or super work. Though the latter just tends to follow me. The nice people at the iPhone store are likely to know me by name before too long.


    He chuckled. "Well, we can work that into a sponsorship." he teased. "In all seriousness, some of what I suspect you''ll do means I will assign juniors to it. I looked you up, you''re very much the type to do a charity appearance here, or a fund raiser there, and those are things I don''t need direct involvement in unless you''re organizing it all from the ground up and are planning it to be a capital E event, like the MLB project. However, even if I''m not hands on, I will always be eyes on, and ready to react or respond if you need me there. Unless you actively get into a fight with Luna or Victor, I doubt I''ll have my time too split."


    “I do understand the importance of delegation. Will one of the junior agents be my primary contact? I’d prefer to have one person who is first contact, even if it has to be brought to a senior, it reduces the chances of miscommunication.”


    "I think I will assign Tracy to that role. She doesn''t work in the field, for reasons that are up to her to talk about if she wishes, but she is an absolute master at behind the scenes organization. She''ll get me in touch with you quickly, if need be, and run my lesser minions ragged without worrying me about it if I don''t have to be told immediately. She''s a born E-4, if you know what I mean."


    “Ahh that sounds perfect”. Solaris said relaxing back onto the couch. “Now what do we need to do to move forward? Do you have any questions for me or my team?”


    "Oh, likely a lot. I want to start with asking what your short and midterm goals are. Not long term, I doubt you''ve had that long to get a real foot under you, but what are you wanting to do?"


    “Right now, I’m just acclimating. I’m finding out what people and property I have and where it is. I still haven’t found my super gear, my tanks are in a storage facility outside DC, there is a Pegasus somewhere, and I am sure I’m forgetting things due to stress and “thawing sickness”. Mid-term, travel, find friends who are still around and make new ones.”


    "I''m guessing the Heroic Lifestyle is part of your future plans?"


    “I doubt the heroic lifestyle would let me leave. When I am needed, I will step up. That is just part of who I have chosen to be.


    "Alright, here''s what I''d suggest to start. We get a statement out outlining that in regard to the Fifth Avenue event , you just happened to be shopping at the time of the attack and acted. It''s the truth, which is always nice, and we can punch up the release to catch attention. The narrative in the media isn''t bad, so it''s more a statement of intent than real explanation."


    “Makes sense. I was window shopping and had just found a Japanese store with the most beautiful pearls when I heard an explosion.” Solaris gave her friends a bashful smile. “I have a weakness for pearls. They are a wonderfully practical bit of jewelry.” She shook her head. “Anyway. I am sure your bosses phone must be inundated.” She said apologetically to Penny before turning back to Zakai. “How much of an interview circuit do I need to do to feed the press enough to leave me alone?”


    "Mikimodo is world famous, definitely go back and really take a chance to shop. My wife does." He chuckled, quietly noting to mention the pearl thing in the release. It was wonderfully humanizing. "I''m going to release the statement, after your approval then let me feel it out. I''m betting on at least a couple of shows, I''m leaning towards the morning news shows but not right away. You might consider a Podcast for a long form interview at some point and can make a few suggestions for that."


    "Now, for the future, I have some homework for you. One, I want you to really develop some goals. The baseball project is a great one, and I''ll start preliminary work on our end, talk to MLB and what have you, get the ball rolling.” Zakai gestured at her with his cup “I''m sure that''s not your only interest. Let me know where you might like to be seen, what impression you want to give. Also take you and your people and get new Union suits. And I''m including all of them, even if they aren''t the hero set, because it''s bad in both a practical and public relation sense if an innocent bystander dies because a bullet bounces off of you into them. And if someone is putting on their spurs, so to speak, let me know so I can pick a team member to handle it."


    “I’ll make an appointment for us to get fitted and try to think of goals, which will get easier as I settle.” She thought. “OH! I forgot, one of my current goals is to restore my family home in England, get it fully updated and back to being self-sufficient.


    "There might be fun to be had there. Some media groups or even influencers online would love to get a piece of that, for public entertainment. Just something to think about.”


    “I don’t mind. It will bring visibility to the manor which I am going to be modernizing while keeping the history of the property. Make it an event location. I am also working on hiring people to empty out the attics, figure out what needs preserving, and what needs pitched.


    "I do like a client who thinks things through. Sounds like a wonderful project, and at least profitable enough to keep the property up for the future."


    “Back in my parents day the village and manor were completely capable of supporting themselves. I want to get it back to that point, if we get to actual profit on the property, I’ll probably put that into some sort of charity” she paused then shrugged apologetically. “Also, what is a podcast?”


    "For your frame of reference, think a radio talk show. Just internet based, and usually filmed as well as spoken, but often offered in both video and audio only content." He explained. “The more things change, the more they stay the same. We’ll make sure to only put you on the shows that offer a friendly slant.”


    “Excellent sounds like we have a good start to things. I think I am looking forward to meeting all the people you are going to be putting me in contact with, I love working with creative people.”


    "That is the influencer space, these days. The current trend is towards entrepreneurship among younger adults."


    “Perfect! Let us move forward then. What is the opening statement going to look like?