For the sake of the children

[lexcorp-media.livejournal.com]

The cameraman aims at the cheerful blonde reporter, and the red light is on. "Charles," says the reporter on cue, "I'm here at the Moscone Convention Center, once again the site of the annual Tomorrow's Heroes auction. This year the children's charity theme is San Francisco's resident heroes of today, the Titans."

The camera pans around to show the busy arena, crowded with people wandering around several tables piled high with Titans merchandise. "Titans and collectors from the Bay Area have donated items for this year's auction. The proceeds will be benefitting area charities assisting children in need, including this year's victims of Degeneration Y." The camera returns to the blonde reporter, now joined by a balding, gray-haired Hispanic man in a tux. "Here with me now is Rick Cantu, of Bay Area Memorabilia, whose auction house is running this year's charity. Mr. Cantu, what can you tell us about this year's items?"

Mr. Cantu, obviously at ease in front of the camera, smiles. "Cynthia, we have an astonishing array of Titans-related merchandise available. If your viewers are unable to join us at the Moscone Center, they are welcome to visit our website at w-w-w-dot-bayareamemorabilia-dot-com to review tonight's catalog. And of course your station is being kind enough to provide live coverage of the bidding, and we expect many bidders will be calling the 1-800 number on our website." The URL and phone number appear on the screen. "Starfire has generously provided us with autographed copies of her famous bikini poster--originals, I might add, not reprints. Superboy has donated autographed videogames. Naturally we have a number of action figures both in and out of the box, vintage issues of Hero Beat, lunch boxes from just about every team line-up available, and for those of you looking for holiday gifts, we have some rare Christmas ornaments for sale."

"That's amazing, Mr. Cantu. And I understand there's a very special item to be unveiled during the auction?"

"Oh, yes." Mr. Cantu beams with pride. "Very rare, very collectible. We're most fortunate to have such an item donated, and we expect it to bring in a fine price for the charity." He taps the side of his nose, looking rather like a clean-shaven Santa. "But that's a surprise we're saving for the right time." He nods at the stage at the far end of the room. The curtains have been drawn, but they shift and billow every once in a while, hinting at the busy movements of auction staffers making last-minute preparations.

"We'll be here when those curtains go up," Cynthia promises. She turns back to the camera. "Live from the Moscone Convention Center, I'm Cynthia McAllister. Back to you, Charles."

"And ... we're off air." The cameraman lowers his camera, but Cynthia waves at him. "Keep that in place," she says, looking around at the crowd. "I want some Titans footage, when they get here."

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"I've tried to visit hospitals as often as I can manage, in one way or another," she takes a moment to wave at the girl. Later on, she'll head over there when there aren't as many people around. "Being a part of the regular line-up of the Titans has afforded me greater opportunities for helping out charities and being present at events such as these."

"Really, whatever I can do to help."

[lexcorp-media.livejournal.com]

"Which of your Titan activities do you find most rewarding?"

Several teenage boys are slowly and oh so casually sauntering behind Cynthia's cameraman, trying not to be caught staring at Flamebird.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

The question makes her pause, as she accepts another pices of paper and signs it, not really thinking about it as she does so. "That's a hard question to answer, Cynthia, because I find it all rewarding. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be doing it."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"Flamebird rocks!" shouts the boy missing a left leg. His friend pokes him and whispers, "You didn't have to shout it."

"Beast Boy rocks!" argues the little girl in the Beast Boy t-shirt. Her mother leans over the back of the wheelchair to pat her on the shoulder. "Take it easy, Beth," she says soothingly. "I know it's exciting to be here, but you need to use your indoor voice."

"Stupid Beast Boy," mutters a boy standing next to Beth. Judging by his family resemblance to Beth and her mother, he is the little girl's brother, though the Beast Boy fan gene must've passed him by.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Beast Boy does rock. I know. He's a good friend of mine." Flamebird winks over toward the general disagreement.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Beth shoots her brother a triumphant look, then folds her thin arms over her chest, careful of the arm board and permanent shunt in place on her left forearm.

Her brother looks unconvinced.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Flamebird gives the little girl's brother a smile. While the children with the illness need all of the attention in order to have a chance, their siblings are very often shoved to the side. "Do you have any heroes?" He's obviously not a Beast Boy fan but that seems a bit more circumstantial than anything else.

And the way this is going, she might have to make a call here shortly.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

He shrugs. "Dunno," he mumbles.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Flamebird smiles at him again, making sure that he gets some attention at least before looking toward the little girl and giving her a smile as well. Yeah. She needs to call Gar.

He needs to be here.