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

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

"Only my publicist knows for sure, babe. No more questions." Santana gives one more smile for the camera before turning away and checking out the nearby displays.

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

"Josephine Baker? You'd really get up there in a banana skirt?"

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

Instinctively, Santana reaches up to her Bluetooth earpiece, then smiles. "HEY, GIRL! Long time no see. You haunt every hero convention in America?"

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

The Blonde Bombshell gives her a saucy grin. "No, just the ones you visit." She looks around and gives a slow whistle. "Holy smokes. Look at all this stuff."

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I had *NO IDEA* that the Titans have been that historically popular. Justice League sure as heck doesn't have all this stuff."

Santana catches Damage out of the corner of her eye. Great, just what you needed. she thought to herself.

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

"My daughter has action figures," the first Canary mentions with a mix of pride and wonder. "Sometimes I see little girls playing with them...." She follows Santana's gaze. "What?"

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

"Nothing." Santana says. "Unrequited lust sucks."

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

"Have you talked to him?" She watches Damage talking to Speedy. "They don't look like a couple ... the archer looks too young for him anyway."

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

"No, not her." Santana said. "He's seeing Mar'i Anders, she's the one that's the daughter of Nightwing and Starfire from an alternate dimension. Perfect green eyes, fine but not too big breasts, tight ass...everything I'm not." She sighs. "They're INTO it, too. I try to break into things, I'm the one being a pill at this point." She shrugs. "Not worth the drama."

Her eyes say otherwise, though.

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

"Uh, yeah." The Black Canary coughs. "That's ... not a good thing to do. Um. So. Hey--lunchboxes."

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

Santana laughs. "I've missed you." she says simply.

"But no, no Josephine Baker for me. Actually, my TV show just got the notice that it was ending production - problem with 'tween TV is that it's only gotta shelf life of 2-3 years. My agent got me an audition for a couple Broadway shows that might be promising...but the commute to and from the West Coast for Titan stuff is going to be a bitch."

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

"The Titans aren't the only ones out there, y'know. If you're going to be on the East Coast, you could check with the JSA."