Gathering: New Guest Reception

[concierge]

The black sign positioned in front of the Dining Hall's main entrance reads:

New Guest Reception
TODAY
6 PM - 8 PM

All guests welcome

In the Dining Hall itself, the chairs have been pushed up against the walls and the long dining table turned into a buffet stocked with finger foods. At the far end of the room is a small bar serving beer, standard cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.

Comments

[iwillnotsettledown]

"Someone who is not quite human," MacKenzie says, thinking of Nick. "He was nice enough, though. I loaned him a little money since he showed up with nothing to his name and doesn't know how to get back home. He says he came from an island, or something, and it seems like he recognized me. I'm not sure how that's possible. You, I would get, since you're on camera but I haven't been on camera since I was embedded."

[onamissiontocivilize]

"Maybe he saw you when you were in Afganistan," Will suggests. He'd seen her on the air a few times, back then, and almost every time immediately changed the channel. It was good to know she was alive, but that was all he wanted to know at the time. "You know, no one has recognized me here." It's weird, and Will's not sure if he cares for it.

[iwillnotsettledown]

"That's shocking," MacKenzie says, fairly certain that News Night and ACN are available in most markets around the world. Someone not knowing who Will McAvoy is doesn't happen very often.

"How does it feel to be anonymous?"

[onamissiontocivilize]

"Fucking weird, but refreshingly normal." Yes, he loves having an audience (at least, when they like him), but he's also discovering that it's a fantastic relief not to have to worry about what some fucking tabloid is going to say about what he ate for breakfast that morning. "I could get used to it. Not this hotel," he clarifies. "The anonymity."

[iwillnotsettledown]

"It must be nice not to be hounded," MacKenzie agrees, sipping at her drink lightly. "I wouldn't wish your tabloid problem on my worst enemy but Nina seems like she's backed off lately. It hasn't been bad at all."

Nina seems like the kind of woman who can be reasoned with, though.

[onamissiontocivilize]

Will keeps his face carefully neutral at the mention of Nina Howard. Yes, there's a thing, but it's not something he wants to wave around in MacKenzie's face. "She's starting to see my point of view," Will says, and sips his beer. It's weird talking to Mac about Nina and he hopes they get off the subject.

[iwillnotsettledown]

"Well, whatever you did, keep it up," MacKenzie says, grinning a bit. "If she's off our backs, we can push the envelope and do real news. Although I guess it doesn't matter much here since there's no broadcast to do."

She worries about how long they've been gone and what they've missed. And, of course, how they're going to explain themselves.