Things did not go Alexander's way, however.
As it was more like everyone was making their way towards him.
The drawbacks of being in a theater room full of people who mostly know who he is... what he's done... and what more he can do...
His real status may be unknown to the outside but these people with ties to Creed projects vaguely knew of his importance or understood the full truth already.
In some form or another... quite a lot of them just seem to want a word or two with him.
And Alexander could only grit his teeth and go through the plenty of them as he could.
-----------
Take Courteney Cox as the first example, who went straight at him and said. "Hey..."
"Hey..." Was what he said in return.
A reply that earned him a sigh of both understanding and exasperation from the dressed-up lady, who went on to add. "It's another great movie that you have under your belt, you know."
For that, Alexander just shrugged with a "Thanks."
A reaction that made Courteney sigh again. Cause she really should have expected as much from this odd little boy.
Looking and reacting to seemingly be as non-expressive as ever and even shrugging great achievements off like it's nothing.
Then again, she's interacted more than enough with him to get some clue of his peculiarities and subtleties. It also helped that she had an insider friend to clue her in on some matters.
In any case, Courteney could only thicken her pretty face up now and shamelessly say. "Any chance for me to be in another one of your movies that are like this?"
A question that confused Alexander a bit, especially when he reminded that. "Aren't you slated to be in one already? I even cleared it with the old man and had Miss Consigliere mail you a script, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know." She relented. "But that was that. And being in another movie from you is another thing. Hehe."
"It's not often that a pretty big sister like me asks you of things like this." She claimed and added. "Seeing this sequel like this is quite inspirational and made me think of how good it would be to also have a succession of Creed movies, so..."
Greed must have crept into this pea-Cocky woman, Alexander assumed.
But alas, he didn't have the time to point out how she always asked to be in Creed projects with almost every encounter they had.
Nor did he want or have the time to deal with her "prettiness"... so she directed her attention to the girlfriends he's left behind.
Since Drew was slated to be a producer in that movie she was going to be a part of... then let them cozy up with each other.
Which should be quite the timely idea, as Milla was looking like she did not want to be disrespected no more... and having a familiar face like Cox to mediate should be appeasing enough.
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Granted, as soon as he got a handle on that and even found a stand-in to calm those two... another had to step in...
And it was none other than Curious Bob.
"Shouldn't you be out in front with the others?" Alexander asked... as the director and cast and whatnot were really being called out at front, to speak a few words of thanks from a line-up.
"The same could be said about you. Haha." Bob Gale chuckled. "Besides, I'm just someone who transcribed your book into script and just an in-name producer for this one, so hanging back while you hang back seemed fitting."
Alexander could only shrug at that logic.
"With that said..." Bob continued. "I'm actually here to try and shift my career from just being a transcriber and a producer."
"Oh." Was what Alexander muttered.
"Well... this is a bit embarrassing... but if you have a moment of your time other than this... would you consider reading up on my resume?" Bob was serious and only a bit curious for this one.
Leaving the little boss of many Creed industries to ponder on such a job application.
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To interrupt such a train of thought was actually a strutting Tom Cruise... with his wife clinging to his shoulders.
At this point, one can only wonder whether these guys had a queue with priority numbers.
Whether that's the case or not, Tom smiled on and greeted with. "Hello again, young Creed. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
This Alexander kid could say so but they really weren't that close for an exchange like this, so it's understandable that a quiet nod is all he gave.
Tom Cruise also didn't mind that staring silence that followed... since it was those obvious stares that he was more familiar with. Bringing him back to the time that this kid visited the Top Gun set.
He had assumed it was a rich kid's quirk back then... only later and now did he know that it was most likely to assess and give judgment
In that case, this peculiar kid can judge and assess him all he wants since Tom was doing the same and he was actually quite sure of himself...
As long as it didn't involve his height, of course.
Consequently, he was just here to make introductions... and he did just that.
By praising his beloved new wife, Mimi, whom he loved very much.
And introducing the baffled Mimi to the actual Creed that the Church should focus its attention on.
From comic books to movies like this Back to the Future and many other aspects of entertainment... Tom also really praised the kid's excellence in such areas.
As a genuine gesture of goodwill.
But while his father-tasked and relatively clueless wife was more and more shocked as she listened on... the praised person actually didn't put much expression to it.
Emotionless and cold is how Tom labelled the kid. And that became distinctly colder as he droned on...
Meaning that the hiddenly astute Tom Cruise also cut this socialization short.
Granted, he hadn't failed to sneak in the interest of Scientology at that last minute... which was a "mission accomplished" in his books.
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And yes... that was weird on so many levels.
To be stuffed in the face with Tom Cruise's "love" for his wife... then being overly praised... and then to be hinted at with his newfound religion.
Alexander was still polite at the start but he really was quite perfunctory by the end of it.
That got him drained, after all. In the sense of interacting socially.
As evidenced by the much colder demeanor he had on him.
Alas, that didn't seem enough to turn away people.
Fortunately, they weren't as long and as awkward and as unbearable as that of that superstar's... with the most of note being Arnold, who gave congratulations and hoped that their collaboration would do the same.
And may that Clarence Gilyard guy as well...
Who was just a bit too thankful... so, Alexander was appreciative enough to let him read up on the Die Hard book.
Then again, even with all that, it was far from over.
For he was not yet done with his "breezing" through these frustrations...
