Elite Comic Universe PBP

She wanted to speak with this contestant if only to soothe her own curiosity. A small town girl from the US with what seemed like a rather sheltered life here to compete on the big stage. Her crashing out would be huge but she did have a heart and just wanted to gauge she wasn’t throwing the poor girl to the wolves. She knew just how vicious and cruel the internet could be.

Some folks were just too good for this world. She wore sedate fashionable clothing with large shades to obscure her identity. She was not here to be seen.

A simple cafe for some local coffee, snacks and hopefully a chill conversation.

Bea was glad to get the invitation for a meeting with the competition host! There was so much to learn and prepare for. Or, at least just to make sure she was checked in and on track and knew where to show up.

She was wearing a version of her usual 'uniform'. A freshly pressed western shirt (today, white), and a full skirt past her knees (this one was yellow but with a pattern of black polka dots). Cowboy hat. Cowboy boots.

Miss Patel? Mrs Patel? Did you actually say 'BadWitchPatel' like it was a name?

She entered the cafe and looked around.

The beautiful woman with the sunglasses and fashionable clothes. She had a clothing line, right?

She walked up to the table.

"Ms Patel?" There. That covered all possibilities. "I'm Bea Hawkins."

She tipped her hat to her. "A pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

The woman greeted the cowgirl and said, “Thanks for meeting me, Bea. Miss Patel is fine, I am not that formal. BadWitchPatel is for branding purposes, I mean it’s my name but usually only for when I’m recording. You can just call me Sonya, if you want.”

“How are you enjoying the city of Mudaba Adin; had a chance to see the beaches?”

"I am looking forward to your direction, Ms. Patel. We are fortunate to have you as our host."

She took a seat, as invited to sit down.

"I arrived Monday morning. A pleasant flight. My first time on a plane! My first time outside a couple states where I had kin and we took pilgrimage. It's beautiful here. Very ... a little overwhelming. Such a grand city. Vast and sleek. But it's been a great comfort to settle in with my host family that the temple arranged. They are so kind. The food is wonderful."

"We haven't visited the beaches yet. Though I am sure they are lovely." Beaches! "I saw the ocean for the first time flying over it."

"We are planning a trip to see more of the nation. Tigray. But I wanted to be sure I understood the schedule. When I needed to be present. So I can make sure to be in the right place at the right time! And as prepared as I can be! I do want to do my best." She was entirely earnest.

“Well if it helps for now we are just doing a lot of filming for extra stuff, so we can fill space with scenes of the city, people, and locations. Easy stuff, primary filming is not for a few weeks, then we get into it. Hoping to film till December, then get our final call and then the show premiers later this summer. Once we start filming we will need you available but you can enjoy the couple of weeks for yourself. Pretty standard stuff,” she responded.

“And I want you to do your best, so this was your first time on a plane? How is your host family? And how are your family back home handling things?”

A lot of filming. Were they on camera now? Probably. Maybe not. It didn't matter. She was who she was.

Still a few weeks. Plenty of time to get her footing and take their planned trip to Tigray.

"Yes, this is the first time I've left the US. My first time on a plane. I've only ever been in a couple states before that. Oklahoma mostly. Occasional trips to Utah. Driving through New Mexico. Beautiful places."

"My host family have been wonderful! The Bekeles. They met me at the airport. They've been so kind and friendly. Their home is lovely and the food ... oh my goodness! It's such a relief to have a home here. They were so quick to volunteer to take me, when we got word I'd been accepted and had to start planning. They've hosted college students from out of country before. They just have generous hearts. The gift of hospitality. I feel like I'm planted in good soil, you know?"

"I'm not sure how much the show will require staying at a UNJE site with the other contestants at times, once filming starts? The Bekeles are here for me however much or little I can spend time with them. Sunday mornings at least. Hopefully. If the contest doesn't take us out of town at times. You probably can't say too much in advance!"

"I know it's a relief to my parents that I have a host family here! I texted them as soon as I landed. They're doing well. Keeping the ranch running. We're used to being apart. Since I joined the teen team when I was sixteen and had to move to the city with a host family there. But we stay in touch. Lots of phone calls! They pray for me. And all the time I'm thinking - what would mama have me do right now? I want them to be proud of me. To see what they taught in me shining through."

“Well I am sure we could accommodate your religious needs,” she responded already considering the ways that could be use to build her story arc. She added, “Your faith plays a large role in your life, and we will respect that.”

“Once the filming for the show gets underway, staying at the Elite Academy will be mandatory, but there will be time to spend with your host family, would they be willing to be filmed?” she asked.

She looked relieved that they would accommodate her. "Thank you. That means a lot to me. It is part of my story."

"I can ask my host family if they are willing to be filmed. I am sure they will have strong feelings about modesty. Places cameras cannot go. But perhaps in the dining room for a visit and meal, or a trip to the temple, assuming the temple doesn't mind, and it's unobtrusive enough to not disturb others. Or in their back garden."

"I understand about staying at the Elite Academy during filming, and that we will all have rules about when we can take breaks and leave. I'll follow the rules. I promise."

"At the Academy, there will be a private place like ... to change clothes? To bathe and hygiene stuff? No cameras in that space?"

She chuckled and said, "No cameras in the bathroom, and when you are ready to sleep or need private moments they will leave your bedrooms. This is reality not a peep show."

"We just want to show your story, in totality. But also preserve your integrity and modesty."

Bea sighed in obvious nervous relief. "Thank you for confirming that, ma'am. Ms. Patel. That's great. Integrity. Modesty. That's all I could hope."

She took a deep breath. "I believe in the Elite Academy. I do! I trust that the footage, the story you tell with it, the coverage and conversation - that it's going to do good. Maybe it will help young folks just emerging to see what it's like a little further down the road. That we can use what we've become to do good things. That we are relatable. Imperfect. Vulnerable. Very human in that. A lot like the people watching in all sorts of ways. And better as a team."

"Maybe it will help you collect resources for research and rescue projects. Whatever happens, I'm sure you'll make good use of it.

"I don't know how it's going to work really. How many of us might find roles with UNJE, or other sponsors, at the end of it." It was a competition. She knew that much.

"Just focus on being your authentic self and it will all work out," she responded. "That would be my best advice."

"I can do that." She could! She smiled.

"I am so curious about you, Ms. Patel. You've accomplished so much. Have you had family, friends, mentors who made the greatest impact on your life? What led you to the path you are on?"

“I mean, yeah my parents were awesome and very much an obstacle at first. Dad wanted me to be a doctor like him and mom was a lawyer, and I was going down that road until high school and I started getting more into social media. Really it started in junior high, but that is when I hit my stride. By the time I finished high school I was making real money and building a serious brand. They came around eventually but it took time,” she said honestly.

She had been younger than Bea when she figured it all out!

"Did you have an idea when you started out? What your brand would be today? Were you mostly making connections with folks your own age? Did you have a big break? A big moment when it all went viral?"

Could this all have simply been researched? Probably.

But she was genuinely interested in getting to know her better. Ms. Patel's own assessment of her path.

“No, definitely not. I actually got started doing dances and silly skits, and then for awhile I wanted to travel but eventually I got my first real viral break just talking about Elites and gossip. I fell into it, it was not planned and then just stuck with it. Made connections online, and my parents hated it,” she responded.

“But I loved it.”

She laughed.

"Dances and skits sounds really fun. Carefree."

"Are you an Elite?" Probably she should know this.

“Oh no, no; just a baseline human here, no crazy powers. But I love talking about them, and people love hearing about them,” she responded.

"A very very talented 'baseline' human."

That was an important thing to have the pulse of conversation about elites and powers and all this stuff.

"All the people who watch ... I'm sure they'll have lots of different reasons they are interested, lots of different questions on their hearts and minds. But are there a few questions or interests that are really ... having a moment right now? Anything we should be aware of in the international conversation?"

“That’s a big question, Bea. Huge. I think at the moment, this moment, people are concerned about the role of baselines in the lives of Elites. How do we relate to each other? Like Paragon is so strong, he has saved so many people but does he need us? We obviously need him, he fixes our problems right? But does he need us? It sounds, I guess, selfish, but relationships are give and take right. And the best ones find a good balance, but what happens when that gets imbalanced?” she responded.

“It might be too big a question for a reality show, though.”

She listened thoughtfully.

"I think that will help me explain to Mrs. and Mrs. Bekele why it would be good if they didn't mind cameras at their house occasionally. I need them. I appreciate them. I am here to learn from them. To be grounded and protected by them. Every bit as much as I might help or protect some stranger on the street."