And so George began, according to the plan.
Starting with a quick scan… of Arroe and Meatius' backstories, learning more about their past glories - of which, quite frankly, there wasn't a huge amount - but strangely enough, it… actually didn't really matter as much as one might expect anyway(?!), at the final count…!
Indeed. This was the… strange thing that George Lazer had learned… some of the things which he had gradually discerned!
At the beginning of his reporting career, he had been younger, and had absolutely no fear.
He had wanted to document, and report on the latest news, and to him, journalism had been all about publishing his own, genuinely-held views.
What was right, and what was wrong? Well as his readers read along, they would surely begin to see… that there was only one particular way to be!!!
And yet. With time. As he had grown older, his views had slowly changed, or perhaps, matured.
And he had become increasingly… wider-ranged, and better-natured…
In the past, when he may have assumed fast, and not been afraid to lambast… a fool for being - in his eyes back then - 'clearly a fool', nowadays, he found himself preferring a different kind of tool.
Yes. That's right. Nowadays… It was more about the… Glaze ✨💦🫢💖🌻
Well. Of course, this would not, could not be purely, unadulterated praise.
"The main thing is to encourage, and to provide opportunities."
This was something he had been told long ago, when he had been just starting out, on the journey of becoming a pro.
His articles… looking back, they hadn't been particularly good - but his Editor-in-Chief - a legendary, [moustachioed] man - instead of deriding him, instead had said that he 'could'… that he was *capable*, of becoming far better - words which had opened the door for him to evolve, and even now, to become a skilled modern-day trendsetter!!!
Of course though, just because lots of people now read his news - hadn't caused him to lose… the true insight that he had gained… ! beyond the fame, beyond the name - the more important thing was his mindset - the love of the game !!!
The point was, that amongst the subjective 'good and bad', George now believed that the main thing his articles now needed to have - was a more hopeful, constructive feel - words that didn't ultimately tear down, but instead contained the hidden power to affirm, and heal ✨🌻 [💖🔥💫]
A passion for words that would ultimately uplift and make people more hopeful, stronger, [and] innately affirmed - this was the true lesson that George had learned…
He gazed at the keepsake that he still kept to this day - a photo of him with the Editor-in-Chief smiling away…
Ah yes. His Editor-in-Chief's exceptionally well-groomed moustache had always been his defining… feature…
"…Thank you, Teacher."
… !!!
A realisation. …Of course…
Struck by a sudden… thought, George's hand touches on his own, lop-sided moustache - [store-bought 🫢✨] - which had come unstuck in Chapter 407, like a clever caterpillar curling away from an open flame, and… places it next to the two in the photo frame.
Ah. Even though time had passed, and his Editor-in-Chief was no longer here…
In his Mind, Memory and Imagination…
He still hears… the words, as if they were spoken yesterday, crystal clear.
["The main thing is to encourage... [and to provide opportunities]" ✨🌻]
___
[A/N: There is actually a bonus piano improvisation for this chapter if you may like some extra immersion/inspiration while reading which can be found here:
www . bit . ly/4gHe5QC ✨ just remove the s p a c e s and save the link to favourites/bookmark, as depending on the feedback, there may be a possibility to share more extra bonus content which would be dropped in this folder!
+ Either way enjoy ✨]