Chapter 243: Infectious Rare Smile
Of course, the rest of the Creed's typical Mondays don't necessarily rest on them discussing and discoursing amongst themselves.
The older one was a business owner while the little one was some sort of business owner himself.
They had big and little boss roles to fill... and today's Monday is chock full of responsibilities... just like any other working day they've been on.
"Ready to head out?" Old Sullivan promptly asked on the driver's seat while Alex has already seated himself in the backseat.
"Yeah." Alexander just gave an obvious response to an obvious question. "I'm already seated and in the car, after all... and it's not like me to forget things."
"I know, I know." The grandfather grinned. "Just messing with you. You've been rather wound-up and listless due to nervousness these past couple of days... so I want to know if you are back to your usual."
"And?" Alexander knew himself well enough to admit that he had been swallowed up by his nerves and doubts. "Am I back to my usual now?"
"Your back to your usual..." Old Sullivan shook his head with some grimace. "If you count the cold and indifferent expression as normal... then I'd say you're back to your optimum and usual self."
"Good to know." Alexander just gave those words a nod.
"Yes... too bad though..." Old Sullivan added with some extended pause.
"What's wrong?" Alexander asked while wondering if this was going to be a tirade and speech about being a sweet and warm human again.
"Too bad that you have a smile on your face..." Old Sullivan grinned and had the words 'unusual' and 'abnormal' stuck in his thoughts. "...so I'd say your better than your usual and normal."
"Oh..." Alexander could only look at the faint reflection of himself in the car window and saw the smile that only comes up on rare occasions. "I guess... I'm celebrating in my own way."
"You do you, Alex. You do you." Old Sullivan was already somewhat used to his grandson's way of doing things.
The grandfather does know that the boy's rare smile could only be attributed to the teeming growth of their very first film project.
It took a long while but his gift had finally been given!
His grandson's melancholic aspiration to meet his parents again may not be achieved... hopefully, Back to the Future's film-ful reimagining is enough to fulfill some of that void.
Old Sullivan felt somewhat celebratory himself. "Anyways, Alex... I just hope you're celebrating mood will be longer and become the norm and usual that I had long hoped it would be."
"Yeah..." Alexander knew it was going to head to this topic at some point. "...probably not."
The old Creed could only sigh at that and just looked on the bright side. "Anyways, do keep that celebratory mood of yours for the day. Headquarters is in celebration as well... and seeing their little boss's smile should boost things to a higher level!"
On that note, Old Sullivan finally started his car and drove away.
Destination: CREED HQ!
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By the time that the Creeds got to HQ... the multi-story-ed main building stood as it is.
Of course... with a distinctly-fonted CREED sign plastered on it.
The building may seem just like any other building... but it housed a lot of important things.
Granted... this day... it should house a jovial and happy atmosphere given the great association that Back to the Future is bringing to the place.
Sullivan and Alexander headed towards the entrance... and their usual boss and little boss day should begin.
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"The movie was great, boss and little boss!" Mr. Security Guard turned Mr. Head of Security greeted at the door with his security cohorts. "We just watched it last night and the team up between little boss' story-making skills and big boss Creed's film production capabilities sure is worthwhile and impressive!"
"Head, aren't you too flattering?" Mr. Security 3 whispered in disbelief. "This isn't you?"
"Shut it, man." Mr. Security 2 wanted to palm No. 3. This man was harshing the Head of Security's vibe. Also, the bosses were in front of them. Doesn't he know the common sense of bootlicking?
"Haha! It sure is..." Old Sullivan didn't care for the guard's antics and just accepted the praise as it is.
"Look at your little boss's handsome but rare smile..." The old man didn't forget something as well. "I'm sure he feels the same as well."
"Ohh... little boss's smile!" Mr. Head of Security was awed. "The stars must be aligning today!"
"Wow! Just like you said, Head. The little boss's smile feels auspicious and horoscopic." Mr. Security 3 was wowed from seeing the sight for the first time and whispered to his Head. "Should we hit some sort of lotteries later? Little boss's smile feels like a good luck charm.
Mr. Security 2 wanted to shut No. 3 up so bad. The bosses could clearly hear his "whispers" and the absurd plans that came out of his mouth. Doesn't this man know basic decorum and does this man even know shame?
"Sorry about him, Boss Creed." Mr. Head of Security could only apologize for his subordinate's knack.
"Haha! It's alright!" Old Sullivan was just a good old chap that found things amusing though. "I'm feeling lucky with Alex's smile as well... so I'll probably join you. Haha!"
Alexander could only shake his head at that and just headed inside before his rare happy smile turns into a reluctant and begrudging grimace.
Since when did his smile become some sort of omen-carrying charm around these parts though?
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Of course, Alexander's attempt to escape the weirdness of the front door may just be futile...
The congratulations being given by the employees about Back to the Future would somehow turn into conversations regarding his smile, after all.
The culprit for most of that is none other than Old Sullivan!
The old man had somehow kept his grandson's smile as a pertinent topic in almost every interaction.
It somehow felt like dedication to grandfather pride and messing with his grandson!
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It happened while Miss Marker handed her reports by the lobby.
"Mr. Creed, here are the gathered audience reception to BttF so far and the expected audience growth in the following weeks should prove a good film momentum for the following weeks to come!"
"Thanks for compiling these papers, Mary!" Old Sullivan checked the files. "Oh and speaking of film momentum, how do you factor your little boss smile with that?!
"Haha!" Miss Marker saw the little boss's smile twitch a bit... but she still played along with Boss Creed's antics. "Given little boss's smile and its track record... maybe we're looking at even greater statistics that should bolster the Back to the Future's prospects!"
"Good, good!" Old Sullivan nodded seriously as if the smile's track record was even true.
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The same happened as Mr. Advertiser handed in his reports on Old Sullivan's usual cafeteria table.
It had to be known that the big boss was old and would much rather prefer working on the first floor rather than going up the higher floors.
"Here is the list for the film advertisements that you asked for, Mr. Creed." Mr. Advertiser added. "I've also handed in the completed publicity proposal for next month's Comic-Con and other merchandise releases."
"Thank you, Alan." Old Sullivan took the folders and just pointed the man in Alex's direction. "See that smile... it's been a long while, hasn't it?"
"It's been a long while indeed." Mr. Advertiser agreed. "Little boss's happiness is so cherished that I had already stocked up a lot of toothpaste commercial drafts due to the inspirations."
Old Sullivan's eyes gleamed. "Submit a proposal on that and have it on standby! I'll do my best to trick the boy into making it happen!"
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It also happened when the old Creed was curious about the comic book department's or Creed Comic's steady progress.
Mr. 5... now turned Mr. Chief Editor 1... greeted the visiting Creed boss. "Boss Creed, it is quite rare to see you here these days. Is there something I could catch you up on?"
"Oh... I'm just here for all the advanced comic book issues to feel better than the rest of the world who are frustrated from all the weekly waits." Old Sullivan said his intentions. "Of course, I also want to know the progress on the Back to the Future comic book that my grandson is supplementing to the film."
"They already printed up and ready to be distributed on the next comic book release day... which should be a few days from now." Mr. Chief Editor 1 reported.
"Good to know." Old Sullivan hummed with satisfaction and added. "Oh... and did you guys notice your little boss's smile today?"
"Unfortunately, we still haven't." Previous Mr. 5 shook his head. "Little boss is mostly pre-occupied in the Animation building these days that his cold and different face is quite a novelty here... but the news of his smile is circulating, so we're at least up to date."
"Ah... you Creed Comics people sure are dedicated." Old Sullivan praised these people for keeping track of his grandson.
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Anyways, Old Sullivan's tour and emphasis on his grandson's smile towards the people he met... went on!
He was clearly the one so dedicated to the craft of emphasizing and celebrating Alex's rare smile... hoping to make it an infectious rare smile!
There was no doubt that the old Creed may be the reason behind the rare smile being so talked about and being even omen-ly cherished in this CREED HQ!
It may have gotten to the point that Watchmen's Smiley face with multiple deep 'interpretations' has been left behind.
As for Alexander... he just sighed and put the matter in the back of his head.
He didn't want to damper his celebratory and happy mood with his old grandfather's antics.