Chapter 457: Back to the Forefront I

All things considered, Kingsman is still not going to be relevant for a long while... but it didn't hurt to be prepared early.

Because the early bird gets the worm, as they say...

Although... admittedly, that trip seemed a bit over the top for a simple suit run.

Not that it also mattered, considering that it was Alexander wearing said clothing for the occasion.

And that occasion did come soon enough. As it's already the 15th of May.

So, premiere day... or given the time, maybe it's better put as premiere evening?

In any case, with his privileges, he literally just bypassed the whole spectacle that came with it and rendered his dressing-up to be entirely pointless.

The old Kinsman owner would probably be begrudged to know that his efforts weren't flashed to bits by energetic photo-takers.

All those wasted shots that would have been good for business. To be able to stand among the likes of established brands.

Or maybe the old man knew of this peculiarity already, given his also peculiar relationship with Old Sullivan.

Not that it really mattered to Alexander. What mattered was that he didn't have to go through the hassle... and he was already comfortably sitting at where he should be seated.

As a plus, there was even popcorn for him in hand. And added to that would be the popcorn dedicated to his usual right and left accompaniment.

Just in case.

The only snag to all this was actually just the long wait for the other guests to trickle in...

Unfortunately, they weren't as much of a hurry to get out of the spotlight as he was.

This was the premiere for part II of Back to the Future, after all.

And for many, this was a chance to be back to the forefront...

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Unlike their little boss, who had explicit orders on them to not let himself be hassled... the Creed Entertainment publicity team was more than eager at this chance in the spotlight.

Or maybe it's better worded as them having the chance to dictate where the spotlight should glare its focus on.

And unlike the Paramount-led spectacle during the first film, where they didn't have much say or involvement...

Also... not like the San Diego premiere for Top Gun, where it was held in the far-off and military-heavy San Diego...

This was their chance to truly be at the forefront...

Hosting a premiere at a relatively premier spot in the somewhat symbolic heart of Hollywood itself.

It was supposed to be Mann's Chinese Theater but some suspicious circumstances made it move elsewhere.

It was good as booked already but unexpected maintenance suddenly scratched all of that.

Fortunately, the scrambled but it was clear that machinations were being done to inconvenience them.

An invincible hand was at play. Which was something that the higher-ups would probably have to deal with in their level and on their own time.

Regardless, the Egyptian counterpart neighbor was good enough and really not that bad.

So, at Mann's Egyptian Theater it is.

In any case, even if the word "chance" may be too overused... they didn't care for this truly was a chance of a lifetime and they weren't about to waste it.

At least this was what Mr. Advertiser repeatedly emphasized and it was kind of infectious.

Hopefully, such mentality extends to all the third-party groups they are coordinating with. Even more so on the invited guests as well.

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Though it may be unclear as to what other people's thoughts on this premiere really is... there are still those who took this as a shot to be back at the forefront.

Stuff like these tend to be highly publicized and it's no secret that this is the kind of place to brush up on some exposure.

It may be no Oscars or awards show, but it's good enough. Considering how big its prior film was, of course.

Unsurprisingly, with this thought in mind, there's Courteney Cox, who strutted along the red carpet and took in the flashes as she could.

Despite the biased perception of cockiness that a certain someone had of her, she was actually just trying to project confidence at that point in time.

Currently, she was also doing just that. Only more confident in her own skin.

Maybe having a blockbuster film as one's big screen debut just has that effect on people.

And at this moment, she really basked in the atmosphere as much as she could. And since she can.

Like the event organizers, she felt pretty repressed when her last big premiere was held in San Diego. Where only a few Hollywood relations were present as opposed to the many militants that were catered to.

Oh, and maybe there were some sparse nerds that couldn't wait for the next Comic-Con or hadn't left the last Comic-Con.

Though she wasn't sure if she remembered right.

Anyways, given the current circumstance... why not cherish and even bask in it?

Doing so in her gorgeous and sponsored dress... contrasting the carpet's red, it shone with an iridescent blue that seemed to sparkle as photos were taken. Accented with green-ish yellow hues to complete a somewhat primary palette.

Which is perhaps how fashion experts would put it, with their fancy lingos...

Some would even chime that she had a tame but very peacock-y theme going for her.

Maybe that was actually the vision that the designer was going for...

Though, if Alexander was there to witness the procession, he'd just mutter Peacocky Cox in his head.

Fortunately for Courteney, he had gone in already.

So, here she was... saved... albeit not escaping sideline questionings like "who and where's your date for the evening?" and "were potential romance with those Top Gun hunks not budding enough?"

Of course, there's also those that provoked her thoughts and expectations of the premiering film.

Prompting her to do her duties. Showering positives, likening its potential to Top Gun, and linking her roles in other noteworthy Creed projects as well.

And yes... out of obligation and selfishness, she also subtly chimed in her upcoming film as she could.

The Princess Bride won't sell tickets on its own and as the titular Princess Bride herself, she still got to do her part.

Overall, she had her fun being back at the forefront and would gladly retrace the carpet all over again... if she could...

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Not too far behind is another Top Gun star, with pretty much the same intent in this premiere as the one ahead of him.

Of course, it was not to make the most of it but he's more on the sense of soaking it all up. Partly to practice and experience his newfound level of fame.

For he was not just some Top Gun star, he was actually the Top Gun superstar.

Making it so that the guy in question is undoubtedly the one and only Tom Cruise.

A name that could be associated with a tomcat cruising through life.

At least, it was more succinct and straightforward than Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. Which was a past that Tom Cruise himself didn't want to delve much into.

He's good with the present. More than good really.

His social status aside, his marital status also recently got an update. Tying the knot just this 9th of May...

And fresh out of their honeymoon, he sought to use this spotlighted premiere to introduce his wife to the world.

The new Mrs. Cruise... Mimi Rogers. Though, he'd prefer Strickler since Rogers was her ex's. Even more preferred is to be Cruise entirely... but Hollywood and its stage names, so what can one do?

In any case, unlike his relationship with Cher, that had to be kept secret, this one could actually be flaunted.

If only he could go to some talk show, jump up on the sofa, and proclaim how great his love is.

Then again, he could make do with this.

So, the noisy clamor from the carpet sidelines could be understood. But, he only took it in stride.

Showcasing their wedding rings in their hands and looking as married as can be in front of the cameras.

No doubt that as early as dawn or even around primetime broadcasting, the whole world would come to know of this wonderful news.

Perhaps even going as far as overshadowing the attention that should have been towards Back to the Future part II.

Of course, Tom didn't see it that way, he saw his move as a way of giving back to Creed Pictures.

Confident that his presence would serve as a foundation for their newest film... just as their latter film had served as a foundation for him.

Both are equivalent in his opinion.

However, around this time, and midway through their procession, Mimi suddenly whispered. "By the way, Dad wanted me to ask you if you could help make a connection?"

Tom was mixed when it came to his new father-in-law, but he still wondered. "A connection to what?"

"You know..." Mimi's whisper turned even softer as she reminded. "The Church... and Mr. Creed."

"Oh... that..." Was all that the famous Tom Cruise could say.

It would seem that his scientologist wife... backed by her scientologist father and his current scientologist father-in-law... had other intentions when it came to being in this first showing...

And the new scientologist that was him could only do what he can...

Such were the commitments he made as a married man.