Growing into the Job, Post 453: Gala, p11

”It’s hard to remember, but there was a time when a woman actually wanted a man who was taller than them, stronger than them, a man who was able to provide,” the reporter from Channel Five declared to the news camera. The station had been given exclusive TV rights to the Far Horizons grand-opening, coordinated by Lexi Samuels and the media and marketing team of Far Horizons. There was other press however, from other outlets scurrying around. Most of them were tagging along behind Melissa just like the small doctor she had on her tether, which attached him to her dress like an accessory forced to trail along behind her. Their cameras and reporters were fixated on the couple, but it was Aly Singleton from WGGB Channel 5 who had snagged Melissa's attention at the moment. 

The coiffed blond, in her own elegant gala dress, mic in hand, continued her report. “Well, everyone, those days are gone. A new taste for ‘vulni’ men has been sweeping the country - even the world! - along with our fascination with tall, strong, powerful women. The couple of the hour? She´s taller than anyone he´s ever seen, and some say stronger than anyone here for sure, while he’s been afflicted with a mysterious condition that has shrunk him more than a foot in several months’ time, a medical curiosity. Are Melissa Monroe and Dr. J the new perfect couple? Let’s take a moment to say hi!”

The camera moved from a Tight On to a Two-Shot. Or, actually, a Three-Shot: the back of Aly’s head and Melissa dominated the screen…but there was Dr. J’s little head down there, just by her hip. 

I feel like such a weakling. The doctor’s eyes betrayed his thoughts as he managed a wan smile for the viewers, while towering above him Melissa Monroe, resplendent in her pink gown, exquisitely done raven hair, and perfect makeup beamed in sharp focus and ebullient smile to the viewers at home. She’d already gushed her greetings directly to Aly and the camera’s hungry eye, while the little man aside her was half-distracted from what the reporter was getting on about. He was told by Lexi that this piece would have a TRT of only a few minutes on tonight’s late-night broadcast, but that the Human Interest factor for he and Melissa was high. Still…why am I doing this?

“So, Melissa,” Aly asked, “what do you think of all this media following you two’s every move?” She held her mic up as high as she could towards the towering bombshell. 

“Well,” Melissa began, shoulders and chest posed perfectly, just like she’d been taught by her team at Evolution to address a camera and properly engage the audience with her body, “I  have to admit: it’s different, and a little strange. But I do kinda like having everyone’s attention focused on us…and me.”

With that, he watched as Melissa shifted her torso in just the most subtle of ways. She was standing with excellent posture, keeping her movements natural and controlled, and unlike himself she knew to avoid excessive gestures or fidgeting. Body language was important on camera, as was eye contact with either the interviewer or, in rare bold moments, the audience. 

And Melissa was feeling bold. For a long second following her answer, she loked down, directly into the camera. Normally, cameras would be positioned at eye level for a flattering angle during an interview. But, Melissa knew that - with her height - its currently low vantage point would provide a dramatic view of her striking upper body. Her boobs would look enormous, and her audience would be in for a treat. 

Aly asked more about how Melissa felt being called half of ‘the perfect couple’. 

“It’s sort of true, isn’t it? We do fit so well together,” Melissa beamed in response, pulling her smaller partner closer into her hip, in what she hoped would appear as a possessive but ultimately affectionate gesture. She knew she’d look like much more than just ‘half’ of this ‘perfect couple’ with him standing beside her. “We complement one another. For now he’s got the brains and I’ve, well…”

Again, Melissa shifted herself subtly, drawing in a slow breath that would make it appear like she was inflating onscreen. The eyes of her target demographic would be dazzled, riveted. Men would rewatch this by themselves, she figured, late at night, pause button on the ready.

“…You’ve definitely got the body!” Aly laughed, completing Melissa’s thought in a ribald aside that may actually make it past the editors. This was already all gold, she knew, and would serve her well once it aired and was seen by the new higher-ups. Even just a year ago, a fluff piece like this would have ended up on the cutting room floor, especially as risqué as it would turn out. These days, though, things were different. The public ate this shit up. Aly Singleton, in fact, decided to go even bolder with her questions, knowing what her viewers would really want to hear. 

”So, what do you say to those that say he looks like a child next to you?” Aly asked, as the cameraman was astute enough to widen the shot a bit, really show just how small Dr. J looked standing aside this tow-

“Yeah like you could be his mom!” someone from the crowd loudly called out, cutting into the interview. 

Despite the interruption Melissa laughed, Aly laughed, anyone in earshot - except for Dr J. himself - laughed. The cameraman went tight on Melissa and her little man

“Oh he likes being babied!” Melissa giggled, pulling Dr. J back to her broad hip, “Don’t you sweetie?”

His discomfit would play great, they all knew, once this aired. 

“Well,” Aly laughed, deciding to go with it, the turn this interview had taken, “You’re certainly built for the job. You’re an Amazon!”

“No, not exactly,” Melissa answered, settling herself and remembering to use a clear, confident voice and avoid filler words like “um” or “uh.” She could pause briefly to collect thoughts before continuing; it made her appear thoughtful and would bring more attention to her serene expression. After a moment, she resumed eye contact with the interviewer, to best connect with the audience. “Without the 10-inch heels I’m an Amazon, Aly,” she said, putting a bit of a sultry bravado into her voice, “with them, I’m a giant. There’s a difference.”

Aly Singleton, without even a second thought, knew how spine tingling that response would be. She didn’t interrupt, and allowed the cameraman to go even tighter on Melissa. Both Aly and Dr. J would now be off-frame, the cam focused right up at the enormous, pneumatic phenomenon that was Melissa Monroe. 

Speaking right to the camera now Melissa addressed her public. “You should all come on down to Far Horizons, come see the giant in person,” she said, and then puckered to blow the camera a big kiss.

Offscreen, the interviewer chuckled nervously. Had this piece suddenly gone beyond the pale? They should probably wrap, if they were smart. Nonetheless, she kept the cameras rolling. "Should that be legal? Bribing people with a kiss?" came Aly’s voice, in jest, still offscreen. 

To that, Melissa just smiled. Leaning forward, she let the light of the camera delve into the depths of her cleavage. “Oh I don’t think anyone would mind,” she said, her voice now complete with a new, husky timbre as she looked down into the camera, "I mean, would you complain?"

<gulp>

“Well, th-there you have it,” Aly said, stepping now in between the camera and the towering beauty, “everyone is invited to come see the beautiful new facility, it’s beautiful staff, and of course…” 

The closing shot would be of Melissa walking away, with her tethered doctor aside her. In it her rear end looked larger than it had any right to be, like its own planet, as if it had its own gravity tugging the little man along in its orbit.

“...Melissa Monroe likes it when she gets her way.”

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thanks to J2 for the original Melissa image/used with permission. And thanks to RiF for his editing help.