Thunderbirds: The Launch

The Launch

"Hello everyone, and thanks for coming today, I- no, that's not right. Okay. Good afternoon everyone, and thanks for attending- no, no, that sounds weird. Why are you making this so difficult? You can do this."

John paced up and down in his hotel room, reciting from the little notepad he had clutched in his trembling hands. He studied his messy scribbles with narrow eyes as he tried to make out what he had written.

"Okay, let's try this again." he paused and caught his reflection in the mirror. He straightened his posture and forced a smile onto his face. "Hello there, and welcome to the launch of my book. My book launch. About my book. ...What?" he facepalmed, rubbing his hands through his hair. He let out a shaky breath. "Okay, turns out I can't do this."

John tossed his notepad aside and strode over to his en suite bathroom. He turned on the cold tap and splashed his pale face with water. The blonde clutched the sink and stared at his pallid visage in the mirror.

He was a mess.

All this over a book?

John had been ecstatic when he'd found out his manuscript was going to be published - his family had been so proud of him. Months later had been the first time he saw his book in person, and he thought that was that - until his publisher suggested he do a book launch to help promote commercial sales, but there was just one problem with that.

John was terrifed of speaking in public.

He knew it was a childish fear to have and it made no sense because in general, John's staccato voice was enough to draw attention and make anyone listen to him. He just wasn't very keen on speaking to others outside his family circle, and everybody knew it.

John groaned and splashed his face with water again. Although his family were super excited about the book launch, none of them were actually able to attend in person, due to their work commitments. Scott and Gordon were still on base, Virgil was stuck at work and Alan at school. Their father was away on business but promised to give John a video call once he'd finished up for the day.

At least it meant none of them would see him embarrass himself.

As he dried his face, there was a loud and sudden knock at the door. Wiping his face with the towel, John forced himself into a state of calmness, trying to ignore the erratic pounding in his chest. He'd been expecting his literary agent to call by before the launch but didn't intend on her dropping by so soon. He didn't want her to see how vulnerable he was feeling.

John's eye twitched as the door knocking became more and more obnoxious. Instead of knocking like a normal person, whoever was calling for him was apparently doing a varied rendition of the Star Wars theme in knocks.

Forcing a wide smile onto his face, John opened the door. He was momentarily stunned by what greeted him - or rather, who.

"Boo."

Taken aback by the beret-wearing, black-cladded Che Guevara, John almost missed the tropically-clad Club Tropicana standing behind him.

"Hey Johnny!" Gordon beamed, pushing past a darkly dressed Virgil to pull John into a hug. "Surprise!"

"What are you guys doing here?" John gasped, patting Gordon's back as he fist pumped Virgil's hand over Gordon's shoulder.

"We were in the neighbourhood." Virgil grinned, adjusted his black sunglasses. "And a little birdy told me that big brother Johnny was launching his very first book today and needed a little moral support."

John stepped aside so they could enter his hotel room. "This is a nice surprise! Dad told me you guys were swamped down with work!"

"Well Scott couldn't get time off, granted, and Alan's stuck at school, but we managed to squiggle our way around it. Couldn't miss this, could we, Virg?