A Whole New World || J. JAFAR

One - I Hate the Press

THIRD POV

Ali clears his throat, standing before the crowd of clamoring reporters. "Alright. Alright, everyone, your attention. Thank you." He smiles, straightening his shirt. "As you all know, the Royal Cotillion is coming up. Mal has called this press conference so that she can clear the air as we come up to this... exciting event." He throws a look over his shoulder at Mal, winking when the blonde's lips twitch into a weak smirk. 

The reporters begin to speak over one another again and he sighs, turning back to them with a frown, raising his voice. "It would be appreciated if you could all shut up." Silence falls and Ali clears his throat, forcing a polite smile. "Okay!" He clasps his hands together, "Thank you. Please, raise your hand when you have a question. You will be picked out by Mal or myself -- this is to create an efficient round of interviewing with the least possible headaches for me. With that said, I now pass over to Mal." Ali backs away from the microphones, gently touching Mal's arm as she moves, a little anxiously, to take his place. "Hey," He whispers, "You've got this. If it gets to be too much, just let me know, okay?"

Mal smiles weakly, touching Ali's hand. "Yeah," She says. "Thanks, A." She takes her place in front of the microphones and is immediately met with the flash and shutter of cameras, but the reporters stay relatively quiet, raising their hands eagerly. Mal smiles hesitantly and nods as she points to one of the female reporters, "Uh... you?"

"So, there are only three days to the Royal Cotillion. Ever think a girl like you would be Lady of the Court?"

What a question.

Mal blinks, stumbles through her response. "I, uh... I didn't really ever, uh--"

Ali frowns from his place behind her, watching as the reporters become antsy. Before he can step in or Mal can answer, one of the other reporters speaks up loudly, starting the devolution of the situation, "How does it feel to be the most envied girl in Auradon?" Ali notices - over the small yet rambunctious crowd of reporters - Ben approaching them with a gentle smile.

"I, uh-- I wouldn't really--" 

"Well, do you like being a blonde?"

"Is your mother still a lizard?"

Mal's face crumbles and she shoots Ali a quick look over her shoulder, her eyes pleading. 

He steps forward and gently rests a hand on the small of Mal's back, hating having to see her so overwhelmed and small when she's usually so confident in herself. Almost immediately after he takes place in front of the microphones do the reporters fall into silence, nervous as to how Ali will respond. "Unfortunately," Ali says, his voice booming, "That's all the time Mal has for now. King Ben will handle the last questions in the meantime." He waves Ben over, severely unimpressed with the whole thing. 

"I'm sorry," He says quietly to Mal, moving aside for Ben, "That can't have been easy." She nods and lets him fall behind them as Ben wraps his arm around her waist.

Ben clears his throat, forcing a polite smile for the reporters and burying the irritation deep in his chest. "Okay. All right. Excuse me. Uh, we will let you know if and when that particular situation changes." He says, answering the question about Mal's mother.

"Did you ever think you would be with a villain, kid?"

Ali clenches his jaw as Ben smiles and laughs without humour. "We're done here." He says. 

The Fairy Godmother swoops in to deal with the reporters and Ali, his jaw tight with anger, speaks quietly to Ben and Mal behind her. "Hey, guys," He says, "That was awful. Uh -- I can't be here. I gotta go before I hurt someone." Ben nods with an understanding smile and Mal grips Ali's hand lightly, still wrapped in Ben's protective hold. "Okay. Thank you, Ali. We'll see you around." He smiles and gives a half nod before releasing Mal's hand, "Bye."