Warren & Brian; Sunday
Jun. 30th, 2013 08:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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om_mainThe boys talk PR business.
With things beginning to settle down somewhat, Warren was deeming it safe to start talking with people about this project he had going with Lydia and Arthur. Time was a sensitive thing and there wasn't much of it to be used for waiting around, that much he knew. The sooner they could get some big players in place, the better. Betsy had been quick to mention Brian, and it was pretty much an unanimous decision among the group that the Braddocks (Brian, in particular) would make for perfect candidates. If Betsy had found the time to mention anything to her brother yet, Warren wasn't sure.
Still, Warren sought him out down in the lab, as he knew Brian spent a lot of time studying down there. Unlike the library, it would provide for more privacy and Warren was satisfied with that.
"Brian. Keeping busy at work, are we?"
The Brit glanced over at the door from his location at his desk. "Warren." He closed his notebook and turned in his chair in order to face the other boy. "How may I help you?"
It said something that Worthington had come down here at all. It was not somewhere that the American spent much time; he'd no interest (at least, no specialized interest) in what went on, particularly in Brian's small corner of the laboratory. Beyond that, they were not all that close now, despite the detente they had reached. So there had to be a reason behind Warren's visit.
Cutting straight to the chase then? Well, Warren could deal with that. Small talk with Brian was harder these days, so that was that. "Look, I'm sorry for interrupting you down here. Think we could just talk for a few minutes? It's actually rather important."
Brian's brow furrowed, but he gestured towards a chair that Warren could make use of. "Is Elizabeth alright?"
As Warren sat, his expression turned somewhat surprised and his reply was actually softer than he'd intended. "What? Oh...Elizabeth is fine. Perfect." Perhaps she hadn't the chance to speak with him yet after all. "Has she told you about anything I'd informed her about over the course of our stay at your parents'?"
The bigger man shrugged, leaning back in his seat. This was Warren, who had been at their house for holiday and who knew him (however unfavorably) more personally, so there was no need to stand on ceremony. "She mentioned amorphous ideas, primarily. What, in particular, were you curious about?"
"Me publicly outing myself as a mutant."
"Ah, yes." Brian nodded. "She did discuss that with me, briefly. A public relations plan, of sorts."
He shrugged. "You seemed to have it well in hand. I am not entirely sure what use I would be, unless you - like Elizabeth - think it might also be worth my doing. Or you wish for my assistance in procuring the security staff she mentioned."
After all, public relations were not Brian's forte. Not on a more industrious scale, any way. Yes, he could manage the press for long enough to not completely embarrass his own family, but he was not a corporate leader or a marketing guru. His head for business was perfectly acceptable, but it was on the investment side, not the sales.
"Either or," Warren replied honestly, still in full agreement with both Betsy and Lydia that Brian would be perfect to have a role of sorts. What role he played, of course, was absolutely his choice and Warren would respect it regardless of what it was. However, he had to try so that was what he was going to do.
"I was in discussion with Lydia, who's the brains behind the whole thing, and your name came up. You have a recognizable last name plus a certain amount of power given your social status--and you're responsible. Smart. You very much could make for a good face for mutant community and representation.
"We just feel we need to start taking steps toward acceptance and stop hiding. Out ourselves before someone else comes along and does it for us and it's all out of our control."
Brian was silent for a moment, taking it in and absorbing it. Letting it play out in his mind, this idea of being a public face for mutant kind. It was clever in its simplicity, which he supposed did not surprise him given Lydia's involvement and Elizabeth's gift for human understanding, but even easy things had some hidden difficulties if not viewed first from all angles.
"Betsy," he finally said, "is not ready for such publicity. Is there any way that any of you have devised to keep people from looking into what happened to her, if I am to make this kind of spectacle of myself?"
"In any way that I can. It was something that I expressed very specifically to Lydia--if Betsy's not ready, then I want that respected and protected at all costs," Warren assured Brian. Which would mean extensive trail covering and other sorts of security processes, but it was something they already had to do in terms of the school, too. The exact steps of that weren't fully in place yet, but they were working on it.
"You and I have that concern in terms of what effect this will have on our families, I know. I'll be using my financial means to get what I can covered up and not have any trails leading anyone to vulnerable areas---the school being one of them, too. It's something we're developing at the moment. Both Sage and Oracle's names have came up as potential electronic security means."
Lydia may have much more information regarding that at this point than Warren did, currently.
Brian nodded slowly, still thinking. "My concern is that, given that she is my twin sister, connecting my name with this type of action will necessarily lead to people trying to find her. However, if she consents to this idea - and if we can achieve the necessary level of security - I am not per se opposed."
Consent was key in all of this, Warren knew very well. Still, the answer made him smile. "I'll be sure that Lydia keep you up to date with all of the security detail and progress--as will I. Betsy will be made aware as well, just for her own peace of mind. We won't be doing anything until we feel we've got our asses covered every which way."
Keeping him up to date with security details and progress -- well, that would make for some interesting bedside conversation with Lydia Martin, no doubt.
"Good," Brian pronounced. "Now, supposing that I do agree to participate in this - staying near you at all times like some sort of Excaliburian shield, to maintain my sister's piece of mind - what, precisely, are you lot envisioning?"
The security detail on Warren had been Betsy's idea, as she was very worried about some sort of backlash coming to Warren. It wasn't a bad idea or anything that he was against at all, but it hadn't been something he'd thought about for himself. However, he was going with it because it couldn't hurt. "Obviously the detail would be for significant public appearances, mainly, for the first short while and also be more determined after the fact by the reaction we do get. But basically, to start, I'm envisioning a press conference. Specific media sources targeted at audiences that we predict will be more receptive to us."
"A press conference," Brian repeated. But his voice was not judgmental, rather contemplative. "You alone, or you and I? And how would we breach the topic, in any event? The Dupree girl is less immediately topical than she once was, and that mutants exist at all is not precisely common knowledge."
"My father's got an entire team of publicists at his disposal, so it'll be easy to get something set up. I figure we ought to just be out with it, but emphasize that our powers aren't something to fear. Something people can consider useful whether that be in a life saving kind of way or even in a labourious way. We want to show what we have to offer, to give, rather than to take away or exude over anyone else."
His wings twitched behind him. "My powers aren't unlike Dupree's. I want to unveil them. Showing is the best way I know how, and if you're willing I'd have you there with me."
Brian was silent for a long moment, thinking it over.
Finally, "I am willing. Provided that Betsy agrees to my participation."
"Fair enough. Take the time to talk to her some more and then let us know when you're able." Warren nodded and then got to his feet, looking amiable. "You know where to find me, Brian."
"Of course, of course," Brian said, nodding and then standing up himself. He offered Warren his hand - this was, after all, a business deal of sorts. "Please do keep me appraised of everything that you are planning on doing, so that I might be able to be adequately involved."
Warren took Brian's hand in a firm, business-like shake. "Absolutely, Brian. I'll pass that along."
"And I will speak with Elizabeth, and inform you of the ultimate decision," the taller man promised. He carefully did not squeeze Warren's hand in return -- not out of dislike, but rather out of concern that he might hurt the man. And Betsy did hate when Brian broke her things.
"Good. I'll let you back to your work then, Brian," Warren told him, pulling away with a step back. "Thanks again for the time, yeah?"
"Of course." Brian sat down, and turned back to his desk. "Pleasure seeing you, Warren."
With things beginning to settle down somewhat, Warren was deeming it safe to start talking with people about this project he had going with Lydia and Arthur. Time was a sensitive thing and there wasn't much of it to be used for waiting around, that much he knew. The sooner they could get some big players in place, the better. Betsy had been quick to mention Brian, and it was pretty much an unanimous decision among the group that the Braddocks (Brian, in particular) would make for perfect candidates. If Betsy had found the time to mention anything to her brother yet, Warren wasn't sure.
Still, Warren sought him out down in the lab, as he knew Brian spent a lot of time studying down there. Unlike the library, it would provide for more privacy and Warren was satisfied with that.
"Brian. Keeping busy at work, are we?"
The Brit glanced over at the door from his location at his desk. "Warren." He closed his notebook and turned in his chair in order to face the other boy. "How may I help you?"
It said something that Worthington had come down here at all. It was not somewhere that the American spent much time; he'd no interest (at least, no specialized interest) in what went on, particularly in Brian's small corner of the laboratory. Beyond that, they were not all that close now, despite the detente they had reached. So there had to be a reason behind Warren's visit.
Cutting straight to the chase then? Well, Warren could deal with that. Small talk with Brian was harder these days, so that was that. "Look, I'm sorry for interrupting you down here. Think we could just talk for a few minutes? It's actually rather important."
Brian's brow furrowed, but he gestured towards a chair that Warren could make use of. "Is Elizabeth alright?"
As Warren sat, his expression turned somewhat surprised and his reply was actually softer than he'd intended. "What? Oh...Elizabeth is fine. Perfect." Perhaps she hadn't the chance to speak with him yet after all. "Has she told you about anything I'd informed her about over the course of our stay at your parents'?"
The bigger man shrugged, leaning back in his seat. This was Warren, who had been at their house for holiday and who knew him (however unfavorably) more personally, so there was no need to stand on ceremony. "She mentioned amorphous ideas, primarily. What, in particular, were you curious about?"
"Me publicly outing myself as a mutant."
"Ah, yes." Brian nodded. "She did discuss that with me, briefly. A public relations plan, of sorts."
He shrugged. "You seemed to have it well in hand. I am not entirely sure what use I would be, unless you - like Elizabeth - think it might also be worth my doing. Or you wish for my assistance in procuring the security staff she mentioned."
After all, public relations were not Brian's forte. Not on a more industrious scale, any way. Yes, he could manage the press for long enough to not completely embarrass his own family, but he was not a corporate leader or a marketing guru. His head for business was perfectly acceptable, but it was on the investment side, not the sales.
"Either or," Warren replied honestly, still in full agreement with both Betsy and Lydia that Brian would be perfect to have a role of sorts. What role he played, of course, was absolutely his choice and Warren would respect it regardless of what it was. However, he had to try so that was what he was going to do.
"I was in discussion with Lydia, who's the brains behind the whole thing, and your name came up. You have a recognizable last name plus a certain amount of power given your social status--and you're responsible. Smart. You very much could make for a good face for mutant community and representation.
"We just feel we need to start taking steps toward acceptance and stop hiding. Out ourselves before someone else comes along and does it for us and it's all out of our control."
Brian was silent for a moment, taking it in and absorbing it. Letting it play out in his mind, this idea of being a public face for mutant kind. It was clever in its simplicity, which he supposed did not surprise him given Lydia's involvement and Elizabeth's gift for human understanding, but even easy things had some hidden difficulties if not viewed first from all angles.
"Betsy," he finally said, "is not ready for such publicity. Is there any way that any of you have devised to keep people from looking into what happened to her, if I am to make this kind of spectacle of myself?"
"In any way that I can. It was something that I expressed very specifically to Lydia--if Betsy's not ready, then I want that respected and protected at all costs," Warren assured Brian. Which would mean extensive trail covering and other sorts of security processes, but it was something they already had to do in terms of the school, too. The exact steps of that weren't fully in place yet, but they were working on it.
"You and I have that concern in terms of what effect this will have on our families, I know. I'll be using my financial means to get what I can covered up and not have any trails leading anyone to vulnerable areas---the school being one of them, too. It's something we're developing at the moment. Both Sage and Oracle's names have came up as potential electronic security means."
Lydia may have much more information regarding that at this point than Warren did, currently.
Brian nodded slowly, still thinking. "My concern is that, given that she is my twin sister, connecting my name with this type of action will necessarily lead to people trying to find her. However, if she consents to this idea - and if we can achieve the necessary level of security - I am not per se opposed."
Consent was key in all of this, Warren knew very well. Still, the answer made him smile. "I'll be sure that Lydia keep you up to date with all of the security detail and progress--as will I. Betsy will be made aware as well, just for her own peace of mind. We won't be doing anything until we feel we've got our asses covered every which way."
Keeping him up to date with security details and progress -- well, that would make for some interesting bedside conversation with Lydia Martin, no doubt.
"Good," Brian pronounced. "Now, supposing that I do agree to participate in this - staying near you at all times like some sort of Excaliburian shield, to maintain my sister's piece of mind - what, precisely, are you lot envisioning?"
The security detail on Warren had been Betsy's idea, as she was very worried about some sort of backlash coming to Warren. It wasn't a bad idea or anything that he was against at all, but it hadn't been something he'd thought about for himself. However, he was going with it because it couldn't hurt. "Obviously the detail would be for significant public appearances, mainly, for the first short while and also be more determined after the fact by the reaction we do get. But basically, to start, I'm envisioning a press conference. Specific media sources targeted at audiences that we predict will be more receptive to us."
"A press conference," Brian repeated. But his voice was not judgmental, rather contemplative. "You alone, or you and I? And how would we breach the topic, in any event? The Dupree girl is less immediately topical than she once was, and that mutants exist at all is not precisely common knowledge."
"My father's got an entire team of publicists at his disposal, so it'll be easy to get something set up. I figure we ought to just be out with it, but emphasize that our powers aren't something to fear. Something people can consider useful whether that be in a life saving kind of way or even in a labourious way. We want to show what we have to offer, to give, rather than to take away or exude over anyone else."
His wings twitched behind him. "My powers aren't unlike Dupree's. I want to unveil them. Showing is the best way I know how, and if you're willing I'd have you there with me."
Brian was silent for a long moment, thinking it over.
Finally, "I am willing. Provided that Betsy agrees to my participation."
"Fair enough. Take the time to talk to her some more and then let us know when you're able." Warren nodded and then got to his feet, looking amiable. "You know where to find me, Brian."
"Of course, of course," Brian said, nodding and then standing up himself. He offered Warren his hand - this was, after all, a business deal of sorts. "Please do keep me appraised of everything that you are planning on doing, so that I might be able to be adequately involved."
Warren took Brian's hand in a firm, business-like shake. "Absolutely, Brian. I'll pass that along."
"And I will speak with Elizabeth, and inform you of the ultimate decision," the taller man promised. He carefully did not squeeze Warren's hand in return -- not out of dislike, but rather out of concern that he might hurt the man. And Betsy did hate when Brian broke her things.
"Good. I'll let you back to your work then, Brian," Warren told him, pulling away with a step back. "Thanks again for the time, yeah?"
"Of course." Brian sat down, and turned back to his desk. "Pleasure seeing you, Warren."
