will didn’t know what he was expecting to get out of this. every part of him insisted he’d walk onto the podium disappointed at the pointers he’d get from cesare. it was childish to mislead his hopes in this direction, but old habits died hard – he was still an idealist, clinging onto the idea that maybe, just maybe, the journalists eager to tear them to shreds would be forgiving. he always let those short-lived bouts of confidence were enough to convince cesare. and even though he was well-aware it’d likely never work, something in him convinced him time and time again to give it another shot.
the simple argument he’d felt so sure about just mere moments ago crumbled as it was repeated by cesare. of course, it was miserable, and he felt like an idiot for even thinking it’d be enough for the press. he knew the moment he came out and admitted defeat before the cameras, he’d be done for. “cesare–”
will didn’t continue, knowing better than to interrupt the other, especially now. but eventually, he became almost unable to meet cesare in the eyes. not out of shame, but it was just better that way. whenever they argued, will would always prefer to shut the real cesare out, to reduce him to a two-dimensional image of a haughty bureaucrat in an expensive suit; it made will feel less guilty about the anger he felt. he wouldn’t know what do with himself if he were to look at cesare in the eyes and stare right at the humanity in them.
“that makes it even more necessary for us to tell them,” will began, almost under his breath. “what happens when people lose their homes, their loved ones? what will they say if they find out we knew what they were up against and didn’t tell them?” was cesare prepared to carry that burden, because will definitely wasn’t.
“why not?” why not use curfews and evacuations and arsenal? anything would help. but will wasn’t looking for an answer to that question– “wait, don’t tell me…” he let out, words ever so colored with a shade of brass, “– because then we’d be no good to anyone; you would’ve been right from the start: what’d be the point of a useless team of superheroes, right?”
“we can try our hardest but if we’re faced with something that’s beyond us we’ll need all the help we can get, commander. we’re not invincible. you’ve seen it happen–” will cut himself off. he didn’t need to say more, he didn’t even need to bring up her name for his point to come across. they’d both lost a team mate that day.
will sighed. at last, he could agree with something. he wouldn’t call it a small victory, though – the last thing he wanted was to give cesare that satisfaction. perhaps releasing it to the press wasn’t the best option. “we should still let them know,” the brunet shook his head gently, his town now clearly calmer. “no fear-mongering, but still somehow.”
Cesare lets him speak despite the urge to interrupt and correct him on some finer points. He especially has to bite back on a comment when Will is clearly dismissing the entire concept of ‘superheroes’. Cesare despises the idea that the Exemplars are somehow ‘lesser’ because they were purposefully put together. Too many stories relied on dumb luck and circumstance — but that’s a personal gripe of his, wanting people to put more faith into the self-made than the lucky ‘chosen’ ones. His lips only tighten at the hint of their one lost team member. He never believed they were invincible.
“I don’t disagree with you, Will,” Cesare says, “Better, more thorough communication with local law enforcement is something we can implement with our next mission. Just don’t—-” He stops and collects himself. He’s so free with his criticisms, he forgets to tell the team when they’re doing well.
“You are a hero. You are the optimist,” Cesare says with a newfound determination, wanting this to get through to him, “ Of course, you’re ready to lay it all out... but not everyone can see a threat and be ready to fight it. If you share too much now, people will not wait till they lose a home or loved one to react poorly. Fear, especially fear in the masses, can be more dangerous than... than some interdimensional creatures.”
“If we lose the public’s trust, they will fear you and the unknown. You need to go out there and make them feel safe.”
The bit he doesn’t add is that as the face of the team, but with Cesare’s ‘Price’ character known, it’d be easy to throw the silent background ‘bureaucratic’ type as at fault for this misstep if it’s ever perceived as such. Cesare hopes it’ll never come to that.
dailybridgerton
turnnoffyourmind
andulkaphoto
areudirty
vaporwave
titsay
kaledo-art
tangentwithtanner
pixelskylines
