WHO: Gwydion Pierce, Bran Abrams, Nalini Khan (NPC interviewer), other NPCs also WHAT: An exclusive interview with two Agents Silver in advance of the upcoming new solo. WHEN: June 16, 2020, Afternoon WHERE: A conference room in the Wizzywood Reporter offices, Wizzywood RATING: Fairly tame, discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in media
Gwydion had been looking forward to this interview, in which he'd been promised a chance to speak his mind about Studio Platinum and his experience with the Agent Silver role, until he'd found out that he would be sharing a table with Brandon Abrams. He'd considered pulling out, but equal parts pride and spite and curiosity kept him in: he didn't want to come off as petty, he did want the chance to make Brandon squirm, and above all he had a deep pressing desire to know why Platinum hadn't already summarily dismissed their current Agent Silver the way he had been so humiliatingly fired.
Today's interviewer was an attractive young woman who blushed when he kissed her hand upon being introduced and seemed receptive to his light flirting, so Gwydion felt he already had a leg up when his possibly-nemesis arrived a few moments later. He inclined his head graciously at the other man while the interviewer stood to welcome him, offering her hand to shake.
"Bran, thank you so much for coming in today. I'm Nalini Khan, staff writer here at the Reporter, and this is our office assistant Marc, who can get you anything you need. Coffee, tea? And I hear you and Gwydion are already acquainted."
"The pleasure is mine, Ms. Khan." He took her hand and shook it with a warm smile and a very small bow. Bran cut his gaze toward Gwydion, and he let his smile deepen into something that probably seemed both friendly and delighted. Make no mistake, however, he was well on his guard. He'd been well on his guard since he and Lyam had come out and taken the Betties by storm and then gotten married. The fact that he hadn't been axed by Platinum was frankly baffling. "Indeed, we are. I think we've even sparked a couple of memes due to some prime screen caps of the awards show."
He turned to smile at Marc and nearly froze. The assistant was almost a dead ringer for his husband. A paranoid part of him wondered if this was a trap, but he set the ridiculous notion aside. The last thing Bran needed was some kind of psychotic meltdown in front of the press. "Tea, please. English Breakfast, if you have it, with a splash of milk and two sugars. Thank you so much." He turned a self-effacing smirk at Nalini as he took a seat. "I'm here to enforce British stereotypes, apparently. It's good to see you again, Gwydion. Congratulations on your new project. It's a bold choice."
Gwydion smiled back at his maybe-only-one-sided rival, pointedly less warmly than Bran. "Thank you, Brandon. The Dumbledore project is coming together nicely. I'm very proud of my team on this. And congratulations on your new marriage, by the by. Also a bold choice." He nodded to the young assistant. "The same for me, if you please. Milk, one sugar."
He turned his attention back to the interviewer as Marc stepped out, his smile warming. "Shall we, Nalini?"
She sat down again, crossing one leg over the other; Gwydion unsubtly checked out her legs as her skirt shifted. "I'm ready if you both are." She pulled a device out of her bag and set it on the table, setting it to glow softly green with a wave of her wand. "Both of you are all right with me recording? I prefer it to taking notes, but if you want me to take anything off the record, let me know." She smiled at both of them. "So, to start off, I'd like to congratulate you, Bran, on the upcoming release of your first Agent Silver solo, Zero Hour, this summer. What has it been like stepping into that iconic role, which was defined by the legendary Jono Blackstone in his six solos before passing the torch to Gwydion? Do you feel like you've been able to put your own spin on the character?"
Had it not been for the fact that he'd been looking that way in that precise moment, Bran would have completely missed the way the other man had looked at their interviewer. He tamped down the urge to roll his eyes, but couldn't do much about the slight jump in his jaw as he clenched his teeth together. An uncharitable thought about men like Gwydion Pierce being the reason the entertainment industry had such a predatory reputation glanced through his mind, but he shifted it away so he could give the reporter another easy smile. "Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. It's been rather a wild ride, if I'm honest. Those were some really big shoes to fill—or so I thought going in. I realised pretty quickly that trying to emulate either of these two fantastic actors wouldn't really do the role or myself much justice. There's a lot more focus on the action and the spywork itself than earlier iterations. I'd like to think I'm at least half as suave as my predecessors, but there's a bit less call for non-magical charm when you spend most of the time on the hunt and being locked in dangerous and deadly duels. My Agent tends to be a touch more serious than previous iterations, but it's just that sort of story."
The assistant came back with the tea, and he murmured his thanks as he took it. So far, so good, but Bran had zero illusions about this.
"A new kind of Silver for a new generation of fans, maybe," Nalini observed.
Gwydion accepted his own cuppa, his head cocked as he watched Bran's handsome profile. "In more ways than one," he said into his tea.
The writer turned to him, her eyes bright with interest. "Have you had a chance to see Bran's interpretation of the character in action yet?"
"Alas, no." He shook his head, smiling wryly. "As you may have heard, I didn't part with Studio Platinum on the best of terms two years ago. I wasn't invited to the set during filming as Jono was when I took over the role, which rather disappointed me, as I would have quite liked to see my replacement at work. I have no doubt Brandon makes a fabulous Silver, however." His benign expression and his cheery tone didn't change, but there was a certain biting inflection on the word 'fabulous' that turned it the littlest bit sour. "I suppose I'll find out when the rest of the world does."
Between the insistence of using his full—and very legal, now more than ever—name and what sounded to him like a subtle dig, Bran was having a fair amount of difficulty with keeping his hackles down. He sipped at his tea to buy himself an extra couple of seconds, and then clucked his tongue with a small, regretful shake of his head. "I would have really enjoyed that, you know? I'm sure you both know, but it's not very often that I get to play heroic parts, least of all characters originated by other and very well-esteemed actors." This antipathy was exhausting, and Bran didn't know how else to intimate the fact that he had admired his fellow actor right up until that fateful day before the Betties. "I have to confess, I actually went back and watched the movies a couple of times while I was going over the script. I couldn't really say for sure, but I'm sure there's at least a little influence in there—both from Mr Pierce and Mr Blackstone. They can both probably bear that out better than I can, however, or the audience when it comes out. And, if so, I hope they'd all find it came from a place of deep respect."
Gwydion's eyebrows lifted just a little in surprise tinged with a bit of suspicion. He didn't know what kind of game Bran was playing with his talk of respect, but he was mildly impressed with the younger man's poker face. If he had been behind the rumours that had taken down Gwydion's career, he was certainly doing a good job of not outwardly gloating about it.
"Well, thank you, that's very kind," he said after a moment, and smiled briefly in Bran's general direction. "Really, we've all stood on the shoulders of those who came before us, haven't we?"
"I'm curious, Bran—everyone seems to have their preferred Agent Silver. Having recently watched the whole set of solos, which of the previous actors did you like better? Or is that a sensitive question with Gwydion in the room?" Nalini smiled at both of them. "You can 'no comment' if you want."
"Oh, don't tempt me." Bran sent her a bit of a smirk back before it became a brighter expression. "But at the risk of sounding either pandering or simply diplomatic to my co-chair, so to speak, I'd have to say I definitely connected with Mr Pierce's version a bit more. There were nuances to his performance that I could really connect to, but please don't ask me to elaborate. We'd be here for hours. If you'd care to take that as me 'liking him better' then I suppose I can't stop you." He flashed a grin in Gwydion's direction, but it didn't let it linger over long. There was something careful to their interactions so far, but he wasn't sure if he trusted the truce—or whatever it was—to hold.
Once again, Gwydion was surprised by the other actor's answer, enough that no witty retort came to mind. After their encounter at the tailor's, and the sharpness of Bran's jab at him when they'd shared the stage at the Betties, he hadn't expected this, and it silenced him for a moment.
Luckily, the interviewer carried on smoothly, bridging over any moment of awkwardness. "I'll make sure to write it down that you play favorites," Nalini answered with a laugh. Her assistant, who had been scribbling notes despite the recording device, underlined something twice on his sheet and showed it to her, and she nodded at him, her smile becoming more serious and intent. "Gwydion," she turned back to him, taking on a sympathetic tone, "can I go back to something you said earlier? Your relationship with Studio Platinum didn't end well—in fact, the studio dumped you two solos into your four-solo contract, and your time as Agent Silver infamously ended in a courtroom battle. Could you speak on your perspective of those events two years later?"
Gwydion paused, his glance sliding over Bran again as he considered. He hadn't spoken publicly against Platinum at the time, since his lawyers had advised him against saying anything that the studio could twist and use against him, and ever since he'd been reluctant to add fuel to the fire of rumours. But what harm could it do now? More than two years after the whole grim business had gone down, with a new look, a new production company, and a new direction for his career, maybe it was time to cause Platinum (and, maybe, Bran) a fraction of the pain they'd caused him.
So he smiled faintly back at Nalini, crossing one ankle over the other knee as he leaned back in his chair. "Well, as I'm sure you heard at the time, I was fired over rumours—not even accusations of any wrongdoing, but mere rumours—that I was gay and initiating affairs with young men on set. I thought it was a poorly-planned joke, to be quite honest, but when I was called into the studio office in front of the ownership and investors to be summarily dismissed, no one was laughing." He took a steady sip of his tea, studiously not looking at Bran. "I was told that the studio could not risk keeping me onboard, that the rumours spreading made me a publicity disaster waiting to happen. I was told directly by Theodard Yellin, the studio head at the time, that any hint of non-heterosexuality would be detrimental to the Agent Silver brand, and so on the strength of anonymous rumours they tossed me out like yesterday's rubbish. The irony, of course, is that as much as I love, respect, and support my LGBTQ friends and fans, I am and always have been entirely straight. And the greater irony is, well, sitting right beside you." He indicated Bran with a delicate wave of his hand.
Nalini leaned in toward Bran. "Gwydion's referring to your very public coming-out at this year's Betties," she observed. "Were you aware when you took the role of the rumors that Gwydion had been fired for being gay? Is that part of the reason you waited until after production had wrapped on Zero Hour to go public about your relationship with Lyam Connolly?"
"Yes." There was no hesitation to his answer, and one might have accused him of giving it thoughtlessly. It was anything but, however. Bran had thought of little else for his entire career and all the years he and Lyam—his sweet, kind, infinitely patient now-husband—had been together. His smile was a small one, maybe even a little careful. Now they were going to get into the crux of the matter, and he would have to own up to his cowardice. "To both, rather. We all knew about what had happened with Platinum. It was one of Wizzywood's worst kept secrets. And I loved getting that part. So I continued to keep my own secret. Is it fair to Gwydion? No, not at all. I wouldn't wish his horrible treatment on anyone, let alone someone I respect and admire. So I continued to live my best lie, all the way through production. I have no other excuse than I was afraid to meet the same fate."
After so many years in Wizzywood Gwydion prided himself on being able to see through an act, but in this case, despite watching Bran closely, he couldn't tell where the other man's sincerity ended and the con began. Could that be because he meant every word of it? He couldn't tell what game Bran was playing with his admission of purposeful deceit, but he seemed like he was telling the truth. He gazed back at the younger actor for a long moment, his expression very carefully neutral, his fingertips tapping thoughtfully at the table.
"Gwydion?" Nalini prompted after a moment's silence. She and the assistant were both looking at him expectantly.
He nodded at her with half a smile, and then turned his gaze back to Bran. "I do appreciate the words of support, Bran," Gwydion told him. "And, as little as my opinion may count for you or for Platinum, I believe that Agent Silver, one of the most iconic heroes of the WOMPbox world, could scarcely be better played than by a wizard who knows first-hand about the costs of courage and conviction." He nodded to the younger actor with a newfound respect that was only a little begrudging. "Silver is an ideal, one that could only be elevated by association with an actor brave enough to do what you did at the Betties, and although it pains me on a personal level to wish Platinum well, I do hope that your audience agrees."
The turnabout from Gwydion was such that Bran felt almost legitimately dizzy from it. He exhaled a silent breath—which seemed to go unnoticed by the interviewer and her assistant—and gave the other man an answering smile. It would be nice to be able to let his guard down, but he'd been the subject of one too many ambushes by the press recently to be lulled into anything so safe and unsuspecting. He wasn't even sure if he trusted the actor's abrupt thawing toward him, although it would be nice to think it was genuine. This was the moment when Bran decided it for himself: if an olive branch was being extended, then he would be a short-sighted fool for not accepting it at face value. He nodded back a Gwydion with a small, but warm smile. "Very well said. I couldn't have put it better myself." He looked back at Nalini, calm in every line of his casually held frame. "If I can give a performance that's even a fraction as brilliant as those of Jono Blackstone and, of course, Gwydion Pierce himself, I'd count it as a personal success."
The assistant started to move in again, but Nalini seemed to be ahead of him. "Does this mean you're anticipating this to be a one solo venture, Bran? I understand you're under a multiple production contract, just like Gwydion was. Has Platinum said or given you any reason to believe they may release you from your deal?"
No comment was such a damning thing to say, but it nearly fell out of his mouth anyway. A significant pause was nearly as bad, so he kept his brief. "If the Studio is choosing to go that direction, it is, of course, their prerogative. I, personally, would love to make as many solos as I can before passing the torch to another Silver. But if they decide to go in a different direction with another actor, then at least I can say it's been a complete thrill and absolute joy working with some of the most talented people that Wizzywood has to offer."
"As to that, I don't believe that the wizarding public would allow it," Gwydion told both his counterpart and the interviewer, with a righteous conviction that was half felt and half theatre to press the point home, now that he'd decided to commit to publicly supporting Bran rather than undercutting him. "Studio Platinum may believe that having a gay man play Agent Silver is bad for the brand, but I believe that the blatant discrimination if they fired him would turn away more of the fans than the mere fact of Bran's existence. The times are changing, and I'm sure Brandon agrees that Wizzywood must be at the forefront of that change."
Nalini nodded. "You're spearheading that sort of change yourself in your current project, aren't you? The first season of your bio-serial about Albus Dumbledore is due to release this fall. As a straight man, what kind of responsibility do you feel toward the LGBT community when you portray one of the last century's most complicated and controversial gay figures?"
Gwydion allowed himself one small, humble smile of victory at turning the conversation to his own project, and folded his hands over his knee. "I certainly feel a sense of responsibility to make our screen version of Dumbledore's story feel real and authentic to viewers from any background, but yes, particularly to our LGBTQ witches and wizards who have not often seen themselves on the WOMP screen. His lifelong relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, as complicated as it was, as deeply problematic as it was, forms the core of our story, and my team and I went in with the intention of giving an authentic voice to that love story. Only time will tell if we've succeeded, I suppose."
"I'm sure it will." Nalini smiled at him, and turned to look at the younger actor. "Bran, are you looking forward to seeing such a prominent gay relationship hit the 'box? We've started to see more and more same-sex relationships on WOMP programs in supporting roles, and I imagine Gwydion's upcoming project, one of the first with a main same-sex relationship, is a hopeful sign for you that times are changing, as Gwydion said."
"Oh, absolutely! We've made so many great strides in recent years, and I've always felt we started out on a far more progressive track than our muggle—forgive me, non-magical counterparts. Even just recently with Art & Soul and their big wins this year at the Betties, to say nothing of our newest sister show, I think more and more diverse stories are going to be heard, and we'll start hearing from all kinds of new and exciting voices." Bran turned and grinned at Gwydion, all doubts forced aside. Not gone entirely, but pushed deep where all that was left was hopeful optimism. "You know, I barely remember him, Dumbledore—I was a second year when he...died—but I'm truly intrigued to see his story played out. Hopefully we can all gain some perspective from the tale, at least. I really can't wait to see what you bring to the 'box, Agent."
Gwydion hadn't thought that Bran could surprise him again, but that smile, entirely genuine as best he could tell, was startling. He couldn't see a trace of the arrogance and malicious intent he'd ascribed to Bran at their first meeting, and as difficult as it was to admit even just to himself, he was willing to entertain the idea that he had been wrong about this man being the one who had masterminded his downfall.
He nodded after a moment and leaned forward to offer his hand out to Bran for a handshake. "I appreciate that. Thank you, Agent." He gave him a real smile in return, one that crinkled his famously blue eyes. "We haven't had the chance to work together, you and I, but I think that must change in the future. Perhaps a future Agent Silver solo will have room for two agents."
It felt so much better to be sitting there and shaking his fellow actor's hand and really hoping things worked out that way, even if he thought deep down that it was likely a farfetched fantasy, than anything Bran had imagined when he'd agreed to this interview. "I would love that, really and truly. I know I could learn a lot from you, and maybe we could make some WOMP magic along the way." He glanced over at Nalini, a little pink-cheeked, but still smiling fit to burst. "Hopefully we haven't said anything too salacious."
A few more innocuous questions and answers followed, but nothing so heavy hitting as the ones to start. There was definitely a gleam to Nalini Khan's eyes as she thanked them both, and they said their goodbyes. Only time would tell how this story would go with the press, but Bran wasn't actually concerned. He'd spoken his truth for what it was worth and hopefully gotten to a better place with his fellow actor.
At the very least, they exchanged contact information once they were out of sight of both the interviewer and her assistant. And that had to mean this was more than just a publicity stunt. Bran would forever be a sucker for a happy ending, even if it might all be in his head.