@felixoliveiraâ @rmoskowitzâ
âMr President,â his assistant calls for his attention, quiet and polite and unalarming. Itâs the same voice sheâd use to ask to fix his tie or warn of a nuclear war. âA word?â
Heâs told of the news in one of the private balconies, Rory and Felix at his side. Julian muffles a chuckle, equal parts incredulous and amused.
âWhatâd I tell you?â He says to Felix. âWonderbread.âÂ
Then he stops to think. âThis is actually our best case scenario.â Itâs not necessarily true, especially not without analyzing it from every angle first. But here, now, an hour away from the firework show, this is the best he can do. For himself and for his team, Julian builds themselves up. Itâs not like him to accept defeat; it is like him to turn things around, make it benefit them instead. He lists, âThey have no reach for diverse voters or women, they seem desperate for doing it here, and not to mention that making the 4th about yourself is about the least patriotic thing one can do. Weâre throwing a huge party for veterans and theyâre standing in our lawn saying Hey, look at me!â Would he have expected any different from Sanford? Certainly not. Julian paces around as he talks, reaching for any good considerations within reach. Just then, he allows himself to smile. âMaybe we should give them back their guns just to watch them shoot themselves in the foot.â Â
âHe probably wants a reaction, too.â Which weâre not gonna give. âI think Sanfordâs got a crush on me.â
He didnât think heâd be laughing much tonight after that announcement, but Julianâs already got him chuckling at the mention of wonderbread. âDonât know why I suspected anything different. The GOPâs never been notorious for having presidents that could host these Fourth of July events without spending half of its budget on sunscreen.âÂ
Then, itâs time to play strategy. While Julianâs first resort is optimism, Felixâs first thought is âHow does this lose us the election?â. Itâs what heâs here for, after all - preventing the apocalypse before the first trumpet is even tuned for it. âThey can spare the diverse vote. Those have always been our grievances, not theirs. And if anything, Republican women are the type to prefer male duos and call women candidates shrewd and unlikable,â he says. âBut youâre right, it feels a bit desperate to do it here. Theyâll probably still end up spinning the Fourth of July angle in their favor - Bellâs a veteran, after all, so any announcement he makes can be claimed under patriotism and serving our country.â He sighs shaking his head. âItâs not our best case scenario, but itâs also not our worst. Sanford shouldnât be underestimated, though - Zafar should know that. In fact, you should be the one to tell him that, the kid doesnât trust my word the way he trusts yours. We need him started on debate practice sooner than you, he doesnât have the 2016 experience you do.â
He looks out at the view from the balcony, the city seemingly small beneath them. This is the view all those other men desperate to win a presidency have looked out on, Felix canât help but think - this is the reason they fought so hard to stay in power. âI wonât lie, Iâm a bit torn on what kind of reaction we should give,â he says. âOn one hand, it would feel a bit odd to not say anything to the press or the people here, like youâre playing hard to get or being purposefully coy. On the other hand - this may be my selfishness talking, but after they were so sure that doing this here would get a response from us, it would feel a little too good to not give them the satisfaction.â He turns to Rory with a grin. âLiberate us from our fragile male egos - what do you think?âÂ
 âYou know I adore your ego, Felix - itâs become a dear friend.â Sheâd shed the lingering evidence of howling anger that seized her in the silent moments, following Bell and Sanfordâs announcement. Something feral had been touched in Roryâs heart; her resentment for the Admiral and his aggressively white male regime, the smug cadenceâs in Sanfordâs voice. Her skill restraint had given way to a primal emotion, one diffused - though an array of balloon carcasses littered the ground, as evidence of her displeasure. Cooled and delighted by the presence of her favorite men in D.C., Roryâs visage isnât colored by the hues of burning rage - itâs soft, thoughtful.Â
âIâm in agreement with Felix - The Admiral and Sanford would delight in nothing better, then knowing their announcement has had its intended effect. And certainly, Bellâs eager to use his veteran status to silence his opposers.â She turns from the balconyâs edge, where sheâs wistfully examined the lawn - no better embodiment of their labor of love for Julianâs presidency, could be found outside the White House itself. Itâs Julian however, still painfully endearing in his handsome, eagerly kind , that solidifies Roryâs mind. âBut we cannot yield to Bell; silence is his game. Never, has Will had a semblance of the upper hand - Iâll give it to him, the move is brazen, amongst other adjectives Iâd use.âÂ
 Julian serves, Felix volleys; Roryâs uncertain of her returning move. Both made arguments she can give credence two, which is a beast of its own kind - and for another days reflection. The appropriate response to Bell-Gate, was their most pressing issue. Sanford was certainly frothing at the mouth, eager to twist a carefully crafted response into a speech rife with anti-veteran and freedom of speech rhetoric. Yet silence, not matter how dignified, or how it exemplified intelligence, maturity, would simply not do. The Admiral had come into Julianâs house, shat all over the ground and expected the Democratâs to endure the stink with a smile, lest they run the risk of insulting a veteran.Â
âAnd so we respond, in a manner that his party could never fathom - with empathy, restraint, and a biting retort that his campaign will take three weeks to untangle, though itâll be too late to reverse the positive news Julianâs incurred. Acknowledge Willâs duty as a serviceman, the lovely right to freedom of speech, and Julianâs desire to place the American people above bipartisan politics.The Fourth of July isnât veterans day, after all. The nationâs independence from tyranny, or a raging white man .... thereâs something there we can use.â