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[priceofmagic]

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Hello, Everyone! Genessia's Guardian, Satou Kuroneko, speaking. I hope you're all doing well, and being sure to drink plenty of water while you're with your Pokemon.

For those of you who do not know me, I was elected as Guardian for this term. I'm a magical girl from Earth and I was Guardian last term as well.

I was hoping to reach out to the citizens of Genessia City and hear your concerns. I'd really love to get to know the people that I'll be representing... Oh, and if you're new to Genessia in general. Welcome! Please let me know of any concerns you have as well. My job is to make sure everyone is safe in Genessia, and that starts with keeping you all comfortable.

There is still a Deputy position open, as well as the secretary job. If you're interested in joining our team then I'd love to meet you. Let's all work together for the sake of Genessia City, okay? Thanks, everyone!

Comments

[misskringle]

I'm interested in the secretary job.

[priceofmagic]

We would love to have you! I think that, for me anyway, a secretary would be most helpful during emergencies. Someone to help me filter through reports and organize rescue efforts, you know? I can’t be answering phones and in battle

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[ninjabanish]

I had not realized that 'guardian' was an elected position.

[priceofmagic]

Oh, yes. Elections are held every six months, and the citizens vote for the new Guardian. No one campaigned against me, so I was automatically declared Guardian this time.

[ninjabanish]

Is the position symbolic, then? I would not expect a guardian to be elected... Rather, I would expect as many guardians as wish to apply would be welcomed.

[priceofmagic]

I think it’s more like being “Head of the Justice System,” or something. I have the legal authority to both uphold laws in Genessia City, and the power to enstate new ones.

For example! A while ago, like years ago, the Guardian of Everglade made it legal to hunt citizens after dark. If you were someone who used humans as prey, you could hunt them in Everglade without penalty. That law was eventually abolished by a new Guardian. That’s the kind of power they have.

[ninjabanish]

[She stares, blankly. It takes her a few moments to process what she just heard.]

That is horrifying.

[priceofmagic]

Indeed. It was the sort of law I couldn’t comprehend.

[Satou’s voice becomes small, almost distant. While she was an officer in Everglade, she had to UPHOLD that law. It still makes her insides twist to remember finding bodies and being unable to seek justice.]

... For a while, I worked there. I was part of the Police force and had to follow that law. When I found out that Guardians made those laws, I decided to become a Guardian who could keep everyone safe, happy, and healthy. Even the people who need to... [Eat humans.

She shudders.]

They’re kidnapping victims too, after all. If we vilify them, then they’ll fulfill that role and feel forced to hurt others... So part of my job is to make sure no one feels like they need to break a law to survive. Working in Everglades taught me that.

[ninjabanish]

Not- Not that, or not just that! One person, with no oversight, having that much power- Are these 'guardians' meant to be kings? Nay, kings have those who can tell them when they are wrong!

[She's more than a little alarmed by this entire... everything.]

[priceofmagic]

Can’t lie. It sure seemed that way. Fortunately, this place seems to have split criminal justice and other politics between the Guardian and the Mayor. So at least there’s someone to check our power. And in my case, I picked Deputies who could kick my ass.

...

My butt.

But it is alarming. This is an elected position, but that only works if we have competition. A few cities had no competition in their elections, so the Guardians were chosen automatically.

[ninjabanish]

You need hold no words back on my account. You could say naught to shock me anymore.

This system requires better oversight... Or a blade to those who would abuse its power.

[priceofmagic]

Maybe so... But I think that the system is well managed at the moment. It's a matter of the citizens here taking a bit more control of their surroundings. If people were more interested in keeping the cities safe, there would have been more candidates and therefore more diverse opinions...

For now. It's good to know we have someone looking out for the system.

[ninjabanish]

... The people are often easily misled, when they feel there is the comfort of safety. When there is not that, it is oft that people will keep their heads down, lest they become targets.

As long as none misuse the power, this is well enough. But I fear for when one does misuse it.

[priceofmagic]

That's quite true... For the moment, at least, I like to think that we're handling it okay. After all: I picked Deputies who can kick my ass if I step out of line. I trust them to make sure that at least Genessia's Guardianship will do the right thing.

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[summerbloom]

Excuse me, Miss Kuroneko! But do you mind if I ask exactly what a "magical girl" is...?

[ obviously, it means she's a girl who can use magic of some kind, but Sophie's never quite heard it put that way before. ]

[priceofmagic]

Oh, no problem! We're girls who use magical powers! I can change my clothes to fancy magical armor and I fight with a magic wand. But back home, magical girls were in TV shows and comic books.

[summerbloom]

But that sounds amazing!

[ True to her word, Sophie does sound, uh, pretty amazed. ]

You can really do all that with just magic? How does it work?

[priceofmagic]

Apparently my magic works differently from most peoples', buuuut! With my magic, I can create the things that I imagine! So as long as I can imagine my magical girl outfit, I can make it outta magic too. The same for my wand!

How does magic work where you live?

[summerbloom]

To be honest, I'm not really sure... I was always studying alchemy, and there's not really much of an overlap with magic there, so I didn't get much of a chance to learn.

Oh! But if you're curious about magic, I'm sure Mister Aran would be able to tell you everything you'd like to know.

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[mynameisallen]

Do you want me to bring the reports from the police over now?

[He had some reports in one arm and he was carrying the device in the other.]

[priceofmagic]

Yes, please! Thank you so much, Allen.

[Satou smiles, encouraged by his work ethic.]

How are things going? Is the PD handling their cases well?

[mynameisallen]

Things are going fine and when I went to check on them today, they seemed to be doing well with the case. There are some that they want help with though, which I will be bringing with the reports.

[If there was one thing Allen was good at, it was doing a job that meant protecting people.]

[priceofmagic]

Thanks, Allen! Maybe it's about time that we start putting out official bounties to help lighten their load. I've been thinking that it might help to have a Guardian thumb on the system.

[mynameisallen]

It might be helpful. I know in the paper there don't seem to be as any bounties as one might think with how much goes on.

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[sacrament_of_blood]

I have heard legends of the magical girls, stalwart defenders of all that is good with the capability to transform into powerful forms. It is good that someone like you are at the helm of the law of one of the cities. Like Papyrus, you seem to be a good person based on what you have just said and on our previous conversation.

Speaking of, I was offered the position of Deputy by Papyrus. However, he withdrew said offer because I would not change my sacred name. He felt that the name Merciless did not reflect the values he wished his deputies to express.

[priceofmagic]

Oh, you know about magical girls too? I'm glad that someone else is familiar with them.

[She can imagine how that conversation went down. Satou smiles softly and shakes her head.]

I hope that you didn't take it personally. I think Merciless is a fine name.

[phobophage]

A magical girl, huh? There're some back home. I'm dating one, even, though age wise she's more of a magical woman. They probably work differently where you come from. My world, the Queen of Dreams based them on magical girls in animated shows and the like. Also, they operate in the Dream World instead of the physical world.

[priceofmagic]

Dream World..? Is that one big land in your dreams?

[Satou taps her cheek thoughtfully.]

My world technically would call me a 'witch,' but I prefer 'magical girl.' They're cuter on TV and stuff.

[phobophage]

More or less. It's a place that exists solely in the mind, formed by the collective unconscious of humanity. Anyways, so you're a self-styled magical girl. Magical girl it is then, it's not the worst thing to model yourself after.

[priceofmagic]

Wow, that's so cool... So they're 'real' magical girls!

[Satou blushes slightly when called out,] Yup! Sakura and I used to watch magical girl shows all of the time. When I got the chance to become the real thing, I decided to do it! Oh, Sakura is my little sister.