genessia | Election Results

[Of course she was angry about the election results - although Fai was a significantly better option than Ted for Everglade Guardian - but the other announcement worried her more right now. If this was only a few days, she could stay in Yukiko's inn, but what was going to happen to Castlevania? She was happy there, and didn't want to lose her home.]

Myself and a number of others have made our homes within the Sub-Archways. I trust we will be able to return after January 4th, and find our dwellings and belongings undamaged?

Edited 2015-12-27 09:28 (UTC)

Sub-Archways will returned January 4th. [About the only answer you will get regarding that.]

Ted's an optimistic person, used to getting his way, more or less. He felt like things just worked out for him in Genessia, which was a welcome change of pace from his life before. He'd gotten so much during his stay in this strange world. Possessions, adventures, and most importantly, friends to enjoy them with. The motley crew he'd gathered in the Sheriff's office were the ones he treasured most of all. He'd spent no little amount of time daydreaming about his band of brothers and sisters, like a family, out to save Everglade from itself. Sometimes he merely reflected on the joyous past. More often, he thought about glorious futures. Though he'd taken a lot of trouble for the election, he thought the outcome was assured. They'd win by one or two votes, in dramatic fashion, and then get on with the cause.

It was in that attitude of dreamy confidence that he digested the bad news. It went down bitterly.

He was speechless. He felt like The World had been pulled out from underneath him. All their toil, everything they fought for...had it come to nothing? Is this, Ted thought, what an existential crisis feels like?

He held the videophone in his hands, somewhat lifelessly, at a loss for words or actions or even thought. It was over. In an instant, they were no more. This was the second event of its kind. It was just like Pokemon; he'd poured so much time and effort and love into assembling an outpost of happiness here, only to have it snatched away. Again. Ted didn't now how much more he could take.

Minutes passed before he roused himself from inactivity. He wouldn't cry, either out of masculine pride or else sheer enervation. Instead, he packed up. One by one, wordlessly, he stuffed his bag with all the items he'd adorned the office with. It wasn't much; Ted put most of his things in his omnipresent container anyway. And yet, stripping the workplace bare of his own small touches reinforced the feelings of emptiness. He got to the houseplant Porrim had given him a ways back. He hardly remembered its needs. Ted figured, like most plants, it needed sunlight, a rare commodity in his bag. Oh well; someone else would have to take it. Otherwise he'd throw it out; maybe feed it to Trevenant.

Finally he came to the picture he'd had taken of all of them during the holidays. They all wore their distinct smiles. Levy's had pluck and enthusiasm, Porrim's had mischief and amused sufferance, Maria's was full and jubilant, and Ronan's was awkward and unpracticed. Ted made sure to stand in the middle, arms around as many necks and shoulders as he could gather. He was as happy as anything. The contrast between then and now almost did him in. A few seconds later, Ted bagged the photograph last of all. Who knows; maybe sometime down the road, Genessia would demand another sacrificial memory. Might as well get the evidence. The others could ask for a copy if they really wanted.

He had nothing to say. No farewells, no last minute addresses, no ceremony. They weren't stupid; they could look up the news just as readily. There was just one more thing to do; give up the key to the Drunk Tank. Though Levy did most of her work there, Ted kept the key on his person as often as possible, largely out of tradition. Gloomily, he'd hand it over with bare bones instructions to that effect.

That last ritual act of torch-passing completed, Ted took one last look at the office, that token of Everglade's unrequited love. He meant to focus and meditate on it, storing up whatever scraps remained. But he couldn't; his mind was dizzy with despair and fettered with fret. What on earth was he going to do now?

"Oh, Teddy, I'm so sorry...." Maria was all sweetness and light to Ted, of course, as soon as she heard the news of the damned election results. She was all over him, as was her wont, petting his hair, gently, and asking him what his priest and his Good Book in general, would have to say upon the subject of this "set-back" to his "war on Necromancy".

And of course, she winced apologetically as she offered her sympathies to him, and even while she was petting his hair so gently, so tenderly... So... Lovingly, even. Yes, she was most definitely in love with him, in spite of the obvious similarities she could draw between this current object of her affection, and her annoying prat of a brother; there were, after all, just as many similarities to be drawn between this young man, and the class clown that she'd admired from-- well, not too far away, really!

And so, she was sad, too, at the thought of having to abandon this office. Even if Teddy still had a place to live, well... She did NOT, after all, and more importantly: she was so bloody certain that Fai would not keep any of the current staff on, and so-- she was losing her job as well as her living space. She could only hope that Fai would allow her to stay and "guard" the Drunk Tank for at least a few days, or weeks even, whilst she made an effort to look for a new place to live, as well as a new job to pay for it!

(And of course, Teddy's sadness was rubbing off onto her, as well; such was the weight of her own affection for him.)

Ted had been praying most nights to be allowed to keep his job and do good for Everglade. The question, then, of what He might have had to say about necromancy chafed. The problems that plagued the city were far from his mind then. They all seemed so small in light of the fact that, for the moment, Ted was no longer allowed to do anything about them, at least in this capacity.

He rummaged around for a seasonable quote. Job would do. "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord..." He didn't sound too praiseworthy.

Ted didn't share the feelings Maria had for him, for a multitude of reasons. He did love her, but it was storge, not eros. On sufferance he let her pet for a minute or two, more for her sake than his, before removing her hand from his head. "That's enough." He felt patronized. He didn't want to be coddled and cooed to. He just wanted things to be the same.

Edited 2015-12-28 03:37 (UTC)

Levy had to clear out her things as well but it wasn't nearly such a sad affair. She tossed her books in her bag and might have swiped a few things that were questionable in owner ship, she had a few personal items as well including the story she had been writing. She had spent most of her time here since she had taken up the job five months before.

She had spotted Ted but said nothing assuming he'd need to be with his thoughts. After a moment and after her things were packed she walked over. She wasn't going to let him sulk or give him pity. They could technically be in the office forever, as awesome as that would be.

"Hey, just because you don't hold office doesn't mean we can't still help out around here." Levy wasn't going to stop helping just because she lost a job. "So let's go. There are a lot of people in Everglade... well in all of the archways technically."

Her voice was light though not it's usually cheery tone. She turned towards the door figuring that Ted would follow if he felt like it. She wouldn't push him or pry, it's up to him to take another step forward.

Seeing Levy be so brisk and efficient stirred a few contrary moods. He'd always liked the energy about her; how fast she was able to recover her spirits no matter what. It was probably that trait which allowed her to readily sacrifice for the sake of the world.

But to see her apply that same eagerness and speed to the job, the thing that had come to feel like everything to Ted, felt callous. Was she simply a stronger person than he was? Or did she simply not value it as much? And if she didn't, should she? Ted asked himself whether he was being temperate.

Then there's that wording: "help out". It conjured in his mind all the petty altruism he'd grown weary of. Like slapping a band-aid on cancer. He didn't want to just "help out"; to merely solve crimes and sew wounds while the city festered. He wanted a revolution; a complete change. He wanted to save the world; to bring Genessia's lost sheep back into the fold. For the moment, that looked like a pipe dream.

All that conjecture halted with a call to action. She said "we". Which was true; they were still alive, weren't they? They must have had some fight, and the will to fight. And yet, he couldn't bring himself to let it go as easily as Levy. Couldn't hurt to stall for time. "Go where?"

Levy paused and then looked back at Ted. She tried to over simplify things because that was the easiest way to deal with it. She knew that this wouldn't be the end and she didn't want to be sad. The friendships they formed and the work they did wouldn't end.

"Does it matter? We'll keep going." She smiled then, the more bubbly personality rising up. "Honestly I don't have a plan. I rely a lot on others a lot and I don't know what to do now but I'm not going to stop."

She still has her research about the barriers and he wanted to find out more if she can. She'll help fight and do everything that she can. It's the Fairy Tail way.

"Oh. I meant to also say thank you." Her smile widened. "If you hadn't offered me this job... well... so many wonderful things wouldn't have happened." Like meeting friends and being able to do as much as she did. Everything was a blur from when she first arrived and it was because of Ted.

That got Ted to smile a bit. No plan, no destination, a neediness rooted in others. Seems Ted's Foolishness was rubbing off.

The unsuspected gratitude also lightened his spirits. "Oh, well...you're very welcome. And of course I feel the same; the pleasure was all mine. Thank you for...everything."

That still left the question of whether to go outside with Levy. Ted had given his heart, once again, too heavily towards things ephemeral and fragile. For that reason, he could not yet join with Levy's resolve.

"Go ahead without me. I'm sorry, I just...need a little more time."

"That's fine. You know where to find me."

There really was only one place where Levy would go. She waved a hand and then disappeared out the door.

"Umm..." Koishi appeared on screen. "I'm really glad Sis won. It means a lot to her. But we live in a sub archway. Will everything in the sub archways be the same when we return to them? Or will they be reset? Because I brought lots of stuff home from the cities. Will those disappear?"

Edited 2015-12-27 19:49 (UTC)

Remove items from the Sub-Archways at your own discretion. [This is the first time an update is being pushed. Who knows if things will reset or not.]]

Miracle of miracles, Ted wasn't feeling totally selfish today.

"Koishi, if you need a place for your things to go, I can help. As much as you need."

"It's okay Mister Spades. We'll rent a hotel room somewhere or something. One that allows pets." She smiled faintly. "So don't worry about us, okay? Thank you so much for the offer though. I really appreciate it."

Election Results

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