Offscreen Activities

[Jackie Cat]

Instead, he takes the candidate profiles (sans Lucien) over to the Escarpa and Sierra and asks around for opinions: "Who would you want in charge?" He'll vote based on their thoughts.

Most of the Escarpa give some answer to the effect of "I have never met any of these 'mon" or "why should I care who they choose as their chieftain?" Some are surprised to learn Lucien isn't running.

Fletchinder Sol takes a slight interest, having once lived in a minor trading post as a citizen, before joining the clan. He says he'd vote for the van der Huizens, but expects that whoever wins, 'Sohavenia' will continue to be just another part of the Commonwealth, with all that that implies, no matter who governs it for the next few years.

"I'd at least feel more easy on the wing if someone local got the job. Outlanders see the colonies as a commodity."

Sierra gives a cryptic answer about trusting that the right 'mon for the job will find their path somehow.

As Nova goes to leave, Braviary Cascada and Zangoose Lluvia are talking at the edge of camp. Their take is "whoever supports the Rangers the most should be in charge, the Union are the only thing that can hold things together here".

... There's going to have to be an awkward conversation, isn't there?

Maybe so.

Kimiko prods Greasewood about his election plans one night while closing and cleaning the saloon, as well as expresses her mild surprise at learning he was running. She makes passing mention of the Wayfarer's plans to set up a fund to cover anyone who normally couldn't afford to vote, seeking his thoughts on that.

Greasewood has been considering this run ever since Ignatius was removed from office. He's spent too long helpless under the talon of a corrupt Mayor General, and thinks he can do a better job, and should. And since he knew Lucien well enough to expect him now to run, he's been planning for months.

"I know it looks like tall odds, but don't assume nothin' just yet, lass. Folks'll figure out the sense of things as we draw near to the appointed day, and they sure won't feel thirsty to waste their vote. That's my thinkin'."

He's in favour of the voter fund, though he – apologetically – can't contribute to it. It wouldn't be proper, in his position.

She asks about his thoughts on the other candidates - Whetmore and Sonora in particular - and, if his thoughts on the floragato are positive, questions if he'd consider working together with her.

Greasewood is wary of Las Picaras, but he's heard from Gerome that she's been an excellent bouncer, and he's considered hiring her for some overtime to get a sense of her. The barkeep knows everyone, and he knows that while there's an undercurrent of popular support for Sonora's anti-establishment hijinks and role in undoing Ignatius, the majority opinion and accepted view of her is that she's a ruffian. She'd need to change her image dramatically to win, or even to avoid hurting the reputation of a 'respectable' 'mon who associated with her.

"I ain't judgin', I'm only being realistic is all. I know how folks can be – one 'mon will eagerly tarnish another's image if they're a certain sort."

Perhaps if there were a permission structure for Greasewood to align with Sonora, it would go over better?

"In any case, I got an official position and a private position on law enforcement. Officially, I'm in favour of abidin' by the legal codes of the Territory and I'll appoint such a sheriff as will do just that – anything less'll just spook folks who don't want their purses pilfered. Privately, I reckon a sheriff in a place such as this ought to have considerable leeway to enforce the common law at their discretion, and I'll see fit to appoint someone whose heart ain't closed to mercy."

He smiles wistfully, perhaps thinking of the town's awkward history with sheriffs.

As for Whetmore...

"That lady's new in these parts, and I don't have the measure of her just yet, but I sent off for some opposition research on her, and... Well, it won't be easy to attack her. If there's a town hall, or a public debate of some kind, I'll certainly have to keep civil and dignified or else I'll only look like some ruffian compared to the good Senator. Even for a Concordant, she's got a solid record."

Greasewood's received opinion on the establishment Commonwealth parties is that Charterists have better policies, but a tendency towards being staggeringly corrupt, while Concordants tend to be more reputable, if more conservative than he would like. Some regulars at his bar put it more bluntly:

"Charters get shit done, and end up dirty; Concords keep their paws clean, by never doin' any fuckin' work."

Perhaps it was no wonder Ignatius avoided much scrutiny or discontent while making his underhanded deals.

For Greasewood to win, he'll need to look like a serious, professional, and clean candidate, and emphasise policies that are both specific to the Soja' and popular with the electorate.

Regardless of how the Sonora conversation goes, she also asks him his thoughts on the Escarpa and if he would be willing to work with them as well, given their reputation in the Soja and, just as important, their history.

"There you go again with those sensitive questions, eh? Clanners are... different from us town folks, and there won't be real understandin' between us until a time yet to come, Saints know when that may be. I'm not sure I know what you mean by 'work with them', given they're not Sohavenians, pardon my ungentle wording. Certainly I won't be ruffling their feathers if I can help it, but that doesn't mean I'll just roll over on anything, neither. I'll be honest with you, lass, I could do with a better understandin' of them myself – it ain't like I've had too many clanners come in here for a drink and a conversation, you know?"

Greasewood is well-connected in town, but has no relationship with the clans. He's fairly unprejudiced for a townie, avoiding the snarl word 'feral' – let alone worse terms than that – but to connect with the Escarpa would be challenging without some kind of help...

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Lucien, about what you said earlier, about abandoning all of the progress you've worked for. Maybe... Maybe you don't have to. Even if you're not in charge, the groundwork you've laid can still influence policy if someone who is like-minded takes office. If you were to, say, endorse someone who shares your beliefs, it can show the citizens who believe in you that there's another candidate they can believe in, too."

"I know Senator Whetmore has no intention of ratifying the accords we've worked on. But she's the only candidate who even understands them, the rest of these 'mon just aren't politicians. Except that Arpagone fellow, I suppose – he certainly speaks like the worst of the coastal Charterists. A politicians and a grifter, is that 'mon. Excuse me.

"Perhaps I should speak to them about it? Attempt to, ah, persuade them of the value of the accords? It's irregular, but one might suppose it was, in fact, the responsible thing to do..."

Lucien is willing to speak to one or more of the candidates to explain the treaty he's negotiated with the Escarpa. With some inspired messaging, a candidate could run on promising to ratify and uphold the accords, in opposition to Whetmore's stance to veto them.

Of course, this would may well open up that candidate to attacks from Whetmore on being weak on safety and security and national pride.

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Gladion realized he probably shouldn’t leave Nova to handle the housing situation with Sage on account of the fact that, historically, dealing with housing really wasn’t Nova’s strong suit.

He’s hoping Sage is stable enough that if she wants the cabin back, he can find a place somewhere else and they’ll be okay. He’s not sure how he’d do that, but he definitely can’t walk up to Brisa and say “hi we stole your house” so he hopes it’s possible.

He’s emotionally exhaused by everything he sunk into Matthias, only for him to escape and more acutely awkward than usual when he talks to her, but he gives it a shot. Wanting to explain why Sage needed a place out of town, he also gives an explanation of the Cipher raid. He goes over what happened: Shadow ‘mon were showing up, people getting taken to Terminal Two, so there was a mission to bust into it and sort some shit out.

“That’s where we found Sage. That… was how they were getting shadow. Inundating them with so much of it that it could be extracted. So, uhh, wasn’t really just a ‘pop ‘em into the Haus for a bit’ kinda deal. But they’re doing a lot better now!”

He also touches on who was there to help: she already knows the Escarpa, of course. And knows of Luz. He brushes over Seth pretty quickly since he isn’t important to Sage. And Sonora…

“Wait, you’d already know Sonora as well, right? Her group’d been looking into Terminal Two, so she also helped. Got radiance in the process, too.”

This is a proper scene now!

 

[Jackie Cat]

Lately, Sneasler SV Arpagone has been touring Frontier Town and its outlying settlements giving a grandiloquent stump speech.

"I haven't given up on my dream of becoming your governor. Come, listen to the plans I have made!"

After the initial reception to his campaign was tepid among citizens with intact brains, Arpagone has begun talking about his professional history and background. He insists he's not a total unknown, and wants to 'pokémonise' himself by offering some details about his personal character. For instance, his initials stand for 'Sif Vamper', a downright normal name in the region where he comes from. Where is that, exactly?

"I was at one time the governor of a shining jewel in the desert, Oasis City! It was a beautiful town with wonderful fountains of clean, fresh water, a true gem in the roughness of that region. Why, the other towns in my homeland were awful places, full of crime and poverty – really not so different from the town of Blaguarro, which has suffered so from that awful plague of Shadow pokémon. As your governor, I will ensure that Frontier Town will become and remain the shining jewel of Sohavenia!"

Alright... And why vote for him over his opponents?

"I have, of course, a pristine political record, and I alone understand what this town needs. Any pokémon can see I'm the man to vote for; the Sohavenia governor's seat should be mine! Some pokémon, of course, won't listen to reason – so sad, I know – and so I have no option to be a hard-nosed fighter and challenge my pokémon opponents to a spirited public debate!"

Some turn away, seeing this guy as some kind of slick, dandy huckster.

Others, like one wide-eyed young bourgeois Tranquill from the east side, pledge to support this brilliant 'mon in any way he needs.

"In the near future, when I become the Governor of Sohavenia, I shall appoint you as my official secretary. Let that be a motivation for you to constantly better yourself!"

Intelligent, politically conscious 'mon across town hold their heads in their appendages, struggling to understand Arpagone's growing appeal among other voters.

41% M. Whetmore (Cncrd)
27% C. Greasewood (Frntr)
11% S. V. Arpagone (PCLR)
8% S. del Sur (Indpt)
5% F. T. R. & M. van de Huizen (House)
3% L. Voclain (Chrtr)
1% Dayle (MenSe)
(4% undecided)