(Untitled)

[legendarymadman]

Somehow Geoffrey figured this duty would fall on him sooner or later, and now three different elements had converged to make it his turn: he was on the Council, he wasn't running in this election, and he was, in fact, master of this stage

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[jdick]

Joe couldn't have said what prompted him to run for Council again, not after taking time off, but there he was, back on the fucking stage to give another speech. Part of him almost didn't want to do it. He wondered what would happen if he just wrote it off completely and assumed people would know him, but in the end he was there

[curiously_cora]

"Hello Mister Dick, my name is Coraline Jones. First item of the agenda is that you're not allowed to swear. I mean if I'm not allowed to swear then you're not either," Coraline said making a pointed finger at him and wagging it at him with a very serious face. "And secondly, if you were re-elected what would you do for the children on the island? A place to go is nice and very practical." And boring. "But what else?"

[jdick]

Joe wasn't about to argue whether or not he could fucking swear, so he just arched an eyebrow and listened to the question. "Education, which we already do in a way, but not a practical way," he answered, because math wasn't gonna be of much use on this rock. "Adoption services might be good to have around just in case. A list of people who can take care of someone if they need it, even temporarily."

[curiously_cora]

'Really, really boring stuff.' Coraline wrote down in her notebook.

"What type of way? Like Exploring or Brownies, that sort of thing?" Coraline asked curiously. "What about fun things? Like swimming lessons or diving lessons for the older children. Or a fun fair. I mean a park is nice for babies but I'm eleven and a bit now and some of the children are even older than I am."

[jdick]

"You got ideas about what the kids should get, you bring 'em to me," Joe answered, because that was the entire point. "If you wanna see swimming lessons get done, then you should be able to see 'em get done, right? But hell, I might not think of that. This is why I wanna see more interaction with the Council."

[curiously_cora]

"I'll bring you my plans for a fun fair then," Coraline said grinning as if he'd just guaranteed her that she could turn the Island into a Theme Park. Going and finding unicorns was nice and all but Lucy should be able to experience normal kid things to like going on Ferris Wheels and winning a pet goldfish. "I know how to swim but I mean like the younger kids like Emmy and Karen and little Sam. Cool. Thank you very much Mister Dick!"

[jdick]

"You're welcome," Joe answered, flashing a faint grin. Maybe he wasn't allowed to swear, but he seemed to have made a good impression otherwise.

[dogbitesman]

"Mr Dick," William said, with a not-so-fast look as the man hopped off the stage. Surely he knew there was more to it than that.

Admittedly, that might have been behind the two-fingered wave and quick descent from the stage. "Could you perhaps elaborate on what sort of mundane situation needs a backup plan? That was a tad unclear."

[jdick]

"Woman showed up not too long ago in labour, pretty fucked up mentally and emotionally, if I recall," Joe answered, pausing in his pursuit of Dale to answer the question. It had to say something for how much things had changed when he didn't immediately cringe at the thought of talking to a reporter. That or maybe he didn't mind William so much.

"Couldn't take care of her new baby," he continued. "All of the sudden the Council's gotta scramble to find foster parents. Why wasn't that already set up? Why don't we have a list of prospective and stable people to take over when something bad happens? People die, kids can be orphaned, what're we gonna do then?"

[dogbitesman]

"I think that particular incident would be stretching most people's definition of mundane," William said, "but I do see your point. You would make it a point to pursue such social welfare projects, then?"

[jdick]

"Yeah," Joe answered with a slow nod. Maybe he wasn't the prime choice for a father, but he was thinking of Logan when he said it. "Everyone here deserves to be taken care of."

[dogbitesman]

"That is the generally accepted paradigm," William agreed absently.

"When you say more meetings with the public, do you mean in the vein of the single assembly that was held a while back for islanders to voice their views and ideas, or did you have something else in mind?"

[jdick]

"Both," Joe answered. "A single assembly might be good now and them, but we all saw how many people got hot and fucking bothered the last time. I'd like to see the representatives from each section on the island getting together with the people who identify with the group."

[echolls_cursed]

Logan knew who Joe was heading for, but he was pretty sure the other man wouldn't mind being stopped, and he grinned as he reached out to grab Joe's sleeve.

"I have to admit Joe, you've got a way with words," he laughed, totally sincere as he stepped a little closer to be heard over the crowed. "You feeling good about all this council stuff still?" he asked curiously.

Though in Logan's mind, Joe had no reason to worry. After all the other man had done and helped with, people would have to be crazy to not want to vote for him.

[jdick]

"Hey," Joe answered, grinning at Logan. It was good to see him out there, knowing he was there to support him just as much as Dale was. Nodding, he shrugged a little and said, "Yeah, feels pretty fucking good to be up there again. I dunno if I'll get elected, but hey, doesn't hurt to give it a shot again." And if he didn't get elected, he wouldn't be too upset.

[echolls_cursed]

"You've done good work here, man. If people have any sense, they'll vote for you," he insisted with a smirk. "I mean, you've already got my vote..."