Election Party

[broken_brushes]

The general elections for Island Council were done, and I was happy to post the results to the bulletin board:
Tabula Rasa Island Council Elected Positions - Term 10

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[justsookie]

Sookie had started her day by sitting by the cemetery. As morbid as some might have thought it, being there around the plots decorated with flowers and wreaths made her feel just a bit closer to her own grandmother. Gran would have been proud, Sookie knew, to watch her granddaughter actually chance running for a position on a committee such as the Island Council. The mere fact that she'd gotten up there and made that speech not only showed her devotion to the island's people (which was growing stronger by the day), but some level of confidence. Believing that she could be good for the island. She'd prayed to her gran, starting just after the sun started peeking over the horizon, until she knew the results for the election would be posted.

And anyone who had seen her approach the posting probably saw a spritely little blonde twirling around in disbelief and delight.

By the time the party started, she was slightly sobered, knowing that as happy as she was to have gotten a spot on the Council, the real work would begin the next morning. The election was just the first step. So she put on a gracious smile, a glass of iced tea in her hand as she walked around, greeting as many people as she could.

[chasinghumanity]

Sookie might have sobered slightly, but Mitchell certainly hadn't. Decades of watching politicians dance around and pontificate had left him feeling surely jaded to all things governmental, and in some ways that sentiment had extended to the island council. Sure, they organized a lot of things, but human beings were miraculous creatures and Mitchell felt sure that the island would have been just as well off with the council framework as without.

But Sookie being on the council was another matter entirely. Mitchell was proud, fit to bursting proud, and had been from the moment Sookie had stepped on to the stage to deliver her speech all the way to then at the party, celebrating her victory.

He slid up behind her and wrapped an arm about her waist, gently tugging her back against his chest so he could kiss her cheek. His own glass of punch he held safely away so he didn't dare spill. "Have I mentioned yet how proud of you I am?" he murmured in her ear.

[justsookie]

At times, Sookie had to admit that Mitchell's laid-back nature had made it very difficult for the blonde to get her wits about herself; the calmer Mitchell was, it seemed, the more Sookie went about in a flurry, as though she had to compensate for his lack of tension. Of course, she'd taken advantage of his unyielding support often enough, burying her face into his shirt a number of times over the past few days whenever the stress got to be too much. But only now was she finally able to relax, and yet, that seemed to be the last thing she wanted anymore, blood pumping with adrenaline as she let out a tiny squeal at the feel of his arm around her waist. She turned until she could face him fully, before leaning in to press a soft kiss against his lips, a little clumsier than usual for the smile that spread across her face.

"You don't even like politics," she protested playfully, free arm moving to wrap around his neck as she dropped another teasing kiss on the corner of his mouth, laughing as she pulled away. "But hey, I like makin' you feel proud. Makes me feel like people see me as more than Mitchell's pretty arm candy."

[chasinghumanity]

"But I like you," he pointed out in a playful undertone, his hand sliding over the curve of her hip. There were times when Mitchell wanted nothing more than to carry Sookie off to more secluded spots, but tonight wasn't one of those times. Just simple love and admiration made his words.

"And no one's ever thought of you as my arm candy," Mitchell scoffed. "If anything, now I'm yours. But I'm not changing the wardrobe," he said, cutting her off before she could suggest such a thing.

[justsookie]

She laughed as Mitchell's hand slid comfortably over her hip, lips pressed in a pleased smile as she wrapped an arm around his waist from behind, eyes growing lidded as she took a second just to enjoy having him by her side. He saw something in her, Sookie knew, and to have that kind of support constantly, one which believed in a person, nurtured a person, that was powerful. Even if it was clear that she was still prone to being high-strung and felt stress strongly at the best of times, Mitchell was patient. A blessing, she reminded herself yet again as she pressed the point of her nose against his cheek.

"Well," she said, "at least you aren't accusin' me of being totally ruined by politics. And I wouldn't have you change wardrobes for the world. Though I do still wanna see you in a tux someday, even if it's just for a party."

[chasinghumanity]

Mitchell had chosen to live with both Annie and George. Twice. He was no stranger to the high-strung and barely batted an eyelash at it anymore, except on those occasions when it presented itself in unnecessary target practice at him specifically. Sookie snuggling up to him when she was stressed was infinitely more enjoyable and manageable than George's voice rising up two octaves.

"It's early days," he said, his hand traveling along to the small of her back. "Maybe by the end of term you'll be a hardened politician, going to bed with a whiskey bottle instead of me."

[justsookie]

Alcoholism had never been a problem in Sookie's immediate family, but having grown up with Tara Thornton as her best friend had certainly made Sookie aware of all that a mere whiskey bottle could do to a life. Even if she yearned for that escape sometimes, and had certainly taken advantage of it the first time she rode on a plane, Sookie knew full well that she'd never turn regularly to alcohol. It made a person prone to hurting others, without even realizing. Sookie couldn't handle the thought of doing that.

Fortunately, she knew that Mitchell was only kidding. Wrinkling her nose with a grin, Sookie's expression took up a slightly mischievous tone.

"Oh, but before that comes all the mistresses. Who knows? Maybe some days, when I'm workin' late at the Winchester... Neil's on the Council too," Sookie pointed out, even as her hand wrapped more tightly over Mitchell's hip. Just to emphasize how unlikely that was to ever happen.

[chasinghumanity]

He laughed almost immediately; though happy to continue the joke, he did have his breaking point. "Way to aim for the stars, love. Pick the man with two husbands to threaten me with," Mitchell pointed out, chuckling softly.

"No," he said, sobering a bit. "I don't think politics is going to change you at all."

[justsookie]

"Probably 'cause I can't stand to threaten you at all, even as a joke," Sookie pointed out, grinning more broadly as Mitchell laughed, turning to face him and looping a hand casually over the back of his neck. Pressing herself close to him, her expression softened before she leaned in for another little kiss. She had worried a little when the campaigning all began, beyond the fear of running for naught, beyond wondering what people thought of her. Mainly, she had worried because no matter how many times she tried to imagine Bill's reaction to something such as running for Council, it had come out negative.

Then, it made her wonder why she was still thinking of Bill at all.

With a serene expression on her face, Sookie tilted her head. "If politics changes me... if this job changes me, I just hope it's for the better. But I doubt I'll change too much. I've always been stubborn. Kind of the Stackhouse way."

[curiously_cora]

"Who's that man with the funny hair?" Coraline asked curiously, pointing Mitchell out. Coraline had meant to congratulate Sookie but her curiosity had won out. Even if Coraline still wasn't smiling, she was at least starting to feel up to talking to people and asking them questions again.

[justsookie]

Sookie laughed lightly at Coraline's question, and would have laughed louder, had it not been for Coraline's still subdued expression. As it was, she pulled the young girl to her side, keeping the glass of iced tea away so that it wouldn't drip on the young blonde and wrapping an arm warmly around Coraline's shoulder. Before answering the question, she dropped a kiss on Coraline's head, thanking her stars that Coraline wasn't too much taller than Sookie yet.

"That man with the funny hair would be my boyfriend," Sookie replied with the trace of a smile, looking fondly in Mitchell's direction for a moment before redirecting her attention back at Coraline. "His name's Mitchell."

[curiously_cora]

Coraline was about to point out that he was the goofy looking man as well when Sookie said he was her boyfriend. Coraline looked at him curiously, scrunching her face up. Well, he was no Jacob but Sookie seemed to like him.

"He's very... scruffy." Coraline said trying to understand the attraction. He must have been very nice for Sookie to like him. Maybe he was a poet or a writer, that would certainly explain the scruffiness. Coraline was thinking so hard she was startled by the kiss. She looked at Sookie curiously before her face softened just a little. "He looks like my dad at home when he was on a deadline. Does Mitchell do a lot of writing? I imagine he's a very good poet."

He looked like at any moment he might burst into a sonnet.

[justsookie]

Of course, Sookie had noticed the physical differences between herself and Mitchell before, in a fair number of ways, some more innocent than others. She never knew exactly what to call his sense of style, for instance, a mix of plaid and slim jeans and fingerless gloves. Maybe it was comfortable, but it certainly didn't at all resemble the sundresses Sookie wore from day to day. But that didn't matter to Sookie. (Actually, if anything, she found the casual, thrown-together look attractive, leagues better than a man who tried too hard. Eric sometimes came to mind for that.)

"He's... got a natural look," Sookie grinned, still happy to keep on staring at Mitchell, even as she turned her attention back to Coraline. "But no, Mitchell doesn't write poetry or anything. At least, I don't think he does."

After a pause, she joked. "You don't approve, do you?"

[curiously_cora]

"Is that the grown up way of saying he looks like he just got out of bed?" Coraline asked curiously. If he was a writer it would explain a lot. Writers and poets tended to be a scruffy lot just like how artists tended to be missing ears. Coraline had very strange thoughts on some things. "He looks like he should. He looks like he's a poet."

Coraline looked at Sookie seriously, considering her answer carefully. "Does he make you happy? Does he like buttons for eyes? What are his opinions on gruyere cheese? Does he like exploring? Those last three are optional but the first one is important."

[justsookie]

"Yeah," Sookie nodded with a slight laugh, nodded more vigorously as she looked over in time to catch his hand just ruffling through his hair. Spending a fair portion of her nights with Mitchell meant that she was pretty familiar with his morning routine, and combs didn't always factor overly much into it all. "Yeah, that's the way of sayin' he looks like he's just rolled out of bed, only believe me, his hair's even crazier when that's the case. Maybe he's written poetry before. I don't really know, just... he doesn't these days, unless it's while I'm at work."

With a more serious look, Sookie turned back to Coraline, letting her hand run down the younger girl's cheek. "But he doesn't like buttons for eyes, I think he'd be able to eat just about any type of cheese out there, he explores when he feels like it, and... yes. Yes, he makes me very happy."

[curiously_cora]

"He could write secret poetry in your hut whilst you're at work, in the dark... brooding." Coraline said, watching him and making a face. Why he needed to make his hair even messier Coraline would never know or understand. "I can't imagine it being crazier."

Coraline looked at Sookie, head tilted only a fraction up at her. Coraline didn't flinch when Sookie touched her cheek, she just looked at her and tried not to cry. Just the simplest of things would set her off, usually someone being nice to her.

"Well, then I guess I approve of him. Maybe not the cheese thing but the other stuff is good especially the happy part. Is he American like you?" Coraline asked curiously.