Independence Is a Heady Draught

[Joshua Bernstein]

2014 had so far been the year of the speeches, or so it felt to Josh. He'd rehearsed them in front of Sean and the occasional tolerant friend, he'd given them in front of crowds both enthusiastic and skeptical. He'd engaged in debates, gesticulating passionately while defending his platform and his values. That he now gave them after work and not just in the courts was, perhaps, what gave the impression that he was giving more of them than ever before.

As a candidate for elected office he felt it was only right and proper to give an appearance on the fourth of July, a day that, although symbolic and significant according to the country as a whole, was not particularly held in high regard by either himself or his partner. Because they had no sentimental attachment to the day and in fact frequently decried the beginnings of their country and the many current failings as well, he knew that scheduling an appearance wouldn't be a problem for anything Sean wanted to do.

His pragmatic side (which, despite the teasing of friends, did in fact exist, at least where his work was concerned) wouldn't allow him to use his platform to discuss the genocide of Native Americans in the country's history, or to mention every flaw he found within the system. But he did bring up the gaping inequality that still plagued the United States, because of course he was running for office in the hopes of helping to fix some of that, in whatever small and local way that he could as a member of the Town Council of a rural Vermont town.

After he had given the speech he'd answered a few questions, and then remained after the event had officially ended in order to mingle with what he hoped would be his future constituents.

There was food provided, typical fourth of July fare - hot dogs and hamburgers, and some barbecue. Coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob....

He loaded up his plate while greeting everyone who approached him with a smile. He just hoped that nobody here was a PUSE operative.

[Kaylee Thomas]

Kaylee wasn't one for politics growing up. Because of the way the people around her mama's fish stand talked, she was certain for the longest time that politics and life were separate things. As she got older she started to understand that in far too many places, life is decided by politics. So she got much more invested, and these days she was going so far as to actually stick around the place she'd heard a political candidate was to be speaking in her local area, just so she knew what she was dealing with.

As was the case tonight. She rubbed at the bandage on her arm from where her swimming incident the day before had left a nasty cut, watching the man speak with such conviction about things that, hey, actually mattered to her! That was a first in this place. She hovered about once he was done speaking, not entirely sure what the question forming in her head was until the Q&A part of the evening was obviously over with. Sighing slightly at a missed opportunity, she headed for the food table, noting that some fruit-based and confectionery delights were placed out in suspiciously familiar dishes.

Kaylee smiled, connecting the food to the maker, and when she looked up she found herself only feet away from the man she had given so much of her attention to today. Mister Joshua Bernstein, in the flesh, seeming friendly and personable and oddly trustworthy for a politician. "Excuse me, Mister Bernstein." She stepped within handshake range, but not too close. She wasn't about to invade this man's personal space. "I hope you're enjoying yourself tonight. My name is Kaylee, and I was wondering if I could talk to you a moment." Okay, maybe not as straightforward as necessary for such a busy man, but she would never consider being wholly impolite.

Once she was sure she had his attention, she began speaking her question in words pieced together over the course of the last minute. "There's an obvious discrepancy between you and your competitors, and that's where your focus is. I just wanted to ask why you choose to focus on the people and the gaps in treatment in your speech, rather than the obvious economic and institutional plans people are expecting? Not that I'm complaining, I'm so glad to see a candidate for any sort of political office caring about people. It just seemed like an odd choice if you want the vote of the sorts that enthusiastically and unquestioningly go to this kind of thing." She smiled towards the end of her speech, realizing full well that she'd strayed into a sort of ramble, but hoping her question would be answered in a way that revealed the character of this man. She'd heard enough from his speeches and the pieces on him in the paper to know his proposed policies. She'd like to know the person, and the reasoning, behind them.

Honestly, she was very much considering telling others to vote for him already.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh was just popping a strawberry into his mouth when he was approached by a young woman. He couldn't properly guess her age -- she looked young enough to be a student at Hammel, or perhaps a college student. But then, anyone under the age of thirty looked young to him anymore.

"Mmmfff." He answered, holding up one hand to indicate that he didn't wish to talk with his mouth full, and then hastily chewed and swallowed so fast he was in danger of choking.

"Pilot Ridge is progressive enough that I don't have to tone it down," He laughed, looking over her to see if there was a table he could sit at. Noting an empty one only three tables away he indicated the direction with his shoulder. "Pardon me, but I can't stand here and hold up the line. Do you mind joining me over there, and then we can continue this conversation without tempting hungry people to come after me with pitchforks?"