sun drained leather. valentino speech 85th

vote val today

He held his wife's hand as he stood on the stage. Without her, he'd be alone -- physically speaking, he would quite literally be the only person on stage. Maybe it was the name or the money, but Valentino gleamed something confident in the way that even he couldn't fuck this up. At this point, he was the only candidate, and Marina stood beside him like opposition. 

Part of him missed feeling her support. 

Only part of him, though, and he smiles into the cameras below the stage. 

There was no rebuttle, no other candidate to build traction off of. He can't say he's surprised in the way Sayer's knees buckled under the weight of Salazar, but damn was he disappointed. The fun was lost, the thrill of not only winning but watching someone else lose. Valentino knew he would secure a win - of course - but this easily? At this point, nothing he said even mattered, he could already move on and dial up Hope or Irvine and figure out his own arrangements. 

What would the district do if he just walked away? Vote nobody? 

"Good evening, district seven, and thank you to everyone here today who's dedicated to improving our district... together!" He begins, feeling taller than the stage itself, "As the only candidate here today, it would be easy for me to say attractive words and walk away, but things are not easy in district seven; we are honest, hard working people, and in this gratitude, I want to dedicate my platform towards the mass collection of labor we house in this district." 

Words, words, words. "In thanks to the lumberjacks, architects and builders of our people, I promise to bring greater opportunities in interdistrict work travel, creating greater gateways to creating Paper Mills in Five, creating homes in Nine, and mines in two. We, as district seven, will focus on strengthening our economic bonds with Six in order provide better care for our people, along with improving our work conditions and the basis of our insurances."

"With this, I bring a new proposition: The Highland Games Training. In an effort to raise our labor, the new generation deserve the same sportsmanship opportunities found in the districts of one, two and four. It is my vision to bring a stronger sense of physicality to district seven, alongside our growing bonds with fellow districts. We will work hard as District Seven does, and we will thrive as we did before the Sayer administration."

And Seven will get victors once again, as soon as Jacinta can get a grip on reality. All in due time, supposedly, "Now, had I known I would have been the only representative on stage, I would have prepared a bit longer speech." He chuckles off beat, cockiness in the way he talks, "Since we are all gathered today, I would be more than happy to answer any questions."

At least, just the ethical ones. He grips the podium in front of him, looking to Marina and Ignacio behind him on stage to his left. Jacinta and Mackenzie stand like trophies or as promises.

Valentino stands straight, chin up. 

( open for ic questioning! )