your freedom, your sky — alaric's speech
Sept 3, 2020 17:12:43 GMT -5
Post by calla on Sept 3, 2020 17:12:43 GMT -5
He's spent the past week sleepless, fine tuning the edges of his campaign and trying to decide on the best approach for his speech. Because Alaric is no fool. He knows that there will be consequences if he loses, just like he knows there will be consequences if he wins.
He wants to help the people of Five, it sounds cliche, but they've always been his first priority. Martyrs breed martyrs after all, and the Mercier line is full of bleeding hearts and empathetic hands.
Ana stands with him on stage, by his side like she always is, and it's such a comfort to have her that he finds himself shifting closer as the cameras swing around. Alaric adores his wife. It's no secret. And it's times like this where he wonders if she should be the one running, instead of him, with all of her strength and all of her courage. Sometimes it feels like this whole thing is just a love letter to her - a way to make her home a better, safer, place. But the stage lights flicker on, and Ana clears her throat from beside him, so Alaric grips the podium a little firmer and raises his head to the crowd.
"Thank you all for coming today."He begins, and scans the crowd. He recognizes a smattering of faces, old patients and regular visitors alike. Even Jonah came out, eyes full of trouble already and it's barely noon. Regardless, "It's good to be surrounded by friends." He says, and smiles at Mrs. Tenner where she stands holding the newborn he had helped deliver a month earlier.
He looks at the small child and thinks of Hyram Mae, with his packet of cigarettes and his not so subtle threats.
"We're looking to make travel permits much more accessible to the everyday citizen, especially those unfit for the labour intensive work offered here in Five. Education systems partnered with Six will give opportunities to those who deserve them, instead of only catering to those who can afford them. As I'm sure many of you are aware, our current working conditions are not ideal. The refineries are dangerous places, and the work isn't easy. But I know that they are the livelihoods of many, and they cannot be immediately written off. That's why thorough training will be offered to every employee, and better safety measures will be put into place through the management of these facilities."
"The mayoral office will also be working with the chemists and engineers at the refineries, researching more eco-friendly and sustainable ways to continue our commerce. The smog seems to be growing thicker every day, and our window to remedy that is closing. Our district is our children's district, and their children's district. What we do now will not only affect our lives, but theirs as well."
"But there is no easy fix. There's no law that I can pass to suddenly give you all the lives you deserve. The only thing we can do is to try. Together."
Alaric looks to his wife and his children, to his brother and his nieces and nephews. He thinks of Devon standing alone in an arena decades ago, trying to change the terrible, terrible world she was living in.
"Change starts with one person. It starts with you."
He wants to help the people of Five, it sounds cliche, but they've always been his first priority. Martyrs breed martyrs after all, and the Mercier line is full of bleeding hearts and empathetic hands.
Ana stands with him on stage, by his side like she always is, and it's such a comfort to have her that he finds himself shifting closer as the cameras swing around. Alaric adores his wife. It's no secret. And it's times like this where he wonders if she should be the one running, instead of him, with all of her strength and all of her courage. Sometimes it feels like this whole thing is just a love letter to her - a way to make her home a better, safer, place. But the stage lights flicker on, and Ana clears her throat from beside him, so Alaric grips the podium a little firmer and raises his head to the crowd.
"Thank you all for coming today."He begins, and scans the crowd. He recognizes a smattering of faces, old patients and regular visitors alike. Even Jonah came out, eyes full of trouble already and it's barely noon. Regardless, "It's good to be surrounded by friends." He says, and smiles at Mrs. Tenner where she stands holding the newborn he had helped deliver a month earlier.
He looks at the small child and thinks of Hyram Mae, with his packet of cigarettes and his not so subtle threats.
"We're looking to make travel permits much more accessible to the everyday citizen, especially those unfit for the labour intensive work offered here in Five. Education systems partnered with Six will give opportunities to those who deserve them, instead of only catering to those who can afford them. As I'm sure many of you are aware, our current working conditions are not ideal. The refineries are dangerous places, and the work isn't easy. But I know that they are the livelihoods of many, and they cannot be immediately written off. That's why thorough training will be offered to every employee, and better safety measures will be put into place through the management of these facilities."
"The mayoral office will also be working with the chemists and engineers at the refineries, researching more eco-friendly and sustainable ways to continue our commerce. The smog seems to be growing thicker every day, and our window to remedy that is closing. Our district is our children's district, and their children's district. What we do now will not only affect our lives, but theirs as well."
"But there is no easy fix. There's no law that I can pass to suddenly give you all the lives you deserve. The only thing we can do is to try. Together."
Alaric looks to his wife and his children, to his brother and his nieces and nephews. He thinks of Devon standing alone in an arena decades ago, trying to change the terrible, terrible world she was living in.
"Change starts with one person. It starts with you."
