Elendor
Bree Election Results
The election results are in, and they're not what ANYONE expected!
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Bree
Description: [Torebras(#25187)] Bree's election has ended at last! The polling booths have shut, and volunteers have been up all night counting the votes. Now all and sundry (and there seem to be an awful lot of them) have gathered in the comfortable environs of the Prancing Pony to hear the results (and to partake of a little something while they wait, too). They have been waiting ... well, quite a while, in fact. Breakfast is long since gone, and now it is almost lunchtime. Perhaps there has been a recount?
Current Mayor Torebras Bywater stands over on one side of the room, wearing his best waistcoat and twiddling an empty pipe between his fingers. He smiles airily as he chats to some of the locals - but there is sweat on his brow, and every now and then he peers worriedly down the corridor towards the Parlour where the vote-counting team has been sequestered. He tugs absentmindedly at his collar.
Brenden Ferny has definitely gotten cleaned up for the election. He got himself a haircut, his brown mop of curls looking far less wild than normal, and his face is smooth-shaven. He has a new shirt that's tucked in and his boots are clean of dirt and mud. He even drug his family out for the occasion, his wife sitting off in a corner gabbing with some other women while his young son gets sick on cookies that were put out for folks to enjoy.
Brenden is standing, having more than a bit of nervous excitement, but he's grinning a lot and joking with some of his friends.
[Ada(#23113)] Another part of the Ferny family has arrived to celebrate the results. She stands for a moment framed in the doorway taking in the room looking smug in her best widow's cap, a modest gown showing her off to her advantage with lace in all the right places and her finest apron.
Ada spies her brother and makes for him across the room nodding to the other merchants she knows, old customers and Brenden's supporters as she passes.
"Well, brother, the time is near." She tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek.
Cordelia is here, but she is making like a Ranger: occupying Henleg's favorite dark corner with her hood pulled up well over her face, throwing it in shadow. She watches quietly.
Someone said Ranger? Indeed, one of those strange folk is at the Pony, sitting in a chair near the fireplace, a tankard of beer in front of him, with a plate of cold meat (half-full now). This one is, again, that Grey fellow, and many give him a wide berth and dark looks as they come and go, waiting for the announcement of the Mayor-race. Grey seems quite unconderned about all this, as he lazily drinks his beer, his grey eyes showing a bit of humor in them, yet there is no smile to adorn his face.
[Torebras(#25187)] Footsteps sound in the corridor, and heads perk up. At last! In come the vote-counters, bleary-eyed and dishevelled looking. A pair of strong lads bring in two open wooden boxes, each filled to the brim with ballot papers. To the layman's eye they look to be equal. A tie? Elderly Judge Allgood, chosen as official announcer, taps his cane on the floor and hobbles over towards the vote-counting team, clearing his throat officiously. "Well?"
But then in comes one more counter, a middle-aged hobbit with a baker's apron tied round his rotund belly and a large filing tray of ballot papers balanced in his hands. He stands in tiptoe to whisper something in the judge's ear, looking quite worried.
Brenden grins widely when Ada arrives, wrapping his sister into a brief hug when she joins him. "It's taking forever.." He murmurs in her ear, then pulls away to look around the room again. "I honestly have no idea which way this will go, dear sister." His brown eyes briefly search the room, trying to pick his son out amongst the kids.
Benny, the brave young lad that he is at all of six years old, is currently sneaking towards the scary man sitting by the fire on a dare. He walks all the to the man's table, then swallows and gives a nervous glance back towards the other kids before bolstering his courage and asking of Grey in a small voice, "Have you ever killed anyone??"
The counters arrive and Brenden gives up his search for his son as the moment seems to have finally arrived.
Torebras breaks off the conversation he was having with an apple-cheeked hobbit matron and glances toward the vote-counters, his pipe falling from nerveless fingers to land with a clatter on the wooden floor. What, doesn't he expect to /win/ this?
After a brief squeeze and a seaching scrutiny of her brother's face, Ada nods and turns to follow his gaze among the maze of hobbits and big folk. "Oh, Benny!" she mutters. "Will you look at him? And I don't need to say that worrying won't help. Look here they come!"
[Henleg(#20696)] The Ranger seems to be a bit taken aback, not by the boy's boldness in approaching him (this seems to be some kind of usual game among younglings in Bree), but by the question. "Have I ever killed someone?", Grey says outloud, and then a feral smile comes to his lips. "Thousands upon thousands I have dealt with my sword, which hungers for the blood of men... and specially, of children!", he bellows, as he looks at little Benny. But soon enough the fierceness disappears, and is replaced by gentleness and a smile. "Do not believe the silly stories that some here might tell you... and certainly, do not believe in the silly stories that a stranger can tell you, just to appear mighty and frightening".
[Cordelia(#24827)] Behind Henleg now, Cordelia snickers. "Do not believe the excuses of Rangers, either, Benny. In fact, never ask a Ranger anything--they never give straight answers, nor answers at all." The young woman pushes back her hood now, and stretches as she stands. "Who is winning?"
[Torebras(#25187)] That is a very good question.
The elderly judge and tray-bearing hobbit seem to be having quite the discussion. As the back-and-forth continues, Judge Allgood's face, not forgiving at the best of times, is black as a thundercloud. He turns to face each of the candidates, giving them a hard, measuring stare over the reading-glass he holds up to one eye.
Benny pales when the man gives him that threatening smile and looks completely horrified by the answer Grey illustrates so well. The boy is only six, and a young six at that. He stares with eyes as wide as saucers at the tall ranger while sucking in a large breath, then turns and bolts across the room towards his father, immediately grabbing at his arm and tugging for attention.
Brenden looks down at his son with some annoyance at the pestering, reaching down to heft him up to hold. "Hush son.. it's time for the important announcement." The dark look that the judge is giving distracts Brenden from finding what has his boy so upset, "Well?? What are the results?" He asks with some impatience.
[Torebras(#25187)] Torebras Bywater, who happened to be standing on the right side of the room to hear Grey's bellow (actually, half the Pony probably heard it), has turned quite pale, and actually starts edging away from the Ranger, even though that brings him closer to his despised rival Brenden. He squirms beneath the judge's stare, and pulls out a white silk handkerchief to mop his sweating brow.
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey chuckles as the young one bolts to look for his father, and then resumes his quiet meal, sipping from his beer as the Breefolk seem to grow restless about the results... how little these folk know of the dangers they face, to obsess over such a petty thing!
[Cordelia(#24827)] One such danger, is still standing, arms crossed over her chest, looking a bit puzzled as she watches all the whispered conversations with the Judge. "It's just a mayor of Bree," Cordelia snorts as she moves over to stand where HEnleg sits--has the half-Mordain woman decided to make her goal in life annoying the Ranger?
Judge Allgood lets his piercing gaze rest on Brenden for a moment longer, then answers the question by tapping his cane on the floor to command attention. The place hushes. "Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlehobbits," he begins. "Breefolk large and small. I regret to inform you that this election has been declared invalid. There appears to have been a case of cheating ..."
At this point he is interrupted. Torebras Bywater, erstwhile Mayor of Bree, always such a stickler for form and propriety, steps forward white-faced. "It- it was me," he mumbles in a near-whisper. Terrified brown hobbit-eyes scan the crowd. "I- I can't live with it any longer. I was afraid of losing, so I wrote some extra ballot papers." His voice strengthens as the words continue, almost back to his old speech-making level. "As a last act of office, I wish to offer a humble and sincere apology." His sweat-slicked hands take the Mayor's chain of office from around his neck.
Brenden shushes his son again as the boy squirms in his arms, his gaze intent on the judge that keeps glaring at him. He almost opens his mouth to challenge the man, but soon Allgood is calling for silence and making his announcement.
"Invalid?!" Brenden protests immediately in outrage, his mouth dropping open in shock. "Cheating? What ch-" He shuts up rather quickly as Torebras steps in to make his conffession and Ferny gapes at the hobbit in further surprise. (Though, who can say if that's surprise that Bywater cheated, or that he -admitted- to cheating)
"Well that don't mean Ferny won! He cheated too!" a large big person in the back of the room roars. "I don't want no Ferny in the office!!"
Grey merely smiles, yet it's not a warm smile, but one... perhaps indifference, at the whole situation. However, as someone roars that BOTH contenders have cheated, his grey eyes look back, trying to see who it is that accuses Brenden.
[Ada(#23113)] "Why that little butterball! Why that cheat!" Open mouthed she turns to her brother unable to find more words to sputter for how dumbfounded she is that he actually admitted it. "Oh, no they don't!" she says in a fierce whisper. "You didn't dare, did you, Brenden?"
[Cordelia(#24827)] The man roaring his disapproval of Brenden is a large local farmer who is well into his cups at this point. Strangely, Cordelia wears a smile at the man's outburst.
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey watches with veiled interest what is unfolding before him, and Cordelia's smile is not lost to the Ranger. Still, he says naught, and keep sipping his beer and eating his cold meat.
[Torebras(#25187)] Judge Allgood raps his cane loudly on the floor. "SILENCE!" he roars, as loudly as an elderly man can manage. He glares across the room at the heckler. "Citizens' personal preference is not an issue here, merely the course of justice. If anyone has something to say on this grave and lawless matter, say it now." His gaze rests first on the trembling Torebras, then on the shocked-looking Brenden and the nervously whispering Ada. The Ranger and his companion don't even rate a passing glance.
Brenden lowers his son to the floor and turns to look around as well, trying to pick out the man that's claiming he's a fraud. Ada draws his attention from the search and he gives her a strange look. "You're actually asking me that?" He whispers back harshly, an offended expression on his face.
Ferny looks back towards the judge, approaching him now and ignoring the drunken protester. "Then I won? Fairly? Right?" He asks of the judge with another confused glance towards Bywater.
[Henleg(#20696)] There is a slight chuckle at brenden's question to the judge. Who was it? Not the drunken farmer, but the Ranger, who isued it. Yet that's the only sound Grey makes, as he gets some cold meat and chews happily.
[Cordelia(#24827)] The ale-sotted farmer shuts his mouth and slumps back down in his chair. "Cheatin' liar if ya ask me," he mutters to noone in particular.
Cordelia seems even more amused by the whole thing and now leans against a table to watch.
[Torebras(#25187)] An ashen-faced Torebras holds the chain of office out to the judge, who gestures to the apron-wearing hobbit to go and bring it to him, contempt radiating from every pore.
Judge Allgood waits for the suppressed mutterings in the crowd to die down before raising his voice again, his tone stern. "In the absence of evidence to the contrary, and in the presence of a full confession, it seems to me the case is clear. The role of Mayor for this town goes to Brenden Ferny by default. Congratulations, Mister Ferny." He extends the golden-coloured chain on the edge of his cane.
[Henleg(#20696)] "And will the alleged cheating by Master Ferny go unchecked?", comes a voice from the crowd... indeed, it is Grey. His voice is neutral, as if he were simply asking for direction to the Pony.
Brenden allows a wide grin to take his face at the official announcement, his eyes seeking out his sister for brief moment before turning back to the judge. "Thank you, Judge Allgood." He reaches to take the chain, considering it for a moment before stringing it around his neck.
When Ferny looks down at Bywater there's a smug expression that takes over his features, but he refrains from gloating just yet. Grey's question has Brenden looking curiously back to the judge. Oh, wouldn't he just -love- to have an excuse to lock up Torebras in the jail, but he's sharp enough to know that pushing for something as that would be a bad way to start a term in office.
Ada jumps in the air, her face as excited as a little girl transforming her pinched little face into a younger and more hopeful version. In mid-air her smile disappears. She lands with her hands on her hips searching with the rapacity of a fox for whoever said that. Her gaze lights on the Ranger who she approaches. "Since when do non-citizens mix themselves up in elections? Since when do outsiders accuse my brother of cheating?
[Henleg(#20696)] "My dear lady, I suggest you calm down", the Ranger repliues, his voice even, smooth. "/I/ have certainly not accused your brother of anything, mind you. If you're looking for the culprit for that, look back there", he adds, pointing with his thumb backwards, in the general direction of the drunken farmer. "As to your first question... well, I am not mixing in the election, and would never dream of doing so... I was merely asking a question".
[Torebras(#25187)] The judge raises one severe eyebrow, and favours Grey with a hard stare. "I have heard no allegations of cheating. I trust that Mister Ferny will wish to arrange an independent," that word is slightly stressed, "allegation into this matter - it is, after all, in his own interests." He favours the new Mayor with a wintry smile, then his gaze slips on to rest on Ada, for whose words he reserves a disapproving frown.
Torebras, meanwhile, is mopping at his brow with the now-sodden silk handkerchief. Hoping, perhaps, that all eyes are on Bree's new Mayor, he starts to sidle towards the door.
[Cordelia(#24827)] Still looking more and more amused, Cordelia watches...especially watching Torebras.
The farmer, meanwhile, is now involved in a heated conversation about whether this year's harvest is bigger than last.
"Judge.. There are always going to be people that don't agree with things and will say whatever they have to..." Brenden seeks out that farmer again in the crowd, "Bywater confesses to cheating and that disqualifies him. -I- never cheated so there's nothing to investigate." Ferny lets his gaze drift back to Grey, "I won, Bywater lost." He flashes a toothy smile. "I think this is cause for celebration! A round of drinks for everyone!"
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey merely shrugs, and at Brenden's offer he just raises his mug... clearly, he wants another beer, and if brenden will pay for it, well... all the better!
[Torebras(#25187)] "Hmm," is all that Judge Allgood says in response to Brenden's words. He frowns heavily at the new Mayor, though that could just be at the announcement of free drinks - everyone knows the old fellow is a rigid teetotaller. Whoops and cheers sound from the crowd and, among the hobbits at least, many of those who'd supported Bywater stay silent - stunned, no doubt, at their candidate's public confession. They'll swallow their disappointment a little easier in a mug of ale.
Torebras, having gone unchallenged so far, continues to edge toward the exit, as quietly as a hobbit can.
[Cordelia(#24827)] Even the farmer now looks up and cheers. "Well..that's more like it! That cheater of a mayor, Torebras..."
Cordelia settles into a chair.
[Ada(#23113)] The pawnbroker satifies herself with a glare and a flip of the head to the Ranger. She walks away with her chin in the air slowing as she catches sight at Cordelia's amused grin. She nearly stops her eyes narrowing. But she leaves the Easterner behind and goes to join her brother as the whoops and hollers fill the room. "Benny," she says bending down to her nephew. "Do you know how to say hip hip hooray?"
Benny is grinning and jumping up and down as he finally catches on that his father won the Important Competition that he's been working on all summer. Ada is given a cheeky grin and the boy yells ecstatically at her prompting.
Brenden grins wider at the new show of support from the room and waves at the serving girls to fetch the drinks. The new mayor walks back to his family, scooping up his son again and even tracking down his wife to give her a kiss on the cheek. His sister is given another hug of jubilation.
When there are no further unexpected developments or naysayings, Ferny happily celebrates for the rest of the day and well into the night.. ringing up quite a tab, but his campaign fund has been rather sizable the entire duration, somehow.
[Torebras(#25187)] By that time, one lone and miserable hobbit is long gone.
Current Mayor Torebras Bywater stands over on one side of the room, wearing his best waistcoat and twiddling an empty pipe between his fingers. He smiles airily as he chats to some of the locals - but there is sweat on his brow, and every now and then he peers worriedly down the corridor towards the Parlour where the vote-counting team has been sequestered. He tugs absentmindedly at his collar.
Brenden Ferny has definitely gotten cleaned up for the election. He got himself a haircut, his brown mop of curls looking far less wild than normal, and his face is smooth-shaven. He has a new shirt that's tucked in and his boots are clean of dirt and mud. He even drug his family out for the occasion, his wife sitting off in a corner gabbing with some other women while his young son gets sick on cookies that were put out for folks to enjoy.
Brenden is standing, having more than a bit of nervous excitement, but he's grinning a lot and joking with some of his friends.
[Ada(#23113)] Another part of the Ferny family has arrived to celebrate the results. She stands for a moment framed in the doorway taking in the room looking smug in her best widow's cap, a modest gown showing her off to her advantage with lace in all the right places and her finest apron.
Ada spies her brother and makes for him across the room nodding to the other merchants she knows, old customers and Brenden's supporters as she passes.
"Well, brother, the time is near." She tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek.
Cordelia is here, but she is making like a Ranger: occupying Henleg's favorite dark corner with her hood pulled up well over her face, throwing it in shadow. She watches quietly.
Someone said Ranger? Indeed, one of those strange folk is at the Pony, sitting in a chair near the fireplace, a tankard of beer in front of him, with a plate of cold meat (half-full now). This one is, again, that Grey fellow, and many give him a wide berth and dark looks as they come and go, waiting for the announcement of the Mayor-race. Grey seems quite unconderned about all this, as he lazily drinks his beer, his grey eyes showing a bit of humor in them, yet there is no smile to adorn his face.
[Torebras(#25187)] Footsteps sound in the corridor, and heads perk up. At last! In come the vote-counters, bleary-eyed and dishevelled looking. A pair of strong lads bring in two open wooden boxes, each filled to the brim with ballot papers. To the layman's eye they look to be equal. A tie? Elderly Judge Allgood, chosen as official announcer, taps his cane on the floor and hobbles over towards the vote-counting team, clearing his throat officiously. "Well?"
But then in comes one more counter, a middle-aged hobbit with a baker's apron tied round his rotund belly and a large filing tray of ballot papers balanced in his hands. He stands in tiptoe to whisper something in the judge's ear, looking quite worried.
Brenden grins widely when Ada arrives, wrapping his sister into a brief hug when she joins him. "It's taking forever.." He murmurs in her ear, then pulls away to look around the room again. "I honestly have no idea which way this will go, dear sister." His brown eyes briefly search the room, trying to pick his son out amongst the kids.
Benny, the brave young lad that he is at all of six years old, is currently sneaking towards the scary man sitting by the fire on a dare. He walks all the to the man's table, then swallows and gives a nervous glance back towards the other kids before bolstering his courage and asking of Grey in a small voice, "Have you ever killed anyone??"
The counters arrive and Brenden gives up his search for his son as the moment seems to have finally arrived.
Torebras breaks off the conversation he was having with an apple-cheeked hobbit matron and glances toward the vote-counters, his pipe falling from nerveless fingers to land with a clatter on the wooden floor. What, doesn't he expect to /win/ this?
After a brief squeeze and a seaching scrutiny of her brother's face, Ada nods and turns to follow his gaze among the maze of hobbits and big folk. "Oh, Benny!" she mutters. "Will you look at him? And I don't need to say that worrying won't help. Look here they come!"
[Henleg(#20696)] The Ranger seems to be a bit taken aback, not by the boy's boldness in approaching him (this seems to be some kind of usual game among younglings in Bree), but by the question. "Have I ever killed someone?", Grey says outloud, and then a feral smile comes to his lips. "Thousands upon thousands I have dealt with my sword, which hungers for the blood of men... and specially, of children!", he bellows, as he looks at little Benny. But soon enough the fierceness disappears, and is replaced by gentleness and a smile. "Do not believe the silly stories that some here might tell you... and certainly, do not believe in the silly stories that a stranger can tell you, just to appear mighty and frightening".
[Cordelia(#24827)] Behind Henleg now, Cordelia snickers. "Do not believe the excuses of Rangers, either, Benny. In fact, never ask a Ranger anything--they never give straight answers, nor answers at all." The young woman pushes back her hood now, and stretches as she stands. "Who is winning?"
[Torebras(#25187)] That is a very good question.
The elderly judge and tray-bearing hobbit seem to be having quite the discussion. As the back-and-forth continues, Judge Allgood's face, not forgiving at the best of times, is black as a thundercloud. He turns to face each of the candidates, giving them a hard, measuring stare over the reading-glass he holds up to one eye.
Benny pales when the man gives him that threatening smile and looks completely horrified by the answer Grey illustrates so well. The boy is only six, and a young six at that. He stares with eyes as wide as saucers at the tall ranger while sucking in a large breath, then turns and bolts across the room towards his father, immediately grabbing at his arm and tugging for attention.
Brenden looks down at his son with some annoyance at the pestering, reaching down to heft him up to hold. "Hush son.. it's time for the important announcement." The dark look that the judge is giving distracts Brenden from finding what has his boy so upset, "Well?? What are the results?" He asks with some impatience.
[Torebras(#25187)] Torebras Bywater, who happened to be standing on the right side of the room to hear Grey's bellow (actually, half the Pony probably heard it), has turned quite pale, and actually starts edging away from the Ranger, even though that brings him closer to his despised rival Brenden. He squirms beneath the judge's stare, and pulls out a white silk handkerchief to mop his sweating brow.
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey chuckles as the young one bolts to look for his father, and then resumes his quiet meal, sipping from his beer as the Breefolk seem to grow restless about the results... how little these folk know of the dangers they face, to obsess over such a petty thing!
[Cordelia(#24827)] One such danger, is still standing, arms crossed over her chest, looking a bit puzzled as she watches all the whispered conversations with the Judge. "It's just a mayor of Bree," Cordelia snorts as she moves over to stand where HEnleg sits--has the half-Mordain woman decided to make her goal in life annoying the Ranger?
Judge Allgood lets his piercing gaze rest on Brenden for a moment longer, then answers the question by tapping his cane on the floor to command attention. The place hushes. "Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlehobbits," he begins. "Breefolk large and small. I regret to inform you that this election has been declared invalid. There appears to have been a case of cheating ..."
At this point he is interrupted. Torebras Bywater, erstwhile Mayor of Bree, always such a stickler for form and propriety, steps forward white-faced. "It- it was me," he mumbles in a near-whisper. Terrified brown hobbit-eyes scan the crowd. "I- I can't live with it any longer. I was afraid of losing, so I wrote some extra ballot papers." His voice strengthens as the words continue, almost back to his old speech-making level. "As a last act of office, I wish to offer a humble and sincere apology." His sweat-slicked hands take the Mayor's chain of office from around his neck.
Brenden shushes his son again as the boy squirms in his arms, his gaze intent on the judge that keeps glaring at him. He almost opens his mouth to challenge the man, but soon Allgood is calling for silence and making his announcement.
"Invalid?!" Brenden protests immediately in outrage, his mouth dropping open in shock. "Cheating? What ch-" He shuts up rather quickly as Torebras steps in to make his conffession and Ferny gapes at the hobbit in further surprise. (Though, who can say if that's surprise that Bywater cheated, or that he -admitted- to cheating)
"Well that don't mean Ferny won! He cheated too!" a large big person in the back of the room roars. "I don't want no Ferny in the office!!"
Grey merely smiles, yet it's not a warm smile, but one... perhaps indifference, at the whole situation. However, as someone roars that BOTH contenders have cheated, his grey eyes look back, trying to see who it is that accuses Brenden.
[Ada(#23113)] "Why that little butterball! Why that cheat!" Open mouthed she turns to her brother unable to find more words to sputter for how dumbfounded she is that he actually admitted it. "Oh, no they don't!" she says in a fierce whisper. "You didn't dare, did you, Brenden?"
[Cordelia(#24827)] The man roaring his disapproval of Brenden is a large local farmer who is well into his cups at this point. Strangely, Cordelia wears a smile at the man's outburst.
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey watches with veiled interest what is unfolding before him, and Cordelia's smile is not lost to the Ranger. Still, he says naught, and keep sipping his beer and eating his cold meat.
[Torebras(#25187)] Judge Allgood raps his cane loudly on the floor. "SILENCE!" he roars, as loudly as an elderly man can manage. He glares across the room at the heckler. "Citizens' personal preference is not an issue here, merely the course of justice. If anyone has something to say on this grave and lawless matter, say it now." His gaze rests first on the trembling Torebras, then on the shocked-looking Brenden and the nervously whispering Ada. The Ranger and his companion don't even rate a passing glance.
Brenden lowers his son to the floor and turns to look around as well, trying to pick out the man that's claiming he's a fraud. Ada draws his attention from the search and he gives her a strange look. "You're actually asking me that?" He whispers back harshly, an offended expression on his face.
Ferny looks back towards the judge, approaching him now and ignoring the drunken protester. "Then I won? Fairly? Right?" He asks of the judge with another confused glance towards Bywater.
[Henleg(#20696)] There is a slight chuckle at brenden's question to the judge. Who was it? Not the drunken farmer, but the Ranger, who isued it. Yet that's the only sound Grey makes, as he gets some cold meat and chews happily.
[Cordelia(#24827)] The ale-sotted farmer shuts his mouth and slumps back down in his chair. "Cheatin' liar if ya ask me," he mutters to noone in particular.
Cordelia seems even more amused by the whole thing and now leans against a table to watch.
[Torebras(#25187)] An ashen-faced Torebras holds the chain of office out to the judge, who gestures to the apron-wearing hobbit to go and bring it to him, contempt radiating from every pore.
Judge Allgood waits for the suppressed mutterings in the crowd to die down before raising his voice again, his tone stern. "In the absence of evidence to the contrary, and in the presence of a full confession, it seems to me the case is clear. The role of Mayor for this town goes to Brenden Ferny by default. Congratulations, Mister Ferny." He extends the golden-coloured chain on the edge of his cane.
[Henleg(#20696)] "And will the alleged cheating by Master Ferny go unchecked?", comes a voice from the crowd... indeed, it is Grey. His voice is neutral, as if he were simply asking for direction to the Pony.
Brenden allows a wide grin to take his face at the official announcement, his eyes seeking out his sister for brief moment before turning back to the judge. "Thank you, Judge Allgood." He reaches to take the chain, considering it for a moment before stringing it around his neck.
When Ferny looks down at Bywater there's a smug expression that takes over his features, but he refrains from gloating just yet. Grey's question has Brenden looking curiously back to the judge. Oh, wouldn't he just -love- to have an excuse to lock up Torebras in the jail, but he's sharp enough to know that pushing for something as that would be a bad way to start a term in office.
Ada jumps in the air, her face as excited as a little girl transforming her pinched little face into a younger and more hopeful version. In mid-air her smile disappears. She lands with her hands on her hips searching with the rapacity of a fox for whoever said that. Her gaze lights on the Ranger who she approaches. "Since when do non-citizens mix themselves up in elections? Since when do outsiders accuse my brother of cheating?
[Henleg(#20696)] "My dear lady, I suggest you calm down", the Ranger repliues, his voice even, smooth. "/I/ have certainly not accused your brother of anything, mind you. If you're looking for the culprit for that, look back there", he adds, pointing with his thumb backwards, in the general direction of the drunken farmer. "As to your first question... well, I am not mixing in the election, and would never dream of doing so... I was merely asking a question".
[Torebras(#25187)] The judge raises one severe eyebrow, and favours Grey with a hard stare. "I have heard no allegations of cheating. I trust that Mister Ferny will wish to arrange an independent," that word is slightly stressed, "allegation into this matter - it is, after all, in his own interests." He favours the new Mayor with a wintry smile, then his gaze slips on to rest on Ada, for whose words he reserves a disapproving frown.
Torebras, meanwhile, is mopping at his brow with the now-sodden silk handkerchief. Hoping, perhaps, that all eyes are on Bree's new Mayor, he starts to sidle towards the door.
[Cordelia(#24827)] Still looking more and more amused, Cordelia watches...especially watching Torebras.
The farmer, meanwhile, is now involved in a heated conversation about whether this year's harvest is bigger than last.
"Judge.. There are always going to be people that don't agree with things and will say whatever they have to..." Brenden seeks out that farmer again in the crowd, "Bywater confesses to cheating and that disqualifies him. -I- never cheated so there's nothing to investigate." Ferny lets his gaze drift back to Grey, "I won, Bywater lost." He flashes a toothy smile. "I think this is cause for celebration! A round of drinks for everyone!"
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey merely shrugs, and at Brenden's offer he just raises his mug... clearly, he wants another beer, and if brenden will pay for it, well... all the better!
[Torebras(#25187)] "Hmm," is all that Judge Allgood says in response to Brenden's words. He frowns heavily at the new Mayor, though that could just be at the announcement of free drinks - everyone knows the old fellow is a rigid teetotaller. Whoops and cheers sound from the crowd and, among the hobbits at least, many of those who'd supported Bywater stay silent - stunned, no doubt, at their candidate's public confession. They'll swallow their disappointment a little easier in a mug of ale.
Torebras, having gone unchallenged so far, continues to edge toward the exit, as quietly as a hobbit can.
[Cordelia(#24827)] Even the farmer now looks up and cheers. "Well..that's more like it! That cheater of a mayor, Torebras..."
Cordelia settles into a chair.
[Ada(#23113)] The pawnbroker satifies herself with a glare and a flip of the head to the Ranger. She walks away with her chin in the air slowing as she catches sight at Cordelia's amused grin. She nearly stops her eyes narrowing. But she leaves the Easterner behind and goes to join her brother as the whoops and hollers fill the room. "Benny," she says bending down to her nephew. "Do you know how to say hip hip hooray?"
Benny is grinning and jumping up and down as he finally catches on that his father won the Important Competition that he's been working on all summer. Ada is given a cheeky grin and the boy yells ecstatically at her prompting.
Brenden grins wider at the new show of support from the room and waves at the serving girls to fetch the drinks. The new mayor walks back to his family, scooping up his son again and even tracking down his wife to give her a kiss on the cheek. His sister is given another hug of jubilation.
When there are no further unexpected developments or naysayings, Ferny happily celebrates for the rest of the day and well into the night.. ringing up quite a tab, but his campaign fund has been rather sizable the entire duration, somehow.
[Torebras(#25187)] By that time, one lone and miserable hobbit is long gone.
Players: Brenden, Torebras, Cordelia, Ada, Henleg, Grey
