Representative Democracy has given rise to hundreds of variations, each attempting to address an illogical or unintended quirk of the other systems. L.A. Mayoral elections make use of a two round system. If the front-runner in the Primary claims 51% they automatically win. Otherwise the top two candidates from the Primary compete in the General Election.

Write ins are permitted in the Primary, which leads Californians to bouts of impish voting at times.

Bodie has done well, she's clearly a lock for the General Election but with two weeks to go seems unlikely to clinch a Primary majority. The latest polls have six candidates worth mentioning. Margin of error is 3% so short of a huge upset her worst outcome is a tie. Talking heads say the following.

1) Bodie Queen, 28%, independent who has brought an ad hoc collation together. There is no deep institutional support.

2) Jack Lawson, 22%, moderate Republican with a minor celebrity wife, self-made millionaire with strong union and blue collar support. His biggest Achilles' Heel (besides his party affiliation) is that his son was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter two year ago, no proof Jack had anything to do with it but the gossip was vicious.

3) Miranda Vine, 20%, socialist leaning Democrat, well educated and popular on policy but possess a bad habit of putting her foot in her mouth

4) Alexander Graff, 10%, the blandest Democrat imaginable. Generally handsome, went to the right school, bi-racial (Pakistani father, Hispanic mother), grandson of a senator, and a long time public defender. No real strengths or weaknesses, the embodiment of a compromise candidate for national Democrats.

5) Jacob Ayres, 10%, Democrat. Eloquent and witty, a long time high school teacher whose issues are all education; from funding to improvements to accessibility and curriculum overhaul.

6) Josephine Keller, 10%, says Republican but the State's Republican Committee has disavowed her hard. She's gorgeous, visibly pious, young, and infinitely self-assured. Her father was a televangelist and she's inherited his very socially conservative congregation.

Bodie has two weeks, several dozen full-time staffers, and a reasonably full war chest to draw on.

With two weeks to go, Bodie had her staff arranging as many publicity events as possible.
These might be public appearances,  formal debates with other candidates,  or  TV presences.
She also wanted to arrange formal meeting between herself and as many of the candidates as possible:  especially the three Democrats:  Miranda Vine, Jacob Ayres and Alexander Graff (individually, or jointly, as can be arranged).

Lucinda Fare has over the course of the campaign proven herself often enough to be considered Bodie's right hand. Existing as some Californian hybrid of surfer and goth on her off hours she's the charm equivalent of a Claymore Mine. In theory she's a classically trained guitarist but studio musician gigs for all genres to pay the bills.

"I can get Vine and Graff for lunch tomorrow," she tells her boss before lunch, "But it's like the cabbage, goat, and wolf puzzle. Ayres and Vine have gone past ignoring each other, there's some straight up personal hostility there I can't get a handle on. If one of them does support you the other looks likely to go the other way."

She surrenders two manila folders to Bodie.

"Pick your poison, there's an invitation to the local CNN affiliate but," Lucinda winces in sympathy, "It'd be you with Lawson and Keller. I think the station is wanting to make her look crazier and figures you're a good spark to set her off. Alternately there's a charity concert taking up the same time spot. Better music if Jazz is your thing, and the redoubtable Missus Lawson will be in attendance. She's stayed out of things so far, might be a chance to pick up points for civility."

Bodie sat at her desk, feet up on it, holding the cup of coffee she'd made ... she'd made Lucinda one too, and the two were 'sorting out the day'.

Regarding a lunch tomorrow with Vine and Graff:  "Do it.
But see if you can arrange for me to 'meet and greet' them individually first.   See if I can get them 'playing nicely' with me before we all sit down together".

Regarding the charity concert:  "Get me into the concert;  we'll see what Madame Shark is up to".

"Thank you, Lucinda".
               Is Lucinda considered Bodie's 'running partner', or just chief of staff, please?

Lucinda is not on the ticket, Bodie may or may not have given her an official title but functionally she volunteered at the start of the campaign and became a political factotum through repeated displays of competence. Some of the other staffers have nicknamed her 'Jeeves'. She seems entirely without any ambition of her own to hold office. How she can afford to put in the sheer amount of time as a volunteer is unclear, but other than a few music gigs she's seemingly never off the clock.

"Will do on the lunch, it'll be Vine first I think. Not sure I can pull her away long enough for you to have a one on one with Graff," her aide answers with a nod before sipping the coffee, "You planning to hit the concert solo? Two tickets are easy to grab as one."

Lucinda was Bodie's fully employed personal assistant.

"Thank you, Lucinda," Bodie said, sipping her coffee, "I'll talk to Vine, and then we'll have Graff join us when he turns up.  I'll work with that", she said, with a nod as she considered all things.


"And I'll only need one ticket to the concert, please ... but I'd be happy for you to be there also, if you wanted to join me.

What can we find out about Madame Shark?  and her relationship with Mr Shark?" she asked.



Either way, the next day, Bodie sat ready, at her favourite cafe, to meet with Miranda Vine.

"Twenty-seven years in, no real scandal between them, she's got more money but neither of them splash around much obvious cash. The usual charities, a bit of activism, yearly wardrobe updates," Lucinda recited with a shrug, "She was pretty apolitical before they married and aside from outings with him that hasn't changed much. Nobody has been able to pin her down for an interview. A few of the lower rung new media types tried confronting her in public a week ago, they kept at it for half an hour and didn't get so much as a soundbite."

She flailed her free hand in the air for a moment.

"No way. I don't do fancy dress and I definitely don't do drinks when cameras are around."

_________________________________________________________________

Her favorite cafe roped off a few tables so that she could actually have a chance to hold conversations without gawkers and interruptions from both well wishers and haters. Granted, things had been oddly civil so far but one idiot could spoil that for everyone.

Miranda Vine is sixty, an academic, and looks like a kindly grandmother from Disney central casting. Bodie saw the competitor enter as the server took her order. Vine spent twenty seconds all but shooing a forty-ish looking man away. Doubtless one of her staff had been sent along.

"You know I am not going to drop out," she told Bodie bluntly as she took a seat opposite the younger woman.

Bodie smiled at that.   "You have wisdom beyond your years, my friend", raising her coffee mug in salute.

But her mind was still largely on the matter of Madame Shark ... who, if Bodie's guess was correct, would attempt to avoid Bodie for the entire evening.

Bodie smirked at the comment.   Was that the clearest form of projection she'd ever witnessed?
"Did you come here to ask me to do that?" she asked Vine, as the lady sat, "Why would you think that I would do that?

You are a tough woman, with an solid agenda, and the force of personality and devotion to your cause to be a worthy Mayor.
Do you really think I'd waste my time attempting to dissuade you from your path?"

She took a sip of her drink, then, to allow the woman to ruminate upon that:  and reply, if she felt the need.

"We need to ensure that it's either you or I.   And at the moment, Lawson is sitting between us in the polls.
So the question I AM here to ask is:   What can we do about that?"

"You have three options from where my campaign manager sits. First, proceed as you have so far. Unless you murder a baby in broad daylight you'll be one of the two who move on. The risk being that Republicans will vote for Lawson as a block in a way that a third party can't match," Vine worked as a lecturer and it showed in her hand gestures. She counted the options off with her fingers. "Second, you can go after Lawson. This is a high risk, high reward approach because he actually seems to be squeaky clean. You might lose a few points going mean and his Party will rally."

Vine ordered Earl Grey with a few drops of milk.

"Behind door number three we have co-opting those closer to you on the spectrum. Endorsements, plum positions, glad handing all round so that you're a de facto Democrat to offset the only real weakness your campaign has. I won't do that because it takes away my leverage to make the issues ones that matter to me."

She leaned back in her chair.

"But my campaign manager doesn't remember the Cold War, the triangulations of shoring up a competitor long enough to outnumber the one you're worried about."

As an Australia, I know our political processes are different from the American ones.
Please, I assume that the race for Mayor is an all or nothing deal.   You either win, and have the power; or you loose, and have no more 'leverage' to make the issues ones that matter to oneself.

Can you please explain, briefly, what she means by keeping her leverage.

Putting this here from the OOC just for reference

"For sure", Bodie said, raising her glass to the lady.
"Your 'leverage' only lasts for the next two weeks, however, unless you manage to be part of the ongoing race".

Even if Lawson progressed to the General Elections, and it seemed he would, it would be in opposition to either herself or Miranda Vine.
And if Vine wanted her her issues to remain leveraged, she'd need to throw her support behind either of the two forerunners in just over two weeks.   If she didn't earn that position in the General Election, it was unlikely that she'd support Lawson (nor that he'd want her support anyway; at least, not without denying her a lot of that leverage she sought).

But Bodie wanted to engender and feed that possible support now.
"So tell me," she asked Vine, leaning forward in interest, "so that we are clear, what issues are the most important to you?"    What was she most focused on keeping that leverage on?


As Bodie attempted to connect with the woman, and engender some respect from, she willed Vine towards an attitude of 'great respect' for Bodie using Infectious Passion (Passion, Greater, Action)

Commit Effort for the scene to plant a seed of a particular emotional attitude toward a chosen person
or topic in a visible target. If that target is affected, they become infectious, spreading that same attitude
toward their friends and associates over the course of a single contact.
The infection can spread five or six degrees before it loses its magical potency, usually enough to
completely overwhelm a village, court, or neighborhood. Lesser foes get no saving throw, but worthy
enemies can save versus Spirit to resist. It lasts until the Godbound releases the victims or the emotion
becomes blatantly inappropriate.

"Only one needs leverage until whatever they're moving has been put into place. Once a task is done generally one stops performing it," Vine replied, her undiplomatic side coming out, "We both know the usual will be in play. Big ticket? I want parity between the Public Defenders and Prosecutors in funding and case load. It won't fix the justice system but it'll at least give a fighting chance."

Just for clarity define what behaviors would constitute respect in this use. It works, she does not get a save, but respectful competitor, respectful subordinate, et al have different actions associated with them.

Cambridge Dictionary says "admiration felt or shown for someone or something that you believe has good ideas or qualities".
                   I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but your question got me thinking.
And I guess that is what Bodie is trying to brew within Vine:   That Vine (and, due to this 'infectious' nature of the Gift, those she comes into contact with)  will feel a deeper admiration for Bodie, and will view Bodie's ideas and qualities in higher esteem than others.

I guess Bodie/I wish Vine to consider her a 'better option' than any other political candidate.  I do not expect her to 'give up her race' and throw her support behind Bodie (although that would be fine, also), but that she will likely do so IF she doesn't progress.
As it is infectious, I hope that it will influence others she infects with this 'great respect for Bodie Queen' ... maybe even causing them to see Bodie in higher esteem than Vine even.

Does that make sense?
Does that answer your question?

Cool, just wanted to establish the parameters of what behavior rather than emotion Bodie was going for. Vine is fierce for a mortal but functionally has no chance of resisting you.

Debated calling for a quick Wisdom Check but egh, no need. Bodie suspects that (without Gifts or Effort) in two weeks Vine will fall in line without so much as a grumble, she'd like the other Democrats to cave and back her so that the general election is her and Bodie but half a loaf. Popping the Effort is going to make her zealous and she's known for putting her foot in her mouth already. You can still totally do it but if you'd like to hold onto the Effort from the context that's fine.

How granular with her are you wanting to be? Do they hash out specific planks of the platforms or should I move onto the next guest of honor's arrival?

I am happy for the narrative to have the two ladies continue chatting.
Bodie is simply attempting to ‘thaw the ice Queen’ out some with general Charisma (and associated rolls), and feed the effect she has created with her Gift.   

Getting Vine properly primed isn't terribly hard. Her main policy drive in terms of cost can be folded in pretty easily, although locating enough lawyers interested in the jobs could be tricky. Hard agreements elude but Bodie knows she has her hooks in.

Graff's arrival half an hour later is presaged by a text from Lucinda.

Boring incoming, boring incoming.

Brown skin, brown hair, brown eyes, brown suit, about the only other color on Graff is his stark white teeth and dark blue tie. He looks about the cafe for a moment, even after spotting the roped off section. After he makes his way over and takes a seat his order is a coffee so complex it's closer to a science experiment.

"So, I take it you'd be upset if I try to hire Ms. Fare away from you?" he asks Bodie in BBC perfect English.

"You are absolutely welcome to try, good sir", Bodie replied to Graff as he joined them.
"I must admit to being curious what it would take".


Bodie has both these folk here for networking purposes;  to 'get her hooks into them' (as she had been doing with Vine, before Graff's arrival.
She was using her Political leverage, her personal charm, and her supernatural abilities to sway their Passions.

While she had used 'Infectious Passion' to influence Vine (and the people she'd have strong contact with in the hours after she left this meeting),  Bodie wanted to influence Graff more directly.
So, during their meeting*, she will Fashion a Friend.
        *I don't need to role-play this out in detail, unless you feel we should

Fashioning a Friend
Commit Effort for the scene to beguile a visible creature, inspiring it to feelings of friendship and cooperativeness towards you. It will not question these feelings, however irrational, and they will persist until you obviously betray it or do it blatant harm. Lesser foes have no resistance against this power, while worthy foes can save versus Spirit to avoid the enchantment.

Bodie had invited both these folk to the table today, so it was her shout, and she was paying for whatever they had from the cafe.

"I have. It was the most endearing rejection I've seen."

Graff's mind is a very pretty and intricate vessel but he's about as rugged as a ski lodge with wagyu beef and a movie theater. Influencing him is a far easier task than Vine, to the point that she might get most of the extra votes she needed to be sure from him within the day. If she presses him to concede at least.

The tab is pretty minor, neither of them came here expecting and meal and even with local prices the total was a matter for campaign petty cash.

Bodie would be, even though they gathered at a cafe, the perfect host.  She worked with wit and charm to make both her guests feel comfortable, while diplomatically and delicately working towards drawing their individual support.

Vine, Bodie simply wanted to impress enough that she would, later on, speak highly of Bodie to those who would need to shift their voting allegiance in a few weeks.
But Graff, Bodie worked gently but inexorably on: helping him to 'realise' the potential of his own longterm desires lay with Bodie Queen ... and the best thing he could do, as soon as possible, would be to throw his own weight in behind her.

Vine realized what Bodie was doing to Graff but seemed more amused than anything. Her opinion of the woman was high, her opinion of the man was not. Given what Lucinda had said about Ayers there is pretty much no chance of Vines building a successful coalition now.

Graff was very fine material but malleable as putty. It would probably take a few days, his backers really prefer in person meetings over paper trails, but the establishment candidate would be throwing in behind the renegade. One might feel bad about the bridges he'll have burned by the end of the week but such was the nature of having political masters.

Lucinda sent a text to Bodie after roughly an hour.

'This is your excuse to wrap things up. Pretend someone important is looking for you.'

“Excuse me”, Bodie said to her companions, “This may or may not be important”.

Txting back to Lucinda, she asked,  ‘When is the music concert; tonight, or tomorrow”.

“Yeap, duty calls, I am afraid”.   With a smile, to said goodbye to Vine and Graff;  “Thank you both for coming, I feel we have many positive prospects ahead of us.
Please call me, if you’d like to chat further on anything”.

Unless something kept her, now, Bodie was joining back up with Lucinda, and headed for the office.

Bodie managed to make her excuses and they departed as amicably as one could expect. She spotted several people snapping photographs and videos on their phones, this would be all over local news shortly.

Lucinda was waiting half a block away in a powder-blue BMW sedan, she'd decided to play chauffeur today.

"Hey boss. Concert is tomorrow, I'm kind of against double booking a day with important events," she said cheerfully, "Everything go well?"

This was true, and inevitable.   And Bodie Queen wasn't inclined to let the inevitable go by without making the most of it.


"As well as can be expected, Lucinda.  Thank you.
Excuse me a moment, though".
Bodie made a phone call.

People's Champion
Your contacts are tremendously useful ... You can always find a local contact appropriate to your background if it's remotely plausible, and this contact will always be able to offer as much help as a normal human in an important position could offer.
Vanessa McCall was an old friend of Bodie's from the proverbial 'way back'.  Now, Vanessa was 'in an important position' within the news media; and always willing to lend her good friend any help she could.
"Vanessa, its Bodie.   Listen, theres going to be public footage available of me meeting Vine and Graff today.   Could you please make an effort to snag me the best you can, and arrange for it to be on the hotline tonight?
But ... before it goes to air, can I come over and see it, please.   I'd like to see what it looks like before you broadcast it"
Assuming that Vanessa was able and willing to do all this, Bodie thanked her profusely, and said, "I'll swing by Bernies Beans and bring you a late afternoon pick-you-up along the way".

Then, taking her 'work hat' off, Bodie sighed and relaxed into the seat of the BMW.  She lolled her head towards Lucinda and said, "Dinner tonight?"
It was ALWAYS Bodie's shout ... one of her many little ways of showing her Personal Assistant her appreciation for everything Lucinda did.
They also had a rule at 'Dinner tonight':   no shop talk.

Vanessa McCall went back and forth for a few minutes. Ultimately she agreed to a two hour preview after they had a finalized version. Letting a candidate green light would open up all sorts of criticisms for the station and Bodie. Still, it'd give a good head start to her staff.

"I've got some recording to do," Lucinda warned, "But that should only be an hour or so. Late dinner okay with you?"

Lucinda had, long ago, earned Bodie's respect:  and Bodie never needed to question Lucinda regarding her 'work hours' ... and Lucinda had autonomy when it came to her own time off.
Bodie smiled when Lucinda talked about there 'recording'.   Her music as important to her, and Bodie was always happy for Lucinda to focus on that, or any other form of self-care:  knowing that Lucinda was always just as focused on her job as she was on her private life.
"I'll call.  Lets say 10.30?"
The two were well known and taken care of at their usual haunt:  'The Thoughtful Pig', a small family run business who appreciated their regular business, and always made a private table available when requested.

In both cases, Lucinda and 'The Thoughtful Pig', Bodie knew loyalty went both ways.
"Can you please drop me on Steiner Court, and I'll see you at The Pig for dinner?

************

She made her way back to the office and got some paperwork done, before getting to her meeting with Vanessa.
Bodie didn't comment on any of it, but simply watched the footage that Vanessa had chosen for the broadcast.  Bodie didn't even want to see the rest of the article:  just which 'publicly provided footage' would air.


The reason being, as Bodie watched the piece, she willed upon that visual piece 'A Song Buried Deep' within its very essence.    A lot of people were going to see this piece:  even, and especially, if it  went controversial and viral.
Bodie buried deep in this image, to be 'consumed' by any who saw this footage (whether it be on the News Feed, social media or whatever), a deep admiration for Bodie Queen.
edit:  argh, damnit.    I screwed up my plans when I got creative ... and now don't have the Effort for last part of my plan.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Tue 05 Oct 2021.

"Okay boss," Lucinda agreed easily. She dropped Bodie and the car off back at the campaign office. A few last minute bits of paperwork attended to and she was gone.

*************************************

The footage is about as fair as could be expected. They somehow got just enough audio on Vine for the poor woman to have a new set of faux-paus to explain. Still, meeting competitors on roughly the same ideological side comes across as more civility than conspiracy for the most part. If they'd been donors there might be a scandal cooked up.

*************************************

The Thoughtful Pig is doing brisk trade but makes a reasonably discreet booth available for Bodie when she arrived. Lucinda came in dressed in some sort of gothic regalia; long backless dress, choker, shrug, high heels all in black with her hair gathered into a braided bun in the back. She looked like the front person for a goth-metal band and drew more than a few eyes as she made her way to the booth.

Granted, she seemed far less regal when she settled into her seat with a groan and leaned bonelessly back against the seat's cushion.

"I am getting too old for these monstrosities dreamed up by twenty year-olds on stimulants," she announced.

Yeah, the effort economy is really rough early on.

Bodie laughed at Lucinda'  her arrival, her image, and her self-commentary.
They enjoyed a dinner together, chatting, and allowing themselves to unwind.

The next day, Bodie was back at work, sorting this and signing that.


The next evening, Bodie arrived at the concert.
She'd given herself a few hours to relax and get ready.

Lucinda wasn't joining Bodie tonight, but Nalisha was.   Nalisha was Bodie's casual bodyguard:  a trained security specialist.
Normally, Nalisha was temp-contracted for 'work events', such as official political business.   But Bodie liked the girl's moxie, and had asked her to come along tonight and 'watch my back'.

As the two entered the location, Bodie let her own political and situational awarenesses juice up.
Bodie has served in the armed forces, of course, before being honourably discharged after loosing her left hand in that explosive attack.     And so crowded fields with possible 'trouble' was something she was accustomed (if not completely 'comfortable' with).

Smiling at Nalisha, she headed for the bar ... on the lookout for 'Madame Shark' (Mrs Lawson).    Bodie hoped that she could prompt an interaction ... hopefully positive.  But even a less that beneficial interaction would do.

Serena Lawson was in her early forties, petite, and had gone full flapper on this occasion from her brunette bob to the sequined dress and tasteful purse. Judging by her flats the woman planned to do some real dancing tonight, no surprise as half her movie roles were focused on ballet or modern dance. She'd been a solid B to C lister for decades on the big and small screen. Her bread a butter was Musical Theater, with two Tonys to show for it.

The concert had enough VIPs to warrant venue security and checks at the door. Bodie spotted a few people her experience deemed potentially dangerous but most of those were like Nalisha, professionals meant to keep an eye on their own charges. Her presence is noted but starting business too early would be gauche.

Serena is practically mobbed by media types and is good naturedly refusing to answer questions.

Bodie allowed herself to enjoy the evening.  She kept a peripheral eye on Serena Lawson, as well as others of note/threat int he place, but trusted in Nalisha to watch her back.

Starting business too early would be gauche: but Bodie would likely sense when the time was right. In the meantime, she 'prep'ed both the crowd, and Serena, by gently playing on their emotions.
two uses of  Infectious Passion:  one at the crowd in general, one directed at Serena herself ...   to to plant a seed of strong admiration towards herself.

Bodie will then 'work the crowd' with smiles, hitting the dance floor, and chatting with folk around the place.
using 1 Influence to create a plausible effect among the crowd, to help that Infectious Passion spread throughout the club that night.


Bodie wasn't going to force, or even initiate, a contact with Serena Lawson ... but she did hope (maybe with the influence of the infectious passion) that the woman would find a way to start a conversation.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:11, Wed 20 Oct 2021.

The party alternated between social mixing, food, and dancing in the usual intervals. Bodie was clearly the queen bee but Serena had her share of attention. Two hours in there had been seven different conversations about politics, mostly people preemptively congratulating her.

At least the musicians knew their work and someone had decided to spend real money on the bubbly and wine selections.

Despite the somewhat sedate quality of events Bodie still knew who tapped her on the shoulder from behind.

"Ms. Queen," Serena greeted her, "I think the only privacy we're likely to enjoy is on the floor. Do you prefer to lead or follow?"

"Of course," Bodie replied, with a genuine smile.

Please, to clarify:      when Serena speaks of 'leading'
- is this because we are 'formal dancing' here tonight (I had imagined more of a nightclub, but I could be wrong).
- or is this a euphemism that she is using?
- alternately, is she suggesting our dancing be a little more 'intimate' on the dance floor (slower and closer, where we can actually speak quietly into each others ears)?


Bodie gestured with her left arm stump towards the dance floor, gesturing and inviting Serena to 'lead the way'.

Bodie realized three things in short order. First, jazz was not the easiest genre to have a conversation during. Second, jazz dancing at least insured no one else would get terribly close. Third? Serena has honed this particular skill as monomaniacally as any Olympic medal winner.

"You know the gossip rags are going to run with this," she told her husband's competition, "What brings you here this late in the campaign?"

Maybe all three! Although in seriousness it is clear she is at least nominally referring to which of them will lead while dancing.

I had missed that this was a jazz concert;  I'd imagined more of a nightclub or pop/rock concert setting.

As they began dancing, Bodie did indeed allow Serena to take the lead.  She wanted to let the woman get comfortable with 'being in charge' initially, and give her confidence to move into whatever she'd drawn Bodie out here to do.
"Of course they will, I'm look forward to reading all about our sordid affair in on the front pages tomorrow".

"I am here to enjoy myself for the evening, without any apparent agenda for the night.
Maybe meet some interesting people," she shrugged.

"I hadn't imagined that some interesting persons might come to meet me.
Why is that, Mrs Lawson?  Why might I have this opportunity to enjoy your ... VERY graceful ... attentions?
I have something of a curiosity whether I have been invited into the parlour of this spider, if you take my meaning", she concluded, with a smirk.

"I've had these tickets for weeks and it would send the wrong message for my husband to be distracted in the middle of the race. According to the focus groups," she said, the last sounding like she considers them particularly surly teenagers, "And we can hardly ignore each other. As soon hang for a sheep as a lamb the saying goes."

The band moved to slow jazz and Serena dragged Bodie into a modified waltz, holding each other closer.

"Afraid interesting people are going to prove harder for you to find as time goes on. You're trying to enter a bureaucracy, the big cogs have to be a certain shape to fit."

"Sure", Bodie nodded, but didn't bother exploring the context further ... instead, she danced.   And along the way, at some point, she will switch from allowing Serena to lead, to doing so herself.

The effect meant that Bodie's left hand-stump went from Serena's hip (as Serena led) to held high where Serena would need to grasp it.
The woman could refuse, of course, or resist the switch ... but that would make for a very awkward situation.

Serena playfully fought Bodie for the lead for a split second, expression entirely cat post canary disappearance, before she yielded the lead with grace.

"Some might call it dirty pool to go after the family members who haven't involved themselves in the campaign," she observed, "You're quite good, by the by. Does Westpoint include dancing lessons for junior officers these days?"

Bodie smiled at the compliment; dancing, after all, wasn't so acrobatically different from fighting.

And she made no comment in reply to Serena's bemused accusation.   After all, it was seen by all present, that Serena had come to Bodie, offering to dance:  had led the way to the floor, then took the lead initially.

But she did ask, "I am sorry for what happened to your son.   My understanding of 'manslaughter' is that it was unintentional ... a terrible accident that has changed his life, along with others.
How is he doing, rebuilding his life?"

"No. That's actually off limits," Serena said with a flash of seriousness, "I don't care about politics but you're treading close to family."

Notably she doesn't miss a step in the dance despite her refusal.

"We both know you're going to win. Don't ruin it by being as petty as some of your peers."

"Fair enough," Bodie nodded in acknowledgement,  "You asked me out here for a conversation.
You choose the topic".
And with a swift, smooth move ... she spun the two women back into a position in which Serena was taking the lead:  an analogy for the discussion.

It seemed that they were NOT talking shop, and they were not connecting on personal level.
Bodie wondered where Serena wanted this to go.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Thu 11 Nov 2021.

"Honestly, it has to be the military service that does it," Serena sighed, "Let's table that as a topic for if we end up much closer. One doesn't start with the worst event in someone's life that had the happy bonus of a media frenzy."

They went through two more minutes of dancing.

"Decided where you're going to spend the big night? I know everyone wants the drama of a packed campaign headquarters as each vote is counted. You seem more sensible, wine and cheese while enjoying a hot bath perhaps."

Bodie smiled.    "That ... actually sounds quite perfect, doesn't it", she said, honestly, and a bit dreamily.  "And the best place to be to cry if need be, also".

"You seem a lot more confident with my position than I do", she mentioned, before going on to actually answer the question, "To be honest, I've not planned anything for the 'big night' yet.   I should get some thought on that happening, I guess ... and my people on to it.

Your husband knows how to put on a good show.  Remind me," she asked, "Where did he celebrate when he won this last term?"

"The wine is going to your head, darling. The field is all fresh candidates," Serena replied calmly, "I'm putting him to bed early and turning off the phones. It can wait until morning either way."

She laughed quietly.

"At the rate you're going there .ay not be a second round."

Bodie smirked at Serena's assertion of putting Lawson to bed early.   Somehow, Bodie didn't like the woman's chances.

At the claim there may not be a second round, she shrugged, uncertain.  "I don't think that is likely, but can't say I'd be disappointed".
And with that, Bodie willed an Infectious Passion in on the woman.   Let Serena carry away a great admiration for Bodie Queen ... and infect others with that passion as the hours continued.   Spending 1 Effort for the scene, of course.  Thats Two uses of that Gift this scene, in this club.   And I'll throw 1 Influence in on that for the 'plausible affect over this small village' worth of folk here tonight ... using body language and a happy, relaxed demeanour ... to help that Infectious Passion spread thick and wide here tonight.


As that song came to an end, Bodie disengaged from Serena, with a smile and a bow.   "It was nice meeting you, Mrs Lawson.    And I thank you for the dance; it will likely be the highlight of my night".   Then Bodie made her way off the dance floor, headed to the bar where she could see Nalisha awaited, watching with her eagle-eye.

Activating People’s Champion  As she did so, Bodie noticed Anton Burling, Assistant Police Commissioner for the LAPD.   Veering casually in his direction, she allow him to see her approach before she arrived, so as not to surprise him.
But he was (maybe not a good friend, but) a good enough acquaintance that she felt comfortable leaning in for a friendly hug and air kiss.   "Good Evening, Anton.   Enjoying the music?"



People’s Champion
Your contacts are tremendously useful ... You can always find a local contact appropriate to your background if it's remotely plausible, and this contact will always be able to offer as much help as a normal human in an important position could offer.

Infectious Passion
Commit Effort for the scene to plant a seed of a particular emotional attitude toward a chosen person or topic in a visible target. If that target is affected, they become infectious, spreading that same attitude toward their friends and associates over the course of a single contact.
The infection can spread five or six degrees before it loses its magical potency, usually enough to completely overwhelm a village, court, or neighborhood. Lesser foes get no saving throw, but worthy enemies can save versus Spirit to resist. It lasts until the Godbound releases the victims or the emotion becomes blatantly inappropriate.

Serena parted amicably, moving to take a bass player in a classic rock player onto the floor a few moments later.

"Yes, if the boss asks. It's pretty but I'm a fifty year old punk at heart," Anton told her cheerfully, "Still, I won the raffle and maybe the culture will cross over osmotically. No assistant tonight?"

"No, but I do have a little bird watching my back", Bodie replied with a smile.   "Just to might right over there, leaning against the corner" ... and 'casually' watching the crowd around and about where Bodie and Anton were.

"I hope these lucky folk get to soak up some 'old punk' tonight, as a bonus for their cultural appreciation of the arts".

Bodie spent the rest of the night socialising ... with Anton, with others, anyone who wanted to chat with her.
Nalisha knew that any problems in this environment were to be dealt with as such:   let them come, and let Bodie give them a chance to speak their mind civilly.   Meanwhile, Nalisha could get behind them, and if at any time it got physically nasty, then Nalisha was in position to handle that ... to the aggressors surprise.   After all, Bodie could handle herself defensively for the few moments that would take.   And it would look good if she was willing to talk, then amply defended herself from aggression if needed, till her bodyguard stepped in.


IF nothing else happened in the night ...

It was a quiet night for the most part. Weird hobbies were de riguer for most of the attendees so once enough alcohol had made the rounds the conversation was an eclectic mélange. A little after eleven her bodyguard and chauffer escorted her back.

Bodie was happy with that night ... and once home, Bodie ensured that Nalisha was paid well.


As she lay in bed, she used her phone to scan the usual public media forums with regard to anything of her night.
As that scene has ended, Bodie will get her 2 Effort back.
If she can find a good clip that someone filmed this evening, doing the rounds well on social media, Bodie will bury a message deep within that footage that will be carried out into the public to anyone who sees that footage.
The message was, that 'when it came time to vote in the upcoming election for the Las Angeles Mayor, trust in Bodie Queen'.


A Song Buried Deep Action
Commit Effort for the day and choose a phrase, passage of music, image, or person in your presence. At a time or context of your choosing, the sight or experience of that subject unleashes the effects of a Banner of Passion on all present. You can define the context as precisely as you wish and choose the Banner's effects and focus beforehand. The maximum range of this effect is one mile per level of the Godbound.
Note that the effects apply to any matching phrase, music, or image;
if the Godbound uses this power on a nation's battle flag and bids it trigger for friendly soldiers when facing combat, every allied military unit within miles will be affected provided they've got a matching battle flag. If the Godbound imbues a traditional greeting with the passion, then every person who hears the greeting will be affected.

Please,  how long IC till the election?
Unless you throw some problem/s at Bodie, I/she plans to handle matters as she has been:
- organise and attend events and functions: political or social
     - continue touching base with Vine and Graff ... individually, and discussing what she can do for them, should she get into office.
     - similarly, make contact with Ayres, and do the same.
- each day, use her Effort to create Infection Passion and A Song Buried Deep ... swaying the emotions of those across the city (and beyond) towards admiration and trust in her.

I am happy to role-play any stuff you wish, but other than focusing on the campaign, and swaying the hearts of men, Bodie isn't intending on anything else right now.

A week passes and Bodie has established a dozen point lead. She's nearly reached the point where there wouldn't be a second election but the margin of safety keeps slipping just out of reach. Lucinda has been going after things like a dog gnawing a bone trying to draw just a few more percentage points. Nalisha has quietly swapped out the office coffee with decaf specifically to keep the girl manageable. Three days left, if counting the actual counting, recounting, and rampant arguments that would follow.

She's going to win, it's obvious, but a plurality victory means the campaign will run another month. Her staff's cheerful but nobody is looking forward to a slog where it was theirs to lose.

"Okay, hear me out, if we only maim them a little," Lucinda grouses, hair in a lazy ponytail and having opted for what looks like a modern toga, "I know, I know, too easy to get caught. Think we can get Vines or Graff to throw in at this point? They've got to be as tired as we are."

“The Romans are coming”, Bodie said, giving Lucinda a hug … and in doing so, used one Effort for the day to enact a miracle: calming her right hand’s anxious and obsessive heart.

‘The Romans are coming’.   It was something they’d all heard Bodie say at one time or another: whether muttered or boldly stated.
Nobody quite understood what it meant, exactly.  But essentially it was Bodie’s way of saying ‘Calm down, it’ll be ok.  We’ll survive this’.

“Marcel, I want you and Lucinda to organise a dinner for us all.  Tomorrow night … my shout.   Not campaign, you understand.
Maybe book out a local Chinese place for a corporate function.  Just … give us something to look forward to, something to let our hair down and unwind a little”.

If this had to run the gauntlet of actual counting, recounting, and rampant arguments, then so be it.  Bodie was ready for that: it was all part of the game.
Deep in memories she had never lived, a life that had ended way before her time, Bodie had fought bigger battles than this one.
The Roman’s were coming:  and Bodie would rally her people, and face them as necessary.


Later that night, however, after most everyone had left the campaign offices … they were, at this time of the campaign, never entirely empty; and Bodie had needed to threaten Lucinda with police ejection before the woman had allowed Nalisha to drive her home … Bodie sat at a random desk, in a very darkened corner, staring out the window at the fairyland lights of the city.
Deep in thought.    She sighed out a huge lungful, when she realised that she’d been holding her breath now for far to long.

And that’s what these final days of the election campaign felt like:  a proverbial ‘holding of the breath for far to long’.
All the work had been done, and really now was just a time of waiting … of impending ‘what?’

Bodie's phone buzzed with a text shortly after Lucinda and most of the rest were ejected.

Hail Queen of the Iceni,

We should meet in a few weeks. As a good faith gesture would you prefer Vines or Graff to fully concede? No torture, violence or coercion.

The number is international, German if memory serves, and unknown to her.

Bodie looked at the screen for a good long while.   She didn't like such cryptic introductions: they reeked of manipulation.
But she had to acknowledge that the sender had got her attention.

After a while, she replied with:

Please do not influence this election on my behalf
                         She really didn't need that kind of Trojan gift (or interference)
If you wish to show good faith, reveal yourself and make your introductions with honour.


Then, she did a cursory google search of the international number it came from.
It was the first, and simplest, step in divining the origins.

But she expected to come against a wall of secrecy;  and so another option was formulating in her mind.

It was a German phone number.

Ruler of the Underworld, Master of Cages, and Civil Servant (Interpol). Johnathan, detective, work had me out here, taking a few days off. Ereshkigal, if you know the name.

A Sumerian Goddess?    I AM honoured.
It's a pleasure to meet you Jonathan ... ?
Would you like to meet for lunch?

Egh. She was always the supporting role in someone else's legend.

Band, although I prefer full introduction in person.

Lunch with an Interpol Agent, mayor-to-be? Seems like feeding the conspiracy crowd. Indian cuisine good?

Name your time and place, Jonathan Band ...
anything other than dinner tomorrow night
    that was, of course, reserved for the dinner she and her team were having.

Haven't been there long enough to have a spot. Spice Affair looks about right. Noon tomorrow?

Bodie was at  Spice Affair  around 11.30am.

She'd booked a table, in her name, and was casually sitting, checking out some correspondence on her phone, waiting for Mr Band to arrive.

The staff requested her beverage order and checked in twenty minutes later. At 11.55 a man just a hair over or under six feet with blond hair entered. He was lean, dressed in a charcoal black suit with grey dress shirt and white gloves. His eyes were hidden behind circular sunglasses with side baffles, blue tinted glass.

A moment later the wait staff escorted him over, he placed a brown briefcase beside his seat.

"Fraulein Queen," he said in greeting, "I trust you are in good health?"

"Herr Band", Bodie replied ... the pun was unintended.
She rose to greet him, "It is a pleasure tomato your acquaintance", offering her hand.

As they sat, she continued, "I am well enough, thank you.   May the small gods smile upon us both".

While the wait staff was still present, she ordered herself an apple and watermelon frappe, before gesturing to her guest that he might place his order.

After the waiter left them, she turned her attention back to Jonathan Band and said, "I must admit to several intrigues within your introduction.

But I must not hasten into 'shop talk' till you are ready.
May I ask, what brings you to our fair city ... and country, for that matter?"

He ordered an oddly specific tea in what, to Bodie's ear, sounded like fluent Hindi.

"Work. Several rather unique articles were stolen some months ago and I followed them here. The thieves are awaiting extradition but I had personal affairs to attend to," Band answered, "Things are calmer here than Europe."

He waved a hand dismissively.

"We can discuss the more recondite matters if you prefer. The minutia of high-value smuggling is far more dull than cinema makes it out to be."

Bodie smiled at this, "I can imagine.   The Big Screen makes political life look exciting also.

Tell me, Mr Band ..."  and Bodie couldn't help hearing the 007 Theme playing in her head, "How is it you knew of my previous life?   I have spoken of nobody about it".

And she watched him intently now, scrutinising his reactions and tone and words for lies and deception.
FACT: Bodie Queen is a very successful politician:  a master manipulator and social maestro
- rolled 5 using 1d20.  Wisdom check (5+) needed before FACT.