stacking up problems...

Oliver had errands to run. Ones that he didn’t quite trust the triplets to handle just yet.  Nonetheless within due time and maybe some training they’d be able to carry some of the heavier load of Oliver’s oath--duty. Colliding into someone wasn’t on the agenda then again he had been sure he had been paying attention. Taking a step back and finding none other than the goody-two shoes king himself. If there was a god–he was a real prick. No one was dim-witted enough to stray towards the boogie man, besides the mayor himself. Oliver would get through this like he did everything else. By lying through his teeth. “No need for formalities Mason, Oliver is just fine.” He spoke, a small smirk pulling at his lips. If anything he’d wanted nothing more than to get under the mans skin.

Oliver wasn’t an idiot. He spent his whole life quiet, being the observer. Knowing damn well that he intimidated the other man. Oliver loved the control he had in this situation. However there was one tiny problem. Mason was a fighter. He loved his town, his people, for whatever reason...and Oliver knew that. So he had to be careful. “Well enough– and you? No need to apologize accidents happen all the time.” Oliver offered a sickening smile. Yes, accidents happened all too often. “Now that you’re here though you should stop by the casino sometimes, we’d love to have you.”

♡

“Well, I’m doing well,” he nodded, fighting the urge to take a step back. Perhaps he wasn’t the best at social cues, but the tone of Oliver’s voice wasn’t lost on him. It felt like a threat, which had Mason wracking his brain for if there was anything he’d done recently, any rules he’d implanted that could’ve upset the other man. Nothing came to mind. He had to hope that was just his personality, he was probably like this with everyone. Nothing personal. Or... maybe he really was reading into it too far. He was so caught up in his own thoughts, he almost missed what else was being said.

“What’s that? Oh, oh, yes, the casino, I--... I stopped by the other night.” He didn’t stay long, and he probably wouldn’t have figured out how to play the card games at all if not for the help of a kind stranger... “Can’t say I knew what I was doing,” a nervous laugh, “but I had fun anyway. It’s a nice business you’re running there, Oliver.”

Mary tilted her head, taking in his whisper. Her smile was nothing short of comforting, “Nothing pathetic about a bit of temperance.” She wondered how easy or difficult it would be to keep him here, to let the thrill and the danger of the game take hold of him - especially if he was new. Was he new to all gambling or simply the game? So many questions flowed and each only mounted the possibilities for a bit of trouble.

“I have often been told I am quite the good luck charm. Perhaps you will be the night’s recipient of it.” She patted his hand softly before holding it up to the dealer to hold on her cards. “Let me see what you have. After all, an experienced mentor a winner makes.” Mary offered it out helpfully, leaning in to glance at his cards.

♡

“I could always use one of those.” He offered her a smile, glad that she seemed friendly, not yet laughing at him... or even seeming to recognize him. Don’t get Mason wrong, it was good for his ego when people noticed him on the streets, especially when they had kind things to say. He couldn’t pretend he was fond of being called out for every little mistake. But as fun as it was to feel like a bit of a celebrity, it was also tedious and exhausting to have to watch every word that was said, every move that was made, to spend every waking moment he was in public upholding his reputation.

“That wouldn’t be considered... cheating?” A barely audible question, he hesitated before holding out his hand; what a mess that would be, the mayor of Prentiss Town, outed as a gambler and a cheat. He’d never hear the end of it. Poor Al would never hear the end of it. “I’m sure that I will figure it out in due time...”

Dia honestly almost gagged at his attempt to be flirty or teasing or whatever just happened, but she remained composed. “Do you really care if I am or not?” she asked first, tilting her head to the side to stare him down. “I mean, it’s really…rustic. And not in the good way. The movie is mediocre and that’s whatever, slashers are so not my things. Too much guts and gore and ick…” She scrunched her nose. “But it is good for the…younger attendees. They are having fun or whatever.”

♡

“Of course I do.” The look that crossed his expression was pure confusion. Mason was in politics, it was his job to make sure he was well liked --- that, and his people were happy. The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint anyone, if that wasn’t obvious by the effort he put into all of the silly little events. “Maybe you should come back nest Saturday, we’re showing The Breakfast Club. Much less guts and gore and ick.” He didn’t mind it himself. Blood made him feel a little nauseous, but with Halloween being his favorite holiday, he was into the scary dramatics. As long as it was on a screen and not real life. “I am so glad to hear that. If just one person is enjoying themselves, move night has served its’ purpose.”

Mason tried not to let his smile falter. Just because he didn’t like someone--- no, it wasn’t that he didn’t like the man, really. Just because he didn’t trust someone didn’t mean he shouldn’t be polite to them. Besides --- what if someone was watching? His reputation was always at stake. One wrong move and there would be tabloids about how the Mayor of Prentiss Town was a cunning, hateful man with an agenda. Then came the smear campaigns, and his career, everything he’d worked for, down the drain overnight. All because he didn’t smile at Ollivander Bateman. That was how he felt, anyway. “How are you today? Well, I hope? I do apologize again, it’s become too common of an occurrence to me to bump into people, perhaps I should get glasses...”

SHONA sometimes wondered how Mayor Reed was behind the curtain, if he was still all smiles and pleasing when no one else could see him. She had thought about breaking into his home a few times… but she wanted to save that for a special occasion, maybe a birthday! “Don’t worry I’ll loan you some waterproof mascara if it ever gets too hard.” she snickered. 

She was smiling at that because it was true, if she ever did run for office she would need a compelling campaign– and how better to win than by threatening everyone into submission? She liked that idea a lot. “I like to think I know how to grease the right palms.” She was less interested now, in real work and a real job, it all seemed so dull and agonizing. “Wow” she chuckled at him “Sounds awful. No wonder you’re such a buzzkill.”

♡

“I wonder how I’d look with mascara...” Though joking, he was actually a little curious. “Maybe a little blush, too,” he said with a grin. This conversation was more pleasant than some of theirs. At least he didn’t feel threatened at the moment. There was something about Shona that made him feel like he was playing with fire simply trying to be kind to her.

“I suppose I can be, can’t I?” Mason could definitely be a stick in the mud. As much as he loved holidays and events, he couldn’t remember the last time he actually celebrated. Instead, he spent all of his time planning... putting it together... figuring out what to do next... It was rather sad, if he thought about it. Maybe it was best he didn’t think about it. “I should find a way to let loose before I end up with gray hair before I’m 35.”

SHONA couldn’t quite remember exactly when her and her brothers had started picking on the Mayor, only that she had found his dumbfounded expression hilarious. Even now years later she couldn’t help but enjoy that warm feeling in her chest every time she tore another strip off him. It was almost too easy. “Sometimes I think you know nothing about politics. If you want to stay in office you have got to stop crying about things.” she warned him, it was only fair. Besides if the Mayor wasn’t around to bully who else would she have?

Shona stifled a laugh at that, she was good at lying and making fake promises but politics was gritter and meaner than that. “Could you imagine my election campaign? Vote For Shona Or I’ll Slash Your Tires”. It was fun to imagine a world where she held the control of the city but deep down she didn’t think she could do a better job than the one he currently was. “Only if it comes with a crown.”

♡

She was right. He knew nothing about politics. Sometimes, most times, Mason couldn’t quite figure out how he’d landed himself in this situation, or why he’d said yes. Being a leader wasn’t something he had strived for in his life. He had no experience. It wasn’t even something he’d wanted. He’d just gone along with it, because Al was a very smart person who insisted he’d be a good face for the town, that Prentiss needed a human touch.

“I can be emotional,” he agreed, though he wouldn’t go as far as to say he was crying about things... not in front of the public eye, anyway, behind closed doors was a different story. “Oh, well, that would be... very persuasive.” The words left his mouth with a nervous laugh, she’d probably convince him. “No crown, I’m afraid. Just a desk by the window and some paperwork.”

“No, but this one is either super religious or targeted towards kids.,” she pointed out with a huff. Dia wasn’t used to someone still trying to have a conversation with her once she ripped into them, so to say she wasn’t a little surprised would be a lie. “Well…I don’t know. My ideas are kind of next level. Most people can’t handle them or appreciate them right. It’s like, what’s the point of making a great plan that no one digs? Typical.”

♡

While she had a point, Mason didn’t believe it had to be that way. His goal was to turn the holiday into something for everyone, no matter their age or religion. “I’m all about next level ideas,” he told her with a wide smile. “If you ever feel like sharing, I’d be happy to listen. I fear my own creativity is far too limited at times.”

SHONA rolled her eyes at his pleasantries as she knew full well the Mayor could not be seen bad mouthing anybody in public, though she had her suspicions that behind closed doors he would have a thing or two to say about her and her brothers. “That says a lot about you as a person.” she mused with a lazy wave of dismissal, did she have time today to tell him how pathetic that sounded? She wasn’t anyone’s friend. 

“Pppft!” she sneered with a breathy laugh. “Are you kidding me? This is clearly a political play for power. Free things for kids, money for adults– its like you’re practically begging to be reelected. You put so much work into it… do you ever sleep?” she asked, genuinely curious as there is no rest for the wicked and certainly not for her. “If there was good fortune in my future wouldn’t I have your job and money?”

♡

“Oh, I...” Stammering, he was caught off guard. She may not be entirely wrong, though that was not why Mason had come up with the idea to begin with. He thoroughly enjoyed holidays, and he wanted the city to enjoy them too. And, well, he wanted Albert to be pleased with him. And he supposed he wanted people to like him enough to vote for him again. But it wasn’t the leading reason. Half the time he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to be mayor. “I hate that it seems that way,” he said after a short pause, unsure how to respond.

“Well, you could. I know you’re plenty ambitious enough.” He couldn’t imagine Shona wanting his job in reality. It wasn’t as much money or even power as one would probably think. It was a lot of responsibility. A lot of paperwork and sleepless nights. “Are you interested in running for mayor, Ms. Stoker?”

Eggs! Eggs everywhere! Doug was perplexed by the first egg he found, but then when another caught his eye, then another, he was hooked into the mystery. His original agenda of tracking down the shapeshifter was thrown out the window in exchange for this much more captivating challenge. He found eggs in strange places, under rocks, a lost boot, on roof tops and ledges - the stares he got acquiring those were interesting, but didn’t phase him. Before long, he had an armful of them, then he had to use a bag, and now he had to have a stash to drop off the ones he found as he found more.

Of course, he had no idea why these were everywhere, but he was compelled to keep looking for them. After scouring every nook and cranny of the town, Douglas found himself venturing into the park. Nose to the ground, eyes on the trees, he was focused on the task at hand when a voice took his attention away momentarily.  He stopped in his tracks, an egg in one hand and a full bag in the other. A big smile spread across his face, reciprocating the stranger’s when he called him friend. “Hi friend!” He returned, a little awkwardly but enthusiastically. “An eggtravaganza? Is that was this is? I’ve found 323 of these. I didn’t really know what it was for but… I’m a great tracker. How many are there? I want to find them all. This is way more fun to hunt for than what I was tracking. I’ve.. Never really had fun like this before.”

♡

“323,” Mason repeated, eyebrows lifting in genuine surprise, “you must be. Now I’m wondering if I should award a prize to whomever finds the most. I am almost certain it would go to you.” He had originally expected more children and even young adults to be running around, baskets in hand, but now it seemed he’d once again gotten his hopes too high.

But --- oh, how it warmed his heart to hear such words. To think someone was having more fun than they’d ever had, even if it was an exaggeration, made the mayor practically giddy. All of the planning, the hard work and dedication, it was worth it if this young man was the only one to find so much joy in the Easter celebration. “There are one hundred thousand eggs,” he informed him. “I’m not sure it’s possible to find them all, but you seem more dedicated than anyone else that’s participating. Perhaps you could get close.”

This was truly a gross time to be out and about, yet for Riley’s sake, Dia was there. That was why she went anywhere most of the time; to make sure that she was safe and not consuming anything absolutely vile. She didn’t get why people were into this whole picky dirty eggs off the ground and eating ham, but hey, Dia was going to find a way to judge people either way. At least this time it felt justified. 

As she was stopped she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Am I having….fun? Does this really look like fun to you? What am I, four? This is….what did you call it again, Eggtravaganza? Let me put it this way….this does not deserve to be called anything close to extravaganza.”

♡

“Holidays aren’t only for the children,” Mason replied softly, he was someone that still became so excited about celebrating he could hardly contain himself --- especially Halloween, but Easter was nice too, of course.

Her words wounded him. He’d put so much thought and effort into this event, he’d wanted everyone to love it, and maybe praise him a little, too. If only Jack had helped out. He would have known what was missing, what would bring the egg hunt to the next level. “What would you call it?” Asked with a friendly smile, he couldn’t let his disappointment control his public image. “I am always open to suggestions.”