laughter and love

"hopefully recognizable for the right things," wendy offered with a weak smile. "i know the paper can get.... dicey, and lots of people don't always see the paper with good eyes. but i like to think that i've been fair in my journalism! and my dad has been a good and active member in the community" she crossed her fingers in hopes of her father's win.

"but i really appreciate the help elinor. remind me to treat you to a snow cone when the line dies down," her laugh was light and free. "or maybe a good cinnamon pretzel. oh but i had been meaning to ask how things have been treating you so far with all the events going around! i'm sure you had more of a chance to really check things out than me."

"Well, I've got a few months of planning to get down everything needed for my new career studies classes," Which, of course, Elinor was not getting paid any extra by the school for. The whole mentorship program they'd started was still getting its legs, but a few sailors and shop owners agreed to it. If Mr. Darling got elected, they bet he'd be a lot more amenable to helping out than Zika and Olympios, "Can't be going out and living it up when my students are going to need me come August. But the pride parade is nice though, we didn't have stuff like this as I was growing up here."

Honestly, it kind of reminded Leticia of herself.

"I guess I liked being close to the emergencies. Being close to the drama," It might sound a little cold to refer to life and death situations as "drama", but Leticia is telling the truth. She loves the thrill of an emergency.

"Fine, I guess it's nice that I never had student loans to worry about. I did it for as long as I could till I wanted something more."

"Exactly, I agree! I was so, so lucky to have a small fund to at least start college, and I only needed loans my last 2 years," Elinor's father had made damn sure to blow the rest of his money... But they tried not to begrudge him for that. They were certainly in a better place than most, with only a few thousand in debt instead of 6 figures, "And how did you decide you wanted more? What put that fire under you?"

Thea hums, letting out a quiet laugh at the binder. Seems the teacher is thorough. Thea pulls over the binder and begins to flip through it, skimming the information with an interest.

The suggestions El makes of how Thea could help do sound reasonable. And maybe gently scaring young people onto the right path could make some parts of her future easier.

"Let me guess, Judge Olympios wasn't as forthcoming with assistance as he appears to be?"

The waiter brings their appetizers.

"To be frank, I wouldn't consider 'forthcoming' a general strength of our city council," Elinor allows a little too much frankness, perhaps, within the statement. It's no secret they've been in these bureaucratic back-and-forths with the council before, and everyone takes their sweet time answering all their letters.

"But an optimistic side of me would like to believe that if I show good results from this, he'll improve on that front in the future. I just need good people to work with me."

"People are taking them! Maybe moreso out of pity," She rambled, grabbing a handful of the pamphlets, "But any bit helps! I heard others were giving away stickers and buttons, but Dad said that wasn't quite as fitting for his image. But, oh, I don't know. People are definitely happier with stickers than pamphlets..."

She offered Elinor a grateful smile, moving closer to the side and out of people's way for the moment. "We've been at this for quite a bit though, if you need the break-?"

Of course it was just going to compound stress quickly for Wendy, to have her family in the spotlight more than usual. But there were always good things on the horizon, Elinor liked to think, and Mr. Darling's message was all about serving the community through civic leadership. Who didn't want to get on board with that?

"I could go all day, Wen, don't you worry," The teacher brushed imaginary sweat off their brow, "And you shouldn't worry about anything as small as stickers. I bet the other tables are having all their precious merch stolen by people who won't even read them."

Thea tilts her head.

"Careful, flattery only gets you so far with me, Mx. Frell. Now, I hope you're not coming to me without a strategy. Daunting as it may be, you should still have something for me to consider besides saying, 'yes.'"

Thea sips her wine, watching how El responds to the challenge.

The teacher pulled the same large, three-ringed binder they'd shown Zander out and plopped in onto the table. A handful of sections were trimmed and polished since getting their mission, but the thing still weighed as much as a brick, maybe more.

"My plan is to get volunteers in the community to pair up with students for the coming school year and teach our graduating class about the variety of low-cost, accessible options for beginning careers. There's a few different ways I could see you participating, if you're interested. For one thing, it'd be helpful to have someone on the council who can back up my record keeping and help observe all the training, since it's been... alluded to that those might be difficult. And in regards to the speakers, I was thinking you'd enjoy connecting with the students since, if my program is a success, fewer of them would end up in your court in a handful of years."

Thea listens, nodding. She's heard about this from Zander and Antonia but having this meeting requested was still a surprise.

"I have to say, I'm surprised you would want to meet with me. Surely, there are more personable people who can help with this."

They order and Thea settles in. It's hard to take off her robe sometimes but there are lots of times where she's expected to be Judge Pallas outside of the courthouse.

"I think you can be personable. Well, as personable as I am," Elinor could be quite stubborn when they tried, funnily enough. Just because Thea always possessed this formal, professional attitude didn't mean she couldn't be spoken to like any other resident of Godscobh, "I've been given quite a daunting standard to meet in a short time frame, so... planning all these different mentorships coming together is something I want to make sure I hear others' wisdom on. You're the person I think of."

Plus, who better to know how to strategize against Zander's tactics than someone who works with him?

"I got everywhere I needed to go in my career by myself, and I'm proud of that," She folds her arms protectively, "More people in this town should learn how to get their shit together without being babied through it."

Though she does agree with the general concept of Elinor's philosophy, Leticia also prioritizes independence and self-sufficiency. She did not make time for fools.

"Well, that's exactly what I'm trying to do too, if you'd be willing to engage with me on this," the teacher opens their palms upward, almost as if trying to extend themself to meet Leticia across the metaphorical aisle, "I also want my students to be free-thinkers and to explore careers through independent thought and practice."

They hummed for a moment, considering a different angle, "What did you like most about being and EMT? Why did you do that for so long?"

With the turn to summer, Thea feels better about staying out of her house in the evenings more. Warm summer air mixed with the cool see breeze on her skin. It's her favorite time of the year, makes her feel at home.

So during the spring and summer she has a standing weekly reservation at Troian Palace that she rarely ever misses. Most times she's alone but it's an easy way to remain personally or professionally social. Friends and close colleagues all have open invitations to join her and sometimes when she wants a work meeting outside of the courthouse, she'll meet here.

She looks up from the card with the day's specials when her guest is brought to the table.

"You made it," she says with a polite smile.

"Yes, of course! And I appreciate you making the time," Well, it's a public forum so not really Thea's choice, but it's polite to thank her anyways. Elinor wished more of the council would take meetings with the public like this, "I wanted to discuss some of the career services I'm planning. I don't know what you've heard so far, but I'm looking to get an array of speakers or leaders to meet with students and discuss post-high school education options."

Leticia didn't hate kids or anything, she liked her own little siblings well enough. But this whole mentor-career-trade-teaching thing Frell had cooked up sounded like a whole lot of work to do outside of Leticia's already-intense job.

"I don't even have a degree, don't you want someone who's been to college?" She figured that actually had very little to do with it. She was just making up reasons to turn them down.

@spendfcrever

The teacher could tell Leticia was either bored of the conversation or just hated them enough to turn them down for anything, but that wouldn't stop Elinor from trying. They'd already been rattled hard by talking with Zander, so this was nowhere near as bad.

"Haven't you ever wished you'd had a mentor when figuring out your career path?"

To him, this is not about whether or not they do not have any others they can wear, instead. It is not about whether or not they need to rely upon his kindness to keep themselves warm. It is a much more… symbolic gestutre. A token of his esteem. A present reminder that, no matter the distance between them now, he will always remember and cherish the closeness they had shared in the past.

The thought of reaching for the jacket as they set it down upon his desk only to press it back onto their hands is one that crosses his mind, only to be rudely interrupted by their elucidation as to the reasons why they do not wish to be seen in public wearing something that belongs to him.

Peter opens his mouth as if to speak before shutting it again, pursing his lips as they interlace their fingers together to demonstrate to him what people thought, as if it were not already painfully obvious.

Surely not. Surely the presence of an article of clothing by itself is no reliable indicator as to whether two people are romantically involved or not. Friends borrow one another’s belongings all the time. Family, as well. He has lost count of how many clothes he has passed down to Edmund over the years, and of how much his wardrobe had consisted of hand-me-downs from his father in his youth.

But he knows, deep within himself, that they are correct. That there is an implication there, one that he had not considered — not because he had not understood it prior to this, but because he had blinded himself to it on purpose, because the thought of romance makes him more uncomfortable than he would ever care to admit for.

It always has. To put a name to his emotions, to entertain their existence at all, had never been his priority when taking care of his family had always been his primary focus. Would always be his primary focus.

And it would not be fair, nor would it be gentlemanly of him, to ask that they field these questions and implications that clearly seem to make them uncomfortable simply because he wished for them to have something that would remind them of him.

“I understand.” Peter says, finally, his voice tight but kind as he places a hand over the jacket and pushes it towards Elinor. “I will not ask you to do anything that may make you feel uneasy, but please, take it with you tonight. Keep it in your closet afterwards if you must, or return it to me another time. You do not have to wear it in public if you do not wish to, but I would not forgive myself if you come down with a cold because of me.”

@spendfcrever

"Okay. Okay," His excuse seems like weak reasoning, but Elinor agrees nonetheless, their smile becoming more genuine. Their hands slides back to the jacket, folded so neatly, and brush the back of Peter's in the process - tender, but accidental and quick.

It's time to leave. The awkwardness of pulling a cart full of casseroles into the office has some strong competition all of a sudden. Elinor feels a heat rising in their face and they can't sit here longer without feeling foolish for coming and staying and talking and feeling. Does Peter feel the blush too? It's a little too dim in the evening lighting to tell, and they don't want to make more eye contact to figure it out.

"You know, one day, you'll have to let me be the chivalrous one," The teacher stands with the jacket under one arm, more confident now within the small space. When they speak kindly, genuinely like this with each other, they are reminded why they took to Peter so quickly when he first moved here. He makes them feel valued, and Elinor hopes Peter feels the same after talking, "You'll let down your guard soon enough, and I'll put down this jacket in a puddle so you won't have to muddy your shoes. You'll never see it coming."

A no? To a request as simple as canvassing a portion of their local population to see if their idea would even have any legs to stand on in the first place? Why would they refuse that when it is no different than what they have already done many times before with their constant petitions and protests?

If they had seen issues with his proposal, what they should have done is raise them to him. Countered his offer with one of their own, with an alternative solution rather than a mere I can’t and a shirking of any personal responsibility over the execution of a plan of their own design.

To act as though an unproven initiative such as this one, if adopted, should be made the immediate responsibility of only himself and the local government is wishful thinking. The systems that they demand be put in place for them, the creation of a designated office to provide oversight and manage the execution of this project, could be put in place, indeed, but to do so as an upfront investment when they have no guarantee that there will even be any interest in this plan on behalf of those who would need to take on mentorship roles for the local youth and said youth themselves would be a waste of public funds — and that is not to mention the damage it does to their own argument to suggest that no more undue burden should be placed upon themselves and their fellow teachers when, in their own words, they would be the ones most involved in the day-to-day execution of this idea in the first place.

Which one is it, then? Do they want to make a change in this town, a change for the better, or are they merely enamored with the idea that they are doing so? Are they willing to put in the work and to take on the responsibilities necessary to actually better the lives of their students and adequately prepare them for the realities of adult life, or do they simply expect that everyone else should step in and put in this effort for them, instead, simply because they believe it is the right thing to do?

“You came to me with a proposition of your own creation for the betterment of the education system here at Godscobh, and I listened to you because there is legitimacy to your grievances. I considered your thoughts and made the decision to grant you with the permission and funds you sought to begin establishing such a program — What more do you desire? This is your idea. Your initiative. Is it too much to ask that you be the one to stand behind it yourself? As head of the city council, I have a responsibility towards the betterment of this town — a betterment that does not include the waste of precious public funds on every untested proposal brought to my attention. I want to help you. I do. But if you wish to see this done, you cannot reasonably expect that others be the ones to take on the full responsibility of making it happen on their own.”

@spendfcrever

"I think there's been a misunderstanding," Elinor stretched their fingers along the edge of Zander's desk, feeling suddenly dwarfed in the massive office. Twice the size of their classroom. This was nothing like those Debate club meetings they volunteered for, "I am ready to do everything in my power to find as many professionals as I can for my school. But I'm just one person. I can't be everywhere at once. Accounting, canvassing, monitoring - I'd need a team."

It's not often Elinor admits they can't do something by themself, but right now it's actually the one thing they're resolute in. If it was as easy as throwing together a group of teachers, they would've done it already. There's a reason that they'd need incentives and monitoring on a larger scale in order to make it work. In order to prove to Olympios that it can work - in a year, no less. It takes a village, quite literally, to create change, and if there's one thing Elinor has faith in, it's the power of people working together.

"And perhaps I don't have the right understanding as well. You said moments ago you were ready to trust me with all public funds regarding this project, but that I'd also be only given a year to prove it's efficacy and that I'd be held solely responsible for anything that goes wrong. Held responsible financially, for misuse of funds. You'll have to forgive me if I misunderstood, but those are some pretty difficult terms."

They feel stupid for asking forgiveness when they know they're in the right, but that feeling probably would've lingered no matter what. They can't come right out and say 'I think you are setting me up to fail', so they might just have to take the bad deal if it's the only one given...

She has to change her tactics. She has to switch things up.

She looks at Elinor dead on now, blinking at them with a twitch of a smile on her face. It doesn't quite reach her eyes. Most of her smiles didn't. She wasn't trying to give herself wrinkles, now.

"Alright, Little Frell." Belittling, condescending, and still not their first name, "Tell me why I should do it. I don't mean the moral reasons, or whatever. Give me a reason to do this. An incentive."

"You should do it because it means you'll get first pick of kids who already want to work in your fields once they graduate. Sales, management, marketing," Funnily enough, the command to just tell her what she needed actually give the teacher a little boost in their confidence, "It's just an hour or two, and you'll be making connections just as much as they are. There's a lot of potential in our schools, I'm just trying to help kids realize that."

Despite how dismissive those in power have always been inclined to be of the teacher and all their radical ideas for change in the past, Zander almost surprises himself with how willing he is to entertain this one. For once, they have come to him with what appears to be a sound solution to a very material problem faced by their communities — and one that would be far more cost-effective than establishing a larger, academic-focused scholarship fund for local students.

Additionally, Elinor Frell always seems to have a new cause to champion. Someone new to fight for or against, a new reason to feel as though they are not being listened to which — in his eyes — seems to stem more from their own perceived powerlessness in the face of a system they blame for the deteriorating condition of their day-to-day life than anything else. If he gives them a chance to prove themselves with this project, to test their mettle and their devotion to their cause, not only may they feel as though they are finally being heard by the one in charge but it would certainly leave them with far less time in their hands to dedicate themselves to other perhaps less reasonable causes, as well.

“I assume you would volunteer to spearhead this board of overseers yourself, teacher? This is your idea, after all. If I am to entertain the thought of providing you with the funding you ask for, I would trust no one else to spearhead this initiative than yourself, who is most familiar with it.”

Reaching for the binder, he draws it closer to himself, leafing through the pages as he reads through the outline of their proposal for a long, silent moment.

“Very well, then. I see no reason not to entertain this idea, at least in theory. It could not hurt us any more than we are already hurt. Ask local businesses if they would be amenable to your plan and canvas the adult population of the town. If enough people commit themselves to take in the students of the current junior class as their mentees, you will have my blessing to proceed with a trial year. If it succeeds, we can touch upon broadening the scope to include additional classes and further ongoing support — but if it fails, or there is any misuse of public funds, the project will be terminated and you will be held responsible. Are these terms agreeable to you?”

@spendfcrever

What if it failed?

Too slowly, Elinor's mind gets weighed down with the question of if this was Zander's plan all along. To get them working on an ambitious project, throw money at them until it fails, and then say it was a waste to ever try anything at all. As much as Elinor would like to say they won't fail, it's obviously not that simple when put to the test. And that's exactly what this is, a test. There's a command in his statement somewhere that makes Elinor's skin prickle, but the question he asks leaves an open-ended chain of thought for them to latch onto.

"As much as I appreciate your faith in my leadership, I do think that's quite ambitious for me to single-handedly put together and have ready to launch by the time school starts up again," That was always a fatal flaw in these bueracracy-adled politicians, Elinor thought. There was so much focus on who to blame or individualistic gain within a system, Zander was obviously already abandoning the idea that this is supposed to be a benefit project for the community. Oversight and accountability are all mutual when enough like-minded people believe in bettering the world through a cause. Could a project like this even produce results within one year? If students were going to go off to trade schools, learn valuable skills, and then invest money back into Godscobh, that would take at least 2 or more.

Of course, the issue was also always going to be finding all those like-minded people in Godscobh. Elinor definitely believed they were out there, but Zander was all-too ready to shove that work onto Elinor's plate, as if they could just wave their hand and make a bunch of participants appear.

"I can't realistically canvas the whole town, and we should be careful about pushing undue burden on my fellow teachers," Elinor wonders if Zander has ever even been part of a workplace like a school - a team of people who genuinely want to help each other, "If you're serious about taking me seriously, then it should be the city council or a designated office handling recruitment and incentives for mentors. Otherwise, you're just bypassing the systems your city has designed to work at scale and investing blindly into individual labor that can't realistically sustain itself."

Money talks, Elinor figures, and a man like Zander isn't going to want to encourage - god forbid - empowerment among the masses. If this is going to work at all, wouldn't he want to be the big man in charge?

Peter Pevensie is someone who likes to think of himself as a well put-together and collected individual, as no easy man to fluster to any degree — but the truth is that this is simply not the case, as Elinor has just exemplified with barely any effort at all.

Mercifully, their decision to return the leather jacket he had left with them months and months prior to his possession provides him with an immediate opportunity to shift his focus elsewhere for the moment — that is, to anywhere but the offering of the jacket itself. To avoid acknowledging, as they have both done since that day, that a material gesture of kindness under the guise of the supposed temporary loaning of an item was the only manner in which Peter could communicate that he still cared for them.

It isn’t as though he needs that particular article of clothing back anyhow — even if he did not own more already, which he does, he is fortunate to be in a financial position that is comfortable enough to permit him to buy another one just like it without a second thought, should he wish to do so. A position he knows to be a more privileged one than theirs, given their background and current position as a school teacher.

Besides, it would be rather ungentlemanly of him to rescind what had been meant to be a gift, particularly so when so much time has already passed since he had given it to them. If he simply accepted it and his mother learned of it, she would certainly become quite cross with him — and that is not even to mention what Susan and Lucy would say if they knew. He may never hear the end of it.

“It’s late,” he starts, a convenient excuse offered with a small, sheepish smile, “and rather nippy outside. What kind of man would I be if I permitted you to brave the elements in your shirtsleeves?”

Keep it, is what he says without saying so. I want you to.

@spendfcrever

"I promise I have other jackets. Wearing something this nice in my neighborhood is more of an attention-grabber anyways," The teacher says simply. Since Peter's not taking it out of their hands, they just set it on the desk. They do consider taking it back for a moment they trace their fingers over the texture, but then they let go.

"I really couldn't, it's just... When I wear it, people think we- Well, they've asked if you and I are-" They make a "together" gesture with their hands, interlocking fingers. Though typically a well-spoken individual, Elinor fumbles for the right words, not wanting to make it sound like they are offended by the suggestion. There was a time when that sort of connection wouldn't have even registered as an issue to Elinor; they loved being friends and partners with Peter. But now that he's the sheriff? There's a certain weight that comes with that, and there will be a weight that follows him if people think he's in connection with Elinor's business, like town protests, "Not that it's a problem! I just- the implications might not have been... something you considered."

Then again, was Peter ever a man who didn't consider every angle of an action before proceeding? If he wanted Elinor to have the jacket, that's one thing. If he wanted them to wear it around and have it known that they were wearing his jacket, that's another thing. Much to consider there.

She reaches out and snatches the flyer up from the counter. She squints her eyes at it, barely even reading what's plastered there before she's smacking it down against the counter again.

She'll be nice. This time. But she won't be so nice again.

"Little Frell. I think we both know that my business model isn't exactly PG-13. Even if all I talk about is the skincare side of things, my face," She gestures to herself, a smile on her face, before gesturing around her, "And my brand. It's all just too recognizable. You'll lose control of the classroom."

This is, of course, not the real reason Antonia isn't doing it. The truth is: she flat out just does not want to.

"Please call me Elinor," They clear their throat, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, "I think you'd be surprised by how mature the high schoolers I work with can be. PG-13 is for students under 13, and high schoolers are all 14 and up!"

Elinor says this and smiles like it's a joke, but it's just dumb. Little. Small. This isn't going well.

"A lot of our students never leave town after they graduate. So, while I know the businesses in town aren't the most 'child-friendly', I think it's important to teach them about the working world they're about to graduate into. It's far better they get bartender and esthetician licenses and than to get into selling... well, y'know."