Okay, but I can’t stop thinking about Peter becoming Mayor now.
No doubt, he’s going to look good in a suit and shine in the spotlight. All those ribbon cutting events and A-list treatment is going to inflate the hell out of his already massive ego. But Peter is a lean animal, a cunning survivor that literally bit and clawed his way out of the grave. He will do whatever is needed to ensure his survival. However, he’s smarter and saner now. Getting his hands bloody, while cathartic, has proven to be too troublesome. Especially, with particular a ‘True Alpha’ and trigger happy adults running around.
The old Peter Hale way is not going to work. The frustrating years of being adjacent, or on the punishment side, of Scott McCall’s brand of “leadership” has taught him one thing: people love a bleeding heart.
So Peter turns over a new leaf.
Peter campaigns on safety. It’s not much of a stretch. There’s been an increase of violent, unsolved crimes (a small portion of which he’s responsible for, but why split hairs). A few years ago they found a sewer full of bodies. Teachers have been murdered on school grounds (in one case decapitated). Teenagers have been kidnapped. There were mercenaries, bounty hunters, and a few different scares that brought the CDC as well as the FBI to their sleepy town.
He pushes for better gun control, wants restriction on the types of guns sold/bought in Beacon County. He also wants to allocate more funds for the Sheriff’s Department.
It’s clear that while they’re doing their best to protect the city, they’ve been hindered by the previous administration. Put simply they don’t have the tools to succeed. The equipment is outdated and they need more people.
He talks about the importance of taking care of one another. How medical care is a cause close to his heart, as he was in long term care for six years. But Beacon Memorial, is struggling with the influx of patients and remodeling. Some patients have even had to go to private facilities like Eichen, which end up putting an extra financial burden on patient and their families.
Peter becomes a political beast.
He pulls strings in the background to get information or leak salacious stories. He paints the previous/current mayor as lazy and incompetent and the other candidate as inexperienced and weak.
He rallies people with his words and promises. He plays on sympathies, talking candidly about the arson fire that took the lives of his family. He dispels violent rumors surrounding him, explaining that a few years after the fire, he underwent a painful and experimental procedure to restore his appearance, and was out of the country.
Peter obliterates the competition and wins with an unprecedented landslide.
He’s won the hearts and minds of the masses, and now it’s time to put his plans into place.
Peter gets in contact with his old brokers and ‘friends’. It takes a bit of coaxing but eventually they start to take his calls again, some even congratulating him on the recent victory. He begins placing people, a couple business savvy shifters on the city council, a hedge witch for the parks department, more supernatural deputies. He cashes in favors and contracts the cities construction to a group of dwarves and half-giants. He gives tax breaks and manages to get a white mage to build a medical institution to rival Eichen.
Within months in office, the county is starting to heal again.
John keeps an eye on Peter. He knows the son of a bitch is a snake but can’t find fault in the man’s actions. The department is remodeled, in record time, computers are updated and he gets competent deputies by means of fresh cadets to transfers. Some of them are special cases, like Parrish, but all of them are aware of the supernatural and dedicated to safety. They have a night shift, warded cells, and even a small cold case unit.
John can actually take days off. He gets used to six hours of sleep instead of a caffeinated three or four. He takes up a hobby, goes down to the new rec center and learns how to cook. He fishes with Jordan on alternating Saturdays and has brunch on Sundays with his book club. He even takes time off to visit his son. As much as he hates to admit it, Peter Hale is a pretty good Mayor.
Chris and Mel took some time off after Scott went to school and the latest disaster of the month was handled. They only saw the beginnings of Peter’s campaign before Chris whisked them off to France. After handling some business (checking in on Isaac and acting like teenaged tourists) they return home to find the county lost their damn minds and voted Peter into office.
Chris has a shitton of messages from hunters about their storehouses being raided and destroyed. Some of their people have been prosecuted, fined, or jailed, a few have even gone missing. Other groups have been turned away from town by the local law enforcement and more embarrassingly, park rangers. ‘Hunting season is closed in Beacon Hills.’ they say.
When Chris finds his warehouse has been raided as well, including his exotic collection of plants, he decides to pay a visit to the new Mayor.
Peter is already waiting in the kitchen when Chris jimmies the backdoor open. He’s ever the picture of comfortable luxury in his cashmere robe, even his sweatpants look designer. He hardly looks up from brewing his tea as be begins speaking.
“Chris, I was curious when you would be dropping in. How is the good doctor doing, did she enjoy France?” He flashes a wicked smile.
It’s galling to hear his coy tone even mention Melissa, but Chris fixes his own mask. “I’ve been hearing a lot about you. My voicemail inbox is so full, they’ve resorted to sending actual mail.”
“I imagine that’s what happens when you go on vacation. If you require any help sorting through them, I have a few interns who would be happy to help.” He pulls a second cup down from the cupboard and begins pouring, adding in sugar and cream. “As for being busy, yes. There are a lot of people counting on me to live up to my promises.”
“Is that right? I assume these promises have something to do with why twenty percent of my stock is suddenly missing and why hunters have been turned away or imprisoned?”
“What a smart cookie, it’s unfortunate intelligence isn’t shared amongst your field.” Peter slides the cup across the counter.
Chris ignores the gesture. “Some of them are missing.”
“Some of your associates are particularly dense and required a different sort of explanation.”
Peter’s cavalier tone is galling and Chris can’t help the sudden rise in his own. “You’re not going to get away with this. You may have twisted your way into office, but eventually, you’ll slip and they’ll see what you really are.”
“Oh, no need to be so sour, Christopher.” Peter chides. “I’m only Mayor, not a King. I didn’t make the law, the good citizens did. I’m simply doing my best to serve their needs, and what they want is to be safe. Safe from bloodthirsty fanatics who attack teenagers and burn whole families alive. Hunters are no longer welcome in Beacon County.” His smile grows cold. “It was nice of you to drop in but, next time set up a meeting during business hours. It would be unfortunate for you to go missing.”
