deck | early evening | saturday | september 12

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

In the Community, going out after certain hours hadn't been permitted save for the those with Assignments that required it. Even being three years removed from that place, it still took Jonas a few weeks to realize that he could go out and stay out without the fear of punishment.

There were so many things he knew he could be doing or could be learning but, tonight, he found himself just staring up at the darkening sky. It was overcast but the clouds still captivated him in ways that might seem mundane to almost everyone else. It was amazing to him how they moved, changed shape and combined with each other so effortlessly.

Jonas hoped he might see stars later, when the sky grew dark, but watching the clouds was all right with him for the moment. The book he'd brought lay unopened next to him, ready if the clouds grew boring. Jonas didn't see that happening though.

[the deck's open!]

Comments

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Hello," Jonas said, pulling his eyes away from the clouds to give Turtle a small smile. He vaguely recognized her just from time spent around the school and dorms but couldn't recall a name. "It's going pretty well. And yourself? How are you?"

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Very well," Turtle answered brightly, and dug out one of the little bags of candy. She held it out. "Want one?"

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Jonas examined the bag, examined the colors but didn't reach out and take it just yet. He wasn't sure what she was being offered or what it did.

"What's this?" he asked curiously.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Just a bag of candies," Turtle said, still smiling, with a slight shrug of her shoulder as she held it out. "Chocolates, some Fun Size candy bars, little bags of Skittles. I'm running for Student Council, and this is just a little something I'd like to offer to get my name out there and be considered for the spot."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"I don't know what any of those are," he admitted though the word candy was familiar. A sweet food, mostly made of sugar, that was very rarely allowed in the Community. "Student Council? I thought you made posters for that."

Well, at least that's what he'd seen Jean doing. His knowledge of this whole Student Council thing was new.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"All the more reason you should have some!" Turtle informed him, starting to dangle the bag a little in what she hoped was an enticing manner. "They're good, if you like sweet things. And, sure, everyone makes posters. I thought I'd try something a little different. People can't enjoy posters as well as they can enjoy candy, after all."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Candy helps convince people to vote for you?" Jonas asked, taking the bag carefully since he was being offered and he didn't want to turn a kind gesture down. "It seems like a giveaway could easily be taken for granted by those getting the items."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Well," Turtle explained, "the candy is more of a gate opener, you know? It's a nice gesture that hopefully encourages people to get to know me a little better and learn of the qualifications I have to bring to the table as a representative."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"What qualifications do you have?" Jonas asked, interested now that she'd said that. "Jean told me about her own qualifications when I helped make her posters."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"I've got plenty of experience," Turtle offered, right off the bat, with a smile; Jonas wasn't even in her class, and she knew that because she'd studied the class lists to memory, but that didn't mean it hurt to get some practice in, nor did it do any good to ignore the rest of the student body. "My fellow classmates have trusted me to be their representative for two years now, and I've always put in a good hand with helping with all sorts of events. I'm personable and I try to really get to know the student body. Because it isn't just about me; it's about all of us, you know?"

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"You're very confident," he complimented with a small grin, "and you seem very enthusiastic about the position. Does it require a lot of hard work?"

Even from helping Jean, he didn't know what a member of the Student Council would do. He assumed it was like an Elder position, one of power but he hadn't yet gotten to study it extensively.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't require a lot of work, no," Turtle said, "but any good candidate worth their salt will still put in a lot of hard work." She smiled again, something genuine that really reflected just how much she loved this kind of stuff. "Just as any good candidate is also going to have confidence. You don't want a shrinking violet representing you."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"I've never really had anyone representing me," he said, shrugging one shoulder. He didn't count the Elders since they were representing the Community, not him. "I honestly wouldn't know who I'd like representing me until I've gathered all the information. But, if there's truth to what you say, I think candy is a good start."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"It's too bad you're not a senior," Turtle said, "because then I'd be in your bracket, but you're a junior, right? Jennifer Walters is a good friend of mine, and she's running for junior rep. I don't, of course, expect you to decide based solely on my recommendation, but if you wanted a place to start, there you go."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"I'm, yes, a junior," he said, again feeling somewhat thrown by the way the educational levels were measured. "I don't think I've met her but I'll remember the name now. Is there a central location for all the information or is it just a matter of meeting and note taking?"

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"For meeting the candidates?" Turtle asked. "It's all definitely meeting and campaigning, that sort of thing. If you want the voters to recognize you, you definitely have to go out there and get to know them."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"I should, first and foremost, figure out what a Student Council does," he said and laughed. "I'm still not sure. There wasn't one established where I'm from. I only know vague facts."

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle chuckled a little at that herself, shaking her head. "No, that's understandable. Basically, Student Council helps to put things together and make things run smoothly for everyone. Mostly, we raise money for the school through various events and also put together a variety of dances. We're also sort of the go-between for students to address things they'd like changed or fixed or considered to the faculty, although we don't have much of that around here."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh." It still didn't make a lot of sense but Jonas figured that was just his own lack of understanding. "It sounds beneficial, at least. It's good to have representation for all ages."

He hadn't know that possible.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"It is." An eager smile blossomed on Turtle's face. "That's the wonderful thing about democracy."

It was probably a good thing that Jonas was generally just going along with her. If she got a whiff of things, she might feel obligated to indoctrinate someone.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Democracy is...a set of ideas, right?" Jonas asked. The word wasn't unfamiliar, it was just one of those words he knew from reading but had no practical experience with. Words were helpful but they could only get you so far before you needed to see something in action.

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle nodded. "It's a set of ideas on how a government should be run. It's basically for the people, by the people, of the people. Student Council works as a representative democracy, where the people vote for a person who will represent them and work as the voice and the hands of the general population."