Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP IC-Volume II (OPEN)

[Prolieum]

National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.

"Hm," Appleby considered for a moment. "It'll have to be one of the slower ones. Side by side seating. Prop would be best, the 172 works. Wouldn't want to break your bones," he noted, with a flash of what might have been humour.

"Should be able to pick you up about anywhere. Harder if you're a yooper. Should be fine otherwise," he confirmed.

He cast a glance at her. "You probably look like an older her. With a hat."

[Meelducan]

Mayor’s Office, Seattle, Washington

Arlen had cleared his salad and began to dig into his plate Fettuccini, it was very delicious and probably the best Fettuccini he had ever had.

“Now I have to admit Ms. Walton, Seattle has some delicious food. Probably some of the best on the west coast.” Arlen commented, trying to change the tone of the meeting.

He took a sip of wine before continuing to pick at his Fettuccini.

[Tumblrena]

Seattle, Washington
Mayor's Office
2104
Sunday
11 June
2017

Ellen continues with the same mostly friendly tone from the rolls question.

"Have you spent much time here? I can tell you that they have much better than this to experience."

[Bruke]

Kelly Palmer
@TheWildmanKelly

It is my great pleasure to endorse Sydney Cao, who once held the role I now have as Senator for the 34th District. She and I have become close friends over the years, and in the time I have known her, she has shown herself to be a devoted public servant. Godspeed, Sydney- we're all rooting for you!

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

---

Of Michiganites and Museums

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Washington
District of Columbia

---

"Yes, side by side, please. I don't think your back would be much comfort when we are in the air. I would prefer to see your face, and hands I suppose."

She let out a mild laugh, covering her mouth with a small cloth as it devolved into a cough.

"Of course, though I do drink milk so maybe my bones are stronger than you think. Or at least mildly."

At his mention of the UP, she lifted her hand, moving ahead of him to show him her upright left palm. Using her right hand, she pointed to the small crinkle in her hand between the bottom of her thumb and where it met the rest of the hand.

"You?"

She lacked an appropriate response to his final comment, deciding to maintain her position pointing to her hand.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

---

Spurred By The Moment

Villa de Johnson
Los Angeles
California

---

"Thank you"

He took the drink and opened it up.

"No, I am not sick though if I were, I'll make sure I'll seek you out. But I came to speak on the Gubernatorial Race. And a hope to make amends between Scotty Marlowe and the Johnsons."

[Alozia]

Rep. McCroskey's District Office,
Greenpoint, New York

John smiled back at Eleanor as soon as he heard her response.

"I think so, yes." John replied. "Besides the fact that the 12th leans fairly strongly towards the Democrats, despite the emergence of the Progressives, I would do my best to run a campaign with strong ground game. I'm not afraid to knock on doors or hand out leaflets on the street myself. I think this style of campaigning would help me create a good channel of communication between me and the people of the 12th."

[Prolieum]

National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.

Appleby's attention was focused, if what appeared to be an idle gaze could be considered focused, on the BF-109 as the talk progressed, not turning his head, but continuing to respond without a break in the conversation, some irony in his lack of eye contact as Stafford noted her preference for seeing his face.

"Wyandotte," he stated. Not looking at the hand, he nonetheless pointed at an approximate spot most of the way down the outer edge of the thumb.

"Should work fine. You can drive in, or I can fly up. Simple to organize."

[The Orion Islands]

The Healthcare Conference
"Would 4 percent be a good compromise? That way we have some more fiscal room to work with and it allows for shallower cuts to benefits that could pass the Assembly."

[Meelducan]

Villa De Johnson

Donald raised his eyebrow.

"The Gubernatorial Race is seeming to get hot, hot, hot!!!" Donald commented. "What does Scotty have to do with the Gubernatorial Race, and why does he want amends?"

[Prolieum]

Oatesdale Park, Martinsburg, West Virginia

"Come on!" Amaras roared, the bellowing voice turning a few heads, and bringing a few withering glares, two from other parents spectating, one from the other team's coach on the opposite side of the 'rink'.

The league, the Berkeley County Inline Hockey League, to be specific, had been fairly upfront about their policies on refraining from the kind of verbal involvement that Amaras was currently engaging in, a policy he was rather clearly ignoring. A few uncertain glances were exchanged, pondering over whether going forward with what they were supposed to do and moving to escort the very large man out was really the best idea.

It was Peter's first time at one of these matches, though Tommy had already played through quite a few-this was the last game of the season, in fact. Tommy had occasionally asked him to come by, but Peter had obviously been very busy, and had already treated Tommy and two of his brothers to a much more impressive experience by getting them into the Bipartisan BP. Linda Sue had worn on him though, even though he protested-he had a lot to do in a very important job, and it wasn't like the kid was that good anyways-she had managed to cajole him into attendance.

He had been wrong about one thing at least. The kid did have some talent. Amaras had gotten him a hockey stick for Christmas, and he was using it, maneuvering with the puck, taking hard shots and occasionally making surprisingly accurate passes for a nine-year-old. It seemed that he had gotten some of his father's excellent athletic ability passed down to him, though as he bladed up and down the court, Peter conceded that his son might have a bit more speed than his Pa. Just a bit.

He had scored twice already, and now was trying to play defense, in as organized a fashion as one could expect from a team of pre-teens. He was trying to blade back to get in front of a bigger kid, and...

The small collection of spectators gave a collective Oh! of surprise and sympathy, with Amaras breaking from the consensus to chuckle and applaud. Tommy had gotten his stick under and in front of the Predators player, getting him tangled up and making him skew off to the right, where he collided against the rink wall. Tommy, not losing any momentum, slammed into him in turn with a hard leading hip, letting him reach around and slip the puck out, racing the opposite direction before a series of whistles stopped him.

Amaras stood, raising his arms in indignation. "Come on, that was clean! Let the kids play!" he shouted out, as a referee took the puck from Tommy and led him to the penalty box. The boy flashed a quick smile his father's way, but the additional outburst seemed to have been one too many, as a woman who could be picked out as some kind of official or administrator by demeanor alone, stepped up to the Senator, even if she did not recognize him as such.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Come with us." A pair of middle-aged men had come in behind her.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just watching my son play," Amaras huffed.

"Sir, you're disrupting the game. We have a zero-tolerance policy for this kind of behavior. You're going to have to leave. This isn't a discussion." She answered in a firmly lecturing tone.

"No, it isn't." Amaras agreed, remaining seated. Quite a few people were watching now, as the game remained on pause.

"You have to leave, Sir."

"Just start the game back up. I'm not leaving until it's over."

"Do you want me to call the police?" she asked, sounding like a warning principal dealing with an unruly student.

Peter laughed out loud, breaking the moment. "To do what? This is a public park, they'd just give you a lecture about wasting their time."

The retort didn't seem to faze the woman. "You're not leaving until the game is over?"

"That's what I said."

"Then it's over." She turned to the rink, and raised her voice to be heard. "I'm sorry everyone, but because of Mister..." she stopped to interrogate. "What's your name?"

Amaras smirked. "Bodkin."

"Because of Mr. Bodkin here, we won't be able to finish the game. I'm terribly sorry about all this."

The assorted grumblings from the parents and children was noticeable, and a number of the former threw glares Amaras's way, though a handful directed their angered looks towards the park district director. Some of the children still on the rink seemed confused at what had just happened. The Predators' coached looked somewhat smug, the Saucer Snipers' head, Tommy's team, only shook his head, and gathered his team together. Tommy ran out to his father a few minutes later, a mixed expression on his face.

"I can't believe they cancelled the game," he muttered, dejected.

"I'm afraid some people are just like that, Tommy. They think that they're someone special and that they should be in charge to boss everyone around, and then they'll throw fits if they don't get their way." He grinned and mussed Tommy's hair. "Sounds like you when you're being naughty!" he chuckled.

Tommy looked slightly chagrined, but was back into his complaints soon enough. "She ruined all the fun. I think she's an idiot."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Tommy. You were just playing hard, and that's the right way to play."

Tommy looked pleased at the compliment, then his face turned inquisitive. "Did you lie to that woman Pa?"

"What?" Peter responded, surprised.

"She called you Mister Bodkin, but that's not your name," Tommy noted matter-of-factly.

Amaras put his teeth together, irritated. He mentally weighed the relative preferability of getting out of this against having to dig up a personal past he didn't care to reflect on, let alone talk with his son about, and made his decision rather quickly. He put on a smile.

"I was just... playing around with her is all. Come on, let's go tell her."

The director was near the rink, talking with a parent, as Amaras approached, and she quickly turned to glare at him.

"If you're hear to do anything but apologize then I really will call the police," she snapped.

Amaras waved the threat away. "No need for any of that. I just wanted to tell you that you heard my name wrong. It's actually Amaras. That's Senator Peter Amaras."

The title drop did not give him quite the reaction he had hoped for, but he did appreciate the slight widening of the eyes in surprise that it brought.

"Well, "Senator", I wish someone in your position would do a better job of being a role model for the children," she returned.

Amaras again waved his hand. "Don't act all high and mighty, you're keeping these kids from being kids. Penalties if you bump into someone, trying to throw out parents, you're making this a joke."

She wound up for a reply, but was interrupted by another man-the Snipers' coach, stepping between the two.

"All right now, all right now, this isn't doing no good for nobody, is it? I'm sure we could all just take some time to cool off, it's a hot summer, ain't it? It's all all right."

The director still appeared indignant, but Amaras nodded to the coach. "Wouldn't want to inconvenience her highness here." He took the coach's hand in an unexpected shake.

"You're doing a good job, coach. See you next year." Offering a mocking wave to the director, he put his other hand on his son's shoulder, and started walking out with him back towards the Avalanche.

"Think we could, uh, stop for something, Pa?" Tommy inquired hopefully.

"Now Tommy, you know your mother is going to have a full meal on the table when we get home, and you don't want to ruin your appetite," his father chided lightly.

Tommy frowned, and looked down at the ground. "Guess you're right, Pa."

Glancing back behind him at the woman, Peter gave his son's shoulder a little shake.

"But I think we can make an exception just this once for my big hitter."

Tommy cheered, and Peter chuckled as the boy scrambled into the car, already eager to go.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

---

Spurred By The Moment

Villa de Johnson
Los Angeles
California

---

"It is, Sydney Cao's entrance into the race certainly was surprising but hardly of significance. She is a lightweight in this whole process. Honestly, I believe Cox would be able to defeat Cao if he actually had a semblance of coordination. But...."

He paused momentarily, considering how to approach the topic. But he decided for the most direct option. So taking a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolding it carefully, he gave it to the Doctor.

"You are a Democrat and to prevent another Alphonsey scenario, I think this will make amends an important step."

He spoke directly, leaning back in the seat.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

---

Of Michiganites and Museums

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Washington
District of Columbia

---

She nodded, having been there a few times during her tenure.

"Hmm, I will probably make the drive up."

Her eyes looked over the exhibit at hand and she began to read the description, raising an eyebrow at the history. It was not like her to enjoy silence and she much more preferred to have a constant conversation. But with Appleby, she felt comfortable in this silence, not awkward but rather pleasing.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

---

Meeting a Concerned Constitutent

Brooklyn District Office
Greenpoint
New York

---

She smiled, moving her chair with the wheels making a rather annoying squeal as she reached for a cabinet. She opened it with little effort, rummaging through some books before pulling out two small posters.

"Here, look at these."

They were campaign leaflets from her 2012 run and 2014, aesthetically similar with minimal changes. She looked over them as if wishing to return to those moments, a yearning look overtaking her face. She turned around in her seat, to look behind her to the left. There was the 2016 one, larger than the other two but sharing the same style of design.

"I ran a similar campaign, like with the door knocking and on the ground style my first year. The second time around, it was a little different. I used more volunteer and with being a representative, I didn't have nearly enough time. But it worked. This last time I decided to get out there once again, not really because I was worried, but more to push out turnout. I wasn't really sure whether to support Danders at first, later on, I decided against it. But getting out the vote no matter what was the main goal. More personal than from the party."

She cleared her throat.

"I don't even know how I'd run this next time. Good thing you came along I guess."

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

---

The Healthcare Conference

State Capital Building
Albany
New York

---

"I'm still advocating for increment increases, not a sudden hike but also not a minuscule one like what the Republican leader is suggesting."

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

The Healthcare Conference
"Would 4 percent be a good compromise? That way we have some more fiscal room to work with and it allows for shallower cuts to benefits that could pass the Assembly."

"It would be hard but I suppose it can be done, though it cannot be any higher."

[Tallahassee News Station]

---

The Healthcare Conference

State Capital Building
Albany
New York

---

(Image)

"I'm still advocating for increment increases, not a sudden hike but also not a minuscule one like what the Republican leader is suggesting."

"If he wants three percent and we want seven percent then five percent is a happy compromise in the middle. As for increment increases, they're a terrible idea. Incremental increases would mean we would have to make cuts to Medicaid and throw people off their health insurance while we wait for the increases to finally activate. It clearly needs to be immediate"

[Prolieum]

National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.

Given Appleby's near-permanent contentment with silence, it was odd that he chose to break it himself, without prompting or a lead-in.

"So, will you support me for Senate?"

[The Orion Islands]

---

The Healthcare Conference

State Capital Building
Albany
New York

---

(Image)

"I'm still advocating for increment increases, not a sudden hike but also not a minuscule one like what the Republican leader is suggesting."

"If he wants three percent and we want seven percent then five percent is a happy compromise in the middle. As for increment increases, they're a terrible idea. Incremental increases would mean we would have to make cuts to Medicaid and throw people off their health insurance while we wait for the increases to finally activate. It clearly needs to be immediate"

"We have already hit the Republican red line as evidenced by his saying 'It cannot go higher.' We have already agreed to a tax hike and I doubt if the GOP will accept 5%. Now we need to decide on the adjustment to COLAs. I suggest we adopt Chained-CPI. Economists suggest it works better than the actual CPI, and it grows more slowly. It would of saved the federal government $39 billion a year if they still ran Social Security. That number suggests we could save $2 billion a year."

[Tallahassee News Station]

"If he wants three percent and we want seven percent then five percent is a happy compromise in the middle. As for increment increases, they're a terrible idea. Incremental increases would mean we would have to make cuts to Medicaid and throw people off their health insurance while we wait for the increases to finally activate. It clearly needs to be immediate"

"We have already hit the Republican red line as evidenced by his saying 'It cannot go higher.' We have already agreed to a tax hike and I doubt if the GOP will accept 5%. Now we need to decide on the adjustment to COLAs. I suggest we adopt Chained-CPI. Economists suggest it works better than the actual CPI, and it grows more slowly. It would of saved the federal government $39 billion a year if they still ran Social Security. That number suggests we could save $2 billion a year."

"That's just him being unable to compromise. We went down, so he should meet us in the middle. The House won't pass anything below 5% but the Senate can pass 5 or even 6 with your endorsement"

[Alozia]

Rep. McCroskey's District Office,
Greenpoint, New York

John graciously took the leaflets from Eleanor and glanced at them as she spoke. He turned to her and warmly smiled after her last comment.

"Glad to be of service." he said in a friendly tone.

John cleared his throat before asking his question.

"I just want to be sure about this and I don't want to assume anything, so I would like to ask this directly - can I count on your support? I know it's quite early to make such decisions, but if possible I would like to go forward with officially building the foundations for my candidacy."

[Tumblrena]

Washington, D.C.
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Senator McGareth's Office
1636
Monday
3 July
2017

"That is not my area of expertise." McGareth admits.

"But I am not against it if a good formula for an effective metric can be made."

[Meelducan]

Villa De Johnson, Los Angeles

Donald glances down at the paper before making his reply.

“We definitely DO NOT want a another Alphonsey scenario. Did you know that he always has a pocket filled with tomatoes? What a freak! But yes, I do the understanding, very important thing amends is.”

[The Orion Islands]

"We have already hit the Republican red line as evidenced by his saying 'It cannot go higher.' We have already agreed to a tax hike and I doubt if the GOP will accept 5%. Now we need to decide on the adjustment to COLAs. I suggest we adopt Chained-CPI. Economists suggest it works better than the actual CPI, and it grows more slowly. It would of saved the federal government $39 billion a year if they still ran Social Security. That number suggests we could save $2 billion a year."

"That's just him being unable to compromise. We went down, so he should meet us in the middle. The House won't pass anything below 5% but the Senate can pass 5 or even 6 with your endorsement"

"4.25%. That is as far as I am willing to go. I do not like raising taxes through the roof, and unless the Republicans agree, it is 4%."

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

"That's just him being unable to compromise. We went down, so he should meet us in the middle. The House won't pass anything below 5% but the Senate can pass 5 or even 6 with your endorsement"

"4.25%. That is as far as I am willing to go. I do not like raising taxes through the roof, and unless the Republicans agree, it is 4%."

"Look I love working with you folks, and 4.25% might be able to pass, but any higher would make the Republican Rank and File revolt."